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Last month Eric Walter and I attended a conference organised by the Lancashire Local History Federation at Lowton on the Romans in the North West. First on was David Shotter who, as expected, gave an excellent talk on his latest thoughts on the Roman conquest of the North. However, it was Ian Miller who surprised everybody with his latest revelations about Wigan. As you may know, Ian’s excavations in the Wiend last summer were a little disappointing from a Roman perspective. However, Ian has been studying the archive of the excavations carried in the Wiend in the early 1980’s which showed a wooden building. This was interpreted at the time as a workshop. When he combined the results from both excavations he suddenly found that instead of a workshop, he had a military style barrack block (details posted on our Forum). Ian has also been reassessing the pottery from the 80’s excavations which has all been re-assigned to the late 1st century - but this activity, including the related industrial hearths, overlay the wooden building (which must therefore be earlier). Ian is now confident that there was a fort at Wigan. His new interpretation is that a fort was built in the early days of the Roman advance northwards (in the early 70’s AD). This was replaced later in the first century by the industrial activity which probably supported the advance north into Scotland under Agricola. Our bathhouse however dates from the early second century during a period of consolidation when Hardian’s Wall was being built. Significantly neither David Shotter nor Ben Edwards (who was also at the meeting) had a problem with Ian’s interpretation (so maybe it’s official).
Burrow’s Farm Survey
In last month’s newsletter I mentioned a possible site in Hindley where Eddie Ramsdale had seen the farmer unearthing stone cobbles. Last Sunday our small team of surveyors visited the site and carried out a resistivity survey of the area Eddie had indicated. The area chosen was a 25x20m square to the south east of the farm (which, by the way, is now known as Low Hall Farm). The result however appeared mostly to show geological features (for details visit our Forum). Low resistivity at the bottom edge may indicate a possible hollow way. However there was nothing to indicate a cobbled surface which would have shown up as high resistivity. Geophysics is far from infallible and a few test pits may be the answer to solving this puzzle.
Higher Ince Project
Brian Parr has finally got his permissions through to investigate a number of sites in Higher Ince and Hardybutts. One of these is the land-fill fence line near Moss Hall Farm which we managed to pinpoint last August using Joe Taylor’s GPS (Newsletter 116). This site has great potential, as the original ground surfaces still survives (as our test pits have shown - despite all the mining activity in the area). Brian has already begun surveying the area between the land-fill site and the old Lancashire Union railway embankment (on the Ince Hindley border). If you are interest in getting involved in this project contact Brian our next meeting.
Rectory Update
In January we had a meeting with the Parochial Church Council where Eric Walter presented his Desk Based Assessment and Project Plan. This went down very well and Eric left copies for the Rector to pass on to the Diocese for further approval. The Diocesan properties manager has now been in touch with Eric and is trying to arrange an on-site meeting with us and their chartered surveyor. In the mean time Eric has been talking with the Rectory curator who has pointed out a lockable store room for us to store our equipment and an undercover area which will be ideal for finds processing and project recording. We are just waiting now for formal approval to come through before we start this project in earnest.
CBA NW Spring Meeting
This will be held on Saturday 16th May at Brindle Community Hall near Chorley. The theme this year is Lancashire Heritage and will include talks on the History of Brindle, Lathom House, Industrial Archaeology as well as Post-medieval Farmsteads and a talk on Roman Roads by Dave Ratledge. If you are interest in attending contact me or Dot Waring at our next meeting.
Next Meeting
Wednesday 1st April - District Scout HQ (Baden Powell Centre) in Greenough Street as usual, starting at 7.30 pm. Our talk this month is by Nigel Neil who is an independent professional archaeologist working in the area of north Lancashire and Cumbria. Nigel will be telling us about his long-running investigations at Whalley Abbey.
Hope to see you there B.A.
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