KAS Newsletter, Issue 19, Summer 1991
The Origins of Plaxtol Church
Plaxtol Church is the only Commonwealth church in Kent. It was built in 1648 by ordinance of the House of Lords which found the "little old chapel not able to contain the parishioners" who were "necessitated to build a new church there". Ten years earlier Archbishop Laud had received a petition from the parishioners to restore the chapel saying that they were prevented from "age and other hindrances" attending their parish church at Wrotham four miles away "without great inconvenience and weariness". Laud gave his permission for the restoration of the "old ruinous chapel" but whether an attempt to do this was ever made we do not know. Laud was shortly to be in trouble and to lose his head and perhaps the local Puritans took the opportunity to establish a new Puritan church in an area of mainly Royalist sympathisers.
The church has no dedication and this must be due to the Puritan sympathies of Sir Henry Vane II of Fairlawne, one of the principal property owners in Plaxtol. Sir Henry contributed generously to the new church supplying timber, loads of stones, alder poles for scaffolding and money. The tower was added to the church in 1655.
We know surprisingly little about the preceding Plaxtol chapel. Historians describe it as a "chapel of ease" to Wrotham, with a burial ground but no baptismal or tithing rights but we have found no record of its establishment. Could it have originated as a roadside shrine or a manorial chapel? It was certainly annexed to Wrotham by the 14th century when Archbishop Islipp decreed that the vicar should have the tithe of hay growing at Hale, Roughway and Winfield (the three boroughs which late comprise Plaxtol parish) and provide bread, wine and lights for his celebrations there. From 1495 it is mentioned regularly as a landmark in Wrotham manor rentals and surveys and from this source we know that the chapel stood on the same site as the present church. Despite years of research consulting Domesday Book, the taxation of Pope Nicholas IV, Valor Ecclesiasticus, Charter Rolls, Close Rolls, Inquisitions post mortem, State Papers of Henry VIII and the Commonwealth material at Lambeth Palace Library the only other information to emerge about the pre-Cromwellian chapel came from the Patent Rolls for 1575/7.
Plaxtol chapel was described as "all that one small dwelling ... formerly being a chapel with appurtenances and the chapel yard" with a yearly rent of 4d. It is among a long list of concealed lands which had escaped Henry VIII's commissioners at the Dissolution when the manor of Wrotham was taken from the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Crown now took the chapel from its occupiers and granted it to a London jeweller, a gentleman pensioner. No record has been found in the Kent Archives Office or any other archive recording the sale of the land from the London jeweller to whoever built the new church.
It is difficult not to feel there must be some evidence lurking somewhere to resolve this frustrating search. Can anyone suggest any other sources to consult for the history of the pre-Cromwellian church?
M. Lewis
Notes on Plaxtol Church Roof
Plaxtol church is distinguished by its false hammer beam roof of 1648.
In 1989 decorators' scaffolding was put up in the church and this allowed close inspection of the roof timbers, helped on one occasion by our President, Mr Ken Gravett.
The 1648 church was of four bays. The five trusses bear a complete set of carpenter's marks, truss no. 1 being at the chancel end and running in sequence to truss no. 5 at the tower end. The Victorian extensions to the church of 1852 and 1894 seem to have left the 1648 roof structure alone. It may have been at this time that the roof timbers were stained dark brown to cover the remains of bright blue paint which once covered them.
The hammer beams and hammer posts appear to be made of new (1648) timber as no redundant mortices or other marks of medieval carpentry were found. The king posts, arch braces, struts and many rafters have old mortices, some empty, some containing cut-off tenons which indicate a previous use. From the siting of the redundant mortices close to the ends of the arch braces it was deduced that the arch braces were 'cut-down' from larger arch braces. The mortices, with two peg holes, must once have supported further braces or struts of considerable size.
The western king post against the tower was found to be decayed due to beetle infestation and was removed. It was a re-used timber showing a redundant mortice for a rail and a wedge-shaped hollow used to house a shoring post during erection. From this, one could see that in its second use as a king post the timber was reversed and the head of the king post was fashioned from the base of the original post. The fashioning of the head of the king post was crudely done with an adze. Two rafters showed redundant mortices near the apex whose purpose has yet to be explained.
