Summer Excursions 2008

We have arranged four outings for the spring and summer this year. These are open to all members of the society and their friends. There is no need to book just turn up on the day. Please note that the first visit is on a Thursday. Any queries please telephone Liz Hackett on 0114 2367037 or mobile on the day, 07790550272.
Thursday 24th April - Eyam Moor

Arthur Wilson, Pauline Ashmore and Arteamus are up on Eyam Moor again for a few weeks in March and April this year. Once again we are indebted to Arthur for agreeing to show us around the excavations. This year the site is located near the footpath and wall close to the right-angled turn in the road up Sir William Hill where there is plenty of parking (Grid Ref.225780). Meet here at 10.30 a.m.
Saturday 7th June – Bolsterstone

This is the third year of community archaeology at Bolsterstone. The manor house was found last year and also evidence of an earlier structure in Castle field close to the centre of the village. There is a legend of a castle at Bolsterstone, perhaps this year´s excavations will answer some of the questions presented by the previous year´s digs and even provide evidence of a castle.Bolsterstone is north west of Sheffield, just south of Stocksbridge; from Sheffield take the A6102 Middlewood Road, follow the diversion up Stockarth lane and through Oughtibridge, and turn left beyond Wharncliffe Side up past Morehall reservoir, or just as you enter Deepcar turn left up Carr Road. Meet at the Village Hall at 10.30a.m.
Saturday 19th July - West Halton

In 2006 the society had a very enjoyable summer visit to West Halton, a village north of Scunthorpe, where for several years the Archaeology department of the University of Sheffield has been digging on the village green. We also had an interesting talk in February this year by Dawn Hadley from the University about the archaeology in West Halton and its relationship to the surrounding villages and parishes. This year we have arranged a return visit to see this year´s excavations on the village green. West Halton is about six miles north of Scunthorpe. Take the M181 off the M180 to Scunthorpe, continue straight on at the roundabout at the end of the motorway and follow the road round, going straight on through 4 more roundabouts; at the next one turn north (left) up the A1077 for about three miles towards Winterton. About half a mile past Winterton, take the lane on the left just before a right angled bend. Follow the signs to West Halton and turn right about half a mile down the lane.

Meet at the Community Centre by the village green at 10.30am. There is a pub for food and refreshments in the village. After the visit there are plenty of interesting sites and places to visit in north Lincolnshire including St. Peter´s church at Barton–upon–Humber, reopened after a major conservation, repair and interpretation project and exhibition by English Heritage. 
Saturday 16th August - Broadgates Farm

This is another chance, especially for those who missed it last year, to visit Broadgates Farm south of Wirksworth in Derbyshire, just below the National Trust site and viewpoint at Alport Heights. Site directors Eileen Beech and Dave Wright and the Arteamus team are spending a second season trying to unwind the complicated archaeology of this intriguing site, beginning this year to clear and excavate the interior of the small rectangular structure at the heart of the site.

Before or after your visit you may like to visit Alderwasley chapel nearby to see if it gives any clues about the Broadgates site. Also nearby is Wirksworth with its shops and cafes, Heritage Centre and the National Stone Museum. Further towards Matlock is Cromford, with its mills, lock up, worker´s houses with their former gardens, pig sties and tank for water supply.

Meet at 11am at Broadgates Farm (Grid ref. SK303523). One way to get there is to turn left about half way along the Cromford to Wirksworth road at a road sign-posted "Black Rocks". Continue along this road (named Oakerthorpe road on the map); after a long straight section you come to a public house at a road junction on the right, a few yards further there is a junction on the left then another junction on the right. Turn right at this second junction towards Breamfields; from here the roads are single track. This road eventually joins another, continue along to the left. Broadgates Farm is on the right just past the next junction (Knob Lane coming in from the left). There is no parking at the farm so drop off your passengers and continue along the road towards the masts at the top of Alport Heights. At the crossroads go straight on and almost immediately turn left up a track on National Trust land, there is a large car park to the right up the track. The views are extensive so take your binoculars. The walk back to the site should take about 8 minutes but Liz Hackett will run a shuttle service.

An alternative route if you are in Wirksworth town centre is to turn down the road between the Red Lion and the Town Hall/Library, over the railway and along the road to a right hand junction sign-posted "Alport". Turn right into this lane and along for just over a mile, passing the road joining at Breamfields. The farm is at the next junction; continue to the car park as before.