The archaeologist whose hi-tech drones unlock the pastRipon search is stepped up for missing Cocker Spaniel Ella

The search for Cocker Spaniel Ella is being stepped up across Ripon and the surrounding area, a month after she went missing in woodland off Clotherholme Road.

For her distraught owners Andy and Jo Coombs, the round-the-clock search, which began on Friday October 13, has been extensive, with hundreds of people lending a hand.

Banners featuring Ella have been put in place at a number of key locations. Picture: Jo Coombs

Now, with thousands of leaflets printed for delivery by friends and volunteers to homes in Ripon and remote farms in outlying rural areas, the couple are hopeful that someone will come forward with a confirmed sighting that can be followed up.

Mr Coombs, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are not giving up hope, because there have been instances of dogs being found weeks, sometimes months, after they went missing.”

He added:

“Ella, received gun dog training when she was younger and is fully used to the countryside and capable of surviving on her own instincts.”

Still searching – Andy Coombs with Ella’s three-year-old sister Holly

The search,  which is being Co-ordinated by Mandy Butler of the Lost Dog Trapping Team Search & Rescue Network, has involved the use of tracker dogs, drones with thermal imaging equipment, monitoring of live cameras, checking cctv footage, the production and installation of hundreds of ‘missing’ posters and an appeal for assistance on social media

Anybody with information that may help in the search is asked to contact Ms Butler on 07947 866 582 or via Ella’s Facebook page that can be accessed by clicking here.

Eight-year-old Ella has been missing since October 13. Picture: Andy Coombs

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Hundreds join Ripon search for missing Cocker Spaniel Ella

A huge search operation involving hundreds of people is continuing in Ripon  to find a missing eight-year-old Cocker Spaniel.

Ella went missing at about 11.30am with her younger sister Holly on Friday, October 13.

They were in a group of dogs being exercised by a professional dog walker in the Clotherholme Road wooded area on the Royal Engineers’ barracks site,

But while three-year-old Holly was found safe 35 minutes later, the search for Ella, launched by her distraught owners Andy and Jo Coombs, who live in the Ripon area, has been ongoing day and night since.

Holly, pictured with Andy Coombs, was found but the search goes on for Ella.

Co-ordinated by Mandy Butler of the Lost Dog Trapping Team Search & Rescue Network, the operation has involved the use of tracker dogs, drones with thermal imaging equipment, monitoring of live cameras, checking cctv footage, the production and installation of hundreds of ‘missing’ posters and an appeal for assistance on social media.

One of the posters.

On Sunday, 60 members of the community, including a large contingent of dog owners, carried out a detailed search of the route where Ella had been walking on October 13.

Mr Coombs told the Stray Ferret:

“My wife and I are trying to remain hopeful and putting our full energies into finding her.

“Since she went missing there has been a massive gap in our lives, that will only be filled when she returns to us. “

He added:

“The response of the local community has been incredible, with hundreds of people stepping in to help us in whatever ways that they can, from putting up posters, to reporting potential sightings that we have been following up.”

Anybody with information that may help in the search is asked to contact Mandy Butler on 07947 866 582 or via Ella’s Facebook page that can be accessed by clicking here.

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English Civil War soldiers’ mass graves ‘revealed’ by drone technology

The final resting place of thousands of Royalist soldiers killed in the English Civil War may have been revealed using new drone technology. 

Amateur archaeologist Tony Hunt found the mass graves at White Sike Close, near the A59 between Harrogate and York, using drones equipped with infrared and thermal imaging cameras.

He said:  

“The great thing about this site is that we know exactly where the bodies are supposed to be – the pits are very well attested by historical accounts – and we know that there has been no development here, only agriculture, since the battle. When we do a wider survey, the surrounding area looks very homogeneous – these are the only anomalies. 

“So we have the right size, the right location, written records and even different growth patterns in vegetation growing here. I’m as sure as I can be that these are the burial pits for the Royalist dead.” 

The soldiers were killed making a last stand at the Battle of Marston Moor, which was fought on July 2, 1644. The battle was the largest of the English Civil War, and the Parliamentarians’ victory effectively ended Royalist influence in the North of England. King Charles I was beheaded less than five years later. 

