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Fieldwork Spring/Summer 2026
PontArc members are once again invited to support South Leeds Archaeology with more fieldwork at Temple Newsam over the coming dig season. Members should initially email Phil to express their interest in participating and then they'll be added to the SLA contacts list for the TN26 project. There will be more geophysics to do in a couple of areas, followed by further excavations. See below for the latest proposed work, and further down the page for a sample of what's already been done at Temple Newsam.
The first geophysics on the "lost building" is being planned for 21st and 22nd April 2026.
Potential Research Group
Potential Research Group
PontArc were recently delighted to receive, through our "enquiries" webmail address, an article of research into the life of a Victorian dignitary of Pontefract - Dr. Henry Muscroft (1830-1884). The research had been carried out by Michael Tracy of Chicago, Illinois, USA, an Honorary Fellow of Edinburgh Medical School at the University of Edinburgh. Michael is a descendant of the Goodsir family, and one of his kinsmen - Professor John Goodsir (1814-1867) - had a distinguished teaching career at Edinburgh University and was responsible for training many notable surgeons and physicians, including Henry Muscroft. With Michael's agreement, his research paper on Henry Muscroft is being added to the Local Studies archive in Pontefract Library - thanks to Wendy's dual roles at PontArc and Wakefield Libraries!
We are very much indebted to Michael for his research into Henry Muscroft, but in our reply to him mentioning other Pontefract Muscrofts (including Edward, the wine and spirits merchant), we have potentially opened up a whole new area for interesting research. There were other generations of Muscroft surgeons, some of whom may also have studied at Edinburgh University. Michael has already further established that Edward Muscroft Taylor was likely trained there as a surgeon by John Goodsir's successor as Professor of Anatomy - Sir William Turner. There are also links between the Muscrofts and other notable Pontefract families such as the Dunhills, Colemans and the Bissetts - some featured in memorial windows at St. Giles church in Pontefract - visit the church or see the following link:
https://cofe-pontefract.co.uk/st-giles/about-us/history/memorials/
So...
...if any PontArc members are interested in forming a social research group, and/or can bring any other information or experience to bear, we do have some good potential areas of study. Besides the Muscrofts, the Leatham and Tew families (with Carleton Grange connections) would be worth studying further.
Please contact Phil, Wendy or Robert if you'd like to help establish a PontArc research group.
PontArc Display at SYBC - Great Heck
Following our fieldwork there last year (see below) PontArc were invited back to the South Yorkshire Boat Club at Great Heck for their open weekend on 6th and 7th September 2025. Our displays showcased some of our previous work and publications, and included a selection of the finds made on the site during last year's dig. These were mainly typical Victorian night-soiling finds, but they proved interesting to visitors nonetheless. The clay pipe fragments were a revelation to some people, and Robert had brought a selection of superior examples from his collection to wow them further. Janet presented a variety of artefacts from various eras and locations as handling objects which proved popular too. Phil, Diana and David also attended, enabling the team to rotate jobs and break for other events happening at the Boat Club, who once again proved very welcoming hosts. This could become an annual outing!
Fieldwork Updates
TEMPLE NEWSAM
In Summer and Autumn 2024, PontArc supported South Leeds Archaeology with their fieldwork at Temple Newsam, and our earth resistance geophysics equipment was used in April 2024 to survey the grassed area around the amphitheatre to the north of the House. It was hoped that evidence of a former gatehouse and driveway to the centre of the north wing might be found. Unfortunately, our results showed no conclusive targets for such structures. However, Sheffield University also conducted ground penetrating radar surveys there and interpretation of their results may be more informative.
A painting by James Chapman from c.1750 of the east facing side of Temple Newsam House shows near identical equestrian type buildings on either side of it. The northern stable block still stands (now the cafe, gift shop, offices etc.). However, the existence of the southern building - possibly a riding school - has been doubted. PontArc's resitivity equipment was again used to survey the area of the "lost building" in June and August 2024, and buried wall features matching the outline of the extant stable block were identified.