I should like to hear from anyone who can explain the function of this mortice.
There is nothing to indicate whether or not the second-hand timbers in the church formed part of an earlier hammer beam roof. The new (1648) timber used for the hammer beams and posts would seem to indicate that they did not.
There are three possible local sources for this second-hand timber. Fairlawne, Oxenhoath and Old Soar Manor are among the principal local houses known to have undergone modernisation in the mid-seventeenth century and all three owners were involved in the church building at this time.
Fairlawne is 900 yards from the church. In the first half of the seventeenth century the Sir Henry Vanes I and II spent large sums of money beautifying and possibly modernising the house. Sir Henry Vane II took a principal part in building the 1648 church. (see Origins of Plaxtol church, M. Lewis.)
Oxenhoath is 2½ miles by road from Plaxtol church. There is a drawing of Oxenhoath on a map of 1621 (KAO U31 P3) which shows it to have been a large, late medieval courtyard house with a gatehouse. Oxenhoath was rebuilt by Sir Nicholas Miller II in the 1650s. No medieval timberwork survives.
Old Soar Manor (c.1290) is 1 mile from the church. All that remains is the solar wing. The site of the hall is occupied by a brick farmhouse of 1780. The medieval hall at Old Soar was 33 ft. 9 inches wide and probably aisled. Therefore, the roof, whatever form the construction took, would have required substantial timbers. An estate map of 1711 shows a drawing of Old Soar with a large central chimney stack indicating that the hall had been floored over if not entirely rebuilt. The tenant farmers of Old Soar for most of the seventeenth century were the Fumers, a prosperous family of yeoman farmers. The churchwarden from 1654 to 1656 when the church tower was being built was William Furner. During the building of the church, he appears frequently in the accounts transporting Lime, alder poles and stone. It is difficult not to speculate that some of the roof timbers in Plaxtol church may have come from the great hall of Old Soar Manor but Fairlawne and Oxenhoath are equally likely candidates.
An attempt was made at a dendrochronology dating. There were not enough samples with sufficient rings to produce a firm dating but the tentative datings produced were all medieval, ranging from the late thirteenth century through to 1400. A further dendro survey of the church would be interesting but could never be conclusive in determining where the timbers came from due to the shortage of timbers for matching in the three 'source' houses. The present Fairlawne is entirely eighteenth and nineteenth century. Oxenhoath is seventeenth and nineteenth. Old Soar still has its late thirteenth solar wing but the thorough restoration in 1949 replaced and reinforced many of the timbers.
J. Semple
Annual General Meeting - 1858 Style
In response to the article in the January Newsletter (no. 18) 'Annual General Meeting, 1890 Style' Mr. Bryan Gipps has sent the following fascinating extract from the journal of his great grandmother, Mrs. Thomas of Eyhorne House, Hollingbourne. Mrs. Thomas was born on 10th February 1810 and died on 18th February 1911. Mr. Gipps has 26 volumes of her journal, from 1826 to 1905.
Annual General Meeting - 1858 Style
Journal of Louisa, wife of Richard Thomas of Eyhorne House, Hollingbourne. Founder member of the K.A.S.
April, 1858. "the opening of the Kentish Archaeological Society at Chillingworth House."
July, 1858. "Richard and I went to the first archaeological meeting at Canterbury. Started quite early from Maidstone with many other pilgrims, and on our arrival at the ancient city followed Mr. Stanley through all his windings in and around the cathedral, treading principally in Beckett's steps; met there almost all of our friends including 'Dr. To'. After Mr. Stanley had concluded his lecture we visited St. Martin's Church, the Danejohn etc., after which we dined with numberless others in St. George's Hall. Heard very good speeches from Mr. Stanley, Mr. Alford, the Dean, Lord Stanhope, Sir Norton Knatchbull etc. and returned home by railroad thoroughly tired".
There had been a preparatory meeting of archaeologists before then of which an account is given.
