Yesterday (Sunday 17th May) we carried out a day’s worth of test-pitting in the field that lies just the other side of the lane to the north of the forts. It’s where Harbour Farm used to be, and we understand it went to demolition when the Upper Reservoir was built, (late 19th century), possibly and presumably for the purity of the watershed?
We did the test-pitting of that area as part of the wider hinterland survey – one of the objectives in the constitution of the Friends of Castleshaw Roman Forts.
Apart from a few minutes of rain when we got there the day was free from weather hazards, except for a strong and persistent eye-watering moorland breeze!
Here’s Phil and the 2 Sues breaking ground…
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We opened 6 test-pits initially with another one later on. You can see that they’re in a sort of line near the wall at the top of the field.
Phil – the proud digger of this test-pit… and some very easily lifted turfs
Lorraine, Steve, Mike and Kevin…
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and Huddersfield Arch with the neatest (OCD) spoil you’ll ever see…
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…all getting on with it
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……..then making the case for an extra test-pit.?
Results….
some rubble……
some rubble and some roof tiles
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and bigger stones…..
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So no foundations or walls left of Harbour Farm at all…
But wait…. could this be looking look like a metalled Roman road layer?
You bet it looks like it…..I had the close up view and it’s solid over that part of the test-pit…
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and here it is with a lovely section through it…. looking for all the world like another deeper layer of road!
We worked our fingers and our trowels to the bone – it’s Norman’s trowel that proves it!
A fun job, done well
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Farewell till next time,
Bloggerina
Friends of Castleshaw Roman Forts 