Well, I thought it was a good name at the time. Little did I realise that I would then feel compelled to write about Norfolk. And posts. Unsurprisingly, the combination of fine weather and a self-imposed limit on subject matter has led me to neglect the Norfolk Post somewhat of late.
Still, looking around at the huge swath of abandoned blogs that clog up web servers around the world, I see I'm following in a fine tradition.
Wednesday 12 October 2011
Thursday 1 September 2011
Posts of the day
"Beware: deep water. No swimming." One of the warning posts surrounding Whitlingham Little Broad.
Prior to 2008, this was the site of 'Norwich Beach', a popular tourist attraction aimed at bringing the seaside atmosphere to the city, with tons of sand trucked in to add to the experience. Following the accidental drowning of a swimmer who went beyond the marked safe area in that year the beach was removed, the broad was closed to the public and fenced off along its entire shoreline.
While the same signs now also surround Whitlingham Great Broad, leaving swans and ducks the only swimmers, other posts also decorate the waterside. The Millenium Post is located close to the car park and cafe:
And just to the west, an information board outlines the history of "Millionaire's Row", site of the ruin of Trowse Newton Hall and Crown Point Hall (now known as Whitlingham Hall), formerly home to temperance campaigner and philanthropist Jeremiah James Colman. Famous for its English mustard, Colman's company headquarters remain situated nearby to this day.
Prior to 2008, this was the site of 'Norwich Beach', a popular tourist attraction aimed at bringing the seaside atmosphere to the city, with tons of sand trucked in to add to the experience. Following the accidental drowning of a swimmer who went beyond the marked safe area in that year the beach was removed, the broad was closed to the public and fenced off along its entire shoreline.
While the same signs now also surround Whitlingham Great Broad, leaving swans and ducks the only swimmers, other posts also decorate the waterside. The Millenium Post is located close to the car park and cafe:
And just to the west, an information board outlines the history of "Millionaire's Row", site of the ruin of Trowse Newton Hall and Crown Point Hall (now known as Whitlingham Hall), formerly home to temperance campaigner and philanthropist Jeremiah James Colman. Famous for its English mustard, Colman's company headquarters remain situated nearby to this day.
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| Ruin of Trowse Newton Hall, Whitlingham |
Sunday 28 August 2011
Post of the day
Post of the day is from Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse, where it props up a scarecrow in the workhouse cottage garden. Today, this chap was one of few on the site who were not wearing a military uniform and toting a large gun as part of the annual 'Village at War' 1940s event. The Post is a big fan of the Norfolk Museums Service and a regular visitor to Gressenhall and its other sites and it is on occasions such as this that it particularly appreciates the skill of its professional staff and interpreters.
Of course, there will always be a place for amateur re-enactment groups, but while they may be experts in their field, without the communications training provided to museum staff many members are prone to appear self-conscious and surly. As a result, visitors may be left wondering whether they are seeking to relate a historical experience, or simply playing at soldiers.
The 'Village at War' event continues at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse tomorrow, 10am-5pm.
Friday 26 August 2011
Post of the day
Post of the day is from Barton Turf parish staithe. The post is there for tying up broads cruisers, but on this grey morning there were few takers.
It's difficult to establish a clear view on the state of the broads tourist industry: larger yards claim an upturn in bookings as a result of the "staycation" trend following the economic downturn, but others say that this could equally be the result of the closure of smaller yards forcing a concentration of existing business into the hands of the bigger operators. Certainly the general trend in the UK tourist industry has been downward as customers abandon a second break and concentrate their resources on a single foreign holiday.
It's difficult to establish a clear view on the state of the broads tourist industry: larger yards claim an upturn in bookings as a result of the "staycation" trend following the economic downturn, but others say that this could equally be the result of the closure of smaller yards forcing a concentration of existing business into the hands of the bigger operators. Certainly the general trend in the UK tourist industry has been downward as customers abandon a second break and concentrate their resources on a single foreign holiday.
Thursday 25 August 2011
Canaries League Cup kick-off conundrum
A visit to relatives yesterday unearthed this reminder of the days when Norwich knew how to stage a cup-run: a programme from the midweek League Cup 5th round replay against Millwall of Wednesday 16th January 1974. The Post has no memory of the game, being in short trousers at the time and too young to see over the rails in the South Stand, let alone attend a midweek game. Those who purchased the programme seem similarly oblivious, but the records show that Norwich beat Millwall 2-1, going on to lose 2-1 on aggregate to Wolves over the two leg semi-final.
