The Battle of the Medway AD43
Members of our Society will recall that two years ago the Council authorised by a large majority the erection of a monument to celebrate the battle which took place between the Romans and Britons on the west bank of the Medway between Aylesford and Rochester. It has been described as the most decisive battle, apart from Hastings, ever fought on British soil, for it led directly to the conquest of Britain and its occupation by the Romans for the next 350 years.
The memorial was put in place in March 1998. It consists of a five-ton block of Kentish ragstone (donated by the quarry owner, Pat Gallagher) and a vandal-proof board mounted alongside it to explain with the help of maps how the Roman army, sent to conquer Britain by the Emperor Claudius, landed at Richborough, advanced to the Medway, fought a victorious two-day battle there, crossed the Thames, and captured the tribal capital of Camulodunum (Colchester). For this last phase, Claudius himself joined the army for the sake of claiming a triumph when he returned to Rome.
It was not our intention to identify the exact site of the battle, but to commemorate the battle itself. We placed the memorial on the east embankment of the river facing Snodland church, and approached by a public footpath from Burham old church. We chose that site because it seemed possible that Vespasian, the future Roman Emperor, then in command of one of the army's four legions, may have been guided to the Snodland ford, and crossed the river at this point while other troops crossed nearer to Rochester. The inscription, which was cut into the stone by Karl Vizi, says simply:
'This stone commemorates
the battle of the Medway
in A.D. 43
when a Roman army
crossed the river
and defeated the British tribes
under Caratacus'
The Maidstone Museum, which co-sponsored the memorial with the Society, hope to arrange an opening ceremony in the spring of 1999. But there is a snag. Our sister-society, the Sussex Archaeological Society, have challenged the siting of our monument. They say that the literary, topographical and archaeological evidence suggest that the Romans landed not in east Kent, but in Chichester harbour, and that the battle took place not on the Medway but on the Arun.
We do not accept this variation of a story which has been upheld by every major historian of Roman Britain since Haverfield. Scholars as eminent as Collingwood, Freer, Richmond, Jessup, Salway, Detsicas and Philp have had little doubt that the main invasion forces landed at Richborough and fought on the Medway, allowing the possibility that a small detachment may have been sent to the Solent area in order to restore the pro-Roman ruler, Verica.
Our antagonists, led by Professor Barry Cunliffe, the excavator of Fishbourne Roman Palace, claim that 'a compelling case' can be made out for the main landing in Chichester harbour, from where the army would have advanced through the Weald, to cross the Thames near its estuary.
Such a strategy supposes that the Romans undertook an unnecessarily long sea-crossing from Boulogne instead across the Straits to Richborough, landed in a part of the coast which was relatively unknown to them, marched through an almost impenetrable forest, the Weald, and fought a major battle in the middle of it to dispute the crossing of the Arun, a negligible barrier compared to the Medway. The Romans planned the invasion as a combined operation, but if they had landed at Chichester, the fleet would have had no further role, compared to the support it would have given the army along the north shore of Kent, the Thames estuary and the Essex creeks.
It sounds most implausible. So we will defend our monument as gallantly as Caratacus defended his kingdom, relying not only on the Claudian ditches at Richborough, the Bredgar hoard and the account of the campaign by the historian Dio Cassius, but on the strategic instinct of a Roman general that you set your army ashore where its future operations will develop most easily, and not in a backwater separated from your ultimate objective, Camulodunum, by a vast, almost uninhabited forest.
Nigel Nicolson
The Castles of Kent N o.4: Queenborough Castle
1. Site
Queenborough Castle was situated close to Queenborough Creek and hence the west coast of the Isle of Sheppey, Kent (Grid Ref. TQ 9122 7215). In Queenborough creek, there was the natural, sheltered harbour of the small fishing village called Bynne. This village became the site of the castle, which is marked on early maps of Sheppey.
Today, the site of the castle is near the centre of Queenborough. The site is bordered by the Well Road to the north, the railway to the east and Railway Terrace to the south and west. The main visible feature on the castle site is a grassed, raised mound, in the middle of which is a modern paved construction.
