Crickley Hill Reunion 2009 ... 2010

The Iron Age interior

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:38:35 PST

The yellow markers for the Iron Age roundhouses and the blue ones for the longhouses can just be picked out in this 1990 photo taken looking back towards the Iron Age ramparts and entrance by Lara Unger. The viewing platform, dubbed by some, for reasons that C-H-M can no longer recall, the 'Courtney Memorial Platform' stands proud against the skyline.

A reader writes ...

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:20:08 PST

Andrew Powell says: "the sketch of Phil (the first to be drawn) was done after a lunch-time site tour, and the curious structure he is pondering is not my attempt to draw a roundhouse but some actual group of features that we had stopped to puzzle over. Given Corky's recollection that the sketches were probably done in 1980, maybe someone knows what this was. The car port I believe was the long mound, rather than the rampart - was there a line of large stones near it?

Keep up the excellent work - the blog is my first stop in the morning before getting down to work. [Thank you! Ed] One point - there does seem to be a dearth of images from the early years - apart from the odd shot by Boden and myself. There must be more out there. [I'm sure there are - all contributions gratefully received, please. Ed]

PS now published for your delectation, the intriguingly entitled 'Kentish Sites and Sites of Kent: a miscellany of four archaeological excavations' 2009 by Andrews, Egging Dinwiddy, Ellis, Hutcheson, Phillpotts, Powell and Schuster." And where can we find this volume, please, Andrew? C-H-M did a quick search on Google and nowt helpful emerged?

Stunning view, and not only from Phil's perspective...

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:25:25 PST

Another great shot from Eric van Dorland, taken during the 1990 season, of PWD atop the photographic tower, as Paul Noakes makes last minute adjustments to the ranging rods. Away behind them the beauty of the Vale.

Bernie, Mike and Sarah

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:16:08 PST

L to R, Bernie Dawson , Mike Taylor and Sarah Roberts in this Anna Behan 1979 photo. Mike's T-shirt proudly bearing the red dragon of Wales looks a little cut-about and tore and has definitely seen better days. Bernie looks as though he's trying to read the time on the watch that Mike, for some reason, is holding in his hands rather than wearing. In the background between Sarah and Mike, a glimpse of Zoya Spivakovska.

Ancient wrecks, Noaksie & and a miscarriage of justice

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:46:12 PST

The old hangar at Ullenwood always held the promise of fascinating contents: as can be seen in this Mike Sims 2004 shot there were all sorts of oddities inside including ancient rotting motor vehicles.

Updates from readers: Corky Gregory says: "I will make a stab at a guess as to what Noaksie is doing in the photo Nov 4 that also appeared July 2. I would guess Maori warrior stance but Noaksie leaned more toward Australia rather than New Zealand so aboriginal stance?? Still looks like Maori warrior to me but no idea what he is holding other than it looks like white PVC piping with decorative ends." Ah, good idea but not quite on the mark I'm afraid, Corky. All will be revealed in due course.

C-H-M has inadvertently perpetrated a miscarriage of justice and owes Les Capon an apology and a beer or two for the damage to his reputation caused by the publication last Sunday of one of Jill Hummerstone's photos.

Les writes: "That picture of a sleeping in person is not me. Jill took the picture, but I have to say I never slept in, lazed or was late ever at Crickley, and such a suggestion is absurd. Please change the caption. [Done! Ed.] Jill thought it may be someone called Mark...

I do recall Jo Sturgess (Notts Uni 1990s) trying to encourage a Spaniard to get up, only to discover him being inappropriate with himself. And there was another time when a banana skin appeared in our tent on the same day another Spaniard skived. Then there was the Frenchman Serge who was pulled up by the police for breaking the speed limit on Leckhampton Hill on roller skates. (note from Jill: this all sounds a bit anti-European) (response from Les - if Jill hadn't jumped on me, I'd have chatted up a Spaniard) (Jill: Whatever, in your dreams.)

Hope your foodie course is going well. Any vegetarian tips?"

My apologies to Les for traducing him and I'll find a yummy vegetarian recipe for next week's catering tip of the week!

Doppelganger of the Month - November

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:57:00 PST

-- 'Woodstock Arwel' Barrett -- -- 'Miami Steve Van Zandt

Dr Ferris is inspired to enquire: "I wonder if Crickley Hill Man knows whether 'Woodstock Arwel', the health and safety industry's own 'bandana man', is in any way related to 'Miami Steve' Van Zandt, stalwart axe-merchant with the E Street Band?" DNA moves in mysterious ways, its wonders to perform, Dr Ferris.

Kate Gilbert

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:47:29 PST

Kate Gilbert seems happy and Mike Taylor is simply flaked out at her side in this picture taken in about 1980 by Sue Bauman (Lee Jeffs). I can't work out whose left side it is on Kate's right.