The result, however was not the main topic of interest. Looking at the cover of the programme, the Post was struck by two things: one, the price; two, the kick-off time. Inside the programme there are references to "tonight's game", but the front cover has the game advertised as starting at 1.30pm. The initial assumption was that this was the result of a printing error, but it was then noted that January 1974 was the height of the three day week. The Heath government was going head-to-head with the miners and the working week was curtailed in order to save electricity as the pits and coal-fired power stations ground to a halt.
So was it a misprint, or was the game brought forward to the afternoon in order to avoid the need for floodlighting? On the one hand, a game kicking off at 1.30pm in mid-January would just about finish in daylight. On the other, I don't see how either my father (a public sector employee and therefore not subject to three day working) nor my older brother (still in school at the time) could have attended a match at that time and bought the programme. One for the experts...
By way of a footnote, a look inside the programme shows the Division One standings at the time: Leeds were eight points clear at the top with Chelsea in 18th place and Manchester United struggling two places above Norwich who, while they may have put on a good show in the cup, sat stone bottom of the league and on course for relegation from the top flight.
The result, however was not the main topic of interest. Looking at the cover of the programme, the Post was struck by two things: one, the price; two, the kick-off time. Inside the programme there are references to "tonight's game", but the front cover has the game advertised as starting at 1.30pm. The initial assumption was that this was the result of a printing error, but it was then noted that January 1974 was the height of the three day week. The Heath government was going head-to-head with the miners and the working week was curtailed in order to save electricity as the pits and coal-fired power stations ground to a halt.
So was it a misprint, or was the game brought forward to the afternoon in order to avoid the need for floodlighting? On the one hand, a game kicking off at 1.30pm in mid-January would just about finish in daylight. On the other, I don't see how either my father (a public sector employee and therefore not subject to three day working) nor my older brother (still in school at the time) could have attended a match at that time and bought the programme. One for the experts...
By way of a footnote, a look inside the programme shows the Division One standings at the time: Leeds were eight points clear at the top with Chelsea in 18th place and Manchester United struggling two places above Norwich who, while they may have put on a good show in the cup, sat stone bottom of the league and on course for relegation from the top flight.
Wednesday 24 August 2011
Norwich 0-4 MK Dons
As with many other clubs, it has become a tradition over the past fifteen years or so that Norwich get beaten by a team from a lower league in the early rounds of the Carling Cup, everyone heaves a collective sigh of indifference and carries on as normal. With Premier League survival currently listed as priority number one to number 150, it was always a tradition that was going to be respected this year. But even so...
I can only imagine that the Norwich players were hypnotised by the all-new all singing and dancing animated electronic advertising hoardings. That or they were in a collective sulk at being selected for this game. Either way, while some of the 13,000 crowd made an effort to express disapproval by walking out before the end, most remained glued to their seats by a grim fascination, wondering what comedic blunder would befall the hapless Norwich side next.
Off the ball:
* It wasn't only that Norwich got thumped, it was the ridiculous way they did it: disappointment turned to bewilderment turned to bemused laughter among the crowd. And, looking at this Eastern Daily Press photo, it appears that it wasn't just the supporters who felt that way.
* The new electronic advertising hoardings were in action for the first time at Carrow Road last night. Seen from high camera angles on TV these boards are hardly noticeable, but from near pitch level the effect is mesmeric: minutes of the game go past and you realise that you haven't been watching the football at all. And that's when you can even see the ball among the technicolour blur.
* MK Dons turned out for the second half minus two players. Had they played on with nine, it might have been a more even match - though the fact that they did end up playing the last fifteen minutes or so with ten men due to injury and still looked the stronger side suggests it might just as well not have.
* Man of the Match award has to go to Captain Canary, on the grounds he was the only one in a Norwich shirt on the pitch last night who didn't embarrass himself.
I can only imagine that the Norwich players were hypnotised by the all-new all singing and dancing animated electronic advertising hoardings. That or they were in a collective sulk at being selected for this game. Either way, while some of the 13,000 crowd made an effort to express disapproval by walking out before the end, most remained glued to their seats by a grim fascination, wondering what comedic blunder would befall the hapless Norwich side next.
