There’s evidence of human habitation in the area around Poulton from around 10,000 BC, including the Carleton Elk. And now, in the summer of 2023, archaeologists are digging just down the road at Bourne Hill in nearby Thornton. What they’re finding is amazing!
The dig has evidence of an Iron Age settlement and Roman occupation and they’ve found Iron Age bowls and Roman pottery, marking it out from other excavations. Ecclestone Homes has applied to build 158 homes on the site.
But in July and August 1970 building work in Carleton uncovered the complete skeleton of an elk. It still had hunting barbs embedded close to its hind bones – which proved that humans had inhabited the area. Those spear gouges date to 13,500 years old – and a time when England was still connected to Europe.
Workmen found the Elk skeleton (Megaceros hibernicus) in a pocket of peat in a garden opposite the Blackpool Sixth Form College at Highfurlong.
Highfurlong, Poulton or Carleton Elk…
The garden belonged to John Devin who lived next door to Tony Scholey. Tony and Jim Audus assembled the skeleton. It became known as the Highfurlong, Poulton or Carleton Elk – depending on where you live!
The animal was around three years old and weighed around 650lbs. Wounded 17 times by weapons, it still had the bone tips of the hunting barbs embedded in its ribs and one of its leg bones. Other identical barbs from Gallic spears have been found elsewhere.
Access to fish and wildfowl clearly trumped the negative aspects of the rockier hilly regions. The new rivers, draining into the sea, developed into large flat estuaries with rich soil. Those early ancestors soon found this land ideal for growing crops and coastal areas became popular places to live.
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Diane, Mr Scholey’s daughter, christened the Elk ‘Horace’. After being donated by the Devine family, ‘Horace’ is now on display in the Harris Museum in Preston.
The Thornton Wolf
Horace isn’t the only ancient animal to have been found in the area. In May 2015 a hole was being dug for a water feature in a Thornton Cleveleys garden. The 92% complete remains of the skeleton of a European Timber Wolf were excavated. It’s a sub species of the grey wolf and about the size of a Labrador dog
These remains are estimated to have been as much as 20,000 years old. Complete with teeth and fangs it was buried 11 feet underground in the blue clay. Scientists believed it to have been around three years old when it died. This skeleton was donated to Manchester Museum.
In more recent times, Carleton was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Carlentun. The name usually means “farmstead or estate of the freemen or peasants”. It’s derived from the Old Scandinavian word karl and the Old English word tūn.
Poulton was also recorded in 1086 as Poltun. The name is derived from the Old English words pull or pōl + tūn meaning “farmstead by a pool or creek”.
Carleton Elk inspires Wetherspoons
On 17 December 2013, Wetherspoons opened their 900th new pub. The Poulton Elk is inspired by the local history of the Carleton Elk.
This building dates back to the 1850’s and seen many uses over the years, starting as the Wheat Sheaf Inn. After a spell as Poulton’s first telephone exchange it became the Comrades Club, Poulton Social Club and the Polish Club. Rebuilt in 1969/70 it was various night clubs and finally The Edge, which closed in 2011.
Find out More
There’s more about Poulton’s history at this link.
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I was checking on the date of the excavation of the Carleton elk yesterday and found your information from 2019. This contains the statement that the find of the Elk skeleton in 1970
“proved that humans had inhabited the area. It’s the earliest ever evidence of human habitation so far north,…”.
I am aftaid this is an incorrect asdumption. There is no evidence that anyone lived in this area, still bleak and damp in the 1960s to 80s when I lived on High Furlong.
A hunting party is not evidence of habitation. Even if the landscape had been hospitable.
The archaeological palynology results showed the area was grassland dotted with birch clumps. Not offering as much shelter as the hills just 15 to 20 miles to the east where there is evidence of medolithic camp sites in the lowlands beneath the pennines.
I thought you might like to amend your information.
Not to be outdone two articles from 2020 have embellished their articles with inaccuracies and even come up with the claim that the original finder named the elk Horace. People didnt do that sort of thing on 1970. I doubt the original finder is still alive to counter the claim though.
Incidentally Poulton library used to have a little book that they photocopied for me. It was in s box of offments in the childrens section many many years ago.
The story of the high furlonh elk by BJN Edwsrds. FSA.
I am a new reader, joined a couple of months back, initially joined just to check what’s on and when. As someone who was born in Glenroyd hospital I must admit to falling out of love with my home town. I came originally from South shore and my childhood was spent on the promenade, pleasure Beach, the fab record shop on bond Street, Louis Horricks Park, polish Joe’s rooting for “the other one” to turn to my mum who would respond with a shake of the head! I loved my town and everything in it. From Fleetwood to Freckleton my family stretched, in fact the statue in St Annes in memory of the crew that perished from the lifeboat, has my great great grandfather’s name at the top as Cox of the doomed vessel.So so many memories, grandparents had a small hotel on the prom then moved and bought one just off the square in St annes. So I had adventures in all the great places, Ashton Gardens, Stanley Park,watching my big brother dive off the top board at Detby baths. Sneaking in a slide locked up for winter up past Bispham only to realise half of it was missing, sitting on a gate post watching the Red Arrows from the Airport and being told by my Uncle Tommy that they came for me and my birthday. Charlie carouii, Norman the ring master and June the rock lady who had the wildest hair, amazing lady. My mum, stopping to chat to a friend , working in Lewis’s on the makeup counter, all so beautiful including my mum.x Amazing town back then. My point is …. this weekly edit has caused me to reflect and given me hope for our coast and residents. Maybe I will feel as proud as I did one day. A huge thank you to those responsible for it starting. It is a good job all residents are not as dismissive as I have been, quick to criticise whilst doing nothing about it. A huge thank you.x