Merseyside Archaeological Society
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Merseyside Archaeological Society Journal

The society has published a journal since 1977. It contains reports on local excavations, conference proceedings and discussion papers. Paid-up members are entitled to a copy of the current journal free of charge.

We welcome articles about the archaeology of Merseyside from professional and amateur archaeologists. If you are interested in contributing please contact the editor. The following notes on style and layout will help with your article.
Style and Layout for Contributing Authors
File Size: 126 kb
File Type: pdf
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The papers themselves may be individually downloaded below.
Volume 1 - 1977
JMAS Vol. 1 - Cover and Contents
File Size: 512 kb
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Formation of the Merseyside Archaeological Society - D.E.M. Morgan
File Size: 986 kb
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Moated Site at Halewood - Margaret Warhurst
File Size: 2616 kb
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Excavations at Wavertree, March 1976 - Gill Chitty
File Size: 784 kb
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South Castle Street 1976: Interim Report - Peter Davey
File Size: 1600 kb
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Graveyard Survey, St Mary's, Birkenhead - Gill Chitty
File Size: 926 kb
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Ancient Meols: A Collection of Finds from the Cheshire Shore in Merseyside County Museum - Gill Chitty
File Size: 8702 kb
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St Catherine's Chapel, Lydiate - Dorothy O'Hanlon
File Size: 5162 kb
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Volume 2 - 1978
JMAS Vol. 2 - Cover and Contents
File Size: 568 kb
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Wirral Rural Fringes Survey - Gill Chitty
File Size: 10356 kb
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Early Settlement on the North Wirral Coastal Area - Ray Kenna
File Size: 4099 kb
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Bromborough Manor Houses - K. Jones
File Size: 1000 kb
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Irby Mill Excavations 1979 - Gill Chitty
File Size: 3598 kb
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Irby Mill Figure 3
File Size: 290 kb
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Bromborough Court House Moated Site Excavations 1979 - David Freke
File Size: 2613 kb
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Sefton Old Hall, Merseyside, Excavations 1956-61 - Jennifer Lewis
File Size: 8130 kb
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An Abandoned Church at Formby - Jennifer Lewis
File Size: 1046 kb
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Some Examples of Coarse Earthenware from Rainford - P.J. Davey and D.E.M. Morgan
File Size: 1376 kb
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Medieval Pottery from St. Anne's Well - P.J. Davey
File Size: 345 kb
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Bromborough Court House - A Further Note - Gill Chitty
File Size: 345 kb
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Aerial Photography Aiding Landscape Studies on Merseyside - Brian Sheppard
File Size: 3844 kb
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Towards an Understanding of the Environmental History of Merseyside - Brian Sheppard, Philippa Tomlinson and Jim Innes
File Size: 1076 kb
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Volume 3 - 1979 (published 1983)
JMAS Vol. 3 - Cover and Contents
File Size: 1246 kb
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Farming on a south Lancashire estate 1066-1795: evidence from Speke Hall - Susan Nicholson
File Size: 13857 kb
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Speke Hall Moat - Susan Nicholson
File Size: 2977 kb
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Coastal Change and Early Settlement on the North Wirral - 2 - Ray Kenna
File Size: 5119 kb
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St Ann's Well, Sutton, St Helens - W. Highcock
File Size: 2318 kb
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Volume 4 - 1980-81 (published 1984)
JMAS Vol. 4 - Cover and Contents
File Size: 1726 kb
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Excavations in South Castle Street, Liverpool 1976 and 1977 - P.J. Davey and R. McNeil
File Size: 51804 kb
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Volume 5 - 1982-83 (published 1989)
JMAS Vol. 5 - Cover and Contents
File Size: 1572 kb
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Archaeological Research in Prescot 1978-1986 - P.J. Davey
File Size: 1613 kb
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Observations on the site of the Moss Pottery, Prescot, 1978 (Site 1) - P.J. Davey
File Size: 538 kb
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Pollen Analysis from Warrington Road, Prescot (Peat Sample - Site 3) - P.R. Tomlinson and J.B. Innes
File Size: 1300 kb
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Excavations at Prescot, December 1980-January 1981 (Sites A-E) - R. Holgate
File Size: 3232 kb
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Observations at 82, Eccleston Street, 1980 (Site 2) - D.J. Freke
File Size: 381 kb
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Observations during landscape work at High Street (Sites 3 and 4) and Church Street (Site 5), 1981 - D.J. Freke and R. Holgate
File Size: 381 kb
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A Timber Framed Building at 21-23 Eccleston Street, Prescot (Site 30) - R.W. Cowell and G.S. Chitty
File Size: 4077 kb
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44-50 Derby Street, Prescot, Merseyside (Site 5) - M. Hollis
File Size: 959 kb
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Sampling Excavations in Prescot, 1983-84 (Sites 6-26) - R.A. Philpott and P.J. Davey
File Size: 4083 kb
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Excavation of an Eighteenth Century Pottery in Eccleston Street, Prescot (Site F) - R. McNeil
File Size: 16309 kb
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Pottery from High Street, Prescot 1986 (Site 27) - R.A. Philpott
File Size: 284 kb
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Pottery from Twist's House, Prescot (Site 28) - C. Cresswell and P.J. Davey
File Size: 1372 kb
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Pottery Production in Prescot - P.J. Davey
File Size: 1630 kb
