Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1964 -ASTrTUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER, 1964 Council presents its One Hundred and Sixth Report, and the Statement of Accounts for 1964. VICE -PRESIDENT Council is gratified to report that Mr. I. D. Margary, M.A., F.S.A., to whom the Society is greatly indebted for his benefactions, has accepted the office of Vice-President of the Society. OBITTJ.ABY The Right Hon. Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, K.G., O.M., C.H. The death of Sir Winston Churchill which occurred on January 24th, 1965, removes his honoured name from our Roll of Honorary Members and Vice Presidents. I t was in 1946 that Mr. Churchill accepted election to the Society first as an Honorary Member and then as a Vice President, and on that occasion Council recorded, ' The Society may indeed count itself fortunate in having the support of such a distinguished historian and man of letters, and feel proud that the name of the greatest Englishman of the ago is now inscribed on its Roll of members.' We shall always cherish with pride the memory of our association with this great man. Council also records with regret the death of its Honorary Member, Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake, and that of Mr. John Bridge, F.S.A., who became a member of the Society in 1906, and who had been a valued member of Council for eighteen years. Council also records the great loss the Society has sustained in the death of its Treasurer, Mr. H. Grugeon, whose care of its finances was outstanding during the short time he occupied the office. ANNUAL GENERAX MEETING The Annual General Meeting was held at the Museum, Maidstone, on 23rd May, 1964, the President in the Chair. Council's .Annual Report and the Statement of Accounts for 1963 were received and adopted. xiii REPORT, 1964 -After the luncheon interval, some seventy-five members and their friends heard an illustrated lecture by Mr. I. D. Margary, M.A., F.S.A., on Roman Roads in Britain, a subject upon which he is the first authority. The most interesting lecture was enthusiastically received, and the President expressed the thanks of the Meeting to the lecturer. MEMBERSHIP During the period from 1st January, 1964, to 31st December, 1964, fifty-four new members were elected. Losses from death and resignation amounted to forty-one, showing a net gain of thirteen members. The total membership stands at 1,091. Council appeals to all members to bring in new members, and a new printing of the Society's Information Leaflet will shortly be available to assist in making the objects of the Society and the privileges of members more widely known. COUNCIL At the Annual General Meeting the following were re-elected to Council: Major H. R. Pratt Boorman, Mr. J . W. Bridge, Mr. N. C. Cook, Mr. Rupert Gunnis, Mr. Franlc Jenkins and Mr. C. R. Councer. OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY Honorary Treasurer. Council have been most fortunate in having obtained the services of Mr. A. K. Hirst, .Assistant Manager, National Provincial Bank, Ltd., Maidstone, in place of the late Mr. Grugeon. The General Secretary retains all matters connected with Membership and Subscriptions, to whom should be addressed all correspondence on those subjects, to The Gate House, Lullingstone Castle, Eynsford, Kent. Honorary Excursions Secretary. Council reports with regret the resignation of Mr. D. T. A. Ponton, but is happy to report that Mr. H. A. James has consented to assume that office. Members are invited to address correspondence on this subject to Mr. James, at 114 Pagitt Street, Chatham. FiNiUsrcE The Accounts for 1964 are published with this Report. A steady increase in membership is most desirable if the Society is to maintain the high standard of its publications and to widen its activities. Council therefore appeals: (1) For new members. (2) For donations to the Archceologia Cantiana Fund, and to the Records Publications Fund. (3) For members to enter into seven-year Covenants to enable the Society to recover Income Tax on their subscriptions at no extra cost to members. EXCURSIONS In spite of a shortage of time it was possible to arrange three excursions for the year. The Society is grateful to the gentlemen indicated below who gave talks at the places visited and contributed so much to the success of the excursions. xliii REPORT, 1964 Saturday, Eynsford and Lullingstone. 11th July Eynsford Castle and Church—Mr. S. E. Rigold, F.S.A. Lullingstone Roman Villa—Lt.-Col. G. W. Meates, F.S.A. Lullingstone Church—Mr. C. R. Councer, F.S.A. Lullingstone Castle—Lt.-Col. G. W. Meates, F.S.A. The Society is indebted to Sir Oliver and Lady Hart Dyke for allowing the visit to take place at a time when the Castle is normally closed. Saturday, Essex. 15th August Ingatestone Hall and the Essex Record Office 'Victorian Essex' Exhibition—Mr. A. C. Edwards. Pleshey Castle—Mr. S. E. Rigold, F.S.A. The Willingale Churches—Mr. S. E. Rigold, F.S.A. Greenstead Church—Mr. S. E. Rigold, F.S.A. Saturday, Ashford and Woodchurch. 19th September Ashford Church—Mr. V. J . Toor. The Old Grammar School, Ashford—Mr. E. T. Mortimore. Woodchurch Church—Mr. V. J. Toor. 'Shirley', Woodchurch. The Ellen Terry Museum, Smallhythe. The Society is especially grateful to Mr. and Mrs. V. Rendel for allowing their privacy to be invaded. ARCHAEOLOGIA CANTIANA Volume lxxviii was published early in 1964. The papers contained in it cover the widest fields of the archseology and history of the county, and it maintains the highest standard of interest and production. LIBRARY AND COLLECTIONS The Library has been redecorated, and a new lighting system has been installed, while reorganization of its contents is proceeding. -Among new accessions is the fine volume Art in Roman Britain by Professor J. M. C. Toynbee, and Sir John Dunlop's excellent history of Sevenoaks. The two important eighteenth-century volumes dealing with the Diocese of Rochester by the Rev. John Thorpe are being re-bound. When using the Library, members are requested to show their Membership Cards to the Museum attendant, and in this connection, members who may not hold ca/rds are invited to apply for them to the General Secretary. RECORDS PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE Volume 18, Documents Illustrative of Kentish Medieval History, was published in 1964. This scholarly work is of the greatest interest, dealing as it does with ancient rolls, indictments and calendars, and members are strongly urged to apply for it. xliv REPORT, 1964 Volume 19, Calendar of the White and Black Books of the Cinque Ports, will be published during 1965, and will be available to members of the Society at a reduced rate. Further projects are under consideration, it being the policy of the Society to publish regularly volumes of Kent Records, as the financial position affords. PLACE NAMES COMMITTEE The Committee has been reorganized, with Dr. P. H. Reaney (Chairman), Dr. F. Hull (Vice-Chairman), and Mrs. E. V. Piercy Fox (Hon. Secretary), and the work of this Committee will proceed on the basis of this reorganization. Mr. L. R. A. Grove has joined the Committee. JOINT COMMITTEE WITH THE COUNCIL FOR THE PRESERVATION OJT RURAL KENT FOR THE PRESERVATION OF ANCIENT BUILDINGS Report of the K.A.S.jC.P.R.K. Joint Sub-Committee for the Preservation of Ancient Buildings, for the Year 1964 (1) The threat to the South-East is now so great that unless steps are taken to buy up, restore and sell attractive old cottages and other buildings, many will disappear at the hands of speculative developers and villages will lose their character. For this reason, the question of the formation of a Housing Society or Trust in Kent on lines similar to those already formed in some other counties, e.g., Hertfordshire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, is being carefully studied. In this connection