Ther Newcomen Society will soon be publishing a book by John van Laun (he
who dated that tramplate). I understand that it's based on his Ph.D. which
was concerned with the typology of tramplates from the iron district of
south Wales. John also has a short note in the latest issue of The
Antiquaries Journal (v.80, 2000) in which he uses historical sources to date
various plates which he had unearthed in the region (most of them to about
1796, oddly enough!)
Paul Reynolds
-----Original Message-----
From: POYNERDR [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 09 February 2001 13:25 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Time Team and plate rail
One of the most impressive moments on TT was when a piece of
plate rail was unambiguously dated to 1796. I am a little sceptical
as to whether you can be that precise just by looking at a piece of
rail (although I am sure in this case other evidence must have been
available to help with the dating). This is something of a digression
from my real point, which is whether there is any data base of forms
of plate rail, wheels etc? I have come across a fair few fragments
from plateways on early 19th Century colliery sites and I wonder if
anyone has tried to establish a typology?
David Poyner
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