Dr Ferris will be wondering what has happened to the catering tip of the week. So here it is: how do you tell if grilled or fried meat is done without cutting into it and losing the delicious juices? Leiths Techniques Bible provides the answer: "Press the surface of the meat with the tips of the fingers and compare the texture of the meat to that of the fleshy base of the thumb [itself] held in turn against each finger of the same hand to discern how well the meat is cooked. ... When the thumb is relaxed, the base of the thumb feel soft and flabby like the texture of uncooked meat. When the thumb is held against the base of the index finger, the flesh becomes softly springy and represents the texture of rare cooked meat. If the tip of the thumb is moved to the middle finger the fleshy area [at the base of the thumb] becomes firmer and more like the texture of medium rare meat. If the tip of the thumb is moved to the ring finger, the fleshy area firms a little more and feels more springy to the touch like texture of medium meat. Finally on moving the thumb to touch the little finger, the fleshy area becomes firm and loses its spring to represent the texture of well done meat. With practice the thumb test can reliably inform the chef of the stage a small joint or sliced portion of meat has reached in cooking without the need for a meat thermometer The thumb test is not suitable for large joints of meat as the outer layers may be quite well cooked while the centre may be rare. ..."

Happy prodding!

Curiouser & curiouser ...

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:25:23 PST

C-H-M is being entertained by having cooked for 40 at the weekend and planning a buffet for 32 at £3 a head in the not too distant future which is leading to erratic blog posting for which I apologise. This month's caption competition shows Mr Noakes immortalised by Mr Boden. But who can tell me what is really going on in this photograph?

Phil's Folly

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:50:26 PST

Corky Gregory writes about yesterday's post: "I always liked the photo of the Cheltenham Ladies' College girls wearing their CH77 T-shirts. It was not always a guarantee to date the photos based on the dating on a T-shirt as archaeologists tend to wear their clothes until they are threadbare (and sometimes long after), but the T-shirts were new and pristine so the dating is correct. It made me think of all the other T-shirts we had made:

"I Dig for Dixon" was one I wore as well as a "Crickley Hill Dig" one. The latter was the same bright gold colour as Penny and Anna's shirts so I think I may have had it made that year. "I Dig for Dixon " came later.

"Archaeologists do it more Crickley" this had many variations such as "Supervisors do it more Crickley" I think you already posted Noaksie and Ros in their versions.

There was a group who wore "Friends of the Furry Turkey" which included Nick Snashall as I have photographic evidence of that. I wonder if you will be exposed to new recipes for furry turkey in your cooking course. [Hope not - sounds faintly insanitary! Ed.]

I'm sure there were more that others could add to the list. Should be time soon for another gem from Andrew Powell and the Planning Hut Door collection ..."

You wish is my command, Corky:

An archaeologist, Phil

Has reoccupied Crickley Hill

"Three phases," says he,

"Are quite plain to see,

But the fourth needs directorial skill."

No prizes for guessing the year ...

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:04:40 PST

From Corky Gregory's album: Miss Collinge and Miss Griffiths, then attending Cheltenham Ladies' College, in their salad days, when they were green in judgment, but not, I think, cold in blood. They look very cheerful and carefree ... the T-shirts, I seem to recall were printed in Cheltenham on a Thursday off.

An unknown digger slept on ...

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:40:20 PST

C-H-M is grateful to Jill Hummerstone for this picture of Les Capon (STOP PRESS: it's not Les - it might be someone called Mark!) about which she wrote: "Bad boy - wouldn't get up for site, so we did something horrid to him - don't know what ..." The sight of a recumbent form under the grey blankets that were a little bit scratchy brings back memories of odd days when it was hard to extract oneself from one's pit. It was, of course, never alcohol-related ...

C-H-M apologises for missing a post or two in the last day or so - I have been slaving over a hot stove which has rather kept me out of trouble.

Fixing the limo & Jane's fashion notes

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:05:35 PST

Anyone who dug at Crickley will recall Terry Courtney's passion for limousines: he rarely appeared with less than 2. Jane Dineen stands by highly amused in this Anna Collinge 1980 photo of Mr Courtney trying to get one of his limos going again after some mechanical or electrical collapse. Assisting Terry are Jane Fitt and Julie-Ann Souter and C-H-M in person. What I am doing trying to help is not entirely clear to me as my knowledge of car engines is not fantastic now and was certainly non-existent then. Maybe I was getting Terry to talk me through it.

