Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT KENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR 1998 The Council of the Society presents its one hundred and fortieth report and statement of accounts for the year ending the 31 st December 1998. AIMS AND ORGANISATION The Society is established to promote the study and publication of archaeology and history in all their branches, especially within the ancient county of Kent. The Society's activities are carried out throughout the ancient county of Kent. It has no staff and its officers are only paid out-ofpocket expenses. It co-operates with its affiliated societies and the organizations to which it is affiliated or of which it is a member. In particular it co-operates with the Canterbury Archaeological Trust in promotion of education and the Council for the Protection of Rural England (Kent Branch) in the protection of historic buildings through a joint committee. Its activities are carried out by the committees of the Council and its officers. REVIEW OF THE YEAR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Society's annual general meeting was held at Queenborough on Saturday the 16th May 1998 when the Council's annual report and the accounts for 1997 were accepted. Messrs. Reeves and Neylan were re-appointed auditors. The officers and members of the Council were elected; details are set out below under Legal and Administrative Information. FIELDWORK The training excavation at Minster-in-Thanet continued with a third xx ANNUAL REPORT season of two weeks in the summer. As usual, places for trainees were over-subscribed and they included thirty two members of the Society. The Society is grateful to the Trust for Thanet Archaeology, Canterbury Archaeological Trust, Thanet Archaeological Society and Dover Archaeological Group for their assistance. Work was completed on the bath-house and a latrine of the Roman villa. A resistivity meter was been bought and a day conference on Roman Kent and Beyond at Canterbury was attended by over 120. PUBLICATIONS Two more volumes in the Kent Records series were prepared for publication: Religious Worship in Kent: The Census of 1851 (edited by Miss M. Roake) was printed for publication in 1999 and The Kent Manors of Archbishop Pecham (edited by K.P. Witney) was typeset. The Society entered into negotiations with the British Records Society to make copies of its Kent Hearth Tax 1664 available to members with this Society's traditional binding. Volume CXVII (1997) of Archaeologia Cantiana (edited by Dr A. P. Detsicas) was published. It maintained its usual high standard and its contents covered a wide field of archaeology and local history. It was the first to be produced by Past Historic. Publication of the New Records Series continued with publication of an index (compiled by Dr J. Thirsk) to Kent Feet of Fines (Henry VIII) edited by Dr M. Zell. HISTORIC BUILDINGS The Kent Historic Buildings Committee (sponsored jointly by the Society and the C. P. R. E.) continued to keep a watchful eye, and make representations, on proposals affecting listed buildings and buildings in conservation areas. 202 cases were investigated. The end of the year saw the first demolitions to make way for the Channel Tunnel railway; Yonsea Farm, west of Ashford, an early 19th century planned farmstead was taken down and stored ready for re-erection. The Canterbury, Bromley and Sevenoaks sections of the Kent Historic Buildings Index were published and a revised Medway volume issued. The 35th annual Conference of Building Recorders took place at Charing in October. The Churches Committee made a few small grants towards study and conservation of important furnishings in some churches with very limited resources to fund such work themselves. Sadly the committee suffered the loss of its chairman for twenty-five years, Michael Nightingale of Cromarty, who died during the year. xxi ANNUAL REPORT LIBRARY AND COLLECTIONS The Society's library continued to be visited by members and others undertaking research. Members were present on Wednesdays to assist but help is available, given notice, on other days and preparations were made to have members present to give help on Saturdays as well. Because the Library is used for meetings, a prior call is strongly advisable on (01622) 754497. The Library was opened to the public on the National Archaeology days in July and (not as a result of that) some chairs were renovated. The number of other societies with which publications are exchanged continued to increase and the topographical section was expanded. Dr Michael Still, the Society's new Hon. Curator, started work on reorganising its records of its collections at Maidstone Museum and preparing a programme for conservation. EDUCATION The Society's Education Committee continued to support education and interest in archaeology among young people, particularly as part of the National Curriculum. Marion Green's book for schools, What is Archaeology? was published and a new resource pack was produced which is available free (subject to conditions) to members of the Society who are teachers. Most of its work was managed by the Archaeological Education Service of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust. MEMBERSHIP The Society welcomed 99 new members during the year, but lost a similar number leaving a membership of 1,616 at the end of the year. The new computer database of members proved its worth in streamlining administration. ACTIVITIES FOR MEMBERS The series of half a dozen public lectures organised by Mr Terry Lawson around the County were well attended and successful conferences, reported elsewhere, were held. The Hon. Membership Secretary again organised the now traditional social events, a barbecue at Bradbourne House, East Mailing, and the Christmas buffet lunch at Beltring Hop Farm. The Hon. Excursions Secretary arranged an excursion to the Isle de France where thirty