waulud's bank

Waulud’s Bank 1

Image by ocifant

Treeman Jan 16, 2005 06:28:51

On friday I made a long intended journey to Waulud's Bank in Luton and am extremely impressed. My basis knowledge of this extraordinary place comes from Dyer, who suggests "it belongs to the class of ritual sites similar to Durrington Walls and Marden in Wiltshire." It is stunning, on a rising landscape, obviously associated with the sacred source of the river Lea, equally obviously of enormous significance at least on a regional level.

It's a pity that the ditch section where the bank is overgrown seems to have become Luton's main refuse dump. But neither that nor even the military prison style structure built to contain the concrete pipe that now guides the Lea out of the earth destroys the grandeur of this temple. The reedy areas of the river are still powerfully evocative and there is a strong sense of containedness within the site as a whole, perhaps enhanced by its heavily motorised and urbanised setting today.

Three questions seem to arise:
1) Dyer says that part of the site was re-used in the iron age. Does anyone know how it was re-used? Ritually? Or was it residentially occupied?
2) Is the concrete structure mentioned earlier the first surfacing of the Lea? I walked around the streets, including Henge Way, in the broad direction from which the water seems to be flowing from but found nothing.
3) After the visit I did a Google search and found various articles about Marsh Farm where the bank is located. I had half-forgotten about these issues of urban decay and regeneration that were heavily in the news a few years ago and do not think I ever knew that Exodus Collective largely arose there. It seems clear that Exodus were (are?) both highly creative and socially focussed. I have been wondering, did they organise events at Waulud's Bank as well as in the warehouses I gather they have used? The cultural uses of our ancient sites are so important but I am wondering if I have missed out on something here? Did Exodus connect with this sublime neolithic party venue?

Treeman

ocifant Jan 16, 2005 09:55:51

Replying to Treeman

Surprised you haven't added this as a field visit note on http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/305 - it would fit nicely there...

Sifaka Apr 16, 2005 09:37:36

Replying to Treeman

I think there is a certain amount of doubt about the function/s of Waulud's Bank. Certainly as you say Dyer regarded it as a ritual centre, comparing it in size and design with other 'superhenges' such as Durrington Walls, Avebury, Mount Pleasant and especially Marden (with the river forming the western boundary). Also, the discovery of Grooved Ware at WB added to the idea of a 'ritual' usage for the site. But there have AFAIK been no finds like stones, wooden posts, burials etc unlike other sites. I also wonder about the ditch being on the outside - more suitable for a defensive site than a ceremonial one (whereby onlookers could stand on the outside bank and look in)? Seems the comparison is more by analogy.

Aubrey Burl seems to regard these 'superhenges' as being of domestic/residential use rather than ceremonial. This might be borne out by the finds at WB, lots of flints (a factory?) the pottery, the little hut just outside the ditch on the North side...I guess that unless the entire site was excavated we will not know for certain.

I would love it if WB did have a ceremonial/ritual usage, seems to fit in with the location of the source of the Lea and river/water veneration anyway. Whatever, I love the place and am often wandering around trying to compare the archaeological dig site plans with the reality! There are 19th century accounts of locals speaking of a second bank and ditch, now lost?

If you ever see a bloke with short dark hair, looking confusedly at a piece of paper, please say hello!