2. History
The construction of "the castle of Sheppey" was started in 1361, by order of King Edward III. It was completed about six years later, when Edward III wrote that it had been built "for the strength of the realm, and the refuge of the inhabitants of this island" (Hasted 1797-1801 Vol.VI p.233). The castle is described as being the only completely new, royal castle built in the later Medieval period. After its construction, it was not until the coastal forts of Henry VIII that any new major fortifications were built in England (Thompson 1987 p.18). Concurrently with the building of Queenborough Castle, the existing royal castle of Hadleigh in Essex was also being improved. Although the years 1360-1369 were a time of temporary peace with France, it has been suggested that both these castles would have guarded the Thames Estuary from enemy attack (Platt 1982 p. 111). Queenborough Castle could also have guarded the sea-going route, to and from London along the Swale, its own sheltered harbour, and presumably prevented the use of Sheppey as a base for enemy attacks on London or into Kent.
The construction of Queenborough Castle, at Bynne, was preceded by the upgrading of a roadway from King's Ferry to allow improved transport links with mainland Kent (Castle 1907 p.4) The royal accounts for this castle included the cost of building eleven houses nearby. These houses formed the nucleus of Queenborough, named after Edward III's wife Queen Phillippa, and regarded as the last Medieval "planted" town (Beresford 1970 p.57). The new town was vital to the castle's viability, both defensively and as a royal residence. Settlement and the town's economic prosperity were encouraged by a royal charter of incorporation in 1368, the granting of market rights and in 1371 by the elevation of Queenborough to staple (exclusive wool market) status (Castle 1907 p.5).
As a royal castle, there are detailed accounts of its building
materials, construction and maintenance in the Pipe Rolls of
Edward Ill and of successive monarchs until its demolition in
1650 (Colvin 1976 Vol.2 p.793). After the death of Edwardlll, the
castle was generally the residence of a series of Constables. It
was held against Jack Cade in the Kentish uprising of 1450 and
it was repaired as part of Henry Villl' s chain of coastal defences.
It was used as a prison in 1588 (Tyler undated p.59).
In 1650, Cromwell's Parliamentarian Commissioners reported
on the state of Queenborough Castle. Their findings were that
the castle was out of date, in serious disrepair and that it should
be demolished. Demolition followed, the recoverable materials
were worth almost £1,800 (Hasted op. cit. p.232).
2
3. Design:
There are two primary sources of evidence for much that is
written about the castle's design. One is a sixteenth century plan
of the castle from Hatfield House and the other is a seventeenth
century drawing by W. Hollar which is in the British Museum.
The castle was of a concentric, circular, stone design. A moat
enclosed approximately three acres. In the outer wall was a
main gate guarded by twin towers and a smaller postern gate.
The inner bailey wall was higher than the outer wall and had six
round towers which were higher still. The gateway to the inner
bailey, which was also flanked by two towers, was diametrically
opposed to the outer wall gateway. Cross passageways divided
the outer bailey (Brown 1954) (fig.2).
The residential quarters were against the inner face of the inner
wall, surrounding a circular paved courtyard with a well. The
six towers of the inner wall were roofed in lead and, in the reign
of Edward Ill, certain of them contained the King's Privy
Wardrobe and his clock. There were fifty two rooms, one of
which was later recorded as being a grand dining room (Hasted
op. cit. p.235). The Pipe Rolls of Edward Ill gave cost details for
windows, fireplaces and latrines. This showed the emphasis
placed upon making it a comfortable royal residence (Colvin
1976 Vol. 2 p.793).
The design of the castle at Queenborough has been said to be
"so advanced as to be unique" (Brown 1954). Examination of
such a claim requires comparisons to be made between. Queenborough, the castles which preceded it and the coastal
forts of Henry VIII which superseded it. Queenborough castle
continued the dual role of castles as defensive and residential
sites. Harlech and Beaurnaris castles in North Wales were seen
as having had complex, concentric lines of defence.
Queenborough's design could apparently be seen as a logical
development of the concentric castle, to its fullest extent with a
circular plan and narrow passage cross walls (Gascoigne 1975
p.22), but this view needs further consideration.
