St Wildrid's Survey Completed
When we were given access, however, to the north and south chancels towers, many double-V symbols were revealed on the steps of the spiral staircases. These are more reminiscent of protective marks generally found of entrances to buildings (the double-V invokes the protection Virgin Mary - Virgin of Virgins - a possible indication that Catholic sympathies were still prevalent at the Standish church long after the reformation). We also reported on the north tower door which was covered with inscriptions on the inside. We realised that, to record this properly, we would need more visits but, with the digging season just starting, we decided to defer these until later in the year. It took 2 more visits (in December and February this year) before the survey could be completed. Untangling the many overlapping marks (and identifying them in the report) has also been a challenge with over 70 individual marks of various kinds being recorded. These include 54 carved initials and two seemingly contemporary dates (1643 and 1634). The rest were faintly scratched shapes including many inverted double-Vs (no scorch marks by the way, as previously reported - we suspect it was just a trick of the torch light). Many of the carved initials appear more than once, the most common being H R which appears 7 times. However, the variety of styles and differing initials suggests that possibly more than 20 individuals had contributed to the number of marks made. As this work could only be carried out with the door closed, it must have been done in candle light. The intricacy of some of the carving also suggests they had time on their hands: could this tower have been used as a temporary gaol perhaps? Altogether, in the church as a whole, our surveying teams recorded a total of 160 marks and took over 220 photographs, all of which have been catalogued and recorded in the report. All these, together with the recording sheets, will be lodged with the GM HER. You can see more details of our work on our website here.
Graveyard Survey
This may not be the end of our activities at St Wilfrid's however. During last year's summer months, the carpets at the church were taken up revealing numerous gravestones which have not seen the light of day for many years. There is, therefore, an opportunity to record these before new carpets are laid (which are on order for later in the year). As it happens, Dave Roberts form Merseyside Arch Soc is scheduled to give a talk and workshop on graveyard surveying at the next Up Holland U3A meeting (Tuesday 9th April). I'm sure we will be able to persuade him to come and help us with our task at St Wilfrid's.
GM Archaeology Festival 2019
This will take place on the weekend of June 22nd/23rd and this year we're back at Toddington's Farm in Haigh. As a follow up to our previous excavations there in 2017, we will be opening trenches on the other side of Toddington Lane. This is where we are expecting to find further evidence of the old road we found last time and hopefully see if it is founded on the much earlier suspected Roman road. We are also hoping to come across the well (possibly medieval) marked on early maps. Let me know if you want to get involved.
Next Meeting
Wednesday 3rd April. - at our new venue which is at the Bellingham (7.30pm as usual). This month there is a change to our published programme. Instead of Mike Nevell, who has had to postpone his talk till October, we will be having Mark Adams from Merseyside Archaeological Society, who has kindly offered to step in at short notice. His talk is entitled "Lost Castles and the Barons of Newton - Excavation and Documentary Evidence at Newton Hall, Newton-Le-Willows". I'm sure it will be an interesting talk -
Hope to see you then - B.A.