( xxxix. )
l)t
r.c hre:olo gi.cal
ABS111-tAC'l' OF PROCEEDINGS, 1911-1912.
March 9th, l!:H 1.-The Oouucil met at the Society's Rooms,
Maidstone, fourteen members present, Lord Northbourne in the
Ohair.
It was decided that, owing to the limited space in the library,
the invitation to exchange publications with the Cork Archreological
Society should be declined.
The question of the future of H.ichborough Castle being raised
with reference to the death of Canon Flower, the acting trustee,
Lord N orthbourue undertook to consult the Archbishop with
regard to the same.
In reply to an application for a grant towards the Rochester
Diocesan Registers the Secretary was directed to ask for an
estimate of the cost.
A letter was read from the Congress of Arohreological Societies
asking if the Kent Archreo1ogical Society would subscribe for
a number of copies of the "scheme for recording ancient defensive
earthworks and fortified enclosures." The Council did not consider
it necessary.
Mr. H. Greensted of Tunstall was elected Hon. Local Secretary
for the Sittingbourue District vice Dr. Gra.yling, resigned.
The balance-sheet £or 1910, with list of members whose subscriptions
were in arrear, was presented.
The following were elected Ordinary Members : E. Garnet
Mn.u, .A. W. King, Mrs. Aubrey le Blond, R. F. Clarke, Mrs. Muir,
Miss May, W. Lewis, Lionel de Barri Orawshay, Captain C. T,
Hesketh, Ead Amherst;, Lord Sackville, Sir H. B. Cohen,
xl PROCEEDINGS, 1911.
Captain 0. H. North, and Miss Gertrude Tonge. Sir H. B. Cohen
was added to the list of Vice-Presidents.
Cheques were signed, including one in favoUl' of the publishers
for £100 on account of Vol. XXIX., and one for £106 for the
investment of life subscriptions.
The Secretary was instructed to iusure the Curator and Porter
under the Employers' Liability Act.
June 1st, 1911.-The Council met at the "Coburg Hotel,"
at the invitation of the President, Lord N 01·thbourne in the Chair.
Eighteen members present.
The Dean of Rochester introduced the question of the printing
by the Society of the Capitular, Diocesan, and Parochial Registers
of the Diocese of Rochester. The matter was referred to Mr. A. A.
Arnold, Mr. L. L. Duncan, and the Rev. C. E. Woodruff, to be
brought again before the Council.
It was decided that arrears in the subscription to the Pipe Roil
Society should be paid and the subscription continued in the
future. A request that the Council should contribute towards
the preservation of an old house at Wickhambreaux was declined,
on the ground that the Society had no funds available £or the
purpose.
A programme of the Annual Meeting was laid before the
Council and approved. It was decided that the members of the
local committee of an annual meeting should be elected members
of the Society pro tem.
Mr. H. W. Knocker was elected a Member of the Council vice
Mr. C. W. Powell, now an ea:-ojfiaio member as Hon. Treasurer.
The draft Annual Report was adopted with slight alterations.
The following were elected Ordinary Members: Rev. C. G.
Duffield, Earl Stanhope, Miss Harriet Strettell, Mrs. H. V. Lushington,
F. E. Wallis, E. Vaughan, l\'[rs. Grubb, Captain G. L.
Courthope, J. Scratton, Rev. H. R. Hughes, H. Woodall,
F. H. Day, Mrs. A. Leney, Rev. J. E. le S. Dawson, Miss A. J.
Dawson.
A cheque of five guineas was drawn in favour of the Pipe Rolls
Society.
July 18th, 1911.-The Annual General Meeting ,was held in
the Town Hall, Greenwich, Lord Northbourne, President, in the
Ohair.
J.>RO(iEEDING};, 191'1..
"£he .iYfayor of Gt·eenwich welcomed the Society.