Jane writes: "Me in 1980 demonstrating an early fascination with engines. Fashion notes: I think that's a black silk t-shirt that I eventually wore to bits, and a little purse (who was that designer with the lion?) that I still have. I don't wear flip-flops now but apparently did then (I guess Dr. Scholl's weren't easy to find in the '80s). I love the other Jane's pink overall/dungarees. And the ultimate accessory (even when momentarily disabled), the Vanden Plas limo." Lucy Loveridge supplies the answer: "I think Ann Klein used the lion as her logo back then. Very high fashion." Jane: "That's it!"

Caption competition

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:13:04 PDT

Crickley Hill Man is delighted to announce that a Mr T. W. Courtney, of Bishopston in Bristol, wins the October caption competition with this entry kindly enclosed with a photo of John and Ros which he took at the 2009 reunion ...

1982 work scene

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:22:23 PDT

Early on during the excavation of the rampart cutting during the 1982 season: this Jane Dineen photo must have been taken on a chilly day as there are plenty of pullovers in evidence. Amongst others, Big Les and Steve Vaughan on the right and Terry Courtney in the foreground.

From the ramparts, looking north ...

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:45:00 PDT

From the ramparts under a very beautiful sky with fabulous light as it so often is on top of the hill: this photo was taken by Lara Unger during the 1990 season. It makes C-H-M want to be up there looking out over the Severn Vale.

Julie-Ann, Paul & wheelbarrows

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:15:47 PDT

Julie-Ann Souter smiling happily for Anna Collinge, seemingly unware of the imminent approach into shot behind her of the excellent Mr Noakes, who appears, if you look closely, to be sleep-walking past the wheelbarrow park. Well his eyes are shut, anyway.

Looking back from dorm 4

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:24:17 PDT

Fine shot by Mike Sims in July 2004 of the far end of the dormitories at Ullenwood just before they disappeared for ever. Rosebay willowherb (Epilobium Angustifolium) grows along side dormitory 4.

A cheerful crew

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:18:54 PDT

A dumper full of diggers: Sue Bauman (was Lee Jeffs) sent me this shot of Naomi Jackson, Sue, Sonia and Dave Hollos, Kate Gilbert and Mike Taylor (complete with his exceptionally long scarf). The grey dumper truck tells me this comes from the 1980 season.

Jim Irvine

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:00:50 PDT

The 1984 season clearly reduced Jim Irvine to silent prayer. This picture was taken by Jill Hummerstone, presumably on a Thursday off. Can anyone recognise the church in the background?

Griff

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:41:04 PDT

Another portrait today, this time from Dr Phillpotts's 1985 Crickley album of Griff and, on the right, Ian 'Mad Blodwen' Rogers. I don't think I know how he acquired that nickname ...

Noakesy

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:23:00 PDT

Time for another portrait from a well-known Dutch studio: was Noakesy in training for the marathon in 1990? Here he is in vest and shades, atop Crickley, visualising his perfect run, captured by Eric van Dorland ...

Lunch break 1972

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:23:00 PDT

A solitary figure could not bear to leave the cutting during this lunch break photo taken by Lydia Savage in 1972. The postholes of the Iron Age longhouses are plainly visible in the foreground.

Concerning my post yesterday mentioning Elsie Clifford, Lydia writes: "Mrs Clifford was a star. We used to take tea with her every August and explain the latest findings. She deeply wanted the Birdlip mirror to belong to a noble lady resident on the hill settlement but as you all have realised by now this was an impossibility. Her husband used to give her so many man hours of diggers as a present every so often and off she would go to Bagendon or Hucclecote. The Jane Marple of Archaeology, complete with garden and needlework. Two things which are probably not recorded anywhere on the Web: her ginger cake was unique and wonderful and extremely effective on cold days. Also her birthday was around the same day as mine. Only about half a century before. :) "

An Enclosure on Crickley Hill Gloucestershire

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:58:00 PDT

C-H-M recently acquired, from a second-hand bookseller, a copy of an abstract of Elsie Clifford's 1964 paper in the Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society, inscribed on the cover "With love & many thanks from Elsie". It would be interesting to know to whom she sent it. The first part of the paper reads:

"An Enclosure on Crickley Hill Gloucestershire By E. M. Clifford, F.S.A.

From TRANSACTIONS OF THE BRISTOL AND GLOUCESTERSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, Volume 83, 1964

A SERIES of earthworks on Crickley Hill in the parish of Coberley Gloucestershire at an altitude of about 800 feet O.D. (Nat: Grid : Ref: ST935165) are not marked on the Ordnance Survey maps and no reference to them has hitherto been made. They originally formed part of the Ullenwood Estate. My attention was first drawn to them by the Misses Trafford in 1948 who then lived at Dryhill just below these earthworks and close to the site of the Dryhill Roman Villa, which was excavated in 1849 by W. H. Gomonde, the report on which was privately printed. (1) The Villa was described as a Villa Rustica, in contrast to the courtyard type Villa at nearby Witcombe, which had been excavated by Lysons in 1818. ( 2) Gomonde states that he opened a barrow nearby and that Lysons opened a long barrow, so called by Sir Richd Hoare, presumably the Crippets, but no account of either of these excavations was published. The Crippets, which lies less than half a mile to the north, is one of the largest long barrows in the Severn-Cotswold group. There are other round barrows in the vicinity, presumably of the Bronze Age.

