Find Spot record 501/0/1 - Warrington Logboat 2

During the construction of the Manchester Ship canal & Walton Lock, an extensive system of piles & stakes was discovered & a logboat unearthed on 28th March 1894. The logboat was 18ft deep with the lower ends of the piles, with sand washed clay & silt over it, more than 20yds from the north bank of the river. Boat is 12ft 4ins long x 2ft 10ins wide x 15ins deep. In the sand a little higher & a few yards W of the canoe, a perfect skull of the graet wild ox or urus was found. associated finds of a few water-worn fragments of Roman tile at same level as boat, an anchor stone & a few yards south of the canoe - charcoal & other signs of a hearth noticed (1). Examined by McGrail in 1974. Since it was recorded in 1894, much of one side & some of the narrower end has broken away. Almost the full length survives & the original sheer exists in sections. made of oak. Classed as a first rate personnel carrier & bulky-load carrier of canoe form, propelled by pole or paddle at good speeds.Radiocarbon date 930 BP +/- 50 ie c.ad 1020 (Q-1391) (2) & (3). This canoe is probably to be identified with canoe said to be found in 1894 & accompanied by the skull of a bear in ref (5).

<1> Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, 1849 onwards, Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, 10/97-106 1894 Madeley C (Journal/Periodical). SCH3800.

<2> British Archaeological Reports, 51/vii+288-291 1978 (Monograph). SCH461.

<3> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, 6/89 Wagstaff P 1978 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ68NW6/1961 (Index). SCH2487.

<5> Grealey S, 1976, The Archaeology of Warrington's Past, /78-79 (Book). SCH3046.

<6> Harrison W, 1896, An Archaeological Survey of Lancashire, /24 (Book). SCH241.

<7> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 40/186 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

<8> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 12/119 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

<9> Shone W, 1911, Prehistoric Man in Cheshire, /fig 40 (Book). SCH2710.

<10> Society of Antiquities London, 1921-2014, The Antiquaries Journal, 6/121-151 Fox C 1926 (Journal/Periodical). SCH284.

<11> Unknown, 1875-1960, Warrington Examiner, 07/02/1931 (Newspaper-Magazine). SCH3682.

<12> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.228 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.