Wirral's Hidden History Revealed
WA CIC – Brunanburh
In regard to recent podcasts.
Wirral Archaeology CIC ‘have never claimed to have discovered the site of the battle of Brunanburh’.
We have been searching for the site and have found artefacts that are contemporary with the period. Our investigations continue but let this be clear.
The battlefield has not been identified.
Bridle Bit
Finds From Wirral
Bridle Bit
An interesting little recent find is this small piece of Bridle Bit dated by the experts to AD 1000 to AD1100.
It is broken but enough remains that the Portable Antiquities Scheme have been able to date it and also describe it as Anglo Scandinavian.
PAS Report
https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1144406
Meols Boat project – update
Prof Steve Harding (University of Nottingham) and Chas Jones (Fulford Battlefield Society) – Chief Scientist and Chief Archaeologist respectively of the Meols Boat project – and both members of Wirral Archaeology CIC, gave a talk to members of the Wallasey Photographic Society, on 23rd January. Members of the Society had extensively photographed the week of core sampling of the area underneath the patio/car park area of the Railway inn in Meols, where the remains of the ancient clinker (overlapping planks) built vessel lie.
The boat was originally discovered in 1938 by workmen during the construction of a new pub building replacing the old 19th century pub. One of the workmen – John McRae – had made detailed notes about the find and with his son – also John McRae produced a sketch and report which has formed the basis of the current investigation. John McRae Snr died some years ago and very sadly John McRae passed away very recently. Without their foresight all knowledge of this great treasure would have been lost, and Steve took the opportunity to give a full tribute to John and his father, saying that Wirral had every reason to be proud and grateful for what they had done.
Because of the delicate state of the wood after the discovery that a large concrete slab had been placed over the find – the samples had to be carefully and forensically cleaned over a long period time to make them available for scientific analysis to establish the date and nature of the vessel which is now underway.
Underwater Archaeology
Storm Pia was doing its worst, but gales and torrential rain failed to deter the nearly 30 members of Wirral Archaeology, who turned out on Thursday, (21st December 2023), to enjoy a fascinating talk by Dr Brian Atkin (left) on Underwater Archaeology. Brian has dived on shipwrecks all over the world, but for his talk, he picked just five. These were The Giglio Wreck, the Dattilo wreck ( the wreck in the volcano), the Cannon pile at Gibraltar, the Admiral Graf Spee, the HMS Agamemnon and a shipwreck at Alderney.
Email Error August 2023
Email Error August 2023
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If you have tried to contact us during this time please can you do so again using the contact form on the website.
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Early Medieval Strap End
Finds From Wirral
Early Medieval Strap End
Although finds from the Wirral are quite rare from the period. A collection from Meols and a few more from around the area. Most are from the everyday life of the local inhabitants.
We have strap ends like the one below, buckles, spindle whorls and gaming pieces. Unfortunately there are NO finds like posh brooches on the Wirral (non at all) and no huge stashes of weapons like some books would lead you to believe but we will keep looking.
This find though is quite beautiful even in its present condition.
A mostly complete, but bent, zoomorphic strap end dating to the early medieval period (c.AD 750-950). The strap end is of Thomas’ Class A, Type 2. The strap end is sub-oval with a zoomorphic terminal at the closed end; the opposite end is split with two incompete rivet holes for attachment. The end terminal of the strap end is zoomorphic in the form of a forward facing animal head with a moulded snub-nosed snout, and moulded rounded ears. The upper plate has an incised decoration of chevrons within a rectangular cell. The centre of the cell is worn and the details indete…
https://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/q/LVPL-72FFAA
To find our more about what we do please contact us. https://www.wirralarchaeology.org/pages/contact/
Charles II Coin
Finds from Wirral
Charles II Coin
We always get our finds assessed by professionals and the Portable Antiquities Scheme entry on their database can be found on the link below.
Medieval Coin
Finds from Wirral
Medieval Coin
Here we have a coin of Edward IV. His reign was unusual as it was split into two separate periods during mthe Wars of the Roses between the House of Lancaster and the House of York.
Their full description can be seen at the following link
Modern – Bag ties
Finds from Wirral
Bag Ties
While nowhere near as old as some of our finds this is still interesting. It is a lead seal for a bag of bone manure fertiliser.
Procter and Ryland were a manufacturer of bone meal fertiliser situated on the edge of the River Dee at Saltney just outside Chester.
A chemical works had been operating on the site from as early as 1843 and the business was taken over by Procter and Ryland who had moved from Birmingham to Saltney in 1856.
The business was again taken over in 1894 by Edward Webb and Sons who had came from Stourbridge
Interested in finding out more about what we do then get in touch – Contact
Buckles
Finds from Wirral
Buckles
Here is a selection of the groups recent finds of buckles.
They date from as early as AD500 through to around AD1650. All are copper alloy and all are recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) with the British Museum.
All were recovered from Wirral.
From top left we have an unusual find. A small d-shaped copper alloy buckle which has been dated by PAS as from AD500-700 which is classed as early medieval. This is normally described as from the 5th or 6th century AD through to the 10th century.
https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1103201
A search on the PAS database using the geographic area of Wirral shows that there are only 12 items recorded from this period. Wirral Archaeology have found and recorded 11 of these 12 items so we are actively adding to the historical story of Wirral.
Middle top is another small copper alloy buckle. Described by PAS as medieval this one is dated from AD1300-1400. You can see where the (now lost) pin was.
https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1103193
Top right is another copper alloy buckle dated AD1300-1500
https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1099029
On the bottom left row we have a larger decorated copper alloy buckle dated from AD1350-1450. This still has a moving pin.
https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1099013
Bottom middle is a copper alloy post medieval buckle dated AD1500-1650. Again the slight recess where the pin would have sat can be seen.
https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1099022
Finally bottom right we have another post medieval find. It is a copper alloy unit with a lovely patina. It has been dated from AD1500-1650. This example still has the pin fitted.
https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1099721
Wirral Archaeology CIC.
Interested in finding out more about what we do then get in touch – Contact