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Newsletter No 18 Spring 2015
Timeline York Plus is an informal association of historical and archaeological societies in the area of Greater York, providing a forum for the exchange of news and views.
in the area of Greater York, providing a forum for the exchange of news and views.
For our meeting on 5 March 2015, we were again at the King's Manor, in the Department of Archaeology, University of York. 19 people from 12 member-groups attended; there were apologies from eight people. Representatives of nine groups gave verbal reports of their activities - we were pleased to welcome a representative of the Battle of Stamford Bridge Group for the first time.
John Kenny, erstwhile community archaeologist, was also present. He informed the meeting that he has recently taken voluntary redundancy as part of the restructuring process at the York Archaeological Trust. He was warmly thanked for all the support he has given the groups over the years.
Sarah Tester of York's Gateway to History Project gave us a talk about social media and the digital environment.
Alec Acomb, representing the York Open Planning Forum, reported that the Local List has now been accepted by the City of York Council but still awaits adoption under the Local Plan.
GROUP REPORTS
The Battle of Stamford Bridge Society
The Society has two new projects to publicise along with the usual on-going annual events/projects.
Firstly, launched in March 2015, is the '1066 Battle of Stamford Bridge Tapestry Project'. This is the missing link in the 1066 story: with both the Bayeux and the Fulford tapestries existing, we felt the need to fill the gap in the historical events of that year. There are over 50 people now involved with the project, including some who worked on the Fulford Tapestry. Their experience will be invaluable as we begin to plan and design the 12-metre tapestry. Hopefully it will be well on its way (if not finished) by the date of the 950th anniversary on September 25th 2016.
The second project is the Stamford Bridge ‘Big Dig’, scheduled to take place over the Bank Holiday weekend of 23-25th May 2015. The idea is to open at least fifteen 1-metre test pits in various private locations in and around the village. Evidence of the Battle in 1066 is the primary goal but as a community event under the guidance of Dr Jon Kenny, we hope to gain experience and confidence to do further excavations on our own. If no finds are attributed to the Battle this time, we hope to repeat the process again in the future.
Anybody wishing to know more of the projects or is interested in what we are doing, please contact Chris Rock, (BOSBS Chairman), email: [email protected].
Cawood Castle Garth Group
The Group have been award a Sharing Heritage lottery grant of £9,800 to investigate our Scheduled Ancient Monument, Keesbury Manor.
We are investigating the archaeology, ecology and the cultivation of gooseberries in the village of Keesbury that was once known as the “Gooseberries.” The children in the village school will investigate the various sources for evidence of gooseberry growing and they will produce a leaflet with their findings. The site was once the medieval home of the de Cawood family, from 1201 AD. We are hoping to find evidence of the house from the remains of the features still to be seen on the monument. Jon Kenny is helping us with this project and so far we have surveyed the site using resistivity and magnetometery. We think we may have found new features. Later we are hoping for permissions to dig some test pits.
This site has been overlooked in the past and it is a close neighbour of the palace site of the Archbishops of York which we have been researching for 13 years.
Contact: Margaret Brearley at [email protected]
Clement’s Hall Local History Group
Susan Major has been researching the history of the local shops in Bishopthorpe Road, using trade directories, historic Yellow Pages, old photographs, the census and maps. These properties were built in the 1860s and many have housed trades operating for over 100 years. History Group events have attracted memories from local residents and interviews have been recorded with shopkeepers. Recently Susan discovered a 19th century diary at the Borthwick Archive which had been kept by one of the shopkeepers.
Other activity has focused on the First World War centennial including: research into those whose names appear on the Cherry Street School war memorial in St Clement’s Church; research into the impact of the first aerial attack on York in May 1916; identifying sources (including correspondence & compensation claims); and examining York Citizens' Committee records (deposited at Explore York Libraries & Archives) and Scarcroft School records. How was the air raid experienced? Which properties were damaged? How was compensation organised? What was the legacy of the air raid? The intention is to use research findings to inform centennial activity in 2016.
We are happy to meet with other groups to discuss ideas/plans relating to the FWW centennial.
A longer term aim is to research Clementhorpe industry, with an initial focus on De Little printers.
