Ancient trackway and Billy Butlin's first holiday camp gets listed status

When Mick Oliver stumbled across it over a decade ago he had no idea just how old it was.
The ancient trackway found at Lindholme, Hatfield, Doncaster, South YorkshireThe ancient trackway found at Lindholme, Hatfield, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
The ancient trackway found at Lindholme, Hatfield, Doncaster, South Yorkshire

The retired town and country planning officer was out walking on Hatfield Moor in 2004 when he spotted something odd sticking out of the peat.

This year the ancient trackway he discovered has been designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument, protecting it from damage or unauthorised change.

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It is one of the more unusual historic sites to have been listed by Historic England, along with the Japanese Garden at Grantley Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire, and the gardens in Skegness where Billy Butlin opened his first holiday camp.

Skegness Esplanade and Tower Gardens, Lincolnshire, where Billy Butlin opened his first Butlin's holiday camp in 1936Skegness Esplanade and Tower Gardens, Lincolnshire, where Billy Butlin opened his first Butlin's holiday camp in 1936
Skegness Esplanade and Tower Gardens, Lincolnshire, where Billy Butlin opened his first Butlin's holiday camp in 1936

Speaking to The Yorkshire Post at the time Mr Oliver said: “I looked down and I could see a straight line. I thought, that’s unusual, maybe it’s a bog oak - a fossilised tree - so I’ll go and have a look.

“But when I got there I could see seven parallel poles of pine lined up on the floor. This was most unusual.

“I could see axe marks on the wood and evidence that they had been tapered. Given their position in the peat, I pretty soon concluded they were old, possibly even Bronze Age.

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“I looked to see how deep they were buried and worked out they may be some 2,500 years old. I never realised just how old they were until later.”

Skegness Esplanade and Tower Gardens, Lincolnshire, where Billy Butlin opened his first Butlin's holiday camp in 1936Skegness Esplanade and Tower Gardens, Lincolnshire, where Billy Butlin opened his first Butlin's holiday camp in 1936
Skegness Esplanade and Tower Gardens, Lincolnshire, where Billy Butlin opened his first Butlin's holiday camp in 1936

The find was reported to Doncaster Museum and subsequent research revealed it to be one of the oldest trackways of its kind ever seen in the world, dating back some 5,000 years to the Neolithic. Only two found on the Continent are earlier.

Intriguingly it extended from dry land across a shallow pool to a wooden platform, which archeologists believe may have been used for ritual or community events, watched by spectators from dry land.

One of the most fascinating stories connected with sites listed this year is that of the gravestone to Blackie, in Knowsley, Merseyside, one of the few war horses to survive the First World War.

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Blackie served with his master, the wartime poet Lieutenant Leonard Comer Wall. Lieut Wall died aged 20 at Ypres in June 1917 whilst riding Blackie, who also suffered severe shrapnel wounds. In his will Lieut Wall requested that should he not survive his medals should be placed in his faithful horse’s grave.

Blackie remained at the front for the rest of the war, and afterwards was bought by Lieut Wall’s mother Kate. He died at the ripe old age of 37 at the Horses’ Rest in Halewood in 1942.

In total, 1,041 historic buildings, landscapes, monuments and sites have been given protected status in the past year. Duncan Wilson, Historic England’s chief executive, said: “Ninety nine per cent of people in England live within a mile of a listed building or place. While many places on the list are well known and even world famous, we also want people to understand and enjoy the extraordinary range of history on their own doorsteps.

“These sites are irreplaceable and showcase the wonderfully distinct and diverse character of England and its people across thousands of years.”

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