Satellite map with battle lines overlaid showing the disposition of forces at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644.

Satellite map with battle lines overlaid showing the disposition of forces at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644.

Estimates of casualties vary, but it is believed that at least 300 Parliamentarians and 4,000 Royalists were killed at the battle. 

The battlefield site, which is registered on the National Heritage List for England, lies within the boundaries of the Harrogate district. 

Chris Rock, Yorkshire regional chair of the Battlefields Trust, said:

“The Battlefields Trust is always interested in any possible evidence of the conflict sites in the country. Despite being a registered battle site with Historic England, this does not automatically give it protected status, and is thus open to illegal activity.

“Only by working closely with those who used the land or are landowners can we hope to protect and preserve any possible battle proof. We look forward to any future excavation work if allowed and will always work in partnership with those who have the same aims of preserving our history.”

But Mr Hunt says he doesn’t want to investigate further. He said: 

“Just knowing they’re there is enough for me. I can’t see any benefit in opening up the poor lads’ graves.” 

Detail of a 19th-century map, showing the location of White Sike Close, where Royalist soldiers are believed to have made a last stand - and been buried.

Detail of a 19th-century map, showing the location of White Sike Close, where Royalist soldiers are believed to have made a last stand – and been buried.

The English Civil Wars were fought between 1642 and 1652 and pitted King Charles I and his Royalists against the Parliamentarians, led by Oliver Cromwell, who generally believed in the primacy of Parliament over the monarch. It resulted in the execution of the king and the establishment of the Commonwealth of England.

Mr Hunt has a degree in archaeological sciences from Bradford University and is currently managing director of DJ Assembly, a York-based micro-electronics company. He also runs Yorkshire Aerial Archaeological Mapping, whose thermal and infrared imaging technology revealed the burial pits.  

He has previously used his drone technology to locate many other sites of historic interest. Last summer, he found a missing section of Roman road, and early this year he discovered a suspected prehistoric henge under the village of Kirk Hammerton. 

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New Harrogate district henge could be ‘nationally significant’

A previously undiscovered prehistoric henge may lie under a Harrogate district village, a packed meeting was told this week. 

The massive earthwork, 170 metres in diameter and thousands of years old, was revealed beneath the village of Kirk Hammerton using state-of-the-art multispectral drone imagery techniques by Tony Hunt, who said the find could be “nationally significant”. 

He presented his findings, along with community archaeologist Jon Kenny, at a public meeting of local residents and amateur archaeologists in Kirk Hammerton village hall on Monday. Mr Hunt said:

“The meeting was absolutely astounding. Usually, these things attract maybe 20-30 people, but we had 120 – there were people sitting on the floor, and there were 30-40 who couldn’t make it on the night but want to get involved. 

“Everybody seems to be very enthusiastic about it being a new henge. I’m healthily sceptical, but it’s definitely worth a look. If this is confirmed, it will be nationally significant.” 

A henge is a ring-shaped bank and ditch, usually built around 4,500 years ago for purposes that remain unclear, although experts speculate that they probably had religious or spiritual meaning for ancient communities.

A black-and-white image of the suspected henge, taken from a drone by Yorkshire Archaeological Aerial Mapping.

A black-and-white image of the suspected henge, taken from a drone by Yorkshire Archaeological Aerial Mapping.

There are currently known to be 10 henges in Yorkshire, six of them aligned along a northwest-southeast axis, including the group of three at Thornborough, north of Ripon. The latest discovery, a possible 11th, lies in alignment with these. 

Mr Hunt said:

“Whether these henges are aligned intentionally is up for debate, since for that to hold up you have to disregard quite a few of the others. It may just be that they are positioned along river valleys. 

“They may have been tribal centres, or where the gods live – no people lived in them. They may have represented the border between life and death – at sunset, someone the height of the average Neolithic person standing in the centre of one of these henges casts a shadow pretty much exactly the same length as its radius.” 

A map showing how the most recently discovered henge lines up with several of the others in North Yorkshire, including the three at Thornborough.

