Abstract of Proceedings 1923

( xlix ) — • — ABSTRACT OE PROCEEDINGS, 1923. REPORT FOR THE TEAR ENDED 31ST DEC. 1923. In presenting the Sixty-fifth Annual Report of the Kent Archaeological Society for the year ended 31 December 1923 the Council have to lament the heavy toll that death has levied during that period on our Society. Early in the year three of our most highly valued members passed away, namely, the Lord Northbourne, the Rev. T. S. Frampton and Mr. John Churchill; and, in the autumn, the death of Mr. Lelaud L. Duncan at a comparatively early age robbed us of a distinguished student of Archeology who had given already full proof of his diligence and accuracy in research, and from whose pen our Society had hoped to receive many further contributions. Mr. Leland Duncan's unpublished transcripts and notes of .Kentish Wills are very extensive, and our members will learn with satisfaction that these collections have been presented to our Society by the sisters of the deceased gentleman, and that they are deposited in our Library at Maidstone. During the year under review the Hon. Secretary lias received archseological reports—some of them of considerable importance— from the following Local Secretaries: Mr. A. W. Hudson, Cranbrook District; Mr. S. Manser, Deal aud Walmer; Mr. A. Randall Davis, Hythe ; Mr. Mowll, Dover ; Mr. Whiting, Eaversham ; Mr. Copland, Sheppey; Mr. Youens, Dartford; Rev. C. E. Woodruff, for Sittingbourne; Mr. Lamprey, Ashford ; Mr. Cobb, Rochester; Mr. Amos, Dover; Mr Biden, Bromley; Mr. Boulter, Ramsgate. And from members: Mr. Robson on Rochester Bridge; Mrs. Raggett, Sandwich; Rev. W. Steadman, Old Rectory, Northfleet; Dr. Rowe, Margate; Mr. Walker, Richborough; Mr. Nicholls, Milton Eegis; Mr. Shilling, Borough Green; Mr. Hussey, Wingham ; Miss White, Eolkestone. These reports are in all cases carefully filed by our Curator at Maidstone, and the more important are available for publication in Archceologia Cantiana. VOL. xxxvu. d 1 ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS, 1923. Three General Bieetings were held in the year 1923, viz.:— At Maidstone on 8 March, when Professor Mayer, of Liverpool University, delivered an interesting lecture on the study of Place Names. In response to the learne.l Professor's appeal for co-operation by Kentish archaeologists, a committee was appointed later, with Mr. A. S. Lamprey, M.A., of Ashford Grammar School, as Hon. Secretary, to whom all communications should be addressed. On 25 July the Society met at Ashford for the annual business meeting and excursions in tho neighbourhood. The former was held in the Old Grammar School. Sir Martin Conway presided, and delivered his first presidential address. At the conclusion of the business meeting Mr. A. S. Lamprey gave a succinct account of the building in which the company was assembled, and the members then visited successively the College and the Parish Church, the Rev. T. K. Sopwith, vicar of the parish, acting as a most efficient guide and expounder of the history and architecture of both buildings. In the afternoon the following country churches were visited: Bethersden, where Mr. V. S. B. Torr described the chief architectural features; Shadoxhurst, where Mr. Torr also acted as guide ; Woodchurch, which was entrusted to Mr. W. H. Bourne; and finally Warehorne under the guidance of the late Mr. Leland Duncan. At the evening meeting, held in the Old Grammar School, Mr. Elliston Erwood gave an address on the " Pilgrim's Road," or ancient trackway from Southampton to Canterbury. Mr. Erwood strongly combated the popular tradition that this route was followed by pilgrims to the shrine of St. Thomas, but it is doubtful whether his arguments were altogether convincing to the majority of those present. The excursion on the second day (26 July) included the very interesting churches of Boughton Aluph and Westwell, the Society being received by the incumbents of the parishes, who also proved highly competent guides of their respective churches—Rev. J. 0. Halloran at Boughton, and Rev. Boys Roberts at Westwell. Erom Westwell the members drove to Charing, where, after luncheon, the remains of the Archiepiscopal Manor House and the Parish Church were visited under the guidance of the Rev. C. Eveleigh Woodruff. Visits to the churches of Egerton and Little Chart, described respectively by the Rev. Douglas Robinson and Mr. Charles Stokes, brought the excursions to a conclusion, ABSTRACT OP PROCEEDINGS, 1923, H In connection with the Ashford meeting the Council desire to put on record their cordial approval of the good work done by the Local Committee in bringing together a number of objects of antiquarian interest and arranging them in the Old Grammar School for the benefit of our members during their visit. This revival of an old custom, which for a good many years has been in abeyance, is highly to be commended, and the Council hope that the example set by Ashford may be followed elsewhere. A third meeting of our Society was held ab Sandwich in the month of August for the purpose of inspecting the excavations in progress at Richborough under the superintendence of the Council of the Society of Antiquaries of London. Here Mr. Klein, E.S.A., took charge of the party and pointed out various discoveries which had been made during the last two summers. On returning to Sandwich the members present were hospitably entertained to tea by Mr. and Mrs. Raggett of Manwood Court. The Council are pleased to be able to report that during the year 1923 eighty-two new members have joined the Society— a number which compares favourably with the elections of recent years, though still capable of large increase. Number of Members elected in 1923 . . . 