Reports of Pilling Historical Society Excavations from the 1950's and 1960's

by W. Headlie Lawrenson

During the early 1950s and 1960s several exploratory excavations were carried out by the Society, the reports of which were never published. So now from memory and notes taken at the time it is proposed to rectify the matter in the hope that they may stimulate and assist further investigations.

N.G.R. SD 405 463

CIRCLE OF STONES BRADSHAW LANE

Mr. Rich. Lawson a former farmer of "Bradshaw Lane Farm, Pilling" reported to the Society that some years ago in a field from which the top layers of peat had previously been removed he had discovered a circle of broken stones from which from time to time he had removed stones to effect road repairs around the farm.
Acting upon this information a few members of the Society visited the site on the afternoons of the 12th and 19th May, 1951. By use of a metal rod pushed into the soft ground the deposit of stones was soon located near the western boundary of the field. The circle was cleared of the top soil, and found to be composed of stones many of which were broken or cracked and covered by a layer of charcoal. There was no question of this charcoal resulting from a fire of the surrounding vegetation as the charcoal layer was isolated to the circle by the other trial diggings. The stones, which were of glacial origin, were alien to the immediate locality one of them being rectangular in shape and showed signs of rubbing. They appeared to form some sort of floor laid upon the damp peat. There being four to six inches of peat under the stones. The site was found to be situated on a slight imminence of the clay subsoil. The stones were left undisturbed and the site re-instated.

N.G.R. SD 387 458

ANCIENT WOODEN CANOE - 'WELL HOUSE FARM', STALMINE

In 1906 an ancient 'dug-out' canoe made from an oak tree was unearthed during the excavation of a well at the above farm.
Mr. A. Cardwell, the farmer, stated that a piece of the canoe had been used as a fencing post for some time but was later burned for fuel.
On the 15th and 26th May, 1951 a party consisting of Mr. F. J. Sobee, He Sherdley, W. Stafford and W. H. Lawrenson excavated for several yards around the well, but only small pieces of ancient oak were found. (Similar to pieces of bog oak.) Another interesting point was the finding of blue and red glacial clay, the well was about 16' deep.

N.G.R. SD 481 486

ROMAN ROAD, KILN TREES FARM, CABUS 1954

During 1954 it was decided to attempt to locate the Roman Road which ran from Walton-le-Dale to Lancaster. After a study of maps, tradition and the lie of the land, permission was obtained to excavate on a site at 'Kiln Trees Farm' Cabus.

H. Sherdley, W. Stafford, J. Cottam, Dr. G. Howson and W. H. Lawrenson located a road to the north of Kiln Trees Farm and running parallel to the present Park Road.

It was 14' wide with a cobbled surface laid upon a gravel foundation. During the walk to the site it was noticed that a large masoned stone, in use as a gate post, had a consecration cross carved on it and a large tenon joint on the top. This was without doubt the lost Cabus Cross Roads shaft. With the co-operation of the farmer, Mr. Fowler, and the help from Mr. Capstick of Cabus with a mobile crane, the shaft was reunited with its base and now stands in its original spot at Cabus Cross Roads and on the line of the Roman Road.

N.G.R. SD 418 493

BUILDING FOUNDATIONS ON PILLING MARSH

Following the reporting of the finding of a large masoned stone by Mr. S. Kellet of 'Pilling Hall Farm' during the burying of an animal, a preliminary excavation carried out in 1955 which revealed the foundations of a substantial building, fronted by a cobbled yard or roadway.

It was conjected that this might have had some connection with the Pilling salt industry as it is situated in fields bearing the name of saltcotes, and a mound of waste sand is nearby.

The Antiquarians Leland and Camden in their travels noticed the Pilling Salt Industry and wrote:- "Divers heaps of sands taken off ye salt strandys out of which often wetting with water they pike out saltiness".

The brine obtained from the sand was boiled in pans over turf fires to evaporate off the water leaving the white salt.

A study of the 'Townley Strip Map' which shows the road from Lancaster to Poulton-le-Fylde (17th Century) locates a large building in this position oriented approximately East-West.

N.G.R. SD 518 522

ROMAN ROAD 1963

During 1963 an exploration on the line of the supposed Roman Road from Ribchester to Lancaster was made at Street Bridge, Nether Wyresdale by H Sherdley, W. Stafford, Dr. G. Howson and W. H. Lawrenson of the Pilling Historical Society. Trenches were cut on the Eastside of the River Wyre approximately 100 yards from and in line with the ancient ruined bridge abutments, which are themselves approximately 100 yards down stream from the present street Bridge.

At no great depth the surface of the road was discovered. A section was cut through the road. A foundation of river stones covered with a cambered surface of gravel bounded by a curb composed of large boulders and some masoned stones was revealed with an overall width of 18 ft. No artifacts, apart from a small shard of red samian ware which was found in the gravel layer, were encountered. (This samian shard was handed in to the Lancaster Museum by Dr. Howson.)

N.G.R. SD 442 451

SKELETON OF ANIMAL FOUND UNDER MOSS STOCK - 'NORTH WOODS FARM

In the late 1960s the Society received a report that some time previously when removing a moss-stock (bog oak) from land at 'North Woods Farm' the skeleton of an animal had been found underneath it. As soon as possible H. Sherdley, W. Stafford, J. Cottam and W. H. Lawrenson searched the area. Unfortunately, the bones had been scattered at the time of the find and owing to the time that had elapsed, only small fragments of bone were recovered, but were so small they could not be radio carbon dated.