Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1965 ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER, 1965 Council presents its One Hundred and Seventh Report, and the Statement of Accounts for 1964. OBITUARY Council records with regret the death of Mr. Rupert Gunnis, a most valued member of the Society since 1946, and a member of Council for sixteen years. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Annual General Meeting was held at the Museum, Maidstone, on 15th May, 1965, and thE! Chair was taken, in the unavoidable absence of the President, by Mr. F. W . .Jessup, M.A., LL.B., F.S.A., Vice-President. Council's Annual Report and the Statement of Accounts for 1964 were received and adopted. After the luncheon interval, some seventy members and their friends heard a most interesting and stimulating lecture by Dr. W. G. Urry, Ph.D., B.A., F.S.A., F.R.Hist.S., on Tudor Canterbury. The lecture was received with enthusiasm, and the Chairman expressed the warm thanks of the Meeting to the lecturer. MEMBERSHIP During the period from 1st .January, 1965, to 31st December, 1965, fifty-five new members were elected. Losses from death and resignation amounted to twenty-seven, showing a net gain of twenty-eight. The total membership stands at 1,119. The membership of the Society shows a steady if slow, growth; and that this may be accelerated, Council appeals to all members to bring in new members. The Society's Information Leaflet is now printed, and is available to all members on application to the General Secretary. CoUNCIL At the Annual General Meeting, the following were re-elected to Council: Mr. A. F. Allen, Mr . .J. B. Bickersteth, Mr. R. H. Goodsall, Mr. R. H. Hiscock, Miss A. Roper and Mr. P . .J. Tester. Lt.-Col. R. F. H. Drake• Brockman, Professor B. Keith-Lucas and Mr. A. C. Harrison were also elected. The composition of Council is now complete. OD'D'IOJDRS OD' THE SooIETY Librarian. Mr. H. E. Bailey, M.A., having resigned due to ill-health, Council places on record the Society's indebtedness to him for his devoted woi·k for the Library since 1959. Council is happy to report that Mr. D; B. Kelly, of Maidstone Museum, has accepted the post, and the Society is most fortunn,te in obtaining his services. xlii REPORT, 1965 FINANOE The Accounts for 1964 are published with this Report. A marked in• crease 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 Archawlogw, Oantiana 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. Forms of undertaking may be obtained on application to the General Secretary. EXOURSIONS Three excursions were arranged, and it is pleasing to report that these were well supported by members and their friends. The Society is grateful to the gentlemen indicated below who gave talks at the sites visited. Saturday, Li,ngfleld and District 29th May Dry Hill Camp-Mr. J.C. Irwin. Lingfield Church-Rev. Canon C. E. Matthews. The Guest Hall, Lingfield-Mr. H. E. Yeates. Crowhurst Place-Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Broomfield. Crowhurst Church-Rev. C. Crofts and Mr. K. Saturday, 10th July Saturday, 4th September Gravett. The Society is indebted to J.\ilr. Gravett and Mr. Irwin for their assistance in organizing this excursion, and is especially grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Bloomfield for their kindness. The Society was fortunate in the timing of the visit to the Guest Hall at Lingfield as this delightful house was closed the following week to be converted into a branch of the County Library. Rochester and District Cooling Castle-Mr. M. T. Knight. Eccles Roman Villa Excavation.-Mr. A. P. Detsicas, M.A., F.S.A. Rochester Bridge Chapel-Mr. H. A. James. Rochester Cathedral-Mr. G. Stevenson. The Society is grateful to Mr. M. T. Knight for his kindness, and to Colonel E. T. Baker, the Bridge Wardens, and the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral for their co.operation. East l{ent The Roman Fortress at Reculver-Mr. B. J. Philp and Mr. H. E. Gough. Upper Hardres Church-Mr. C. R. Councer, F.S.A. Wye College Museum, Brook-Mr. S. E. Rigold, M.A., F.S.A. Lympne Castle-Mr. S. E. Rigold, M.A., F.S .. A. Postling Church-Mr. H. A. James. xliii Saturday, 4th September ( continued) REPORT, 1965 The Society would like to thank the Governing Body of Wye College for their co-operation and is especially grateful to Mr. and Mrs. H. Margary for their kindness and hospitality. Donations of One Pound each have been sent to the Friends ofR ochester Cathedral and to the churches of Lingfield, CrowhW'St, Upper Hardres and Postling. It is proposed to recommence the Society's Annual Weekend for the study of Archreology and History of the county. This has hitherto been held at Kingsgate College, but a new venue for this has been considered desirable. The University of Kent at Canterbury has most kindly agreed that the next Weekend be held there, residence and board being provided for members of the Society. The date has been provisionally fixed for the weekend 16th to 18th September, 1966, and the subject for study is under consideration. Members will be informed when arrangements are completed. ARC:S:)Jl)OLOGIA CANT.IAN.A Volu,me h:xix was published early in 1965. This, the Society's annual publication, maintains its unbroken high standard, both in the scholarly papers it contains and in its illustrations and presentation, reflecting as it does the widest aspects of the Archreology and History of Kent. LmRARY AND COLLECTIONS Among the new accessions to the Library are The History of the Norwood Family (2 vols.), The Later Roman Empire, by Professor A. H. M. Jones, F.B.A., F.S.A. (3 vols.), and The Roman Oity of London, by Ralph Merrifield, F .S.A., Deputy Keeper of the Guildhall Museum. The two important volumes by Thorpe, Oostumale Roffense and Registrum Roffense, have been newly bound by Mr. C.R. Councer, F.S.A., to whom the Society is greatly indebted. Ba-0k numbers of Arclueologia Oantiana are available by purchase to members, who are invited to send their requirements to Mr. K. J. Collins, at the Museum, Maidstone. When using the Library, members are requested to show their Membership Cards to the Museum attendant, and members who may not hold cards are invited to apply for them to the General Secretary. RECORDS PUBLICATIONS 0o:MMITTEE Volume 19: Calender of the White and Black Books of the Oinque Port8. The final stages in producing this volume have unfortunately been somewhat slower than was anticipated and the earliest date that the volume can be expected is in the Spring of 1966. Members are reminded that this book is a joint publication with the Historical Manuscripts Commission and that at the reduced price of Two Guineas it is available to members