| The Beacon on the Bay This is an abstract of a report by Steve Dickinson An Anglo-Saxon runic inscription is re-examined; part of a cross discovered in 1911 in the church of St.Mary the Virgin and St.Michael, at Great Urswick, Low Furness, Cumbria, England. Detailed analysis reveals that parts of the runic inscription overcut earlier names, (recovered through the analysis). It is suggested that the people named in the text, and two figures sculptured below it, include three significant members of the 7th century AD Irish and English Christian Church. This information allows us to reassess the nature of the Great Urswick site, and the location of the ‘Synod of Whitby’; a decisive 7th century AD meeting that profoundly influenced the structure of English Christianity through to the present day. Examination of the landscape around the church, and the church itself, allows a presentation of new and emerging archaeological evidence for a major late and/or sub-Romano-British church and monastic foundation; subsequently influenced by Irish and Anglo-Saxon activity. A context for this early church and monastic foundation is suggested that includes the 5th century AD British St Ninian, and the early life of the British-born and educated St Patrick. The Beacon on the Bay is a 72-page report with 8 colour plates, 2 A3 fold-out figures and 20 illustrations. It was written by Steve Dickinson and desktop-published in 2002, and is available via the e-mail address below.
The assessment covers five specific areas: what will be involved in the study of Urswick’s landscape (and which other research institutions might support such work); encouraging voluntary participation and local communication in the archaeological work; studying Urswick’s church and churchyard; assessing the potential for Heritage Lottery Fund and other international support; and designing the right structure for coordinating and supporting the future First Light programme once it is fully up and running. An Urswick Archaeological and Heritage Research Design will be created between September 2003 and September 2004 to underpin the full programme. On October 3th 2003 at 7.30pm a public meeting will be held at Urswick Recreation Hall to launch Furness Moles; the Urswick Archaeology Squad – a volunteer group that will add vital enthusiasm and expertise to exploration and study of the archaeology of specific locations around and near Urswick. First Light’s coordinator, Steve Dickinson, is a member of the Hidden Light – Low Furness Association committee, and reports UODP progress to it. For further information about The Beacon on the Bay and First Light, e-mail Steve on:goi90@dial.pipex.com |
First
Light: The Urswick Origins Discovery Programme is a major landscape
archaeological, historical and architectural research programme
currently being assessed and designed to examine the origins of
the Urswick villages and SS Mary and Michael, Great Urswick; initially
over the period 2003-6. 