2024

Update on the Poulton Dig

Exciting news about ancient DNA revealing new information

On Wednesday 20th November, Dr. Kevin Cootes gave his annual update on the finds at the archaeological site in Poulton.  It had been a busy year with plenty of exciting discoveries covering the 10,000 year history of the site.  The most exciting news related to work that had been undertaken with the Crick Institute in London where experts can now analyse ancient DNA and determine information not only about the skeletons but also what diseases the people died from.  Samples were taken from several well-preserved medieval skeletons dating from the 14th century and it was found that two young brothers had died from the plague.  The new series of BBC's Digging for Britain, starting in January, will include an item on this discovery.

Jewellery - Fake or Fortune

A Chester Jeweller talking from his long experience in the 'trade'

On Wednesday 16th October, Erik Irwin, who for many years had his own jewellery business in Chester, shared his deep knowledge of the subject in a fascinating, illustrated talk. From the beginnings of his career as an apprentice through his life-long experience he explained both what is involved in being a jeweller and the detail involved in ensuring the quality of the end product, covering both the metals and the gems used. 

Discoveries in Old English

A talk on the earliest form of English

On Wednesday 18th September, James Harvey, a member of our group, gave a talk on some of the discoveries he had made while teaching himself Old English during the Covid pandemic. Spoken by the Anglo-Saxons in the early middle ages between about 450AD and 1150AD, he traced the language's origins from the original proto Indo-European language spoken on the Ukrainian and Southern Russian steppes from about 4000BC and described major sound changes in the early Germanic languages that are still with us today. He then gave a brief introduction to the grammar and vocabulary and some of the ways familiar words have changed over time in both appearance and meaning.

Unveiling of our display board

The Lord Mayor of Chester unveils the history display board

On Wednesday 4th September, the Lord Mayor of Chester, Cllr Razia Daniels, visited Pulford in order to unveil the new display board.  After the history group's chair, Ben John, had given a welcome and brief introduction to the history of Pulford and Poulton to an expectant group of over twenty-five members and friends, Cllr Daniels gave a short speech recording the historic links between Pulford and Chester.  She then unveiled the display and presented it to the chair of the Poulton and Pulford Parish Council, David Ewins.

Installation of our display board

A display board produced by the history group is installed

After several months in production a display board giving an introduction to the history and buildings of Pulford and Poulton was installed outside the Parish Church on 29th August ready for its official unveiling by the Lord Mayor of Chester on Wednesday 4th September at 4.00pm.

Visit to Rhydymwyn Valley Works

A group visit to the site of the top-secret WWII Chemical Factory

On Wednesday 17th July a group enjoyed a guided tour of the substantial remains of the WWII Chemical Factory at Rhydymwyn led by a member of the Rhydymwyn Valley History Society.  We were welcomed in their modern Reception Centre with a talk and 1945 recruitment film on the factory operations in war time, before proceeding on a two-hour guided tour of the site.  This was a major production and storage centre of Mustard Gas set up by the Ministry of Supply during the war employing some 2,000 personnel, 90% of whom were women.  The initial research and development of nuclear weapons also took place before moving to the Manhattan Project in the US. 

We were able to see the major buildings where the production of the gas took place but the underground tunnels which housed the manufactured weapons were currently closed so we only had a brief look into the entrance of one of the tunnels.

This top-secret facility was well hidden in the valley and so avoided German bombing and local residents were unaware of its existence.  The River Alyn flowed through the site and provided the essential water supply to the factory.  The site is now a nature reserve managed by DEFRA.

Richard Jones Berwyn and his Welsh Settlement in Patagonia

A talk on the original Welsh settlers in Argentina

On Wedneday 19th June we had a most enlightening talk on the Welsh Settlement in Patagonia by Graham Edwards at a well-attended meeting of our History Group.  Graham explained the reasons why many Welsh people wished to set up a new life to escape the advancing industrial revolution and to preserve their Welsh language and culture.  A Welsh emigration committee was set up and over 150 people gathered from mostly north and mid Wales to set sail from Liverpool in May 1865 aboard the tea-clipper Mimosa to Patagonia.  The voyage took nearly eight weeks, arriving at what is now Puerto Madryn.

The settlers found Patagonia was uninviting with barren and inhospitable land with very little food and a lack of materials for building even primitive accommodation but having gained their trust the local people helped the settlers.  

Richard Jones, who later changed his surname to Berwyn, reflecting where he came from, was a member of the first group of settlers and was key to the successful establishing of the colony. He held a number of positions, including post master, school master and registrar, as well as serving as secretary to the governor, Welsh Courts and Council.

There is clearly more to tell and Graham has other talks on life in Patagonia which we can pursue for our 25/26 Season.

Colours of Heraldry

AGM followed by a talk on the symbolism of heraldry

Following the history group's AGM on Wednesday 15th May when existing members of the committee were re-elected for another year, Tony Bostock gave a well received talk on the meaning of the different colours, symbols and patterns on coats of arms, and how they tell a story about the bearer's heritage, accomplishments and values.  With many examples, especially from historic Cheshire families, he illustrated how they formed a visual language that could become more and more complex over the generations.

Preserving Heritage

PPLHG inspires young minds with school competition

In an attempt to encourage interest in all aspects of local history, the Pulford & Poulton Local History Group sponsored a competition for primary schools in the local area.

This year, the children of Eccleston Primary School participated enthusiastically, providing 17 entries in the different categories of essay, poetry and artwork. The winner in each category was presented with £50 vouchers at a school assembly on 10th May.

The quality of submissions so impressed the judges - e.g. the creative use of cardboard, moss, ice cream sticks, glass fragments, mosaic tiles, photographs and a musket ball, as well as free verse poetry - that they decided to add four highly commended prizes of £20 each.

In addition, every entrant was presented with an attractive certificate of participation in the event.

As Katie Prescott, Headteacher of Eccleston Primary School, is retiring this year, she was given a thank you token for all her support to the history society in getting the competition off the ground.

Given the interest shown in this first event, the local history group is hoping to make this an annual event and perhaps involve more primary schools in this and neighbouring districts.

Iron Mad Jack

A talk on John Wilkinson a pioneering English Industrialist

Brian Gresty, a member of our History Group, gave a fascinating talk on Wednesday 17th April on the working life of John Wilkinson (1728 - 1808) a British industrialist better known as “Iron Mad Jack” the great Staffordshire ironmaster who found new applications for iron and who devised a boring machine essential to the success of James Watt’s steam engine.

At the age of 20 Wilkinson moved to Staffordshire and built Bilston’s first iron furnace. It was at his father’s factory at Bersham, that he constructed his new machine that could bore engine cylinders and cannon barrels with unparalleled accuracy. Its precision enabled Watt to perfect his steam engine. Wilkinson, in turn, used the first steam engine built by Watt and James Moulton to drive a large air pump in his large-scale manufacture of wrought iron. Wilkinson was also involved with the construction of “Iron Bridge”. There can be little doubt that Wilkinson made a significant contribution to the Industrial Revolution.