P11EFA('E 
vii. 
Spurn and Lake-dwellings in Holderness have added mncli to the 
interest in prehistoric times in this country. 
It is my pleasant duty to express indebtedness to the many 
friends who have assisted in the preparation of the following pages 
Without the assistance of my friend Mr. T. W. Embleton, of Meth- 
ley, the book would certainly never have reached its present extent. 
Mr. Embleton took an active part in the formation of the Society ; 
he was engaged in the management of the Middleton Collieries, and 
had a practical knowledge of this most important industry ; his 
experience combined with an active and energetic disposition, 
was freely placed at the service of the new Society. Many of the 
newspaper reports of the earliest meetings of the Society were pre- 
pared and written by the combined efforts of ^Mr. Embleton and Mr. 
Thomas Wilson, the honorary secretary, from notes taken by the 
former at the meetings ; and it was fortunately his habit to preserve 
particulars of meetings of the Council and of the business of the 
Society, as well as the correspondence of its members. All this 
material has been unreservedly placed at my disposal, and elucidated 
by personal communications, has formed the basis of a tolerably com- 
plete conception of the work of the early years of the Society's 
existence. 
It is with no small sense of appreciation that I acknowledge 
indebtedness to Professor A. H. Green, F.R.S., who, during his resi- 
dence in Leeds, and whilst the early pages were issuing from the 
press, kindly offered to read the proofs ; and did so until his removal 
to Oxford, when the accession of new duties, rendered his continuance 
of this kindness inconvenient, if not impossible. 
I have received valuable information and assistance from Mr. 
Richard Carter of Harrogate, Mr. Richard Reynolds of Leeds, Mr. 
H. J. Morton of Scarborough, Mr. W. Cheetham, Mr. S, A. Adam- 
son, and Mr. J. E. Bedford ot Leeds, and Mr. J. Ray Eddy of 
Skipton ; from Lord Houghton of Fryston Hall, Mr. J. B. Charles- 
worth of Haddon Hall, Mr. M. Nicholson of Middleton Hall ; Mr. 
G. H. Parke and Mr. William Cash of Halifax ; Dr. H. C. Sorby 
of Sheffield, and from Mr. James B. Jordan of the Mining Record 
Office, together with many others. I also draw attention, with much 
