The Abbey Farm Training Excavation; First Year Bulletin
Introduction
A training excavation organised by Kent Archaeological Society and Thanet Archaeological Society took place at Abbey Farm, Minster, Isle of Thanet, between 1st and 13th September, 1996. It was enabled by the permission of the landowner, Mr. Jack Clifton, for whose kindness and co-operation thanks are hereby extended by the two Societies. The archaeological objective of the excavation was to examine the east wing of a large Roman building previously identified by aerial photography and trenching.
Twenty-two trainees enrolled for the excavation, of whom fourteen attended for a single week and eight stayed throughout the fortnight. Most of the trainees were from Kent and the south-east, with one or two coming from as far afield as Cardiff and Rochdale. The aerial photograph taken in 1979 (RCHM) indicated that building remains were present throughout an area of roughly 60 m. by 24 m. The area of excavation in 1996 located the front and back of the building extending north and south for 26 m. and the outer wall of the east wing from which remains were exposed for 26 m. to the west, see plan. Taking the apsidal northern extension (Room X) as a datum point, it becomes clear that the remains are rather more extensive than as indicated in the photo, at least six tenths of the building remaining to be examined.
Apart from experience in excavation techniques, trainees were given tuition in survey and levelling, drawing plans and sections, photography, stratigraphy, and recording systems. Feedback from the trainees indicates that the training aims of the project were in general achieved, and the archaeological target was exceeded. Armed by the organisational and archaeological experience gained, a second training excavation is proposed for 1997.
In the fortnight following the training excavation, volunteer members of Thanet Archaeological Society and the Deal/Dover Archaeological Group continued work on the site, finalising planning and cutting sections to establish phases of construction.
The Site Location The site is located on an almost flat hilltop overlooking the village of Minster at TR 31356463 and at an elevation of about 16.30 m. The geology is that of the Thanet Sands beds. Nearby in a narrow valley a spring emerges, feeding Medieval monastic fish ponds belonging to Minster Abbey. To the south the site would have commanded a panoramic view of the Wantsum Channel separating Thanet from mainland Kent, with the Roman seashore only about 500 m. away below the building. The fortress of Rutupiae on its island would have been in direct line of sight, as too on fine days the cliffs of France. Northwards behind the building the ground rises to the chalk downland escarpment that marks on the skyline the course of 'Dunstrete', a prehistoric trackway lined with Roman cemeteries and iron working sites.
Excavation; First Impressions
The aerial photograph taken in 1979 (RCHM) indicated that. building remains were present throughout an area of roughly ., 60 m. (197 feet) by 24 m. (79 feet). The area of excavation in 1996 located the front and back of the building extending north and south for 26 m. (85 feet) and the outer wall of the east wing from which remains were exposed for 26 m. to thewest, see plan. Taking the apsidal northern extension (Room X) as a datum point, it becomes clear that the remains are .,_ rather more extensive than as indicated in the photo, at least six tenths of the building remaining to be examined.
As can be seen from the plan, a variety of materials were used to construct foundation courses, and there is also variation in the depths to which these were cut. While it would be premature at this stage to draw firm conclusions, at least three phases of expansion and modification to the building seem indicated, perhaps culminating in the insertion of the Room V foundation, possibly the stairwell and load bearer for a tower or upper story.
The role and function of the complex constituted by Rooms X and XI is at present enigmatic. Room X, which has a stoke-hole and is floored and lined with opus signinum, would appear to be an hypocaust fed from Room XI, which has a floor of mortar at a lower level and a back wall of mud bricks laid in mortar. The complex does no� attach to the main range of the building, and appears to have been demolished to ground level before the east - west wall north of Room VII was built. Most of the finds of wall and floor mosaic and painted plaster were obtained from the demolition layers within these rooms.
In summary, the initial results of excavation indicate that the Abbey farm remains are those of a fairly large and well appointed villa. Although the east wing foundations have been heavily plough damaged, the results of trenching in 1991 suggested a better state of preservation to the west, with floors and hypocausts surviving under a deeper overburden. This gives rise to hope for the next phase of excavation, and is born out by a discovery made during the last week of access to the site. This consists of remains of a small building about seven metres square, situated about forty metres west north west of Room X. Trial trenching by volunteers has revealed wall courses of hard chalk, and an opus signinum floor framed by vertically set tile, these being protected by an overburden of about 0.40 m.
