Annual Report of
Scarborough Archaeological & Historical Society
2006-2007
This Annual Report covers the Society’s ‘year’ of 1 April 2006 until 30 March 2007
1108962
PO Box 378
Scarborough
YO12 4WS
ADMINISTRATION
The Society and its property are administered and managed in
accordance with the Constitution adopted at the Annual General Meeting on 4
April 2005. The Society is administered by the members of the Committee, constituted
by clause 6.0 of the Constitution, and by the Trustees.
TRUSTEES
John Rushton (Chairman of the Trustees), Colin Barnes, Bryan
Berryman, Jack Binns, Martin Bland, Chris Hall, Sue Ogilvy,
COMMITTEE
2006-2007
President John Rushton Vice-Presidents Bryan Berryman, Jack
Binns
Executive
Officers Chairman Colin Barnes,
Vice Chairmen Keith Johnston and Colin Langford, Secretary Chris Hall,
Treasurer Martin Bland
Committee, Robin Boddy, Rachel
Cubitt, John Hobson, Linda Kemp, Nick Kemp, Ron Lewis, Vanessa Milner, Gail
Nicholls, Sue Ogilvy, Trevor Pearson, Mark Vesey, Sue Wood.
During the course of the year, Farrell Burnett, who held the
non-committee post of Publications Manager was co-opted onto the Committee in
the same role.
The Committee appointed members to the following posts:-
Editor, Electronic Publicity Officers, Librarian, Membership
Officer, Minutes Secretary, Programme Secretary, Projects Officer, Projects
Assistants (2), Publicity Officer, Social Secretary.
The non-committee post of Projectionist previously held by
Jim Normandale remained vacant.
The committee met on six occasions to deal with various
administrative and policy matters. Ad hoc Task Groups which met informally were
created to deal with specific matters.
The Society’s objects are set out in clause 3.1 of the
Constitution and are:-
To advance the education for the
public benefit in the archaeological and local history of Scarborough and the
surrounding area by the following:
a)
To
increase and disseminate knowledge of and interest in the same.
b)
To
undertake and support research into sites and archives of archaeological,
architectural and historical interest, and the publication of the results of
such researches.
c)
To
encourage the identification, protection and preservation of such sites and
archives.
a) Dissemination
of knowledge
Lectures - The autumn course was to consist
of six lectures on Scarborough’s history as a seaside resort given by Keith
Johnston but due to ill health lecture 6 had to be postponed until February
2007 – the full list is appended. Average attendance was about 85. Eight
winter/spring lectures were arranged and were again well attended – the full
list is appended. The Annual Invitation Lecture is the one to which we invite
other local Societies. This year’s was held on 5 March entitled ‘How these curiosities would be quite
forgot’ –the work of a Reconstruction Artist by Peter Dunn a reconstruction
artist for English Heritage.
Guided walks - On 14 May 2006 we
perambulated around the boundaries of Scalby .
In June and July 2006 we had guided walks around Kirkbymoorside, Wharram
Percy/Thixendale, and Ravenscar Alum works. The leaders of these walks, were
Martin Bland, John Rushton, Chris Hall and Jenny Bartlet.
We held one
public Heritage Walk this year – Peasholm Park and Glen on 21 July 2006 which was
led by Keith Johnston
Local History day 17 June 2006 – We arranged this
educational event with North Yorkshire County Library and other local
societies. Another event held at Scarborough Library & Information Centre was a Day School on Landscape History in
North and East Yorkshire, tutor John Rushton. Both of these were very popular
Victorian Society – this national
amenity society asked us to carry out the local organisation for their summer
visit to Scarborough and to provide speakers and guides. We were happy to
contribute to this successful event
Heritage Open Days - The Society
worked in partnership with the Civic Society and Scarborough Borough Council to
organise several local events. Heritage
Open Days is a national event which celebrates England’s architectural,
historic and cultural heritage by offering free access to interesting buildings
that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission, and
tours and activities that bring local history and culture to life. In addition
to organisation, Society Members gave guided tours of the Castle and
commissioned John Hudson to give demonstrations of medieval pottery making
Talks to other groups/organisations
- Members of the Society gave talks about our work and the results of our
research to various groups including Castle Ward Tenants & Residents
Association and Hull University Adult Classes. Members have been advising
Scarborough Maritime Heritage Group on handling archive material on Scarborough
Harbour & Shipping.
Publications – In December 2006 the
Committee decided to set up an Editorial Board to help with the production of
Transactions and the set policy and guidelines for the content of Transactions
and future publications. It is hoped to publish a book on panniermans ways in
the Research .reports series. Unfortunately the publication of Transactions 39 was
severely delayed and did not come out until mid March 2007. Other
reports published are set out in Appendix 2.
The web-site continues to be an
important way of disseminating information and was expanded to include more
items on the excavations database, more information on excavations and news
item. The web site generated a number of enquiries on the history and
archaeology of the area which were answered by our members.
b) Research
Excavations and Post Excavation
Group
Excavations or watching briefs were
carried out during the year at Springfield; Wood End, Rotunda, Lighthouse Pier,
Marlborough Street and (outside our usual area) at Wansford near Driffield. Comments
on the archaeological implications of work at other sites were given to the
County Archaeologist. The team leaders prepared a discussion paper for the
group and others about the future of archaeological research and as a result it
has been decided to cease development led archaeology (except in exceptional
circumstances) and to concentrate projects based on a research agenda.
Post Excavation Group – the post
excavation group examines, records, researches and archives artefacts produced
from excavations and prepares them for deposit with the Museums & Gallery
Service. The group met on seven occasions. Since the current campaign of urban
excavations started in 1987, 197 boxes of finds have been deposited with the
Scarborough Museums & Gallery Service along with the excavation archives of
five boxes containing 55 files.