A map showing how the most recently discovered henge lines up with several of the others in North Yorkshire, including the three at Thornborough.

Mr Hunt and fellow enthusiasts now plan to explore further at Kirk Hammerton, using geophysical mapping and ground-coring techniques. He said: 

“In a henge, the ditch is on the inside of the earth bank, so we’ll see if we can spot that. If we see something that looks like one, we’ll probably put in a huge long trench from the centre out, through the ditch and earthwork to create a cross-section.” 

Mr Hunt has a degree in archaeological sciences from Bradford University and is currently managing director of DJ Assembly, a York-based micro-electronics company. He also runs Yorkshire Aerial Archaeological Mapping, whose thermal and infrared imaging technology revealed the henge. He said:

“Ten years ago, we thought there were only five henges here in Yorkshire. Now we know there are at least 10. There will be more, I guarantee it.” 

Using his drones, Mr Hunt has recently discovered lost Bronze Age burial mounds and two new Roman marching camps, both in the Vale of York, as well as mass graves at the site near Northallerton of the Battle of the Standard between England and Scotland in 1138. 

Earlier this month, it was announced that two sections of the Thornborough henges, which lie 30 miles to the north-west of Kirk Hammerton, have been donated to the public body Historic England. 

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August Bank Holiday 2022: Events happening this weekend in the Harrogate District

The August Bank Holiday weekend is upon us and it’s our last long weekend until Christmas.

If you haven’t decided how you will be spending it, here’s a guide to some of the events taking place in the Harrogate district.

There’s a wide range of events happening from live music to children’s activities. They offer a perfect excuse for families and friends to get together while the sun is still shining.

Jurassic Crazy Golf, Victoria Shopping Centre Piazza, Harrogate

Some of the Jurassic Crazy Golf holes which will appear in Harrogate.

Some of the Jurassic Crazy Golf holes.

This nine-hole mini golf course combines crazy golf with dinosaurs and is accompanied by an educational Dino Trail around the town centre.

Matthew Chapman, manager at Harrogate BID which commissioned the course and trail, said:

“With the school summer holidays nearing an end, parents maybe scratching their heads thinking what to do to entertain their children.

“Well, we have the answer – jurassic golf! And what could be me more fun than a combination of dinosaurs and crazy golf?”

The Dino Trail is a fun, educational trail where people can find answers to jurassic-themed questions by scanning a QR code on a poster, displayed in shop windows.

The answer will then appear on their phones.

As people complete the trail, they will also be collecting letters that form a simple, themed anagram. Users can then submit the anagram/answer via the LoyalFree app for an additional chance to win a prize draw.

Those wishing to play a round of golf can turn up on the day or book at the jurassic golf website here.

The cost is adults £3, children £2.50, family of four (two adults and two children) £10 and one adult and one child £5.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, jurassicgolf.co.uk/harrogate

Fireworks Championships, Newby Hall, Ripon

A dazzling night of fireworks at Newby Hall and Gardens, which sees three teams create stunning displays choreographed to music and the audience voting for a winner on the night via SMS.

The event also includes a final display by SmartPyro to round off the night. Watch from a picnic rug or camping chair against the stunning backdrop of 17th century house and its impressive grounds

There will also be a drone light show, courtesy of DroneSwarm, funfair rides, music and food and drink.

Mat Lawrence, managing director at event organiser MLE Pyrotechnics, said:

“It’s an honour to return to Newby Hall for another year of our Firework Champions event. We’ve got a tonne of great entertainment in store thanks to our three competitors, as well as a spectacular closing display. It’s going to be a great day out for families.”

Gates open for entry at 4pm, alongside pre-show entertainment. The DroneSwarm light show takes place at twilight and the main event begins at 9.30pm, with SMS voting at 10.15pm. The larger closing display takes place at 10:30pm and the results are announced at 10.40pm.

Book your ticket here.

Saturday, fireworkchampions.co.uk

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Leeds Festival, Wetherby

Leeds Festival is once again set to take over Bramham Park, near Wetherby.

