Wigan Album

Serious work Barrie, but had any of the lads ever found collectible items such as clay pipes, ginger beers, pot lids etc. I remember the tale about a small hoard of such items that were unearthed in a situation deemed too-dangerous or useless (incoming water, I think) for those who'd frustratingly chomped at the bit above, sometime, somewhere back in the 70s - bottle-collecting's heyday, I believe. The digger driver must have been beside himself.

Philip, if anything like that was found I would have heard about it one way or other. On some jobs that I have worked on, artefacts have been found during excavation work. One job in Cumbria ( at the same time as Wigan FAS was under way), I was involved for nigh on 3 years ( A595 bypass at Parton). As it was of historical interest there were many finds prior to earthworks starting and that was allowed for in the construction period. Interesting work around brownfield sites where old industries were once sited -old bottles/ glass etc come to light and kept in the site office for a while though that depended on the Site Manager/Agent. I don't remember any "bodies"/skeletons being found though.

Thanks Barrie. It's great to know that the construction worker and archaeologist get along together so-well on sites of such importance. In fact, I have visions of them as they exchange words of respective merit; more-exciting words, on certain occasions ... Excuse me, squire! ... just found this old axe in the bucket of the digger, ... any good? And from my front and back gardens by my own hands, and for my own perusal, the cavalcade of earthly delights that I'd once considered sending to Brian for acceptance as the most-boring P-a-D ever - it would have put once-held P-a-D's of so-called lesser-shine into a better light. Here are just a few that take the the light on the top shelf of my 8 x 6 greenhouse: A ceramic cap bearing the words Lucas England, respective pegs from pocket-size chess and solitaire games, a three-pronged soccer stud, the bowl from what must surely have be a Rainford-made clay pipe, three marbles, a 1966 halfpenny, ... .