July, 1853. "the archaeologists headed by Mr. Bernal, late M.P. for Rochester and Mr. Pettigrew, met at Hollingbourne church and went on to the Manor House. Mr. Spurgin exhibited at the church a representation of the Holy Trinity on glass, removed by Mr. Hasted from one of the church windows, also the pedigree of the Culpeppers in the handwriting of Hasted the historian. They then went on to Leeds Castle where Mr. W. Martin entertained them. We drove in to the soiree at the Assembly Rooms where we heard Mr. Planche read a paper on the Earls of Kent, beginning with Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, Mr. Whichcord on Architectural Painting, and Mr. Brent on Guilds and Confraternities. There were two more papers to read, but the hour was so late and so many of the party had to return to Rochester, that Mr. Bernal, who had been napping some time, concluded the evening by thanking the Mayor, Mr. Joy for his kind reception, and the ladies for their attendance. Mr. Joy then expressed the gratification it had caused him etc. and so ended the soiree." Note: The 'Holy Trinity' mentioned is almost certainly the one in the chapel in Maidstone Museum, presented by Mr. Oliver, Churchwarden of Hollingbourne and executor for the Rev. Hasted, the vicar.
B. Gipps.
Kent Record Collections
Kent Record Collections is a trust designed to encourage the growing interest in Kentish local history and to promote research into it through the medium of printed indexes, calendars or transcripts of original records. These the trust will itself produce, failing other publishers, but its primary concern is in compiling the texts for printing, and this can only be done by employing persons well qualified to compile them.
This is a costly undertaking and since the trust has no endowment it must rely on grants and donations to fulfill its objectives. In this respect the KAS has been a tower of strength by making very substantial grants towards the immediate objective of the trust, namely, the compilation of a comprehensive index to the probate records of the dioceses of Canterbury and Rochester and the peculiars from their beginning to 1858. This will include not only the wills and administrations, but also the inventories, accounts, caveats and similar records. In brief, the index should provide a reference to everything in the archive relating to any one person. It is estimated that the complete index will comprise twelve or more volumes, including those already in print. Through the grants from the KAS and others all the original and registered wills, probate acts and administrations in the diocese of Canterbury for the period 1577-1639 have been indexed, along with an entirely new feature, an index of armorial seals. Work on the accounts is in progress through an arrangement with the Economic and Social Research Council, but funds are needed to begin work on the remaining classes, e.g., the inventories, or the guardianship papers, which in quality and extent are unique. It is worth mentioning that this vast project has the whole-hearted and unqualified approval of the Keeper of Public Records, the Director of the Institute of Historical Research, the Director of the Economic and Social Research Council group for the History of Population and Social Structure and others.
On the publishing side Kent Record Collections has already produced a volume edited by Jules de Launay of full and detailed abstracts of the Wills of 659 parishioners of Cranbrook proved in the diocese of Canterbury in the period 1396-1640. A few copies still remain at £10, post free. Also available is the first volume, just issued, of a new and exhaustive edition by Stella Corpe and Anne M. Oakley of the 'Freemen of Canterbury' from 1275 to 1835, in six volumes of about 300 pages each.
The present Volume covers the years 1800-1835 and, although last in point of time, it is the first to be published for that period. The normal price is £15 post free, but to KAS members it is £11.75. Cheques should be made payable to Kent Record Collections, 90 Albany Drive, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 8SV.
P. H. Blake
Roman Treasures of the Moselle Valley, An archaeological study tour
For those members of the Society who missed the KAS trip to Trier in 1989, or for members who would like to pay a return visit, the Dept. of Archaeology, University of Manchester, have arranged the above tour. This will take place on Friday 9th to Sunday 18th August 1991. A very full and interesting programme has been planned and in addition to the visit to Trier, other places to be visited will include Schwarzenacker (a partially excavated Roman Town), Bitburg (late defences and Museum) and many more excellent museums and sites. The party will be led by Mr. Colin Baddeley who has been conducting tours to the German Moselle Valley for several years. He has invited any KAS members interested to join the tour. Cost is £445, (single supp. £50). This includes travel (sailing from Ramsgate), half board accommodation, all sites and museum fees etc. Full details may be obtained from Moswin Tours Ltd. Moswin House, 21 Church St., Oadby, Leicester, LE2 5QB. Tel. 0533 714982.
