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Thornborough hypocrisy exposed
February 25, 2006, 1:27 pm
As editor of the Heritage Journal, people sometimes email me with their opinions. I received something this morning which is worth reproducing in full, because it neatly sums up the situation at Thornborough and exposes the bad smell of hypocracy we at Heritage Action have had stuck in our nostrils for some time.
Dear Heritage Action,
I've just been reading about what's happening up at the Thornborough Henges.
The law says you can't quarry away stuff that's of 'National Importance'. That's it in black and white. There is no grey and therefore there can be no argument.
English Heritage says the stuff Tarmac wants to quarry is of 'National Importance'. Black and white. No grey. No argument.
I'm thinking that English Heritage, as the top government body in these matters, might know what it's talking about and should be deferred to. But no! Tarmac's consultant has said: 'National interest, national significance certainly, but national importance no.'
Is it just me, or does that sound like wriggling and a bit of a cheek? He's conceding its of national interest and of national significance but he won't have it that that adds up to being nationally important. Well, call me old-fashioned, but I can't think of anything that's of national interest and significance that isn't nationally important. And I can't think of anything that's nationally important that isn't also nationally interesting and significant. So what's he on about?
I suppose there's some fancy archaeological definition of 'Nationally Important' that he's trying to interpret his way. But he's ruined whatever faint hope he had of doing that by admitting it's of national significance. He might get a hearing on Planet La-la but in the real common sense world. he now has no case at all.
He's blown it, with a few simple words. Keep on his case, you lovely protestors. Keep telling the world what he said.
Oh, we intend to, Dear Writer! And thank you for summing it up so nicely for us!
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'Visionary future' needed for the Thornborough complex
February 23, 2006, 5:29 pm
Campaign group TimeWatch has called for the recently proposed Thornborough Henges conservation plan to be radically redrafted to reflect the importance of the area.
George Chaplin of Timewatch said: "The threat of quarrying has not been removed by the recent planning refusal but it has given time to take stock and for everyone to agree upon the best future for the whole area."
The Timewatch proposals are:
1) that a much wider 'no quarry zone' is incorporated into the Conservation Plan, extending at least a mile radius from the central monuments.
2) that preservation of all archaeology within the zone is made the top priority.
Quarrying in the vicinity of the Thornborough Henges has caused widespread concern for many years. About half of the original complex has been destroyed, a landfill site is being operated immediately adjacent to the central monuments and quarrying is still ongoing close by at Nosterfield, also within the monument complex.
"Tarmac have not given up in their ambition to extend the existing quarry," said George. "They intend to appeal against the refusal and the danger remains very real for the whole of the remaining surroundings - which they also own and have refused to rule out quarrying. Tarmac's reaction to yesterday's defeat and its insistence that English Heritage is wrong, should be seen as a warning to us all."
"This threat can only be defended against by a unified, visionary conservation plan for the whole area, not a timid and partial one", he added. "Only the best will do for the Thornborough complex if 'half destroyed' isn't to become 'more than half destroyed'."
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Souvenir-hunters: don't do it!
February 21, 2006, 6:45 pm
We spotted some idiot selling a piece of Callanish stone on eBay so that a buyer can 'experience its magic'.
The seller says: The ancient Callanish Stones in the Outer Hebrides are ... the second largest stone circle in Great Britain ... These Megaliths are associated with mystical power and healing. This belief is also rooted from personal experience, that one can experience a profound mystical presence from this Site ...This handy sized stone has been gathered from the heather-strewn site to enable you to experience the mystical properties unique to Callanish and will be delivered to you from the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.
While it sounds like the vendor hasn't actually chipped a bit off one of the megaliths, buying such tokens is not recommended. Taking anything (except photographs) from an scheduled ancient monument is not legal, for a start! If everyone took a bit from a place you'd end up with nothing for anyone to enjoy or wonder at.
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This photo, taken by Heritage Action's Moth Clark, illustrates what token-hunting can do. This strange lump of rock is all that is left of what was once a 50' tall pillar on which monk St Simeon Stylites spent his strange monastic life in the fourth century AD. The rest has been chipped off and removed by souvenir-hunting pilgrims during the past 1,600 years.
It would be a tragedy to speed up the erosion of our ancient sites any more than happens naturally. |
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Thornborough: fantastic news
February 21, 2006, 3:28 pm
Here's some great news about Thornborough.
Congratulations to everyone who put in thousands of hours behind the scenes to get to this day and of course, most of all to Heritage Action's George Chaplin who just wouldn't stop fighting against enormous odds.
This battle has been won, but the war may not be over yet.
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In praise of Thornborough
February 20, 2006, 12:03 pm
Tomorrow, the fate of the landscape around the Thornborough henges will be discussed at a meeting in North Yorkshire. How wonderful then, to see this story in The Guardian today in praise of the monument.
More news about what's decided as soon as we have it.
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Never mind the archaeology - what about the setting?
February 16, 2006, 12:41 pm
Recent news that North Yorkshire County Council are recommending that Tarmac's latest application to quarry in the ritual landscape of the Thornborough Henges should be rejected is most welcome, but this may be a precursor to a much more problematic issue.
