All Our Stories – Bugs in May

Posted on by
Andrew Grayson with his surveying equipment

Andrew Grayson with his surveying equipment

For the All Our Stories project we are looking at the natural, geological and cultural history of the Park.   Joanna Brooks is running the ecological project and in May asked Andrew Grayson, an experienced entomologist, and member of the Yorkshire Naturalist Union,  to survey the park for invertebrates.

Andrew came along on 22nd May 2013, and surveyed the Park between 12.25 and 14.40, on  a dryish but slightly breezy day, with temperatures varying between 12°C and 16°C.  The weather at the start was not ideal for insects, but a little later, Continue reading →

It’s Kid’s Day : OK – by Chris Parapia

Posted on by
Once it was cowboy guns, now it's space 'guns'

Once it was cowboy guns, now it’s space ‘guns’

The mobile play session organised by Aireborough Extended Services and Leeds Play Network was a huge success on Monday 13th August.  Forty five children and young people signed in to enjoy activities such as water play, cricket, den building and arts and crafts.  The water slide on the hill was a particular success !!  (Twas ever thus, only it used to be cardboard, and before that cotton knickers !! – Editor) Continue reading →

A Park With Three Benches !

Posted on by
The bench arrives down Clapper Brow - left to right, Steve, Martyn, Paul and Andy

The bench arrives down Clapper Brow – left to right, Steve, Martyn, Paul and Andy

A recent comment on a Guiseley related Facebook page bemoaned the lack of green space in Guiseley, and the paltry nature of the ‘one bench’ that was in Parkinson’s Park.  Well,  the Park now has three benches (and one tree log): the latest addition was installed by our local crack ‘men who can’ team at the end of July

The bench is partly made from the sycamore trees that used to stand near the cafe on Ilkley Moor.  It was made by Paul Whittaker, Continue reading →

All Our Stories – Ploughing Through Time

Posted on by
Magnetometer reading showing the underlying features of the Park

Magnetometer reading showing the underlying features of the Park

The GSB Prospection geophysics team of Jimmy Adcock and Finn Pope Carter,  have now finished in Parkinson’s Park, and we are delighted with the results – so far.  We were most concerned that they would come back empty-handed and tell us there was nothing; but in the event they were more than impressed themselves at the wealth of interest the park has.

Barbara Winfield, Jimmy Adcock and Finn Pope-Carter

Barbara Winfield, Jimmy Adcock and Finn Pope-Carter

There is very strong evidence of medieval Continue reading →

All Our Stories – Geophysics Survey Takes Place This Week

Posted on by
Clapper Brow

Clapper Brow

The geophysics survey of the Park takes place this week, 24th – 26th July, between 9am and 5pm,  to establish if there is any archaeology that can help us tell the story of this area.   We are particularly concentrating on the area of Clapper Brow, which could have been a farmed rabbit warren in the past; and the area on Great Brow, near Hillside, which may have been used in the Kelcliffe tannery process.   We also know that there used to be a building near the top copse which may have had a pump. Continue reading →

Edible Britain Project – by Chris Parapia

Posted on by
Planting up herbs in the old felled tree

Planting up herbs in the old felled tree

After several months of hard work, flowers, herbs and vegetables are coming to fruition.

P1010573

Bedding the herbs

Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this,  including teacher Matilda Brown and pupils Amelie Childs, Eleanor Boggs and Katy Pratt from St Oswalds School in Guiseley,  Heather and Bobby Brooks and Josie Brooks, Sue and Steve Magson, Richard and Gail Lamb, Barbara Winfield and all those local Continue reading →

All Our Stories – Expression Through Creative Photography

Posted on by
Pictures should tell a story

The Bottom – Pictures should tell a story

Light, light, light,  “if you only remember one thing from this course; that’s it”  said Derek Richards to FOPP members yesterday.    How fast, or slow, the light is picked up by the camera, what sort of light you are shooting in,  where is the light and the shadow for interest: an overcast day can produce much more interesting photographs than a sunny one.   A small tip was to think carefully about light if you were shooting groups with black and fair-skinned people, otherwise you would either get dark silhouettes or light ghosts.  So,  let there be some light – certainly a number of members were a little bit more enlightened about how their cameras actually worked, and what all the dials and buttons were for. Continue reading →

All Our Stories – Tracking The Past

Posted on by
Trying to find the site of a building above the Tan House.

Trying to find the site of a building above the Tan House.

Part of the success of the geophysics survey at the end of July will come from knowing what might be found – this is where the paper archive research has a vital part to play.    Barbara has therefore been to Aireborough Historical Society to study transcriptions of the Manor Court Rolls for Kelcliffe in the seventeenth and early eighteenth century:  following which,  she went to West Yorkshire Archives to check the originals, as the variable Early Modern  spelling means mistakes are easy made; Barbara did find several mistakes.

Manor Court Rolls were the recorded minutes of the regular meetings held by local people to deal with the day-to-day running of a town or village.  The Court set the local rules and bylaws, dealt with dispute and fines, organized the local infrastructure and agreed community planning and agricultural phasing eg the crop rotation on the common lands.   Manor Court Rolls are a mine of trivial detail that when pieced together can give a fascinating picture of local life.  The only issue for the ones covering Kelcliffe and the Park, is that there are large gaps, Continue reading →

All Our Stories – Time Team’s Geophysics Company To Survey the Park

Posted on by

data-overhead-photoAs part of the HLF,  All Our Stories project, we are pleased to announce that we have asked CFA Archaeology Ltd, from Cleckheaton to be our archaeologist on the project, and do a geophysical survey of the Park to establish what archaeology there might be to help us put together the history of the Park.  CFA is a professional cultural heritage consulting organization.

The survey will take place between the 24th – 26th July, 9am to 5pm, during the Festival of British Archaeology 13th – 28th July (there are lots of other events mentioned on the site from all over Yorkshire and the UK),  It will be carried out by GSB Prospection, Continue reading →