The Weekend Review

First up, a quick advert for the latest collection of Wyre Archaeology Excavation Reports, this time covering the winter of 2008 to the winter of 2009. Not quite as thick as the previous one this, due to the fact that last year was probably the wettest digging season ever on record, but still a good read I reckon, if you're interested in what we were up to in our wellies and stuff...


Available now on-line (get a Pay Pal account for crying out loud!) at:

http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/wyre-archaeology-excavation-reports-volume-two/8079935

...or, alternatively, you can order a copy at the next Wyre Archaeology meeting.

Speaking of books, here's a review from the 'Rural Life Magazine' (cheers Anthony) of our second Fylde and Wyre Antiquarian book. Again, it's only available on-line at the moment...although there might be some in the shops, I'm not totally certain...I've lost track of this lot now. And again, alternatively, you can order a copy if you'd prefer at the next Wyre Archaeology meeting. (As always, click on the image if you want to read it properly.)


Actually there might be some in the shops. I'd have to contact my distributor (otherwise known as Gary) to find out. Whatever, here's the address to buy one if you have your own Pay Pal account:

http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/another-slice-of-the-fylde-and-wyre-antiquarian/6573124

Finally, a clipping from last week's Evening Gazette. It's actually about the Fleetwood Civic Society and the wall around the Mount, but I get a mention in it (cheers Tom) and I know how desperate my fans are to get hold of anything even remotely connected with me (apparently it's a requisite when practising voodoo), so there we go:

Mystery Stones and Newspaper Clippings by way of a Mid-week Extra

It’s time for another of those annoying interruptions to the preordained scheduling of this board -- although not all that annoying I suspect, seeing as it comes at the end of a three part article about torf delving. Incidentally, if you're looking for that elusive third part, then you probably ought to see a psychiatrist. However, mental deficiencies aside, it can be found immediately below this posting -- as the chronological crow flies. In the meantime, here’s a clipping from today’s Fleetwood Weekly News:

Obviously that's a bit small for the average human eyeball to digest. (Editor: Does that sentence conjure up an extremely odd image, or is it just me?) If you want to actually read the clipping you'll have to click on the image itself to enlarge it.
And if you're that way inclined, you can also contribute to the discussion/speculations about these mystery objects over at the forum by clicking on the following link:

http://fyldeantiquarian.freeforums.org/possible-prehistoric-finds-t234.html

Incidentally, by a strange twist of fate (considering that it's not even a proper pre-prepared Fylde and Wyre Antiquarian article) this is our 200th posting. Please leave the usual congratulatory bottles of whisky, boxes of chocolates etc on the garden wall in brown paper bags.

A bit of something extra...

Michelle picked up a copy of the Evening Gazette on her way home from work this evening. There's an extra chocolate-chip cookie in store at the next Wyre Archaeology meeting for whoever recognises the most faces in the following article:
Incidentally, if your eyeballs are starting to sweat trying to read the article at the size it's been posted, just click on the image for the bigger version.
There are a couple of minor 'corrections' to point out (entirely my fault, I'm sure...with my neb I'm nasal at the best of times, but trying to understand what I'm saying when I'm full of the flu must have been a nightmare for Tom Halstead). The roundhouses were actually first discovered in 2005 (although, of course, they were still there to be rediscovered in 2007) and the geophysics equipment was borrowed from the University of Central Lancashire as opposed to the University of Lancaster. I think Danielle half-inched it all from the broom cupboard at Preston University to be honest.
Anyhow, cheers to Tom Halstead for keeping this subject alive and kicking and, as always, I'll be signing autographs at ASDA tomorrow morning when I go shopping.