Rev. W. Gardner-Waterman then read the Annual Report,
which expressed regret at the Society's losses by death, amongst
whom he would especially mention Earl Amherst, for many years
a trustee of the Society, and the Rev. Canon ]'lower, the acting
trustee of Richborougb Castle. They would be asked to elect
two 'l'rustees, as no minute could be found of the election of
Mr. Mapleton Chapman. The Council had, at the request 0£
the Rector and Churchwardens, returned to Smarden OhUl'ch the
sword which formerly hung over the Rum den pew and belonged
to Colonel Otway, as this appeared to have been presented to the
Society under a misapprehension. They also asked for the return
of the Bulla of Pope Innocent IV., A.D. 1245, which was found
in the Rectory Garden, but this the Council felt was in a different
position, and retained it in the Society's collections.
The past year had produced no striking discoveries within the
county. The Council had expended £30 in the excavations at
Ricbborough Castle. 'l'hey had hoped further work on this spot
might have been uudertakeu in conjunction with the Society of
Antiquaries, but at present this matter was in abeyance.
Owing to the illness of the Hon. Editor, Rev. G. M. Livett,
who was ordered abroad shortly after Christmas, it had not been
possible to issue Vol. XXIX. to members, but it was hoped shortly
to do this owing to the kindness of the Rev. C. E. Woodruff, wbo
had undertaken this duty during the Edito1·'s absence. The
Volumes were not issued yearly but at irregular intervals, which
had averaged since the commencement of the Society twenty-two
months.
During the past year fifty new members had been e1ected,
a number slightly in excess of previous years.
The President added a few words, and spoke with appreciation
of the services rendered by Rev. Vv. G. Waterman, who was getting
the fiuances of the Society out of a state of almost inextricable
confusion, and that something like order was taking the place of
the previous chaos was due to his laborious work.
The President informed Ml'. Denne, in reply to a question, that
subscriptions to the Richborough Onstle Excava.l;iou Fund might
be sent to Mr. W. H. St. John-Hope, Hon. Treasurer.
The six retiring Members of the Council and the Auditors were
re-elected.
Mi-. Mapleton Chapman and Mr. C. W. Powell were eleoted
Trustees of the Society's funds and property. The following were
elected Ordinary Members: A. I<'. Buxton and H. Outhwaite.
The following alterations in. the Rules of the Society, of which
due notice had been given, were put and unanimously carried :
Rule 2.-After "Honorary Secretary" read "Honorary Financial
Secretary;" Rule 3.-To read "and on the second Wednesday
in the month of December;" Rule 14.-For "Secretary" read
" Secretaries."
The H.ev. W. Gardner-Waterman was appointed Hon. Financial
Secretary.
The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the Mayor of
Greenwich.
The Society then proceeded to the Parish Church of St. Alpbege,
which was described by the Vicar, Rev. S. M. Bardsley, M.A.
'l'he present building iR 200 years old, but is on the site of earlier
churches erected on the spot where St. Alphege was massacred by
the Danes. It ha,s an organ, the history of which can be traced
back to 1552, and is therefore one of the most ancient in England.
The instrument was played by Thomas Tallie,, the father of English
Church Music, who, as Court Musician, resided at Greenwich.
Tallis and his wife were buried in the chancel. Tbe pulpit is
handsome, and possesses hour-glasses which register the quarter,
the hid£, the three-quarter, and the hour intervals. The capitals
of the pillars supporting the galleries are good examples of carving.
'l'he sanctuary rails also are noteworthy. One of the nave windows
is in meruory of Genero.l Wolfe, who is buried here.
After lunch at the Ship, Vanbrugb Castle, erected about 1717
by Sir John Vanbrugh, was visited, and was described by
Mr. H. Jones, l!".S.A., but only tbe exterior was shewn. It is
built 0£ brick with round and square turrets, and is said to have
been modelled on the Bastille.
The members then proceeded to Greenwich Park, seeing the
remains of the small Roman Villa discovered a few years ago.
Upwards of three hundred coins have been discovered here, representing
about forty emperors.
St. Luke's Church, Charlton, was next visited, a.ud was described
by the Vicar, the Rev. J. H. Bridgwater, M.A. There is a little
early work discovered cased in the brick wall. The nave was
rebuilt in 1630. 'l'he east window is late-seventeenth century, and
portions are by the famous window-painter, Isaac Oliver. Progress
was, then made to Charlton House, the residence of Sit· Spencer
°l>ROCEEDING-S, 1911.
