Smithy article published by Cumbria Vernacular Buildings Group

 

CVBG Newsletter 51, Spring 2026 pp10-15.

The Smithy at Hayton, Aspatria

https://www.cvbg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Newsletter-No-51-Final-compressed.pdf

Agave Montana

I have had this succulent for over sixty years, and it has decided it is time for it to flower. 

The bud is growing by the day, but I assume that it will become dormant as we move into winter and the flower will open in spring/summer.

 

Festschrift for Prof Mark Brisbane

https://www.archaeopress.com/Archaeopress/Products/9781803279237 Papers honor Mark's research on urbanization and trade in Britain and Europe, and his contributions to museums and museology. In two sections, the first provides up-to-date reviews of Hamwic (Saxon Southampton) and the second offers post-excavation studies in Britain and Europe and also includes developments in the Museum and Heritage sectors. I contributed Chapter 16 about the unique 'salt ships' of Nantwich to recognise Mark's leadership of the Eu unded Ecosal Atlantos project. Unfortuately due to funding restrctions an OPen Access version was not made availble as originally intended.

Saltcote No.12

Saltcote No.12 is now uploaded to Ecosal-UK Google Drive Link Download all issues via Google Drive Ecosal-UK

The Joseph slipover

Slipover sleeveless sweater - Fair Isle patter from Smith and Jameson, Lerwick.

Saltcote 2022 No.10

The new Ecosal-UK has just been published. Saltcote No.10 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dImNrZecBEV0_1g-kXalEMR4bAlz93fT/view?usp=share_link Saltcote back issues https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kDLqnU8aSxTPnEftzy9_Uxq2UDoNZEnF?usp=share_link

Christmas ecard for Ecosal-UK 2022

ecard we produced for Ecosal-UK 2022

 

Christmas Angel 2021

 

Christmas Angel 2021

SPMA Congress 28-30 May 2021 - Talk accepted

 The Society for Post Medieval Archaeology have accepted a talk by Andrew at the 2021 Congress being presented online this year.

The talk will describe suggestions made by Dr William Brownrigg or Whitehaven to prevent the spread of contagious diseases in 1771.

Brownrigg delivered a paper to the Royal Society in 1748 on how to improve salt making in the UK.

The paper will describe the similarities about Brownrigg's suggestions in the context of the present Covid19 pandemic and measures put in place by the government to halt transmission.

For further information - https://pmac21.com/

Fair Isle Sweater unveiled Jan 2021

 Can now unveil the latest Fair Isle sweater knitted by Annelise.  

It's in a pattern book called the 'Vintage Shetland Project' by Susan Crawford.

Crawford transcribed the pattern from an original sweater in the Shetland Museum, which was knitted by a Doris Hunter for her fiance Ralph Patterson in 1921. They married and during WWII Ralph was captured and spent time as a POW in Japan, with his sweater.  

See link to the Shetland Museum archive.  Shetland Museum and Archives::Allover Shetland patterned jumper

"Salt on the Solway" webinar 29th October 2020

 Sign up for a talk describing the history and archaeology of salt making on the shores of the Solway Firth.

Talks by Andrew Fielding and John Pickin. 

Solway Coast AONB and the Solway Firth Partnership.

Web links to video recording of the talks https://youtu.be/ILZiMclUJ4c

Preparing to cut a Steek on Fair Isle sweater 'Ralph'

 This is the back of a Fair Isle sweater currently being knitted by Annelise. It is knitted in the round with the arm holes and 'v'-neck created by cutting a steek.

The pattern, Ralph' is interpreted by Susan Crawford in her book the Vintage Shetland Project from a sweater in the Shetland Museum archive. The original sweater was knitted by Doris Hunter for Ralph Patterson. It ended up with Ralph in a Japanese POW camp in Hong Kong during World War II.

The body pattern is knitted in the round, leaving a column of stitches to cut to make openings for the neck and the sleeves. The each side of the edge where the cut will be made is strengthened with a running stich.

Inside view showing the stranded knitting of the Fair Isle pattern.

Outside view before cutting.

The arm hole steeks after cutting. Now ready to pick up stitches and knit down the sleeves.

IPAISAL newsletter El Alfoli Issue 27 2020

 The latest issue of El Alfolí is out! Request your free copy at salinasdeinterio@gmail.com

Features an interview with Andrew Fielding.ith Andrew Fielding of Ecosal-UK.

2020 update

2020 has seen us established in a new home in Nw Cumbria, saying farewell to Cheshire. Leaving behind the salt sites of Cheshire we now have three historic salt sites on our new doorstep - Silloth, Crosscanonby and Whitehaven Pier. We have had more grant applications turned down, though one for a community project would have proved difficult to deliver during ethical Covid-19 pandemic we now find ourselves in at the present time. However, one application seems likely to be approved, more about this later in the year. A big conference organised to take place in Sutherland by the Scape Trust has been cancelled, but we look forward to being able to gather there some time next year when it is save to do so.

Talk to the Geologists' Association

Talk on Salt Making in the NW of England to the annual meeting of the Geologists' Association at Manchester University, Saturday 19th October, 2019.

New publication - reprint of WM Hardy's Wave Action on Our Coast

Wave Action on Our Coast

By Andrew and Annelise Fielding

This book comprises a facsimile of William Masters Hardy's book 'Wave Action on our Coast' first published in 1911. The foreword is written by his great-great granddaughter and compliments the publication of his notebooks in 'William Master's Hardy - 'A Rambling Sketch of my Life 1836-1921'. The style is engaging and introduces the reader to the power of the sea through the actions of the Sea Giant and the Atmospheric King.

Ecosal-UK Newsletter No.6

We have completed the 6th Newsletter for Ecosal-UK. Read it on-line, or email for a pdf to be sent to you.
Download from https://drive.google.com/open?id=1t1KLHIHqhBbHKl4EZnUqHmgNQ5_Ekc1m

Earlier issues can also be found on Google Drive at   Saltcote Newsletters

Video of talk given to Newcomen Society, 24th Oct 2018

Talk given at the Lion Salt Works on 24th October to a symposium organised by the NW Regional group of the Newcomen Society.






Also see talk on the geology of the Cheshire salt basin by Ross Todhunter -
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLneu_td-VMV--RXoVkM7pKmbQgzJN5wQE

Visit of Sir Hugo Brunner and cousins to the Brunner Guildhall

Sir Hugo Brunner made a visited to see the Brunner Guildhall on Friday 19th October, 2018. He was joined by two of his cousins, James Blyth and Georgina Dunlop.

Left to right: James Blyth, Hugo Brunner, Cllr Gina Lewis, mayor of Winsford, Andrew Fielding, Georgina Dunlop, Cllr Ailsa Gaskill-Jones, deputy Mayor and Mark Bailey, own Clerk.  

West Cumbria Archaeology Society - Mary Rose Talk 9th November 2019

Andrew Fielding will be giving a talk about the excavation of the Mary Rose on 9th November at 7.30 to the West Cumbria Archaeological Society.
Venue: Allhallows Community Centre, Fletchertown, Cumbria.