|
|
|
Summer Programmes
2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011
The following is a list of events and activities which were undertaken by Members of Helmsley Archaeological and Historical Society between 2008 and 2011:
| Date | Time | Content | Meet at: |
| Sat 10th May 2008 | 12 noon | Walk with
David Pybus from Port Mulgrave along the foreshore to Runswick Bay,
looking at jet mining remains along the cliffs, finishing at Runswick
around 4pm. Stout walking-shoes or boots essential - this is a fairly rugged walk. Ring Mary Brill after 29th April (01751 431507) for suggestions about parking, picnicking, etc. |
National
Trust footpath entrance (NZ796175) Ordnance Survey Map |
| Wed 18th June 2008 | 6.00pm | Walk around Norman York with John Oxley (Archaeologist with York City Council): "1066 and All That, or What the Normans did in York". | Mansion
House, York Google Map |
| Sat
5th July 2008 |
10.00am |
Visit:
Here's a picture of Cawood Castle Gatehouse. |
10.00am: meet at the Ferry Inn for coffee (park in pub car park or Old Road). Google Map here. 10.30 am: meet Mrs Margaret Brearley outside Castle Gatehouse in village, to look at the banqueting hall and garth (remains of mediaeval gardens, etc.). 12:00 noon: meet Mr Sam Taylor at Cawood Church. After lunch (picnic or pub), drive to Paradise Wood, near Ryther, (Google directions here) for a visit led by Barbara Hickman, starting around 2.30-3.00 pm. |
| Wed 23rd July 2008 | 2.00pm | Examination
of ancient trees in Duncombe Park, led by Mr
Tim Tollis, Forest Manager. (Lunch beforehand obtainable at the Centre, or there are picnic tables if the weather is fine.) |
Visitor
Centre, Duncombe
Park, Helmsley. Google Map |
| Sun 5th October 2008 | 10:00am - 5:00pm | A Celebration of the Local History and Archaeology of the Region. | Helmsley
Arts Centre, Helmsley. For more details, see News |
| Sat 11th October 2008 |
10.00am
- 12.30pm
|
Hildenley
Quarry Meet at Easthorpe (at the T-junction between the Coneysthorpe to Malton road and Amotherby Lane, SE741716, beside Easthorpe Cottages) at 10.00 a.m. Walk to the Holy Well about 500 yards south of there, taking in the sandstone quarries on either side of the track. Walk through Hildenley Home Farm to the main quarry. Walk past the hidden ruins of Hildenley Hall to the quarries in the east, in Hildenley Wood, possibly taking in the "ice house" on the way. Aim to finish at about 12.30 p.m. at Hildenley Lodge (SE753712, at "Hildenley Corner" on the Explorer 300 map). Requirements: Fitness to meander 1˝ - 2 miles on footpaths, so good walking boots. Safety: Hildenley is a working farm, so normal care must be taken around animals and machinery. Within the quarries, sensible avoidance of the bigger rock faces. There is a deep lime kiln beside the entrance to the main quarry, the upper edge of which should be avoided - especially if you are distracted by the ornamental bridges built over the quarry entrance! The paths may be slippery, especially if we have more rain, so please help each other on the slopes. Anyone testing the softness of the bark on redwood trees should ensure that they are punching the correct tree, as otherwise pain, bruising and scraped knuckles will result. Hildenley is the source of a very high grade white/ cream coloured limestone, which was quarried from Roman times through to the middle of the nineteenth century and used for the paving in Roman Malton and the mediaeval walls. Whilst there are post Roman and pre-conquest sites with Hildenley limestone, it is possible that these are re-used (such as Hovingham church). It was used for the interiors of mediaeval churches, exteriors, such as Kirkham Priory, and later for domestic features as a fireplace in Nunnington Hall (late 17th century) and in the newly enclosed wolds farmhouses of the 18th century. The committee selecting the stone for the new Houses of Parliament came here and the most recent major use appears to be steps for the Royal Naval College, Greenwich in 1933. The investigation into the uses of this "fine, porcelainous, almost chalk-like" limestone have only just begun and it is possible that some of the identifications of Caen stone are actually Hildenley. The hillside has had planned gardens, with fascinating flora and exotic trees, many of which still survive on this protected, south-facing site. In mediaeval times, the manor of Hildenley belonged to the Percehay family until bought by Roger Cholmely of Roxby in the early 16th century. "Strickland the navigator" bought it from Roger's grandson in 1656 and the last Strickland here was Sir Charles, who died in 1909. In "Lost Houses of North Yorkshire", Edward Waterson and Peter Meadowes described him as "reclusive, orchid-growing". He called himself a "fox hunting squire", married twice, had two families, presented his horticultural and geological collection at conferences in London and census records show that he had lady friends to stay, even in the latter part of his life. Mr Charles Dickens passed through here on his visits to his friend and onetime colleague, Mr Smithson at Easthorpe. After Sir Charles' death, the estate was bought by the Hon F.H. Dawnay and it is by permission of his great niece, Mrs Barran that we can visit. Our guide will be Richard Myerscough. Richard is the leading light and founder of our affiliate, the Ryedale Vernacular Building Materials Research Group. A geologist who has been educating people in all rocky things for several decades now and who always challenges people to find dinosaur footprints before he does, he is an advocate of affording the same kind of protection to important geological sites that important archaelogical and natural sites have now but also of the small scale use of existing and old quarries for repair and restoration work on historic buildings. |
Google Map |
| Thurs 28th May 2009 | 10.30am |
Visit to Foulbridge Manor (medieval Templar preceptory), followed by exploration of Dalby Forest, guided by Brian Walker of the Forestry Commission.
