As seems likely Drogo de Beuvriere, first Norman Lord of Holderness, had his castle ‘motte’ built on a previous high status site (that may, or may not, have become redundant in the intervening centuries since the Iron Age), this site then being on an island in the early Holocene Bail Mere (one of many meres across Holderness, most of which survived ’till late medieval times but now all gone except for Hornsea Mere). Bail Mere may have had a channel linking to the North Sea as early Norman castles, built in hostile country, could usually be accessed by sea rather than reliant on dangerous land access only. The summary of the Humber Wetlands Project (Van de Noort, R The Humber Wetlands (2004) speculates that Bail Mere may have linked to the coast via another mere at ‘Withow Gap’. There has, of course, been over two miles depth of coastal erosion since early Norman times.
Have been asked by the Chairman of Barton and District History Group to step in next Thursday as the person due to deliver a presentation about recent excavations at Thornton Abbey has had to cancel. Have decided on a two-part presentation (a) three speculations about medieval Barton, (b) The Humber Wetlands Project. Presentation to Barton Civic Soc., 18th November, tracing the history of the site of the Assembly Rooms on Queen St., an exercise in pinpoint landscape history.
Currently pre-occupied with Civic Soc. campaign ‘Save Top Field’, details see Barton Civic Soc. website.
Spent £230 on an inspection of my two-berth touring caravan only to find that it had a severe structural damp problem. Had to scrap it, and had to drive it to Lincoln to do that. Very upsetting and blow to budget.
Relatively mild Autumn weather continues, roses and some perennials still in flower. So cannot get on yet with planned digging-up of perennials behind garage and re-planting in a more orderly lay-out. After root division some to go to new flower-bed sites in S. Ferriby and some to Bill Stelling.
Even though for over a year now the Humber Nature Partnership has been unable to confirm its ownership, have begun to clear overgrown pathways in garden area between cement works and West Drain.
Have started painting walls of my small galley kitchen, has to be done in bits as little room to move cupboards (units) and cooker and fridge.
So – lots of things at last started, but none finished.