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Prescot and its Archaeology - R.A. Philpott
File Size: 2441 kb
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Volume 6 - 1984-85 (published 1990)
JMAS Vol. 6 - Cover and Contents
File Size: 1567 kb
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Excavations at St. Catherine's Chapel, Lydiate, 1979-80 - Jennifer Lewis and Dorothy O'Hanlon
File Size: 4812 kb
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Considerations relevant to the dating of the Ireland chapel at Lydiate - A. D'Arcy
File Size: 6917 kb
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Excavations at Lydiate Hall, 1981-1982 - Jennifer Lewis and John Samuels
File Size: 9803 kb
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Dendrochronological study of timbers from Lydiate Hall - P.A. Leggett and M.K. Hughes
File Size: 1928 kb
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Building survey at the Scoth Poper Inn, 1985 - Jennifer Lewis
File Size: 2943 kb
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Dendrochronological study of timbers from the Scoth Piper Inn, 1985 - P.A. Leggett
File Size: 1834 kb
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Volume 7 - 1986-87 (published 1991)
JMAS Vol. 7 - Cover and Contents
File Size: 5763 kb
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Environmental archaeology in Merseyside - J.B. Innes and P.R. Tomlinson
File Size: 11174 kb
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The prehistory of Merseyside - R.W. Cowell
File Size: 21725 kb
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Merseyside in the Roman period - R.A. Philpott
File Size: 7212 kb
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Dark Age Merseyside - D.M. O'Hanlon
File Size: 6484 kb
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Medieval landscapes and estates - J.M. Lewis
File Size: 8729 kb
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Medieval towns of Merseyside - R.A. Philpott
File Size: 7516 kb
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Merseyside: the post-Roman pottery - P.J. Davey
File Size: 8424 kb
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Volume 8 - 1988-89 (published 1992)
JMAS Vol. 8 - Cover and Contents
File Size: 2204 kb
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Excavation and survey at the Old Hutt, Halewood, in 1960 - Stuart Wrathmell
File Size: 18558 kb
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Speke Hall: Excavations in the west range, 1981-82 - D.A. Higgins
File Size: 17184 kb
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Speke Hall: Excavations in the gardeners' compound, 1987 - P.J. Davey and J. Speakman
File Size: 840 kb
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Speke Hall: Archaeology of the east courtyard, 1989 - Jennifer Lewis
File Size: 3139 kb
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Pottery from the Grimescar kiln site, Huddersfield - The Reverend E.S. Pickup
File Size: 4440 kb
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An inscription at Thurstaston - John Evans
File Size: 1409 kb
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Volume 9 - 1990-91 (published 1995)
JMAS Vol. 9 - Cover and Contents
File Size: 2865 kb
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Excavations at the c1600 Bickerstaffe glasshouse, Lancashire - Ruth Hurst Vose
File Size: 9646 kb
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Some Neolithic and Bronze Age finds from Merseyside and the north west - R.W. Cowell
File Size: 7138 kb
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Functional determination of projectile point usage in Mesolithic Greasby - Shirley Ying Crompton
File Size: 6747 kb
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Radiocarbon dates from Warrington Road, Prescot - Jim Innes and Philippa Tomlinson
File Size: 1707 kb
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A 13th century deed describing the boundaries of the township of Bold, St Helens - Mandy North
File Size: 2570 kb
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The site of Overchurch, Upton, Wirral: a survey - D. O'Hanlon and K. Pealin
File Size: 2864 kb
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Cross-bearing grave slabs in Merseyside - Charles Williams
File Size: 5818 kb
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Bridge End, Birkenhead - Jim O'Neil
File Size: 1630 kb
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An inscription at Thurstaston Hill - Jim O'Neil
File Size: 511 kb
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An inscription at Thurstatston Hill: A rejoinder to O'Neil's note - John Evans
File Size: 560 kb
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JMAS Vol. 9 - Reviews
File Size: 1056 kb
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Volume 10 - 2000
JMAS Vol. 10 - Cover and Contents
File Size: 1361 kb
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Flint and chert availability in Mesolithic Wirral - Christine Longworth
File Size: 10683 kb
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Observations on the Wilderspool to Wigan Roman Road in Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, 1985-1995 - Robert Philpott, with a contribution by Ron Cowell
File Size: 7426 kb
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Excavation and survey at Newton Mill, Newton-le-Willows, 1985 - Robert Philpott and Rowena Lawrence
File Size: 5280 kb
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Dowsing, an applied science? Two experiments into the dowsing phenomenon - William Highcock
File Size: 7471 kb
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A Roman Bronze from Cronton, Merseyside - Glenys Lloyd-Morgan
File Size: 352 kb
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St. Cuthbert's Church, Halsall - Christine Longworth
File Size: 549 kb
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Remains of a timber-framed building at Howards Farm, Eccleston, St Helens - Robert Philpott
File Size: 926 kb
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Greasby village crosses - J.T. O'Neil
File Size: 2206 kb
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Radiocarbon dating and palaeoecology of the intertidal lower peat and forest bed at Dove Point, Meols, Wirral - J.B. Innes, R.J. Nelms and P.R. Tomlinson
File Size: 1650 kb
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Volume 11 - 2002

The Archaeology of a Changing Landscape: The Last Thousand Years in Merseyside

Volume 11 contains papers on Merseyside's rural and urban fringes.

