‘description’:’Name McIver, Henry. Official Number: 64352. Place of Birth: Lepe, Isle of Wight. Date of Birth: 11 October 1852.’,’context’:’Admiralty: Royal Navy Registers of Seamen’s Services. Registers. 64001 – 64600.’,’held_by’:’The National Archives’
Contributor: NFNPA Archaeology
Name McIver, Henry. Place of Birth: Lepe, Isle of Wight. Continuous Service Number: 5116B. Date …
‘description’:’Name McIver, Henry. Place of Birth: Lepe, Isle of Wight. Continuous Service Number: 5116B. Date of Volunteering: 11 March 1868. Date of Birth: 04 October 1852.’,’context’:’Admiralty: Royal Navy Continuous Service Engagement Books. C.S. NUMBERS. 5101B – 5200B.’,’held_by’:’The National Archives’
Name Tremayne, John Ferrel. Official Number: 44606. Place of Birth: Lepe, Hampshire. Date of Birth: …
‘description’:’Name Tremayne, John Ferrel. Official Number: 44606. Place of Birth: Lepe, Hampshire. Date of Birth: 1840.’,’context’:’Admiralty: Royal Navy Registers of Seamen’s Services. Registers. 44201 – 44800.’,’held_by’:’The National Archives’
Name Tremayne, John Ferrel. Place of Birth: Lepe near Leamington, Hampshire. Continuous Service Number: 7671A. …
‘description’:’Name Tremayne, John Ferrel. Place of Birth: Lepe near Leamington, Hampshire. Continuous Service Number: 7671A. Date of Volunteering: 08 February 1860. Date of Birth: 08 February 1840.’,’context’:’Admiralty: Royal Navy Continuous Service Engagement Books. C.S. NUMBERS. 7601A – 7700A.’,’held_by’:’The National Archives’
Needs Ore Advanced Landing Ground Overview
Needs Oar (aka Needs Ore) Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) was constructed in the summer of 1943 in preparation for the invasion of mainland Europe. It was occupied by RAF British and Commonwealth squadrons flying Hawker Typhoons. Four such squadrons with a total of some 150 aircraft were based here in the build-up to D-Day, along with over 900 ground crew. During the spring and summer of 1944, it is estimated that the airfield was so busy that aircraft took off or landed every 45 seconds. As with many of the ALGs along the south coast, the airfield was totally vacant by July and would not be used as an airfield again. The Royal Navy used the site as a depot until 1946, at which point it was returned to the Beaulieu Estate
ALGs were not designed as anything more than temporary airfields with tented accommodation. The landing strip was made of steel mesh pinned to the ground with large stakes that could be removed when the airfield was closed. As such they leave little evidence of their past on the ground. At Needs Oar, this evidence mainly takes the form of field boundaries along a former perimeter track and traces of dispersal areas.
You can see some 1944 aerial images of Needs Oar ALG in the following article: Park Farm Heavy AA and Needs Ore ALG
There are also a memory from Flying Officer J.K ‘Paddy’ Byrne’s time at Needs Oar online: http://www.197typhoon.org.uk/crew_byrne.htm
An interpretation panel has been installed at the Advanced Landing Ground which you can see here
Finds
Uncovered from the site, by the local farmer, were a number of British No.28 III Tail Pistols. These were fitted to air drop bombs and like the firing pin in a gun, on impact with the ground, strikes the detonator to set off the bomb.
British bombs were delivered to user units with the pistols already fitted – all the Armourers had to do was remove them, insert a detonator and then re-fit it. Once the armourer had refitted the pistol to the bomb they would then align an arming vane, of the tail section, to the large wing-nut, which holds the firing pin in place.
When the bomb is dropped, the wind turns the arming vane which unscrews the wing-nut. Once the wing-nut comes off, the pistol is ‘armed’ as the firing pin is just held by the spring. When the bomb hits the ground, the firing pin shoots forward, impacts on the detonator and sets off the bomb.
The one shown is in the fired position and so has no wing nut and the striker is in the forward position.
Tail Section
The Tail Section is from an inert 250lb practice air-drop bomb recovered during works at Latchmore Brook on the site of the Ashley Walk Bombing Range. In the second photo it is possible to see the opposing wing-nut that would have fitted into the Tail Pistol.
The Tail Sections would be added to the bombs in the bomb preparation area. The site of RAF Beaulieu still has the remains of its bomb storage and preparation area.
If you have anything to share about your memories of Needs Oar or anywhere else in the New Forest please let us know.
You can find out more about the New Forest’s vital role in D-Day from Mulberry Harbour, to holding camps, road widening, advanced landing grounds, PLUTO and Embarkation by visiting our main page on D-Day in the New Forest.