lists of old cottages subject to Demolition or Closing Orders or undertakings under the Housing Act, 1957, have been obtained from most local authorities in Kent (not all replied to our request for information), and enquiries have been received from persons as far away as Dundee and Stockport who are desirous of acquiring an old property in Kent with a view to restoring it and living in it. (2) Efforts to save from demolition the fine old All Saints' Vicarage, Maidstone, now that a new one has been built nearby, proved fruitless. This most interesting house is said to have dated from 1395, but a recent examination threw light on a much older building which was incorporated in the fourteenth-Century structure. In spite of this, and of the fact that the Ministry had asked that no decision as to its future should be taken until its origins had been further investigated, Maidstone Borough Council decided not to make a Building Preservation Order in respect of it, and Kent County Council, when approached also would take no action. (3) A six months respite was obtained in respect of the fine early Georgian Eastgate House, Woodchurch Road, Tenterden, which was about to be demolished, and in conjunction with the Society for the Protection of .Ancient Buildings a purchaser was sought who would be willing to restore it. So many old properties in the very attractive Tenterden High Street have recently been demolished, although very strong protests have consistently been made by the sub-cornmittee and by the Weald of Kent Preservation Society, that its whole character is changing, this in spite of the fact that Kent County Council list Tenterden as a town whose unique character must be preserved. In spite of all our joint efforts Eastgate House has now been demolished. (4) The question of preserving the thirteenth-century chapel of the Knights Hospitallers at Swingfield has received much attention during the xiv REPORT, 1964 year. A proposal that the County Council should purchase the building and that it should be taken into guardianship by the Ministry of Public Building and Works, who have offered a substantial grant, has been considered. In view of the outstanding importance of the project the Kent -Archseological Society offered £100 to the public appeal sponsored by the County Council for funds towards the cost of repairs to the building. (5) A good start has been made in collecting measured drawings and photographs of ancient buildings in Kent, including those of buildings which have already disappeared, and of micro-filming them for permanent record, as a result of a detailed study of the problem by a Study Group specially formed for this purpose. Notes for Recorders, compiled by this Study Group, have been printed and are being distributed on a large scale to Local History Groups, Local secretaries Kent Archseological Society, Architects, and any person or organization which shows an interest and is prepared to undertake this work. Schools in the county have also been informed. (6) The system of compiling lists of buildings of special architectural or historic interests under the Town and Country Planning Acts, 1947 and 1962, is not satisfactory, many buildings worthy of being listed, even if only Grade III, having been omitted. It is a sad fact that a building appearing on a Statutory List is afforded very little protection. Notice of a threat of demolition to such a building is communicated to us by the Ministry through the Council for British Archaeology, which enables us to make representations, but for information of threats to buildings listed Grade I I I on Preliminary Lists, and other old buildings which have escaped listing, we rely entirely on our local representatives and other publicspirited persons residing in the county. (7) The death of Cyril Chettoe in November, 1963 was a very severe loss to the sub-committee, as his knowledge of the whole county was quite unique, and especially serious is the loss of the many valuable contacts which he had with every manner of Society or person in any way concerned with the preservation of the countryside. Mention must also be made of the death of Frank Tomlinson, whose knowledge of the Sandwich area was very great. Report on the first Conference of Building Recorders, held at the Museum, Maidstone on Saturday, 1th November, 1964: At the suggestion of the K.A.S./C.P.R.K. Study Group on Recording Historic Buildings, a short conference was held at Maidstone Museum. The chair was taken by Mr. C. R. Councer and about thirty people attended. Mr. S.E. Rigold spoke on Medieval Stone Halls in Kent and stressed the difficulty of recognition as external medieval features have seldom survived. Internal features could be very fine, as the fireplace at Luddesdown Court. This and several other halls were illustrated, including Starkey Castle, Hoad Farm, and the now-demolished Court Lodge at Godmersham. Mr. J. T. Smith described the recently-demolished Maidstone Vicarage, a hall-house with a king-strut roof, unique in England, and a fourteenthcentury kitchen wing behind. He elucidated the complicated plan of the house and pointed to parallels in France, which confirmed the very early date of the hall. Mr. E. W. Parkin told of the Recording of Durlock Grange and Kite Manor. The former of these was taken down carefully for re-erection elsewhere and this enabled an extremely detailed record to be made. Both xlvi REPORT, 1964 houses are of timber-framed construction and 'Wealden' type, Kite Manor showing interesting additions. Mr. P. J. Tester gave an account of Some Early Houses in the Darent Valley, commencing at Westerham and concluding in Dartford. Several types of timber-framed houses, both with and without open halls and of fifteenth to seventeenth-century dates were described and excellently illustrated. Mr. E. R. Swain, in a talk on Dendrochronology and Timber Houses, gave an introduction to the science of dating timbers from the relative sizes of the annual growth rings they exhibit. The amount of growth a tree makes in a particular year depends on many factors, but principally on rainfall. From dated specimens, charts were shown of growth in particular years and it is hoped that comparison of sequences of ring widths will enable timbers to be dated. Finally, Mr. K. W. E. Gravett introduced the Recording Scheme in Kent and the work of the K.A.S./C.P.R.K. Study-group. He drew attention to the publication Notes for Recorders and asked for assistance in the preparation of measured drawings and photographs. The conference was accompanied by a small exhibition of Kentish building materials, assembled by Mr. L. R. A. Grove, through whose kindness the conference was held in the Museum, and a selection of drawings and photographs already presented to the scheme. EXCAVATIONS COMMITTEE Mr. D. B. Kelly and Mr. W. S. Penn have joined the Committee since the last -Annual Report. The research programme of the Society into the problem of the Iron Age in Kent, conducted by Mrs. E. V. Piercy Fox, with the assistance of Mr. D. B. Kelly, will be completed early this year, with final investigation into the earthworks at Boughton Quarry Camp, Loose, Maidstone, of which Mrs. Piercy Fox reports : Work was in progress at Boughton Quarry Camp during the Spring and Autumn, but conditions on the site were very difficult due to the exceptionally hard state of the ground. The problem to be solved in the second season was whether the length of rampart which flanked a shallow flatbottomed valley 200 ft. across had originally been defended by a ditch, of which there was no trace on the ground. Excavation produced a magnificent rock-cut ditch, flat-bottomed and 30 ft. across which relates Boughton to the series of French oppida excavated by Sir Mortimer Wheeler in Northern France. So to the concept of a centre of Iron Age power in the Medway valley is added Gallo-Belgic connections with Northern