A "GOLDEN CLUSTER" OF HERITAGE
The new Middleton Historic Research Group had a successful first meeting with 30 local historians, archaeologists, and heritage enthusiasts coming together at the picturesque Ye Olde Boar’s Head P.H. Middleton. Geoff Wellens gave an illustrated talk about the breadth of history and heritage in Middleton and the need for research, recording and publishing. After the…
Geoff Wellens is organising a Middleton Historical Research Group to compile the history of the town. The first meeting is at the Olde Boar’s Head P.H. at 2.00PM on Saturday 9th January 2016. All are welcome…
Middleton Archaeological Society have obtained funding from the Middleton Township Heritage Initiative to have the timbers at the Olde Boar’s Head P.H. dated……… Click here for the rest of the post.
Middleton Archaeology Society has just uploaded a set of photos from the September Golden Cluster Month excavation. You can see them HERE…
Middleton Archaeological Society (MAS) began its largest archaeological event ever this month (starting 21st August) at the gates of St Leonard’s Church. The archaeologists are opening a large trench to record the remains of Church House farm which was demolished in 1898. The farm was built on the remains of the Grapes Inn, described by…
This year’s Middleton Archaeological Society summer ‘archaeology walk’ (on 30th July) was a great success. Around 35 people were led through the estate of Hopwood Hall by historian Geoff Wellens, as dusk quietly settled over the woodland and parkland. Hopwood estate is historically coherent and interesting, with many layers of interest. It now forms part…
I commented on The Lodge (Lodge St) in response to Wendy Coupe’s enquiry which led me to the Middleton Guardian Newspaper Archive and OLD KANKEY of Kankey Ginnel body-snatching fame. Below is the only reference I have managed to find to the word Kankey. William Lancashire resided in a house in Back Lodge St adjacent…
Middleton Archaeology Society members, Geoff Wellens and David Morris, are studying Middleton’s historical enclosures. A few years back they identified the Saxon enclosure for St. Leonard’s Parish Church, originally dedicated to St. Cuthbert. In 2008, Middleton photographer and heritage consultant, Andy Marshall, identified an ancient boundary behind Long Street Methodist Church, adjacent the bowling green…
Middleton Archaeological Society have been working over the spring months untangling the complexities of Middleton’s Ye Olde Boar’s Head public house. Click here to learn more!…
Despite the weather the dig continues every Tuesday… the latest on the excavation is here…
The May Middleton Archaeological Society talk was given by Dr Adrian Maldonado of Chester University. It covered the widespread use of early medieval crosses in the UK. About 20 people attended and many were eager to question Adrian on what was a fascinating talk. It included recently discovered evidence of sword marks at the base…
The ‘Old Boar’ is one of the ancient buildings of the Middleton ‘Golden Cluster’ but nobody quite knows what is was built for originally, before it became a public house in the eighteenth century. The archaeological society has therefore set up a work group to try to understand the building, discover more about its early…
On Thursday (30th April) Middleton Archaeology Society hosted a fascinating and entertaining talk by Glen Atkinson about the building of the Manchester Ship Canal,entitled “The Big Ditch”. Using original Victorian glass slides he highlighted the contrasts between building methods at the end of 19th century and now. There were no strict Health and Safety rules,…
Twenty members of the Family History Group descended on the Edgar Wood Centre, Long Street for their first meeting at the venue. They had a quick tour of the wider buildings, including the Arts & Crafts Church, as part of the meeting. We hope they find it suitable for their needs…
Middleton Archaeological Society’s study of Ye Olde Boar’s Head P.H. is making good progress. A large part is due to the contribution of the architect who oversaw the building’s restoration in 1981. Douglas Newton has provided a series of photographs of the building when under repair, including hidden parts in the roof and areas where…
It was a warm evening (too warm, perhaps – we contemplated changing rooms) but there was a relaxed atmosphere at yesterday’s Middleton Heritage meeting (Tuesday 6pm, 21st April). The Family History Group joined us as we worked out details and options of how best the society could use the facilities for its weekly meetings. There…
Middleton Archaeological Society is undertaking a five-day exploratory dig at the demolished mill cottage in the grounds of Hopwood Hall. Follow the dig here. A full list of dates is here. Located 300 yards from the Grade 2 listed Hopwood Hall and next to the splendid remains of a Corn Mill and pond. The Miller’s…
Dr. Chantal Conneller gave a fascinating lecture at the Old Boar’s Head P.H. on Thursday evening (26th March 2015), organised by Middleton Archaeological Society. Dr. Conneller is Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Manchester but also expert in flint technology and refitting co-director at Starr Carr, the Mesolithic archaeological site near Scarborough,…
The Middleton Archaeological Society weekend excavation adjacent to Grade II* listed Tonge Hall is underway. The dig is exploring the area once covered by the Hall’s farm buildings. Follow the blog here…