of the Society only. All other orders must be placed with the H.M.C. direct. Plans are being laid for the publication in 1967 or thereabouts of Archbishop Warham's Visitations edited by Dr. Wood-Legh, and further particulars will be made available in due course. PLA.OE NAMES O0111:?.U'.I:TEE While the work of this Committee has continued over the past year, the unfortunate indisposition of the Hon .. Secretary prevented a hoped-for xliv REPORT, 1965 increase in activity. The Committee hope to consider shortly a report on a meeting with the English Place Na.mes Society. A considerable quantity of material for a future volume on Place Na.mes of Kent has been collected, and the Committee a.re exploring the possibility of publication in due course. JOINT COMMITFEE WITH THE CouN0IL FOR THE PRESERVATION OF RURAL KENT FOR THE PRESERVATION OF ANCIENT BUILDINGS (l) The question of t:\le formation of a Building Preservation Trust for Kent has now been taken up with Kent County Council, and a. meeting has been held with the appropriate County Officers at which we explained our proposals. We had previously received considerable help from the County Planning Department of Hertfordshire County Council, where such a Trust is already in existence, and the matter is now being studied by Kent County Members, but clearly it requires very considerable thought. (2) Fresh lists of old cottages subject to Demolition or Closing Orders or Undertakings under the Housing Act, 1957, have now been obtained from most local authorities in Kent, as the lists previously obtained in 1962 were considered to b􀅰 out of date. As a result of a most unfortunately worded article which appeared in The Obseruer in August 1964, entitled 'Plenty of Places in the Country', which gave the impression that we had some 200 to 300 old cottages on our books which nobody wants and for which we are seeking buyers, some 500 enquiries were received by the Folkestone office within a period of a few weeks, mostly from people in the London area, to all of which an acknowledgement has been sent, though the new lists have not yet been run off on a duplicator. This, however, will be done as soon as possible and lists sent out. (3) Our efforts to save All Saints' Vicarage (Digons), Maidstone, and Eastga.te House, Tenterden, proved fruitless, and both buildings have been demolished. The loss of the former we consider tQ be almost scandalous, as a detailed study of it before demolition started had shown it to be dated fourteenth century or even earlier, and to contain some extremely interesting architectural features, and it is beyond our comprehension that neither Maidstone Borough Council nor Kent County Council would agree to place a Building Preservation Order on it. As a result we have requested the Canterbury Diocesan authorities to give us early information in future of any old vicarages, parsonages or similar church property which they are contemplating disposing of, so that we may endeavour to save them, where it is merited, from their suffering the same fate as All Saints' Vicarage. (4) As insufficient money was obtained from an appeal by Kent County Council addressed to a number of learned societies, which left an estimated balance of some six or seven thousand pounds to be found by the County Council itself, our recommendation that the thirteenth century chapel of the Knights Hospitallers at Swingfield should be compulsorily acquired by the County Council has been turned down. There appears to be little left that we can do to save this interesting building. ( 5) Bourne Park, Bishopsbourne, on which a Building Preservation Order was successfully placed in 1957, and which had been empty for several yea.rs, and whose owner died in 1962, has been acquired by the Abbot of St. Augustine's Abbey, Ramsgate, for use as a Monastery and small independent boarding school for about 100 pupils. We therefore hope that the future xlv· REPORT, 1965 of this fine Queen Anne house, situated in its large park, which includes a lake near the house and a handsome bridge, is now secured. (6) Notes for Recorders, compiled by the Study Group appointed to go into the question of collecting measured drawings and photographs of ancient buildings in Kent, and of micro-filming them for permanent record, have now been sent out to a number of Local History Groups, and Chapters of Architects, and some schools in the County have also asked for copies for their field study groups. We are endeavouring to give more publicity to the existence of these Notes. A design for a plaque to be affixed to buildings of architeotw'al and historic merit has been prepared and was on view in the C.P.R.K. exhibit at the Kent County Show. The proposal at the moment is that an application will be made by the owner of a building who is desirous of having a plaque affixed to his or her house, and the house will then be inspected so that a decision may be reached as to whether the building qualifies for a plaque. (7) A memorandum has been drawn up dealing with defects in the Town & Country Planning Acts 1947 and 1962 relating to the preservation of buildings of architectural or historic interest including a number of recommendations. A copy has been sent to the Minister of Housing and Local Government, Minister of Public Building & Works, all M.P.s of Kent constituencies, Historic Buildings Council for England, Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, Council for the Preservation of Rural England, and the Council for British Archaeology. When theR eport on the meeting held in County Hall on 17th March, 1965, called by C.P.R.K. at the request of Kent County Council, to consider the urgent need for the preservation of the character of small towns and villages in Kent, is sent out to all local authorities in the county, a copy of our memorandum will accompany the Report. This memoThndum has aroused considerable interest, especially among some M.P.s, and a reply has been received from the Minister of Housing and Local Government himself, saying that we are clearly thinking along much the same lines as he is. He says that the memorandum touches upon a number of wealmesses in the existing powers, of which he is regretfully aware, but to strengthen the powers would entail new legislation and he can offer no immediate prospect of that at present. Report on the Second Conference of Building Recorders, held at the Museum,, 111aidstone, on Saturday, 2nd October, 1965; This Conference was held on behalf of the K.A.S./C.P.R.K. Study Group on Recording Historic Buildings. The chair was taken by Mr. C.R. Councer, F.S.A., and some sixty persons attended. Miss E. Melling spoke on Documentary Sources and Kent Houses and stressed the difficulties