Hot off the Press

Anybody searching for 'The Really, Really Early History of Blackpool' post, as advertised all week, don't panic; it's immediately below this one. At least it is 'chronologically'. If you happen to be reading this particular posting in the archives then it probably isn't. It'll be somewhere else entirely, but that won't matter because the chances are you wouldn't have been looking for it anyway.
No, the reason for this mid-mid-week interuption/addition to our usual schedule is because the following page from the Garstang Courier arrived in my letterbox this morning and, being the incredibly humble and slightly scatter-brained person what I am, it struck me that if I didn't scan it in and post it on this board immediately then I'd probably forget. (What? No, I'm not just shouting my own praises here! Honest! I would forget about it...eventually...after about eight or nine years or so...possibly.)
Anyhow, a massive thanks to Anthony Coppin of the Garstang Courier for this latest review (now there's somebody who obviously recognises genius when he reads it). As it transpires, the 'Fylde & Wyre Antiquarian' books have turned out to be more popular than we anticipated, so apologies to anybody having difficulty tracking a copy down at the moment. (If you've got Paypal, or a credit card, or what have you, then you could always buy a copy via the link in the right hand column, of course.)
The first print run has sold out all ready (which is good news as far as George is concerned...for anybody who's not been following this, if we don't sell 1,000 copies by christmas then George is going to be taken round the back of Wyrefield Farm and shot...it's a bit harsh, we know, but we've promised everyone now and we don't want to disappoint people). However, we've ordered some more and, hopefully, they'll be arriving for distribution to the usual outlets soon.
In the meantime though, here's that review. Cheers again to Anthony Coppin, and when you're ready to join us at Wyre Archaeology we'll be sure to have a brew ready for you.

Monday Afternoon Quickie...

It's funny how some stories just seem to run, isn't it? Thought I'd post this by way of a mid-mid-week offering. It was sent to me by Anthony Coppin of the Garstang Courier. (Cheers for that Anthony.) I know it's another rehash of the 'Roman pillars at the North Euston' story, but this one appeared in the Longridge News. Yes, our fame is spreading, folks. The North Euston's probably doing quite well out of this too. (You'll have to click on the image below if you want to actually read it.)

While I'm here, how about an update on the Wyre Archaeology Bric-a-brac stall at the Lambs Road car boot sale in Thornton, yesterday? Well, Jean, Harry and Barbara you'll be glad to know, managed to raise a grand total of £140.00...which isn't bad, you've got to admit. I took this photograph of Jean and Babara hard at work when me and Chris were en route to Grange Farm in the morning. Jean particularly wanted to show off her S.P.Q.R. teeshirt. (Don't ask me...something to do with Queen's Park Rangers I think.)

Before anyone starts grumbling, Thursday's posting (all being well) will be appearing as advertised (and as it ought to be) on Thursday as usual. And any members of Wyre Archaeology reading this who might have forgotten...The Shovels Inn, Hambleton, 7.00 p.m. this Wednesday evening. Bring a trowel and butties etc.

A Little Something for the Weekend...

Fame and fortune (well...fame at any rate) has paid another visit on 'Your's truly' and it's brought yet another disturbing photograph along with it, to adorn the cupboard doors of female archaeology students everywhere. This time it's my acqualine profile that's on offer. (And for your information, the 'chiselled' look is out...the 'slightly jowelly, a little bit podgy' look is in.) I deliberately chose the 'staring hard into a force ten gale trying not to let the fact that my eyes were watering phase me' expression, because it's bound to make the ladies go weak at the knees.
Actually, we covered the potential Roman columns bit at this site a few weeks ago, although, I have to admit, Tom Halstead followed up on the research a bit more than I did by actually contacting Walter Scott Jr. in person. (I will get in touch with him myself at some point...it's just that I've got excavations to organise, fans throwing their knickers at me and other important stuff to sort out right now.) Tom also spoke to the treasurer of Ribchester Historical Society, which I should have done really, but, come on, I'm doing the best I can:

Once again, cheers to Tom Halstead at the Evening Gazette for running the article and giving both Wyre Archaeology and Fleetwood's local history another boost. (I'm just waiting for the television contract at the moment.) I can only assume Carol's off sick from work today because I haven't had any phone calls consisting of twenty minutes of maniacal laughter yet...