The castle is known, from the Pipe Roll accounts, to have had
pre-gunpowder artillery when it was built. Whilst
Queenborough had circular lines in common with Henry Vlll's
forts, the greater strength of circular towers had been in use for
nearly two hundred years. The thirteenth century shell keep of
Restormel Castle, Cornwall, although without towers and a
smaller size, provides a similar layout of buildings and open
yard on the inner face of a defensive wall. Bolingbroke Castle,
Lincolnshire, dated to c. 1225, had a polygonal curtain wall and
seven towers and so also seems to have some similarities with
the inner curtain wall of Queen borough. A French source for the
Some
original
of
design
Queenborough'
is also a possibility.
s inner towers had residential functions
•
e.g. The King's Wardrobe, whilst the squat, semi-circular
bastions of Henry V lll's forts provided separately defensible
gun platforms. Henry's forts had narrow areas between the
inner and outer walls. Queenborough had a wide bailey. It has
been questioned whether defenders on the inner walls would
have been able to support those on the outer wall in the event of
attack, in fact whether it could actually be said to have had
concentric lines of defence at all. An alternative hypothesis is
that this wide outer bailey was a way of distancing enemy
artillery fire from the towers and inner curtain wall (Thompson
1991 p.173).
Since completion of the original essay, Alan Ward has made
some comments about the defences of the castle. An attempt at
summarising these suggestions has been made and included
here with his permission. Using hypothetical inner and outer
wall heights (10m. & Sm. respectively), the firing line of artillery,
mounted on the inner wall, would have gone far beyond the
water defences leaving a large distance (approx. 30m.) to be
defended by the outer wall alone (fig. 1.) Although the towers
would have provided good fields of vision, it seems unlikely
that late 14th century gunpowder artillery would have been
able to traverse at such a steep angle, caru1on on
the towers, would then have been able to fire
little better than horizontally. Torsion artillery QUEENB0R0UGH CASTLE
would probably have been more effective, but
wheU1er hollow towers could have witl1stood
the strains of the use of tl1e bigger weapons,
such as trebuchets, is questionable. Of course,
Profile of walls etc. projected from plan. The heights of the walls and towers are
purely speculative. Two conjectural heights (see text) are given for the inner defences
the inner and outer walls could have been
higher which would have improved the
defensive capabilities, but might also have
contributed construction problems on marshy
ground.
There is also an apparent discrepancy between
the Hatfield House plan and the original
building accounts. The latter suggesting that the
moat could have been twice the width and the
outer wall foundations five times the width of
those shown on the plan. If the accounts rather
than the plan were correct, and the edge of a
large feature (possibly the moat) was discovered
by excavation, then the outer wall defences
would have been considerably strengthened. A
wider moat would have resulted in the outer
Line of fire from the inner wall Line of fire from tower.
Moat.
25 so
Metres
Plan (based on that in the History of the King's Works - Vol. III).
\
Main gate
wall being placed nine metres further inwards
and the outer courtyard would then have been Line of Railway Terrace•
f°'that much narrower (Pratt 1992 p.20). The outer
walls, at either width (4m. or 20m.), could have
supported the relatively small gunpowder
weapons of the times.
The fort, dating from 1610, in Queenborough
Church shows a carving of the castle with
cannons in place and this is used as evidence for
the castle having had gunpowder weapons by
that date. It has been suggested that the castle
could have been designed originally to use and
withstand gunpowder weapons (Whitehead),
but this remains open for discussion.
It is important to recognise that all castles were
unique responses to a variety of physical,
psychological, military and civil circumstances
(McNeill 1992 p.108).
Queenborough had an unusual, circular ground
plan, and was a specialised response to a flat
site, the need for an imposing royal residence
and a castle which could both use and withstand
�tillery of whatever form.
4. The Architect:
William of Wykeham is often recorded as having been
responsible for the construction of a strong castle at
Queenborough. He was Surveyor of the King's Works, Keeper
of the Privy Seal and Lord Chancellor to Edward ill (Hasted op.
cit. Vol. VI p.234).
Henry Yevele(y), as King's mason, is suggested as the innovator
who may have had sufficient authority to gain approval for the
building of Queenborough Castle. Whilst acknowledging that
Yevele(y)'s involvement has not been authenticated, one writer
suggests that Yevele(y) was capable of designing a castle for
gunpowder weapons prior to the development of their effective
use (Whitehead).
John Box was Chief Mason working on the construction of
Queenborough Castle and as such could have influenced the
de.sign. This view has William of Wykeham in a largely
administrative "Oerk of the Works" role (Colvin 1975 Vol. II
p.796).
