Annual Report and Accounts

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR 1934. lQi:he Jtnt 􀀔r.chreological jo,eittu. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER, 1934. THE Council presents herewith its Seventy-sixth Report and Statement of Accounts for 1934. At the close of the year there were on the list six Affiliated Societies, four Honorary, eighty-four Life and 829 ordinary members, a total of 923 against 908 a year ago. Life members continue to decline, being eighty-four against eighty-seven. The number of deaths registered was eighteen compared with twenty-six, and there were fewer resignations. Publications are now exchanged with thirty-four County and other Societies, affording to members of K.A.S. a wide field of reference to comparative material outside the County. Of those who passed away during the year the Rev. Canon Bartram and Sir John Knill may be mentioned ; both were Life m􀁸mbers and were elected in 1887 and 1888 respectively. The Earl of Darnley, Lord Northbourne and the Marquess of Reading have become Vice-Presidents of the Society. Mr. W. P. D. Stebbing, F.S.A., has succeeded Mr. Aleo Macdonald as Editor of Archreologia Oantiana,, The Annual General Meeting was held in the Maidstone Museum, on Thursday, 12th April, the rooms being placed at the Society's disposal by the kindness of the Museum Committee. In the absence of the President, the chair was taken by Sir Reginald Tower, K.C.M.G., and about forty-five members were present. After the Minutes had been read and signed, the Chairman moved the adoption of the Report and Accounts for 1933. He referred to the great loss which the Society had sustained through the death of the Hon. Henry Hannen, who had been a member of the Council for many years. The membership had shown XXXVlll REPORT, 1934. little change on the year. To have escaped a reduction was, perhaps, as much as they could expect in such difficult times. He extended a welcome to Mr. Stebbing, the new Editor. Mr. Stokes, Hon. Treasurer, added a few remarks on the Accounts, and impressed on the members the necessity of raising the membership to 1,000, in view of the high cost of the recent larger volumes of Archreologia Gantiana. He explained that, although the Accounts showed a deficit, that was due to payments on account of the new Index, and that the general position of the finances was quite sound. The motion was seconded by Dr. Cock and passed unanimously. The six retiring members of Council were reselected as follows : Surgeon-Captain K. H. Jones. Sir R. Tower. Sir Thos. Colyer-Fergusson. Mr. R. F. Jessup. Dr. Hitrdman. Mr. Elliston Erwood. Mr. F. C. Allwork and Mr. A. G. B. Chittenden were re-elected as Hon. Auditors for the ensuing year, and were thanked for their services. Fifteen new tnembers were elected to the Society. Mr. Frank Godwin and Dr. Gordon Ward contributed a few explanatory remarks on the proposed Summer Excursion in West Kent, which was to be held on 27th and 28th June, and the Secretary said that Major Usborne who was abroad would conduct the Autumn Excursion on llth September. Various members offered suggestions bearing on the conduct of the Excursions, some of which the Chairman thought worthy of consideration by the Council and Organizers. The meeting termiliated with a vote of thanks to the Museum Committee for lending the rooms. At 2.15 more than 100 members and friends assembled to hear the lectures which had been arranged. The first was delivered by Mr. John Archibald, L.R.I.B.A., M.T.P.I., and dealt with " The Sources and Uses of So:tne Kentish Building Materials," and was illustrated by lantern slides. The second was an address by Sir Edward Harrison on "Prehistoric and Historic Ightham." Both were of a very interesting nature and led to discussion. Hearty votes of thanks were accorded to the lectuters. Tea was provided by the kindness of a member of Council. The usual quarterly meetings of the Council were held in March, June, September and December, that in June at Allington REPORT, 1934. XXXIX Castle, by the kind invitation of the President, who entertained the members to lunch. The Council has agreed to lend to the Sevenoaks Museum the Roman urns from Coombe Bank, Sundridge, which were in the K.A.S. collection. It was decided to accept an offer of some lantern slides of Kent architecture from Mr. E. E. Roper to form the nucleus of a collection by K.A.S., which should be available for lending to members. The Council hopes that those who have slides of an architectural or archreological character to spare will offer them to the Society. The Council passed a resolution in support of a meeting which was to be held in November at Otford at the instance of the Sevenoaks District Community Council in aid of an appeal for funds for the repair ll,nd preservation of the remains of the Archbishop's Palace at Otford. The meeting was a very succef:!sfol one, and K.A.S. was well repre1:1ented by local members. Mr. Ivor King, A.R.I.B.A., has been appointed Local Secret1:1,ry £or Rochester in place of Mr. Cobb resigned, .and Mrs. Selby has been 1:1,ppointed for Sittingbourne. Mr. Norman Cook has been appointed to