Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to the following people: first and foremost to Kathleen Jamie, without whose diligent expertise and guidance this book would not have taken flight, and also to Meaghan Delahunt and Liam Murray Bell of the Creative Writing Department at Stirling University. To Sara Hunt at Saraband for her utter faith in the book, and to Craig Hillsley for editorial expertise. To Cedric Robinson for his generosity in sharing the bay with me and to his two assistants, Andy Mortimer and Barry Keelan. I am grateful to Thor Ewing for details on the Viking Hogsback Stone. Andrew Davies of Lancashire Archaeology Service. Martin Forwood and Janine Allis-Smith of Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioactive Environment. Pete Moser. Victoria Eden. Hsiao-Hung Pai. Michelle Cooper at the Lancaster Maritime Museum. Staff at Newton Stewart Library. Brian Fereday and Rob Petley-Jones for their in-depth understanding of Foulshaw Moss. Stephen Read of Levens History group for guiding me towards the archaeology of Cumbria’s wetlands. Alan Sledmore and fellow guide and Morecambe Bay fisherman Stephen Clarke. Dave Coward for talking me through the details of the Kents Bank and Kirkhead excavations. To Brian Hardwick and Astrid Specht. Robin Horner and other members of staff at RSPB Leighton Moss. Dr George Agidas, Department of Engineering, Lancaster University. B.J. Samuels, Harbourmaster for Lancaster Port Authority, for facilitating privileged access to Walney Lighthouse. John Murphy, guide to Piel Sands. Keith and Karen Coulthard. The publication Crossing Lancaster Sands, produced by Heysham Heritage Association, was invaluable for early research. To Laura Mitchell for early reading of chapters. To Steve, Callum and Fergus for the ongoing gifts of space, time and support during and well beyond my year of being away. There are countless people who I have spoken to or met whilst walking the edgelands and during research. Thanks to all those. Any omission is entirely my own.

...and not forgetting Harold Wilson.