M:aryon-Wilson, stated to have been erected 1607 for Sir .A.dam
Newton, tutor to the two sons 0£ James I. In the grounds
a mulberry tree was planted in 1608 by order of King James I.
The house has most interesting collections of vV edgewood and
various curio13, and some lace-work of the time of the Commonwealth.
There are also some interesting lead tanks.
After the Annual Dinner, which took place at the Ship,
Greenwich, Mr. J.E. G. de Montmorency, M.A., LL.B., spoke on
the History of Greenwich and Mr. F. C. Elliston-Erwood on
Lesnes Abbey.
On Wednesday, 19th July, visits were paid to the Naval
Museum, the Painted Hi\ll, and Greenwich College.
A start was made in fine weather £or vVell Hall, visited by the
kind permission of lVIr. Hubert Bland. There is a moat and part
of an Elizabethan house. 1'he 'l.'udot· brickwork bears date 1568.
Mr. Vince.nt gave a short description.
Eltham Palace was next visited, and in the Great Ilall lunch
took place, by kind permission of Mr. S. "Wilson. Mr. C. H-. Peers,
Chief Inspector of .Ancient Monuments, described the building,
trni:ing the history from the time of the Domesday Survey.
Ilenry VI., it has been lately discovered, built a great chapel and
a hall adjoining, alLhough Edward IV. was the man to whom they
looked as having et·ected most of the building. '.l'he large haU was
built in 1480. Henry VII. made :;ome additions, and Henry VIII.
was the last King to reside there. Important information regarding
the outer buildiugs had recently come to hand through the finding
0£ a plan, which had been discovered at Hatfield. 'l'bis discloses
where the lodgings of the personal att,:mdants of the Kings were
situated, and also the position of some of the courts. '.l.'he hall is
at the present time the pt·iucipal feature, the roof being a very
good example of late fifteenth-century work. For preservation the
Office of Works is pl'oposing to refix glass in the windows.
The members then proceeded to East Wickham 01.iurch. '.l.'he
Rev. :B'. C. Cowen, M.A., described the Church, which holds 100,
with it population in the parish of 7000. In the vestr-y there is an
old chest with tweli·e bolts, and in the nave it brass to Sir John de
Bladigdooe of Blendon Pat·k, 1325.
On the return journey· Lesne::i Abbey was visited to see the
excavations undertaken by the W oolwich Antiq uariu.u Society,
the President, Mr. Vincent, a.ud others very kindly actiug as
guides. '.1.'he Ab.bey was founded by lt.ichard de Lucy, Cuief
rliv PROCEE.DINGS, 1911.
Justiciar of Engln.nd, 1178, aud was suppressed by Cardinal ·wolsey.
The foundations of the Church are 240 feet long by 67 feet wide.
Many of the objects excavated were seen under cover, and members
spent some time in addition in being taken round in parties to see
the foundations, which have been opened out to view.
September 14th, 1911.-The Council met at the Bridgewardens'
Chamber, Rochester. Mr. F. F. Giraud was voted to the Ohair.
Ten members present.
Votes of thanks in connection with the Greenwich Meeting
were accorded to the Mayor and Corporation of Greenwich, the
Rev. S. M. Bardsley, Mr. Duccombe, the Rev. J. H. Bridgewate1•,
Sir Speneer Maryon-Wilson, Mr. Bland, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Wilson,
Rev. F. C. Cohen, the rrown Clerk of Greenwich, Mr. W. T. Vincent,
Mr. de Montmorency, Mr. Elliston Erwood, and Mr. Herbert
Jones.
The following were elected Members of the Council: G. Wood
W ollaston, " BI uemantle," vice Mr. G. E. Cockayne, deceased, and
Mr . .A.ymer Vallance vice Colonel Copeland, resigned.
'l'he loan of blocks of views of Edenbridge was granted to the
Rev. H. Somers Cocks.
The Rev. C. E. Woodruff undertook, if necessary, to investigate
discoveries at Stonar reported in a letter from the Rev. A. M.
Chichester.
The following were elected Ordinary Members: W. G. Covell,
W. Whiting.
The Records Committee was 1·equested to report to the next
meeting upon a letter received from the Secretary of the Records
Special Committee of the Rochester Diocesan Conference, su·ggesting
that the Society should undertake the publication of their
Report on Parochial Registers, and, failing this, asking for a grant
towards the expense.