5. Orientation:
There are variations in the suggested orientation of the castle
and its main gateway. The plan given in the Victoria County
History of Kent (Vol.1 p.409) shows a single probable entrance,
3
Profile of castle assuming the outer wall is moved
inwards by 9 m. (see text) and the moat doubled ln width.
Line of fire from Tower.
facing south-eastwards. The Swale Borough Council site display
board shows the main outer wall gateway facing the northwest, aligning with the High Street which follows the creek
towards the coast. The smaller postern gate in the outer wall
accordingly faces south-east, which may be the gateway shown
in th� V. C. H. Kent plan. The plan presented in the History of
the King's Works (Vol. 11 p.795), and widely produced in other
texts, is from the Elizabethan plan at Hatfield House. The plan
is presented below a small map of Queenborough showing the
castle site and a north compass point. If the Compass point
relates also to the castle plan, then the main gateway and the
pastern gate are on the west-east alignment. This is recorded in
a number of other texts, some of which pre-date 'The History of
The King's Works" e.g. Brown 1954.
The V. C. H. Kent plan with a single entrance, does not accord
with the evidence of the sixteenth century plan. Either of the
north-west/south-east and the west/east alignments of the
main outer wall gateways seem feasible. The strong main
entrance in either case had ready access to the creek, the town
and the sea, presumably the directions from which any attacks
or seaborne arrivals were most likely to have come. (N.B. These
views seem to concur with those in an article found after
completion of the original essay -Pratt 1992 p.19).
The study of Quee.nborough Castle then, presents a number of
intriguing questions. Some of which have been touched upon
here, whilst others such as the relationship (if any) between the
castle and other features shown on the V. C. H. Kent plan (Vol.1
p.409) remain elusive. It seems likely that only extensive
excavation would advance our knowledge further.
Christine Hodge
(precis of a11 essay submitted, in January 1998, as part of the
Certificate course i11 Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Archaeology, to
course tutor Ala11 Ward-to whom thanks are due for his
encouragement and advice).
Bibliography
Beresford M. W. "Medieval New Towns & Villages" in
Geographical Magazine July 1970.
Brown R. A. English Medieval Castles 1954
Batsford (typed extract - Sheerness
Library)
Castle J. Queenborough and its Church 1907
Allen & Co.
Colvin H. M. The History of the King's Works
Vol.2 & 3
1975 H. M. S. 0.
Gascoigne C.&B. Castles of Britain 1975
Thames & Hudson
Hasted E. The History and Topographical
Survey of the County of Kent.
Vol. Vl 1797 - 1801 [1972] E. P.
Publishing
McNeill T. Castles 1992
English Heritage - Batsford
Platt C. The Castle in Medieval England &
Wales 1982
Secker & Warburg
Pratt S. "Queenborough Castle Sheppey" in
C.A.T. Annual Report 1991-2 1992 (not
used in original essay)
Thompson M.W. The Rise of the Castle 1991
C.U.P.
Tyler L.
The Decline of the Castle 1987
C.U.P.
The History of Sheppey
undated Fitch
Victoria County History of Kent Vol. I
Whitehead J.G.O. "Henry Yeveley, Military Engineer"
Royal Engineers' Journal undated
extract - Sheerness library.
The Abbey Farm Training Excavation, Phase 3, 1998
Once again I have to report that with the kind permission of farmer Mr Jack Clifton, a third phase of the training excavation was carried out between the 22nd August and the 4th September 1998. All places on the excavation were taken up, with the bulk of the trainees attending for a second and even a third year. The age range of the trainees was wide, with most coming from Kent, the Greater London area, and the southeast.
This year for training purposes the body of trainees was divided into three teams, each with their own supervisor, excavation area, and an equal share of complete beginners. Each team was encouraged to demonstrate the techniques learned in the previous year or years, talking their way through excavating the section with their supervisor step by step, and sharing their tasks with the 'freshman' trainees.