The PPG16 legislation calls for the preservation of important archaeology and its setting but fails to adequately define either of these. Fortunately, at the Thornborough site at Ladybridge, which is likely to reveal archaeology of the largest Neolithic settlements in Britain the issue of national importance has, in the end, been a reasonably simple concept to prove - but what about the setting?
Tarmac has shown a determination to quarry this site regardless of the impact on the archaeology of the henges. Just because their latest attempt has failed, it is unlikely that the company will give up trying and the most likely next step will be to withdraw the application and resubmit avoiding the nationally important archaeology.
We will then have to ask the question what constitutes 'the setting'. Heritage Action believes that the henges lie within a ritual landscape - specifically chosen because of its wider landscape features which we feel must be included in the concept of the 'setting' of the henges.
It is most likely that Tarmac will regard the setting of the archaeology as only the land that actually contains the archaeology. From discussions with council officers it is apparent that the definition of setting is not clearly understood and it is notable that English Heritage voiced uncertainty regarding the question of setting of the Thornborough Henges some years ago.
So, while we may yet save the archaeology, we think the wider setting is far from safe. We will be watching with interest.
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Leaving tat is not an 'offering'
February 13, 2006, 6:13 pm
Last week, Heritage Action member Thelma Wilcox walked round Silbury Hill following the line of the River Kennet and crossed the road to seek out the Swallowhead Springs. When she arrived she was horrified to see the place littered with 'offerings'.
Swallowhead Springs festooned with tat. Photo: Thelma Wilcox
The River Kennet is sourced from a number of chalk streams but the common understanding is that it flows from the Swallowhead springs which emerges from a small wall of chalk at a corner of a meadow. Read more about the Kennet here..
This small area and the many springs within it is perhaps a clue to the 'sacred' nature of this part of Wiltshire and may be one of many reasons why prehistoric people built their monuments here.
The habit of leaving offerings continues, but now, instead of biodegradable goodies like flowers and food , people leave a variety of tat and junk. Yuk! The truth is, stuff like this left anywhere is litter.
Thelma discovered plastic skulls, gaudy christmas decorations and silk flowers not to mention a line of coloured flags making the place look untidy, rather than sacred. Such objects are a hazard to wildlife, and tying coloured fabrics to branches can inhibit a tree's growth and introduce disease and insects.
Thelma observed: "The path leading to the springs has been closed, hopefully to stop people from
perpetuating this indignity, this tawdry display of a mishmash of half-digested beliefs."
Heritage Action's Jamie Stone sums it up: "If someone feels a spiritual need to decorate a place why shouldn't they? They believe it's OK but I believe it spoils a site so I remove anything I find. I am infringing on their beliefs by saying don't leave stuff, but they are infringing on mine by leaving stuff. Why should their beliefs override mine? Well, because my belief leaves nothing to annoy, degrade, spoil or be hazardous."
If you must make offerings, then do so, but please don't leave tat in the landscape. It's horrid!
A teddy is 'offered' at an ancient site at Zeijen in the Netherlands. Photo: Moth Clark
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Dignity for Stonehenge?
February 12, 2006, 7:19 pm
Stonehenge. A fabulous place shockingly ruined by roads and a horrible visitor centre adding up to an experience with fewer mystic charms than offered by Disneyland.
Photo: James Mitchell
Our national icon remains our national disgrace, robbed of the dignity and splendid isolation it so patently deserves. Consultations continue, proposals proliferate but the saga of how to improve Stonehenge drags on.
However, this week a group of people including Heritage Action's Chairman has put forward an interim solution that offers a way forward that could see a speedy end to some of the worst indignities that the monument currently suffers. Their suggestion, which is being widely published on the net, is for those matters which are not connected with the long term discussions about the main road that runs near the stones to be addressed first and quite independently.
Photo: Suzanne Forster
Their document is called "A proposal for an achievable Stonehenge". Heritage Action believes this is worthy of wide discussion and that it may well represent a major leap forward in a public debate which has become characterised by exhaustion, argument and apathy.
Follow what they're thinking on this thread on The Modern Antiquarian forum.
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Tara motorway route in court
February 6, 2006, 11:09 pm
Irish heritage campaigner Vincent Salafia who is taking the Irish Government to court over their plans to build a new motorway through Tara has started a new website and 'blog' which will chart his efforts to prevent the road being built. He will challenge the legality of the planned M3 route in court hearing, expected to last six days.
Vincent who studied law and has experience as a campaigner will test the Irish Government over their plan to build a new motorway through the Tara valley, dangerously close to the ancient meeting place of early Irish kings from 6,000 BC.
The Neolithic site developed into tribal seasonal campsites which ultimately became fortified camps with earthwork ramparts known as ring forts. These were the royal encampments for the great gatherings and towards 700AD they were increasingly the scene of bloody battles for control of the hill.
In the early 21st century, the Irish Government decided to put a motorway through the Tara valley. The proposed route misses the main Hill of Tara by 1km, but would divide it from some of its ring forts, cutting directly through the historic complex.
Vincent has the people on his side: a new national Irish opinion poll has found that the majority of people of Ireland are in favour of the motorway but oppose the route through the Tara. A new solution has been proposed avoiding Tara.
Vincent has the full support of Heritage Action.
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