It includes articles on:
  • The rural fringes of Sefton, Knowsley and St Helens
  • The urban fringes of Liverpool
  • The industry and agriculture in Eccleston, 1600-1750
Cost: £5 (plus £4 P&P if ordered from the Publications Secretary)
Volume 12 - 2008
Volume 12 contains papers from Merseyside Archaeological Society's 25th anniversary conference and a conference on the post-medieval archaeology of Merseyside.

It includes articles on:
  • The first 25 years of the society
  • The palaeoenvironmental evidence
  • The Roman period
  • The dark ages
  • Medieval settlement
  • Early industries
  • Glass making
  • Clay tobacco pipes
Cost: £5 (plus £4 P&P if ordered from the Publications Secretary)
Volume 13 - 2010
Volume 13 contains papers on aspects of Merseyside's prehistory.

It includes articles on:
  • Excavations at Southworth Hall Farm near Winwick, Cheshire. This includes a discussion on the Neolithic and Bronze background of the area
  • Recording images old and new on the Calderstones in Liverpool
  • An analysis of three 19th-century pictures of the Calderstones
  • A discussion regarding the prehistoric origins of Calderstones Park
  • The possible use of logboats in the Formby area during the Bronze age
Cost: £5 (plus £4 P&P if ordered from the Publications Secretary)
Volume 14 - 2012

A Yeoman Farm in St Helens: Excavations at Big Lea Green Farm, Sutton, 2002, by A. C. Towle and J. I. Speakman

In 2002, the construction of a regional distribution centre by Somerfield plc provided an opportunity for archaeologists from National Museums Liverpool to excavate a late medieval and post-medieval site at Big Lea Green Farm in St. Helens, Merseyside. Documentary evidence indicates that the site was occupied during the 17th century by Bryan Lea, ‘yeoman of Sutton’. Further evidence suggests that the site corresponds to lands held by Thurstan de Standish in the 14th century.

The archaeological excavation produced finds from a number of periods including pottery dating from the 13th century. Investigations revealed that a large stone-built cellared farmhouse, barns and coach house had been built in 17th century and then rebuilt in the 19th century before the house was badly damaged by German bombing in September 1940.

Regionally significant groups of post-medieval pottery and clay tobacco pipes, in addition to horn, bone and environmental material, were recovered and analysed.

Cost: £5 (plus £4 P&P if ordered from the Publications Secretary)
Volume 15 - 2015
This volume contains five papers relating to various archaeological projects carried out on Merseyside.

Over half the journal is dedicated to three reports on historical and archaeological research at the National Trust's property at Speke Hall near Liverpool.  Between 1977 and 1989 the Hall itself was subject to a substantial, phased programme of repair during which time the opportunity was taken to make a detailed study of its structure. More recently, an evaluation was carried out of the redundant buildings at the late 19th century Home Farm.  This was followed by further investigations in 2009 when an opportunity arose for limited investigation into the evidence for the earlier Home Farm, demolished in the late 19th century.

Two further papers describe the discovery of ancient buildings in contrasting areas of Merseyside. A project at Meadow Lane, West Derby, Liverpool, adjacent to the site of the former West Derby Castle revealed evidence of a medieval structure and other remains. An excavation at Millfield Lane near Ashton-in-Makerfield provided a rare glimpse of the living conditions of a small 17th to early 19th century rural household.
Cost: £10 (plus £4 P&P if ordered from the Publications Secretary)
Volume 16 - 2021
The Journal of the Merseyside Archaeological Society volume 16 contains five papers reporting on the results of archaeological work carried out on Merseyside since 1997.

An excavation at Mark Rake Bromborough has added to our knowledge of Neolithic, Bronze Age and early medieval Wirral. Work at Hilary Breck, Wallasey produced the remains of an early medieval grain processing oven. A third excavation at St. Chad’s Vicarage in Kirkby revealed a settlement site dated to the Bronze Age period. This edition also includes the first instalment of a series of two reports which will be continued in future issues. The first article relates to key archaeological finds made on Merseyside which have been reported to the Portable Antiquities
scheme hosted by National Museums Liverpool. There is also a summary of the archaeological work carried out as part of the planning system in Merseyside, working to advice provided by Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service.
Cost: £12 (plus £4 P&P if ordered from the Publications Secretary)
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