The Mystery of Dally Wash

Through time, all human beings have left behind things that can tell us about their lives. These things might be left on purpose like buildings or graves, but the rubbish that people leave behind can also tell us a lot, such as what they ate. An Archaeologist is someone who wants to find out about people who lived many years ago. They can use things left behind by people in the past to use as clues. Sometimes archaeologists will look for the remains of buildings and for additional clues that help to explain what the building was used for. They often have to dig into the ground as the clues get buried under many years of soil and rubbish. Sometimes finding the answer is easy, but sometimes such sites continue to remain a mystery.

A big mystery can be found not far from your school on Dally Lane, just outside Belper. The mystery began when some people from St Faith’s church at Belper Lane End wanted to find somewhere to place a bench in memory of their late Vicar. Dally Wash was thought the ideal place, except that it was overgrown with trees bushes and weeds. This is how it looked. So they decided to start clearing away the undergrowth...

Today you are going to be an Archaeologist! Use these questions and help to solve the mystery of the Dally Wash * Why do you think it was built in this place? * Who might have built it? * Who might have used it? It might also help to decide what it was NOT used for.

Clue One – What’s in the name? The Dally Wash almost certainly gets its name from Dally Lane. Dally may come from the Middle English word ‘dally’ meaning ‘to waste time’ or ‘ to delay'. You probably already know some of the meanings of Wash. In this case it may come from the Old English word 'waescan' meaning 'washing, a flood'. Using the words 'Dally Wash', how may different possible uses for the site can you think of?

Clue Two – What did the archaeologists find in the ground? The site known as ‘The Dally Wash’ is a semi-circular piece of land, about 10 metres long by 5 metres wide. As the name suggests, there is more to the site than just a piece of land. After the trees, bushes and weeds were cleared away, large stone slabs and an upright stone, similar to a gate post were found. At this point, Archaeologists were invited to investigate. After many weekends, digging in all weather, this is what they found.

 There are two sets of neatly carved stone steps leading downwards, facing each other.  These led to a bricked-up doorway. When the bricks were removed, another flight of steps was found, leading further into the ground.  At the bottom of these steps is a circular hole lined with stones. The circular hole and the bottom of the steps are always full of water.  When there has been lots of rain, the water comes further up the steps. This drawing shows the well from above

THIS PHOTO SHOWS THE DEEPEST END OF THE WELL. CAN YOU SEE THE WATER?

THIS IS HOW THE DALLY WASH PROBABLY LOOKED AT ONE POINT. THE UPRIGHT STONES AT THE TOP OF EACH SET OF STEPS MAY HAVE STOPPED ANIMALS VENTURING INTO THE WELL. WHY WOULD PEOPLE NOT WANT ANIMALS TO GET INTO THE WELL?

Clue Three – What the maps show Look at the following maps. They are all from different dates and were made for different reasons. What do the dates of each map tell us about the Dally Wash? Are there any buildings, roads or anything else shown on these maps that might provide some clues to tell us what the Dally Wash might have been used for ?

The Enclosure Map 1787 Open or “common land” was split up with walls and hedges. Was the Dally here before? What is a 'Turnpike Road'? Dally Wash

Strutt's Estate Map 1805 The Strutt Family owned Belper Mill and lots of land in the Belper area. Can you find the Dally Wash at the side of the road? What else can you see? Would the Strutts build the well and why? What was in it for them?

Ordnance Survey 1880

Ordnance Survey 1900 Compare with the first map. How has Belper Lane End changed between 1787 and 1900? Is the road wider or narrower? Why would they narrow the road? What does ‘P’ stand for on the map?

Clue Four – What do the documents tell us? The archaeologists also spent lots of time searching for written documents that mention the Dally Wash. They couldn’t find anything that told them when it was built, who built it and why, but they did find mention of it in a newspaper article. What does this tell us about what the water was used for? How had the animals got close? What else does it tell us? Derby Mercury, 3rd April 1878 On Thursday afternoon the last monthly meeting of the Belper Local Board was held at the Town Office... Dr. Allen, the Medical Officer, reported as to the state of Dally Well. He found it in a most unsatisfactory condition, and the water quite unfit for domestic purposes, being full of decayed animal matter. - On the motion of Mr Hunter, the report was referred to the Highway Committee.

Clue Five – Similar places The archaeologists also tried to find out about other sites that are similar to the Dally Wash, in the hope these could provide them with further clues. This photograph shows an ebbing and flowing well near Chapel-en- le-Frith in Derbyshire. An ebbing and flowing well depends on the natural water table.

This is an ebbing and flowing well, also referred to as a holy well or sacred spring, in North Yorkshire.

Can you solve the mystery?  Now that you have some clues can you decide what the Dally Wash was and what it was used for?  You could create an image of how the Dally Wash might have looked at some point in its past.  Or you could describe all the people and things that the Dally Wash would see coming and going, if it had eyes.