Letters
Dear editor
Following the item in Newsletter no.83, I would like to congratulate Tonbridge Historical Society on their 50th anniversary. I would also like to respond to Shiela Broomfield’s question as to ‘how many other local societies were founded 50 years ago, or even before 1960’ by pointing out that the Dartford Historical and Antiquarian Society will be celebrating its centenary this year.
The Society first met on Monday 3 October 1910 at Buck’s Rooms in the High Street, Dartford. Originally called the Dartford District Antiquarian Society (DDAS), membership had reached over one hundred by the following year with the Archbishop of Canterbury as Patron and Sidney Keynes (local councillor, flour mill owner and grandfather of the poet who shared his name) as President.
The DDAS became affiliated to the Kent Archaeological Society in 1926. Five years later, in 1931, the first issue of its ‘Transactions’ appeared, covering local history, building recording and archaeological reports. At this time our Vice Presidents included Sir Thomas Colyer-Fergusson and Arthur Mee.
In 1964 the DDAS changed its name to the Dartford Historical and Antiquarian Society and in the same year published the first of its newsletters which have appeared annually ever since. These cover various aspects of local history such as studies of companies, families, individuals and events.
This year we are hoping to celebrate our centenary by publishing a book of photographs illustrating Dartford throughout the 100 years of our existence. In October there will be a Centenary Dinner with an after dinner talk on the history of the Society. Dartford Borough Museum will also be staging a temporary exhibition from October 2010 until March 2011 on the story of the Society and its accomplishments.
Dr Mike Still
Chairman, Dartford Historical & Antiquarian Society
Dear editor
The Lower Medway Archaeological Research Group 50th Anniversary, an appeal.
In answer to Shiela Broomfield, who asked in the last issue how many other local societies in Kent were founded 50 years ago, the Lower Medway Archaeological Research Group began life in April 1961 and so will reach its own major milestone next year. The first report on its activities, which included mention of the Group’s discovery of the Eccles Roman Villa, appeared in the Local Secretaries’ Reports in Arch. Cant. for 1961.
If anyone has any memories they would like to share of the Group’s first 15 years, would they please contact me as I hope to help the Group mark the occasion with an article in the Newsletter. The 1960s were interesting times, when so much field archaeology (not all of it excavation) was going on throughout the County, largely undertaken by amateurs. Regular, if somewhat chaotic conferences, led by the late Frank Jenkins FSA, were held in Canterbury to share the results. An early “networking” event?
Michael Ocock
The Old School House
Merton Road, Ambrosden
Oxon OX25 2LS
Email: m.ocock@consp.co.uk