Newsletter 161

Plane Table Surveying

It is our intention to undertake a ground survey of the Pingot Valley (see Newsletter 159) to record all the features that remain from the 19th century community that once lived there. To do this we will be using a 'plane table' which is a device for measuring large areas quickly and accurately. This method has been around for some time and is only now being replaced by accurate GPS.

Accurate GPS equipment is at present beyond our Society's financial scope but a plane table is certainly well within our budget. It is also easy to use simply consisting of a flat board mounted on a tripod which is levelled using a spirit level. A sheet of drawing paper is placed on it and device called an alidade, is used to sight the features to be recorded. An alidade, in effect, is a ruler with sights on which are line up a particular feature to be recorded (say the corner of a building). A line is then drawn on the paper and the distance to the feature recorded. When all the significant features have been dealt with this way, a detailed plan of the site can be drawn. It may take several positions of the table around the site to get at all the features (there's a detailed video of the procedure on Youtube here.) This type of survey is well within our Society's capability and we are presently sourcing the equipment required.

Donation

A big thanks to Wigan and Leigh Housing for a donation of £100 to the Society. This was for help given with a brief history of Wigan which they needed for publicity reasons. This company is a 'not for profit' organisation that manages and maintains Council housing on behalf of Wigan Council. Ashley Crumbly, the CEO, needed to put something together with particular emphasis on Wigan's wealth of industrial heritage. We were able to help him with this and also supply him with some images for his publication.

Summer Trip

We are currently looking for suggestions for this year's trip. Some sites already under consideration include Fountains Abby in Yorkshire, Iron Bridge and Coalbrookdale in Stopshire. We are also looking at the possibility of additional visits to more local sites such as Smithills Hall near Bolton - maybe combining it with Hall i'th Wood which is not far away. If you have any other suggestions or preferences please let us know at the meeting.

Friends of Castleshaw Fort

This is a new group formed from the ashes of the Saddleworth Archaeological Trust. Its aim is to look after the Roman Fort at Castleshaw and get people involved in the various initiatives and events planned for it.

They have produced a great webite (here) containing information about the fort and how to get involved. Of particular interest are a number of documents and reports made available for the first time, including GAMU excavation and evaluation reports going back to 1992. Also available is a report by the 712 Group on their research into the Roman road from Oldham to Castleshaw.

Next Meeting

Wednesday 6th March - in the Standish Suite at the Brocket Arms (7.30pm as usual). This month we have an old favourite Ian Miller form Oxford Archaeology North. Last year they were commissioned to carry out an investigation of a former industrial site at Tottington. It started as a small investigation ahead of a planned removal of a culvert to improve the flow of the Kirklees Brook

This developed into a large scale area excavation involving various volunteer groups from around the district. It revealed quite a lot of evidence of the dyeing and printing operations that was once carried out there in the early 19th century. Ian always gives a great talk and I'm sure this will be as good as ever.

Hope to see you there - B.A.