Previous events Over the years, the CBA-East Midlands group has enjoyed a wide range of archaeological trips, visits, conferences and activities. Some recent events include:   East Midlands Made with Xara Web Designer Council for British Archaeology — East Midlands Group: Archaeology for all  Charity No. 1082287 Visit to the Creswell Crags World Heritage Site (October 2006) Around 30 members enjoyed a two-part trip to Creswell and its famous Crags, to see the recently discovered rock-art. The morning session, at Creswell Village Hall, included lectures from the University of Sheffield’s Paul Pettit, discussing the rock-art, and Trent & Peak Archaeology’s Barry Lewis, describing recent excavations for the new Crags bypass road. In the afternoon, Paul Pettit and Ian Wall of the Creswell Crags Visitor Centre led guided trips to see the caves and the ‘new’ rock art.   The Past in Pieces: modern studies of ancient pottery (September 2008)    Sharpe’s Pottery in Swadlincote hosted a day conference on pottery studies in the East Midlands, attended by about 40 keen members and non- members. Speakers included Sue Brown and Janet Spavold on Ticknall pottery; Ian Rowlandson on Roman production in Lincolnshire; David Walker on experimental firing; Eddie Faber on microanalysis of pottery; Peter Allen on post- medieval pottery from Bingham; and Anne Boyle on spatial analysis of medieval Lincolnshire pottery. The talks generated some fierce and constructive discussion, and the day was both educational and enjoyable.   Are you looking for the main CBA national site? Click here for www.britarch.ac.uk East Midlands ^top^ ^top^ Visit to Lawrence Field, Bole Hill Quarry & Millstone Edge, Derbyshire (April 2011) Saturday 16th April was bright, with no sign of rain or wind. We duly assembled at the appointed car park (with a short delay to feed cards, not coins, into the 21st-century ticket machine), before setting off down the deep hollow-way documented as ‘Milne Stone Gate’ (i.e. road) in 1714. After viewing a small quarry with a dozen scattered millstones, we headed off to examine the spectacular stacks of stones, ready for transport by a made trackway on the edge of Bole Hill Quarry. They became redundant when synthetic stones and roller milling were introduced in the early 20th century, but were left in place when the quarry was extended in 1902–10 to provide the stone for the dams on the Derwent and Howden reservoirs. Hathersage is documented as having 13 millstone makers in the township in 1590, each producing 12 pairs of stones a year. The stone was also made into troughs and gateposts, as well as flat-edged discs for grindstones and crushing-stones in the lead-working and other industries. Looking carefully at some stones, it was evident that they were only partially made, like this one in Lawrence Field: the central hole and uppermost surface had been dressed, but the sides were only partially finished. It seems likely that its maker had only completed this upper side. Below Mother Cap we searched for the scattered examples of mushroom shaped millstones with one flat grinding surface and a domed top. They had been abandoned, propped for dressing and not quite finished, perhaps because a flaw had developed. They are thought to have been the earliest form of millstone made hereabouts, dying out in the 18th century when finer imported stones where used for milling flour. As the bracken had not yet emerged, we were able to examine the pair of boat-shaped buildings on Lawrence Field, where excavations in 1959 produced flat querns and medieval pottery. The buildings lie at the edge of a large enclosure, with parts of its line defined by orthostats set on edge (left). Amongst the thick heather inside the enclosure, we were able to trace some of the narrow banks and piles of stones that are interpreted as the clearance from adjacent strips once used for agriculture. Visit to the Derbyshire Ware Project (July 2006) The CBA-EM co-sponsored David Walker and Matt Hurford’s Derbyshire Ware Project through its Grants scheme: in July 2006 the Group visited the project to see how their money had been spent! The DWP had spent much of the summer constructing a replica of a Romano-British Derbyshire Ware pottery kiln. When the CBA visited the almost-finished kiln was being pre-fired and the scientific equipment tested. Dave and Matt talked about the wonders of Derbyshire Ware pottery and the unique kiln form, and demonstrated a small open firing of some pre-made pots.   ^top^ Visit to Ellys Manor House, Great Ponton, Lincolnshire (July 2011) An excellent and informative day was enjoyed by 30 CBA members and non- members. Clive Taylor and his wife own Ellys Manor House and offered an extensive tour of the unusual ‘two up, two down’ manor, mostly dating from the 15th century. There were some beautiful medieval wall paintings which are currently awaiting conservation,      hence the tours of the private house in order to      raise funds. We also inspected the church with      its oustanding masonry, in particular its unique      bespectacled gargoyle, said to reflect one of the Ellys      brothers who had poor eyesight. The tour was linked into a historical and architectural background of the Northern Renaissance, bringing together Flemish art with the stories of the wool merchants and their bling or swagger. The building archaeologists were inundanted with questions from the owners asking for interpretation of various features, including a star within a triangle — the most enlightened among us suggested a stonemason with a penchant for starfish! If you missed this trip, appointments to view the house can be made by arrangement www.ellysmanorhouse.com.  Ellys Manor House, Dallygate, Great Ponton, Lincolnshire NG33 5DP.