Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Overchurch Runic stone brought to life

Here's the Overchurch Runic stone brought back to life in 3D digital glory

http://bigheritage.co.uk/overchurch/

That is fabulous Archaeo. How amazing, it looks wonderful !


Can you look at Cuckoo Lane thread and see if some of the images link at the top of page 2 look as if it could be a Roman road?

Thanks , and also thank you for posting this.

Amazing

K

Thanks for the comments. Some amazing news about the stone is about to be announced. Can't say anything yet, but there's something happening in Wirral next month that you'll all love. Very significant for the area.

How on earth did they do these inscriptions and how long it must have taken?

Script on the biblical tablets was done with the tips of e.g. reeds into soft clay(or similar) and then baked, but this stone is inscribed with such perfection.

Can't wait for the news. Can we start placing bets?

The stone is most likely Storeton sandstone so is fairly soft, but yes, the carvings are stunning. Have a look at some of the Pictish carvings from the same time period. They're some of the most beautiful pieces of art in Britain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilton_of_Cadboll_Stone

Indeed, place your bets! Though I'd save your pennies for a bus ride to a short-term exhibition which will blow your socks off if you're into Wirral archaeology.

don't get it
big heritage?
what are they selling?

Selling nothing Mike!

...that's good to hear but the past is certainly a marketable commodity and where we have, arguably, been failed by established education in this country with less and less emphasis on teaching history (certainly local history) it does seem like more and more independent groups appear to be popping up and seizing the opportunity to profitably fill this gap.

There is a danger that, in re-packaging and promoting the past, some groups do come across in a manner which seems to suggest that they are perhaps it's true custodian's and that they are best qualified to inform and educate us about our own heritage. If the primary purpose of an heritage organisation is to inspire interest in local heritage and to educate objectively without political agenda then I can only wish them well, but people will always question the motives of anyone who appears to profiteer financially or politically from attempting to sell to them that which is already theirs.

I really don't understand your comment YinYang. The Overchurch stone belongs to Grosvenor Museum and has not been on public display for some considerable time. Big Heritage (a non profit) have paid out of its own pocket to have this 3D model made, and I'm 99.9% sure you've paid nothing to view it. In fact, we've only done it because we love Wirral's heritage so much, and are investing monies made from other clients that could be spent elsewhere.

Can you provide an example of an independent group profiteering from heritage outreach?

I wouldnt bite Archaeo,

This forum used to be a great place to share and inform, get support and advice from like minded people.

I know the work of Big Heritage and also know that without their award winning and consistently unique approach to education and engagement we wouldnt be able to enjoy or view what is our heritage.

Surprised you didnt get a benefit scrounger comment or send em all home.

Was the person who carved this from overseas? Did he have any right to be using our stone? Bet he had a free mud hut and access to our turnip store?

Keep up the good work!

K

Fair comments Archaeo, and I ain't having a go, but the link that you posted is to your own site and in teasing readers about something exciting being in the pipe-line concerning the stone you are basically saying 'watch this space'. If you already know what the event is, you could just tell people now. But instead, it does seem like you are taking the opportunity to use this as a marketing tool for your own group.

Your group may be a non-profitable organisation, but I'm sure the more interest in, and awareness of, your activities you can generate with the public would certainly benefit your funding applications.

The last time I saw the runic stone, it was at the Wirral Museum (now closed of course). Why isn't it in the Williamson, instead of the Grosvenor?

...have just seen the full details of this now posted by Rudebox:

https://www.wikiwirral.co.uk/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/855742/Wirral_through_the_Ages.html


It looks interesting, Archaeo. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the venue but I wish you and your team well with this.

It worries me a little that places like the Williamson are struggling with public funding and risk closure. Are we to depend more and more on external involvement from commercial enterprise in order to keep our cultural heritage alive? Perhaps I'm naïve in thinking the intrinsic value of our heritage should not be compromised by commerce. This could result in organisations only being interested in funding popular history (the glamorous & the gory) guaranteed to pull in the audiences rather than a more holistic approach to preserving and presenting all aspects of our past.