SLA conducted a small dig close to the north west corner of the House on September 14-15th 2024 to investigate a sub-circular high resistance target found in the April 2024 geophysics - the "red blob" in the adjoining image. Phil and Shirley attended from PontArc. An unexpected cable trench was safely found and navigated around and a quadrant of the high resistance feature was revealed. This turned out to be an area of cracked and de-laminating sandstone - now thought to be natural geology. The remains of a suspected wooden post that were found in situ may well be the remains instead of a tree from former ornamental gardens. These are shown in some old postcards of the North wing of the house. Phil's 3D model of the opened trench can be seen on Sketchfab here: https://skfb.ly/pqSVV
2025
A new SusTrans cycle path installed across the region of the "lost building" has confirmed the presence of some building footings (at least).
A resistivity survey was carried out near the north entrance to the estate on 13th May 2025 as a training exercise for new fieldworkers. The aim was to find evidence of a former driveway directly between the lodge gates and the main north entance to the house. The image of results shows definite features worthy of further investigation...
The excavations on parts of the "lost building" (a possible riding school from c.1740) which began in June 2025, revealed traces of walls, robber trenches and an angled drain - view 3D models of Trench 1 at the following Sketchfab links:
A new phase of excavations began on 14th July and finished on 11th August 2025. Various 3D models of the work in progress are available to view on Sketchfab.com (search for PontArc Phil), but the final two models can be seen from these links:
https://skfb.ly/pzWXH
https://skfb.ly/pzXLB
With Trenches 2 and 3, the full depth of the "lost building" wall foundations, internal and external walls, robbed wall lines and flooring levels were found below the much disturbed ground surfaces.
PontArc members Mark, Kathryn, Lotta and Phil have contributed greatly to SLA's project.
GREAT HECK
A small project team from PontArc was formed to help the South Yorkshire Boat Club at Heck Canal Basin investigate their site for traces of the Heck Bridge and Wentbridge Railway that was built and was briefly operational between 1826 and 1831.
Some initial geophysics (resistivity again) was conducted in May 2024 in an open grassy area of the site to see if any features from the construction phase or a later filled-in dock might remain. Further resistivity surveying was carried out on 25th July 2024, but this did not reveal any promising target features.
A "have a go" dig in the area of the second/missing dock over the weekend of 7th and 8th of September 2024 was planned to co-ordinate with the Boat Club's annual Open Days, and in support of this a talk/discussion on the Heck and Wentbridge Railway history was held at the Friends Meeting House in Pontefract on Thursday August 29th 2024 for the project team and interested PontArc members. Richard Hemsworth from the Boat Club gave a talk on the history of the canal basin and Phil went through some of the practical arrangements required for the dig and display event.
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The dig on the September 2024 Open Days went ahead as planned in the Paddock area and was enjoyed by all who participated.
A large 8 x 6 m area was de-turfed prior to the open days, but owing to the limited number of lead diggers and the heaviness of the ground, serious excavation was restricted mainly to a 3 x 2m area. Younger participants enjoyed removing the topsoil in some of the other pre-marked squares, and as all the finds were in this layer, they were quite happy with everything they got - including an old paint roller and a small plastic turtle toy! A keen Boat Club member got involved with their machine digger and speeded things along in the main area of interest. New member Charles and PontArc dependables Chris, Mark, Richard, Diana, Keith and Robert all proved their worth too though.
Under the topsoil (and much bonfire ash) we found alternating bands of clay and sand, all devoid of human-influenced artefacts, and all of which looked quite natural. However, a comparative test pit dug in undisturbed ground in the nearby wood looked markedly different, so it is possible that the clay in the Paddock area had been brought in deliberately for use in the construction of the second/missing dock.
The main excavation area was 3D modelled by Phil on 14/9/24 and the result can be seen on Sketchfab here: https://skfb.ly/pqSUV
Check back here regularly for further news and updates...
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