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NATEBY AND PILLING
MOSS THE PRE-HISTORIC LEGACY
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A LIFETIME devoted
to the study of the history of Nateby and Pilling
Moss has resulted in the publication of a book
which is certain to become something of a local
classic.
John Salisbury, 77, of Nateby, began taking an
interest in history as a young teenager while
walking through the fields near his native village
looking for the best ponds in which to fish.
His own observations, conversations with local
historians, his discoveries while working on local
farms and his research with fellow members of
Pilling Historical Society prompted him to put
his wide knowledge of local history into print.
The idea for a book was sparked in the late 1990s
when he decided to record for future generations
his record of the historical legacy of the mosslands
of Nateby and Pilling.
Six years of putting pen to paper, deciphering
notes from "digs", annotating aerial
views and selecting photographs of historic scenes
on the moss have resulted in a splendid 72-page
book which was published this week.
The book has clearly been a labour of love for
Mr Salisbury, who has lived in the same Longmoor
Lane cottage all his life and who left school
at 14 and worked at Eskham House Farm for 23 years
before his later career with the county highways
department.
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It is "received
wisdom" among many local history buffs that the main
feature of antiquarian interest in these parts is the
Bleasdale Circle. That is a contention which Mr Salisbury
challenges, claiming there is
more of pre-historic interest in the Pilling and Nateby
area than has hitherto been documented.
And it is a claim which has justification. The discovery
on the moss (or rather under it) over the years of items
such as Neolithic stone implements is certainly evidence
for pre-historic settlement.
But what about the other pointers to the distant past?
It is Mr Salisbury's knowledge of such landscape features
as dew ponds (evidence of early drainage channels?), ancient
cattleways, earthworks which appear man-made (rather than
geologically-formed), and the mysterious moss-stocks (the
remains of a seeming forest of felled trees beneath the
peat) which Mr Salisbury uses to construct his picture
of the pre-historic settlement of the area.
The boggy mossland is best known for its peat, and there
are many people in the Over Wyre area who can remember
when dried peat was used as a fuel.
Mr Salisbury writes: "To see small parties of peat
cutters at work, silhouetted against the low horizons
of Pilling Moss with the curlews and lapwings calling
across the dark mosslands are memories I will never forget!"
The book also ventures beyond the pre-historic to the
Roman period suggesting the Roman road near Garstang might
take a different route to that which has traditionally
been believed.
The large format book is impressively illustrated with
old photographs, including aerial views, sketches of historic
finds and sketch maps.
John Salisbury's book is likely to be a best seller and
should have a place on the bookshelf of anyone interested
in the history of this part of Lancashire.
By ANTHONY COPPIN |
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Published by Sue White Secretarial Services
Pilling Copy, Fax & Print Shop. Kurloon, Horse Park Lane,
Pilling, Lancs, PR3 6AS
Tel: 01253 799119 Mobile: 07767 248995 Fax:
01253 790366
e-mail: info@
pre-historicpilling.co.uk
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