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| Oooh! What a Carry On! |
* It wasn't only that Norwich got thumped, it was the ridiculous way they did it: disappointment turned to bewilderment turned to bemused laughter among the crowd. And, looking at this Eastern Daily Press photo, it appears that it wasn't just the supporters who felt that way.
* The new electronic advertising hoardings were in action for the first time at Carrow Road last night. Seen from high camera angles on TV these boards are hardly noticeable, but from near pitch level the effect is mesmeric: minutes of the game go past and you realise that you haven't been watching the football at all. And that's when you can even see the ball among the technicolour blur.
* MK Dons turned out for the second half minus two players. Had they played on with nine, it might have been a more even match - though the fact that they did end up playing the last fifteen minutes or so with ten men due to injury and still looked the stronger side suggests it might just as well not have.
* Man of the Match award has to go to Captain Canary, on the grounds he was the only one in a Norwich shirt on the pitch last night who didn't embarrass himself.
Tuesday 23 August 2011
Post of the day
Post of the day is a swing-post, as featured in the recent BBC4 documentary two-parter "Hop, Skip and Jump: the Story of Children's Play". To the best of the Post's knowledge the image is not from Norfolk; more likely a London park, but the programme did feature Ed Mitchell from Chedworth, recounting the local tradition of the St Valentine pennies.
In an event apparently loosely based on the mediaeval trial by ordeal, the poor children of Norfolk towns and villages would progress en masse to richer areas each year on St Valentine's day, in the hope that pennies would be thrown to them in the street. Of course, the well-to-do being what they are, they decided that there would be more sport to be had by heating the coins on a shovel over a coal fire until they were red hot before they were dispensed to the crowd of urchins outside their windows. How they must have laughed to hear the screams of the burned children as they fought for the pitiful offering in the street below. All good fun!
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| Children scrabbling for Valentine pennies |
Looking into this custom a bit further though, the Post discovers that this type of Valentine tradition seems to be unique to Norfolk. Just as St Valentine's day falls mid-way between Christmas and April Fool's, the Mother or Father (sometimes Jack) Valentine character seems to be half Santa, half prankster, with quite a few less sadisitc interpretations listed in this BBC Norfolk website article and the comments below.
"TheGreat Outdoors", part 1 of "Hop, Skip and Jump: the Story of Children's Play" which features the Norfolk Valentine pennies footage is available on the BBC iPlayer until Wednesday 24th August.
Monday 22 August 2011
Say it with digits...
Saturday's Evening News reports that digital television switchover is only eighty days away for the majority of Norfolk households, with the Tacolneston transmitter set to move exclusively to the new format in November this year. While this is welcome news for the Post, which is excited by the prospect of enhanced reception of the 'Top Gear' and 'On the Buses' repeats which form the bulk of digital output, its attention was drawn to the photo which accompanied the article.
In the photo, 'Digit Al' the media friendly mascot of the digital switchover project is seen emerging from a suitably decorated barge moored at Thorpe last year, urging readers not to "miss the boat" and waving cheerily. Or is he? It looks suspiciously as if he is actually sticking two fingers up at the camera.
The Post is unsure whether this is the result of an altercation with photographer Simon Finlay or whether it is the government's message to those who remain unprepared for the change. If the latter, the comments posted below the Evening News piece seem to indicate that for quite a few, the feeling is mutual.
No surprise, then, that plans to impose a similar switchover from FM to DAB on radio listeners continue to be deferred. Many readers will already be aware that the increasingly ubiquitous and cheap 'smart' phone generally comes equipped with two radio formats: FM and internet radio, together enabling the reception of thousands of stations from around the globe and effectively bypassing the government's preferred DAB technology. While Al may urge us not to miss the digital TV boat, it seems that for radio switchover plans, the ship has already sailed.
In the photo, 'Digit Al' the media friendly mascot of the digital switchover project is seen emerging from a suitably decorated barge moored at Thorpe last year, urging readers not to "miss the boat" and waving cheerily. Or is he? It looks suspiciously as if he is actually sticking two fingers up at the camera.
The Post is unsure whether this is the result of an altercation with photographer Simon Finlay or whether it is the government's message to those who remain unprepared for the change. If the latter, the comments posted below the Evening News piece seem to indicate that for quite a few, the feeling is mutual.