of identifying particular houses in documents. Nevertheless, probate inventories and other sources gave a clear picture of contemporary life in these houses. Owing to illness Mr. C. A. Hewitt was prevented from speaking on Timber Joints. Mr. A. Percival spoke on the Dutch influence on Kentish Verna.cula.r Architecture, illustrating his t11,lk with many fine pictures taken in Holland and in this country. A classification for Dutch Gables w􀄢s suggested and examples in Kent discussed. Mr. R.H. Hiscock told of the development of the church in Kent in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Several of these churches remain, xlvi REPORT, 1965 e specially in towns, many containing interesting features which escaped the reforming zeal of the nineteenth century. Finally, Mr. K. W. E. Gravett explained the arrangements whereby owners of historic houses may apply for a plaque to display on their property. The meeting was accompanied by a small exhibition, where Miss Melling showed a selection of documents from the County Record Office, and Mr. Hiscock displayed old photographs and prints of churches. Recent acquisitions by the K.A.S./C.P .R.K. Recording Scheme were also shown. The kindness of Mr. L. R. A. Grove in assisting with the exhibition and providing a venue for the Conference was much appreciated. EXCAVATIONS COMMITTEE The research programme of the Society into the problem of the Iron Age in Kent, directed by Mrs. E. V. Piercy Fox, F.S.A., with the assistance o f Mr. D. B. Kelly, of Maidstone Museum, consisting of the :final investigation into the earthworks at Boughton Quarry Camp, Loose, Maidstone, could not be completed as arranged in the Spring of 1965 owing to the indisposition of the Director. It is hoped to complete the work during the Spring of 1966. It is now known, thanks to a fortunate discovery by Mr. A. Miles, that the foundations of a large building were discovered inside the Camp c. A,D. 1780. The proton-magnetometor ordered by the Society will be used to study this area. The gap between the two ramparts is due to deliberate levelling about the same date and this information has solved the last problem concerned with the present appearance of the fortification, which is a French-type oppidum, the first of its kind to be identified in Britain. The Ordnance Survey Officers Mr. Clark and Mr. Mardale have identified a linear earthwork running south of the Camp and near the crest of the escarpment, Mr. D. B. Kelly believes there may be a similar earthwork north of the site. Both site1;1 will be•tested by excavation. It is proposed, as a further research programme of the Society, to investigate the ecclesiastical site at Higham, near Rochester, which in the twelfth century was a Benedictine Nunnery, a. type of foundation of which little is at present known. Mr. P. J. Tester, F.S.A., has consented to direct the work, which will open at Easter 1966 with a field survey of the area. The Society is acquiring a. proton-magnetometer and survey equipment for its research programmes, and this equipment will be held on charge by the Society's Curator a.t Maidstone Museum. Numerous excavations have been conducted in the county during the year and reports of those practically supported by the Society will be found at Appendix I. The Annual Conference of Field Archaeologists at Canterbury is an established event, and this took place, under the direction of Mr. Frank Jenkins, F.S.A., at CllJlterbury, on Saturday, 9th October, 1965. Mr. W. S. Penn opened the Conference, and a number of very interesting papers were read to a gathering of some 120 persons, who received the proceedings with acclamation. The Society is greatly indebted to Mr. Jenkins for organizing and conducting these most useful and popular Conferences. The formation of Group IIA {Kent and Surrey) has brought archreological activities into close contact with the Council for British Archreology, and the work of the Kent Archa:iological Research Groups Council in cooperation between areas and in rescue excavations has proved of great value. xlvil REPORT, 1965 LOCAL SECRETARIES AND LOCAL ACTIVITlES The Local Secretary for Orpington, Mr. B. D. Stoyel, having resigned, the vacancy has been filled by Mrs. M. Bowen, B.A., the Curator of Orpington Musewn, to whom the Society is very grateful for assuming the duties. Mr. K. A. Beach, the Local Secretary for Tonbridge, has also resigned, and the vacancy remains at present unfilled. The Hundred of Hoo Local Secretaryship is also unfilled. Council expresses its thanks to 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. 1st January, 1966. By Order of the Council, G. W. MEATES, Lieut.-Colonel, General SecretanJ. APPENDIX I Reports on excavations SUIJYPOrted and aided by the Society. Interim Report by Mr. A. P. Det.sicas, M.A., F'.S.A., on the Excavations at Eccles: Excavations were continued this year every weekend from the end of March until the beginning of November, and for a continuous fortnight in August, at the site of the Romano-British villa at Eccles, near Aylesford. The work was supported by the Kent Archreological Society, the'Society of Antiquaries of London, the Craven Fund and the Haverfield Truiit of the University of Oxford. This fourth season's results may be summarized as follows: The plan of the earliest bath building, dating from c. A.D. 65-120, has now been completed with the recovery of its north-west and south-west range of rooms. To north-west, the baths were bounded by a long wall, which formed the north-western limit of a corridor beyond the palrestra and leading to the baths' latrine at the west corner; to south-west, the bath building ended upon a long wall extending to south-east and north-west beyond the limits of the bathing accommodation-a length of this wall was first recovered in 1962 (Arch. Cant., lxxviii (1963), 128). Work was also undertaken to the north of the baths in an area where it was thought that the ea.rliest villa may have been built; this, however, has so fa.r proved not to be the case. Most of this area, appears to have been occupied by successive floors of the workshops of the villa providing clear evidence of industrial activity both at the beginning of the first baths' period and at the close when the frigidarium mosaics were broken u p and their fragments further reduced to individual teseercc in this workshop area before re-use elsewhere. Two important rubbish layers have provided a. series of pottery types, which are quite consistent in dating with the period of the first bath building. Below this workshop area, and elsewhere on the site, further work has resulted in the excavation of some 180 feet of the Claudian ditch first exposed in 1964, and the limits of which