Excavations
This year's excavations exposed a bath house with a hypocaust system, and an internal latrine having a long sluice leading into a field ditch, see Rooms 20-27 in Fig 1. It was not, as first supposed, a western extension to the west wing of the villa, but a separate building connected to the villa's outer corridor by a short piece of masonry, perhaps a buttress. Also revealed was a southward apsidal extension from the end of the west wing, Room 28. This will require further work in a subsequent phase of excavation as we ran out of time. Another discovery was that the villa had an inner corridor running around the courtyard formed by the east and west wings and main range. With part of the building still to excavate, and much material to be processed it is much to early to theorise as to the chronology of the villa, and the evident phases of construction, demolition, and re-construction.
The Abbey Farm Roman Villa, buildings and known infrastructure as of 1998
The Abbey Farm Villa, did it look like this?
As things stand, and if funding is approved, it looks as though we will be digging again in 1999, probably in the last week of August and first week of September. Our aims will be to tidy away those few parts of the building that require further attention. We will also be examining the villa's walled enclosed compound, a smaller Roman building situated about 200m southeast of the villa, and a Belgic settlement about 60m north of the northern compound wall. Finally, I would like to thank my friends, supervisor/instructors, Emma Boast, Keith Parfitt, and Tim Allen, for their skill and enthusiasm that went so far to ensure the success of the training excavation, and the volunteers from Thanet Archaeological Society and the Deal-Dover Group, for loyally doing much routine work, so allowing the trainees to concentrate on acquiring and improving skills.
Dave Perkins
Minster Excavation 1999: Fourth Season. The excavation on the Roman villa estate at Abbey Farm, Minster-in Thanet is planned for the two weeks beginning Saturday the 21st August 1999 (subject to final agreement with the farmer). Participants aged 16 or over, wishing to attend for one or two weeks will be most welcome. For details and enrollment arrangements please contact: David Bacchus.
Fawke Common
The article by Roger Cockett on Fawkham Manor and the family of Falke (KAS Newsletter No. 38) caused me to wonder whether there was a connection between them and Fawke Common, part of the common land lying to the south-east of Knole at Sevenoaks. The derivation of the Fawke name has caused some speculation.
William Olyver is recorded as tenant of the land 'lying at the Falkden' in the parish of Seal in 1440. The land is identifiable from field names as lying at Fawke Common within Seal parish along its border with Sevenoaks. In 1334/5 a Thomas Falke paid 1/4d subsidy on land in the Hundred of Codsheath, within which both parishes lay.
Prof. Alan Everitt suggests that a droveway ran from close to the Fawkham Green/ Ash area (wherein Fawkham Manor lay) passing near Fawke Common to dissipate in the Leigh/Tonbridge area. Manors lying to the north are known to have had early pre-Conquest holdings in the latter area, used as dens. At later dates Fawkham is recorded as owning land there in 1086 and what is now Leigh village in 1279 and Ash as holding land there in 1086.
Prof. Everitt's book demonstrates that development in northwest Kent proceeded from north to south. It is not unreasonable to suggest therefore, that the land at Fawke Common was a den of Fawkham Manor, and that, lying as it does to the north of the dens which subsequently became the Lowy of Tonbridge, it may have been in use before them. Whilst documentary proof of this is at present lacking, there is an additional reason for supposing this could be true: lying adjacent to Fawke Common is an area smaller today than previously with the ancient name of Broadhoath, which if uncultivated, would be woodland. Witney suggests that "hoath" is derived from a word commonly naming the "sylva regalis" or Kings woodland of which a continuous tract to the north and east of the Weald was ceded away from exclusive use of the crown in about the 9th century.
This tract included a width on top of the Chart Hills escarpment to about one mile below it and both Fawke Common and Broadhoath lie within it. Indeed Fawke Common may be one of those areas of untraced land which Witney considered probably lay to the north of the Lowy. The droveway is still traceable throughout most of its length and has the beauty of these ancient routes. In Planes (Hanger) wood, TQ 5660 5540, as it drops down a southern slope, the banks are 30 or more feet high. They are covered with deciduous woodland, mainly beech, and the distant view comprises Bitchet Green, Fawke Common and Broadhoath.
