The Final Chapter
The remains of Norman pottery which had been discovered, and the numerous goad-spurs, which were still more distinct and significant, afford evidence that the settlement survived; and that persons of knightly character frequented the woods and sands of the locality, while their humbler followers used such household implements as the condition of the arts then furnished.
The succeeding period, that is to say, the mediaeval or early English, was probably the most flourishing; and may have continued down to about the year 1500. Most of the objects ranged over this period of four or more centuries; and we are, therefore, at liberty to infer that the great inroads of the sea, like great earthquakes, occur at remote periods, though the minor causes and effects were of regular occurrence.
The more modern objects are easily accounted for, as many of them, no doubt, belonged to non-resident persons; eg; sailors and military, which merely passed through the place.
Though no houses remained, nor any portion of them, there was evidence that the mass of these relics belonged to resident people, and not to passers-by. The limited geographical area within which the Roman and Saxon objects were found, is, of itself, conclusive on the subject. Besides, our `modern' townhouse represents a building of brick or stone, covered with slates, and with doors and glazed windows. This is very different from the fragile structures that must have satified many, even the wealthy in olden times.
Their houses were probably all timber; much of their furniture of the same material; and timber also served as fuel. Some portion of these, no doubt, still remained undistinguishable in the spongy masses of oak, fir, and hazel of the time, which made the Dove or Black earth almost one mass of rotted timber. In no part of England have houses of wooden construction continued so long as in Cheshire; where the frame and timber may still be seen in town or country districts this present day. There were a few war-like implements among all that were found; it is clear, therefore, that they were conected mainly with civil and peaceful pursuits.
There were articles of female ornament and industry; the hair-pin, the needle, the spindle whorl in which the detectorist finds now in abundance in fields and meadows, the ear-rings, beads, etc, as well as those connected with the dress of men and the equipment of horses. Therefore, both sexes must have made the locality their home; and, though no object has been found which can be identified as a child's toy, it is evident that family ties existed, that children grew up, that adult men and women engaged in the daily struggle of life, and that old age, as usual, sank into the tomb. There were articles of various degrees of intrinisic value; some common, as of lead, pewter, and iron; and others rare, as of gold, silver and enamel. Therefore the rich and the poor had met together on this spot, and have combined largely with others in the middle ranks of life.
Since so many as ninety objects were found in a single year, it may be said that there must have been more yet still to see the light of day, but it would have been known that they must be rapidly deminishing not having the technology afforded us today. In 1814 they were found in much greater abundance, and the difficulty of procuring them had increased. The inference is, that the principle inhabited spot was becoming more and more completely washed away, and that in the middle of the 19th century they were on the outskirts, picking up such objects as the tide separates or washes from the enclosed earth.
While discussing the question respecting the existence of former residence and the periods in which they respecively flourished, they stood on the very surface in which they trod, and moved portions of the trees about, under which foliage they rested. Some of those fragments may have been porches or lintels of their doors, the posts that supported their humble roofs, or the benches on which they sat at eventide, when the toils of the field or of the then forest chase were over. It requires no stretch of the imagination, but only the legitimate exercise of fair reasoning, to realize such a picture as that I have by a person called Hemans entitled "The last trees of the forest" I quote this poem as a matter of interest.
" I have seen the knight and his train ride past,
With his banner borne on high;
Over all my leaves there was brightness cast,
From his gleaming panoply.
The pilgrim at my feet hath lain
His palm branch,midst the flowers.
And told his beads, and meekly pray'd
Kneeling at vesper hours.
And the merry men of wild and glen'
In the green array they wore,
Have feasted here with red wine's cheer,
And the hunters songs of yore.
And the minstrel, resting in my shade,
Hath made the forest ring,
With the lordly tales of the high crusade,
Once loved by chief and king".
This person represented a gentle giant oak as uttering words that might have been spoken by one of those beside us.
Finally
The contest between land and water is one among the natural influences that go forward without cessation. In general, the sandy coast gains upon the sea, and the sea gains where there are perpendicular cliffs of any material admits of being gradually undermined. Year by year the contest is waged in Egypt, where, during the long drought, the desert sands narrow the little strip of cultivation; and again, the Nile, at the swelling of its waters, drives back the desert for a time. On the coast of Meols the contest was similar in principal, but on a smaller scale.
Within sight of the spot where these relics were procured, and where the associations of centuries were buried, two sister boroughs rose, where nothing but a castle and an abbey were seen.
I venture to believe that, amidst all the jostling and competition of commerce, and amid the continued excitement of political event anticipated or achieved, there is still a feeling of earnest interest in the past, and a sincere desire to know the former condition of a locality which has made, and is making, the materials of history so rapidly. It may never happen that our own town will be sanded up or washed away. No future Belzoni may find it necessary to dig out Nelson's monument from the deserted exchange; nor may the antiquiries of, say, New Zealand, occupy themselves in discussion respecting the position of Liverpool's St Georges Hall.
On the contrary, the rapid tide of prosperity and the rapid enlargement of the sister towns on the banks of the Mersey; even then, the numerous children of both communities can look back with kindly interest to days gone by, just as we have done to the various periods which I have spoken of.
One final word now and that is this. I was born into a simple Lincolnshire family life in which my parents where adored by their children. It was my good fortune to have known them and I dedicate this to my mother and father whom I greatly miss. Thank you for reading this, I hope it has not been too harrowing for you. Cheerio and good hunting.
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