No surprise, then, that plans to impose a similar switchover from FM to DAB on radio listeners continue to be deferred. Many readers will already be aware that the increasingly ubiquitous and cheap 'smart' phone generally comes equipped with two radio formats: FM and internet radio, together enabling the reception of thousands of stations from around the globe and effectively bypassing the government's preferred DAB technology. While Al may urge us not to miss the digital TV boat, it seems that for radio switchover plans, the ship has already sailed.
Norwich 1-1 Stoke
A great effort from Norwich to secure a point yesterday. It would clearly have been three but for the second award of a blatant non-penalty against the side in two Premier League games. While keeper Ruddy kept out the spot kick, the absence of Barnett throughout the second half and the increasing onslaught from Stoke, aided by the addition of an apparently unwarranted five minutes of extra time brought a feeling of inevitability to Stoke's late equaliser.
City boss Paul Lambert has today decided not to challenge Barnett's red card and resulting three match suspension, but will no doubt have learned the lessons about the harsh realities of Premier League football. Whether that means we can expect to see Tom Daley appointed to the coaching staff in the near future remains to be seen. Otherwise, off the ptich:
* Darren Eadie put in a good performance as BBC Radio Norfolk summariser alongside Chris Goreham and avoided any "you name me a League One player who scored in the Premiership" type awkwardness during Canary Call after the game. Eadie looks to be a favourite for The New Neil role, with several callers expressing the opinion that he should have a permanent place as Goreham's wingman, but the rotation policy continues for now.
* The new Lotus mega-seats in the home dugout provided Norwich substitutes with an excellent view of... the backs of the new Lotus mega-seats. And not much else.
* Tony Pulis apparently remains oblivious to the Beavis and Butthead 'Cornholio' associations of having 'TP' stamped on the front of his shirt.
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| Noooo! Not again! |
* Darren Eadie put in a good performance as BBC Radio Norfolk summariser alongside Chris Goreham and avoided any "you name me a League One player who scored in the Premiership" type awkwardness during Canary Call after the game. Eadie looks to be a favourite for The New Neil role, with several callers expressing the opinion that he should have a permanent place as Goreham's wingman, but the rotation policy continues for now.
* The new Lotus mega-seats in the home dugout provided Norwich substitutes with an excellent view of... the backs of the new Lotus mega-seats. And not much else.
* Tony Pulis apparently remains oblivious to the Beavis and Butthead 'Cornholio' associations of having 'TP' stamped on the front of his shirt.
Sunday 21 August 2011
Post of the day
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| Medieval Moonship by Michael Wickwar |
There's certainly no shortage of work displayed around the Assembly Rooms (which are worth a visit for the buildings alone) and, as always in this kind of open exhibition, there is a good amount of 'laugh out loud' art on show: sometimes the laughter is caused by the presumption of those who appear to value their derivative efforts alongside the masters they impersonate. But more often it is the result of an witty and ingenious idea skillfully executed, as with Michael Wickwar's Medieval Moonship (above). The small wooden post behind the sculpture announces the sale price for this work as £3,250 and when you look at the sheer amount of detailed work on it you can see why.
While Wickwar's work is one of several strong contenders for 'best in show', I must give a special mention to Will Teather's painting entitled "Gwendoline Bertram's Lunar Incantations". Priced at £3,500 it really is a 'must see' for anyone who truly appreciates fine art. I'm not saying why, though.
But you said there would be puppies!
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| Oh, right. Puppets... |
A shame, as anyone who has seen shadow puppetry will know what a magical experience it can be, but the pantomime-like performance style of this piece seemed to work against the medium. With a tighter text, fewer (ideally no) attempts at playing for cheap laughs via topical references, less gratuitous audience interaction and more work on vocal control and developing a variety of character voices the piece might begin to come together. Still, I believe it's early days for this tour, so it may yet happen. In the meantime, it has the feel of an opportunity missed.
But maybe my experience of the show was unfairly coloured by the theatre's poor sight lines and the front-of-house staff sitting directly behind me chattering throughout the show, because apart from all that I quite enjoyed it.
Saturday 20 August 2011
Incomers 2
The latest batch of incomers have been passed through Norfolk's version of the full-body scanner (a torch in a light-sealed herb pot), which reveals that only eight of the twelve are set to become future citizens of the county. More info, as ever at the Ben's Hen blog.
Friday 19 August 2011
Post of the day
Today's post is from Bacton, on the Norfolk coast. It is part of the sea defences which protect the Bacton terminal, gateway to the offshore gas fields which will one day underpin the economy of a fully independent Norfolk.
