Ripon

Visit to Fountains Abbey

Stevie Blair, Stuart Chisem, Matthew Goddard and Richard Slater, monks checking out the toilets.
Stood in front of the toilet arches, the river flows on the other side of the arches and would have taken away waste.

Monks on the move and in silence! It was very peaceful!

Learning about punishments. Richard Slater kissing the ring of the Abbott in contrition.

Ian Smith, having head shaved in traditional monkish style using the edge of an oyster shell in the warming room of the monastery.

Richard Slater, doing the reading before dinner. The rest of us are sat at a pretend table after discussing the diet of the monks.

Visit to Middleham Castle

Middleham Castle

Students try to understand what King Richard’s life was like as a young man.

This is a picture of Stevie Blair dressed as King Richard III at Middleham castle and stood next to King Richards statue. We had a wonderful day with bright sunshine and set up an outdoor classroom with camping chairs and rugs. We were able to picture the life which King Richard would have had as a young man in training by enacting a sword fight and later where he lived with Anne Neville and his son by exploring the castle.

We discussed what life would have been like in the castle.

We covered topics such as the symbol of the boar, Richards life, and the discovery and excavation of his body and how archaeologists drew conclusions from the evidence.

What was it like to be King?

On our walk around, we found as many toilets as we could, the fish ponds in the kitchen area and the mill.

The group enjoyed with visit.
Karen Thomas,(Tutor) Joe Priestley,(Volunteer) Lisa Morgan,(V) Adrian Kitching, Gavin Potter, David Cobbett and Stevie Blair. taking the photograph is David Foster.(staff)

9th August Grassington We were invited to join The Yorkshire Dales Landscape Research Trust, in their excavations at Grassington.
The group were very excited about participating in a real archaeological dig.On the journey to the site the learners studied the geophysical survey results, and this was our first topic of conversation when we arrived at the site. The survey results indicated a large building, with a visibale entrance was present on the site. We mapped out the extent of the building using group members.2 evaluation trecnhes had been opened, and we were first asked to help extend one of them: the one that had been placed over the possible entrance. Many finds were popping up out of the top soil: including pottery, glass and metal working debris. Digging at red House had definitely given the learners the eye (and enthusiasm) for discovery!
When 12.30 came we were ready for our lunch!

Deturfing.

At work..checking turf and layer of top soil for interesting finds. The turf had come from the area believed to be the entrance to the building. We found lots of coke and some interesting bits of pottery.

Methodically excavating the area above the entrance to find clues..a piece of roman pottery was found which Roger was very excited about. Everyone applied their experience form our small test pit at Red House and the group achieved some successful excavation.

After lunch the learners had a lesson in trowelling, this helped reinforce what they had practised at Red House. They then trowelled happily for the rest of the day.

Lesson in troweling.

We were very grateful to Roger Martlew from The Yorkshire Dales Landscape Research Trust, for allowing us access to his site, and for a wonderful day. All the group agreed they would like to return next year and do some more.

Matthew Goddard and Roger making sense of the geo physics on site in grassington. The information indicates a possible round building below the ground.

Discussing our finds, and the site just before we leave.

David Cobbett and Richard Bradley..at work on hands and knees.

Adrian Kitching working and concentrating hard, Ian Smith with a find!

26th July & 2nd Aug

In preparation for our visit to Grassington to participate in an Archaeological excavation, we thought we would hone our skills and practice within the grounds of Ripon Community Link.
The Link is set in the coach-house of Red House, a Barnardo’s home, which opened in June 1946.

Studying the windows

The house and the grounds are extensive, and provided an excellent opportunity to practice test-pitting and building recording.
The group was divided into 3 separate smaller groups for the two days, and each group had a try at each activity.

We opened a small 1m x 1m test-pit in front of Red House.
We only managed to reach a depth of around 30 cm’s over the two days, but found plenty of portable artefacts, that gave us hints about the residents at Red House.
These objects included pottery sherds, fragments of glass, a children’s toy, buttons and beads.

Testpitting

We also used a metal detector to screen the grounds and located our finds on a map.
This proved more fruitful, and some of the finds were very intriguing.
We found a bullet casing, a corroded pen-knife and a padlock and 4m long chain.

Excavating a find after metal detecting.

We also undertook a mini survey of the interior and exterior of Red House itself.
This included counting the windows, measuring features and making sketches.
The now abandoned house with its many rooms, was rather eerie.
Many of the learners had views on what the future of Red House should be – many agreed attempts should be made to save and renovate the property, as opposed to knocking it down.

All finds and records made will be given to Barnardo’s as agreed.

(From the students and tutor)

A mini test pit!..learners found two different types of pottery and later washed and sorted the finds. They taped the pots back together which wasn’t easy!
Stuart Chisem, Sean(V) and Gavin Potter

Using the metal detector. Stuart Chisem and Richard Bradley. The group found many treasures with the metal detector, including a pen knife, a padlock, a chain and some masonry nails made by a blacksmith. It was a favoured activity.

Dean Thompson, making drawn evidence inside Red House.
Red House is a large derelict house which was once a children’s home. We are tracing its history and making archaeological research.

Exploring the garden at red house, How old is this tree?

Stuart Chisem- “We found a chain!”

and the group next to the test pit, outside Red House. This picture was later used in the local newspaper to promote our work and find people with connections to Red House. We are now(Oct) setting up interviews with people who responded. Adrian Kitching, Peter Mitchell, Matthew Goddard,Richard Bradley, Stuart Chisem, Dean Thompson, Ian Smith, Stevie Blair, Karen Thomas(tutor) and David Cobbett.

The group next to the test pit, outside Red House. This picture was later used in the local newspaper to promote our work and find people with connections to Red House. We are now(Oct) setting up interviews with people who responded.
Adrian Kitching, Peter Mitchell, Matthew Goddard,Richard Bradley, Stuart Chisem, Dean Thompson, Ian Smith, Stevie Blair, Karen Thomas(tutor) and David Cobbett.