Tuesday, October 12, 2021

HAVE ANY HISTORIC BRIGG ITEMS SURVIVED UNDER THE TOWN'S MAIN CAR PARK?


Brigg Blog wonders whether items of historic local interest survive beneath the town's main car park which was created by the Urban District Council in the early 1970s.
Much of the town's population once lived in small cottages lining various courtyards and alleys behind Wrawby Street, stretching back towards what is now Barnard Avenue.
Courtyard properties were at their peak in the 19th century but dozens of people were still living there well into the 20th.
Even after many families had been relocated to the newly-built Newlands housing estate in the 1930s, some town centre cottages were still occupied in the 1940s and even the 1950s.
Brigg UDC, bit by bit, bought up parcels of land occupied by old properties until their demolition.
This piece-meal policy eventually permitted major site clearance for the extensive car park.
In the early 1970s, some senior pupils from Brigg Grammar School carried out 'digs' on land close to what is now Old Courts Road.
Pottery and the remains of clay pipes, animal bones and shells were among items unearthed from holes sunk in the ground. We can't recall any coins of the realm, nor the exact location of excavation. However, it was not far from School Court.
Nick Lyons, the history master, was able to cast an expert eye over the 'finds' and date them.
In the early 1980s he edited a fascinating book (pictured here) about the history of the old Brigg courtyards. It included memories contributed by people who were then in their 60s, 70s and 80s who had lived in these cottages decades earlier. Local people interested in Brigg's history helped to collect information from the veterans.
Many Brigg 'seniors' today will recall in the 1960s that the land now occupied by the car park was overgrown with weeds and saplings, but brickwork was still evident in many places.
There are a few small parcels of building-free land in this part of the town today, examples being behind Martin's store and on Coney Court (opposite the fish & chip shop/restaurant).
Beneath them, and the Old Courts Road car park, could there be items of local interest?
If ever there comes a time when North Lincolnshire Council decides it needs to resurface or redesign the Old Courts Road car park it now manages, perhaps consideration could be given to sinking a temporary trench or two with archaeology in mind.
The authority has heritage staff with specialist knowledge, but we think there would be plenty of willing local volunteers stepping forward to help, if required.
Any notable 'finds' unearthed, such as old coins, pottery, shells and clay pipe fragments, could be labelled and offered for display at Brigg Heritage Centre, in the Angel building.
Barrels of oysters, cockles and other seafood were brought to Brigg via the River Ancholme in centuries past and sold to the poor. How times change!