Mr. Knocker reported a.n offer from Mr. Nath. J. Hone to
transcribe the Inquisitiones Post-nw1·tem, in continuation of the
series printed in Arch. Oant. It was decided to accept the offer
with thanks.
December 6th, 1911.-The Council met, by the permission of
the Dean, iu the Cathedral Library, Canterbury. Sixteen members
present, the President, Lord Northbourne, in the Chair.
Letters were received £rom Rev. T. S. Frampton and Mr. A. H.
PROCEEDINGS, 1911. xlv
Gardner, resigning their positions upon the Council. These
resignations were acceptecl with an expression of regret, and
the l{ev. T. S. Frampton was unanimom.ly elected a Vice-Presideut.
Mr. W. M. Newton was elected Hou. Local Secretary 0£ the
Dartford District vice Mr. Holt "\Vhite, resigned. Letters were
read from M1·. J. A. ,Ja.cobs and Mr. S. Manser relating to iihe
discoveries at Stonar, and from Mr. Elliston Erwood with regard to
the exc-avatious at Lesnes. It wa,s decided that l\1r. Erwood
should be asked to furnish a report.
The Hon. H. Hannen wis elected a JVIember of the Council
vice the Rev. Gardner-"\Vaterman, who became a member e:r:-officio
on his appointment as Honorary J!'inan-eial Secretary.
It was agreed that Hythe should be the centre for the next
.Annual Meeting.
The following were elected Ordimtry Members: Mrs. Julian,
H. Dewey, 'l'. H. Evans, Rev. E. Owen, Dr. Sidney J. Smith,
W. E. Oaroe, and Campbell Ashenden.
It was decided to print 1000 copies of a circular prospectus 0£
the Society recently distributed by Dr. Cotton in the Ramsgate
district.
It was agreed that a set of photographs of Mr. Petrie's sketches
of Kentish Churches, issued by the Kent Photographic Survey
Society, should be purchased for the Library and suitably mounted
in brown-paper volumes.
It was agreed, on the recommendation of the Records Committee,
tl1at the Council should 1)Ublish the report on Parochial
Registers on behalf of the Rochester Diocesan Conference, provided
that two-thirds of the estimated cost of £75 for an issue of
800 copies should be met by signed promises of subscriptions at
the following rates: For a member of K.A.S. 2s., a member of the
Conference 3s., other purchasers 5s. per copy; it being understood
that the p·ivilege of purchase nt reduced rate should be limited to
one copy per member.
Mr. Richard Cooke's offer to undertake the duties of Honora.ry
General Secretary 1:ice the Rev. \V. Gardller-W atermau, resigned,
was gratefully accepted, and his appointment una.nimously carried.
Mr. Gardner-\·Vaterman kindly conse.ntiug to continue to discharge
the duties of Financial Secretary, the following Committee was
appointed to adjust the duties of the respective offices: the President,
Rev. C. E. Woodruff, Rev. G. M. Livett, Mr. H.ichnrd Cooke,
Rev. W, Giii-dnr-Waterman.
xlvi PROCEEDINGS, 1912.
r- March 14th,1912.-The Council rnet at Astley House,Maidstone,
after luncheon, by the invitation of Mr. He1·bert Monckton. Lord
Northbourne presided. There were fifteen members prese11t.
Mr. Richard John Fynmore attended by the invitation of the
President.
The following were elected Ordinary Members: G. Feaver
Clarke, Professor Cleveland Abbe, Newton H. Hardy, Lord
Weardale, Miss Bowen, H. W. Plumptre, Lieui;.-Colonel E.
Wyndham Bailey, Rev. B. T. Winnifrith, Rev. D. Barry, and
R. H. Goodsall. The Constitutional Club, N ortbumberland
Avenue, W., was admitted to membership.
Letters were read from the Urban District Council, Tonbridge,
and from Mr. Herbert Sands, F.S. A., reporting upon exca,,ations
commenced at Tonbridge Castle, and asking for a grant. It was
agreed that a sum of £20 should be granted to the Excavation
Committee, with the condition that the p1·imary report or reports,
with plans and other illustrations, be sent to the Editor £or publication
in A1•cltaJolo.1ia Cantiana.
