Annual Report and Account for the Year 1947

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR 1947 REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31s'.r DECEMBER, 1947 The Council present their eighty-ninth Report, together with the Accounts for 1947. During the past year 109 new members were elected and deaths and resignations numbered 29, representing a net increase in the Society's membership from 888 as at the end of 1946, to 968 by the 31st of December, 1947. This satisfactory position may be attributed not only to the efforts of many members to influence their friends to join, but also to a marked revival of interest in the aims of the Society, stimulated by the excellent series of excursions arranged. It is confidently hoped that during the coming year a total membership of 1,000 may not only be reached, but exceeded, and the Council sincerely trust that members will not relax their efforts to ensure such a result being attained. It is with great regret that the Council have to report the death, early in 1948, of Mr. Charles Stokes, for over 22 years Hon. Financial Secretary and Treasurer of the Society. They would lilte to put on record their deep appreciation of his devoted and valuable service over so long a period. To his skilled accountancy and to his unremitting care and attention for so many years past, the present sound and satisfactory state of the Society's finances is undoubtedly largely due. Mr. Sam Mendel, of the National Provincial Banlt, Maidstone, is now acting as Hon. Treasurer in his place. Mr. A. J. Golding, who succeeded the late Mr. Walter Ruck as Hon. Librarian during the war, and who also kindly carried on the work of the Society's Curator, after the departure of Mr. C. E. Fisher on active service, has resigned both offices on his retirement from Maidstone Museum. The sincere thanlts of the Society are due to him, both for valuable services rendered, and for so generously volunteering his help to tide over the difficulties of the war years, without which a drastic curtailment of facilities for members seeking advice, or using the Society's Reference Library, would have been inevitable. The Oormcil propose to arrange for the nomination of a new Hon. Librarian in the near future, and, as soon a.s the recently appointed Museum Curator has ta.ken up duty, to consider the selection of a new Curator for the Society. While a certain amount of delay may be unavoidable, every endeavour will be made to see that the vacancies mentioned a.re filled as soon as possible, and no serious inconvenience to members is anticipated. Several changes in the list of Hon. Local Secretaries will be noticed. These changes have in some cases resulted from re-arrangement of work, necessitating additional calls on the time of local secretaries. The thanks xx.xix REPORT, 1947 of the Society are due to all retiring Local Secretaries, in most cases after many years of useful service in the interests of Kent Archreology. To those now in office the Council look with confidence for such activity in their respective areas as may lead to the full attainment of the aims of the Society. The President took the chair at a well attended General Meeting on 24th April. He dealt with the Annual Report for 1946, mentioning particularly the need for continued efforts to increase the membership and urging members, who had not yet entered into seven-year covenants for subscriptions, to do so, pointing out that by this means the Society was enabled to recover Income Tax on amounts paid, without any additional cost to the subscriber. Reference was also ma.de to the importance of the work now in progress all over the country to ensure the preservation of documents of archreological value, and to the steps that were now being taken to prepare a National Register of Archives. In this connection the attention of members was drawn to the valuable work undertaken by the Records Branch of their own Society, and the need stressed for additional subscribers and support. As an encouraging feature in the revival of interest in Archreology, the President was able to report the recent constitution by the Kent County Council of a special " County Archives Committee " which had already started to function. The formal business of the General Meeting was transacted as usual. After lrmch a large company heard with sustained interest lectures by Mr. I. D. Margary on" Tracing lost Roman Roads" and by Sir Gerald Woods W ollaston on " Heraldry ". Both addresses were not only interesting but also highly informative and their reception by the meeting and the questions and discussions that followed testified to the gratification of those present at hearing such authorities on their respective subjects as the two lecturers. Mr. Margary's address was well illustrated by lantern slides and