Out & About …

… on the North York Moors, or wherever I happen to be.

Tag: Archaeology

  • Hill Hill and the Art of Furtling

    Hill Hill and the Art of Furtling

    It was one of those charming so-called “lazy winds”—the sort that cannot be bothered to go around you and instead cuts straight through, ensuring you feel every bit of its bitter, bone-chilling embrace. Hardly the sort of day for a leisurely stroll around Kildale Moor, but, there I have been, engaged in the enthralling task…

  • Kildale’s Wet Dig

    Kildale’s Wet Dig

    And so the rains came to St. Hilda’s chapel, bringing a somewhat damp close to the archaeological dig season in picturesque Kildale. What mysteries lie behind those enigmatic stone footings — which bear more than a passing resemblance to a garden feature than to any sacred structure — must now remain hidden for yet another…

  • Connections: A Hidden Iron Age Gem to Trevelyan’s Controversial Past

    Connections: A Hidden Iron Age Gem to Trevelyan’s Controversial Past

    According to the National Trust’s heritage records, this conspicuous feature is termed a “small univallate earthwork.” ‘Univallate’ is just a fancy way of saying it’s got one raised edge encircling a ditch. Usually, that word is usually associated with hillforts, but here, the lack of any visible signs of habitation inside points more towards a…

  • Ayton Banks Ironstone Mine

    Ayton Banks Ironstone Mine

    I thought I would have a look around the Ayton Banks Ironstone Mine before the summer vegetation growth takes hold, only to find when I got home that I have already posted a photo of the old drift entrance. But that was an eternity ago, in January 2015. Ayton Banks Ironstone Mine was the smallest…

  • Low Baring: The end of the line

    Low Baring: The end of the line

    The former terminus of the east branch of the Rosedale Ironstone Railway. The branch line was built to serve the mines on the east side of the dale. It was opened in August 1865 by the North Eastern Railway although it is likely construction may have begun by the mine owners. The 4Ÿ mile route…

  • St. Hilda’s Chapel, Kildale

    St. Hilda’s Chapel, Kildale

    My penultimate day at the archaeological dig in Kildale which I have been involved with all summer. The site will soon be winterised until next year. It is thought the stone walls are the remains of a medieval chapel dedicated to St. Hilda, which was located through detective work by members of the Hidden Valleys…

  • Capt. Cooks’ Cottage Archaelogical Dig

    Capt. Cooks’ Cottage Archaelogical Dig

    That’s it. That’s as far as we go. The archaeological excavation at Aireyholme Farm, near Great Ayton, is done.  Today has been spent tidying and cleaning for photographing and recording. Going on the evidence of oral tradition of the farmer at Aireyholme that the boyhood home of Capt. James Cook was within a stand of…

  • Aireyholme Farm Archaeological Dig – Outcome

    Following my post of the 7 May several readers have asked the outcome of the archaeological dig at Aireyholme Farm. This is an extra post giving you an idea what was found and conclusions. The object was to find evidence of a 18c dwelling at a site on National Trust land at Cliff Rigg, 200m south…

  • Archaeological Dig – Aireyholme Farm

    Archaeological Dig – Aireyholme Farm

    Spent the day digging a hole. Well taking part in an archaeological dig really to find the boyhood home of Capt. James Cook. It’s well known that James’ father was employed at Aireyholme Farm near Great Ayton and his family lived there with him at the farm. What is not known is precisely where the…