France, the importance of which cannot be over-estimated. Altogether a most exciting result, and I am greatly indebted to Mr. D. B. Kelly, Mr. A. Miles, Mr. Chaloner Evans and my husband for their help in achieving it. In 1965, work will be completed on the main section on the front of the rampart. Members seeking information on the 1965 season are asked to contact Mr. D. B. Kelly at Maidstone Museum, Telephone Maidstone 4497. During 1964 arohseological research has been conducted in varying fields of antiquity in the county. Interest in the archseology and history of the county is widespread and the state of excavation continues at a high level of efficiency under qualified directors. The established .Annual Conference of Field Archeaologists took place again at Canterbury on 10th October, under the direction of Mr. Frank xlvii REPORT, 1964 Jenkins, F.S.A., when a series of short papers were read, the proceedings being received with acclamation by a very large attendance. The Conference was opened by the General Secretary, who announced the projected formation in the Council of British AArchaaology of Group I IA (Kent and Surrey) and Group H B (Sussex), by which the archseological interests and activities of the counties concerned would take their proper place in the Proceedings and Reports of the C.B.A. The General Secretary also announced the estabhshment of the Kent Archseological Research Groups Council, details of which are as follows : The Kent .Archseological Research Groups Council has as its aim the co-ordination of archseological research in Kent. It is currently considering a scheme for co-ordinating emergency excavation in Kent and is planning a Survey and Research policy for the county. Further inforrnation of these, together with news of current excavation, discovery and research, will be available in a newsletter to be published by the new body. Membership of the Council is open to all groups actively participating in archceological research in Kent. Applications should be addressed to the Honorary Secretary, Mr. G. K. Horner, 18 Selborne Road, Sidcup, Kent. Reports of those excavations practically supported by the Society will be found at Appendix I. LOCAUA SECRET.ARIES AND LOCAL ACTIVITIES The vacancies for Local Secretaries of Tonbridge and Thanet have been filled by Mr. K. A. Beach and Mr. D. G. Scurrell respectively, to whom the Society is very grateful for assuming those duties. Council wishes to thank all Local Secretaries for their work during the year in the interests of the Society. Reports from Local Secretaries on local activities will be found at Appendix II. By Order of the Council, G. W. Meates, Lieut.-Colonel, 1st January, 1965. General Secretary. .APPENDIX I Reports on excavations supported and aided by the Society. Interim Report by Mr. A. P. Detsicas, M.A., F.S.A., on the Excavations at Eccles: The excavations at the site of the Romano-British villa at Eccles were continued throughout the 1964 season by the Lower Medway AArchseological Research Group, under the direction of our member, Mr. A. P. Detsicas, M.A., F.S.A. I t is now firmly established that the site was already in occupation early in Claudian times. Work was concentrated this year on completing the plan of the first bath building, partly exposed in the previous season. Part of a six-foot wide boundary ditch was cleared at the extreme west limit of the area under investigation. It was found filled with domestic rubbish which contained a large amount of pottery of consistently Claudian date, though some vessels show marked Belgic characteristics and could have been made much earlier. A small structure, measuring some 19 feet by 10 feet, was built partly over the filled ditch; it is very likely that this building was used as a sort xlviii REPORT, 1964 of barn for storing grain and probably had a sprung wooden floor supported by sleeper walls. This barn was dismantled to allow for the construction of a long corridor, floored with opus signinum, leading from the earliest villa to the first bath building, which may have been built rather later than the villa itself. Most of the plan of this early bath building has now been recovered and shows four phases of reconstruction as well as being very elaborate for such an early date (c. A.D. 75-100); it contains several hot plunges and hypocausts. Besides its laconicum, exposed last year, the outstanding room is the praefurnium, which contained a testudo in excellent state of preservation. The mosaics, which floored the frigidarium and the cold plunge-bath, had been completely destroyed and removed from their rooms and thrown into the furnace-room where many fragments were recovered: these mosaics are amongst the earliest found in Britain. Some preliminary trenching suggests that the first villa lies to the North and West of the present area, but it is not yet certain whether its baths formed a true wing of the villa or were a detached structure. The plan of the third bath building (c. A.D. 150-290) has been completed with the clearing of its large furnace built, in part, over the dismantled first baths. Interim Report by Mr. B. J. Philp on the excavations at the Roman Fort at Reculver: The Reculver Excavation Group completed its eighth season's work at Reculver during 1964, again in close co-operation with the Ministry of Public Building and Works. Undoubtedly this was the most interesting and informative season's work since excavations began in 1952. More than 100 members of the Group assisted with six major projects during February, April, July, August, September, October and December. More than 8,000 people visited the site during the large August excavation and the second edition of the Reculver booklet sold out completely. (1) The First-Century Fortlet .Another major section was cut across the east ditches of the earthwork to examine the intersection of two slightly differing alignments. South of this point the ditch had a W-profile with a low central mid-rib. Northwards the inner ditch was about three feet deeper and may have been recut. The junction probably marked the position of the eastern entrance of the fortlet. Cut partly into the mud-silt of the ditches were the sockets for three posts, each 7-8 inches in diameter, which appeared to have supported a wooden bridge. Subsequently the inner ditch to the north had been recut. Two phases are clearly indicated. (2) Repair to East Wall of Fort A single section was cut behind this substantial feature with interesting results. A gap some 10-12 feet wide in the original wall, beginning some four feet above the footings, had been blocked b y a much thinner wall only 44 inches wide. A circular oven had been built in the recess thus left behind the block and proved it to be of Roman date. (3) The South Gate The discovery of the Via Decumana in 1963 pin-pointed the exact position of the south gate partly uncovered in 1927. A large area excavaxlix REPORT, 1964 tion revealed that the whole gate had been very heavily robbed. What survived indicated a single carriage-way some eight feet wide. The massive concrete piers supporting the covering arch were found, but only the lower jamb on the west side survived. Traces of a small chamber, perhaps a guard-room, were also found on the west side. It was not possible to determine whether flanking bastions, characteristic of later Saxon Shore forts, projected beyond the face of the fort wall. The road through the gate had been remetalled at least seven times. (4) Bath Building Trial trenching north-east of the Principia revealed a substantial masonry building with mortared walls. The concrete floor of this lay some two feet below original Roman ground-level and supported the remains of a hypocaust. About 20 feet to the south a heavily-robbed apsidal wall was found. The rubble inside this building contained a large quantity of smashed box-flue tiles and much painted opus signinum. The