[Stones] Church's pre-historic past unearthed

[Tim P]

http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2008/02/14/church-s-pre-historic-past-unearthed-61634-20477573/

Work on a town’s church has revealed that the site may have been used 
for ritual and worship for thousands of years.

Major refurbishment work on the Grade I-listed St Michael and All Angels 
church in Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, began last month and has 
involved digging up the floor to install a new heating system.

The church, dating back to Norman times, is the oldest building in the town.

A carved stone above a tiny doorway, featuring a carving of mysterious 
intertwined animals known as the Houghton Beasts, may be from before the 
Norman Conquest.

But investigation by archaeologists as the refurbishment has continued 
has revealed whinstone boulders under the church, which are thought to 
have been part of an early prehistoric burial cairn or ritual site. A 
line of similar boulders has been found under the churchyard wall.

Archaeologist Peter Ryder, of Riding Mill in Northumberland, said: “It 
looks like a prehistoric site. We can’t think of any other reason why 
these very large boulders should be inside the church.”

Under the central tower of the church, which was restored in about 1350, 
the work has uncovered huge Roman stones thought to have come from a 
Roman temple.

“These are massive and spectacular foundations for the tower, using huge 
stones which must have come from a major Roman building,” said Peter.

A Roman stone coffin lid has been in the churchyard for many years.

It is believed it was often the practice that important pagan ritual or 
worship sites were taken over by subsequent religions.

“We have found far more than we ever expected when the work began,” said 
Peter, who is working alongside Newcastle University’s Archaeological 
Practice.

Also uncovered has been a maze of mainly 18th Century burial vaults, 
some brick and some stone, under the church. A number had their tops and 
bodies removed when Newcastle architect John Dobson carried out 
remodelling in 1858 – during which, the current work has shown, he 
re-used medieval timbers from the roof.

Pits of bones from this work have been found and the remains will be 
reburied.

Several intact vaults have been found in the current work and Peter 
said: “We have found evidence for at least several dozen vaults.”

There are also signs of a major fire around the time the church was 
rebuilt in 1330s-40s, probably after a Scottish raid. There is a 
documentary account of a man having been killed by Scots raiders while 
hiding in the church belfry.

Another find has been footings of a wall from a late Saxon or early 
Norman nave. The Rev Derek Newton, associate priest at the church, said 
the finds would be part of a Houghton heritage centre which will be 
created in the church as part of the £1m refurbishment project.

“Although the finds have delayed the work slightly, this has been a 
great adventure and everybody has enjoyed what has been revealed,” he said.

To help raise funds for the heritage centre, people are being invited to 
make a donation as they contribute items, photographs or writings to a 
time capsule which will be sealed beneath the new floor.

Contact Mr Newton on (0191) 584-9169.

The church is considering holding an open day for people to view the 
finds a week on Saturday.