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Heritage Journal
news and views from Heritage Action
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Human chain protest at Stanton Moor
July 28, 2005, 10:25 am
A human chain a mile long will be created on Saturday to protest at new plans for quarrying on Stanton Moor in Derbyshire. The proposed new quarry will be very close to the Nine Ladies of Stanton Moor and ancient stone circle, as well as cutting through swathes of an archaeologically rich ancient landscape.
The landscape of Stanton Moor. Photo: Stubob
Read a full article from Matlock Today online here.
Join the chain on Saturday 30 July between Stanton-in-Peak and Stanton Lees in Derbyshire from 11am.
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Encouraging responsible metal detecting
July 27, 2005, 8:39 pm
Today Heritage Action launched a campaign to promote responsible metal detecting.
Not all metal detectorists act in a way that is good for archaeology or society's shared heritage interest. Every week, irresponsible detectorists dig up our nations' history and tell nobody what they find.
Our new campaign is aimed at the general public as it is knowledge of our common heritage and history we hope to save. We aim to encourage a climate in which the idea of public stewardship of our archaeological heritage takes deep root.
Landowners will be encouraged to allow only those who they are sure will report any finds to the Portable Antiquities Scheme to pursue their hobby on their property.
We will promote responsible metal detectorists and the very positive contribution that they already make to the understanding of our past.
Read more about the urgent need for responsible metal detecting.
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Stonehenge: the story continues
July 25, 2005, 5:54 pm
Heritage Action welcomes the news that the A303 improvement scheme that threatened loss of archaeology and further intrusion into the surroundings of Stonehenge has been withdrawn.
The UK Government has chosen to throw out its current plans for the monument and start the whole process again. This means that fresh ideas can be included in the plan to ease congestion on the A303 in Wiltshire.
Heritage Action had not been formed when the plans to restructure Stonehenge were first aired but this time we hope to take part in any such consultations the Government has in mind.
ICOMOS, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, has also welcomed the news. They say: "We believe that the review announced by the Minister allows time for serious consideration to be given to alternative schemes for upgrading the A303 that do not involve cutting across the heart of the World Heritage site."
We agree. Read their press release. pdf document
The preferred solution to the problem of minimising the impact of a widened A303 of the archaeological landscape of the World Heritage Site (WHS) was a 4.5km tunnel. Unfortunately this has proved to be too expensive and will not go ahead. Heritage Action is concerned that other options will leave the entire WHS site fragmented by expanded approach roads that will cut into the heritage landscape of the Stonehenge complex and the archaeology it contains.
The change of tack means that the new Stonehenge Visitor Centre is also in doubt. Heritage Action has reservations about the original plan and hopes that the review will include new thoughts in this area too.
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Bulldozers at Tara
July 21, 2005, 4:20 pm
The diggers are tearing into the archaeology rich ritual landscape of Tara right now.
The Hill of Tara is an ancient monument complex that dates back to the birth of civilization in Ireland. It has been a place of power since farming first sprung up in Ireland and has been a very significant place for many thousands of years.
Photo: Hill of Tara from the air from www.mythicalireland.com
This important historical area is threatened RIGHT NOW by the building of a motorway through the Skryne valley. Its foundations will trawl through the fragile archaeological deposits that may give us clues to the past and the founding of this magnificent site.
Despite massive objections from an appalled international community, the Irish Government has chosen to plough ahead with the scheme despite a very strong legal challenge from campaigner Vincent Salafia.
Whatever you do, do something!
For more on the fight to save Tara and to lend your support to our campaign click here. Or click here to support the Save Tara/Skryne Valley Campaign.
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Camping at Avebury
July 19, 2005, 4:23 pm
Thinking of camping at Avebury this summer?
Take note - the nearest campsite to the village is at Blacklands just to the south of Calne. Book your pitch in advance though, it can get busy!
Blacklands Lakes Holiday & Leisure Centre
Stockley Lane, Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 0NQ
Phone 01249 813672
To find it leave Calne on the A4 towards Marlborough. About 200 yards after the Talbot Inn turn right and follow the signs for Heddington and Blacklands campsite.
We hear that negotiations between the National Trust, Wiltshire Police and Kennet Council to establish a much-needed permenant camp site for visitors to Avebury are underway. However, the long-term future of such a facility will depend on the behaviour of those using it.
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Don't light fires!
July 18, 2005, 4:19 pm
Doll Tor is a tiny, pretty stone circle hidden among trees near Stanton Moor in Derbyshire. It has just a few fragile stones still standing among the foxgloves and bracken. A recent Heritage Action site inspection by Alan Simkins revealed that a campfire had recently been lit right by the stones.
Photo: Alan Simkins
If you must picnic or camp at ancient sites, please don't light fires in or near them! It leaves the site scarred by fire damage and could potentially cause heat damage and fracturing to the ancient stones.