D.R. J. Perkins
On Archaeology, Planning and Sites and Monuments Records
The Heritage Green Paper Protecting Our Heritage, issued this summer by the Department of National Heritage, takes forward the concept that archaeology is a material consideration in planning and, by implication, that safeguarding the past is an integral part of sustainability. PPG 16, issued in 1990, recognized that archaeological remains constitute a "finite, non-renewable resource" but PPGs are Planning Policy Guidance and do not have full statutory force. Now for the first time it is proposed to make Sites and Monuments Records a statutory local authority responsibility and also to require local planning authorities to consider the archaeological implications of development proposals. The relevant paragraphs are as follows:
4.13 At present all county councils in England maintain a 'sites and monuments record' (SMR) - an inventory of local archaeological features going well beyond the national list of scheduled sites and providing the main source of archaeological information at the local level, for example, for development planning and development control purposes. At present there is no statutory basis for these SMRs and no duty to maintain them. The re-organization of local government, and the demise of some county councils, could pose a threat to the continued maintenance of the SMR. The Royal Commission on the Historical Monument of England, which coordinates the work of local SMRs, has represented strongly that authorities should be placed under a duty to maintain them. The Government agrees with this view and proposes to introduce such a duty...
4.21 PPG16 and Planning Guidance (Wales): Planning Policy make clear that the desirability of preserving an ancient monument and its setting is a material consideration in determining planning applications whether that monument is scheduled or unscheduled. The Government considers this requirement is of fundamental importance and should be given statutory expression in the Town and Country Planning Act (1990) ...
It is appropriate therefore to review the situation in Kent. Canterbury City Council largely utilizes the Canterbury Archaeological Trust for archaeological planning advice but for all the other Districts and the County itself the Heritage Conservation Group within the Planning Department of the County Council provide an archaeological service both in providing specialist archaeological input on planning applications and in maintaining the Sites and Monument Record.
In addition to myself, as County Archaeologist, there is a team of three archaeologists who each take responsibility for a part of the County (Lis Dyson: Dartford, Gravesham, Rochester, Gillingham and Swale; Paul Newman: Dover, Thanet and any issues for Canterbury; Wendy Rogers: Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Ashford and Shepway). Our Records Officer, David Eve, is an experienced industrial archaeologist. Each year there are about 20,000 planning applications or the like (proposals from statutory undertakers, woodland grant applications etc). The relevant planning authority works from the constraints maps which we have prepared and refers to us any applications lying within Areas of Archaeological Potential which we have defined as well as any application above an acre in size. This reduces the number of 'applications' to be examined in more detail to about 1,000, which is still a sizeable number.
Advice is given by the team which can range from a recommendation for refusal on archaeological grounds in a very few cases to 'no comment'. In between there can be a recommendation for a program of formal archaeological excavation or a more restricted 'watching brief'. There are cases where, based on existing knowledge it is not possible to gauge satisfactorily the impact of the proposed development, beyond recognizing that archaeology is clearly an issue, and in such cases archaeological evaluation can be required prior to the determination of the application by the local planning authority. The advantage of this is that the need for redesign to safeguard important archaeological features can be looked at at the time of the more general consideration of the application: archaeological mitigation can be properly integrated into any decision making.
In many respects the cornerstone for the archaeological advice system is the Sites and Monuments Record. The Kent Record is a fully computerized system based on the National Monuments Record of the Royal Commission on Historic Monuments. Data are arranged in 'fields' according to site location, but also according to type, period, form etc and thus it is possible to recall data by key words relating to individual and multiple fields. Over the past two years we have also been collaborating with the Commission in developing a maritime Sites and Monuments Record for the County and this too is now largely operational. With Kent having the longest coastline of any English shire county and with reputedly more wrecks off its coast this is an important asset.