1 Dr. G. Ward. Unpublished note in my possession.
2 The Kent Records. Medieval Kentish Society. KAS Vol. xvm. 1964. 'The Kent Lay Subsidy 1334/5'. p.141.
3 Prof. Alan Everitt 'Continuity & Colonisation' 1986 pp.210 and 215.
4. K. P. Witney 'The Jutish Forest' p. 38.
5. K. P. Witney 'The Jutish Forest' 1976 pp. 208 and 228.
6. V. M. Dubreck, 'The Lowy of Tonbridge' A.C. LXXII p. 142.
7. K. P. Witney 'The Jutish Forest' pp. 60/4.
8. Ibid. p.64 Ibid. p.122.
Ann Elton
Experimental Archaeology No.3
As part of one of their projects, students from the GCSE Archaeology class at Medway Adult Education Centre undertook the making and firing of an 'Early Bronze Age' Beaker pottery vessel. Students (including one who is totally blind) from my adult education classes at Gravesend and Dover also joined in. As in 1996, Chris Pout has to be thanked for allowing us to use his smallholding on which to build the kiln.
Eleven pottery vessels, some definitely more Beaker in shape than others (Plate 1), were fired in a simple bonfire kiln. In previous years (Newsletter: Nos. 32 and 36), a clamp kiln had been constructed, the combustible material being covered with turf and soil. No trace of the 1996 kiln was visible. One ploughing, with a modern plough, would have dispersed and destroyed all trace of ash and scorching of the ground surface. Unless misfired pottery ('wasters') were found whilst fieldwalking or excavating, there would be no indication that such simple structures had once existed.
With this year's kiln, wood was stacked around the pottery and then cuttings and brambles piled on top. The material was allowed to burn for twenty-four hours and then the still very hot ash was scraped away. As in previous years, it was expected that all the pots would be badly damaged, but the success rate, despite a more simple kiln being used, was (surprisingly) higher than in previous years. Four pottery vessels came out complete and two nearly so (Plate 2). The other five had been reduced to small sherds which did not reflect either the size or number of the pottery vessels.
The hardness of the fired clay would suggest that a temperature in excess of 800 degrees centigrade, that is needed for the successful firing of pottery, had been reached. The color produced varied from light grey to black, completely different from the reddish brown color of 'typical' Beaker pottery. The relative uniformity of color in the genuine article shows that the potters of that period had control over oxygen supply and temperature. Further pot firing sessions are planned for next year.
Details of the Medway Adult Education Centre, GCSE Archaeology course can be obtained from the centre on (01634) 845359. I will also probably attempt pottery making with my WEA students at Gravesend, Sittingbourne, and Dover.
Alan Ward
Part-time archaeology lecturer at Medway Adult Education Centre.
Your Chance to Shape the Society's Future
Following our new President's address to the 1998 AGM in May (see previous issue of the Newsletter), Council has set up a working party to examine the role of the Society in preparation for the opening years of the next century. Its remit is to consult widely and to make recommendations on how to increase and strengthen the Society's contribution to the study of the history and archaeology of Kent.
Members of the working party are Paul Cullen, Jonathan Fryer, Margaret Lawrence, Terry Lawson, Rod Le Gear, Lawrence Lyle, Andrew Moffatt, Keith Parfitt, and Victor Smith. Paul Oldham, President, is chairman and Michael Ocock will act as secretary.
The next issue of the Newsletter will contain a short questionnaire and an invitation to all members to write in with practical ideas on how the Society can move forward. In the meantime, anyone anxious to offer ideas and suggestions without waiting for the questionnaire should write to Michael Ocock.
Grants From The Allen Grove Local History Fund
The Trustees wish to award a grant of £1,000 to encourage a particularly imaginative or innovative project which might not be able to proceed without the grant. Applications are invited for this grant, as well as for a number of smaller grants of around £200 to £400 each. The trustees of the Fund expect to have about £2,000 available for grants in 1999.
The late Allen Grove left a legacy to the Kent Archaeological Society to establish this fund to be used for the purposes of research, preservation and enjoyment of local history.
The trustees will consider applications for grants for any project with one or more of these purposes. Projects may be practical ones such as presentation, publication and education as well as research. Grants may be made to societies and groups as well as to individuals and are not restricted to members of the Kent Archaeological Society. Awards may not be announced until the summer or autumn of 1999.
Applications must be submitted, on the official application form, by the 31st March 1999. Application forms and further information may be obtained from the Hon. Secretary: Mr A. I. Moffat.