A fire lit deliberately by a farmer burning off gorse at Tregaseal dancing stones, a stone circle in Cornwall two years ago badly scorched the stones but thankfully cracking and fracturing did not occur. But what a mess it looks!
Photo: Jane Tomlinson
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Grassland restoration at Uffington
July 18, 2005, 4:02 pm
The National Trust (NT) have fenced off a small area of grass immediately above the head of the White Horse, a 3,500-year-old chalk figure carved into the hillside at Uffington.
Photo: Jane Tomlinson
This area is used by visitors to view the hill figure but was being badly eroded by footfall. The grass appears to be recovering well. Views of the White Horse are not impaired as there are plenty of other places you can see it from.
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Signs of the times
July 17, 2005, 9:41 am
To prevent damage to the Ridgeway made by four-wheel drives, motorbikes and other vehicles, the law was recently changed to limit their use to the summer months only. The Ridgeway is a 6,000 year-old trackway 85 miles in length, running from Hertfordshire to Wiltshire. Vehicles had previously been free to use the ancient route all year round, but deep and dangerous wheelruts were forming during the winter months when the ground was wet. The badly cut up surface made it dangerous and difficult for walkers and horses.
 
Photos: Jane Tomlinson
New roadsigns have recently been erected by the authorities which though ugly, are unmissable by all Ridgeway users. The horse and cart symbol on one of the signs is something not often seen!
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Wayland's Smithy graffiti
July 16, 2005, 6:27 pm
Yesterday Heritage Action inspectors were disgusted to see that someone called 'Nell' had written their name on the capstone to the entrance to Wayland's Smithy, a neolithic long barrow by the Ridgeway in Oxfordshire.
Photo: Jane Tomlinson
Shame on Nell! Graffiti like this disfigures the monument for others, is disrespectful to the monument and might encourage other people to think it's OK to add their name to the roll call. It also causes a tiny amount of damage to the surface, so a lot of it would cause more damage....
What a load of rubbish! Inspectors also spent some time clearing the entrance to the site of litter - burned out tea-light foils and other rubbish, including dead, wilted flowers and wreaths made of plaited corn stalks, presumably 'offerings'.
Please take ALL your litter home with you after you have visited a site - even the 'offerings'.
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10,000 demand exclusion zone to protect Thornborough
July 6, 2005, 4:38 pm
On Monday Heritage Action and TimeWatch demanded independence for Thornborough henges by presenting North Yorkshire County Council with 10,000 signatures demanding a one mile quarry exclusion zone around the major archaeological features.
They also handed the council more than 1,500 letters of objection to the Ladybridge quarry planning application - more than the council has ever received about any planning application.
Campaigners hand in their petition
Heritage Action and TimeWatch collected the majority of the signatures by attending local and regional events and by lobbying at many archaeological conferences. As a result a large number of senior archaeologists have signed the petition, including one of Britain's foremost prehistoric archaeologists, Richard Bradley.
TimeWatch also presented to the council a convincing case against quarrying at Ladybridge which shows that the application infringes a great many council planning policies. Read it here.
We hope that this unprecedented public response, combined with numerous planning policy infringements will allow the council to reject this application.
But the battle to save the Thornborough environment is not yet won; readers are urged to continue signing TimeWatch's petition to the UK government which demands recognition and protection for the whole Thornborough Henges complex. You can sign it here.
The Thornborough henges. Photo: Jane Tomlinson
The Ladybridge ares is not the only part of the Thornborough henges complex under threat. Last week Tarmac refused to rule out quarrying at Thornborough Moor and confirmed they already own the land. In an attempt to appease local opposition a strip of land between Thornborough Moor and Nosterfield has been offered to the village for recreational purposes.
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Disgraceful graffiti at Cairnholy
July 4, 2005, 7:13 pm
The chambered cairn at Cairnholy in Dumfries is a remarkable monument. As well as being a fine example of this kind of monument, on some of the stones, ancient 'cup-and-ring' marks have been carved. The meaning of rock art carvings like this, which occur on many monuments in the north of England, Scotland and Ireland, remains a mystery.
On a recent visit to Cairnholy, Heritage Action member Brian Kerr was sickened to find that someone had marked one of the stones with graffiti.
Ugly graffiti scars Cairnholy. Photo: Brian Kerr
Brian said: "I was trying to get a photograph of the well-weathered cup and ring mark on one of the stones. I noticed that some idiots had marked one of the stones with their names and date. I can't believe how stupid and ignorant people can be! Surely they must know that a site of this significance deserves respect?"
Despite being made of stone, rock art is fragile and often badly weathered. If you mark it with anything at all you could be speeding up the deterioration process. So don't.
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