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It has always been our intention to embark on a number of nonexcavation projects including a Historic Building Survey programme. Over the last year Eric, our chairman, has been looking into the technicalities involved and believes we are quite capable of completing a Level 3 survey as defined by English Heritage (he has put details of this on our Wigapedia site). We have also been accumulating the necessary equipment, including a laser measuring device and a height measuring staff. Eric has also been looking into software which will rectify photographs so that we can use them in the planning and drawing processes.
Fortunately for us, we have two new members whose expertise will be invaluable; Maria Kitts, who join us in October, has an MA in Build Archaeology, and Andrew Wilcock, who joined in the summer, has a degree in GIS (Graphic Information Systems).
Various suggestions have been made for topics for the programme, but late last year Bob Hayes, a local historian from Golborne, sent us this photo of some intriguing ruins. He had spotted them on his travels and wanted to know more information about them. They turn out to be the remains of a 17th century farmstead called Belle Vue farm situated on the eastern slopes of Ashurst Beacon (just off the Beacon Country Park road). The farm was abandoned some time last century and has since been left to become derelict. It is now up for sale (£0.5m) including 53.5 acres of farmland.
When Eric saw the photo he agreed with me that it would make an ideal subject for first survey (the site is easily accessible but, as you can see, is in a poor state of preservation).
On a cold, windswept Sunday just before Christmas, Eric and his small team (Maria and Andy) made their first visit to the site.
Despite the cold they were able to assess the task in hand and work out a strategy for further visits (when the weather improves of course). If you are interested in joining them on their next outing, contact Eric at the next meeting (for more details of the project visit our Forum).
GM Federation Conference
There are still places available for this event which is to be held on Saturday 19th February. The venue is the Friends Meeting House at the top of Oxford Street in the middle of Manchester. Speakers include Dr Alison Sheridan who will be talking on the Shaw Cairn at Mellor, Professor Julian Thomas talking on The Stonehenge Project and Richard Fraser on excavations of Manchester's industrial past. There will also be society reviews and a couple of talks by old favourites, Mike Nevell and Ian Miller.
If you are interest in attending please use the attached booking form.
Next Meeting
Wednesday 2nd February the Upper Morris Street Working Men's Club (off Greenough Street), starting at 7.30 pm as usual. There has however been some changes at the club, resulting in neither the lounge nor the concert room being available to us on our usual Wednesday evening. We will therefore be holding our meeting in the small dining room (which is accessed through the games room) as we had to do last month (hopefully this time we will have more room). This situation is not acceptable but for the moment will have to do. In the long term however we are looking for a better venue.
This month it is our AGM but after the usual formalities (electing officers etc.) Eric Walter will be giving us a talk on the
Vikings in the North West.
Hope you can make it. - BA
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