While the primary purpose of Sites and Monuments Records has been to help planning departments to assess the archaeological implications of development they are also most important research tool. As such the Kent SMR is open for public consultation and indeed we have a regular stream of enquirers. Access is subject to two conditions: firstly we need to be assured that the release of information will not result in damage to archaeological sites and secondly an appointment has to be made. This is because we have limited space available for consultation and a booking system is therefore essential. Anyone wishing to consult the SMR should arrange an appointment with David Eve or Miriam Tressider on 01622 696096.
A particularly interesting development has been the transfer of the land-based record into the Planning Department's GIS (Geographical Information System). The archaeological data, along with other planning data, can now be displayed graphically on OS maps on computer screen. It is possible to zoom in and out, thereby seeing the data at different scales on the screen and other planning data, for example those relating to the natural environment, can be superimposed. At the present time the system is in a state of development but as more 'layers' are added to the GIS data the more useful the system will become. The further development of GIS is a most exciting prospect.
John Williams,
Head of Heritage Conservation, KCC Planning
Appeal for volunteers for a survey of the later defences of the Thames and Medway
The Thames and Medway contain a rich variety of later defense heritage sites. These allow us to trace the evolution of the defensive systems for these strategically important rivers in response to international tensions and developments in weapons technology over more than 500 years. This period spans the first and tentative adaptation of castle walls for firearms in the later medieval era to the sophisticated coastal artillery and anti-aircraft defense systems of the mid-twentieth century and a miscellany of other military and civil defense sites, such as pillboxes, anti-tank obstacles, defense-related industries, air-raid shelters and even posts to monitor radioactive fallout from nuclear attack. The variety is astonishing.
Following earlier studies, more detailed identification and recording has been undertaken since 1994. This work has a particular imperative given the inclusion of the lower stretches of the two rivers and their hinterland within the Government's East Thames Corridor or Thames Gateway economic development zone. The existence of this zone may put a number of sites at risk from demolition, to join those which have disappeared since the 1960s. It is vital to record such sites now and to work to save those for which retention seems justified, either because of their value as representative examples or to preserve cases of rarity.
Already, more than 300 sites have been identified in the Kentish part of the Thames Gateway. From this result and earlier research, three evaluations of the defense heritage asset within the Gateway have been provided at the request of county and national organizations. In addition, two documentary studies have been published in Arch. Cant., another general study by the RCHME and two further reports have been prepared for publication. It is expected that there will be many more publications, including those deriving from major studies just started of the Cold War defenses of Kent and the defenses of Sheerness. As well as this publication activity, accounts of the progress with discovery have been given to some local historical societies. It is hoped that further steps can be taken to sensitize the public and relevant organizations to the importance of the defense heritage asset.
The work is contributing valuable new information to our understanding of the patterns of defense systems, particularly those of the 20th century and is suggesting sites which might justify statutory protection. Moreover, the gradual inclusion of discoveries in the Sites and Monuments Record for Kent provides an invaluable alert to the existence of sites for the purposes of the local authority consideration of planning applications. A Cold War bunker revealed during the summer at Gravesend is the subject of a current conservation initiative. (KAS Newsletter No. 32).
A great deal more work needs to be done in exploring the ground to find further sites and to follow-up clues from documentary research and the results of various newspaper appeals for information. If you like fighting your way through the brambles and clambering over a wide variety of sometimes enigmatic structures - or maybe just delving into the records to unlock some of the mysteries of our defensive past, then this is for you. Any readers interested in taking part in this activity are invited to contact the writer at 65 Stonebridge Road, Northfleet DA11 9BA (Tel: 01474 323415).
Victor Smith
Fighting Your Way
Excavations at Bredhurst 1964
One of the areas that the present writer studies as and when time allows is the village of Bredhurst (Church NGR: TQ 7990 6215).
In 1964, archaeological excavations were undertaken within coppice woodland to the south-east of the church by an L.A. Griffiths (Archaeologia Cantiana Vol. lxx 1965, p.272). The foundations of a structure 18 ft. by 15 ft. were uncovered. This 'tiled building' (presumably referring to roofing tile debris) was situated at the end of a north-south wall 45 ft. in length; late fourteenth to early fifteenth-century pottery sherds were recovered from the area of the structure. Earlier pottery of c.1300 was recovered from a rubbish pit. Further foundations were revealed in an adjacent field by ploughing late in the summer, whilst forty years earlier, in 1921, on the creation of the 'new cemetery' to the south of the church, a structure of 'substantial proportions' was uncovered.