Thursday 18 August 2011
Incomers
As any fule no, Norfolk is God's own county and generally a fine place to live. No surprise, then, that incomers flock from all corners of the globe, hoping to set up home within its borders. This latest batch of new arrivals have fled the economic turmoil that is sweeping the Euro zone and arrive from France via Scotland, seeking tranquility and, ultimately, a handful of mixed corn.
Hopefully we will be able to release them all from quarantine around the start of September, when they will begin their new lives as fully fledged citizens of Norfolk. In the meantime you can follow their progress in more detail on the Ben's Hens blog.
Hopefully we will be able to release them all from quarantine around the start of September, when they will begin their new lives as fully fledged citizens of Norfolk. In the meantime you can follow their progress in more detail on the Ben's Hens blog.
Tuesday 16 August 2011
Norwich City Reserves 0 - 0 Blackburn Rovers Reserves
Norwich's return to the top flight of English football also means a welcome return for reserve league fixtures at Carrow Road after the occasional games played on the Colney training pitches at odd hours of the afternoon since November 2009, which were more or less impossible for anyone bar those involved to attend. Tonight's game against a young Blackburn Rovers Reserves side saw a run out for some familiar faces form the last couple of years, plus a first outing for brand new signing Dani Ayala, who looked comfortable, if not hugely creative at the back.
Unfortunately, some hard work from Simon Lappin, Adam Drury and Chris Martin failed to pay off in a game of few real chances and little to offer in the way of excitement, barring the display board's first half blunder of showing the official attendance as 10,290. It was perhaps a measure of the game that the majority of those officially considered present decided it wasn't worth hanging on for the second half, as the post break attendance was announced as a more plausible 1,029 - still a very good turn out for a first reserve game in the middle of August when schools and youth football clubs are yet to get organised for group bookings.
At £3 per ticket and £2 for parking at the ground, you can't complain too much, though, even if there isn't a feast of goals. And, as ever, much of the entertainment comes from the banter in the stands, with the added bonus that the smaller crowd allows everything on the pitch to be heard, even when it does have you racing to cover the kids' ears.
Unfortunately, some hard work from Simon Lappin, Adam Drury and Chris Martin failed to pay off in a game of few real chances and little to offer in the way of excitement, barring the display board's first half blunder of showing the official attendance as 10,290. It was perhaps a measure of the game that the majority of those officially considered present decided it wasn't worth hanging on for the second half, as the post break attendance was announced as a more plausible 1,029 - still a very good turn out for a first reserve game in the middle of August when schools and youth football clubs are yet to get organised for group bookings.
At £3 per ticket and £2 for parking at the ground, you can't complain too much, though, even if there isn't a feast of goals. And, as ever, much of the entertainment comes from the banter in the stands, with the added bonus that the smaller crowd allows everything on the pitch to be heard, even when it does have you racing to cover the kids' ears.
Dilham Canal
The sun shone yesterday (Monday), so the Post hauled out its old canoe for a paddle up the Dilham Canal. Built during the canal boom of the early 19th Century, the waterway originally ran from Swafield in the North down to Wayford Bridge, where it joins the River Ant. These days the only navigable stretch is the two miles from Wayford up to Honing Lock and, as yesterday's trip proved even that is pushing it, with reed encroaching to the extent that it would be very hard going to get anything wider than a canoe through the final stretch up to Honing.
On the plus side, of course, this does mean that if you are in a canoe, you pretty much have the water to yourself. Apart from a few walkers and hire canoes on the wider stretches at the southern end, the Post hardly saw anyone all afternoon, the only company being the swans, ducks and cows on the banks and hundreds of small fish teeming in the water. The only slight disappointment on the trip was encountering a fallen tree which completely blocked the waterway about 50 yards short of Honing Lock, preventing us from getting the canoe into the actual lock pound. Next time we're up that way, we'll take a saw and a sickle to make the going a bit easier.
Unfortunately, with the Post's regular photographer away on another job we had to take our own pictures.Apologies in advance if they fall short of the usual high standard:
Unfortunately, our stand-in photographer came over all arty at the sight of running water and failed to get a decent shot of Honing Lock. If you want to see photos of the canal past and present, there is plenty more information at the East Anglian Waterways Association website, as well as details of ongoing restoration work.