Kent Archaeological Society Fieldwork Committee Conference - 24th October 1998
Roman Kent and Beyond
The conference was held in the ideal venue at Christ Church College, Canterbury. This was a very comfortable lecture theatre with excellent facilities, although we were all very grateful for the technical expertise of Chris Broomfield in dealing with the audio/visual side of things! About 100 people attended even though the weather left much to be desired.
The proceedings opened with our president, Mr Paul Oldham, welcoming both the audience and speakers. He emphasized the importance of the theme especially with regard to the KAS training dig being undertaken at Minster.
Our first lecturer was David Rudling who is the Director of the Field Archaeology Unit at the Institute of Archaeology and also directs the commercial arm of the Unit with its headquarters in Ditchling, Sussex. He gave us a splendid overview of the changing situation during the Roman period in Sussex, although he left the controversy of the site of the actual Roman invasion. This will be more fully discussed at the Sussex Archaeological Society's conference in 1999. (I guarantee that the KAS Autumn conference will not clash with this!). David illustrated his lecture with many excellent slides.
The next speaker was very well known to us all, Paul Bennett, Director of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust, who proceeded to bring us up to date with the latest discoveries in Roman Canterbury. These were mainly brought about by the redevelopment of various areas in the city of Canterbury. He whetted our appetite for the future by mentioning what promises to be the largest urban excavation in Europe with the major redevelopment at the Bus Station and surrounding area. This should give opportunities for amateur archaeologists to take part in many aspects of a very important project. As we have come to expect from Paul, his illustrations and presentation were excellent.
The morning session ended with Dr. Michael Still illustrating and outlining his work on Roman lead seals in Kent with parallels from elsewhere in Europe. He suggested that, based on a comparison of seals found in Trier and the organization of Roman trading practices, Britain was the source of these seals.
After lunch, Dave Perkins, Director of the Trust for Thanet Archaeology, brought us up to date with the latest findings from the important KAS training dig at Abbey Farm, Minster on Thanet. This was the third year of the excavation of the winged Roman villa. The talk overviewed the development of the excavation of the site, which has yielded substantial amounts of pottery etc. Dave ended his illustrated talk by emphasizing that there is still much to be discovered about the whole site, especially with regard to the infrastructure of the villa and its environs.
The final session of the day was given by Harvey Sheldon who spoke on Roman Southwark with which he has been closely associated for many years. He gave us a fascinating tour of the Borough through the eyes of antiquarians, Sir Mortimer Wheeler, Katherine Kenyon and then the endeavors of both amateur and professional archaeologists since the Second World War. Much of the recent work has confirmed those thoughts and discoveries of earlier times. Harvey used excellent slides to illustrate many of his points.
It was obvious from the many questions at the end of the day that those present had enjoyed a most interesting and thought-provoking day. Paul Oldham closed the conference by thanking all the speakers and those who had helped to make this a success.
Sheila Broomfield.
Events, Outings, Lectures
K.A.S. Events
Summer Excursion May 31st - June 7th 1999. The area of study this year will be North East Yorkshire and the south of County Durham.
We shall be staying in a new hotel in Whitby. (Abbess Hilda, coastal trade with Kent, jet etc.), in order to further our study of early Christianity and medieval monasticism. There will also be the opportunity to visit historic and archaeological sites in the area. A whole day guided tour of York will include visiting the Archaeological Resource Centre and the Merchant Adventurer's Hall. (Membership of the National Trust and/or English Heritage would be an advantage). Cost approx. £380 inclusive. For further details please send S.A.E. to the Excursion Secretary - Mrs J. Saynor.
Council for Kentish Archaeology
Conference Saturday 27th March 1999 - Archaeological Discoveries in East Kent.
10.30am to 12.30pm at the Roman Painted House. This fine Roman House, with its unique murals and display of Roman Dover will be open to Conference delegates. Half price admission will be payable on arrival. (£1.00/40p) 2.00pm to 5.30pm at St. Mary's Parish Centre, Cannon Street. Illustrated lectures:- The Dover Bronze Age Boat. Peter Clarke (Cant. Arch. Trust) Up-date on Mill Hill, Deal Ben Stocker (Dover Arch. Group) The Abbey Farm Villa Training Excavation David Perkins (Trust for Thanet Arch.) Projects by the Kent Unit (including Time Team at Smallhythe) Brian Philp (Kent Arch. Rescue Unit) Tickets (afternoon):-£3.00 (payable C.K.A.) from C.K.A, Angle Kin, 7 Sandy Ridge, Borough Green, Kent TN15 BHP (sae please).