evidence suggests that this structure was a small bath-house, perhaps attached or adjacent to the house of the Commander of the Fort. (5) The Rear Division of the Fort An area excavation north-west of the south gate of the fort revealed walls associated with another structure. One wall consisted of three courses of sandstone blocks set in clay and another was faced with a cement plaster. The floors were clay and clearly this building is almost identical in construction to those found both east and north-east of the Principia in recent years. (6) The Furnace south-east of the Fort The excavation of the furnace, found by workmen in 1963 south-east of the Fort, was completed in 1964. Two phases are indicated. The firing-tunnel, some nine feet in length, was fed from a large stoke-hole. The flames were deflected by a large block and hot air fed along channels and then through 15 small flues into a drying-chamber. An elaborate corn-drying oven may be indicated. The drying-chamber itself was subsequently used as a furnace. (7) Bishopstone Emergency excavations, subsequent to pipe-laying operations, were undertaken at Bishopstone about one mile west of Reculver. These revealed a shallow ditch containing pottery and daub of first-century date. Material washed from this site was found during exploratory work (1960-63) at several points along the stream which empties into Bishopstone Glen. A small farmstead may be indicated. Interim Report by Mr. D. M. Ford on the excavation of the moated habitation site of Tonge Castle : The first season's research at the moated habitation of Tonge Castle has now finished. The site is situated at Map Ref. (6-inch), TQ96 SW 933636. The area excavations were limited to a small area on the middle mound. The low sleeper walls, free-jointed, of timber and daub buildings were found, including a small hall and the remains of the Idtchen. Two of the sites had been totally excavated before, probably during the 1932 1 REPORT, 1964 excavations recorded by Hogg (Arch. Cant., xliv, 1932, pp. 60-66). Although no datable pottery or small finds were found in one of these buildings, it is certain that they are all of thirteenth-century date, and that they represent the latest phase of occupation on the mound. Several phases of occupation have been determined during this period and the complex undoubtedly belonged to a small farming community, with extensive agricultural lands in the neighbouring manor of Tonge. The latest structure, built of flint and limestone (Hythe Beds) was preceded by an unstable wooden building of the same size. The Swale .Archaeological Group will continue excavation next summer, (a) to determine the full extent of the buildings, and the earliest occupation on the site ; (6) to obtain a complete cross-section of the occupation phases revealed in the drier parts of the moat ; (c) to relate the contemporary description of the manor provided by the manuscripts to the archseology of the site. Thanks are due to the many specialists who have willingly offered their advice; in particular to Mr. Wicks, the owner of the site, who has agreed to excavations on a long-term basis, and to many other concessions including limited camping on the site, and also to the Kent Archseological Society for active help. Swale Archaeological Group As a result of the continued interest shown by a small group of volunteers during the research at Tonge, it has been decided to form an official team of field archaeologists, who will complete local surveys over a long-term basis. This will involve surveillance, plotting of potential development schemes and building programmes, preparing records of every previously recorded site in the region, and collecting new information which results from the field work. The group will be particularly concerned with emergency excavations in the area, providing adequate forewarning of building sites and development plans can be obtained. A full programme of archseological field work will be made available to all who are interested. The group is much indebted to Mr. Allen, Clerk of the Council, and to many local schools who have shown interest. I t may be possible to use Milton Court Hall for occasional displays of archseological interest. It was possible, even during the winter of 1964, to open the Hall on a limited basis. The small number who attended is no doubt attributed to its decentralized situation. APPENDIX II Reports from Local Secretaries and Groups Ashford Mr. E. T. Mortimore reports one item of special interest, the formation of an Ashford Archseological Society Excavations Group under the leadership of Mr. J. Bradshaw, and that the Group excavated a barrow at Boughton Aluph during the summer. Mr. J. Bradshaw reports: Boughton Aluph. The ploughed out barrow reported by the Ordnance Survey in Arch. Cant., lxxviii was identified and partially excavated by members of -Ashford Archseological Society during the Autumn of 1964. A ditch, averaging two feet eight inches in depth and enclosing a barrow platform with a diameter of sixty feet, had been cut in the chalk ridge on li REPORT, 1964 the 450 ft. contour, a false crest from the valley below. The total soil depth over a quadrant of forty degrees on the WSW. averaged only nine inches, and complete excavation of this section was undertaken after a primary cremation burial pit in the centre of the barrow had been uncovered. The pit contained cremated remains, portions of teeth which have been identified as being from children, probably two, one from eighteen months old to two years, the other between five and ten years. A large piece of flint, split into a wedge shape and fire damaged, had been placed at the northern end and was the only object included or found, no trace of an inverted urn being expected to survive in such shallow ploughed soil. Nothing has yet been found in the primary silt of the ditch, but a welldefined occupation layer only eight inches above yielded several sherds of Iron Age pottery in the vicinity of a causeway of flints across the ditch. Many pieces and types of Later Bronze Age and Iron Age pottery were found in the upper levels, including a piece of shoulder from a collared urn. The evidence to date indicates a Late Bronze Age barrow with many secondary interments of cremation vessels up to the first century B.C., late Medieval agricultural operations destroying both barrow and contents above ground level. Benenden and District Mrs. Cecily Lebon reports : Benenden 1. While the drive was being widened at The Moat, Benenden, Mr. J. R. D. Cook recovered fourteen small cannon balls, located at what was the crossing of the moat to the principal door of this fifteenth-century house. They were covered by two or three inches of sand and turf. Measuring from 1£ to 2£ inches in diameter, they consist of iron shells with a core of sand, and had been made in hemispherical moulds. Mr. George Grabham, the Tunbridge Wells dealer in antique weapons, thinks that they were used in a small seventeenth-century cannon, such as the culverin, and were lethal at short range. The discovery suggests that the Moat house was attacked and defended during the Civil War. 2. On September 13th, 1964, an inquest on treasure trove was held in Benenden before a jury of seven local people. The case arose from a hoard of coins found the previous month in Stream Farm Cottages, Iden Green, where two young men employed by a builder were taking up a brick floor while converting the row of three old cottages into a modernized residence. Underneath a double layer of brick, they found eighty-four sovereigns, dated 1849-1912, and forty-nine half-sovereigns, dated 1883-1911. Beneath the bricks, some earth had been scraped away and the coins placed in the hollow in two heaps. The finders were awarded the full value, about £475, after the Inquest had satisfied the jury that the treasure was of gold, which had been hidden, the owner