The site was believed to be associated with the manor house and mill recorded in c.1300 and 1319 (Medieval Archaeology Vol. ix 1965, p.202). The village center today is situated about 250 yards to the west of the church on the Rainham to Maidstone road. It is possible that the church and manor always stood apart from the village. If this supposition is correct, this suggests that the church, rather than serving the parish, was at one time (11th century?) the private chapel of the lord. Alternatively, the village could have shrunk in the late medieval period. Village shift from the church area to the road, whilst not impossible, seems unlikely, for a community tends to concentrate on the main thoroughfare rather than isolate itself.
The five-line Medieval Archaeology article ends with 'Work continues'. As far as the present writer is able to ascertain, no further publication of findings was ever undertaken. If any (written, oral, or photographic) reminiscences of the excavations or details of publications are known by readers of this note, hopefully, they could forward the information to the writer, do History Dept. Christ Church College, Canterbury.
Alan Ward
Books
See Library News for details of recent publications by two KAS members, G and M. Copus.
DOVER CASTLE, by Jonathan Coad. This famous fortress was first established on the site of an Iron Age Hillfort and has been continuously garrisoned for nearly 900 years. Published by Batsford, Paperback £15.95, it contains 128 pages. Batsford 4 Fitzhardinge St., London W1H 0AH. Tel: 0171-486 8484.
COUNTRY HOUSE BREWING IN ENGLAND 1500 - 1900, by Pamela Sambrook. This book shows the role beer played in the life of the country house, with beer allowances and beer money an integral part of servants' rewards; heavily illustrated this is an important and original contribution to architectural, brewing and social history, Pamela Sambrook describes the brewing equipment, such as coppers, mash tuns, underbacks and coolers; the types of beer brewed and the brewers themselves. Price £25. 336 pages, 115 illustrations. Obtainable from: The Hambledon Press, 102 Gloucester Avenue, London NW1 8HX. Tel: 0171-586 0817. Postage £2.
COINS OF ENGLAND AND THE UNITED KINGDOM. Also published by Batsford is the Seaby's Standard Catalogue of British Coins. 31st Edition 1996. This lists every major coin from Celtic coinage to the present date and over 1500 coins are illustrated. £12.95 Paperback. Obtainable from address above.
SHIPS OF THE PORT OF LONDON. by Peter Marsden. English Heritage Archaeological Report No. 5. A study of twelfth to seventeenth-century ships and boats from the port of London. The book focuses on the substantial remains of three local vessels dating to 1160-90, fifteenth century and c.1670. Price £30. 236 pages, 188 illustrations, Order from English Heritage Postal Sales, PO Box 229, Northampton NN6 9RY.
MUSEUMS YEAR BOOK 1996/97. This volume provides full details of over 3,000 museums, galleries, heritage centres, historic houses and related organisations in the U.K. and Ireland. Price £? 512 pages. Details from: Museums Yearbook Sales, Museums Association, 42 Clerkenwell Close, London EC1R 0PA. Tel: 0171-250 1836.
KAS Conference: Anglo Saxons in Kent (Dark Ages or Discovery?)
Our President, Kenneth Gravett, opened the Conference by extending his welcome to the many members and friends of the KAS. The first talk was given by Dave Perkins from the Thanet Trust for Archaeology who outlined for us the many sites on the Island, illustrating his talk with many excellent slides. He was followed by Keith Parfitt from the Dover Archaeological Group who dealt with two important sites from the Dover area. The burial site at Millhill near Deal and the domestic site at Whitfield that has correlations with the site of West Stow in East Anglia. After lunch we were treated to a talk by Paul Bennett on Anglo Saxon Canterbury and which was up to his usual high standard. The final speaker, Mrs Sonia Hawkes was unable to attend. Miss Kathy Haith from the British Museum stepped into the breach at very short notice and gave us a very interesting 'gallop' through the finds from the burial site at Buckland. These are being processed for conservation and research by her department at the British Museum. The great interest of these four excellent talks was reflected in the many and varied questions throughout the day. This conference was up to the usual very high standard that we have come to expect from the KAS and it is gratifying to note that so many people attended and all tickets were quickly sold out. Let us hope that this is the start of such a tradition.