Indiana Hughes and the Photograph of Doom

Thursday evening saw the publication in the Gazette of yet another stunning portrait of Wyre Archaeology's perfectly honed, chisel-jawed hunk (i.e. Yours truly), adding to the collection of 'Hughes' pin-ups now adorning the walls of female archaeology students the length of Britain. (What do you mean, I look like a muppet that's been in a fight with a blow torch? And no...it's that prop-coat they forced me to wear that makes me look fat! Honest!)
I really should apologise to Gary Thornton before we get to the actual article, for dragging him out of bed at such an ungodly hour on Wednesday morning, complete with his metal detector, only to have his photograph (not to mention Michelle's) dropped from the article. The original brief was to round up as many members of Wyre Archaeology as possible for a collective photograph. Unfortunately there were no photographers available for the meeting on Wednesday night due to a suddenly contagious outburst of 'I've just remembered the cup final's on telly'. As time was short (and my increasingly disturbing telephone bill looming) it was only a small contingent that turned up in Fleetwood for the occasion. Obviously, once the Evening Gazette realised that I was the true superstar of the trio and that my fine bone structure would be perfectly suited to help sell more newspapers, they dropped Gary and Michelle and concentrated solely on me instead.
I was particularly intrigued by the on-line version of this article, which ran my photograph alongside Harison Ford's with the caption: "Spot the difference."
"Sir, I know the answer to that one, Sir. About thirty years in age, four face lifts and a twenty million quid a year pay packet."
Anyhow, cheers to Tom Halstead and Robert Lock for once again providing Wyre Archaeology with much needed publicity. And cheers also to Carol who assaulted me on the telephone on Thursday afternoon with fifteen minutes of uncontrollable laughter.
Media whore? Me? Never!(Incidentally, if you want to read the actual words and/or see that photograph again at an altogether larger and more frightening size, just click on the image above.)

By Way of a Mid-Week Extra

Don't worry...a full explanation of our stump-legged effigy at St. Helen's (see final paragraph of the posting below) will be revealed on this board sometime between Thursday evening and Friday morning, as per our usual end of the week update...unless my computer blows up, of course. For now, however, as the title of this posting suggests, by way of a mid-week extra, I've been given a copy this afternoon (courtesy of Mr. Higginson and Mr. Bloomer of the Fylde Country Life Museum) of two obituaries from the Garstang Courier (both published last week) dedicated to my old friend Neil Thompson. The newspaper clippings speak for themselves really, so all that it remains for me to say is, if you're having difficulty reading them at the current size, just click on the thumbnails and all will, hopefully, become clear:

Another Mid-Week-ish Posting…

Okay…first things first. Michelle and I (some people will be glad to read) have resigned from Wyre Archaeology. There are several reasons for our sudden departure but, after a great deal of ‘umming’ and ‘arhing’, we thought it best not to air our dirty laundry in public. However, we are continuing with our historical and archaeological researches, we will be updating this web site (of course) as normal and we will be writing more books (so the Amazonian Rainforests aren’t safe yet)…and we’ll even be conducting the odd independent excavation when we manage to land one…so anybody who wants to stay in touch with us please drop us a line at our usual e-mail address. (What do you mean you haven’t got it? We handed out those little cards a few weeks ago at one of the meetings, remember? It’s not our fault if you threw it in the bin. Tell you what, leave us a message over at the forum with your e-mail address in it and we’ll get back in touch.)

Now then, regarding Saturday’s dig (or, to be exact, our last ever dig with the society). What did we discover?

Well, it would appear that the only thing surrounding our four enigmatic stones was a large red clay floor. (It was a floor and not glacial deposit. We can tell because there was soil beneath.) Oh, and we found a piece of what appears to be Roman pottery.

Apart from that we’re none the wiser. Regardless, here’s a photograph of the back of Fiona's head just for the record.

Lastly, for now, here’s our latest ‘Trumpet Blowing Exercise’ from the Garstang Courier. Once again, thanks to Anthony Coppin for a great review and we’re glad you enjoyed it.

Usual update on Friday folks, so don’t abandon us just yet, will you?