Sir Gerald Wollaston used a series of drawings in colour to make clear to liis audience the principles upon which armorial bearings had been built up. Gifts to the Library and Collection during the year include the following: Note-books and other papers relating to Sutton Valence, by the late R. A. Hadenfeldt. Presented by the late R. A. Hadenfeldt. The Book of Sundials, by Warrington Hogg, 1914. Presented by Mr. W. P. Garner. The Heraldry of Canterbury Cathedral, by A. W. B. Messenger, 1947. Presented by the Friends of Canterbury Cathedral. Fordwich (pamphlet guide by Canon R. U. Potts.). Presented by the author. Some Notes on the History of Chatham Doclq;ard, by Admiral J. G. Grace. Presented by Mr. S. Evans. Antiquarian Pamphlets (2 vols. bound) ; Lambarde's Perambulation of J(.ent, 2nd ed., 1596; The Bestiary of Guillaume le Olerc, translated by G. C. Druce, 1936 ; Report of the Inspector of Ancient Monuments, 1913; Various volumes of Archooologia Cantiana, Archooologia, Antiquaries Journal, Kent Records, etc. Presented by Mr. F. H. Day. Archives Heraul,iques Suisses, Vol. LX, nos. ID and IV, and Vol. LXI, nos. TI, ID and IV (the latter volume containing an article on Swiss xl REPORT, 1947 glass at Patrixbourne and Temple Ewell). Presented. by La Societe Suisse d'Heraldique. Parcel of autograph letters and packet of deeds relating to Rochester. Presented by the Rev. Canon S. W. Wheatley. Bound papers written or compiled by Edward Hasted for his History of Kent, relating to Chartham and formerly belonging to the late Dr. F. W. Cock, F.S.A. Presented by Mr. W. P. D. Stabbing, J.P., F.S.A. Sundry volumes of Archccologia Oantiana. Presented by Mrs. C. H. Berrill and Mr. E. R. M. Spielman. The Council have expressed to the donors the thanks of the Society for these gifts. The Council have arranged to buy from the Air Ministry air photographs of the whole of Kent (except a small part of the Metropolitan area) on the scale of about six. inches to a mile. As soon as circumstances permit these photographs will be open to inspection by interested members, especially those engaged in archreological research. The cost of photographs covering practically all the County i!. heavy, but as some of them may reveal archreological sites that have so far escaped discovery, the Council feel sure that members will agree that the opportunity was one not to be missed. The accounts show an excess of receipts over expenditure of a.bout £50. This a.mount would have been much smaller but for the receipt from Mr. I. D. Margary, F.S.A., of a. handsome donation to cover the cost of the illustrations to his paper on "Roman Roads," published in the 1946 Volume of Archaiologia Oantiana. Whilst the financial position of the Society remains essentfally sound, the high costs of book production, and heavier expense in all directions may present a continuing problem needing serious consideration in the not-too-distant future. For the convenience of members the Accounts are again being circulated before the Annual Audit has ta.ken place. The new Volume of Archccologia Oantiana has reached an advanced stage of preparation and it is hoped to circulate it shortly. Its content is still governed by austerity conditions and high cost of production, but the Council believe that members would prefer to receive a volume each year, even though it has to be a slim one, than a larger volume at Jess frequent intervals. Mr. F. W. Jessup reporting on the activities of the Records Branch, states that it was not possible during the year to undertake any new publication, but work on the preparation of the next publication, Part III of Kent Feet of Fines, continues steadily. Records preservation work has gone on quietly, and during the year the new Register of Archives was launched, so far as Kent is concerned, at a meeting held at Canterbury and presided over by the Lord Lieutenant. The Records Branch welcome the opportunity of co-operating in this important development in record work. A feature of the year was the augmented excursion programme which included the following meetings: 17th May, at Rochester; 3rd, 4th and 5th July, in the Folkestone and Dover area and 27th September in the Cranbrook and Goudhurst district. At Rochester the Cathedral and the Castle naturally took first place, and to the Dean, the Very Rev. T. Crick, and the Rev. Ca.non Wheatley, sincere thanks are due for their help. The Bridge Chamber and the restored Bridge Chapel were also visited, and described by Mr. E.T. L. Baker. The day ended with a visit to the much restored Chapel of St. Bartholomew's Hospital. x:li REPORT, 1947 The three-day excursion in July was less well-attended than the shorter meetings, though from an archreological point of view it was of great interest, and smaller numbers made easier the appreciation and enjoyment