Sheila Broomfield.
Amateur authors may be interested to note the following names and addresses of contacts which could be of help with publishing needs.
Indexing: If you need an indexer, a list may be obtained free of charge from Lesley and Roy Adkins, who are co-ordinating a Panel of Archaeological Indexers. Free fact sheets on various aspects of indexing are also available. Further details from L. and R. Adkins. Stamped Addressed Envelope Please.
The (Local History) Link
"This is a useful publication, a guide to local history books produced by small publishers and self-publishers in the southeast. A 100 word description of author's book will be circulated to an audience of many thousands in the south-east for a very moderate fee. Published by the Authors' Publishing Guild, 2 West St., Farm Cottages, Maynards Green, Heathfield, Sussex TN21 0DG. Further details of The Link may be obtained from that address.
Kent Rural Lanes
"Kent County Council's Planning and Highways Departments in partnership with district councils have determined that rural lanes are worthy of protection and enhancement to ameliorate character loss. A project has been launched which will need the cooperation, help and local knowledge of amateur historians, archaeologists, and anyone interested in the proposed project.
Further details may be obtained from John Whittington, Planning Dept. Kent County Council, Springfield, Maidstone ME14 2LX. Tel: 01622 696044.
The Allen Grove Local History Fund: Grants
The late Allen Grove left a legacy to the Kent Archaeological Society to establish a fund to be used 'for the purpose of research, preservation, and enjoyment of local history. The income will be used to make one or more grants every year, and applications are now invited. The trustees will consider applications for grants for any project with one or more of the purposes given above. Such projects may be practical projects such as presentation, publication, and education as well as research.
Suggestions for projects that might be undertaken by the Kent Archaeological Society or some other body would also be considered. Grants are not restricted to members of the Kent Archaeological Society and may be made to societies and groups. The sums awarded are usually about £200 to £300. Awards may not be announced until Autumn of 1997. Applications must be submitted on the official application form by 31st March 1997. Application forms and further information may be obtained from the Hon. Secretary: Mr A. I. Moffat.
Help Wanted
The KAS is looking for someone publicity to and help, on public a voluntary basis, with the Society's experience, whether for a voluntary relations An organization previous or e professionally, would be helpful but is not necessary. The work would involve helping the Officers and Committees publicize events they are organizing, such as lectures and conferences and helping publicity and public with more general relations for the Society. This is a new job which could be developed to suit the talents of the person appointed. If you are interested and would like more information, please contact the Hon. General Secretary, Mr A. I. Moffat.
KAS Hon. Editor's Announcement
When I was invited by Council to take over the Editorship of the Newsletter in April 1989, it was on the understanding that it would be for one year only. Here I am, years later, sitting at my outdated word processor and still nagging at people for articles, reports, letters, and news in general which could be of interest to KAS members.
I now find that due to other commitments, I am no longer able to serve as Hon. Editor but am delighted to announce that my place will be taken by Larry Scott and his wife Susan of Wateringbury. They are to produce the April/May issue of the Newsletter, and I am sure they will bring new ideas and a fresh outlook to the publication.
Please give them your full support and keep the copy coming in.
I have been extremely lucky with the typesetters and printers of each issue who have often gone out of their way to be helpful and cooperative with advice and extra service. Many thanks, Jim and Jan, Andy and all the boys. BEST WISHES, NESTA CAIGER.
The Hon. Editors welcome all letters articles and communications and would particularly 'like to receive more from members and others, especially requests for research information, finds, books and related topics. The Editors wish to draw readers' attention to the fact that neither the Council of the KAS, nor the Editors are answerable for opinions which contributors may express in the course of their signed articles. Each author is alone esponsible for the contents and substance of their letters, items or papers. Material for the next Newsletter should be sent by lst, March 1997 to Hon. Editors, Mr & Mrs L. E llott .
Published by the Kent Archaeological Society, The Museum, St. Faith's Street, Maidstone, Kent. ME141LH.
Printed by Delta Press, Crayford Industrial Estate, Swaisland Drive, Crayford DA1 4HT. Typesetting and Design by Janset 0181-301 2856.