being unknown; and that the Icnown finders had not delayed in handing it all to the police. Lamberhurst Church of St. Mary the Virgin. Whilst alterations were in progress, some of the Chancel floor was removed adjoining one of the Decorated octagonal pillars which form the arcade opening to the Scotney Chapel in the south chancel. In the main Chancel, part of an area formerly covered by staging for choir stalls was thus available for excavating, at the invitation of the Rev. R. W. Bailey. The primary aim was to investigate the base of the Iii REPORT, 1964 pillar and to search for any earlier floor. Fifteenth-century Wills refer to paving of the Chancel. The top layer removed was a hard conglomeration of rubble which could be identified with the foundation for flooring laid in 1840. It was 7-9 inches in depth, and contained brick fragments, with mortar and roofing tiles, besides a few stones and some pieces of thick, unglazed, floor tiles; the latter possibly of Tudor date. Near the base of this nineteenth-century deposit there was a fibrous plant material, perhaps the remains of a wall creeper which had adhered to some of the brick material used. When the floor was remade in 1840 the pillar must have been fully exposed, for the base is only four inches below the rubble surface. The present excavation could not undermine the pillar, but it showed that stones and stony soil lay under its north, north-east and north-west faces where the nineteenth-century rubble ended. A curious feature seen in the section immediately under the pillar was a D-shaped aperture measuring 3 inches vertically, with horizontal passage extending at least fourteen inches inwards under the centre of the pillar. Owing to its shape, it is doubtful if this hole through the foundations of the pillar could have been nineteenth-century work. But the Victorian restorers could have removed a rod deposited there by the medieval builders. Or the builders themselves could have removed whatever lay there before the pillar was erected. The original purpose remains a matter for speculation and may have to do with techniques of levelling. After local volunteers had extended the excavation and exposed the top of a brick vault, the building contractor, Mr. Hawkins, very kindly put a labourer at the disposal of the director of excavations (Mrs. Lebon) for an afternoon's digging. A north-south section was cut across the south side of the Chancel, 22 feet from the east end of the Church. This revealed a stepped arrangement of bricks in a vault spanning three and a half feet and a subsidiary vault spanning two feet alongside it, bounded on the south by a brick wall with top slightly lower than the ridge of the main vault. Further clearance to the west end of the vault complex showed that the wall is coterminous with it, and was therefore not simply a floor support. A nearby memorial slab records interment in 'this vault' of Mrs. Mary Thomas, obiit 1739, and a child who predeceased her. Immediately covering the vaults was a layer of soil containing root fibres, and above was the 1840 rubble which had sunk in places, following the curve of the vaults. It is possible that these vaults and others were entered from the east end which was not open to excavation, and were approached by the steps descending 3 ft. 9 in. and leading to the low-level arch which terminates the arcade at the east end. This pointed arch rests on square pillars of Norman Transitional style and was rediscovered in the nineteenth century, when it was thought to be part of an earlier church situated more to the east—a difficult assumption, having regard to the sloping land there. 'The Norman Church stood more easterly, but there are traces of it', stated C. H. Fielding in Records of Rochester, 1910. I cannot find (Mrs. Lebon says) much support for this archseologically challenging remark. If it refers to the low-level arch, with one of its square pillars standing partly in the east wall, there is no need to imagine anything more elaborate than a medieval rebuilding of the east wall, which is heavily buttressed at this point of junction between chancel and chapel. It is conceivable that the lower level of the archway was to give access, from ground level outside before the Scotney Chapel was built, to a twelfth-century crypt under the liii REPORT, 1964 Sanctuary where any foundation relics would be deposited; and that it might later have served as a way of approach to the burial vaults in the Chancel. Sandhurst Mrs. Lebon communicated a report by Mrs. E. M. Wood, of Hawkhurst, a member of the Society, as follows: The Old Post Office, Sandhurst The Post Office at Sandhurst is part of the Post Master's house and general shop. Early in September, 1964, Mr. Davies, the recently appointed Post Master, found, under the linoleum in his kitchen, seven sheets of parchment. These had been laid on the boards under layers of newspaper dated 1933 and 1940. All the documents are concerned with property or individuals connected with Sittingbourne. Number I is an Indenture between William Birch, surveyor, of St. Giles' Fields, Middlesex, and Peter Pierce, builder, of High Holborn concerning the sale of land and premises in Sittingbourne. This sheet is badly obliterated. The date is difficult to decipher but it appears to be 1846. Numbers I I , I I I , and IV seem to belong to a single document concerning the administration of the estate of James Tonge (?) and the handing over of property under his will to John Tonge, James Tonge, Lowis Whitefield Thomas, and Mary Tonge, by Mrs. Catherine Wilson. There is considerable obliteration but the date appears to be 15th October, 1801. There is an endorsement on the back signed in the names of Barnett and Burley and dated 9th July, 1868. Number V is a Mortgage of property in Sittingbourne between Mrs. Catherine Wilson and William Hopper Wilson, and Mr. Thomas Wilson, dated 42nd year of George I I I and endorsed 1st March, 1862. Number VI is a Lease for one year, dated 4th December, 1801 between John Tonge and his successors and Catherine Wilson and another. The name of Lowis Whitefield Thomas appears again. The description of the property is badly obhterated. Number VII concerns the sale of a garden in Sittingbourne by Richard Larrio, of Weston, in the parish of Buffington, in the county of Warwick, miller, and Samuel Penden of Sittingbourne, cordwayner, for £50. The date is the 25th year of Charles I I. Number VII is written on a heavier skin than the later documents, is better preserved, and slightly smaller. The six later skins are thin, measuring 2 ft. by 3 ft. The edges are cut in the usual wavy lines of indentures and the writing is enclosed in red lines. There are no seals but the stamps are still attached to the later documents. The only connection of the building in which the documents were found with Sittingbourne seems to be that some years ago it was occupied by a family named Gamble who are said to have come from that district. All the sheets are pierced by nail holes. Dover Mr. E. H. Bayly reports: A group of boys from the Duke of York's Royal Military School, under the guidance of Captain Hogarth and Mr. F. L. Page, have been investigating a medieval site at Temple Farm, one mile north of Temple Ewell. liv REPORT, 1964 The foundations of the corner of a large buildmg have been found, together with a concentration of sherds. There can be little doubt that it is the Knights Templar establishment referred to in Hasted as having been finally destroyed in the early eighteenth century. Excavations will continue this year. Edenbridge Mr. J. C. Irwin reports: No excavation has been conducted in the Edenbridge area during the past year. A Runic inscription has recently been discovered on an oak purlin in the roof of a Tudor yeoman's house at Kibbles Green, Four Elms, near Edenbridge. A full report on this discovery has been submitted for inclusion in Archceological