Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 23rd May, 2013)

Interesting photo Mick, how old do you think that is, and what history.

Knew who`d taken this photo as soon as I saw the handlebar`s of the bike!
This is an ancient cross base (Medieval most likely).
Refer `The Wigan Archaeological Society` project blog :-
http://www.wiganarchsoc.co.uk/blog/?page_id=119

Just a question.....how old would this trough be.....there is not much left of it....I think at least 300 years old......nice bike....cheers!!

Thouhgt this was a base for a cross as troughs tend to be big enough for an animal to get its mouth into.

i love this. it's real history and i love stuff that's covered in moss. shift the bike next time! or crop it out ;-D

Kath the bikes been left there so people who have never seen it can see its size.

Its supposed to be the base of a wooden cross but theres nobody still around who can confirm this.

And if it was a base why make that slot in it.

Theres two of these the other one is outside of one of the bungalows near to the top of Standish wood lane.

Is this the only one in the lane or are there more?

This is the ancient Pilgrim Route that Christian pilgrims walking to Whalley, Furness and Fountains Abbeys used, wayside crosses always marked these routes.

There's at least one Wigan Worlder who has an archaeologist in his family. He and I shared emails a while ago regarding the name Livesey. If he is reading this, maybe he could ask his daughter to look at this and give an opinion on its approximate age and function.
Good idea, Mick, to leave the bike in the picture for size comparison!

http://www.wigan.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/1BD94A57-EAFF-48E2-9E4B-793035B51F85/0/StandishPartSeven297kb.pdf

You'll find some very interesting information about Standish in this online publication. (Browser Bar Link above, copy and past in browser bar)
Especially Appendix 5 which mentions the pilgrim routes.

There has also been a discussion about the origin of the name Cat ith 'Window farm on a photo in the Album.

Cyril Is there an easier link to this Publication about Standish.

Shorter link to the Standish Info:

http://tinyurl.com/pe92ytg

I would think the slot was in the stone to keep water making contact with the wooden post to stop the wood rotting,did it work.