There are two excellent post-conference tours on offer, one for terrestrial archaeology, and another for underwater. These are excellent opportunities to see elements of the British and Northern Irish heritage accompanied by acknowledged experts, and with access to some remains not available to the public.
The Potteries, Ironbridge and Birmingham
January 10 - 14 (Monday - Friday)
THERE ARE STILL PLACES AVAILABLE ON THIS EXCELLENT CHANCE TO SEE COLLECTIONS AND SITES ACCOOMPANED BY THE EXPERTS. Contact Harold Mytum on hcm1@york.ac.uk
Tentative schedule
This tour will give participants a unique opportunity to see the internationally famous archaeological resources of the Potteries and Ironbridge. The products of the Staffordshire ceramics industry are found all over the world; see how the industry evolved, and how the products were and are made, led by international expert David Barker. See the physical world of factories, housing and canals, and the products that are on show and held in reserve collections at the museum. The Industrial Revolution began at Ironbridge, and the various phases of development of industry and landscape will be elucidated by resident field archaeologist Paul Belford. This massive concentration of historical archaeology (important archaeologically and for its methods of display) should interest many members and their guests. Finally, the newly-conserved Jewellery quarter in the city of Birmingham will form the last part of the tour.
Monday January 10
Depart York 8:00 am for Stoke on Trent. Tour of Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, followed by a tour of Burleigh factory (built 1890s and little changed), tour of canal-side Middleport and Longport. Stay in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Tuesday January 11
Visit Etruria Industrial Museum, Flint Mill, Spode factory tour, Gladstone Pottery Museum. Evening lecture on Stoke and its industries. Stay in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Wednesday January 12
Visit ceramic reserve collections at Potteries Museum and Art Gallery. Travel to Ironbridge, guided tour of Coalbrookdale industrial landscape. Stay in Telford.
Thursday January 13
Visit Coalport China Museum, Broseley Clay Pipe Museum, and Blists Hill Open Air Museum. Stay in Telford.
Friday January 14
Visit Birmingham urban landscapes and the recently conserved Jewellery quarter during the morning. Those wishing to leave by train can depart from New Street station with easy connections to Manchester, London and elsewhere. The bus will then travel back to York, arriving late afternoon.
Hotel costs are not higher on average than at the Moat House hotel, and so the costs including admission costs, coach hire and accommodation with breakfast (but not lunch or dinner) will be about $500 based on double occupancy, but much depends on numbers. Visitors will pay for their own hotel bills. Meals cost extra and should be paid by individuals. This is a unique opportunity to be shown round the internationally famed industrial sites of Britain by leading historical archaeologists - David Barker in Stoke and Paul Belford in Ironbridge. Contact Harold Mytum on hcm1@york.ac.uk to provisionally book a place on this trip.
The Underwater Archaeology of Northern Ireland
January 11 - 13 (Tuesday - Thursday)
Tentative schedule
This short tour is designed to allow underwater archaeologists to appreciate the rich underwater archaeology of this region, and to hear about recent research and management initiatives. Led by Brian Williams and with contributions from Colin Breen and staff at the Centre for Marine Archaeology at the University of Ulster, this is a unique opportunity to sample the delights of Northern Ireland with the leading researchers in this field.
Tuesday 11 January 2005
0900 Assemble at Belfast City Airport
Visit to sites around Strangford Lough
Overnight in Belfast.
Weds 12 Jan
Visit sites in Co Antrim
Overnight in Portstewart
Thursday 13 Jan
Visit Cente for Maritime Archaeology
Sites on North Antrim coast
Return to Belfast for outward flights late afternoon; delegates may wish to arrange a flight back to Leeds/Bradford, or to connect with onward flights home.
The University of Ulster has kindly agreed to provide transport free of charge. The number of the group will be limited to 15 maximum. Overnight accommodation will be around 60 Pounds Sterling in Belfast and 30 Pounds Sterling in Portstewart. Visitors can pay for their own hotel bills. Meals cost extra and should be paid by individuals. Environment and Heritage Service will allow free admission to their properties. Flights to Belfast from Leeds/Bradford airport (easily reached by taxi from York) on Jet2.com are inexpensive and according to the current timetable arrive at 0815; once your place on the trip is confirmed, book your own flights.
Contact Brian Williams on brian.williams(a)doeni.gov.uk to secure a place on this trip, which has a very limited number of places available; a deposit will be required and then the accommodation can be booked.