This blog will hopefully be of interest to both naturalist, historian and the passing viewer as I attempt to combine the various facts I have discovered about this unprepossessing place. To explain my interest in Prestwick Carr is difficult but perhaps best summarised by its power of place both natural and historical that is expertly defined in Stan Beckensalls book of the same name. It is simultaneously solitary but expansive, natural but man made and strangely calming amidst the hubub that surrounds it.
Prestwick Carr is an area that has an extensive history yet upon first viewing the area, there seems to be little more than a patch of unmanaged land amidst the surrounding clamour of modern transport infrastructure. My interest was initially passing, literally, for as a youth I used the straight back road which I now know is a historic Waggonway, as a short cut to beat slower cars on the main road. In later years my birdwatching interests have led me to spend large amounts of time both watching and recording the changing numbers and types of species with the seasons.
I hope to describe the development of the land from its prehistoric status as woodland through felling in roman times and subsequent flooding, to the heyday in the 19th century and apparent demise following drainage to the current day proposals to manage the land. Archaeology from the bronze age found in 1890 to the modern excavations recording pits and excavation form prehistoric to modern times. The characters involved, David Maddison a local historian in the 19th century to Miles Watson the latest to record the history of the area. John Selby, John Hancock, C.M Adamson and George Bolam the great naturalists of the 19th century to Erik Meek in the 1970's and more recently Newcastle City Council and Northumberland Wildlife Trust. Not forgetting the industry from the original owners the Mitford family through drainage in the 19th century designed by John F Tone to monastic enclosure, agriculture and mining, both traditional drift mining to modern day opencast by Banks.
Prestwick Carr is an area that has an extensive history yet upon first viewing the area, there seems to be little more than a patch of unmanaged land amidst the surrounding clamour of modern transport infrastructure. My interest was initially passing, literally, for as a youth I used the straight back road which I now know is a historic Waggonway, as a short cut to beat slower cars on the main road. In later years my birdwatching interests have led me to spend large amounts of time both watching and recording the changing numbers and types of species with the seasons.
I hope to describe the development of the land from its prehistoric status as woodland through felling in roman times and subsequent flooding, to the heyday in the 19th century and apparent demise following drainage to the current day proposals to manage the land. Archaeology from the bronze age found in 1890 to the modern excavations recording pits and excavation form prehistoric to modern times. The characters involved, David Maddison a local historian in the 19th century to Miles Watson the latest to record the history of the area. John Selby, John Hancock, C.M Adamson and George Bolam the great naturalists of the 19th century to Erik Meek in the 1970's and more recently Newcastle City Council and Northumberland Wildlife Trust. Not forgetting the industry from the original owners the Mitford family through drainage in the 19th century designed by John F Tone to monastic enclosure, agriculture and mining, both traditional drift mining to modern day opencast by Banks.
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