are not yet known. This ditch was filled with a la.rge deposit of domestic . refuse, which yielded a very useful series of pottery types and two coins of Cunobelinus, and had a fence erected over its length, with posts driven through the filling and into xlviii REPORT, 1965 the subsoil. Another length of a ditch, shallower and narrower than the former but strictly contemporary with it, was exposed beginning from the eastern lip of the Claudian and continuing to the east of the site beyond the present excavation. Some evidence was also forthcoming for another ditch to the west of the Claudian ditch and continuing beyond the latter to the east; though it is quite clear that this ditch has been cut through by the Cla.udian ditch and is thus the earliest yet evidence for the occupation of the whole site, it is much too early yet to draw any tentative conclusions about its fW1ction. Interim Report by Mr. B. J. Philp on the excavations at the Roman Fort at Rwulver: The Reculver excavation G1·oup completed its ninth season's work inside the Roman fort during 1965, continuing work which started on the site in 1952. -Working again in close co-operation with the Ministry of Public Building and Works considerable progress was made in all departments.· A research centre, drawing-office and site office have now been established. 1965 also saw the development of a new aspect of the Group's activities whereby it was able to undertake three large-scale emergency excavations, all at Faversham, in addition to a full programme of work inside the fort. (1) Two Bath Buildings. During August the Group undertook its largest single excavation inside the Roman fort, immediately east of St. Mary's church. Several thousand people visited the site during the course of the work including members of the Kent Archreological Society. A substantial masonry building, first located in 1964, was totally excavated. Thls proved to be a bath-house, some 40 feet in length, divided into equal divisions each containing hypocausts and a.psidal chambers. One apse had subsequently been converted into a small cold-plunge bath and had survived intact. A stone-lined drain ran between the bath-house and the Via Principalis, the latter being found largely intact at a. shallow depth. A second hypoca.usted building, adjacent to the first, contained the remains of a large apsidal room. This building, again probably a bath-house, proved to be part of one of the structures found in March protruding from the cliff. (2) Cliff Section. In March, the Group worked on the exposed cliff section just north of the old Coastguard cottages. Two structures of Roman date were foWld protruding from the face of the cliff, ea.oh having been partially damaged by sea erosion. A metalled road, running east-west between the buildings, was found to divide the front division of the fort into unequal parts. Ditches containing Belgic pottery were traced beneath the Roman levels. (3) Marsh east of the Fort. In October difficult trial-excavations were undertaken on marshland east of the fort. A mechanical excavator had to be employed owing to the presence of thick layers of unstable mud-silt which had accumulated since Roman times. No trace of the Roman harbour or shore-line was foWld. (4) Research Centre. Another advance towards the ultima.te completion of the Group's work at Reoulver has been the adoption of pa.rt of the Coastguard Station as a research centre. This has been made possible by the Ministry of Public Building and Works. Work on plans and finds now ranks equally with that of excavation and considerable progress has been made. Work will continue during 1966. xlix Dl Be:i:ley REPORT, 1965 APPENDIX II Reports from Local Sec·retaries and Groups Mr. P. J. Tester, F.S.A., reports: The medieval church at East Wickham, which has been disused for some years, is now in a very poor condition. It was last restored in 1926-7 and an account of the building by the architect responsible appeared in Arch. Gant., xii: The church contains thirteenth-century architectural details and possesses two notable brasses, a good medieval font and traces of wall paintings. Matters have now reached a state when the preservation of the building is being seriously questioned. It is evident that unless a large sum of money is spent on essential repairs the little church may soon become actually ruinous. The parish is in the diocese of Southwark where a number of redundant chUl'ches have been demolished in recent years. It is feared in some quarters that unless outside intervention is forthcoming, and financial aid offered to the church authorities, this 'useless' building will also be swept away. At St. Mary's Church, Bexley, the lychgate, which is at least as old as the eighteenth centw-y, is being repaired. This is an interesting structure which was removed from its proper position at the main entrance to the churchyard in Victorian times and relegated to an obscure corner. Its tiled pyramid roof rests on six posts but the gates shown in eighteenth. and early nineteenth-centUl'y drawings have been missing for many years. In response to an appeal from local antiquarian interests the parish authori• ties have saved the structure from collapse and have renewed the rafters which were found to be rotten. In the same church, two charity boards painted in 1710 and now kept in the tower, have been found to be badly infested with wood-worm. It may not be possible to secure their preservation, but a careful transcript has been made so that the information given on the boards will not be lost. Dover Mr. E. H. Bayley, M.A., reports: During excavation at Dover College for a new boiler house just on the site of the old priory church, in the distUl'bed soil above the natural chalk odd finds included a sherd of salt glazed Siegburg sixteenth-century stone• ware, a Henry VIII silver groat (second minting), and a Portuguese coin of 1750, with a plain circular bronze brooch of possibly fifteenth-century date, and fragments of glazed tiles. There were several graves cut into the chalk itself. Captain A. C. Hogarth reports: This year, the Duke of York's R.M.S. Archreological Society has continued excavations at the site of the Knights Templars' Preceptory at Temple Ewell, wider the direction of Capt. A. C. Hogai·th and Mr. F. L. Page. The landowners were kind enough to permit an extension of the area of excavation, with the result that a ground plan extending over an area of 100 ft. by 150 ft. has been revealed. The plan shows ai:x: enclosed rooms orientated to the co􀅵pass, and on the same orientation one open-ended area (presumably a kitchen yard or lean-to) and a passage. In addition a series of oblique walls form (a) an 1 REPORT, 1965 open-ended