Big Dig gets to the bottom of Wirral history

Oct 15 2007 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

WIRRAL’S own “big dig” at one of the borough’s landmarks comes to a close this week.

The archaeological excavations at Leasowe Lighthouse have involved the local community and those leading the dig say it has proved a “tremendous success”.

The dig has been led by Dr Rob Philpott, of the National Museums Liverpool, who said they had met their objectives, primarily to “find some archaeology and reveal the area’s history”.

Dr Philpott said people with no previous experience had taken part. They had also had school groups and many other volunteers to dig into the borough’s history.

Unusually for many archaeo-logical excavations, much of the history revealed dates from living memory – with parts of the build-ing from just 70 years ago dug up.

Dr Philpott said they had docu-ments detailing properties around the lighthouse but only by digging up could the area’s history become apparent.

He added: “Archaeologists have realised we can’t get everything from documents and pictures or even people’s memories. We have found many things, from 1930s spark plugs showing evidence of a garage to a box of gramophone needles, as well as pottery and glassware.

“We have been building up a picture of activity on the site – there is nothing like digging to get the real detail.”

The dig has been supported by Wirral Council and is close to areas which have produced signi-ficant finds in the 19th century, particularly from Medieval, Viking and Roman periods.

The famous “Leasowe Man”, found near the site of the Leasowe Castle Hotel, is the oldest com-plete skeleton found in Mersey-side and dates from Roman times, while more recently, archaeo-logists believe the remains of what might be a Viking longboat are buried under the car park of the Railway Inn pub in Meols.

Dr Philpott said the value of excavating more recent human activity is that it allows archaeo-logists to compare their findings with digs at older sites.

He said: “Put archaeology with the pictures and plans and mem-ories and you can use it to flesh out sites from hundreds of years ago, and before living memory.”

An exhibition is being planned to display the finds of the dig.

liammurphy