The Other New Forest Advanced Landing Grounds
New Forest Gypsies (1948)
Film footage from British Pathe of New Forest Gypsies in 1948.
Squalor of gypsies’ living conditions highlighted in commentary. FILM ID:1243.17
New Forest, Hampshire. General view, pan down country road. General shot of forest clearing, washing hangs on line. General view of gypsy encampment. Various shots of gypsy huts made from wood, tin and canvas – very primitive. C/U of stew pot boiling over open fire. C/U of chimney, pan down to man and dog going into hut. General view of camp. M/S of woman sitting in doorway of tent. C/U of interior, woman cooking over open fire. C/U of kettle boiling over open fire. M/S of woman sitting outside hut. C/U of woman making straw ropes. C/U of woman doing weekly wash outside hut. M/S of children and chickens playing outside hut. M/S of woman hanging out washing. M/S of 2 dogs lying asleep. C/U of cat. C/U of 3 puppies playing together. Back view, old woman and two children walking in woods.
New Forest History and Archaeology Group, and the Hampshire Field Club New Forest Section – Archaeology in the New Forest, 1960s to the present – Abstract & Video
The following paper was presented at the New Forest Knowledge Conference 2017 entitled: New Forest Historical Research and Archaeology: who’s doing it? Below you will find the abstract of the paper and a video of the paper given if permission to film it was given by the speaker.
Speaker:
Maddy Andrews, New Forest History and Archaeology Group
Abstract
The New Forest History and Archaeology Group, formerly the New Forest Section of the Hampshire Field Club, has been carrying our archaeological investigation in the New Forest since 1961, many well-known individuals who pioneered research into the New Forest have been members. The group’s work covers a broad spectrum of site types from all parts of the Forest, some examples from the very early days up until the present are discussed. Also mentioned is the group’s publishing side: producing books and reports both before and after a merger with New Forest Research and Publications Trust.
The Talk
New Forest Knowledge Conference 2017: History & Archaeology
The New Forest Knowledge Conference 2017 was a celebration of the archaeological and historical research being carried out in and around the New Forest. It provided an opportunity to find out who was doing what, shared results of recent work, discussed new techniques and approaches to archaeology and helped people find out how they might get involved.
The conference ran over two days from Friday 27 October through to Saturday 28 October 2017 at the Lyndhurst Community Centre.
As well as presented papers there was poster displays from local community groups and students, and various display stands.
The programme below has links to each paper’s abstract along with the video of the talk where that was available.
The Programme
Day 1: Friday 27th October 2017
Morning
- An ecological perspective on long-term human impact within the New Forest – Dr Michael Grant, University of Southampton
- Three sites on the coastal zone: Roman, Saxon and Medieval – Dr Andy Russel, Southampton Archaeology Unit
- Pots and People in the Middle Bronze Age: assessing the Heatherstone Grange cremation cemetery – Dr Richard Massey, Cotswold Archaeology
- New Forest Roman Pottery: the centenary of Heywood Sumner’s excavation at Ashley Rails – Professor Mike Fulford, University of Reading
- Conquest and land clearance: the Domesday account of the New Forest– Katherine Blayney, DPhil at University of Oxford
- All about the bounds. What medieval perambulations can tell us about the New Forest – Richard Reeves
Afternoon
- Excavations at the ‘Royal Hunting Lodge’ at Church Place, Denny Wait– Dr Paul Everill, University of Winchester
- New Forest Squatters’ Settlements in the Eighteenth Century’ – Sylvia Crocker
- The New Forest and the Great War 1917 – Richard Willaims
- Equipping the Armada: The Archaeology of Lepe Country Park – Stephen Fisher
- New Forest History and Archaeology Group, and the Hampshire Field Club New Forest Section – Archaeology in the New Forest, 1960s to the present – Maddy Andrews, New Forest History and Archaeology Group
Day 2: Saturday 28th October 2017
Morning
- Will Buckland Rings Reveal its secrets? – Josie Hagan, Student Bournemouth University
- Avon Valley Geophysics and the Locate project – Mike Gill, Avon Valley Archaeology Society
- Edward Mudge, an interesting man? – John Pemberton, Beaulieu History Society
- Brice Stratford
- The Work of Hampshire Record Office – Matthew Goodwin, Archivist at Hampshire Record Office
- Gazetteer of New Forest Properties – Catherine Glover
Afternoon
- Using Aerial Imagery for Desk Based Research – Jack Powell, Aerial Imagery Analyst, Air Photo Services
- Automated Detection of Archaeology in the New Forest using Deep Learning with Remote Sensor Data – Iris Kramer, University of Southampton
- #NewForest: using social media and mobile data to manage our heritage – Lawrence Shaw, New Forest National Park Authority & University of Winchester
- HLF Funding for heritage projects – Judith Carruthers, Development Officer, Heritage Lottery Fund
- New Forest Knowledge, your gateway to information – James Miles, Archaeovision, James Brown & Kath Walker
New Forest National Mapping
Exploring the map on the home screen you may have discovered the archaeology layers, which includes one called National Mapping, which is split into different periods. This data allows a rapid overview of some of the potential archaeology in the New Forest mapped from historic aerial images and maps. Staff from the National Park and volunteers are using this data along with research and assessment of Lidar to visit potential sites and update the archaeological database for the New Forest.