House Detectives Group – this group
investigates the documentary and social history of Scarborough houses. Two
volumes of records, of the Undercliffe quarter and the port of Scarborough were
presented to Scarborough library in November 2006 - these have been placed on the open shelves in the Scarborough
room.
The group is now researching
alehouses and related subjects in the area Stainton to Filey, Hunmanby, Sherburn,
Brompton, Hackness, Staintondale, Scarborough. Detailed files will be collected
for eventual placement in the Library.
c) Sites
and archives
Scarborough
library Archives cataloguing group
The group was formed to contribute to the effectiveness of
Scarborough Library’s local history collection (the Scarborough Room) by
helping to catalogue materials such as maps, illustrations, documents,
ephemera, journals. These needed further sorting, listing, indexing,
transcribing or copying before they could readily be accessed by the public. A
schedule of potential projects was drawn up three of these were tackled by the
whole group:-
Firstly, to organise browser files of local
photographs ;
Secondly, to extract useful articles from a
backlog of local journals; and
Thirdly, to examine and identify a collection of
manuscripts.
Subsequently
members have undertaken individual tasks of their choice and this phase
continues
Scarborough
Community Archive Network
This
group has obtained lottery funding (Awards For All) of £4,500 to purchase
computer equipment, scanners, projectors, cameras and software to start this
project. The aims of the project are to document, celebrate and promote
the cultural heritage of Scarborough by involving the community in the creation
of a searchable digital archive. The database contains photographs, documents
and reminiscences, in typed and oral recordings.
A training
day for interested volunteers on the use of the equipment and software database
was held along with several planning meetings
An “easy to use” guide was put together and the kit assembled into a
suitcase for transportation.
Members of
the public were contacted through local groups and clubs encouraging them to
contribute to the archive. The project was publicised the project in the
local press etc. Leaflets were made up and distributed at a local family
history fair.
The archive
currently has 130 images, donated by 10 different parties, along with 10 typed
monologues about their memories of Scarborough. The number of
volunteer hours put into the project so far is 140.
Working in partnership with other
organisations and community groups is important in the delivery of our Objects.
During the year we worked in partnership with:-
The Friends of the Art Gallery, Scarborough
& District Civic Society – comments on proposals for the Creative
Industries Centre and Art Gallery feasibility study
The Friends of Falsgrave Park – further
work at the Upper Conduit House
Helmsley
& District Archaeological Society – guided tour
Hull
University – adult classes
North
Yorkshire County Library and the Friends of Scarborough Library – Archives
cataloguing group and Local History day.
Scarborough
& District Civic Society, English Heritage , Scarborough Borough Council, –
Heritage Open Days
Scarborough
Maritime Heritage Group – handling archival material
Scarborough
Museums & Gallery Service – excavation archive
MEMBERSHIP
The
Society has 161 members - the same as last year. Of these 6 are life members
and 5 are institutional members.
The
Society is a member of the following organisations:-
Council for British Archaeology
Council for Independent Archaeology
Scarborough & District Council for Voluntary Service
Yorkshire Archaeological Society
Signed……………………………………………………………………………………………
John
Rushton Chairman of the Trustees Colin
Barnes, Chairman of the Committee
APPENDIX 1- LECTURES
3 April
2006
Archaeology at Bamburgh (after the AGM). Rachel Cubitt
24 April
2006
George Lord Beeforth (1823-1924) Scarborough
Entrepreneur Anne & Paul Bayliss
(In substitution for the scheduled speaker
who had to cancel)
Scarborough's history as a seaside
resort - course of six lectures. Keith Johnston
2 October
2006
Overview –from “playground for the
rich and idle” to “day out excursion destination”
16 October
2006
The visitors
30 October
2006
Holiday accommodation
13 November
2006
What did the visitors do? part 2
27 November
2006
Canon Purvis, a Yorkshire Scholar. John Rushton (in substitution for
the programmed lecture)
11 December
2006
What did the visitors do? part 2
8 January 2007
Helmsley, Rievaulx & Duncombe Park; an estate
through 1000 years. Chris Dunn
22 January 2007
Health
Services in 19th Century Scarborough, an Overview. Anne and
Paul Bayliss
5 February 2007
The Pioneering Mrs. Leider and
British Egyptology. Dr Joann Fletcher
19 February 2007
Scarborough - Queen of Watering
Places? Keith Johnston
(postponed from 11 December 2006)
5 March 2007
ANNUAL INVITATION LECTURE
How these curiosities would be quite forgot’ –the work of a
Reconstruction Artist
Peter Dunn
19 March 2007
Showing of the film The
Springfield Excavation followed by question and answer session with Chris
Hall
(in
substitution for the programmed speaker who cancelled –for the second time)
APPENDIX 2 – REPORTS &
PUBLICATIONS
|
Title |
Reference |
Date |
Author(s) |
|
Vincents
Pier/Lighthouse Pier, Scarborough |
Watching
Brief Report 01/06 |
Sept 06 |
C W Hall
& S M P
Wood |
|
Wood End, The
Crescent Scarborough |
Watching
Brief Report 02/06 |
Nov 06 |
C W Hall
& S M P
Wood |
|
Rotunda
Museum Museum
Terrace Scarborough |
Watching
Brief Report 03/06 |
Nov 06 |
C W Hall
& S M P
Wood |
|
An
Archaeological Evaluation Excavation 23 Quay
St Scarborough |
Interim
Report 38 |
Nov 06 |
C W Hall |
|
Index to
Field Archive 1986-2006 Deposited with Scarborough Museums |
|
Dec 06 |
C W Hall |
|
Transaction
of SAHS |
Volume 39 |
March 07 |
Keith
Johnston (Editor) |
|
|
|
|
|