Addendum: The following article appeared in the Evening Gazette on Monday night. We were actually expecting an article about Saturday's dig, so we were surprised to come across this:

Blowing our own trumpets…again

Yes…it’s another mid-week posting, and an early one this week at that. Don’t panic if you’re looking for part two of the Kilgrimol saga…actually, on second thoughts, perhaps you ought to panic a bit and possibly even consult a psychiatrist…but whatever the case we’ll be continuing our exploration of the ‘drowned village’ on Friday. For now, though, we thought we’d share with you our latest claims to fame. (Form an orderly queue if you want an autograph please.)

Firstly this review of ‘The History of the Fylde Coast in Old Picture Postcards’ (you know the routine with the thumbnails by now) appeared in the Garstang Courier tonight. Phil Barker spotted it and thought we might like a copy. When the words: “What an excellent book it is…” leapt out at us from the printed page we could hardly refuse. (Incidentally, if Anthony Coppin, the reviewer, is reading this, thanks for the support, and the cheque is in the post.)

See, we told you it was an excellent book. The only trouble is we’re currently sold out of them, but we’ve got a new batch on order so keep chomping the bit for now.

Our second foray into the world of international stardom tonight came as another surprise. In fact, if Michelle hadn’t spotted the bulletin board outside Thornton newsagents on her way home from work we might have missed it. (You know you’ve hit the big time when you appear on a newspaper bulletin board. How cool is that?) Unfortunately, once again, my ugly, gurning mush is taking centre stage. I really wish I’d warn a balaclava when the photograph was taken a couple of weeks back. Or not been standing in the rain for two hours before hand so that my hair was plastered to my head in a 1970’s Bobby Moore style. The committee at Wyre Archaeology have warned me that, in future, they’ll be hiring a John Merrick look-a-like to stand in for my photographs so as not to put potential new members off.

And ‘The History of the Wyre (from Harold the Elk to Cardinal Allen)’ (again, momentarily out of stock but we’re working on it) gets a mention, so cheers to Tom Halstead for throwing his support behind Bourne Hill, Wyre Archaeology and everything else. At this rate we’re going to have a huge crowd of spectators on the hill. And knowing our luck all we’re going to find is a dented beer can and a couple of used prophylactics.

Back to Kilgrimol on Friday…but don’t let that put you off revisiting this web site.

Blowing our own trumpet...well, somebody has to

We did have a posting about the legend of Kilgrimol lined up for this week, but events have overtaken us (as always) so that’ll have to wait until next Friday now. Instead, as readers of the Evening Gazette will already know, Wyre Archaeology is now well and truly famous, David Parry and his kids no doubt receiving a nasty shock on Thursday night when they discovered themselves on the front page. (To be honest we didn’t realise the family portrait hard at work on a Bourne Hill trench was amongst the stuff we’d given to Tom Halstead the Gazette reporter. Neither, unfortunately, did the Parrys.) We’ve been informed that the editors realised after they’d seen the photograph of my own ugly, windswept mush that featuring me on the front cover would scare too many children and result in a downtrend of sales…so they went with the more suitable option.
Anyhow…here’s the aforementioned front cover in case you missed it. Just click on the thumbnail below, because it’s way too small to read if you don’t. (Incidentally, apologies for the crease right across the middle. True to form we got caught up in a torrential downpour after visiting the newsagents, and it was touch and go as to whether the paper would even survive.)

And so to page fifteen where Tom Halstead did a wonderful job of summing up our excavation reports (thanks Tom if you’re reading this). Again, just click on the thumbnail for the larger version (and, again, apologies for the poor reproduction because newspapers are a bugger to scan, but hopefully it should still be legible) and try to ignore the gurning idiot on the right hand side of the photograph…

So, recognition at last for our Iron Age settlement at Bourne Hill!

Regular members of Wyre Archaeology (or at least those who braved the elements for the last meeting) will already know that Neil Thompson has vowed to take James Parr’s mechanical digger up the hill to continue the excavation. As it transpires we'll be going up there sooner than expected. Any members who are interested/available, therefore, should meet us on Saturday 11th August at 10.00 a.m outside the old entrance to Bourne Hall.

The excavation will, of course, rely on the weather, so if it's pouring down we might have to postpone matters until it stops.

For more information please contact either Ken Emery (Secretary), Gary Thornton (Treasurer) or Neil Thompson (Chairman).