area of sub-rectangular shape, (b) an L-shaped area, also openended, and (c) a large irregular 'room' enclosing a structure which appears to have been a drain. This complex of buildings is of certainly two and probably three periods of construction, and dates from the later twelfth to early sixteenth centuries. It bears no resemblance to a normal monastic plan, but as the Templars had only two Brothers of their Order in residence a full claustral arrangement would have been unnecessary and financially unjustifiable. More probably they merely adapted an existing manorial configuration to their own needs, and this would certainly explain the ground plan as at present revealed. Crop and shadow marks indicate that other areas of the two fields in which the remains lie are likely to produce further structural information. A possible well has been located, and along with other possible buildings will be investigated next season. Documentary evidence indicates beyond doubt that this is the Preceptory established some time before 1185 by the Templa.rs in Temple Ewell, acquired by the Hospitallers by 1329 after the Dissolution of the Temple in 1312 and leased by them to a lay tenant. Edenbridge and District Mr. J.C. Irwin reports: Officers of the Ordnance Survey, while preparing a revised edition of the 6 in. map covering Surrey-Kent border between Marlpit Hill and Limpsfield Common, have made fresh discoveries about the course of the Roman road. These suggest that its original ascent up the greensand scarp was to the west of the Crockharo Hill course plotted by Mr. I. D. Marga,ry in his book Roman Ways in the Weald. It is expected that the results of these discoveries will be incorporated in the new 6 in. map. The decision to create a reservoir in the area north of Bough Beech will necessarily involve the destruction of several timber-framed houses in the area, at least two of which are of fifteenth-century origin and of special interest. These houses are at present being recorded by Mr. K. W. E. Gravett. Faversham Mr. B. J. Philp reports: (1) The Royal Abbey. In January and February the Reculver Excavation Group undertook emergency excavations on the site of the Royal Cluniac Abbey at Faversham, on behalf of the Ministry of Public Building and Works. The abbey, founded by King Stephen in 1147, had been demolished in 1539 wider the orders of Henry VIII. Mechanical excavators were used throughout the operation and an area of some five a-ores was either trenched or area-excavated. The massive abbey church, certainly one of the largest in the country, was traced for its entire length of some 370 ft., and of width of some 80 ft., and the nave, choir, transept-arms and seven chapels were all examined. Parts of the west front, a porch, circular tower a.nd areas of the church floor were found intact. The royal vaults, in which Stephen, Matilda and Prince Eustace had been buried, were found robbed. The equally large domestic complex was also examined and the cloister, chapter-house, dorter, frater, cellar and west range were all located. Some Ii DZ REPORT, 1965 10,000 small-finds were recovered during the excavations which continued non-stop for a period of 55 days. (2) 􀄿oman Villa. Early in ?􀅀ly the Group undertook another emergency excavation on behalf of the M!.IllStry. Bull-dozers had revealed a previously unknown Roman villa not far from the abbey site. '.rhis was totally excavated in a. period of 10 days. Although only foundations survived it was possible to determine four phases of construction, dating from first to third centuries A,D. From humble beginnings the villa had eventually been provided with corridors, two wings, a cellar, a channelled hypocaust and at least one mosaic floor. (3) Belgic Settlement. Immediately following the excavations on the Roman villa the Group undertook further emergency work on an extensive Belgic site which ran partly beneath both Roman villa and the abbey. A large ditched enclosure and a ditched field-system both produced pottery of Belgio date. Continuity of occupation for a period of nearly four centuries, lasting well into the Roman period, seems certain. Folkestorie Dr. R. E. P. Stuart reports: A silver ancient British coin was found by Mr. N. Knight at Cresar's Camp, Folkestone. It was submitted to the British Museum, who reported that it was a piece ascribed to Arnminus of the Cantii, minted a.bout A,D. 15. Cresar's Camp was partially excavated in 1878 by General A. Pitt-Rivera, who showed it to have been surmounted by a Norman earthwork. This coin suggests some earlier occupation . .uuUingstone Mr. G. K. Horner reports: The Crayford Ma.nor House Archreological Group during late Autumn continued the excavation of a Roma.no-British enclosure at Summer House Knoll in Lullingstone Park (N.G.R. T.Q. 524639), (see Arch. Gant., lxxix, p. lvii). Further portions of the enclosure ditch were excavated and the shape of the enclosure finally determined. One side, at least, is prolonged beyond the enclosure for not less than 75 ft. A considerable area of the enclosure was cleared to natural chalk. No further definite traces of buildings were discovered. The major find this year was a second, earlier, ditch which was cut into by the enclosure and also by a pit. The earlier ditch is similar in size and filling to the later and is probably also of the first century A.n. It was traced for over 235 ft., running in a shallow irregular curve. Excavations had to cease before its full plan was known. Since a golf course is to be constructed on the site it is wilikely that further digging will be possible. It is hoped to carry out a resistivity survey on the site to trace the remainder of the plan of the two ditch systems. 