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| Traffic jam at the southern end of the canal |
Unfortunately, with the Post's regular photographer away on another job we had to take our own pictures.Apologies in advance if they fall short of the usual high standard:
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| You aren't from around here, are you boy? |
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| More reed than water approaching Honing |
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| It's all gone Beatrix Potter |
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| End of the line: a fallen tree blocks access to Honing lock |
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| Where Honing lock top gates used to be (see below) |
Unfortunately, our stand-in photographer came over all arty at the sight of running water and failed to get a decent shot of Honing Lock. If you want to see photos of the canal past and present, there is plenty more information at the East Anglian Waterways Association website, as well as details of ongoing restoration work.
Monday 15 August 2011
World's Craziest Voles
While the Post's regular photographer was away snapping the seals and dolphins during our recent visit to Kilchoan, we were fortunate to encounter this friendly local in the garden:
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| Wee, sleekit... |
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| ....but not so timorous beasite. |
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| And off he goes for his tea. |
Upon fair Scotia's shore
As any fule no, apart from the completely different landscape and culture, Norfolk is just like Scotland.
No surprise then that Post recently bundled off to the West Highland village of Kilchoan for a bit of recreational fishing, fiddle-playing and feeding. The fiddling was fun, the food was good, but the fishing left a lot to be desired, with only one decent mackerel landed during the entire stay. Conversation with other anglers quickly revealed the reason for the lack of fish, however, as a number of seals and a large pod of dolphins had been sighted in the area. And sure enough, the Post was soon treated to the sight of these majestic beasts swimming in the waters close to the shore. As ever, our photographer was on hand to record the spectacle:
A magnificent natural display, I'm sure you will agree.
No surprise then that Post recently bundled off to the West Highland village of Kilchoan for a bit of recreational fishing, fiddle-playing and feeding. The fiddling was fun, the food was good, but the fishing left a lot to be desired, with only one decent mackerel landed during the entire stay. Conversation with other anglers quickly revealed the reason for the lack of fish, however, as a number of seals and a large pod of dolphins had been sighted in the area. And sure enough, the Post was soon treated to the sight of these majestic beasts swimming in the waters close to the shore. As ever, our photographer was on hand to record the spectacle:
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| An inquisitive seal raises his head close to shore. |
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| Dolphins play in the waters close to the Post's canoe. |
Sunday 14 August 2011
Wigan 1 - Norwich City 1
Always first with the news, the Post notes Norwich's season opening draw with Wigan, yesterday. While the action on the pitch has been thoroughly analysed by the pundits, the Post notes the additional off the pitch action, which may have passed readers by:
* Paul Lambert's "more bigger moobs,now!" gesture from the touchline, captured by the Match of the Day cameras (but currently impossible to find on the interwebs - the Post has spent most of the day trying). The Post assumes that this was meant as encouragement to the players to 'puff their chests out' and show pride, but it came over a tad "Carry On". Grant Holt was not available for comment.
* Matt Jackson made a good stab at being "the New Neil" as a member the Radio Norfolk commentary team. Some good summarising and insight and he came over well on the radio, but he's got a bit of work to do before he can match Neil Adams' endless patience when facing up to the Canary Call audience. Thankfully nobody asked what was going on in training. It appears that Radio Norfolk are not going for a full-time replacement for "the Old Neil", preferring to rotate former players before settling on a permanent signing. On the other hand, it does raise the vaguest of possibilities that the new "New Neil" might eventually turn out to be the "Old Neil", at least once in a while.
* Wes Hoolahan has changed his name to Hula-hoop.
Carry on, City!
* Paul Lambert's "more bigger moobs,now!" gesture from the touchline, captured by the Match of the Day cameras (but currently impossible to find on the interwebs - the Post has spent most of the day trying). The Post assumes that this was meant as encouragement to the players to 'puff their chests out' and show pride, but it came over a tad "Carry On". Grant Holt was not available for comment.
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| "Ooh! That was never a penalty!" |
* Wes Hoolahan has changed his name to Hula-hoop.
Carry on, City!
Saturday 13 August 2011
Archaeology: not as exciting as football
... says an archaeologist.
