Memories of Whitehall

Send me any memories you want to share and I'll post them here.
Jeremy

Rick Whyte, 7th July 2012

As always, a lifeline to those of us who unfortunately can't make it up to the full 4 weeks of the dig, the blog keeps us updated and provides a good insight into what everyone else is doing. Well, perhaps excepting Fred.

I started on this project ten years ago, not having any experience, but always having a love for archaeology. I remember getting shouted at by Steve for brushing back a surface which should have been trowelled back. (We had to do it again). I remember trowelling between the bunter pebbles of the courtyard, tedious to say the least, but finding part of a shale bracelet, only to find another part of it the next year on the same surface. Finding a complete window pane, if a little broken. Most of all I remember standing at the top of the site when we had stormy showers with shovel in hand with Steve and Context Dave during one stormy summer. A very black, tall storm cloud seemed to be approaching and we weren't sure if it was coming our way. I chucked some grass into the air and it blew the other way, away from us. The clouds kept coming towad the site and it was at tis point we realised I was the updraught sucking up the air from below. We decided evacuation was the better part of valour.

It's not my full time work (which pays the bills), but my time at Whitehall has led me to pursue an interest in Samian, getting involved with the major players in the field and developing an interest into a speciality. I've got to thank Steve for that for having an element of trust in me.
I've met some good friends at Whitehall, we may only meet for a couple of weeks year, but it doesn't matter...

And thanks to Nick.

I'm going to have a beer now
End of an era...
Rick

Malcolm Caine, 24th July 2012

2000: A view of the praefurnium and hypocaust of room 2 of BH1. Excavated by John Ward and team:

2001: Fred excavating what became room 3a of BH1:

2002: Over at the Ancilliary Building, evidence of butchery emerges in the form of deer antlers:

2003: The excavation of room 3b of BH1 continues:

2004: The Saxon cemetery is discovered and excavated:

2004a: Alice and the Lower Slope, before it became BH2 (or BH1 cont'd?):

2005: Time Team arrive and take an interest in Round House 2:

2005a: The official photographer hard at work:

2008: Looking west. BH2 begining to emerge:

2009: Down among the pilae, of BH2:

2010: After many hints that it might be there, the tessellated pavement is found:

2011: The site director takes an aeriel view of BH2:

2012: Another drain (or is it a supply pipe?) emerges from under the floor of room 7 of BH:

Finally, I have many happy memories of my days at Whitehall Farm, of the finds found, of the friends made, some who have continued to the
end, some who have not, some who have passed on. My thanks to them all.

I really do hope this is not the end, but in case it is, to you all, Valete!