'M inster-in-Slieppey Mr. D. T. A. Pontin reports: The demolition of the buildings adjoining the Gate House of Minster Abbey has revealed the weather-mould of the gable end of a. roof of a building extending westward. This weather-mould crosses the string-course of the lower stage of the west wall of the gate house. The demolition has also revealed a low buttress which was incorporated.in the wall of the building Iii REPORT, 1965 referred to. From the string-course and the presence of the buttress, it may be deduced that this building was of a later date than the gateway, but from the nature of the weather-mould it was probably a permanent abbey building. Two worked stones taken from the site of the demolition probably formed a part of the gateway, and these stones could be once more incorporated in the Gate House should it be decided at a later date to restore it completely. Newenden Mr. B. K. Da.vison, Assistant Inspector of Ancient Monuments in the Ministry of Public Building and Works, reports: During the winter of 1964-5, the earthwork kno-wn as Castle Toll, Newenden, was ploughed over for agricultural purposes. In order to record the form of the defences, a detailed contour-survey was carried out by the Ministry of Public Building and Works during the Autumn of 1965: at the same time, a trial-trench was excavated to determine the date of the earthworks. · · The site at Newenden comprises two distinct earthwork enclosures. The earlier of these is 1,500 ft. by 600 ft., and was defended by a rampart and a ditch of some considerable size. These defences ha.ve been under plough for many years and survive only along the south-west part of the enclosure. The date of this work is unknown. It appears to have been sited deliberately on the end of a spur commanding the river Rother, and it is possible that it represents the 'missing' Burghal Hidage town of Eorpeburnam. In the northern part of this enclosure is set a smaller sub-rectangular earthwork (the Castle Toll proper), defended by a rampart 4 to 8 ft. high with a much mutilated mound at the north-east corner. A single trial-trench 6 ft. wide by 442 ft. long was excavated mechanically across this enclosure: a second trench 60 ft. long was subsequently excavated within the defences at the west side of the enclosure. The Castle Toll seems to have been a. small military post, garrisoned against riverine raiders during the ea,rly thirteenth century. After the timber buildings ranged on either side of the enclosed area were-destroyed by fire, the rampart Wll.'3 heightened some time in the middle of the century. There were no signs of permanent domestic habitation, and the site appears to have been occupied only briefly during each of the two sub-phases, which may correspond to snccessive 'invasion scares'. Otford Mr. Anthony Young, of the Otford and District Historical Society, reports: The presence of a Romano-British site at Frog Farm, near Otford, was indicated in Aroh. Gant., xxxix, and reports of investigations appeared in Arch. Gant., xlii, xlvi and xlix. No firm conclusions were reached. The site was reopened in April 1965, and work is continuing. A series of test holes has yielded approximately 1,000 sherds (most from three rubbish pits,· though intensive ploughing has resulted in a large area of scattered fragments), all of first-century date (A.D. 60-100). The majority are of the coarse native Patch Grove type; all other types associated with sites of this sort are represented. The proportion of harder Romanized wares is fairly high, and 35 Samian fragments have been recovered. One liii REPORT, 1965 brooch, without pin, and the fragmentary springs and pins of two more, of the Colchester BB type, date to about, A.D. 70. One silver coin of Nero (Greek) has been found-these are comparatively infrequent. on farmstead sites (cf. B. J. Philp, Arch. Gant., l.xxviii, 1963). Soil character precludes the survival of bones. A hearth has been found, but as yet no traces of post holes. Agriculture has so far prevented a search for boundary ditches. It is hoped to continue the investigation when the field is again available. Orpington Mr. B. D. Stoyel reports: In March 1965 the long-projected Orpington Museum was officially opened by the Hon. l\ilrs. Maurice Lubbock, with Mrs. M. Bowen, B.A., as Curator. The available material is necessarily limited at the start but is increasing rapidly. Local history is very well represented by exhibits from the A vebury Collection, made available by the Orpington Historical Society, and by material from the private collections of Mr. A. Eldridge, Mr. A. Fordyce and Mr. E. C. H. Jones. Dartford, Sevenoaks and Maidstone Museums and the Institute of Archreology have lent material to fill chronological gaps until more local gifts have been received. The Museum is associated with the Public Library and is housed in the pre-Reformation rectory now known as 'The Priory'. The Museum has already shown its enterprise in fostering local arch􀅘ology by sponsoring the excavation of a supposed Roman villa. site under the direction of Mr. P. J. Tester, F.S.A., who has provided a separate preliminary report on the first season's work (below). One of the most interesting chance finds in the district during the year has been that of a fifteenth-century French jetton in the garden of Mr. Simpson of Jubilee Road, Chelsfield. This garden is said to be on, or near, the site of the Maypole. Mr. P. J. Tester, F.S.A., reports: Since July 1965 excavations have been proceeding on a plot of land between Poverest Road and Bellefield Road, Orpington (N .G.R. TQ 46786768). Roman pottery has been noted near this point by Mr. A. Eldridge in 1948 (Arch. Cant., lx, 101) and the recent digging was directed to establishing its context and investigating the possibility of their being an associated building. Opportunity for this research has occurred through the demolition, a few years ago, of some houses in Poverest Road. A scatter of Roman tiles !l,nd flint rubble has been found in the area so far investigated, with pottery indicating occupation bf the site from the first to the fourth centuries. No actual footings, however, have so far been encountered. Of much greater importance has been the unexpected discovery here during the course of this excavation of a group of early Anglo-Saxon burials. These constitute the first major discovery of that period in the Cray valley, and are likely, when fully assessed, to provide important new evidence regarding the sixth-century occupation of this part of Kent. One cremation and six inhumations have so far been uncovered, the graves lying close together, and orientated approximately E.-W. in most cases. Although the skeletal remains. are poorly preserved, the grave goods are in a fair state. A man's grave contained an iron shield-boss, spearhead, buckle and knife, while a woman's grave yielded a pair of bronze disc-brooches, an liv REPORT, 1965 iron knife and a bronze buckle. A find of particular rarity in another grave was a glass armlet with moulded decoration. Opportunity exists for an extended programme of research on this site which is expected to produce further interesting material. Help has been received from many quarters and I would like to mention especially the sustained support given by the Curator of Orpington Museum, Mrs. M. Bowen; Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Hart of Orpington Historical Society; and our Local Secretary, Mr. B. D. Stoyel. All the finds are being housed in Orpington Museum. Rainham Mr. R. A. Baldwin reports: In April 1965 a series of underground passages were discovered as the result of preparing a field for a new road and houses. The tunnels which were on the east side of Station