For more information visit http://www.clementshallhistorygroup.wordpress.com or see us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/clementshallhistorygroup.
Dringhouses Local History Group
Overall, the Dringhouses group continues much as before: a monthly talk, walk or visit; a quarterly newsletter to members; responding to enquiries (most recently from Shropshire and Scotland - in both cases we were able to provide key information); taking the opportunity to add to our photographic archive by recording "Brackenhill", a very large 1899 residence at the top of Saint George's Place. At our Informal Meeting in February which focussed on the Great War; two members contributed short presentations about family members who served in France, whilst others brought most impressive displays of memorabilia and a trench cake. (Trench cakes were made by families using the official government recipe and sent to loved ones at the Front.)
Since the autumn 2014 edition of this newsletter, two members have been on Research Excursions to the other side of the Pennines! There is a very strong connection between Frances Barlow (of the Barlow family of Middlethorpe Hall) and Lymm and Cheadle in Cheshire. Frances married the Rev. Edward Trafford Leigh and lived in Cheadle for 18 years. When her husband died, he was buried in the family vault in Lymm church and Frances returned to Dringhouses where she built the present church and the village school (now the library). After initial contact by email, a most hospitable welcome was extended to our intrepid researchers by members of both churches and there was a very useful exchange of information and photographs.
Contact: our Secretary on (01904) 708700. Website: dlhg.weebly.com
Holgate Windmill Preservation Society
A Bas Relief Mural depicting the production of grain using man- and horsepower during the working life of the mill from 1770 to 1933 is now refurbished and displayed in the snicket leading up to the mill.
Tour de Yorkshire riders and visitors will be welcomed with the flutter of bunting around the sails of the mill.
Our exhibition 'Meet the Millers' will be expanded for a weekend in September to include the spicy delights of all things gingerbread as research on the connection between the Wauds of Holgate and the Etty family of Huntington Mill link painters, millers, hurricanes and gingerbread.
The Mill is open for flour every Saturday 10am - 12, and 2 weekends each month for visitors 11am - 4pm.
Contact: Jen Hay on 01904 792638; website: www.holgatewindmill.org
Poppleton History Society.
The Society is concluding (in May) its monthly presentations marking the WW1 centenary. The next project (2015 -16) is the completion and publication of a book commemorating the soldiers whose names appear on the two war memorials in Poppleton. We also plan to complete the topographical survey of the Ancient Monument, Moated Site.
The Society is a member of the OASIS project (University of York) which records the more localised reports on investigations of archaeological sites.
For further details, contact 01904 338610 and our website at Poppleton.net/history society
North Duffield Conservation and Local History Society
Our three-year landscape project has ended and Brian is writing the report that will be published in the near future.
The addition of the graphics and photographs will complete the task and we are in the process of planning the next stage. We had a trip to Potteric Carr to collect Norfolk reed which will be used to thicken the elephant grass thatch of the roundhouse. This will add to the authentic look of the building.
On 19 March we welcomed our first teaching /learning school visit from Wilberforce Primary School. The children gain hands on experience such as Iron age spinning, weaving, corn grinding and wood turning. This augments their classroom work. The amount of paper work for risk assessment is really mounting up! Baking flat bread over an open fire in the fairly confined space of a thatched building with some 25 school children in attendance is quite terrifying!
Hopefully, in the future, we will make a start on building a wooden cabin situated in a farm building to house all our archives. It will also have provision for a small number of children to examine our finds, look at photographs and do some written work connected to their experiences in the roundhouse.
As a follow-up to the suggestion made by Brian at the last TYP meeting, North Duffield has compiled a list of equipment purchased through the Lottery Heritage Fund grant as part of our three-year project. The equipment is available on a free-to-loan basis to members of the TYP group.
Contact Brian Elsey 01757 288939 or Tony Stevens 01757 288941 or email [email protected]
Sheriff Hutton History Group
Here is our diary of events for this year.
Wednesday 22nd April 7.30pm Miss Ward Room SH Methodist Church
Annual General Meeting with films and general discussion.
Wednesday 27th May 7.30pm Village Hall
Holgate Windmill - the Restoration of this York landmark; includes sale of flour. Presentation by Richie & Helen. Entrance: Members £1, Visitors £2 including refreshments.