New Books
KENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, KENT RECORDS (New Series) Volume 1. Pt. 1 HENRY HAULE'S NOTEBOOK, 1590-95 The Journal of a Maidstone attorney. Edited by Felix Hull. Now Published on a subscription basis at the following rates: £5 per annum (2 parts). £3.50 for KAS members. Plus £1 in either case for postage and packing. OR £3 per part. £2 for KAS members.
Plus 60p in either case for postage and packing.
A microfiche edition may be available later.
Please send your subscription (payable to the Kent Archaeological Society) to the Hon. Editor.
KENT and EAST SUSSEX UNDERGROUND, by members of the Kent Underground Research Group (a Subject Branch of the KAS) 128 pages. Price £5.95. will be available late April from Meresborough Books. 17, Station Road, Rainham.
'CHEERS!' A Hundred Years, A Hundred Dartford Pubs. by Chris Baker and Graham Hinkley.
Queen Victoria, Jane Austen, Richard Trevithick, Mick Jagger and Les Dawson - what do they have in common? They all have visited and some stayed at Dartford pubs. And they all appear in 'Cheers', an historic guide to local pubs published by the Dartford Borough Council in December 1990.
'Cheers' explores every public house which has traded in the Borough during the last hundred years. Over a hundred pubs are featured, each with historic or modern photographs and notes about their past. The book has been researched, written and designed by staff at Dartford Council's Museum and Public Relations Department and is available price £4.60 from Dartford Borough Museum and also from the Tourist Information Centre in Dartford.
For postal applications, cheques should be made payable to Dartford Borough Council for £5.68 (1st class postage and packing) or £5.55 (2nd class) and sent to Dartford Borough Museum, Market Street, Dartford, Kent DAI IEU.
THE ICE HOUSES OF BRITAIN by Sylvia Beamon and Dr. Susan Roaf.
Published in August 1990, this book is the result of many years of research and will be regarded as the definitive work on the subject. The second half of the book constitutes the first gazetteer of ice-houses in Britain to be published and there are approximately 70 entries for sites in Kent. At £100, this is an expensive book but no library should be without a copy. It may be ordered from Vickie Kemp, Promotion Dept., Routledge, 11 New Fetter Lane, London, EC4P 4EE.
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PERIODICAL LITERATURE.
The Society of Antiquaries has now issued this bibliography as a separate booklet, instead of being at the back of the Antiquaries Journal. It costs £3.50 plus postage and is available from the Society of Antiquaries at Burlington House. It runs to 76 pages and forms an Index to the papers and periodicals received by their library between September 1988 and September 1989. As would be expected, it is mainly concerned with Archaeology, but includes Architecture, Archives, The Arts, Coins, History, Local History, Conservation and Museums.
BUILDINGS IN NEED. A Register of Historic Buildings at Risk in Kent. This A4 size, spiral-bound booklet has been issued by the K.C.C. Planning Dept. and was compiled with the help of the Kent Building Preservation Trust and the District Councils. (It is available from K.C.C. Planning Dept. Springfield, Maidstone, ME14 2LX at £5 a copy plus 85p postage.) It lists those buildings known to be at risk, district by district, with a descriptive paragraph on each one, and its National Grid Reference. This is a most helpful and useful publication, although many of the entries are well known to the Kent Historic Buildings Committee who have welcomed the document and will monitor progress. The list for Greater London, which includes the London Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham, was produced by English Heritage. This is not so attractively produced as the Kent one, being in the form of a computer print-out list. (Comments, on possible omissions especially, on both of these reports would be welcomed by the Hon. Sec. K.H.B.C. Mr. Charles Friend.
Letters
Following the death of my father last year, I have a number of copies of Archaeologia Cantiana which I would like to place in a good home. He was a member of the Society from 1950 so there are 44 volumes (1950 to 1989) in his collection. Price £50, or would consider offer. Please contact Mr. B. Kirkness.
For some time now I have assembled information from printed sources on the Kent printers and booksellers active between 1800 and 1900 for a Kent book trade directory. This will also include journeyman printers, booksellers' assistants, and apprentices. If you include a bookseller or printer as one of your ancestors, then I would be grateful if you would give brief details of his career, and I will follow the lead up by correspondence. If you also possess booksellers' letters or printers' account books or their papers and photographs, then I would be grateful if you would allow me to inspect them. Mr. R. J. Goulden.