|
Meet
Foulbridge Manor (follow minor road from Snainton) at 10.30 am for
tour of the Hall, (followed by picnic or pub lunch), and then approach
Dalby Forest from Thornton le Dale: Brian will meet us at the toll
entrance (at approximately 1.30pm, grid reference SE848855, toll
waived), and take us to the Visitor Centre, where we can have a
short break and park surplus cars. You are advised to wear stout shoes or boots, and take warm, waterproof clothing. |
| Weds 17th June 2009 | 11.00am |
Tour of the Hungate excavation in York. See here for what you may have missed! |
Meet
Peter
Connelly, Director of the Excavations, at St
Saviour's Church at 11.00 am. (The tour should take a little
over an hour.) Members might like to visit the Yorkshire Museum in the afternoon, pending its make-over next winter. |
| Weds 15th July 2009 | 6.00pm | Tour of Pickering Castle | Led by Peter Bleach; meet at 6 pm in the Education Room in the Car Park - "quite obvious for all to find". Then we will go into the Castle proper, and will dwell a little on the controversy of Beacon Hill being the possible or probably original site for Pickering Castle. |
| Weds 23rd September 2009 |
10.30am prompt
|
Visit to Beverley Minster and Meaux Abbey
|
Visit to Beverley Minster starts at 10.30am prompt; meet on steps of Minster. Fee £4 per person (free car park). 11.30am: look at Friary, if liked (no entry, but we can walk round garden), or walk round town. 1.30 pm in Minster car park, to be led to Meaux Abbey by Dr. Mary E. Carrick. The Minster, its car park, the Friary and the Tea Cosy café are all very close to one another. People are free to join this trip at the various points indicated. |
| Saturday 22nd May 2010 | 2.00pm, lasting 2 hours |
Guided tour of Easingwold, given by Valerie Taylor See here for the report... |
Numbers for this tour are strictly limited to those Members who signed up at the monthly meeting on Friday 19th March. Meet at The George for lunch at 12.30pm. |
| Tues 15th June 2010 | 6.00pm | Walk around York with John Oxley (Archaeologist with York City Council): "Railway Heritage and Archaeology in York". | Mansion
House, York Google Map |
| Sunday 17th October 2010 | Cawthorn Camps | Dr. Pete Wilson | |
| Saturday 16th April 2011 | 2.00pm | Guided walk covering the archaeology of the River Foss Navigation, by Christopher Dunn |
Lockkeeper's Cottage at New Earswick. Driving south through New Earswick you come to a 3-way roundabout at the south of the village. Go straight over (to York); almost at once by a bend you will see a small white isolated cottage by the left hand side of the road. Just before this is a small private car-park (GR: SE60945477) from where we will depart at 2.00pm. When we have finished walking this section of the Foss, we will move up to the middle of Strensall. You may leave your car in the carpark of the nearby Ship Inn |
| Saturday 14th May 2011 | 2.00pm, lasting 2 hours |
Guided tour of Easingwold, given by Valerie Taylor
|
Meet at The George for lunch at 12.30pm. |
| Tuesday 14th June 2011 | 6.00pm | Walk around York Mansion House, Commonhall Lane, Guildhall, Committee Room 1 and the Council Chamber with John Oxley (Archaeologist with York City Council). | York
Guildhall Google Map |