Friday 26th June 7.30pm Village Hall
New Light on the Middleham Jewel - illustrated presentation by Dr. Kate Giles.
Entrance: Members £3, Visitors £5 including refreshments. Raffle
Wednesday 22nd July 7.30pm Village Hall
Ryedale Family History Group - presentation by Ann Richards & Janice Wood
Wednesday 23rd September 7.30pm Village Hall
Viking Age in Yorkshire - presentation by Dr. Matthew Townend
Wednesday 28th October 7.30pm Village Hall
What those horrid Tudors did for Sheriff Hutton - presentation by Roy Thompson
Wednesday 25th November 7.30pm Village Hall - Christmas Festivities
Contact Margaret 01347 878465 or Meg 01347 878136 for further information.
Strensall Local History Group
Since the last newsletter, we have had our usual mix of meetings and visits. Our programme started with a WW1-themed film evening with video clips from York WW1 History Trail and other websites showing how conscientious objectors were dealt with; the role of horses: their training and treatment and the effects of Zeppelin raids on York. We had another animated presentation from Chris Cade. Brian Oxberry talked about Mad Doctors and the 19th century lunacy laws, including a reference to Charles Dickens. Eric Houlder spoke about the stage coach routes and coaching inns along the Great North Road.
Future meetings will include Crime in Strensall (as it was, not as it is/may be), Richard III’s life in Yorkshire, a potted history of farming in our area, and a tour of the Foss Navigation locks in Strensall. Members of the archaeology sub-group have assisted Jon Kenny with a geophysical survey of the rugby pitch and adjacent fields in preparation for an excavation of a Roman military camp, prior to the redevelopment of the York Community Stadium. The ridge and furrow survey is almost complete.
Contact: [email protected]
This newsletter is distributed to member groups and other interested organisations, and to York libraries.
The newsletter has been edited by Elizabeth Smith and Ted Kendall. Comments and enquiries may be sent to the various Groups’ contacts where given, or to Ted Kendall at: [email protected] or telephone 01904 338610.
Newsletter No 18 Spring 2015
Timeline York Plus is an informal association of historical and archaeological societies in the area of Greater York, providing a forum for the exchange of news and views.
in the area of Greater York, providing a forum for the exchange of news and views.
For our meeting on 5 March 2015, we were again at the King's Manor, in the Department of Archaeology, University of York. 19 people from 12 member-groups attended; there were apologies from eight people. Representatives of nine groups gave verbal reports of their activities - we were pleased to welcome a representative of the Battle of Stamford Bridge Group for the first time.
John Kenny, erstwhile community archaeologist, was also present. He informed the meeting that he has recently taken voluntary redundancy as part of the restructuring process at the York Archaeological Trust. He was warmly thanked for all the support he has given the groups over the years.
Sarah Tester of York's Gateway to History Project gave us a talk about social media and the digital environment.
Alec Acomb, representing the York Open Planning Forum, reported that the Local List has now been accepted by the City of York Council but still awaits adoption under the Local Plan.
GROUP REPORTS
The Battle of Stamford Bridge Society
The Society has two new projects to publicise along with the usual on-going annual events/projects.
Firstly, launched in March 2015, is the '1066 Battle of Stamford Bridge Tapestry Project'. This is the missing link in the 1066 story: with both the Bayeux and the Fulford tapestries existing, we felt the need to fill the gap in the historical events of that year. There are over 50 people now involved with the project, including some who worked on the Fulford Tapestry. Their experience will be invaluable as we begin to plan and design the 12-metre tapestry. Hopefully it will be well on its way (if not finished) by the date of the 950th anniversary on September 25th 2016.
The second project is the Stamford Bridge ‘Big Dig’, scheduled to take place over the Bank Holiday weekend of 23-25th May 2015. The idea is to open at least fifteen 1-metre test pits in various private locations in and around the village. Evidence of the Battle in 1066 is the primary goal but as a community event under the guidance of Dr Jon Kenny, we hope to gain experience and confidence to do further excavations on our own. If no finds are attributed to the Battle this time, we hope to repeat the process again in the future.