Road, Rainha.m, were found about 25-30 yards at the rear of the gardens of numbe:r.s 314-18 Station Road. The known tunnels covered an area 50 ft. square but it was clear that this was not the full extent, some tunnels having become blocked by falls of earth. The tunnels had been cut out of solid' chalk immediately below the surface soil which was three to three feet six inches in depth. They were four to four feet six inches wide and a.bout the same height to the top of the arch. One shaft bad become filled up but there were signs that this was not the only shaft in the system of tunnels. It was reasonably clear that the tunnels date about the eighteenth century and were of the type made to obtain chalk for spreading over land cleared of woods and in preparation for cultivation. Rochester Mr. A. C. Harrison, B.A., reports: The work of the Archreologioal Society of Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School in the Deanery Garden is now concluded. Further investigation of the Medieval East Wall of the city gives additional support to the suggestion that the reorganization of the southern defences of Rochester, authorized by Edward III in 1344, was never completed, being abandoned after the eastern part of the ditch in the Deanery Orchard had been dug. Furthermore, observation of the builders' excavation for the new King's School Assembly Hall (opposite the east end of Minor Canon Row), which is on the line of the 1344 ditch, suggests that this ditch may not have continued much farther to the west. (Work at this point is still in progress.) A survey of the east wall shows that it runs southward from the Roman south-east angle for some 325 feet across the line of the filled-in 1225 ditch and of the open 1344 ditch, terminating in a circular bastion. There are slight changes of alignment at 38 ft. and 63 ft. from the Roman angle. The wall is 8 ft. thick at the junction with the Roman wall, but quickly deoreases to 3 ft. 8 in., which width continues as far as the breach in the wall at 100 ft. The height is 12 ft. to the modern coping, but it may well have been originally crenellated. Two 'construction arches' were excavated at 86 ft. and 92 ft. and it seems probable that the whole of this part of the wall was built in this way, the arches being formed because it was found necessary to sink piers down to solid ground through the fill of the 1225 ditch. Iv REPORT, 1965 At 100 ft. some 30 ft. of wall has apparently fallen out completely, probably as the result of the side of the ditch falling away, and a modern wall fills the gap. This breach apparently occurred in the mid-nineteenth century as Beale Paste (Arch. Gant .. ii, 185) makes no mention of it. South of the breach the wall continues intact to the ba,stion, but is now wider, 4 ft. 5 in., and of a different character. An excavation at the south end of the breach showed a fragment of foundation abutted on to this wall in a manner which suggested that the southern, broader, section was later. Again no trace was found of the wall supposed to return to the West along the inner lip of the 1344 ditch at this point, although the lip itself was clearly defined. Neither of these portions of the Eastern Medieval Wall can be exactly dated. The narrower northern portion is later than the 1344 filling of the thirteenth-century ditch, and the southern thicker wall (which may well be on the line of a continuation of the earlier one) seems to have been built when silt had already acownulated in the 1344 ditch. The similarity of , the construction arches to those in the eastern Castle wall known to have been built by Prior John of Hartlip c. 1368 is perhaps suggestive, and there is one piece of documentary evidence that points the same way. Prior John of Sheppey, in a petition to the Pope dated 1350, claimed that, among other good works, he had 'enclosed the whole (Priory) with a strong wall'. (Oat. Papal Pet., 1, 192, 217). Undoubtedly this refers primarily to the wall on the north of the Priory parallel to the High Street (19 Edw. III pt. 2 m 20), but it may imply that he was responsible for the eastern wall as well as the one Canon Livett calls 'post 1344' to the south. It does therefore seem likely that at least in the south-eastern corner of the city, the 1344 scheme was abandoned-and that later, but probably not much later in the fourteenth century, the monks, with or without royal permission, took in not merely the site of the 1225 ditch which they had been granted, but the site of the 1344 ditch and a strip of land to the south as well. Thanet Mr. D. G. Scurrell reports: Both the Isle of Thanet and Broadstairs and St. Peters Archreological Societies have had a full and successful year. Both have increased membership. Broadstairs made eight excursions including Lewes Castle and Greenwich Palace. Thanet has been to Ightham Mote and Lullingstone Villa; the Agricultural Museum at Brook and the Order of the Presentation Chapel with its Baroque choir stalls at Hythe. During the year interest has been a.roused in the possibility of saving Drapers Mill, Margate, from being derpolished. At the moment ways are being explored of acquiring the mill and site and the Mayor of Margate is launching an appeal for funds to effect the necessary repairs. If this windmill and its site is saved, not only will this landmark remain but it assures an opportunity to complete the excavation of Belgic ditches found some time ago. Tunbridge Wells Mrs. V. F. Desborough reports: Membership has slightly increased, but our Branch has lost its most distinguished member, the late Mr. Rupert Guruiis, who will be irreplaceable, lvi REPORT, 1965 and greatly missed by the whole of the town. Lt.-Col. H. F. Jeffreys also died this year, and the death of Mrs. Edythe Bradley, Curator of the Museum, is a sad blow to her many friends and to the cause of Archreology and History. Our Annual Lecture this year wa.s kindly given by Lt.