The Early Iron Age camps on Leckhampton and perhaps on Birdlip are comparatively close, while the Crickley Hill camp almost adjoins the site under discussion. The coins from the excavation of the Dryhill Villa showed that there was occupation of the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D.; a notable find being a tile, which, it has been suggested, was stamped R(es) P(ublica) G(levensis) (3) and was therefore a product of the colonia of Glevum and might serve as a clue to its territorium. All the objects from the Gomonde excavation, however, are lost. (4)

ln 1951 Mr G. T. Harding also drew my attention to these earthworks and in view of the fact that the ditch was inside the rampart, with nothing to indicate their date and that there was what appeared to be a much ruined Bronze Age round barrow on the line of the rampart and filled-in ditch, I decided an examination would be justified.

Work began in August 1951 for two weeks and continued intermittently whenever weather permitted, until it was completed in 1952. As the owner, Mr G. Hewinson, was abroad, permission to excavate was given by his solicitors.

The earthwork on the south-west side forms the boundary between The Scrubs and Short Wood (5), the dividing wall being actually built on the rampart. On the north-west side the dividing wall follows the line of the earthwork and only at one point is the wall built on the rampart.
On the south-east side the Birdlip-Cheltenham road follows its general line and the east corner governs the line of a trackway or bridlepath which, before reaching Shurdington, becomes a highway leading to Badgeworth and beyond. The general line of the earthwork appears as a broad dark strip on the air-photograph. On the north-west side another bridle-way passes close to the outer side of the earthworks and runs from Birdlip across the Crickley Hill road and joins the just trackway north of the earthworks.

The earthwork on the north-west side runs for half a mile almost without interruption and it is only for a short distance that it has been partially destroyed by agriculture, when, at some unknown date, a small clearing in the wood was made. It has now reverted to scrub. The earthwork on this side as well as on the south-west is quite impressive and it is probably because both are in a dense wood that they have never been recorded. On the north-east side the rampart can be traced, although it has been and still is, regularly ploughed. An air-photograph shows it very clearly. In the south-east corner, cultivation and a well-used cricket ground have practically destroyed it. There is an entrance near the north corner, as marked on the plan, from which a trackway runs down to a spring below. It is immediately above the site of the Dryhill Roman Villa.

The area possibly enclosed contains approximately 100 acres.

(1) W. H. Gomonde. Copy in Gloucestershire Collection Public Library, Gloucester.
(2) Archaeologia xix pp. 178 ff Trans. BGAS, Lxxiii, pp. I ff
(3) EE, iv, p. 700 ; EE, ix p. 650 JRS, xlv p. 72
(4) Gomonde also illustrates an E.I.A. terret.
(5) The National Trust own 36 1/2 acres of The Scrubs, and Short Wood is owned by Mr W. G. Carter.
(6) Information from Mr L. Richardson."

Limestone Brain?

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 02:38:31 PDT

Griff tells me that this photo represents "the 1983 award ceremony for 'limestone brain', which was was taken immediately after [he] was awarded the equally-laughable title (one assumes!) of Mister Crickley". Can anyone remember what qualities and behaviour were needed to earn the dubious-sounding honour of "limestone brain"? I fear it does not sound kind. L to R, Messrs. Dixon, Noakes, Phillpotts, Savage and someone whom I'm afraid I'm not sure I recognise.

Cooks and diggers

julianparker@blueyonder.co.uk (Crickley Hill Man) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:06:32 PDT

Today's snap is a 1976 Becky Sanderson (Spencer as was) shot of cooks and diggers at Ullenwood: L to R, Arwel Barrett avec beard, Ken Fussell, Simon Mercer, Sandy and Dave who was Ken's fellow cook.

This brings C-H-M to the culinary tip of the week. Dr Ferris asked for one that might not involve eating industrial quantities of poached eggs. Mindful that Dr Mrs Dr Ferris, a.k.a Dr Lynne Bevan, is a keen fan of fish as well as being lithics and small finds specialist, there are two fish related tips this week. First, don't eat fish in a restaurant on Monday. Fishing boats tend not to go out on the weekend and fish served on Monday has probably been around for a day or two. Second, when preparing mackerel for cooking, trim off the fins but leave on the dorsal fin. When the fish is perfectly cooked the dorsal fin will easily come off when gently pulled so it's a good way of telling it's done. Oh and put enough sugar in to make the gooseberry sauce not too tart.