Thousands of people are expected at Bramham for the three-day event, which starts on Friday and is headlined this year by the likes of Arctic Monkeys, The 1975, Dave, Halsey, Bring Me the Horizon and Megan Thee Stallion.

Last year’s new format continues, with two main stages instead of the previous one.

Friday to Monday, leedsfestival.com

Family Fun Day at Ripon Races

The final family fun day of the season is taking place at Ripon Races on Bank Holiday Monday. It will also be hosting the only listed race of the season, the EBF Ripon Champion Two-Year Old Trophy. Pack a picnic basket and blanket and enjoy lots of free fun for the children in the course enclosure including:

Monday, ripon-races.co.uk/family-days

Free entertainment on the Market Square, Ripon

Ripon City Council’s season of complimentary summer events for residents and visitors will finish on a high tomorrow (Saturday), with a full-size ferris wheel operating on Market Square from 2pm until 8pm.

City council leader Andrew Williams, said:

“This is the first time that the council has had a ferris wheel for families to enjoy as part of its fairground attractions.

“It will be alongside a climbing wall for older children and a ride for younger children.”

Climbing Wall on Ripon Market Square

A climbing wall will be among the attractions

All rides will be free of charge, like the evening of musical entertainment starting at 6.30pm, when Ripon singer-songwriter Freddie Cleary takes the stage.

He will be followed by tribute acts singing the hits of Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Olly Murs and country and western favourites.

Performances will go on until 11pm with a break from the contemporary sounds at 9pm, when attendees will be able to see one of Ripon’s team of Hornblowers, setting the watch.

On Sunday and Monday the Market Square will host another Little Bird Artisan Market. Open from 10am until 3pm, it will again include stalls selling goods ranging from food to home furnishings, produced by local and Yorkshire-based traders.

Saturday and Sunday.

Pop-up parties, Knaresborough Castle and Ripon Spa Gardens

Harrogate Borough Council has organised these summer events for the whole family to enjoy.

The events are all free and are a chance for young people to enjoy juggling and circus shows, magicians, character meet and greets, and mini discos.

They follow a party held in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens earlier this month, which was a huge success.

 

Knaresborough Castle on Friday, August 26 between 11am and 4pm

Ripon Spa Gardens on Saturday, August 27 between 11am and 3pm

Friday and Saturday

Menwith Hill upgrades part of £2.8bn programme

The Ministry of Defence has revealed plans to upgrade RAF Menwith Hill as part of a £2.8 billion project to improve United States military bases in the UK.

Last week, the MOD’s Defence Infrastructure Organisation appointed a consortium of building consultants, Mace, Turner & Townsend and Atkins, as a delivery partner for building works at RAF Menwith Hill and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.

The works are part of the United States Visiting Forces Infrastructure Programme.

An MOD spokesperson told the Stray Ferret the aim of the programme was to provide a base for American F-35 fighter jets at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk and to further support the US Air Force presence in the UK, which includes at RAF Menwith Hill on the outskirts of Harrogate.

As part of the programme, which will be paid for by the US government, various buildings at the base will be replaced or improved. The contract with Mace, Turner & Townsend and Atkins, could also be extended to eight years.

In response to a question this week from Leeds North West Labour MP Alex Sobel, the government revealed the works at Menwith Hill will cost $40m.

Steve Rix, programme director at the MOD’s Defence Infrastructure Organisation, said it would help the US military “execute missions” from the UK.

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Built in the 1950s, Menwith Hill is one of the United States’ largest overseas surveillance bases. Giant radomes, or ‘golf balls’, are a distinctive feature of the 500-acre site

A campaign group has called the planned upgrades at RAF Menwith Hill “of concern”.

Martin Schweiger, a spokesperson for the Menwith Hill Accountability Campaign, said: 

“The news that a large contract is being let for substantial upgrades to the infrastructure at Menwith Hill is of concern. The specification of the upgrades has not, so far, been made available to the public.

“There is now a substantial and growing US military boot print across the UK that ties our military activity to what we are directed to do.

“The upgrades make it plain that this military occupation is set to continue for a long time into the future”.