TAMESIDE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY LTD

The tent came in use today to allow us to evaluate features. Driving snow showers appeared during the day. Possible post hole discovered.

Gusting snow showers pound tent

Well at least the morning, no wind until afternoon.

Mike at work

Yes lets trial what it would be like to be an anglo saxon burial? Both TAS members with appropriate Anglo saxon names: Christopher and Gordon. After grid sieving taking a well deserved rest.

TAS have been undertaking geophysical assessments of large sections of Tamesides countryside around Luzley near Mossley and Ashton under lyne. The hope is that the location of a Roman road may be discovered. It is expected to take a couple more months to complete.

TAS has been awaiting permission from Natural England to asssess erosion sites. Previously surveys by TAS of these SSSI sites have produced small lithic scatters.

Permission has been granted and evaluation of the sites has commenced.

The first part of the project will assess the smaller of two sites until mid march. The second of the sites will be assessed in the autumn. This is to reduce disturbance to nesting birds.

The hunt for evidence of  mesolithic and possibly bronze age is now underway. If you are interested in learning prehistory archaeology skills contact out society.

Dear all,

the free on line course is very stimluations. Below is a few tombstones to cavalry men I found on the web. The comment made was …did they have an off the shelf design when making a tombstone?

https://www.futurelearn.com for accesing the course on hadrians wall, but alll also other archaeolgy courses due soon

An opportunity to complete a survey which started in 2013 of the Gargolyes and Grotesques of the bell tower was completed today. The tower is having repairs to its stone work and access was given to TAS to complete a photographic survey over 42 meters above the ground.

Detail underneath

Well protected on site

Fearsome creatures

Exquiste carvings

Oxford Archaeology North are under taking the archaeological evaluation of the former railway yards and associated buildings to the east of manchester centre. Volunteers have also been helping from Tameside Archaeological society and Manchester Region Industrial Archaeology Society

Figure 1 Aerial view of air raid shelter wall remains

Four air raid shelters from World war two were discovered by OA. They are approximately 2m wide by 10 meters long perhaps allowing up 60 to 80 workers in  each shelter. They have been partially cut into the ground with up to a meter above the original ground surface. They are constructed of corrugated metal sheets covered with concreted. Each appears to be of the same design with a stepped entrance way at one corner. Interestingly two of these were inside a massive Worksop with many stone bases for  heavy machine tools.

Figure 2 Entrance cuts through original workshop walls giving access to the air raid shelter with remnants of blast door rebates.

August 1940, saw the start of German bombing in Manchester. The days before xmas resulted in an estimated 684 people killed  and 2,364 injured. Railway yards would have been a high priority target to disturb communications.

Follow this link to see  a film following the bombing raids: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-two/8208926/Unseen-images-of-Manchester-Christmas-Blitz.html

The bomb census indicates no damage to the site but several bombs landed locally : http://enriqueta.man.ac.uk/luna/servlet/detail/maps2~1~1~342661~123261?qvq=q:bombs;sort:Reference_Number,Reference_Number,Reference_Number,Page;lc:maps2~1~1&mi=2&trs=49

This was the last day for dig with events for the public. The weather was horrific with very heavy freezing showers. However some people managed to find out what had been learnt about their local park. Most people were surprised at to the extent of the remains. The Salford university team have one  more day to complete recording and then the site will be back filled.

What have we learnt over the two weeks:

The extent of the residence of the benovalent Cheetham family to the people of Stalybridge. Further history research by TAS with signifcant  support of the researchers for the House of Commons 1832-1945 History of Parliament team.

What is the future?

A full report will be produced by the professional archaeoloigsts in 2015.

TAS will continue to explore the park, with test pits to further extend the knowledge of the heritage of the people of Stalybridge. A report of work undertaken todate  by TAS will also be stored at the The Tameside Local Studies & Archive Centre.

Site being prepared ready for the day.

Marlene giving tour of the site, giving an opportunity for an aerial photo of the site which was terraced into the hillside.

Heritage Management Director for Archaeology in Greater Manchester: Norman Redhead came to evaluate first hand the site. His job is to coordinate the advice for sites such as this through the heritage gateway. Also he provides the association of Greater Manchester Authoritieswith advice who funded the series of large scale Community digs.

David giving a tour of the site, pointing out the deep cellars.

Mike a TAS member enjoying his last day digging on the site with a collection of high quality tile fragments

A packed exhibiiton and find viewing area, even the kids get in on the act with some colouring items produced by Sarah the educational archaeologist.

Dodging a few heavy hailstone loaded showers was the order of the day.  Site was cleaned ready for the open day tomorrow when everyone is welcome to come and  see the site, check out the finds and also have an opportunity to check out the historic  environmental register on the computer, check through the family history on line and see the exhibition.

Kerry delicately revealing high class plaster work with gold leaf decoration.

Further high class plaster work, probable moulding below ceiling in one of the rooms. A swastika symbol was a popular symbol of luck. Some flock wall covering was also discovered.

Small area of trench two indicating deepest waterlogged deposits and a stone drain.