Northenden.Net Archaeology Project
We discover ancient relics
By Lee Cavanagh with Dr. Simon Shawdene March 2005
Let's not get ahead of ourselves...
|
We've all heard quite a lot about this supposed Roman Dig that's taking place on Mill Lane. I'm not quite sure what it's for though. We all know there was a mill here (it's called Mill Lane after all) and surely that in itself isn't interesting enough to justify digging the whole place up? Having asked around, it seems few other people are any the wiser despite talk of "popular" books being published and Baldrick and some Wurzels coming down to make a Time Team programme.
There is however, a distinct subcurrent of necessity, if not urgency, to the whole scheme. Either the dig is justified (and they just haven't told us), or someone somewhere has a motive to make sure it gets justified. I know I'll get lambasted for saying this by those two codgers who write our diary but even the Council Newsletter is trumpeting "Historical Treasure found in Northenden" despite having gone to the printers before the initial exploration. I don't want to criticise, but frankly I'm shocked at the number of journalists out there these days who are quite happy to dream up 500-word articles without so much as one iota of an historical fact. OK, Vinnie and I didn't really discover the lost Northenden Mill Wheel... but luckily for "Northenden Matters", we did find some historical treasure buried beneath the car park.
Whilst working on last month's article concerning the history of the library, which features some brilliant research by local historian Dr. Simon Shawdene, the subject of this dig was raised. Simon's own detailed research into the history of the mill (based on the earliest known map of the area, pre-dating the council's map by at least two centuries) is leagues apart from anything else I've seen. Vinnie and I were so moved that we decided immediately to do some practical research of our own. Our findings were, you will agree, nothing short of astounding and we'll be sharing them with you later. First however, here's Dr. Simon Shawdene's article.
How a modern mill would look in Northenden
|
History of Northenden Mill
by Simon Shawdene Mmbs, Ph.D
The first mill was built by early settlers in 1311 (see our excellent History of Northenden article for more details on this and other Northenden History). Grain was supplied from the vast, rolling cornfields of Benchill. The flour produced was of a remarkable quality and the mill quickly established itself as preferred flour supplier to Lord Sainsbury's bakery at Owen's Park.
Two cruel twists of fate befell the mill over the coming years. Lord Didsbury's part in the crusades is well documented and his descendants continued to travel far and wide, bringing back with them various delicacies from new worlds including cheap flour of reasonable quality from primitive, but developing countries such as Europe. Before striking up the deal with the Gallic savages, Lord Didsbury already had one eye on shifting the flour to Sainsbury. On his return, he successfully shifted several tons of French flour to Sainsbury, who ditched the Northenden flour. The mill was forced to close down. Later however, Sainsbury began losing custom to Ye Daye and Night Emporium of Wilbraham, who had been selling cheap bread produced by the seventh Earl of Warburton. Lord Sainsbury immediately struck up a deal with the Earl of Warburton, closing down the bakery and leaving Didsbury with a warehouse full of rotten flour. This resulted in the battle of Fallowe Field following which several Sainsburys were ejected from Didsbury's land. The properties were henceforth occupied by Sir Marcus Spencer whose family remains there to this day.
Tatton meanwhile, was not pleased about the lack of income from his mill and, perceiving Didsbury as the cause of the trouble, sent his kids down the road to give him a seeing to. Unknown to Tatton Senior however, the mill building was now being used by his son Wayne as a hiding place for stolen goods including, legend has it, the missing Stretford Silver whose recovery, if there ever was such, is undocumented. Keen to keep his criminal activities secret from his father, who would have almost certainly wanted his share, Wayne struck up a deal with Didsbury: lease the mill building from the Tatton family or we'll give you a good kicking. Didsbury obliged, placating Lord Tatton and preserving the integrity of Wayne's cache. Didsbury is known to have used the mill as a secret meeting place with Lady Sandra of Palatine whom he is alleged to have been knocking up at the time (and got her up the stick but that, my friends, is another story).
With the demise of the Tattons in the area, the mill buildings fell into disrepair and were eventually demolished by the Baron of Camperland, an early 16th century estate agent and forefather of Viscount Harold the Rotund.
Dr. Simon Shawdene.
Effortlessly authoritative, meticulously researched stuff. Yet despite having re-read this superlative history of our local milling industry I am still unsure as to why they are excavating the place. So enough arty farty academia. It's time for some action.
Camperlands Car Park, 3am, Sunday March 13th
Big Vinnie keeping lookout on Mill Lane.
|
Lee Cavanagh with Big Vern's metal detector... No luck yet.
|
Pictured below, are our spoils from the evening, which we were able to have a proper look at once it got light. At the moment, we've not had our treasure valued although we think that the coins may be worth somewhere in the region of 6p. Whether we're right or not, you have to agree that it's not bad for a few hours work - and I can't help wondering how the value of our haul will stack up against anything that the official dig might finally come up with. Time will tell. I hope we've managed to leave something for the archaeologists to find, and I certainly won't be telling Baldrick not to bother coming to Northenden. His autograph is worth a tenner on EBay!
So for now, we've sent off our findings to the University of Manchester Archaeology Department for evaluation, and in the hope that it gives them a head start on what their dig might turn up. We will of course keep you abreast of any valuation updates... we're hoping for the best. Perhaps Vinnie and I might be asked to join the official dig and maybe even be considered for a future £0.5 Million Lottery Grant!
Ancient Treasure, possibly chinese
|
Pre-Raphaelite Vessel, possibly of Czech Origin
|
This was worth quite a lot in those days
|