Cantiana. Edenbridge and District Historical Society continues to flourish with 120 members. In April the Society published its first monograph, Placenames of Edenbridge (40 pages, with frontispiece plate, and map, price 10 shillings). A review copy has been sent to the Editor, Archceologia Cantiana. A separate publication dealing with local field-names is in preparation. Fawkham Mr. R. M. Walsh reports: The .Archaeological Group has had a busy season, commencing with the excavation of a Romano-British cemetery at Eastwood, Fawkham, under the direction of Mr. B. J . Philp, the results of which will be published in due course. Members of the Group assisted in some emergency excavation at Springhead in an endeavour to salvage as much data as possible from threatened Roman buildings before they were completely demolished in the course of road widening work. Excavations are now in progress on the reputed site of the original Fawkham Manor, and already at least two occupational levels and evidence of well mortared flint walls, 35 inches thick, have been uncovered. Pottery sherds indicate a rough dating of between twelfth and fourteenth century at the present time. Apart from the actual excavation work, the Group is carrying out a systematic field survey of the area to obtain any visual evidence of past human activities, and members are also researching into records at the local museums and libraries. Gravesend Mr. A. F . Allen reports: Cobham On most of the earlier 6-inch Ordnance Survey Sheets at the northern boundary of Cobham Park a 'site of Roman Road' is marked (Map Ref. 681697). On inspection this proved to be an earth bank. During the recent road widening, this bank has been cut through by a trench digger and no signs of Roman Road metalling were visible at any part of this cut, which tends to disprove the previous identification of the bank as a Roman agger. The bank is, it is considered, the old bank upon which the original deer fence of the Cobham Park presumably once stood when the lv REPORT, 1964 ground was first emparked. It is considered that this bank should no longer be considered the site of the Roman Road. The absence of any trace of the Roman Road at this point confirms an observation of a previous excavation made two years ago, some quarter of a mile to the west of this particular cut, where a similar trench carried some 400 yards south of the existing road revealed no sign of any Roman Road metalling of any description. Negative evidence of this sort is recorded so that future investigators should not be misled by older maps. Higham A Report has been received of the recent finding of three Roman Cremation burials in the mudflats at Higham (Map Ref. 698752). It is hoped that a full report and drawings of the pottery will be published at a later date but a short report at this stage may be given. The finds were all closely associated and consisted of: (a) A large Urn with a pamted band containing ashes associated with a small red ware flagon having a pointed base and a grey Poppyhead Beaker. (b) A Burial with associated vessels all contained in a large Urn which had been broken. With the ashes were found (i) a black ware Jar, (ii) a Samian Cup, Form 33, with the potter's mark—MARCIM, (iii) a Samian Dish, form Curie 15. (c) The Third Burial consisted of a large Jar having a neck aperture of approximately 8 inches diameter which contained, apart from the ashes, (i) a large Samian Cup, form 33, with potter's mark—PRIMANI, (ii) a sandy ware Flagon (handle broken off), (iii) a small black ware Jar with six-sided indentations. It should be noted that Graves 2 and 3 contained amongst the ashes, metal boot studs, and all the Burials are in the river mud some 4 feet 6 inches below the level of the saltings at this point. St. Katherine's, Shorne Since the report last year on this site, further excavation connected with building extensions on the north side of this old Chapel have revealed at least eight separate human Burials. The graves were considered to be Christian ones and were not further disturbed. (See Arch. Cant., Vol. xx and Vol. lxxviii Local Secretaries' Report.) Springhead Mr. W. S. Penn reports: The last year at Springhead has been dominated by the widening of the A.2 in which a sixty-feet strip of the settlement has been taken. An intensive survey of the threatened area was undertaken by the Gravesend Historical Society beforehand and subsequently 'rescue' digs have been carried out by them and also, at their request, by Mr. B. J. Philp and his Group. The assistance of Mr. Philp has been invaluable and is an excellent illustration of what can be achieved by co-operation between Groups. At this stage it is only possible to give a brief outline of the numerous discoveries. All will be fully reported in due course. The first discovery was a Cremation Burial in a first-century pot let into a chalk fioor. Nearby was a heat-reddened clay base on which the cremation may have been performed. lvi REPORT, 1964 The second discovery was a hypocaust building approximately 25 ft. by 20 ft. and of AAntonine date. It had not been finished and lacked a stoke hole. It contained an intrusive child inhumation burial of thirdcentury date which was accompanied by a small pewter pot. The next discovery, in time, was a curious building with chalk footings of late first-century date. There had apparently been no superstructure and its hypocaust-like nature suggests that it may have been a corn drying kiln. A few feet away from it was a large kiln or oven, again of firstcentury date, but containing an intrusive third-century cremation burial. Nothmg was found in the structure to indicate what it had been used for except considerable amounts of potash. Some time was expended on the excavation of a large building opposite the Temple temenos on the other side of the Roman Watling Street. It was about 50 ft. by 30 ft. and was of early second-century date. One of its two rooms contained an L-shaped corn drying kiln and in the other was a crude flint mausoleum which contained two cremation burials. The building was destroyed towards the end of the second century and covered with a substantial road. The most important discovery was made by Mr. Philp as a result of an observation made during trenching operations by the South East Gas Board. He noted what appeared to be a large ditch, and subsequent excavation revealed an undoubted military ditch of 12 ft. wide by 8 ft. deep of firstcentury date. The considerable amount of early first-century pottery found at Springhead indicates that there may well have been a camp there in the very early days. Not far from the ditch was a wattle and daub building with a chalk floor approximately 25 ft. by 20 ft. It had been burnt down and was remarkable for the considerable amount of plain and decorated Samian ware found on the floor. During the widening of the railway bridge, part of a building was discovered which almost certainly belongs to the shop (Arch. Cant., Vol. Ixxii, p. 77). The most important find was part of some sculpture, possibly the foot of a large animal. One building along the line of the road was almost destroyed by the contractors before it could be examined. Only one corner survived and his had a tessellated floor. In it was found the trunk of a bone statuette which was dowelled for the attachment of limbs. The final discovery, made by workmen, was a Coin Hoard. When the Gravesend Historical Society took over they managed to recover many of the coins and approximately 450 have come to light. .All are silver siliquae or double siliquae with the exception of three gold solidi. The latest emperors represented are Theodosius and Magnus Maximus and all coins are in excellent condition. Subsequent excavation revealed that the hoard had been buried outside the wall of a substantial flint building. The hoard had clearly been meant to be recovered. Lullingstone Mr. G. K. Horner reports: Some years ago first-century pottery was found on a field surface, near Summer House KnoU, in Lullingstone Park. The Crayford Manor House -Archaeological Research Group carried out excavations at this spot during September, 1964. These revealed a near rectangular, ditched enclosure (approximately 60 ft. by 67 ft.) containing a number of post-holes. Pottery lvii REPORT, 1964 from the ditches suggests that they were filled between A.D. 60-100. Further work is envisaged to recover the plan of the post-holes and to trace a subsidiary ditch system. Lt.