Just that a rather interesting article popped up on my FB. I am not a member of local history  group. Rather strange to consider what you may walk or have played over! From earlier readings, I had assumed that settlement concentrated on small area of village, with surrounding area a bit wet. But, if I consider topography of gently rising ground... and pretty dispersed nature of settlement in prehistory... well.
So, maybe take a look at your local history group... you might be surprised!

https://the-past.com/.../pontelands-prehistoric-past.../...

Know we had Romans and Norse settlements around here.

I'm 'Forbidden 503'
But I sneaked round the back anyway - Very interesting.

Link your link truncated or something.

I'm up in Falkirk area so our big one is the line of the Antonine wall going past us, but we have a good few earlier sites as well like Cairnpapple burial mound and some old brochs which are quite nice for a wee wander.

Quote from: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 04 May 2023, 01:37:20 PMKnow we had Romans and Norse settlements around here.

The Battle of Brunanburh was on the Wirral, apparently.

Where I live  starts with a neolithic settlement and then  goes full circle to the band  Hard-Fi

Quote from: fsn on 04 May 2023, 07:37:59 PMThe Battle of Brunanburh was on the Wirral, apparently.

That is disputed, but a comon theroy. There were certainly Roman mines and there is a Norse dog pit on Bidston Hill.

But Dan Snow said it! So it must be true!

Wirral does seem to be most likely... and finds seem to indicate probility of area... and, maybe 'field', or part of. In earlier years, I thought it further North, nearer Solway... but given 'confederacy', Wirral now much more likely as a grouping point.

Its supposed to be at Brombrogh which is a good colleration.

I've been to Bromborough.

I believe a Dark Age battle was fought there. 

The nearest we have to local military history is the Upper Hutt Blockhouse in the grounds of one of the local High Schools. Built in 1860 in fear of an attack by Māori that never came. (Windows & electricity added much later.)

If I were to describe a blockhouse, I would have expected something more .. err ... imposing(?).

I think I see ports for muskets on the rear, but that looks to be made of planks as opposed to tree trunks. Unless, that's just cladding over iron armour plates?

QuoteIf I were to describe a blockhouse, I would have expected something more .. err ... imposing(?).

I think I see ports for muskets on the rear, but that looks to be made of planks as opposed to tree trunks. Unless, that's just cladding over iron armour plates?

There were musket ports on all sides and the only entrance was on the inside of the L

Attackers would be caught in a crossfire but defenders were stuck inside

Double planking with a few inches of gravel between for added 'protection'

We had a Home Guard Spigot Mortar post about 500m from the house until a few years ago when it disappeared for reasons that remain unknown - perhaps the town council though the threat of invasion was over.
Another odd thing, presumably from WW2, was that when landscaping our garden when we first moved into the house 30 years ago, I found a dozen or so .30 rounds and a 15 round length of .30 link.  I suppose these must have been from Home Guard weapons though there is an old airfield within a km.