represent K.A.S. on the Agricultural Museum Committee in place of the late Mr. Hannen. The Secretary attended the Annual Meeting of the Congress of Archmological Societies at Burlington House on behalf of ;K..A.S. on 13th November. The Council h1:1,s agreed, at the request of the Kent Council of Spcial Service, to appoint an official representative on to the proposed Sub-Committee for Local History. Mr. R. W. Strickland, of Ightham, has been appointed Excursion Secretary for West Kent in place of Mr. Godwin, resigned. The thanks of the Society are due to :l\!r. Godwin for the part he has played in organizing many successful excursions. The accounts for the year show a small surplus, which would have been larger but for sums paid out of income for the new Index and for special plan of St. Augustine's in Vol. XLVI of Archceologia Oantiana. On the other hand no report was issued by the Congress of Archreological Societies during 1934. Mr. Walter Ruck, Librarian, reports the receipt of various books by purchase or gift; and exchange of publications has been arranged at the request of two more Societies, viz : the Camba and Hunts Archmological Society and the Woolhope Club of Herefordshire. On the other hand the British Archreological xl REPORT, 1934. Association has given up its Library, and its Journal will therefore be purchased in future. Mr. Ruck is engaged in mounting in albums the collections of photographs belonging to the Society, which will render them much more accessible. The shifting of the screen between the Society's two rooms has given much satisfaction. Since the issue of the last Annual Report of the Records Branch members have received a further instalment of Mr. Hussey's Kent Chantries and also a volume entitled A Supplement to Kent Chantries which is the gift of Mrs. Holland, in memory of her husband, who transcribed a manuscript in Somner's hand relating to the Canterbury Chantries and Hospitals in 1546. Members have also received a further part of Bishop Ramo Hethe's Register. The work of preservation of derelict deeds has continued and a number of documents has been received at t Repository in Canterbury through the Records Preservation Section of the British Records Association, where they are available for the use of members of the Branch on application to Mr. Frank W. Tyler, F.S.A., the Honorary Secretary. In July the Records Branch commemorated the completion of twenty-one years of existence by a meeting held in its rooms at 6 Hawk's Lane, Canterbury. In the afternoon two short papers were read: one by the Honorary Editor, Dr. Irene Churchill, F.S.A., on the work of the Branch during its first twenty-one years, and the other by Miss Dermott Harding, B.A., Archivist at Maidstone, on the County Archives in Kent. The Rev. Canon G. M. Livett, F.S.A., one of the Founders of the Branch, took the chair. After the meeting those present adjourned to see the Record Room which has been put at the disposal of the Branch in Canterbury, and was kindly shown by the Public Record Officer in Charge. All present expressed great satisfaction with the arrangements made for the reception and collection of deeds by the Branch. The party then gathered for tea in the Grey Friars' Tea Rooms. An account of the proceedings has been issued as a leaflet and circulated to all K.A.S. members as well as to those of the Records Branch, and it is pleasing to note that several new subscriptions have resulted therefrom. Mr. F. W. Jessup, Hon. Secretary of the Place-Names Sub." Committee, writes that : As explained in the last annual report the Place-Name Society's volume on the Place-Names of Kent wiJI not appear for several years, as Professor Mawer and his REPORT, 1934. xli colleagues will not be in a position to begin work on the Kentish material for some time. Meanwhile, the information which is sent in to the Secretary by local workers to be recorded, and the number of queries which he is asked to answer, witness that considerable interest continues to be taken in the place-names of the county. Vol. XLVI of Archa30logia Oantiana for 1934 is in the printer's hands and will be issued shortly. It has been edited by Mr. W. P. D. Stabbing, F.S.A., and should be found no less interesting t.han its predecessors. The work on the new Index {Vols. XX-XLV) has been continued during the year by Mrs. Bowring. Subscriptions to the Illustrations Fund amounted to £18 6s. 3d. The Summer Excursion took place on 27th and 28th June. AU arrangements were made by Mr. Frank Godwin.' On the first day the starting point was Tonbridge Station, with Hever Castle as the objective. The Castle was opened to the Society by the kindness of Major the Hon. J. J. Astor, M.P., and proved very attractive, the number of members and friends present being about 240. The Church close by was described by Mr. Torr. After lunch at Westerham members inspected Wolfe's House and visited the Church, where Mr. Torr drew attention to the Royal Arms, a rare example of Edward VI's time. The party then proceeded to the British Camp at Goodly Stock in charge of Capt. Knocker, and to the section of the Roman road at Early Lands, which had been