High Close Workshops

Surveying
Two survey workshops will be held in High Close pasture, Grassington, on Wednesday April 29 and Saturday May 9. While both are open to anyone, the Wednesday will be of particular interest to those who already have some experience

The Saturday will cover basic techniques for anyone new to earthwork surveying, or wishing to improve their skills (please let me know via info@ydlrt.co.uk if you would like to join this workshop). Meet at 10am at High Close (along Intake Lane from Chapel St.).

Oral history
A preliminary meeting on Oral History recording will be held on Wednesday June 3, 10am – 1pm (venue to be confirmed).
Autumn Surveying Season
The autumn survey programme in High Close will begin on Wednesday September 2, and will continue (weather permitting) to Wednesday October 21. There will be two Saturday sessions on September 12 and October 3.

Wednesday morning meetings from October 28 to December 16 will be held indoors, with the option of fieldwork if any survey days have been cancelled due to bad weather. Field surveys will be processed and drawn up for publication, and oral history recording will take place. Reserve dates in January and February will be available to tie up any loose ends.

Evening meetings
These will be held on alternate Tuesdays from October 13 to December 8, starting again on January 12. The final date in March will depend on the number of sessions built into a day-school to mark the conclusion of the project.
These sessions, with occasional guest speakers, will cover Iron Age and Roman archaeology in the North, providing a general context for the work in High Close pasture and linking the survey to the landscape project at Chapel House Wood, Kilnsey.

Further details of the autumn programme will be circulated nearer the time. You are very welcome to join any or all of the above events!

Wednesday 1st April

Roger's fan club © Jane Lunnon

A beautiful, warm and sunny day for April Fool’s Day. As we approached High Close we were highly entertained by watching a flock of sheep literally running rings round Roger and his vehicle, which needless to say, caused us all great amusement!

Roger & the 2 Davids, Alan attempting to hide from Pat © Jane Lunnon

When the sheep decided that they were wasting their time, we settled down to the work of the day – good old surveying. The two David’s got together over the alidade; Alison wandered off to do a final check on the 1.9kms of wall, and Alan proceeded to make life difficult for the rest of us, by stationing the GPS just where we wanted to put our flags for the surveying!

David and the dreaded alidade! © Jane Lunnon

The six remaining members divided into 2 teams, one team being allocated the oval shaped area at the southern end of High Close, and the other, the adjoining rectangular area with adjacent fields just to the north-west.

It was good to be back to surveying ground structures again, but as we proceeded, we realised just how complicated these areas are! Having worked consistently all day, with only a short break for lunch, both teams had only managed to do just over half their area. We all agreed that this project is going to take a long time to complete and will certainly last more than a lifetime for a number of us!

Ruth in deep concentration mode © Alan Williams

Pauline with Helen & Sue © Alan Williams

Sadly we missed our customary ‘cream tea’ at the end of the day, but all agreed it had been a good day.

Ruth

The UWHG line dancing team © Jane Lunnon