Events, Outings, Lectures
"KAS EVENTS A letter from Mr. J. Saynor: By popular request, the 1997 summer one-week excursion will be to Normandy. Mrs. Saynor will be arranging an entirely new itinerary and anyone interested in joining the trip or learning more details should write to Mr. Saynor as soon as possible. Please include a stamped, addressed envelope. Hon. Excursion, KAS.
KAS LECTURE PROGRAMME, 1996/97 To complete the 1996/97 season, three lectures have been arranged.
On March 15th, Andrew Savage of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust will talk on Pullen's Guild of the Roman Period in East Kent. On April 19th, and still on East Kent matters, Paul Cullen of Sussex University will discuss the latest research he has undertaken on Pilgrims and their archaeological significance. Finally, on May 10th, Graham Keevil (Oxford Archaeological Unit) who is currently directing the excavations in progress at the Tower of London will report on his findings which were front page news recently.
SEE ENCLOSED LEAFLET.
KAS DAY SCHOOL. KENT CHURCHYARDS - THEIR MONUMENTS and GRAVESTONES. This event will take place on Saturday, 19th April 1997 at The Barn (next to the Church), Haring, Kent. 10.40am to 4.10pm. Lectures will include Churchyards for the Genealogist; The Geology of Monuments and Gravestones; The Design and Craftsmanship of Monuments and Gravestones; and Churchyard Lichens. Talks will be illustrated with slides and exhibits and two of the lecturers will be speaking during 'walkabout' in the Haring Churchyard. Admission: £6. Please apply for tickets no later than 11th April 1997 from Mr. John Owen.
Cheques made payable to the Kent Archaeological Society.
KAS FIELDWORK ACTIVITIES TRAINING EXCAVATION 1997. The second training excavation on the site of the Roman Villa at Abbey Farm, Minster in Thanet is planned for the two weeks from Saturday, August 2nd, 1997.
Participants aged 16 or over, wishing to attend for one or two weeks will be most welcome. Further information, available in Spring 1997, may be obtained by sending your name and address to David Bacchus. KENT HISTORY SEMINARS. The popular seminars organised by our member, Dr. Shirley Black take place and will begin again in 1997 on Saturday, 8th February, when David Fowdrey and Jean Stirk will be speaking on A Kentishman's Home: Castle and College. Fee: £9, light lunch included. For enrolment or full programme for the year, Dr. S. Black. (address as above).
MEDWAY & GILLINGHAM BRANCH OF THE KAS Meetings are held on Tuesday evenings at the Guildhall Museum, High Street, Rochester. The doors of the museum open at 7.00pm.
Visitors welcome but donations welcomed.
Tuesday, 4th February 1997. Roman Pollen; Industries of the Upchurch Marshes, by Ian Jackson, Director of the Upchurch Archaeological Group.
Tuesday, 8th April 1997. Excavations on the Isle of Thanet, by Dave Perkins, Director of the Trust for Thanet Archaeology and most recently in charge of the KAS funded excavation of a Roman Villa on the 'Island'.
SHOREHAM & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY welcomes visitors. Admission £1.50 to non-members. Meetings are held at Shoreham Village Hall, 7.30pm for 8pm.
Friday, 17th January 1997. The Shoreham Samuel Palmer Knew by Ken Wilson.
Friday, 21st March, 1997 Canterbury Cathedral by Laurie Brewer.
EVENTS CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL IN 1997. The Cathedral has a full programme of events including special services, exhibitions, concerts and the following lectures in March: Pope Gregory I and the Roman Background to the Mission. St. Augustine's Journey and the Situation in Canterbury. The Inheritance of Saints Gregory and Augustine. In May Rome, Canterbury and Weamouth (Farrow) - Three Viewpoints on Augustine's Mission. For further information on events telephone 01227 762862. For ticket bookings or tourism enquiries contact: Visitor Information Centre, 34 St. Margaret's Street, Canterbury CT1 2TG. Tel: 01227 766567 or 455600.