uncovered by Sevenoaks members and of which a full description is to appear later in Archawlogia Oantiana. Tea was provided at Penshurst before returning to Tonbridge. On the second day the scene of operations was the Darenth Valley, a beautiful part of Kent, now threatened with extensive development. Leaving Sevenoaks station a pleasant route was followed to the Ancient Preceptory of St. John of Jerusalem at Sutton-at-Hone, where members were welcomed by Sir Stephen and Lady Tallents. Sir Stephen gave an interesting talk on the history of the house, which was supplemented by remarks by Mr. P. M. Johnston. Darenth Church was next on the programme and here Mr. Johnston dealt fully with the many inte:resting features. At Farningham lunch was served and members inspected the Church under the guidance of Mr. Torr, who explained the carvings on the Seven Sacrament font, a rarity in this part of the country. A short drive then brought xlii REPORT, 1934. the party to Eynsford Church, where M:r. Torr again acted as guide, and to Eynsford Castle and Little Mote adjoining, where Lady Fountain was ready to show both. The interesting old house was formerly owned by the Sybill family, whose coat, the Tiger and Mirror, is still to be seen in the spandrils of the fireplace. Dr. Ward contributed notes on the history of the Castle and the persons associated with it. Tea was provided in the village hall. The return to Sevenoaks was made by Otford. The Autumn Excursion took place on 11th September, and was in the hands of Major Usborne. Leaving Ashford station a long drive brought the members to Teynb,am Church, the architectural features of which were fully described by M:r. Torr. A.t Bapchild Church the party was met by the Vicar, the Rev. H. F. Lord, who, having an intimate knowledge of his church, pointed out the numerous beautiful details of carving and painting. After an excellent lunch at the old inn at Doddington a visit was paid to Sharsted Court, where the beaut,iful gardens were opened and C􀃂pt. Faunce de Laune W&,S present to tell the members the history of the place. When thanking Capt. de Laune and saying farewell sympathy was expressed with him in the task he has of keeping up such large gardens. A return was then made to Doddington, where the church, which has the unusual dedication of the" Decol}ation of John the Baptist" was described by Surg.-Capt. K. H. Jones, R.N., F.S.A.., who drew attention to the paintings, wooden sedile, and low-side window with internal stone desk. After tea at the inn the return jol;ll'ney to Ashford was broken at Lenham, where M:r. Aymer Vallance pointed out the principal fe&,tures of the church, particularly the painting of the Weighing of Souls, in whic:\l the B.V.M. uses her rosary to depress the scale. The weather was kind and the programme carried out to time. Notes on excavations and finds have been sent in by Local Secretaries and others. M:r. E. G. J. Amos has sent a comprehensive list of inve1:1tigations and finds observed by himself and others in Dove:r. His report on the Castle records much restoration in progress i\,t the Fitzwilliam Tower, Watch Tower, and Keep, :p:iostly internal. He also comments strongly on a proposal to erect a lift from the sea-front to the Castle. Among objects found are fragments of pottery which have been repaired and placed in the Dover REPORT, 1934. xliii Museum, Samian ware, skeletons, iron buckle and discs, spearheads, umbo of shield, stamped tiles and coins. Mr. Wilson (Faversham) reports the finding of urns and pottery on the site of a new cinema in Preston Street. Also that the flags :borne by Bennett's Loyal Volunteers (1794 and 1803), afterwards attached to the 1st Company Cinque Ports Volunteers, which have been for many years in Faversham _Church, have been repaired and more suit1:1,bly hung. Mr. Wilson has also drawn thEl Society's attention to a panel of the Stuart arms over a :fireplace at Brook Farm, Reculver, which is the subject of an article in the present volume. D:i;. Littledale has notified the discovery of a skeleton in a crouching position in the chalk near the Pilgrims' Way at Charing. Mrs. Selby reports the finding of remains. in the neighbourhood of Sittingbourne. Those excavated from the chalk at Highsted quarry in the summer included a leaden coffin, bones, and pottery of the fourth century ; the other, a skeleton, was discovered by workmen engaged on extensions at Kemsley Mill. Mr. Norman Cook, The Museum, sends the following notes : A polished flint axe with squared sides and concave expanded cutting edge, was dug up opposite the junction of Ware Street an.d Roseacre, Bearsted. It is of Scandinavian type and the circumstances of the :find suggest that it was imported into Kent abo1,1t 2000 B.c. It has been presented to Maidstone Museum. A bronze axe of palstave form was found on the beach at Warden Bay, Sheppey, and has been le:n,t to Maidstone IY.J:useum by Mr. H. Richards. It is of exceedingly poor workmanship and looks like an early e:{fort of a Bronze Age workman. An interesting pit containing Iron Age pottery was discovered at Rainham by Mr. Carter, and a complete Iron Age pot by workmen on