Anybody wishing to know more of the projects or is interested in what we are doing, please contact Chris Rock, (BOSBS Chairman), email: [email protected].
Cawood Castle Garth Group
The Group have been award a Sharing Heritage lottery grant of £9,800 to investigate our Scheduled Ancient Monument, Keesbury Manor.
We are investigating the archaeology, ecology and the cultivation of gooseberries in the village of Keesbury that was once known as the “Gooseberries.” The children in the village school will investigate the various sources for evidence of gooseberry growing and they will produce a leaflet with their findings. The site was once the medieval home of the de Cawood family, from 1201 AD. We are hoping to find evidence of the house from the remains of the features still to be seen on the monument. Jon Kenny is helping us with this project and so far we have surveyed the site using resistivity and magnetometery. We think we may have found new features. Later we are hoping for permissions to dig some test pits.
This site has been overlooked in the past and it is a close neighbour of the palace site of the Archbishops of York which we have been researching for 13 years.
Contact: Margaret Brearley at [email protected]
Clement’s Hall Local History Group
Susan Major has been researching the history of the local shops in Bishopthorpe Road, using trade directories, historic Yellow Pages, old photographs, the census and maps. These properties were built in the 1860s and many have housed trades operating for over 100 years. History Group events have attracted memories from local residents and interviews have been recorded with shopkeepers. Recently Susan discovered a 19th century diary at the Borthwick Archive which had been kept by one of the shopkeepers.
Other activity has focused on the First World War centennial including: research into those whose names appear on the Cherry Street School war memorial in St Clement’s Church; research into the impact of the first aerial attack on York in May 1916; identifying sources (including correspondence & compensation claims); and examining York Citizens' Committee records (deposited at Explore York Libraries & Archives) and Scarcroft School records. How was the air raid experienced? Which properties were damaged? How was compensation organised? What was the legacy of the air raid? The intention is to use research findings to inform centennial activity in 2016.
We are happy to meet with other groups to discuss ideas/plans relating to the FWW centennial.
A longer term aim is to research Clementhorpe industry, with an initial focus on De Little printers.
For more information visit http://www.clementshallhistorygroup.wordpress.com or see us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/clementshallhistorygroup.
Dringhouses Local History Group
Overall, the Dringhouses group continues much as before: a monthly talk, walk or visit; a quarterly newsletter to members; responding to enquiries (most recently from Shropshire and Scotland - in both cases we were able to provide key information); taking the opportunity to add to our photographic archive by recording "Brackenhill", a very large 1899 residence at the top of Saint George's Place. At our Informal Meeting in February which focussed on the Great War; two members contributed short presentations about family members who served in France, whilst others brought most impressive displays of memorabilia and a trench cake. (Trench cakes were made by families using the official government recipe and sent to loved ones at the Front.)
Since the autumn 2014 edition of this newsletter, two members have been on Research Excursions to the other side of the Pennines! There is a very strong connection between Frances Barlow (of the Barlow family of Middlethorpe Hall) and Lymm and Cheadle in Cheshire. Frances married the Rev. Edward Trafford Leigh and lived in Cheadle for 18 years. When her husband died, he was buried in the family vault in Lymm church and Frances returned to Dringhouses where she built the present church and the village school (now the library). After initial contact by email, a most hospitable welcome was extended to our intrepid researchers by members of both churches and there was a very useful exchange of information and photographs.
Contact: our Secretary on (01904) 708700. Website: dlhg.weebly.com
Holgate Windmill Preservation Society
A Bas Relief Mural depicting the production of grain using man- and horsepower during the working life of the mill from 1770 to 1933 is now refurbished and displayed in the snicket leading up to the mill.
Tour de Yorkshire riders and visitors will be welcomed with the flutter of bunting around the sails of the mill.
Our exhibition 'Meet the Millers' will be expanded for a weekend in September to include the spicy delights of all things gingerbread as research on the connection between the Wauds of Holgate and the Etty family of Huntington Mill link painters, millers, hurricanes and gingerbread.
The Mill is open for flour every Saturday 10am - 12, and 2 weekends each month for visitors 11am - 4pm.
Contact: Jen Hay on 01904 792638; website: www.holgatewindmill.org
Poppleton History Society.