-Col. G. W. Meates reports: A golf-course is in process of being laid out in Lullingstone Park, on the high ground immediately west of Lullingstone Castle, and on digging a deep trench from Park Gate for water supply to the new green on the brow of the land visible from the Castle, a large pit was encountered. I t was approximately circular and 18 ft. in diameter, though its depth could not be ascertained. It had been cut out of the natural chalk and lined with clay, and it may originally have been a water-catchment. It was found to contain, however, a mass of carbonized material, containing quantities of first-century pottery. This debris had been shot into the pit in a burning state and may suggest the remains of a burning hut nearby; a native occupation site of the early first century may have existed on this high ground. The pottery closely accords with that recovered from the ditched enclosure near Summer House Knoll across the valley southwards. A comparative analysis of the pottery from both these sites, together with similar pottery from the Lullingstone Roman Villa, the Franks Roman Villa, and the Farningham Ditch System will be worked out in due course. Valuable information may arise from this analysis, as these sites form a compact group in the Darent Valley. Romney Marsh Miss A. Roper reports: A discovery was made during restoration work of fragments of wall painting on the south wall of the chancel of St. Clement's Church, Old Romney, and more clearly defined painting, which would appear to represent the martyrdom of St. Thomas a Becket, on the south wall of the south chapel at St. Augustine's, Brookland. There is a marked increase in interest in the churches of Romney Marsh, and during the last three years innumerable requests have been received for various Societies from Kent and Sussex to be taken round the churches. Rochester Mr. A. C. Harrison reports: The Archseological Society of Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School completed its fourth season's work on the southern defences of the city and again with some unexpected results. This year the main object of mquiry was the wall which was supposed to run east-west under a path in the Deanery Garden and which was variously dated 1225 (Canon Livett) and 1344 (St. John Hope). Three separate sections were cut across the line of this 'wall' without any trace of it being discovered (a rather irregular ditch, filled with tile and rubble of Tudor date, which underlay the path was probably responsible for the statement in Archmologia Cantiana Vol. xxi that 'it was traced with the probe throughout its length'). A further excavation, together with the extensive trenches dug in connection with building operations, has enabled the position of the southern lip of the 1225 ditch to be located and has confirmed that the whole area to the south of the Roman wall is 'made' soil with tip-lines indicating that the ditch was filled in from the south, which is what one lviii REPORT, 1964 would expect if the material came from the later ditch still visible in the orchard. A Roman excavation was also found, which had been truncated by the medieval ditch. This was very deep, 19£ ft. from the surface, and produced some second-century pottery. Its purpose is not yet established and it may have been no more than a gravel-pit. Finally, an investigation of the extension of the eastern city wall beyond the Roman South-east corner has disclosed two important facts. Firstly, the wall is built on construction-arches exactly similar to those in the eastern curtain-wall of the Castle, and secondly, this wall was built after the 1225 ditch was filled in, as the tip-lines of the ditch run unbroken under the wall through the arches but are cut off by the wall itself, which here was evidently trench-built. This unusual method of construction has been plausibly ascribed to Prior John, who is Icnown to have been responsible for work on the Castle in 1368, and it seems reasonable therefore to suppose that this extension of the east wall of the city is of the same period. Sevenoaks Lt.-Col. G. W. Meates communicates the following report by Mr. B. J. Philp: In October, 1964, construction of the new Sevenoaks by-pass road disturbed a number of Saxon graves close by the foot of Polhill. The discovery was reported by the Sevenoaks police, and a visit to the site revealed the need for immediate emergency excavation. Financial support was obtained from the Ministry of Public Building and Works, and work began the same day, continuing for the next five days. Sixteen graves were located, carefully excavated, recorded, photographed and emptied. Each grave had been dug 10-20 inches into the chalk and all were aligned roughly east-west with the heads at the west ends. The spacing was roughly regular and the graves appear to have been in clusters. Of 15 skeletons recovered one at least was a child and of the rest 12 had been buried with small iron knives, normally placed at the left waist, and one with an iron spear along the body on the right side. Three graves contained bronze buckles and a stud. These few finds suggest that the cemetery dates between A.D. 650—700. With the sixteen new graves the known total is now 35, and clearly others were destroyed years ago. This cemetery, flanking the Pilgrim's Way, is very similar to several others known in Kent as regards date, siting, orientation, grouping and grave-goods. Two of the nearest and best-known of these occur at Horton Kirby in the Darent Valley, and at Holborough in the Medway Valley, both within 12 miles. I n response to the appeal for help with these emergency excavations eleven members of the West Kent Border Group, three members of the Otford Historical Society, and one each from the Lower Medway, Gravesend and Orpington Groups gave assistance. This was the first instance of inter-group help with such emergency operations now being organized on a county basis. Sittingbourne Mr. R. R. Dixon communicates the following report by Mr. J. E. L. Caiger: In March, 1964, a subsidence occurred in the front garden of a fifteenthcentury cottage at Rushett, Teynham (Map Ref. TQ 970699). On investilix REPORT, 1964 gation the subsidence was found to be due to the presence of a deep chalkwell, probably dug in the eighteenth century. Originally the chalkwell must have been about 30 ft. deep. It had the usual three chambers radiating at 120 degrees from the base of the shaft. Two chambers, 16 ft. by 14 ft., were still accessible, whilst the third chamber was found to be almost completely filled with rubble and soil, which in this neighbourhood is clay-with-flints. A noteworthy feature was the fractured remains of a domed cap, constructed with dry-set chalk flints, which had been centred over the shafts about 5 ft. below the present ground level. An annular recess had been cut into the shaft to accommodate the springing of the dome. The flints had been set into this recess and built towards the centre in cantilever fashion to form the dome. It was apparent that each flint had been selected for its irregular shape and was carefully interlocked with adjacent flints as the work proceeded. On completion, the flint dome had been consolidated with additional flints to ensure its structural stability. This bygone method of sealing off chalkwell shafts when mining operations