the site of Bigbμry camp. It has been given to Maidstone Museum by Mr. Gracey. An uninscribed gold coin of Iron Age date was found on the top of Sutton Valence Hill in a field which was once the village recreation ground. Two jugs with handles and a small c1,1p of Terra Sigillata (D:r:agendorf 33) with a stamp of MARrnus were found on the Building Estate of Northfield Hall, Orpington, in July. They have peen presented to Maidstone Museum by the South Suburban Gas Co. Two Roman pots were found while making the new coastal road between Faversham and Whitstable, at Fairbrook Farm. One was in native British tradition and belonged to the xliv REPORT, 1934. first century A.D., while the other was a jug of fourth century date. They are now in Maidstone Museum, thanks to the interest of Mr. Chapman, late County Surveyor. A cremated deposit of first century A.D. was found on a new building estate at Bexley by Messrs. Wedlock & Co. It consisted of a big urn and a small accessory vessel. Another of early second century date, consisting of a large urn with a circular hole l inch in diameter neatly cut just below the shoulder, a small poppy head beaker, and a dish of Terra Sigillata ware were found in the garden of Major Gosselin's house, West Malling, between St. Leonard's Street and Broadwater. A hoard of 376 silver coins was found in a pot by a labourer working at the junction of Sherwood Road and Forest Way on the Garden ]Jst.ate at Orpington. They all belonged to the second and third century A.D. Aninquest was heldand they were declared to be Treasure Trove, and, as such, the property of the Crown. Mr. Godwin (Sevenoaks) reports that permission has been obtained to excavate another Roman site near the Church and Palace at Otford in the spring. Trial holes have disclosed many sherds, oyster shells, hypocaust tiles, painted plaster, etc, sure indications of a considerable building or buildings close at hand. Capt. Knocker sends gratifying information of careful treatment of ancient houses in Westerham, the owners taking pains to preserve all old features. On the other hand efforts made in co-operation with the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings for the re-conditioning of cottages have not met with success. The number of Affiliated Societies remains the same. In her Report on the Canterbury Archreologioal Society (1933-34) Mrs. Gardiner (Hon. Secretary) states that the membership shows a steady increase ; at the close of 1933 it stood at 175. Owing to the fine seasons of the last two years the summer excursions have been exceedingly popular ; 335 members attended the eight excursions in 1933 as against 148 in 1932. An effort has been made to bring the winter lectures into relation with the summer outings and so add to their educational value. During 1933 changes in the city entailed action on the part of the C.A.S. The Friars has been transformed by the erection of a large cinema. Some old cottages on the corner have been replaced by new shops which carefully reproduce many of the original features. In rebuilding Marlowe's house the owners retained as far as possible REPORT, 1934. xlv the old west wall on St. George's Lane. In both these cases some action had of necessity to be taken as the buildings had become dangerously dilapidated. The Committee have placed a markstone in the old wall surrounding the site of Dane John Manor. The debt on the Bastion in Pound Lane has been considerably reduced by various co-operative efforts. The Committee's attempts to insure the repair of St. Peter's Church have met with no success. Their attention was called to an interesting wall painting or map, dating probably from the eighteenth century, at No. 60 St. Peter's Street. The front part of the house, originally perhaps the fore-court, now roofed in, is stone-paved and figures upon one fragment suggest that gravestones were cut up to supply the necessary material. In the Secretaries' Report of proceedings of the Dartford Society there is much indication of activity. During the winter five lecture-meetings were held, which were well attended. These mostly dealt with Kent topography and buildings, but Cathedrals outside the County came in for attention. The close association of the Antiquarian Society with the Dartford Photographic Society evidently guarantees that the lantern views are of high technical excellence. Four excursions were held, which included visits to Chevening, Scotney Castle and Bayham Abbey, Singlewell and Ifield, Lullingstone and Eynsford. A transcription of the Dartford Churchwardens' Accounts (1642-1714) has been made by Mr. A. Cumberland, and a copy placed with the records of the Parish Church. The extensive collection of Kent negatives and slides formed by the late Mr. Y ouens has been given by his Executors to the Dartford Museum. The Hon. Treasurer appeals to members to pay their annual subscriptions promptly. The amount (10s.) is due on 1st January and if not paid by Bankers' Order should be remitted to the collector, Mr. A. J. Lancaster, 13 Oaten Hill, Canterbury. Maidstone, Kent. 14th March, 1935. By order of the Council, GEORGE c. DRUOE, Hon. General Secretary.