The Post today enjoyed an afternoon visit to view Norfolk Archaeological Trust's latest excavations at Caistor St Edmund, near Norwich, site of the Roman town Venta Icenorum. Though whether it was much of a town at all now seems to be a matter of debate. The display boards at the entrance to the site portray it as a busy market town, but recent geophysics surveys increasingly suggest that it wasn't much of a settlement at all, with very little evidence of a population of any size despite the clearly defined roads which cross the site.
Other previously held beliefs about the site are also beginning to look unfounded:
* Claims that the Roman town was established on the foundations of an Iron Age settlement, appear to have foundered in the face of a complete lack of any evidence of settlement in that period. Likewise that Venta was built on the site of the seat of Boudica/Boudica/Boadicea following her failed rebellion.
* While it is known that the sea came much further inland in Roman times, the belief that the River Tas was also a large enough waterway to permit access by large Roman ships to Venta also seems to have been disproved by core samples taken in recent years. Iron rings believed to have been attached to the outer walls of Venta on the North side and thought to have been mooring rings, now appear to have been no such thing. Likewise, the canal to which they would have been adjacent now appears to have been a myth.
* An idea that the diagonal road heading out of the town at the North-East corner led to a pre-Roman sacred site and was built on a druidic path is yet another casualty of continued research, with excavation of the road revealing any sign of immediate pre-Roman use. On the plus side, shaped flint tools dating back to the paleolithic and mesolithic periods were discovered, revealing much earlier settlement of the area.
So all in all, the more they dig, the less exciting Venta Icenorum seems to be. Still, as the chap said, it's as well to know these things. Norfolk County Council and the Tourist Board, on the other hand, must be kicking themselves for continuing to allow the 'bunny huggers' onto the site.
Small surprise, then, that fences have been erected around the trenches to stop the archaeologists from running off and doing something less depressing. The only genuine excitement among the team today seemed to occur when Wes Hoolahan scored Norwich's equaliser against Wigan in the opening game of their Premiership season.
But don't take my word for it; the site remains open to the public while excavations continue until 3rd September, with family days on Sunday 21st and Sunday 28th August in association with the BBC’s ‘Hands on History’ series.
The Post today enjoyed an afternoon visit to view Norfolk Archaeological Trust's latest excavations at Caistor St Edmund, near Norwich, site of the Roman town Venta Icenorum. Though whether it was much of a town at all now seems to be a matter of debate. The display boards at the entrance to the site portray it as a busy market town, but recent geophysics surveys increasingly suggest that it wasn't much of a settlement at all, with very little evidence of a population of any size despite the clearly defined roads which cross the site.
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| Venta Icenorum: not what it used to be |
Other previously held beliefs about the site are also beginning to look unfounded:
* Claims that the Roman town was established on the foundations of an Iron Age settlement, appear to have foundered in the face of a complete lack of any evidence of settlement in that period. Likewise that Venta was built on the site of the seat of Boudica/Boudica/Boadicea following her failed rebellion.
* While it is known that the sea came much further inland in Roman times, the belief that the River Tas was also a large enough waterway to permit access by large Roman ships to Venta also seems to have been disproved by core samples taken in recent years. Iron rings believed to have been attached to the outer walls of Venta on the North side and thought to have been mooring rings, now appear to have been no such thing. Likewise, the canal to which they would have been adjacent now appears to have been a myth.
* An idea that the diagonal road heading out of the town at the North-East corner led to a pre-Roman sacred site and was built on a druidic path is yet another casualty of continued research, with excavation of the road revealing any sign of immediate pre-Roman use. On the plus side, shaped flint tools dating back to the paleolithic and mesolithic periods were discovered, revealing much earlier settlement of the area.
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| Venta Icenorum as it may actually have appeared today |
Small surprise, then, that fences have been erected around the trenches to stop the archaeologists from running off and doing something less depressing. The only genuine excitement among the team today seemed to occur when Wes Hoolahan scored Norwich's equaliser against Wigan in the opening game of their Premiership season.
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| Depressed archaeologists attempt to flee the site |
Lowestoft Air Show 2011
Yesterday was the concluding day of the Lowestoft Sir Show 2011. Early cloud gave way to bright sunshine and the crowds turned out in force. The Post dispatched its photographer to record all the action:
Some quality work there, I'm sure you will agree.
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| A pair of US F-15s thunder overhead |
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| A Messerschmitt 109 pulls a tight turn |
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| The 'Pit Special' aerobatic biplanes in action |
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| The piece de resistance: The Red Arrows |
Some quality work there, I'm sure you will agree.
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