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Archaeology‘Wrestler’ Tiles.      (Photos, D Waring) The above stone tiles have been uncovered during an archaeological dig at Dilston Castle, Northumbria. Wrestler tile’s are a particular shape of flag or stone used in historic roofing techniques, where-by the flag or stone has two notches crudely cut on opposite sides, thus enabling the ridge tiles to slot and lock into each other at an angle, creating the ridge of a roof without the use of mortar or cement. The flags or stone lower down the roof were held in place with either an oak dowel or as in the ones found at Dilston, with a shard of animal bone, these were attached to a lath which in turn was nailed to the rafters. The underside of the roof was often ‘torched’ with a mixture of clay and horsehair to keep out the draughts, rain and snow.  (Torching) A W Scott.This type of roofing is quite rare, although there are a few examples in Cumbria, noteably at Bridgehouse Ambleside , Eskdale and Troutbeck.   Because the scarcity of satisfactory stone for ridge sections this locking system of ridge tiles came into being. For more information on this interesting subject: http://www.stoneroof.org.uk/ www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/02630800310511541 www.friendsofhistoricdilston.org www.nparchaeology.co.uk Members of DLHS do their bit for History.   Dilston Castle Dot & John Waring and Christine Forster uncovering & cleaning last years dig Three members of DLHS travelled to Northumberland to volunteer their skills and learn more about archaeology in preparation for ‘Dig Darwen’, which is to take place in 2009. Dilston Castle built by Sir William Claxton in the mid-fifteenth century as a fortified tower house when Border raiding was a threat. The Castle is first mentioned in a deed drawn up by his son Sir Robert Claxton in 1464 and it is possible that there was earlier manor house or castle. There are also traces of a medieval village nearby, to the east of the tower. The Radcliffe Family transformed the tower house in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, to a more luxurious Elizabethan/Jacobean style of dwelling, the gateway to this still stands today. The following century it was incorporated in Dilston Hall, a palatial mansion owned by James Radcliffe, 3rd Earl of Derwentwater. Dilston Hall was demolished in 1768.   DLHS member, Dot Waring helped to clear winter debri and moss from inside the castle, in preparation for visiting schools and cleaning the already uncovered archaeology to enable students to plot, photograph and draw. For photographs of DLHS members visit see our gallery. For more information about Dilston and other historical projects go to; Historic Dilston http://www.friendsofhistoricdilston.org/index.html North Pennines Archaeology ‘Summer School’ http://www.nparchaeology.co.uk/fieldschool/fieldschool_2008.html   The above information was taken from Historic Dilston 'Friends'Review' Issue 1, January 2008.  Copy of Dot Waring's archaeological drawing. © North Pennines Archaeology. ****** CBA North-West AGM, South Trafford Archaeological Group, Altringham   Darwen Local History Society members Pauline Hodkinson and Sandra Law at CBA, 2008. Apologies for the late posting! 10th May 2008. CBA North-West AGM, South Trafford Archaeological Group, Altringham. Members of DLHS attended the CBA North-West AGM, which was hosted by and held at the South Trafford Archaeological Group at Altringham. CBA North-West Chairman, Peter Carrington opened the meeting, followed by presentations from Norman Redhead on Community Archaeology, Kevin Wright from Tameside Archaeological Society and Peter Noble, Mellor Archaeological Trust. Lunch, which was held in the Timperley Hall Hotel, was excellent and highly recommended. The afternoon itinerary consisted of a guided tour of the Timperley Moated site, our guide Derek Pierce, from STAG, gave an entertaining and informative history of the site followed by several more presentations from Mike Nevell, Director of UMAU (University of Manchester Archaeological Unit). Peter Lange from Moston & District Archaeological & Social History Group gave a very entertaining and enlightening presentation on the History of Moston Old Hall and Andy Coutts gave an up-date on the excavations done at Wythenshawe Park & Peel Hall. All DLHS members enjoyed the day and thank South Trafford Archaeological Group for their hard work. (Just one suggestion ‘get some stronger T-bags’) |
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