I would be most interested if any members have any personal or local knowledge of the following:
1. Village 'foot-races' in the 19th Century or earlier, particularly inter-village contests.
2. Rope-making as a local industry.
3. Cultivation of and use of hazel as a village community industry.
Mr. D. Coast.
After several years of spasmodic research, I have reached a stage where a short article on St. Mary Magdalene's Chapel, Lidsing, nr. Gillingham, can be written. It may be, however, that some readers have personal knowledge of the area, for although the chapel was demolished in the late nineteenth century, a few grave markers were still visible until at least the early 1950s. Apparently, a small excavation took place in the area about thirty years ago of which there seems to be no written record. Also, George Payne, writing in 1888, had discovered an "Anglo-Saxon" burial, the exact location of which I have been unable to discover. If any readers have any knowledge on these points or about the area in general, could they please contact me: Alan Ward.
Events, Outings, Lectures K.A.S
Saturday 27th April. K.A.S. Day School, Furnishing and Decorating Old Kent Churches, at The Barn, (next to the church) Charing, Kent, Admission by ticket only which includes coffee, light lunch and tea, £4. Speakers have been invited to discuss and illustrate the development of furnishings and decoration of Kent churches. Contact: John Owen
Monday May 27th to May 31st, inclusive, Coach visit to Northumberland and Durham. We will visit Beamish Heritage Museum, Jarrow, Hadrian's Wall and the coastal Northumberland castles and Lindisfarne. Further details from Joy Saynor. SAE please. A deposit of £50 (only refundable up to one month before departure) to be sent to H. G. B. Coast. Estimated cost of trip £200. Includes hotel accommodation, bed, breakfast and evening meal. (Possible single rooms supplement). This does not include entrance to museums and sites. No smoking on the coach.
Saturday 8th June. Cloth of Gold Excursion. One day visit by coach to the 'Opal Coast' with pick-up points within the county. (Crayford, Maidstone, Canterbury) Cost about £35, to include five course lunch in Boulogne, with visit to the old town and its Museums, Field of Cloth of Gold etc. driving along the historic coastline. Names to Joy Saynor, address as above by 20th May. SAE please.
Saturday 29th June. Visit to St. Clere, Kemsing. Regret all places on this visit are now filled.
Saturday 6th July. Garden Party at Cooling Castle. There will be an opportunity to view the private grounds by kind permission of the owner. Many other features indicate that this will be a major event. Own car advisable. Please book the date. See enclosed leaflet.
Sunday 7th July. Afternoon (2.30 pm) visit to East Kent.
Northbourne Gardens, Strawberry Tea at Dane Court. Limited numbers, own car advisable. Contact Mr. M. Crane, SAE please.
ONE DAY COURSE ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES.
The K.A.S. Fieldwork Committee has decided to organise another one day course on archaeological techniques, after the very successful one day course held at Benenden on the study of Roman Roads. The next course will take place on Saturday 12th October 1991 and will be based on The Study of Field Surveys. The course will be under the guidance of Mr. Jim Bradshaw, well known for his fieldwork and Dr. John Williams, the County Archaeologist.
The programme will consist of a morning session illustrated by slides, followed by a field trip in the afternoon (using members own cars), there will also be an opportunity to handle pottery and other artefacts. The venue is not certain at this stage, although it has been suggested it would be in the Wye/Stowling area; however, Dr.
Williams is keen that the fieldwork should take place in an area that is threatened by development. Only a limited number of places are available and there is a registration fee of £1. For further details, S.A.E. to Alec Miles.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS. Full details in Sept. Newsletter.
River boat trip. Not yet confirmed. Possible date, Sept.
Building Recorders Conference will be held on Saturday 19th October 1991 at the Barn, Charing, commencing at 2.15, Symposium on Hasted. Organised by the Library Committee. Probable date 23rd November.
