 |
| On Sunday 11th. September, Eileen Carter, Trust
Secretary, the Vicar of Perranzabuloe, Rev. Jeremy Andrews and
Dick Cole of the Cornwall County Council's history
environment service being interviewed for a programme on
BBC2 |
Monday 12th. September 2005
The excavation of the
mediaeval church begins.
Tuesday 13th. Sept. 2005
The dig has gone well so far. A large ditch in front of the old
cross has begun and so far has exposed an amount of rubble and some
bones from the dig in 1917 by Dr Dexter. These were found only 1ft
beneath the surface.
A second trench across the outer boundary of the cemetery shows the
remains of two hedges separated by a ditch. more investigation is
necessary.
Today work began inside the old church. Turf was removed at the
chancel end and build up of earth and grass removed from the walls.
The result although small in the timescale necessary shows at the
chancel how large and important this monument once was.
Wednesday 14th. Sept. 2005
Turf is now being removed from the interior of the old church,
prior to taking out the accumulation of sand. This will be a mass of
about 250 tons. Archaeologists are on site working with volunteers.
If you would like to help just turn up any weekday. If it's too far
please keep reading our little 'diary'
Thursday 15th. Sept. 2005
Today the weather has been unkind. Mist all day with heavy showers
and a strong wind. A tent-like structure was erected as shelter for
feeding times and we huddled in this like Scott and his team in
Antarctica. Work was mainly focused on the interior of the old
church, removing turf, mainly couch grass making very labour
intensive work. This has to be completed tomorrow ready for
mechanised help. Heavy digging was required at the tower end.
The granite base holding the old cross was exposed along with
disturbed ground and a few bones. The volunteers worked extremely
hard all day and we do thank them.
Friday 16th Sept. 2005
Cold northerly gale blowing but everyone worked with great effort,
knowing that the mini digger will arrive on Monday spurred us on.
There were new faces amongst us again and it is heartwarming to note
the interest our efforts generate. We didn't quite finish the turf
though and would love to welcome a few more volunteers to our gang.
Please join us if you can, even for a couple of hours.
Week 2
Monday 19th Sept. 2005
Cold north wind blowing but everyone happy to see the mini digger
and dumper arrive. How much easier now. It is amazing to note the
huge volume of sand coming out of the body of the church and as
small inroads are made the sand seems to swell and replace what has
gone. Many people are visiting the site and at present three TV
companies are present at various times. The media are showing
much interest.
Tuesday 20th Sept. 2005
What an exciting day all round. I was on the beach with the media
when the archaeologist rang to say that an old gravestone was
uncovered in the body of the church. I could hardly contain myself
to return to the dig. There it lay in pieces as it had been thrown
down onto the rubble when the church was abandoned in 1804. A
beautiful slate even if it had not withstood the test of time too
well, engraved in old script and decorated with swirls and flowers.
It recorded John Resugga and wife who died in 1628. It appears to
have been a floor slab that was accidentally broken as it was taken
up, to remove to the present church.
Wednesday 21st Sept. 2005
The trench that was taken out at the old cross confirmed the
level of the graveyard and after recording of information had taken
place it has now been filled back. Work continues digging out
the tons of sand from the old church and there are neat piles of
sand, turf, stones, and waste all over. This is carefully managed as
the dunes are a highly protected area being a special area of
conservation and a site of special scientific interest. The
volunteers are amazing in their ability to keep going for hours. Do
join us if you can.
Thursday 22nd Sept. 2005
It was seemingly media day! We were filmed by T.S.W and B.B.C.2.
We were also interviewed for a number of radio programmes. We have
more sand than permitted place to put it and work with the digger
stopped until English Nature could agree a place. A good number of
volunteers however kept the job moving and the amazing length of the
north wall was reasonably cleared of sand by the time to finish.
Friday 23rd Sept. 2005
Work was concentrated on the tower end of the church. The removal of
roots and growth was hard but underneath the sand was fine and
golden and a few cuts with a spade resulted in a gushing waterfall
of sand. People worked really hard because the results were so
rewarding. There before us was the pristine unblemished wall, the
plaster showing clearly and not seen for 200 years.
A party of schoolchildren visited and showed great interest and
intelligence at what was around them. Some budding
archaeologists there I think. The film crew are now taking a few
days break but will return. We have become used to having them
around and they will be missed.
Week 3
Monday 26th Sept. 2005
Very high winds and swirling sand today, but the volunteers,
including enthusiastic holidaymakers, remained in good spirits.
Well known broadcaster Chris Blount, who visited the site at the
outset, returned to help. Some pottery finds from the trench on
the site of the old cottage. English Nature's requirement for a
new site for excavated sand has been resolved with restrictions
and space is limited. Work continued on the tower area of the
church, and we became quite adept at manhandling the large
boulders - on a roll definitely!
Tuesday 27th Sept. 2005
The interior walls of the church
tower, unseen for 200 years, were revealed today. Very
exciting. Tomorrow the digger will reduce the sand level,
beginning at the chancel end. The "cottage" trench has been
extended, and is now L-shaped. Expectations of a hearth,
indicated by the geophysical survey, are yet to be
realised. A mostly fine day but for one torrential shower.
By the time coats were recovered from rucksacks everyone was
very wet and then the rain stopped. An area agreed with
English Nature has been temporarily de-turfed to receive
sand. It's a big relief that this issue has been
satisfactorily resolved.