The President reported the possibility 0£ the sale in the near
future 0£ Sandgate Castle, and hoped that something might be
done to preserve that historical and interesting landmark 0£ the
past, adding that E. Brassey, Sir E. Sassoon, M.P. for Hytbe, and
other residents in the neighbourhood were anxious for its preser•
vatioa. The Hon. Secretary was requested to communicate with
the N ntional Trust £or Places of Historical Interest, 25 Victoria
Street, Vv estminster, with a view to their co-operation.
The Hon. Secretary, Mr. Richard Cooke, reported that he had
received promises 0£ subscription to the amount required by the
Council, as a condition 0£ their undertaking the publication of
an edition of 800 copies 0£ Parish Registers and Records in the
Diocese 0£ Rochester, edited by the Hev. W. E. Buckland, for the
]{ochester Diocesan Conference, and that he had given the necessat·y
instructions to the Society's publishers. In accordance with the
terms of the report presented to the Counc.il at its last meeting by
the Records Committee, the Honorary Editor, the Rev. G. M.
Livett, had arranged that the volume should be uni.form with
A1•chaJolo.1ire Oantinna, and should bear the general title of Kent
Records, with a view to its being regarded as the first 0£ a series
of such records. 'rhe President expressed a hope that a similar
work should be carried out for the Canterbury Diocese, and the
Council passed a recomme:ndation to thttt effect,
':PROCEEDINGS, l!H2. xlvii
Cheqnes were signed, including one for £20 for rent of rooms,
one for 11 guineas fot· the Petrie photogr11.phs, and one for £20 for
the Tonbridge Castle Excavation Fnud.
At the meeting of the Society held at the Maidstone Museum on
the same afternoon Mr . .A.ymer Vallance read a paper on the subject
0£ Old Bridges in England and Wales, illustrnted by a large
number of lantern slides. He began by remarking that the earliest
bridges seem to have been wooden structures of a more or less
tempo1,ary character. He then traced the development 0£ stone
bridges from their most pt'imitive form of stepping stones (e. fJ. .,
Torr Steps on the Burle, Somerset) to the next stage, that of
cyclopean bridges of post-and-lintel constnwtion (e ..r; ., Slaughter
Bridge, 11enr Camelford, Cornwall), and lastly to the arched
structure. '.!.'he medire,,nl bridge at its most perfect development in
the fifteenth century consisted of pointed arches, very usually
ribbed 1mderneath, and springing from massive piers with projecting
cutwaters. 'I'he latter, as their name implies, served to
divide and break the force of the cmrent or the impact of floating
ice, while the top parb provided refuges for foot-passenger, the
roadway over being generally n, narrow one, n.nd thus liable to be
occupied by vehicular traffic. The <'arliest and most obvious way
of enlarging a bridge was to turn arches, from cutwn.ter to cutwater,
parallel to the forme1· roadway. This plan, howeve1·, while
widening the main thoroughfare, absorbed the triangular spaces on
the tops of the cutwaters and so deprived foot passengers of the
protection of the refuges wl1ich used to be at their service. To
supply this need sometimes an overhanging gangway of timber
would be attaclled to the bridge alongside the parapet (M was done
at Bow 1ridge on the Lea at Stratford) or (as in the case of the
old bridge at Maidstone} an iron-grated refuge, like a cage, was
constructed in the middle.
It is important to remember tl1at, in the Middle Ages, bridgebuilding
and repairing ranked as meritorious and in the same
category with corporal works 0£ mercy and benevolence. The
faithful, moreover, were encouraged by t,heir spiritual pnstors to
make special efforts in this regard, many bishops granting indulgences
(i.e., remissions of penance or 0£ ecclesiastical censures) to
those who should participate in the pious work. 'l'hus the Pope
himself is believed to have indulgenced the work of Old lfochcster
Bridge.