EVENTS, OUTINGS, LECTURES (other societies) INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE (ISIS) The Trustees are pleased to inform members that Professor Manfred Bietak of the Austrian Institute of Egyptology has accepted the ISIS Fellowship for 1991. Professor Bietak will be delivering his Fellowship Lecture on Saturday 27th April 1991 at the British Museum (basement Lecture Theatre). At 1.15 pm. he will be introduced by Mr. George Hart of the British Museum who will give an illustrated talk on the Second Intermediate Period in Egypt by way of introduction to Professor Bietak's lecture.
This will be the first occasion that Professor Bietak has lectured in Britain for over ten years and he will describe the fascinating discoveries made during excavations he has carried out from 1966 to 1990, on the Middle Bronze Age site of Tell ed Daba. This is believed to be the ancient Avaris capital city of the Hyksos people and later the site of Per Ramesses, one of the Pharaoh's 'store cities' of the Bible.
Admission is free but this will be a most popular lecture for archaeologists, academics and the public in general so seats will be on a 'first come, first served basis. At 4.15 pm discussion and questions from the floor. Close of meeting 4.45 pm.
Saturday 27th April to Monday 6th May. (Bank Holiday) Dartford Environment Week. A wide range of events is planned for this year's Environment Week. It includes guided walks, talks, visits to local facilities and open days. Of particular interest to K.A.S. members are the open days planned for the Manor Gatehouse in Priory Road, Dartford. This has been made possible by the kind permission of Dartford Borough Council who now own the building. This gatehouse served as the West Gate to Henry VIII's Manor House in Dartford, of which further details appeared in K.A.S. Newsletter 18. A full list of events will be available on a handout available from local libraries, Dartford Borough Museum and the Tourist Information Centre near the Orchard Theatre in Dartford.
The Manor Gatehouse will be open on Saturday 4th, Sunday 5th and Bank Holiday Monday 6th May between 10.00 am - 5.00 pm.
Saturday 11th May. Kent History Federation One Day Conference Looking at Hadlow, Past and Present. At Hadlow College.
Morning session from 9.30. Coffee, Exhibitions, Sales, Lectures by Dr. Joan Thirsk, Dr. Fred Lansberry and Mrs.
Ann Hughes. Afternoon tours of Hadlow (walking) to include Castle, Church, Brewery site, Horticultural Unit.
Old Soar Manor (by car). Tea at College from 3.30 pm onwards. Tickets £5. (Cheques made payable to the Kent History Federation) from D. Coast. Please send SAE, at least 9" x 4" in size.
Saturday and Sunday June 15th & 16th. FORDWICH.
Ancient Port of Canterbury, Historic Town Hall and Church. Many gardens open. Teas. Proceeds to the Fordwich & District Society and the Friends of Fordwich.
Sunday 21st July until Saturday 27th. The 1991 Summer School at Wye College. Among the many subjects on offer will be Timber, Brick and Stone, an introduction to the Houses of Kent by Kenneth Gravett, pitched at the level of beginners and including lecture and visits. Details from the Summer School Administrator, Centre for European Agricultural Studies, Wye, Ashford, Kent TN25 SAH.
Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th September. Scadbury Manor. The archaeological excavations at the medieval moated manor site at Scadbury will be open to the public. Members of the Orpington & District Archaeological Society (ODAS) will give guided tours showing the work that is currently being done on the site as well as the remains of the drawbridge. The site contains the foundations of the buildings associated with the Walshingham family and unlike many similar moated sites the island is still completely surrounded by water.
Guided tours will be given at 15 minute intervals throughout both afternoons, the first at 2.00 pm. and the last at 4.30 pm. There will also be a slide show, refreshments and bookstall. Admission is free and limited car parking is available close to the site, by ticket only, for which application should be made (enclosing S.A.E. and stating for which day required) to Mr. M. Meekums.
Excavation of Well by The Sheppey Arch. Society
The excavation of the well at Minster Abbey has now been completed. Permission to empty the well shaft, long since filled with earth and rubble, had been granted and the excavation was organized by Mr. B. S. Slade and carried out by members of S.A.S. They found that the well 'bottomed out' at 40 ft., where the stone-lined well-shaft then appeared to be supported on an 18-inch deep rubble footing.