of the facilities provided. The programme included visits to Postling Church, under the guidance of the Rev. H. F. Smith ; W estenhanger Castle, where Mr. Stabbing described the remains; Hythe Church, described by Miss Anne Roper, and Lympne Church. The day ended with a visit to the Station of Portus Lemanus, which brought the company to the Marsh, where Dr. Gordon Ward described a Saxon site that he was excavating. The second day was spent chiefly at Lyminge Church, Monks Horton Priory, and Bilsington Priory, where Mr. H. R. Pratt Boorman welcomed the party with characteristic hospitality. Mr. C. R. Councer described both Monks Horton and Bilsington Priories. Visits to Aldington Church and the Chapel at Court-at-Street brought the day to a close. The third day-a Saturday-brought an increased attendance, and was spent in Dover. The Castle and its associated buildings occupied the morning, and after lunch the Maison Dieu and the buildings of St. Martin's Priory (Dover College) were visited. Finally, Mr. P. V. Marchant showed members some of the sites excavated with the object of revealing traces of Roman Dover. The last meeting of the season, to the success of which many members contributed, was also held on a Saturday, Sissinghurst Castle being the first objective. Here the Hon. Miss V. Sackville-West and Mr. Harold Nicolson described to the company their beautiful and interesting home. At Scotney Castle, Mr. F. W. Hussey received the party and Major Eric Clarke acted as guide. The Churches of Cranbrook, Goudhurst and Laroberhurst were also visited. The hearty thanks of the Society will be accorded to all the hosts, speakers and other helpers who generously contributed to the efforts me.de to ensure the success of the season's excursions. Members may be interested to see the following particulars of attendances: Rochester (Saturday), 85 members and 36 visitors; Folkestone, etc. (Thursday to Saturday), 22 members and 3 visitors for the whole meeting, and 32 extra members and 34 extra visitors on Saturday; Cranbrook, etc., 124 members and 72 visitors. These figures indicate a definite preference for one-day, and particularly for Saturday meetings, which, subject to difficulties caused by petrol restrictions, will be taken into account in making arrangements for 1948, Mr. H. M. Rand, Hon. Secretary of the Canterbury Archreological Society has forwarded information received from Mrs. Gardiner to the effect that during recent repairs at Cogan House, St. Peter Street, an ancient chamber -a loft, with oak beamed roof-was brought to light, and also that the old walls of the twelfth century building were found to have been built of blocks of squared chalk and flint. He has also passed on a report by Mr. P. J. Spillett stating tha.t prelimin· ary investigations have been made of a series of earthworks in Brotherhood Wood, north of Canterbury, where pieces of worked bone were found, Near the ditch of the innermost of two parallel linear earthworks were two or three shallow hut dwellings in the floor of one of which a typical horseshoe scraper wa s found. It may be lmown to many meiμbers that the Society's collection of Saxon objects from Bifrons (Arch. Oant., Vols. VI, X and XIII) does not include a.ll the finds ma.de, part of the collection having remained in the possession of the Marquess of Conyngham. This latter portion has been x1ii REPORT, 1947 given by the Earl of Mount Charles to Major F. W. Tomlinson and will shortly be on view, at first in London, at the British Museum. Major Tomlinson has also supplied the following information from Canterbury and district : (a) The "Give-Ale" Cottage, adjoining the Churchyard at Fordwich, is now in private ownership and is likely to be made habitable. (b) The site of the tessellated pavement in Butchery Lane is being tidied up and advice is being sought from the Ministry of Works, Ancient Monuments Department, as to its preservation, etc. ( c) The City Architect is also asking the advice of the Ministry of Works concerning the Poor Priests' Hospital and the Guildhall. The Ashford Archreological Society has been revived and has carried out a substantial programme of summer excursions which are being followed by winter lectures and a study circle on Church Architecture. Members of the Society also gave useful help in the form of voluntary labour in connection with the excavation by the Ministry of Works of the Roman site at Little Chart. It is hoped to obtain for Arch<;eologia Oantiana a report on this work. Mrs. D. M. Tweedy, Hon. Secretary of the Orpington and District Historical and Record Society reports the gift to that Society by the Hon. Maurice Lubbock of the first Lord Avebury's well-known collection of prehistoric and other antiquities. This collection is stored temporarily in premises provided by the courtesy