Lunesdale
Archaeological Society
Update
by
Jackie Huck
Bernard
Thornborrow, Chairman of Orton & Tebay Local History Society,
welcomed everyone to the February meeting. He reminded members that the
March meeting is the AGM, and said that in view of the price of
speakers, the membership fees would have to raise to £7
annually, which is still excellent value for money.
Annie
Hamilton-Gibney was the speaker for the evening. Annie is working in
the community for three years, through ACT, on a Tebay & Orton
Distinctiveness Project. Annie outlined her work which includes
promoting tourism and has been involved in the recent
reopening of St James church vestry.
Annie is
by training an Archaeologist, and last year she arranged a field walk,
where a number of interesting items were found. The object of such
walks is to discover more about the story of people who lived in the
area in the past, and to teach local enthusiasts how to interpret any
finds. Also to keep a careful record of where items are discovered.
The
success of the walk led to the foundation of the Lunesdale
Archaeological Society and permission being obtained for excavation
work at Low Borrow Bridge, Tebay, once the site of an important Roman
Fort. There has been a number of ‘digs’ done in the past, some doing
more damage than good, and there being few correct records kept. The
excavations proved to be very informative, and a lot of new information
about the site was discovered, along with a number of artefacts. Work
is still continuing on analysis of the finds.
Annie
explained the value of such work, which can encourage tourism, provide
educational information for schools and lead to exhibitions, besides
providing a clearer picture of the area over the centuries.
The
Society are in the process of applying to the Heritage Lottery Fund for
further excavation on the site, when the area under investigation could
be increased, and also a geophysical survey could be undertaken. They
will be meeting on 29th March, when Annie will inform the group of full
details of last years finds.
She was
thanked by the Chairman, and the evening finished with refreshments.
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