UNSUNG HEROES - Pat Connolly and Alan Gammon
Ian Blair
Two of the unsung heroes of the DUA/MOLAS in the years between 1988-1991 were Patrick Connolly and the late Alan (Al) Gammon – former Thames Mudlarks who were employed (on a full salary would you believe!) as full time metal detectorists working alongside the archaeologists.
CUSTOM HOUSE EXCAVATION (CUS73)
LECTURE JANUARY 3rd 2024
WHERE WERE YOU FIFTY YEARS AGO?
Did you work on the Old Custom House site (CUS73) or on the ensuing publications?
If so, you'll be pleased to know that, on Wednesday January 3rd 2024, Tim Tatton-Brown is giving a lecture for the British Archaeological Associationat the Society of Antiquaries (Burlington House, W1) to celebrate this now legendary excavation.
Put the date in your diary and let Tim know by using the Comments below and we will pass it on to him.
PS. There is a party after the lecture where drinks will be available.
‘Reaching for the sky’: the pioneering aeronauts of the DUA
Ian Blair
In the formative early years of the DUA, most notably on Trig Lane (TL74), the ability to gain altitude to take aerial photographs was a problem that was overcome in a variety of ingenious, if now deemed ever-so-slightly unsafe ways.
1973: the Birth of the DUA
Gustav Milne
The ground-breaking Museum of London brought together the collections and expertise of the former London Museum (founded 1911) and the City’s own Guildhall Museum (founded 1826).
‘The truth is out there’: if you dig deep enough!
Ian Blair
Somewhat unexpectedly my recent post about the departure of Andy Chopping, Maggie Cox, and Dave Sankey from MOLA, led to a case of mistaken identity and a mystery as to who featured in a photo taken on Regis House (KWS94) in 1994. Eight years ago, I had written a post ‘Heavy metal on Regis House’ which detailed the discovery of three Roman lead ingots and their back-breaking removal and transportation from site to the Museum of London.
Shutters come down on MOLA photographic:
Maggie & Andy leave the building after long exposure
Ian Blair
Today was Andy Chopping’s last day at MOLA with Maggie Cox having left in recent weeks, both opting to take voluntary redundancy following the latest downturn in work and pursuant financial belt-tightening across the organisation.
City Wall at Vine Street: DUA archaeologists in historic return to Crosswall
Ian Blair
Tuesday evening saw the celebration and unveiling of the City Wall at Vine Street, which I wrote a related post about in recent times: https://www.digginglondon.org.uk/shadows-in-time-crosswall-revisited. It was fantastic to rub shoulders once again with three of my former DUA colleagues Cath and John Maloney, and Dom Perring.
The Whisper Dictionary
Edited by Jamie Muir who writes,
"A lot of [misplaced] youthful energy went into the devising of the attached. Everybody had a hand. I don’t think it’s libellous."
Devised at the Custom House, Seal House, Angel Court, Trig Lane, St Magnus, and New Fresh Wharf Sites 1974-5
Planning for the future: GPO delivers discarded post after forty-five years
Ian Blair
Whilst attending ‘The Great Museum of London Reunion ’ at London Wall in December 2022, I got talking to fellow archaeologist Toria Standfield from Pre-Construct Archaeology (PCA), who had recently concluded their excavation along the west side of the former General Post Office site on Newgate Street (GPO75).
Trevor Brigham Days Out
In 1991, in the dying days of the DUA, an intrepid group of Heroes set sail on the good ship 'June' into unknown territory - well, the River Trent - to search out new lands and have a last bash at experimental archaeology.
DGLA Sobriety test on Maiden Lane
Ian Blair
Ian ‘Flashman’ Grainger conducts a cruel sobriety test on Barney Sloane tasked with hopping past the end of dig barbecue without falling in whilst clutching a burger and a can of beer. Barney began work on Maiden Lane as a volunteer in 1986 and is now National Specialist Services Director at Historic England.
35, Vine Street, City of London
Major Roman defences discoveries revisited and redisplayed and now including a ‘mini-museum’
John Maloney
Archaeology working on the edge: Rectory Grove, Clapham
Ian Blair
Trial work by the Southwark and Lambeth Archaeological Excavation Committee (SLAEC) at Rectory Grove, Clapham, began in June 1980, and the photos show a youthful Hedley Swain operating a micro-excavator the likes of which I have not seen before, but perhaps it was a much-loved Christmas present?
‘Shadows in time: Crosswall revisited’
Ian Blair
The ‘City Wall at Vine Street’ is the newest museum to open in the City of London and features a substantial extant section of the Roman City wall and the foundations of an adjoining extramural bastion: City Wall at Vine Street .
The Milk Street Jewish Ritual Bath or mikveh:
the most culturally significant structure found on an archaeological excavation in the City of London
Ian Blair
With the excavation of the massive Roman wells and their bucket chains completed on 20-30 Gresham Street, I found myself working with a small team of archaeologists through the summer months in the Stygian gloom of the basement and former gold bullion vault of the State Bank of India at 1-6 Milk Street, on the west edge of the site.
Raiders of the Lost Amphitheatre
Ian Blair
Judging by the photos, the summer of 1987 was a very good one!
At that time, I was working on the Guildhall Art Gallery site (GAG87) supervised by Nick Bateman: the remains of the Roman amphitheatre yet to be found.