-Commander G. W. R. Harrison, R.N.R., Curator of Michelham Priory. He lectured on Heraldry, illustrated by colour slides, a fascinating lecture which was enthusiastically received by the audience of nearly one hundred persons. A Silver Collection was taken after the lecture, in aid of the Royal N a.tional Lifeboat Institution. The Annual Outing took place in August when our members visited Ludq.esdown Court, near Cobham (by kind permission of Mr. and Mrs. Eaton) and the famous braases of Cobham Church. Our member, Mr. James Money, continued his interesting excavations at Minepit Wood, Withy ham, Sussex, at which several of our young members assisted. Walmer Mr. David G. Downes reports: During the summer.of 1965 seventeen members of the Deal and Walmer Local History Society helped Mr. Frank Jenkins in his re.excavation of the Wingham Roman Villa: so far finds have ranged from pre-Roman pottery to fragments of an Anglo-Friesian beaker. Work is likely to last three more seasons (Report from Mr. Frank Jenkins below). At Walmer Manor, where remains of a twelfth-century moated ma.nor house are heavily overgrown, the Deal and Walmer Local History Society members have had discussions with Mr. S. E. Rigold of the Ministry of P ublic Building and Works, and tentative approval has been given for the cutting of two exploratory trenches in the Spring of 1966. Most of the invading trees have already been removed at the joint expense of the Deal Borough Council and the owner, Mr. K. F. Tugwell. In October 1965 a skeleton was discovered in a crouching position, high up in the old cliff west of Wellington Parade, Walmer (N.G.E. 3778- 4967). lt was partly protruding from the cliff and already had been disturbed. It was seen by Mr. Southam of Worth who thinks it had been pushed in a sitting position after death into an existing hole. The Coroner agreed the bones might be handed over to Dr. Philip Stones, l\f.B., M.C.Path., for examination, whose preliminary findings are that they are those of a young adult and, although certainly not recent, are not of great antiquity. West Kent Border Archawlogical Group Miss E. Waiman reports: Work by the Group was continued on both sides of the Kent and Surrey border throughout 1965, under the direction of Mr. B. J. Philp. The work has been richly rewarded and several new sites have been discovered. (1) Hayes Common. The sixth season's work on the late Bronze Age farmstead site was completed in September. For the first time the Group was allowed to fence off an area of the Common and this has facilitated larger excavations. A series of small pits, some lined, were located and produced fragments of pottery, quern-stones and loom-weights. Three flintpacked post-holes were also found. The adjacent system of field-banks was again examined and shown to be considerably post-Bronze Age in date. lvii REPORT, 1965 (2) Field 29. The plan of the Roman building, discovered in 1964, has been revealed by digging a series of only four trenches. It is some 40 ft. in length, and appears to be a bath-house. Thick walls of challc blocks and tiles enclose hypocausted rooms with the furnace at the east end. Although badly robbed in parts some walls remain to a height of nearly 5 ft., particularly those of a small tank or cold plunge-bath on the north side. No trace of related living-quarters has so far been located. (3) Field 29. Excavations have continued on the Neolithic occupation site some 200 ft. from the Roman bath-house. Struck flints have been found over a wide area, and large-scale excavation has recovered many implements. Pot boilers occur in hundreds and the site is clearly of considerable importance. (4) Hayes Church. Trenches and foundations, dug in connection with church alterations have been carefully watched. No trace of an alleged Roman building, said to exist under the church, was found. (5) Addington (Surrey). Watch has been kept on large building operations on the Kent border, through the co-operation of John Laing Construction Ltd., and flints and potsherds, probably of Iron Age date, have been recovered. The S.E.G.B. scheme to lay a substantial 24-inch gas-main across parts of West Kent and East Surrey, began in Jwie. The pipe-line trench was examined for several miles on each side of the county boundary, and seven new sites were recorded, three being in Surrey. Details of the sites in Kent are as follows: (6) A shallow ditch containing much domestic rubbish was found near Bromley Common. A thin scatter of pottery for about 100 ft. southwards suggests the occupation site dating to the first century A.D., and another Romano-British farmstead is indicated. (7) Close to Barnet Wood another ditch, or pit, produced potsherds of probable Iron Age date. (8) Two very deep pits were sectioned on farmland at West Wickham, close to where Roman Pottery was found in 1889. One of these had been clay-lined and each contained domestic rubbish in the filling. A large quantity of pottery and animal-bone was recovered, dating from the first and second centuries A.D. (9) A series of shallow pits and ditches was found in a field beyond Layhams Farm. Pottery from these was again of first century date. Emergency Work. Emergency operations, both local and at a distance, continue to take priority over other work. Several members have spent many weeks assisting with the emergencies at Faversham, covering the Abbey, Roman Villa and Belgic sites. Help has also been given with emergencies at Addington (Kent) and at Weston Wood (Surrey). Training Scheme and Meetings. Meetings have been well attended and each programme has included training schemes, progress reports on excavations, slide shows and informal talks by members and visitors on archreological topics. Of the large amount of work undertaken Miss M. Last and Dr. D. N. Broadfoot are to be congratulated for their particular efforts. Wingha,m Mr. Frank Jenkins, F.S.A., reports: Excavations in the Vineyards Field, Wingham Court, Wingham, near Canterbury, owned by Viscount Ha.warden, have disclosed pa.rt of the lviii REPORT, 1965 extensive Roman villa not uncovered by the late Mr. George Dowker in his excavations carried out in 1882-3 (Arch. Gant., xiv, xv). The remains so far uncovered comprise a verandah measuring 44 ft. by 10 ft. at the east end of which are four rooms but it is evident there are several more. A 6 ft. break in the foundations at the west end of the verandah would seem to mark the entrance to the building from the court-yard on the south side. The most important finds are potsherds oearing a distinctive decoration of grooving and ribbing. This type of pottery with a black burnished surface and of dark grey ware is recognized as Anglo-Friesian and dates from A,D. 400, and as such belongs to the earliest phase of Anglo-Saxon migrations to Britain. Part of a vase with a narrow pedestal base and grooved and ribbed decoration in this ware is closely paralleled by those found in various pagan Anglo-Saxon graves in East Kent. This evidence and the presence of similar pottery in the thin band of soil which seals the debris of the building at Wingham, would appear to indicate a very early settlement in the vicinity of the villa, if not in its ruins. It is to be hoped that when the excavations are resumed next year more evidence of this settlement will be forthcoming. The excavations are being carried out at the invitation of Viecount Ha.warden by volunteer diggers supervised by Mr. Frank Jenkins, leader of the Canterbury Archreological Society Stour Valley Research Group. lix