eight members visited places with an historical connection with Kent. Visits were also made to Chastleton House in the Cotswolds, Dode Church and Thanet. Three editions of the Newsletter kept members in touch with the activities and concerns of the Society. xxii ANNUAL REPORT RELATIONS WITH OTHER BODIES The Society appoints members or representatives to a number of other organisations. In particular, it has received regular reports from C. B. A. South East and the Standing Conference on London Archaeology. There was a further meeting of representatives of the county archaeological societies in southern England which provides a useful forum to discuss matters of common interest and learn about what other societies are doing. The Society has regularly been represented at meetings of the Kent History Federation and received reports from representatives on the County Archives Advisory Committee and Canterbury Archaeological Trust. A working party was established to review the role and structure of the Society. It will consult members and others before presenting its conclusions and recommendations to the membership. REVIEW OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES AND AFFAIRS The accompanying financial statements show the current state of the Society's finances which its Council considers to be sound. They comply with the Council's understanding of the current statutory requirements and the requirements of the Society's rules. The Society relies on its officers and other members giving their time freely to organise its activities. Without those contributions it would have to spend a substantial sum on salaries. The Society administers the Allen Grove Local History Fund which was given in the will of the late Allen Grove. Its objects are to promote research, preservation and enjoyment of local history. These objects are consistent with those of the Society. It is a restricted fund and is invested separately from the Society's other investments. In accordance with the terms of the legacy, decisions on how the fund is to be spent are taken by the Society's officers. During the year five grants totaling £1,000 were made. LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION The Society is a charity registered with the Charity Commission under number 223382. It is an unincorporated association governed by its rules which are published in Archaeologia Cantiana from time to time and copies of which can be obtained from the Hon. General Secretary. It is also registered as a charity with the Inland Revenue which has made a direction under section 201 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 which permits certain members (generally those whose employment is related to the Society's activities) to obtain xxiii ANNUAL REPORT income tax relief on their subscriptions to the Society; further details can be obtained from the Hon. General Secretary. The principal address of the Society is The Museum, St Faith's Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME141LH. However, correspondence should be addressed to the relevant officer. The governing body of the Society is the Council whose members are its charity trustees and are elected by the members of the Society at its annual general meeting in May each year. During the period covered by this report they were: K.W.E. Gravett*** A.I. Moffat R.G. Thomas M.Lawrence P.H.G. Draper A.P. Detsicas J.Saynor M.C.W. Still C.W. Chalklin A.C. Harrison R.H. Hiscock D.Ingram Hill L.D. Lyle E. Melling N. Nicolson*** M. Nightinggale* J. Whyman President Hon. General Secretary Hon. Treasurer Hon. Membership Secretary Hon. Librarian Hon. Editor & Vice President Hon. Excursions Secretary Hon. Curator Vice President Vice President Vice President Vice President Vice President Vice President Vice President Vice President Vice President N. R. Aldridge D. G. Anstey D. Bacchus S. Broomfield N. D. Caiger** D. A. H. Cleggett E. P. Connell B. T. Cousins Dr P. Cullen* A. J. Daniels P. A. Harlow D. W. Harrington L. E. Ilott** T.G. Lawson* P.E. Leach** R. F. Le Gear A. Miles M. A. Ocock** P. E. Oldham Mrs J.V. Page** F. H. Panton R. N. Rolinson R. J. Spain A. Ward C. Ward** * denotes elected at the annual general meeting on the 16th May 1998. ** denotes reelected at that meeting. *** denotes ceased to hold office at that meeting. Mr A.C. Harrison died on 28th March, 1998 and Mr M.D. Nightingale died in September 1998. The officers (other than the Vice Presidents) hold office for one year, the Vice Presidents for seven years and the other members for four years. The Society's main agents and advisers are: Bankers: National Westminster Bank pic, 4 High Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1XU Auditors: Reeves & Neylan, 37 St Margaret's Street, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2TU Solicitors: Martin Tolhurst Partnership, 7 Wrotham Road, Gravesend, Kent, DA 11 OPD Stockbrokers: Laing & Cruickshank Investment Management Ltd, 5 Appold Street, London, WC2A2DA xxiv ANNUAL REPORT Stockbrokers' nominee company holding the Society's investments: Productive Nominees Ltd, 5 Appold Street, London, WC2A 2DA. The Society's activities are restricted by the terms of its objects set out elsewhere in this report. In particular its area of benefit is mainly (but not exclusively) the ancient county of Kent which is considered to be the administrative County of Kent, Medway district and the London Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and part of Lewisham. The Society's investment powers are those contained in the Trustee Investments Act 1961 as amended. Its rules do not give it any special investment powers. The Council has delegated some of its investment powers to Laing & Cruickshank Investment Management Ltd. in accordance with a scheme made by the Charity Commissioners on the 18th April, 1994. 27th February, 1999 By Order of the Council A. I. Moffat, Hon. General Secretary xxv