Wednesday 28th Sept. 2005
Not a good day. It started with a close encounter with
a rabbit hole, progressed through driving rain, and saw
the volunteers sent home at lunch time. We had set
about re-turfing the area where excavated sand had been
deposited, while the digger got to work clearing large
boulders from the church interior. The weather quickly
deteriorated. Conditions were abysmal. Rain penetrated
boots, coats, everything, and lagged in sand we were a
sight to behold! The archaeologists, however, are made
of stern stuff and worked on. We hope for a better day
tomorrow.
Thursday 29th Sept. 2005
Much better! Huge
advances in the church. Level reduced in the
south transept. Recreated step up to the
chancel. Discovery of the base of a
pillar, thought to be one of a series throughout
the nave. Further discovery of a sizeable
section of carved pillar, which will be a
splendid feature when reinstated. The hollow
which received the sand deposit yielded
specimens of pottery. The turf from here
presented a daunting task to re-lay, being big
and heavy, but the volunteers rose to the
challenge. It really was a heroic effort. They
were magnificent. Daily interest from visitors
to the site continues. Local residents
and holidaymakers, some returning for the first
time in decades, have been wholly supportive.
Friday 30th Sept. 2005
Thick fog, wind and rain
failed to deter progress. The relaid turf over
Trench 1, adjacent to the old cross, is greening up
under its protective woven cover. Trench 2, at the
boundary of the churchyard, was back filled and the
fine wall we had admired returned to obscurity.
Still no sign of cottage remains. Dowsing had
suggested an adjacent site, but a small test trench
also has yet to reveal any evidence. The church,
unrecognizable as such 18 days ago, has been
reclaimed from the sand, and is looking impressive.
Profiling and re-turfing next week promise to
restore some dignity to this once important
collegiate church.
Week 4
Monday 3rd Oct. 2005
Trench 3 finds still elusive. The BBC2 camera
crew returned and filmed work in the church,
where the chancel was turfed, and wide steps
constructed to create a new access down into the
interior. Chris Blount was a barrow man.
Returfing of the boundary trench (2) was uneven
and required redoubled efforts. An overcast but
dry day, noticeably colder - autumn is here, but
visitor interest continues. Large numbers of
people came to view over the weekend. The
volunteers are unflagging and absolutely
outstanding.
Tuesday 4th Oct. 2005
Trustee Margaret Flannery declared herself
"stunned" by the changed scene within the
church since she was on site three days
ago. Understandably, because the
difference really is dramatic. The slopes
which flank the flight of steps down are
ready for turfing. The boundary trench (2)
has been completed satisfactorily. The
"cottage" trench (3) has yielded a flint and
revealed stonework which could possibly form
part of a trackway, while prehistoric
pottery, thought to be iron age, was found
in the adjacent test trench. Curiously no
medieval finds. A fourth and final trench
was opened, the geophysical survey having
depicted an archaeological anomaly.
Wednesday 5th Oct.
2005
Summer returned! The focus today has
been on returfing the main body of the
church and slopes either side of the
access steps. Time is short and there's
much to do. An exploratory pit dug to
identify the true floor level revealed
some very thin window glass - age to be
determined. Visitors included County
Archaeologist Nick Johnson and
colleagues, and the entire top class of
Perranporth School, who were "hands on",
laying turf, doing rubbings of the cross
and drawing features of the site,
including the wildlife. With only two
days of the dig remaining the protective
metal fencing has served its purpose and
most was returned to base camp, the
2-person task of transporting each panel
the mile or so across the dunes made
light by such a fabulous sunny day.
Thursday 6th
Oct. 2005
The penultimate report ..
Pressure? What pressure? Visitors
asked how long the work will
continue. The answer "tomorrow" was
clearly not expected! 70 children
from two more classes of Perranporth
Primary School enjoyed a memorable
visit. Extensive returfing of the
church interior. The pit to find
the floor was extended, and revealed
kneelers/footrests slightly above
the floor, between rows of pews
which abutted the north wall.
Trench 3 gave up some rimmed
prehistoric black pottery and a
quantity of charcoal. The expected
hearth was shown to be an industrial
furnace, with flue - maybe utilized
for metal or pottery, and dispatched
the trackway theory. Equipment
continues to be cleared from the
site.
It's been good - sorry it's coming
to an end!
Friday 7th
Oct. 2005
The site was tidied and hessian
coverings secured amid media
activity. Less than four weeks
ago a few protruding stones led
people to believe they were
looking at the remains of a
barn. Now the church is ready
for tomorrow's
multi-denominational service, a
momentous occasion to be filmed
by BBC2. Over a period of
months further work will
conserve the walls and promote
public understanding. Sincerest
thanks to everyone who has
helped to ensure a successful
outcome. It couldn't have
happened without such dedicated
and hard working volunteers and
the professionalism of Dick Cole
and the archaeological team
from the Historic Environment
Service of Cornwall County
Council. It's been
companionable, fun and hugely
worthwhile, and now we're off to
the pub ... 'bye.
Saturday
8th Oct. 2005
Well the 'dig' is finished
for the moment. Today was a
moving and fitting finale. A
service was held in the old
church and about 150
people attended. It was a damp
and blustery day but well
sheltered inside those ancient
walls. The service commemorated
St Piran with his prayer and a
Celtic blessing was read by Rev.
Jeremy Andrews. The sides of the
steps were decorated with
scallop shells to remember the
pilgrims of old who used this
sign for their long journey to
Compostella, in Spain.
This is not the
end but merely the
beginning....our work continues.