This apect of . bridge.m11king .and wairitenai1ce WflS often
xlviii PROCEEDINGS, 1912.
emphasised by the erection of a chapel built actually on the bridge
or in close proximity to the end of it. London and Bristol Bridges,
the two most important bridges in the kingdom (Rochester Bridge
ranking third in importance), had each a chapel at the middle of
the bridge. Wakefield and Rotherham Bridges in Yorkshire aud
St. Ives Bridge in Huntingdonshire still have remaini; of their
ancient chapels standing upon them, whilst others, like
Derby and Rochester Bridges, still have the remains of the
bridge chapel standing at one end. The roofless walls of the
bridge chapel at Rochester may still be seen on the eastem
shore, adjoining the north side of i.he Bridge-wardens' modern
chamber.
Another notable feature, since bridges very often were positions
of much tactical value, were the towers or fortified gates standing
upou bridges or commanding their approaches. The only extant
example of a gate yet remaining 011 a bridge is on the Monnow
Bridge at Monmouth, whilst fortifications ahio exist at the end of
bridges at Wark worth, N@rthumberland, and at St. David's in
South Wales.
Mr. Vallance gave a short sketch of the history of some of the
principal bridges in the country and also of some of specially local
interest, such as those on the Medway at Rochester, Aylesford,
Maidstone, .East Farleigh and Teston. At Rochester there wae a
bridge across the Medway p1·obably in Roman, or at least in Saxon
times. It was in line with Rochester High Street, the ancient
Watling Street. 1'he first stone bridge, however, built about
1389-1892, was higher up the stream. 'I1he chapel erected at its
eastern end was dedicated to the Holy 1'rinity with the intention of
the souls' health of the founders, of their kindred and all the
faithful departed. An internsting feature of this building is the
vice or staircase at the west part of the north wall, leading to the
loft at the west end, a loft which still retains considerable portions
of Perpendicular oak screenwork, forming part of its eastern front.
The medireval bridge was demolished in 1857-8. The reconstruction
of it successor, opened in 1856 as near as maybe on the more
ancient site, is still proceeding.
The early history of the old bridge over the Medway at Maidstone
is much more obscure than one would expect to -find. It was
called the great bridge to distinguish it from the less important
bridge over the Len, and is so referred to in 1494 in the will of
Richard Arnett, who bequeathed five marks (£8 6$, 8d.) to thl}
PROCEEDINGS, 1912. xli
repair of the Great Bridge of Maidstone.* This bridge seems
originally to have comprised seven arche, but it had been repeatedly
altered and renovated before it was finally demolishecl in 1879, a
new bridge, designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette, having been built
to supply its place.
Mr. Vallance's peroration was an urgent appeal in favour of
preserving with the most scrupulous care whatever of old bridges
still survives, not merely because of their high antiquarian and
oosthetic -value, but also because they enshrine hallowed associations
innumerable which, once dissipated, are lost beyond any possible
recovery.
June 5th, 1912.-After lunching with the President the Council
met at the "Coburg Hotel," Lord Northbourne in the Chair.
Fifteen members present.
It was agreed that churchwardens should be allowed to purchase,
at the reduced cost of 3s., a copy of Parish Registers, etc., for
preservation in their church chest, and that copies should be
supplied to the trade at 5s., less a discount of 20 per cent.
Mr. H. Western Plumptre 0£ Fredville was elected a Member
of the Council.
The following were elected Ordinary Members: F. Morrice,
B. Quaritch, Mrs. Jackson, C. J. Redshaw, Miss Reatchlous,
A. E. G. H. Lushington, Rev. L. Staniforth, A1•tbur Forster,
Ronald Southey, Colonel J. M. Rogers, F. D. Ibbett, A. H. Tubby,
Walter Harris, Rev. S. W. Wheatley, W. K. Mac-Dermott,
Rev. E. K. B. Morgan.
Cheques were drawn, including one for £86 14s. to be paid
to the publishers on account.
The Rev. G. M. Livett and Mr. Aymer Vallance were appointed
representatives of the Society to attend the Congress 0£ Arcbreological
Societies.
Permission was granted to Professo1· 'Baldwin Brown to take
photographs ·of Saxon articles in the Museum, and for the nse
0£ plates in .A.rclu»olo,9ia Oantiana.