of the Orpington Urban District Connell, pending the acquisition of a suitable permanent home. The Dartford District Antiquarian Society has carried through a programme of the excursions and lectures that are a usual feature of this Society's work. Interest in the Dartford district is likely to be further stimulated by work in the Darent Valley to which the following paragraphs refer. A volwitary association of a small group of archreologists called '' Darent Valley Archreological Research," with a working centre at Lullingstone Castle has recently started operations under the direction of Mr. E. Greenfield and Lieut,-Colonel G. W. Meates, both of whom are members of the Kent Archreological Society, with the principal object of making a systematic archreological survey of the Darent Valley from Dartford to Otford, with a possible later extension of area and with wider aims in the background. The investigation of several archreological sites has begun and progress reports on projects that may occupy a good many years are promised periodically. This ambitious effort to unravel the history of one of the lines of penetration of the County by continental invaders is promising and may stimulate similar work in other Kent river valleys opening on the lower Thames. Mr. Elliston Erwood has examined the ruins of a supposed chapel in the garden of Elm House, Hythe. He concludes that the building is of recent construction (say, 100 years old) into which some medireval tombstones, probably from Hythe Churchyard, have been built, and that it may have been erected for use as a garden house or other out-building. Mxs. McCandlish, of Milstead Old Rectory, reports the finding of pottery and bones in an excavation for a grave in Milstead Churchyard. The Curator of the Canterbury Museum has determined the pottery as pieces of a. Roman cinerary urn and of a poppy-head beaker, both of about 200 A.D. Mr. Sydney Wilson reports as follows: "The Maison Dieu at Ospringe has been taken over by the Ministry of Works, together with the Roman xliii REPORT, 1947 exhibits in the house near there. The Ministry are undertaking considerable work in repairing the roof and other parts of the structure. It is assumed that in due course arrangements will be made for inspection of the exhibits by the public. "Professor E.W. Tristraro has cleaned the early 14th century painted polumn in Faversham Parish Church and has also repaired and re-coloured the 17th century tomb of Edward Fagg in the North Transept of the same Church. His work has considerably enhanced interest in the Church from an archreological standpoint. "The greater part of the cost of cleaning the 14th century pillar has been met by the Pilgrim Trust, who are sponsoring a Work on Media!val Wall Paintings. It is understood that the pillar will be the subject of a number of illustrations in the book when published." Sir Edward Harrison reports the discovery of an early Bronze Age Celt, about 6 by 3 inches, in the Fishponds Valley, near Crown Point, Ightham. It is of the type numbered 3a in the illustration on page 26 of the British Museum Guide to Antiquities of the Bronze Age, 1920 edition. He also reports the discovery of sherds of large vessels of Belgic and "Patch Grove" pottery in a sand-pit a few hundred yards north-west of the Railway Station at Borough Green. It is hoped that other finds may be forthcoming from this site, in which case a more detailed report may be called for. A Roman copper coin of Constantinus II was recently found at Leybourne. The Society of Antiquaries of London have published a short paper headed Linear Earthworlcs: Methods of Field Survey. It is intended for the guidance of :field workers and copies are obtainable from the Society (Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W.l) for 6d. each (S½d, post free). The Council again urge members to send their subscriptions promptly to the Collector, Mr. C. W. Hopper, 14 Nunnery Road, Canterbury, and to continue their efforts to introduce new members. They would also bring to the notice of members the advantage accruing to the Society from the contributions of members who have signed under• takings to continue payment of their subscriptions for a period of seven years, such undertakings automatically lapsing in the event of death. The effect of this method of payment is that it enables the Society to reclaim Income Tax pa.id on a gross sum equivalent to the net amount of the subscription, without adding anything to the amount paid by each member concerned. New undertakings may be entered into by members at any time on forms obtainable from the Hon. General Secretary, and the Council trust that many more members will decide to pay their subscriptions -in this way. 23rd March, 1948. By Order of the Council, EDWARD HARRISON, Hon. General Secretary. :xliv