Title: |
An Archaeological Excavation on Hilbre Island, Wirral, Merseyside. NGR SJ 185 881. |
Series: |
Museum of Liverpool Archaeology unpublished report series
|
Downloads: |
liverpoo1-205944_1.pdf (3 MB)
:
|
Download
|
|
Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
|
DOI |
|
Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
|
Abstract: |
The report describes the results of an archaeological excavation conducted prior to the erection of two composting toilets north of the 'bunkhouse' and immediately east of the 'slate shed' on Hilbre Island, Wirral, Merseyside. The island, the largest of a group of three islands in the Dee estuary off the north-west coast of the Wirral peninsula, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). However, the island has no statutory protection for its archaeological remains although the island has produced not only a wealth of archaeological finds but also has recorded activity from the medieval period which make the whole of this small island an area of high archaeological potential. The wall foundations of what appears to be an open-air animal pen were uncovered, the position of which corresponded to that of a building shown on the 2nd edition Ordnance Survey map, 1898. A cluster of three buildings is shown opposite the 'bunkhouse'. The 'slate shed' and a smaller building to the north (not exposed during this excavation) are shown shaded, presumably indicating that they were covered whereas the third remains unshaded and was probably open to the elements. The wall foundations lay over Permo-Triassic sandstone bedrock which had been purposely 'punched' in order create a sloping floor surface. Two rock-cut features and a natural channel packed with red brick were also visible within this surface. There was evidence of an earlier wall foundation running north-south across the trench which had been robbed-out, the materials presumably re-used in the existing exposed foundations. The pen appeared to have been used as a dumping ground for rubbish dating from the 1970s onwards. The site had then been backfilled with a mix of loose topsoil, general refuse, and demolition debris which had been left to overgrow until the present day. The finds present on the site are characteristic of the casual dispersal of 19th century domestic refuse. |
Author: |
C Ahmad
Jeff Speakman
|
Publisher: |
National Museums Liverpool
|
Other Person/Org: |
Historic England (OASIS Reviewer)
Please note: this record has been validated by-proxy by Historic England.
|
Year of Publication: |
2008
|
Locations: |
Site: |
Hilbre Island |
County: |
Merseyside |
District: |
Wirral |
Parish: |
HOYLAKE |
Country: |
England |
Grid Reference: 318590, 387850 (Easting, Northing)
|
|
Subjects / Periods: |
|
Identifiers: |
OASIS Id: |
liverpoo1-205944 |
OBIB: |
Final report |
|
Note: |
Digital - WORD and PDF document
|
Source: |
|
Relations: |
|
Created Date: |
18 Aug 2017 |