Dr. Cock kindly presented a collection of ancient deeds to be
deposited in the Society's rooms, and Mr. Hannen undertook to
make abstracts for the Society's Register 0£ Ancient Deeds.
Mr. Cooke, Mr. Livett, Mr. Hannen, and Mr. Knocker were
* 0ommuni()!l,ter;l by Mr. Arthttr Hussey.
l PROCEEDINGS, 1912.
appointed a Committee to draw up a form for use in abstra-cting
ancient deeds.
It wns agreed, on the request of Mr. A. R. Powys, Secretary of
the Society for Protection of Ancient Buildingl'l, that the Coun<'il
should co-operate with that Society with a view to the preservatfon
of the north wall of the l'ity of Canterbury and certnin ancient
features in St. Mary's Church.
It was reported that some -recent numbers of the Essex Society's
Publications were missing from the library, and it was decided
that, if enquiry of the late secretary should fail to discover them,
application for duplicate copies should be made.
Oo n question arising as to the conditions under which nonmembers
might be granted permission to use the library for
purposes of spe<.'ial study, it was left to the Hon. Secretary to use
his discretion in the matter.
Mr. Herbe1·t Knocker made suggestions £or the re-arrangement
of the Local Districts, and was asked to bring the matter in definite
form before the meeting of the next Council.
July 16th, 1912.-'l'he Annual General Meeting of the Society
was held in the Town Hall, Hythe, under the presidency of Lord
Northbourne. In the unavoidable absence of the Mayor of Hythe
Mr. ,Tohn Scott, Deputy-Mayor, welcomed the Society.
Alderman Scott tendered on the Mayo1•'s behal£ the heartiest
welcome to the K.A.S. from the Corporation of the ancient Cinque
r01•t of Hythe.
Lord Northbourne, in returning thanks, was sure Hythe would
be· in no respect the least interesting of their visits.
The Hon. Secretary, Mr. Cooke, then read his Report, and
began by remarking that when the Society visited Hythe in 1862
the number of members on the Roll was reported to be 840; it was
certainly no more now, probably rather less, a point which to him
was not satisfactory, M so many more persons were now interested
in the very wide field .opened up by .Arcbroology, and he thought
their members ought to increase instead of maintaining a more or
less dead level. He thought members were very much indebted to
the Rev. vV. G. Waterman £or the pains he had taken and the
arduous work be had accomplished in putting the affairs of the
Society in order. He alluded to the endeavour to enlarge the work
and increase the responsibilities of the twenty-four Local Secretaries,
men to whom the Society had been much indebted in the past, and
PROCEEDINGS, l!H2. Ii
w011ld be, he felt sure, still more in the future. He hoped to be
able to arrange for an Annual Meeting of the Local Secretaries,
perhaps one year in East Kent and the following year in West
Kent.
A proposal had been made to form a Recordi, Bra-nch in connection
with the K.A,S. 'l'his was a matter of the very greatest
importance. Scattered up and down throughout the country,
mauy preserved in parish chests in the churches, were documents
of the greatest value to the historian and student, from the valuable
light-being contemporary writings-they threw on the manners,
customs, and history of the past. Now the work of our contemplated
Records Branch would be to search out, catalogue, and
describe these documents, and where considered necessary reproduce
them partly or wholly. Attention would of course be called to
those in a bad state of preservation. Mr. Buckland's volume on
the Diocesan and Parish Records of the Diocese of Rochester was
an instance of such work, and it was much to be hoped that something
similar would be carried out for the Diocese of Canterburya
matter he believed in which our President and the Archbishop of
Canterbury were taking the greatest interest. It was much hoped
that a start might be made of a Records Branch with some 200 to
250 members at 10s. a year.
In moving the adoption of the Report the President niost
strongly advocated the formation of a Records Branch. His
lordship expressed his thanks to Mr. Gardner-Waterman for his
strenuous work for the Society. The Report was adopted. The
retiring members of the Council, viz., Mr. Monckton, the Rev.
C. II. Wilkie, Dr. Cotton, Messrs. Al'llold, Wood Wollnaton, and
Aymer Vallance were re-elected.
The following were elected Ordinary Members : La
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Rules of the Kent Archaeological Society
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