Members of the SLHA Industrial Archaeology team spent a day in Withcall in the heart of the Wolds on 18 March.  The principal interest was the extensive water supply system installed by Nathaniel Clayton after he bought the estate in the 1870s.

Water from a spring-fed reservoir was lifted by a waterwheel powered pump to several farmsteads, each a considerable distance and elevation away.

Henry Smith, owner of Home Farm, was host and guide.  The visitors were also shown around his collection of farm implements and other local items.

Ten SLHA members met in Thorpe on the Hill on Saturday 16 March to learn the basic techniques of recording vernacular buildings.

Experience was gained in measuring and drawing a simple floor plan (an eighteenth century wagon shed) and recording the elevation of a building of multi-phase construction with the aid of photography.

Inside work focused on timber beams, joists and purlins with mortice holes and other features indicating re-use from earlier medieval timber framed building.  It is intended to "reconstruct" the original building from the carefully measured detail of these re-used timbers.

The day was led by David Stocker (owner of the house), Ken Hollamby, Naomi Field and Graham Beaumont.

Neil Wright shared some of his extensive knowledge of Boston's historic buildings on a walking tour along the town's High Street on Saturday 2 March.

The exterior of several C15 and C16 timber-framed buildings were examined and the owner of No.76 generously gave access to the first floor and roof space of his property.

An extensive inside tour of the recently restored 116 High Street had also been arranged. This was most impressive.

The tour finished with an external appraisal of No.120, a large town house, and the unexpectedly massive C18 terrace known locally as The Barracks.

SLHA group at the rear of 116 High Street

On 18 February six members of the SLHA Industrial Archaeology team visited Gunby Hall and struggled to understand how water was supplied to the Hall and other buildings in late-Victorian and Edwardian times.

A chalybeate spring rises in the park (medieval village site) a few hundred metres south-east of the hall.  Close by is a cement-lined brick-encased reservoir, apparently containing a sand filter, and alongside are the remains of the base of a wind pump (presumably once lifting water from a well beneath).  A short distance down the slope is a ram pump set a few feet below ground level.

The relationship and respective functions of these features is not clear and it is not possible to be sure where water was pumped to. A further visit for a detailed site investigation is planned later in the year and in the meantime documentary sources will be examined.

The visit took place at the invitation of Rachael Hall, National Trust Archaeologist.  The group also benfited from the extensive local knowledge of Clive Ironmonger, Gunby's Head Gardener.