As mentioned in our last Newsletter, Sygma Solutions, from Westhoughton, have kindly offered to let us use their Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) machines for our archaeological surveys. Last month therefore, a team of 5 (myself, Eric, Neil, Darren and Andy) went to their office in Daisy Hill for a day's training session (the course normally takes 3 days but our abridged version was fine for our purposes). The lessons were done by Mike Langton, who is their chief trainer and also teaches GPR at Bradford University - in fact he has appear on a number Time Team episode. The machines on offer us the latest technology and are capable of producing 3D results in the field. Mike also said that, if necessary, we could downloaded the data and they will 'post-process' it for us with their in-house software.
Haigh Hall Survey
After lunch, our training day continued with a session in the field. This took place in the grounds of Haigh Hall, where permission had already been obtained from the Council. The area selected was on the terrace between the Stables Cafe and the Hall. Mike explained that the unit was capable of 'seeing' up to 8 metres deep depending on ground conditions but in general 2.5 metres gives best result. After some general prospecting, we marked out a 10m x 10m grid and proceeded to carry out the survey (readings are taken every 5cm with scan run spacing of 50cm). The reason for selecting this particular area was that a desk-based assessment had been done by the GMAU a few years ago. It had indicated that there were buildings here prior to the construction of the present Hall in the mid 19th century. These buildings were associated with the Bradshaigh family who owned the estate in the Middle Ages. The results showed structural remains at various depths, ranging from just below the surface to over a metre down.
This scan, at 90cm, was typical with a strong feature (probably a wall) running at an angle to our gridlines and structural features running at right-angled to it. At the end of the day the Society members were quite familiar with the equipment and confident that a full survey of the area could be completed at a future date.
Kirkless Survey
A couple of weeks later we got another chance to use the equipment - this time on our current project. Sue Lonsdale from the Wild Life Trust had arranged for us to give a guided tour of the site for their Heritage Walk day. It seemed logical therefore, to borrow the equipment again to see if it would work on this type of site. Once again Peter Ashcroft from Sygma Solutions was keen for us to use the kit, so while I took the Friends of Kirkless around our various dig sites, our field team set up the equipment on the chimney base area. By the time I'd finished the tour, a 10m x 10m survey next to the chimney base, had been completed and the results were very encouraging. At a depth of between 25cm and 75cm, a linear feature was detected projecting in a southeast direction away from the base. We suspect this could be the chimney flue we have been looking for. In the south corner of the survey area there also seems to be a very distinct area of disturbance at a depth of about a metre. This may be rubble but could also be the remains of the furnace connected with the chimney. Both these features would make great targets for future investigations if we get chance to dig their again. Our tour group were very impressed with the archaeology on view and were keen to understand more of the history of the site.
Lancashire Catalogue
Bob Dobson, as you may know, boasts a wide and varied collection of historical and archaeological books literature for sales. He has just sent me his latest catalogue if you are intersted in seeing it.
Next Meeting
Wednesday 2nd December. This month it is our Christmas meal at the Brocket (which you need to have booked in for) starting at 7.00pm. However if you are not booked in you can still come to the quiz night after the meal (starting around 8.00pm). May see you then - BA.
For those who can't make the meal or the quiz afterwards, here is a picture quiz to do while you're shopping round Wigan over Christmas.
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