Category: News

Volunteer wanted for Supermobile library at Slingsby

Volunteering opportunity available on the new Supermobile Library van at Slingsby – we are looking for a volunteer who enjoys books and working with the public to help out during term time at the Slingsby stop.

The Supermobile library visits Slingsby once a fortnight from 2-4pm on Friday afternoons.

If you would like to find out more about this role, please email Laura Dinning at [email protected] or phone (01609) 534812.

Romans in Ryedale – Conference

Derventio

18 October 9.30am, Milton Rooms, Malton

ROMANS IN RYEDALE AND BEYOND

Joint conference by the Roman Antiquities Section (YAS), Malton Museum, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies and the Friends of Malton Museum

The Milton Rooms, Market Square, Malton YO17 7LX

Saturday 18th October

 

9.30am      Coffee and Registration

10am       Dr Patrick Ottaway – The Roman period in the Yorkshire region:    what really matters in its archaeology?

10.30am   Professor Roger Ling – Wall-paintings in Roman Britain: Malton and beyond

11am         Dr Peter Halkon – Recent research on the Iron Age and Roman landscapes of the western Yorkshire Wolds

11.30am   Dr Pete Wilson – Roman Malton and Norton:   a fort and ‘small town’ and their context

12-1.30     Lunch

1.30pm      Paula Ware – Ryedale: An Explosion of Sites, a mine of information

2pm       Steve Roskams – Roman Wharram Percy: linking site assemblage with landscape change

2.30pm      Rachel Wood – The Crambeck Ware Industry and its Landscape Setting

3pm Coffee

3.30pm      Dr Rob Collins – Roman Ryedale: Patterns and interpretations from Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) data

4pm           Dr Peter Addyman – The Roman Malton Museum: A vision for the future

Discussion

5 – 6pm      Wine reception in Malton Museum rooms

Tea and coffee will be provided.

Contact: [email protected] or 01944 738282

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

Booking Form

Tickets: £12,

Roman Antiquities Section members, Roman Society members & Friends of Malton Museum £10

Please book…… place/s for the Romans in Ryedale & Beyond Conference

Member: RAS/Friends of Malton Museum (please delete as appropriate)

 

Name:

Address:

 

Phone:

e-mail:

 

I enclose payment of £……

Cheques should be made payable to ‘Roman Antiquities Section’

Please return this booking form (along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope or your email address to receive booking confirmation) to:

RAS, Rarey Farm, Weaverthorpe, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 8EY

DOWNLOAD PRINTER FRIENDLY BOOKING FORMS:

Romans in Ryedale conf booking

lunch option Roman conference

Fracking in Ryedale?

split-field

Many Slingsby residents will recall that a geophysical survey was carried out in our area during the summer. This 3D seismic survey was conducted on behalf of Third Energy Ltd by Tesla Exploration International Ltd, in a 123 square km area centred around Hovingham. You might have seen bamboo poles with coloured tags at the side of the road and slow-moving vehicles (vibrator trucks or recording trucks) in fields or on the roads.

The data collected in the seismic survey is analysed in order to map the underlying geological layers, with a view to assessing the profitability of drilling in our area.

Third Energy (formerly known as Viking UK Gas) has been producing gas in the Vale of Pickering for the last 20 years, employing around 25 local people. The gas produced from its existing licence areas and sites is used to produce electricity at the Knapton Generating Station.

The company currently has well advanced plans to build a gas pipeline from its Ebberston Moor South well site to the Knapton Generating Station.

More information can be found on the company website:

Third Energy have not indicated precisely what type of exploitation may ultimately follow on from their survey analyses in our area.

So should we be concerned?

The answer, according to the local campaign group Frackfree Ryedale, is Yes.

It is known that Ryedale sits upon a large band of shale rock. Whereas conventional gas drilling has had a relatively minor environmental impact hitherto, the method of releasing gas from shale is to inject water, sand and chemicals into the shale to fracture the shale hydraulicly – this is “fracking”.

The risks of this method include contamination of ground water, leakage of methane and air pollution. Naturally, extensive infrastructure and heavy transport will be required.

We understand that there are concerns that Third Energy have already drilled deep at Kirby Misperton into the “Bowland” shale, indicating a possible interest in gas exploitation by fracking. 

For the FrackFree Ryedale view of what’s going on here, see: http://frackfreeryedale.org/ryedale/

On the wider national front, the current Government has given the green light to fracking in the UK, apparently as a cheaper alternative to certain renewable energy sources. This so-called dash for gas aims to plug a national energy supply gap and thereby help to keep energy prices down.

The national press has recently reported that, in spite of overwhelming opposition from environmental groups and others in a recent consultation, the Government plans to go ahead with a change to the trespass laws, so that homeowners cannot object to gas and oil development below 300m under their homes.

It has been widely reported that the gas industry looks set to compensate landowners and local communities affected by fracking work. Environmental campaigners see this as a bribe.

Perhaps now is the time for residents to look into the matter and form their own conclusions. To that end, we can report that ex-oil industry executive Ian Crane will be giving a talk entitled “Is fracking safe?” at a number of local venues this month. He is due to speak in Slingsby Village Hall on Tuesday 21 October at 7.30pm. Entrance is free.  

So, is Slingsby heading for boom-time – or potential environmental disaster? Tell the Slingsby Village website what you think!

Leave a comment on this post (which will appear here on this website) or email us at [email protected]

Slingsby Mapping session – change of plan

Saturday 4th October. The Local History Group will now meet in the Grapes at noon (not 10.45am) to look at maps and identify things to record. This change of plan is because of heavy rain forecast for the morning. If the weather situation improves the walk could possibly go ahead in the afternoon, but it may be better to postpone till following weekend.

[superseded post follows]

The Slingsby local history group will conduct a special village mapping session.

We aim to have a walk around the village with Peter Smithson to identify, photograph and map positions of some of the topographical features which have disappeared, mostly due to ploughing and building changes. The idea is to record our findings on a modern map for future reference.

Meet at the top of Railways Street outside The Grapes at10.45 a.m. Be prepared for rain!

For those who would like to, we aim to finish our tour with a sandwich and discussion in The Grapes afterwards.

We may have a follow-up session on Saturday 11th October if needed.

Local historical mapping session

Saturday 4th October – meet in the Grapes at noon.

The Slingsby local history group aims to conduct a special village mapping session.

We will have a walk around the village with Peter Smithson to identify, photograph and map positions of some of the topographical features which have disappeared, mostly due to ploughing and building changes. The idea is to record our findings on a modern map for future reference.

We may have a follow-up session on Saturday 11th October if needed.