Abbey Gatehouse (12th Century) is a listed building and the well is situated just 1 ft. from the gatehouse north wall.
There is the possibility that the well might be restored and could be turned into a tourist attraction, possibly with a 'well-house' or building erected over it. Legend says that St.
Sexburga, Abbess and founder of Minster Abbey and her holy sisters had vast knowledge of healing waters, herbs and medicines, thus starting the legend about the healing well of Minster.
Brian Slade
Archaeology in Education
The Canterbury Archaeological Trust has long been aware of its educational commitment to the public and to the community of Kent in particular. Within its budget, it has endeavored to meet this by staging exhibitions, giving lectures, and holding Open Days. The sterling work of Mrs. Marjorie Lyle has generated among many local school children a special interest in Canterbury's history through its archaeology. It is this element of the Trust's work which we are now developing; we are aware of the National Curriculum developments and are liaising with the teaching profession to assist in current needs.
Our broad aim is to further increase awareness of local archaeology and, wherever possible, to enable teachers and pupils alike to experience it firsthand. We are seeking long-term funding for our education program, and thanks to the interest and support of Dr. Alec Detsicas, we have just received a sum of £2000 from the K.A.S. which will enable us to continue in this area. We are very grateful to both the Society and to Dr. Detsicas in particular for this much-needed assistance.
Our present service is composed chiefly of provision for group visits to major excavations (with a format designed specifically for schools); a guide to introduce the subject of Archaeology and its potential; visits to classes in school, by request; Work Experience placements, and dealing with various requests for local archaeological data and assistance with school projects. This is a reasonable workload, given our present resources. For the immediate future, we see these elements forming the backbone of our schools' education service while we are very willing to offer assistance with any request where it is within our capabilities to do so.
Marion Green, Education Officer, Canterbury Archaeological Trust.
C.B.A. Meeting in Brighton
This meeting took place on Saturday 2nd February at the University of Sussex. Under the Chairmanship of Professor Rosemary Cramp, the aim of the meeting was to discuss further the question of a revival of the Council for British Archaeology's 'Group 11'. This move would attempt to unite the archaeological bodies and organizations at present working within the counties of Kent, Surrey, and Sussex.
A lively discussion took place, and one of the major stumbling blocks was the difficulty in defining with certainty the boundaries of each county, especially those with 'ancient' borders which for many years have been regarded as being in Greater London.
This was the second C.B.A. meeting to be held on the subject of Group 11, and it had a slightly better attendance than at the first one held in October 1990.
It was agreed that a working party should be set up to look into the question of boundaries and other matters. A Chairman and Committee were elected and would be reporting its findings at a future date. Mr. James Money represented the K.A.S. and eight other people from Kent attended, including Dr. John Williams, the Archaeological Officer for Kent. About 40-45 people were present at the meeting.
Christmas Buffet Lunch
Some 80 members travelled long distances to enjoy an excellent lunch during which the promised surprise entertainment materialized in the form of the Hartley Morns Dancers, well known for their skilled performance. Mr. King's bookstall and other members' stalls helped to provide a truly enjoyable social occasion.
Volunteers Wanted
My excavations for the Canterbury Archaeological Trust are in constant need of fresh supplies of volunteers. Large scale excavations are planned for the summer and if any 'muck diggers, bone removers and general rubble cleaners' are interested in undertaking volunteer work, they could contact me, Alan Ward, at the Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 92a Broad Street, Canterbury.The Hon. Editor of the Newsletter welcomes all letters, articles and communications and would particularly like to receive more from members and others, especially such as requests for research information, finds books and related topics. lllustrations, if relevant, are always helpful and can assist readers in identifying objects, understanding points and following arguments.
The Editor, however wishes to draw the readers attention to the fact that neither the Council of the K.A.S. nor the Editor is answerable for the opinions which contributors may express in the course of their signed articles. Each author is alone responsible for the contents and substance of their letters, items or papers.
Material for the next Newsletter should be sent by 1st July 1991 to Hon. Editor. Nesta Caiger.
Published by the Kent Archaeological Society, St. Faith's Street, Maidstone, Kent.
Printed by Delta Press, Crayford Industrial Estate, Crayford DAl 4HT.