1797 COMMITTEE CONFERENCE Saturday, 5th July, 1997. Mutiny and the Navy. A special one-day conference to be held in Chatham to celebrate the Nore Mutiny of 1797. Speakers include Brian Lavery on Lower Deck Life in the Revolutionary Wars. Philip MacDougal on Reporting the Nore Mutiny in the Kentish Press. Jonathan Neale on Naval Discipline and others.
To be held at Chatham Historic Dockyard at 10.00am. Cost: £10 (£5 unwaged) for members of the KAS paying before the end of April.
Otherwise £12 (£7 unwaged) Cheques should be made payable to 1797 Committee and sent to 44 Lindley Avenue, Southsea, Hants.
PO4 9NU. Tel: 01705 787263.
Prehistoric Pot Making
In January 1996, the stalwarts of Alan Ward's GCSE Archaeology course are gathered for their weekly class. "As part of the course," says Alan, "you will be undertaking an Experimental Archaeology project. Here's a lump of clay, make a "Beaker" (Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age) pot." Well, after several attempts, your correspondent did make a pot. About 2 cm high. (Conclusion No. 1: Some novice Bronze Age potter should be credited with the invention of the ashtray about 4000 years too soon!). However, in the end, the classes, from Canterbury and Ashford, did manage to make a pot or two, some not very big and some not very Beaker in style, but we were proud of them.
Stage two. "Fired" with enthusiasm, plans were made to build two kilns. One would be a relatively simple effort where the pots would be laid beneath a turf-covered bonfire. The second would be more ambitious and take advantage of a deposit of clay about one meter below the topsoil at the kiln site. The objective was to make a clay dome kiln. To make the project a bit more experimental, a proportion of the clay was excavated with a bone shovel made from the shoulder blade of a bullock. Two observations here. First, it was easier to remove remnants of beef and gristle from the bone with a sharp flint than with a modern kitchen knife. Secondly, digging turf and topsoil with a bone shovel is hard, but for excavating the clay, the tool was quite efficient.
To build the more ambitious kiln, a bower of branches was erected and covered with straw, about three inches of clay was then plastered over the structure which was then left to "dry" for a week. (Conclusion No. 2: No prehistoric man in his right mind would attempt to build such a kiln in the depths of a British winter. It may be easier to dig out clay when it is wet, but getting the dome to dry out before firing is impossible).
The day of reckoning arrived. Alan displayed his confidence in our skills by forecasting that all our pots would explode in the bonfire kiln. We were more optimistic. In any event, after firing for about four hours, we did get some pots out in one piece. Alas, our confidence was short-lived. To see if the pots had fired properly, two were immersed in water, after a short while, hours of careful pot making were reduced to sludge in the bottom of the bucket.
Undaunted, an attempt was made to fire the dome kiln. Optimism was unrewarded yet again. After about six hours, the roof collapsed!
A large bonfire kiln was built over the remains of the clay dome. The wood slowly burnt to form a deep bed of red-hot charcoal over the pots and after about 24 hours, four of the five pots were retrieved intact. They had changed color to the bright red typical of earthenware. The water test was passed (well almost) for the upper halves of the pots did not disintegrate.
Chris Pout
Library News
Recently published by two of our membership is The Parish Registers of Farnborough, Kent. 1538 - 1652, transcribed by Geoffrey and Matthew Copus, 1996. 46 + V pages. £6 post free from G. D. Copus, 17 Oakdale Road, Tunbridge Well TN4 8DS.
Farnborough was a chapelry of Chelsfield until 1876, but had its own parochial organization, with resident curate and registers. Most unusually, the original 'paper' register, with entries from 1538 onwards, has survived alongside the 'parchment' register into which entries from the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign (1558) were copied by law. Although entries in the parchment register break off in 1624, in the paper version they continue (albeit increasingly untidily and with gaps) until 1652.
Because the paper register has a note scribbled on it saying 'Chelsfield Register' it has remained in that parish, to be a source of much confusion. In 1903, Lt. Col. Henry Wilson published a transcript of Farnborough registers to 1812, but only learned of the paper register as he was about to go to press. He added a partial transcript as an appendix. In recent years, the situation has become more confused because the paper register was listed as belonging to Chelsfield when microfilmed and appears this way in catalogues. Still worse is the confusion in that much utilized source, the Mormon International Genealogical Index. In an early version, the baptisms and marriages had been extracted from Wilson's transcript, with the correct parish of origin. In the latest, these appear, plus the entries from the microfilm of the paper register, but attributed to Chelsfield!