ceased has been noted elsewhere, but hitherto it has not been possible to observe the precise details of the flintwork construction. Isle of Thanet Mr. D. G. Scurrell reports: The Isle of Thanet Excavation Group under the direction of Mr. J . C. Coy has continued excavations at the Drapers Mills School site and the first phase is nearly completed. The evidence is that the remains of timber-framed structures have been found and a Belgic flat bottom ditch. The buildings are likely to have been farm outbuildings. The material found dates from Belgic to fourth century. Soon the derelict windmill nearby is to be dismantled and the Group has permission to excavate the site in the near future. The field activities of Broadstairs and St. Peter's Archseological Society have been mainly confined to two fields within the grounds of Bradstow School. As this is an L.C.C. controlled establishment only a limited period —generally during the main school hohday—has been available. We are still waiting for the results of a survey by magnetometer in May of the first site. Aerial photograph shows the distinct ring ditch of a tumulus. The second field completely surveyed by gradiometer was negative. Some of our members did, however, go to Reculver and assist there in this excavation on several days. The Society has also had a full programme of visits and lectures. The Isle of Thanet Archaeological Society gave some assistance at the Reculver dig. It has had a full programme of lectures and paid visits to Penshurst, Lullingstone, Hever and the Isle of Sheppey. The Society is planning an exhibition to be held in Margate in 1965 intended to draw attention to the history and antiquities of the area. Tunbridge Wells Mrs. V. F. Desborough reports: The number of the Tunbridge Wells Branch of the Kent -Archseological Society has increased by six during 1964, all of whom are keen and interested members. Mr. V. R. Desborough, F.S.A., gave a lecture on The Myceneans t o our Ix REPORT, 1964 members last April. The Reverend Mother of the Convent of the Sacred Heart offered us the Lecture Hall of the School, so our audience was greatly enlarged by many of the senior girls, all very enthusiastic. In August, I arranged a Special Summer Meeting at Miohelham Priory, when many members of the Sussex -Archaeological Society met our local members at a splendid illustrated lecture by Mr. Barry Cunliffe, F.S.A., on the Roman Palace at Fishbourne. We were specially grateful to Mr. Cunliffe, as he gives few lectures during his work on the site during summer. The lecture was held in the Great Barn, and our audience must have numbered over 150. We had the very great pleasure of Mr. Margary's presence—he introduced Mr. Cunliffe at the lecture. After tea, Commander Harrison most generously took our members over the Priory. Special thanks to Mrs. Hotblack and to him for their help. Our member, Mr. James Money, F.S.A., led the interesting excavations at Withyham. West Kent Border Archazological Group Miss Elizabeth Warman reports: Work along the West Kent Border and in adjacent parts of Surrey was continued on a vastly increased scale during 1964, under the direction of Mr. B. J. Philp. Work has continued throughout the year, regardless of weather, and the results have been spectacular. Indeed, the close observance of the Group's (published) policy of research has resulted in discoveries unparalleled by the previous work in the district. Detailed surveys of fields and woodlands produced the usual crop of new sites and these were followed up by trial or large-scale excavations as appropriate. 1. Hayes Common. The fifth season's work was undertaken on this important Late Bronze Age farmstead site. Extensive excavation west of the ditches found in 1963 revealed pits and gulleys containing pottery and very large fragments of quern-stone identical to those in use at the Late Bronze Age site some 40 miles away at Weston Wood, Surrey. Flints and 'pot-boilers' were again recovered from a wide area. A very extensive examination was made of the 500-yard long linear earthwork running roughly north-south across the Common. Cuts through the bank and ditch at many points produced only flint material and this has provided only a relative date. 2. Field 81. The third season's work on this first century Romano- British farmstead ended in March, 1964. Over 700 ft. of trenches and more than 60 test-holes were dug over a wide area. Small pits and shallow ditches, typical of these sites, were located and their contents studied. Over 3,000 sherds represented flagons, bowls, platters, cups and amphorse and a single stamped mortarium. Greensand and Andernach quern-stones fragments, a bronze brooch, an iron ring, were also found, but no animal bones or oyster shells. 3. Field 81. The Neolithic-Bronze Age site here appears to cover more than 20 acres and selective surface clearance has produced more than 28,000 items. Heavy machinery was used on one part of the site. 4. Field 67. Casual survey work in 1963 produced several worn potsherds of Roman date and a single late-second-century coin. Test-holes over a wide area produced pottery ranging from first-fourth centuries and three more coins. Work will continue during the winter in an attempt to locate any structures which may exist. lxi REPORT, 1964 5. Fields 194 and 195. A single trench, some four feet deep and more than two miles in length, was dug from Addington in Surrey eastwards over high ground towards Biggin Hill in Kent. This cut through a previously unknown Roman site where pits and a gulley were recorded. The pottery from these again suggests a farmstead of first or second-century date. More work is planned. 6. Field 36. Detailed survey revealed several struck flints and a single potsherd. Immediate excavations carried out in unusual conditions in January produced several small sherds of late Iron Age or Roman pottery. More work needs to be done on this site. 7. Field 29. Trial excavations in dense woodland produced flint and other material of Neolithic date, and another important site is clearly indicated. Work will continue throughout the winter. Within 200 ft. of the Neolithic site very deep trial excavations have located the corner of a substantial Roman building. This has taken seven years to find. Pottery suggests a second-century date with a first-century farmstead in the close vicinity. A wide ditch was found delimiting the west side. In accordance with the Group's policy no attempt will be made fully to excavate this building unless preliminary work indicates that this would substantially benefit the knowledge of a much wider region. Work will continue throughout the winter. 8. Roman Road. The London-Lewes Roman road cuts through this district and this has been examined at three points along its course. Each time the metalling was pebble derived from the Woolwich Beds. At one site the width was 18 ft. 9. Ravenscroft. Ahead of the proposed demolition of this seventeenthcentury building (with its impressive facade), the Group has completed a photographic record of its main features and drawn both plan and elevation. 10. Hayes Church. Extensions to Hayes Church have produced an excellent opportunity to search for the Roman building said to exist there. Constant watch has been kept on the trenches and appropriate records made. Emergency Work The Group has assisted, again as part of its policy, with urgent emergency excavations at the Roman town at Springhead, the Saxon cemetery at Polhill and in the City of London. Members have also assisted with research projects at Reculver and on other sites. Training Scheme Both the primary and secondary training schemes have been pursued by most active members and regular monthly meetings with lectures and slides have been well attended. Of the large amount of work done by many members Christopher Jones and .Andrew Appleby are to be congratulated for their particular efforts. lxii