82 Number of Members who have paid . . .72 Membership of the Society 1 Jan. 1924:— Ordinary Members . . . 692 + 60 Life Members . . . . 123—1 Honorary Members . . . 2 817 Last year 758. Members who have paid 72 Deaths 15 Resignations 15 — 30 Net gain 1 Jan. 1923 to 31 Dec. . 42 Council members who retire by rotation:—Rev. R. U. Potts, E.S.A., Rev. C. H. Wilkie, M.A., deceased, E. H. Day, Esq., E.S.A., W. G. Woods Wollaston, Esq., Richmond Herald, A. S. Lamprey, Esq., M.A., C. Cotton, Esq., O.B.E. By order of the Council, RiciiAitD COOKE, Hon. Sec. lli ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS, 1924. REPORT EOR THE TEAR ENDED 31ST DEC. 1924. The Council desire to place in the forefront of their Report the effort—initiated by our President at the General Meeting of the Society in July last—to obtain funds for the purchase of what is left of the site of the Roman Castrum at Reculver. Sir Martin Conway pointed out that the site had never been systematically explored, and that all opportunity for doing so would be lost should the area be split up for building purposes. Since the date of the Sevenoaks meeting a considerable sum has been subscribed for the purchase of the land; but more is required, and at an early date, if this interesting site is to be preserved for further archaeological research. The Council therefore feel sure that the money required for the above object will be fully subscribed before this Report is in the hands of our members. During the past year three general meetings of the Society have been held, viz., at Maidstone in the month of March, when lectures were delivered by W. G. Klein, Esq., E.S.A., on Richborough Castle, W. Whiting, Esq.. on More Recent Einds at Ospringe, Kent, A. S. Lamprey, Esq., M.A., on Progress in Collection of Kent Place Names; at Sevenoaks in July ; and at East Wear Bay near Eolkestone, in September, for the purpose of viewing the foundations of the Roman villa lately discovered there. The Council report with much regret that the Rev. W. Gardner Waterman, who for several years has acted as Hon. Einancial Secretary, and for a much longer period as Director of the Society's excursions, has found it necessary to retire from both offices. The Council feel sure that all members will approve of their action in adding Mr. Gardner Waterman's name to the list of Vice- Presidents of the Society, so that he may still have a seat on the Council, where his long experience of our affairs will be of much value. Amongst losses incurred by death, we have to deplore the passing of three members, who for many years did good service for our Society, namely, the Rev. C. H. Wilkie, Mr. II. Mapleton Chapman and Mr. John Copland. Mr. Wilkie was much interested in parish registers, and transcribed and printed the registers of several Kentish parishes; he was, moreover, a man of singular amiability of character. Mr. Mapleton Chapman was for many years a most regular attendant at all meetings of the Council, and in his office as District Probate Registrar invariably showed every courtesy towards ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS, 1924. liii those anxious to make literary or antiquarian research amongst the wills entrusted to his charge. Mr. Copland had been Local Secretary for the Isle of Sheppey for many years, and always took an active interest in the archaeology of his district. During the past year the number of members has been fairly maintained, although the election of new members (68 have joined the Society in the past twelve months) shows a slight reduction compared with the number elected in 1923, and 1922. The Council therefore would urge members to use every effort to induce their friends, who may be interested in Archseological matters, to join the Society, since it is only by increasing our membership that we can afford to extend the bulk of our publications, and to issue Arcliaologia Cantiana at more regular and more frequent intervals. Council who retire by rotation:—L. M. Biden, R. Griffin, Major Powell Cotton, Arthur Einn, H. W. Plumptre, Captain Knocker. Hon. Auditor resigns, Arthur Smith, Esq. embers elected during March June . July . September . December . Life members Ordinary Exchange Societies year :— 14 19 6 4 25 68 • * • Paid to 11 March 1925 . 11 . 15 6 4 . 22 58 . 114 . 683 797 . 29 826 Deaths Resignations . . 31. . 33 64 Net gain of four. RtCHAKj) COOKE, Hon. Sec