You can find out more about where the National Mapping data has come from in the following reports:
The Aggregate Landscape of Hampshire 2008
Report: Hampshire ALSF NMP report
This report details the key findings from the Hampshire ALSF NMP component carried out by staff from the Cornwall County Council between March 2006 and March 2008. The project contributed to an assessment of potential aggregate producing areas in Hampshire for the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund.
Covers the following New Forest Areas: Avon Valley, New Forest Coastal Plain (New Milton, Milford On Sea)
Hampshire Aggregate Resource Assessment: Aerial Photography Enhancement 2010
Report: Aerial Photography Enhancement 2010
This report outlines the results of an archaeological survey, using all available aerial photographs and Environment Agency LiDAR data, of the New Forest and North West Solent coastal plain. The interpretation and mapping was carried out as part of English Heritage’s National Mapping Programme. Historic Environment, Cornwall Council carried out the project between March and December 2009 in partnership with Hampshire County Council’s Environment Department and the New Forest National Park Authority. The project was funded through the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund. The principal aim of the project was to define, characterise and analyse the historic environment of the New Forest and North West Solent Coastal Plain. The project achieved this aim by providing significant enhancement to existing baseline data through the mapping, interpretation and recording of almost 800 previously unrecognised archaeological features ranging in date from the Neolithic period to the end of the Second World War.
Covers the following New Forest Areas: New Forest and North West Solent coastal plain running from Hurst spit along to Beaulieu then Calshot and up Southampton Water to Redbridge
New Forest Remembers National Mapping Programme (2013)
Report: New Forest Remembers NMP Final
The project consists of an archaeological survey involving the systematic interpretation, mapping and recording of archaeological sites from aerial photographs and lidar data across 400 square kilometres within the New Forest National Park. The analytical aerial survey was carried out using English Heritage’s National Mapping Programme methodology. Historic Environment, Cornwall Council carried out the project between January 2012 and November 2012. The project was commissioned by the New Forest National Park Authority as part of the New Forest Remembers Project and funded through the National Lottery Heritage Lottery Fund. The results of this were used to undertake the New Forest Remembers project and you can find the results from that work on the Portal here under the New Forest Remembers source tab and the final report here: New Forest Remembers Final Report
National Mapping Background
The full extent of our historic environment is still unknown. We use remote sensing to identify, record and improve understanding of sites and landscapes across England. Aerial photographs, and the mapping derived from them, should be an intrinsic part of any assessment of the historic environment.From 2011 to 2014 over 14,000 previously unknown sites were added to the historic environment record from Historic England aerial survey projects using National Mapping Programme (NMP) standards. The impact of recent research is clear in our wide ranging and exciting NMP projects.
Archaeological research has long benefited from the use of aerial photography, revealing sites that are often difficult or even impossible, to see on the ground. New technologies such as airborne laser scanning usually called lidar, are adding to the toolkit of the aerial surveyor. Interpretation and mapping of sites brings together information on buried features revealed as seen as cropmarks, soilmarks, or parchmarks or features visible on the surface such as earthworks and structures. The maps and records allow a better understanding of past landscapes to inform research and management strategies.
More information from Historic England: Aerial Investigation and Mapping
New Forest National Park Archaeological Research Frameworks
The Archaeological Research Frameworks for the New Forest National Park have been created with the intention to survey and define all aspects of the rich and diverse past of the area and to produce an agenda to address the key archaeological heritage issues and gaps in our knowledge.
The aim is to ensure that decisions about future development are undertaken with the most up-to-date information available. That the research potential of the archaeological work is quickly recognised and opportunities for investigation are seized.
It will also enable the archaeological resource to be further interpreted, made more widely available and displayed to best effect; providing learning opportunities for all and information to enhance the quality of the visitor experience, to foster the economic vitality of the area.
Archaeological Research Frameworks for the New Forest National Park
Completed Themed Research Frameworks
More will be added as they are completed
These are working documents and we would welcome feedback and comments as we continue to develop and refine
If you have any questions please contact us by emailing ‘archaeology@newforestnpa.gov.uk’