The Society is concluding (in May) its monthly presentations marking the WW1 centenary. The next project (2015 -16) is the completion and publication of a book commemorating the soldiers whose names appear on the two war memorials in Poppleton. We also plan to complete the topographical survey of the Ancient Monument, Moated Site.
The Society is a member of the OASIS project (University of York) which records the more localised reports on investigations of archaeological sites.
For further details, contact 01904 338610 and our website at Poppleton.net/history society
North Duffield Conservation and Local History Society
Our three-year landscape project has ended and Brian is writing the report that will be published in the near future.
The addition of the graphics and photographs will complete the task and we are in the process of planning the next stage. We had a trip to Potteric Carr to collect Norfolk reed which will be used to thicken the elephant grass thatch of the roundhouse. This will add to the authentic look of the building.
On 19 March we welcomed our first teaching /learning school visit from Wilberforce Primary School. The children gain hands on experience such as Iron age spinning, weaving, corn grinding and wood turning. This augments their classroom work. The amount of paper work for risk assessment is really mounting up! Baking flat bread over an open fire in the fairly confined space of a thatched building with some 25 school children in attendance is quite terrifying!
Hopefully, in the future, we will make a start on building a wooden cabin situated in a farm building to house all our archives. It will also have provision for a small number of children to examine our finds, look at photographs and do some written work connected to their experiences in the roundhouse.
As a follow-up to the suggestion made by Brian at the last TYP meeting, North Duffield has compiled a list of equipment purchased through the Lottery Heritage Fund grant as part of our three-year project. The equipment is available on a free-to-loan basis to members of the TYP group.
Contact Brian Elsey 01757 288939 or Tony Stevens 01757 288941 or email [email protected]
Sheriff Hutton History Group
Here is our diary of events for this year.
Wednesday 22nd April 7.30pm Miss Ward Room SH Methodist Church
Annual General Meeting with films and general discussion.
Wednesday 27th May 7.30pm Village Hall
Holgate Windmill - the Restoration of this York landmark; includes sale of flour. Presentation by Richie & Helen. Entrance: Members £1, Visitors £2 including refreshments.
Friday 26th June 7.30pm Village Hall
New Light on the Middleham Jewel - illustrated presentation by Dr. Kate Giles.
Entrance: Members £3, Visitors £5 including refreshments. Raffle
Wednesday 22nd July 7.30pm Village Hall
Ryedale Family History Group - presentation by Ann Richards & Janice Wood
Wednesday 23rd September 7.30pm Village Hall
Viking Age in Yorkshire - presentation by Dr. Matthew Townend
Wednesday 28th October 7.30pm Village Hall
What those horrid Tudors did for Sheriff Hutton - presentation by Roy Thompson
Wednesday 25th November 7.30pm Village Hall - Christmas Festivities
Contact Margaret 01347 878465 or Meg 01347 878136 for further information.
Strensall Local History Group
Since the last newsletter, we have had our usual mix of meetings and visits. Our programme started with a WW1-themed film evening with video clips from York WW1 History Trail and other websites showing how conscientious objectors were dealt with; the role of horses: their training and treatment and the effects of Zeppelin raids on York. We had another animated presentation from Chris Cade. Brian Oxberry talked about Mad Doctors and the 19th century lunacy laws, including a reference to Charles Dickens. Eric Houlder spoke about the stage coach routes and coaching inns along the Great North Road.
Future meetings will include Crime in Strensall (as it was, not as it is/may be), Richard III’s life in Yorkshire, a potted history of farming in our area, and a tour of the Foss Navigation locks in Strensall. Members of the archaeology sub-group have assisted Jon Kenny with a geophysical survey of the rugby pitch and adjacent fields in preparation for an excavation of a Roman military camp, prior to the redevelopment of the York Community Stadium. The ridge and furrow survey is almost complete.
Contact: [email protected]
This newsletter is distributed to member groups and other interested organisations, and to York libraries.
The newsletter has been edited by Elizabeth Smith and Ted Kendall. Comments and enquiries may be sent to the various Groups’ contacts where given, or to Ted Kendall at: [email protected] or telephone 01904 338610.