This new transcript, whose thorough and scholarly composition has been done without cost to the reader, is an attempt to put matters right. It includes every scrap of information from both paper and parchment registers. Comparison has revealed detail not previously transcribed - e.g. names of some 260 Godparents in the period 1607 - 1624. There are separate indexes to baptisms, marriages, burials and names of Godparents (and interleaved entries, relating to the family of George Somerset, the curate, from Whippingham in the Isle of Wight). The front cover bears a reproduction of the attractive drawing of Farnborough Church by H. A. Petrie, FSA, circa 1800, from the Society's collections. An indispensable addition to the records of all interested in Kentish Family Histories.
A recent publication acquired for the Library is the volume in the Civil Engineering Heritage Series on Southern England.
In 1971, the Institution of Civil Engineers set up 'Panel for Historical Engineering Works' and after a very long period, this volume and three others on other areas of England are the result.
The section on Kent includes Medway Bridges from 960 to the M2 Medway Bridge completed in 1964 and Bow Bridge, Wateringbury, completed in 1915 and "a significant development in the use of reinforced concrete".
Better known is the Grade I listed building, the 'Sheerness Boat Store' completed in 1860, "extraordinarily advanced for its age" and "a very early example, if not the first, multistorey iron framed building". Smeaton's late 18th century Dry Dock at Ramsgate, the Dover Pharos (Third Century), Cranbrook Windmill (1814), Bewel Bridge Reservoir (1975) and Lullingstone Viaduct, designed by F. T. Turner (1862) are other examples discussed in detail from a learned yet for us, an unusual standpoint.
Civil Engineering Heritage Southern England by R. A. Otter, Thomas Telford Ltd. 1994. ISBN 07277, is obtainable from the publisher, 1 Heron Quay, London E14 4JD price £12.50 post free, or for personal callers, at the Institute, 1-7 Great George Street, Westminster. Peter Draper, Hon. Librarian, KAS.
Despite the generosity of several members, the Library set of the Kent Archaeological Review is still incomplete. The following issues are either missing or, in the case of some pre-1977 issues, water damaged.
The numbers are: 1, 2, 52-55 inclusive, 57-71 inclusive, 74, 75, 79, 80, 81, 85, 89, 91, 92, 94, 96, 97, 98, 101, 103, 104, 112, 115, 116, 120, 121, 122. We also hold a large number of duplicates hence could do an exchange in many instances. If you can help please send details to the Hon. Librarian, The Museum, St. Faith Street, Maidstone ME14. Thank you.
Letters
At a very interesting seminar on Saturday, 17th August 1996, by Dr. Shirley Black on the Woollen Industry in Kent, the question of ownership of sheep in medieval times was raised. Members may be interested to hear how they were spread among the inhabitants of West Wickham, a manor in N.W. Kent on the dip slope of the North Downs, according to the returns for the Subsidy of 1301.
The lord of the manor had by far the greatest number with 110 sheep and 20 lambs. Of his listed 40 tenants, 19 had some sheep with usually a few lambs, totaling 175 sheep and 46 lambs between them. One tenant had 26 sheep and 6 lambs. Four others had between 10 and 25 sheep. One man possessed only two but six or seven were the most usual with 2-4 lambs. For the purposes of this tax, sheep were valued at 10d and lambs at 5d. P. E. Knowlden, Mrs.
HUNGRYGUT HALL FARM. I have been trying for some time to learn something of the history of the above farm in the Darenth Parish. Could the KAS help? Dartford Ref. Library have given me a copy of the 1868 O.S. map, Darenth Sheet 1 x 7 which shows the farm as small, some 8 acres. A cursory inspection of the site shows a dilapidated barn and small sections of wall, Tudor brick with flint panels and two buildings which look like 18th C. additions. I have scanned census returns from 1841 without finding any reference. The D.D.A.S. Transactions Vol. 1 says: "Hungrygut Farm has received attention from all angles and notes written." This material cannot be found locally. KAS help would be much appreciated.
R. T. Balcombe.