British Archaeological Association
Meetings are held in the rooms of the Society of Antiquaries of London, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1V OHS. Tea is served from 4.30pm and the Chair is taken at 5.00pm. K.A.S Members are welcome to attend lectures but it would be appreciated if they would telephone the Hon. Director, Philip Lankester, beforehand (work 0113 220 1878, home 01904 613615). Meetings in 1999:- 3 February 'Timber Importation to the British Isles and its uses in medieval times' by Mr Gavin Simpson. 3 March 'Louis d'Orleans (1372 - 1407) and the sculptured images of the Nine Worthies' by Julia Watson. 7 April 'Unspeakable architecture, or the terminology of Gothic' by Dr Alexandrina Buchanan.
University of Sussex Centre for Continuing Education
Sussex Archaeology Symposium on Saturday 13th March 1999, 9.40am -5.30pm This event which will be run in conjunction with the Sussex Archaeological Society, will provide illustrated accounts of recent archaeological fieldwork and research in Sussex. To be held in the Chichester Lecture Theatre. Full fee £20, details from Sue Schofield on 01273 678926 or at the Centre for Continuing Education. The Centre runs many and varied courses:- On recording and interpretation of Churchyards, maritime archaeology, archaeological science, recording of vernacular buildings, as well as fieldwork courses at Bignor and overseas study tours to the Rhine and southern Cyprus. >Details of all these can be obtained from The Centre for Continuing Education, EDB, University of Sussex, Palmer, Brighton, Sussex, BN1 9RG. Tel: 01273 678926.
Council for British Archaeology South East AGM - 25th April 1999. Venue and speaker to be announced. Details from Mrs S Broomfield.
Books
Probate Inventories are a very interesting and useful type of historical source material containing, as they often do, detailed lists of the movable goods, chattels and credits (but not debts) of the deceased. They can include such items as personal belongings (household goods, money, clothes etc.), contents of a house going through it room by room, tools, agricultural implements and carts, livestock, crops, stock in trade, merchandise, rents and, in the case of mariners, wages owed by the Crown or Company the seaman was employed by. Inventories have been used by researchers investigating such topics as local economic history, the history of housing, farming, local industry and food and cooking and they are also useful and interesting to those tracing family history.
Most probate inventories survive amongst church court records - for example, there are some 40,000 in the records of the Archdeaconry and Consistory Courts of Canterbury, covering the eastern two thirds of Kent - but there are also a substantial number for Kent people amongst the records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC). The PCC was the highest probate court covering southern England and sat in Doctors' Commons in London. I set out to list the Kent probate inventories in the PCC from the various class lists and catalogues at the Public Record Office, thinking that it would be a job that would take me a relatively short time. Five years and some 3,000 inventories later, my research is complete!
With the aid of a grant from the Allen Grove Local History Fund of the KAS, I have published, in alphabetical order of surname, details of all the probate inventories in the PCC for Kent people, those living elsewhere but who died in Kent and also some others who had property in Kent. The dates of the inventories range from 1490-1854, with most being made between 1660 and 1782. The listing is published in four Parts: Part 1 (Surnames A-C), Part 2 (Surnames D-L), Part 3 (Surnames J-Q), Part 4a (Surnames R-S) and Part 4b (Surnames T-Z). Each volume carries an index of place names and an index of 'stray' names, mostly executors and administrators of the deceased's estate. An introduction volume, supplied free with any of Parts 1 to 4, gives more detailed information about the records in question. The price of each of Parts 1 to 3 (each 72 pages) is £5, plus 60p postage inland, and of Parts 4a and 4b (each 44 pages) £4, plus 50p postage inland. They can be obtained from me at 99 Strangers Lane, Canterbury, CT1 3XN. From the Centre for Kentish Studies Bookshop, Maidstone, and from Canterbury Cathedral Archives. ISBN 0-9521828-5-8. My other Kent sources publications have been reported in this newsletter as they have appeared. They are all still in print and further details can be obtained from me at the above address.
Gillian Rickard
2.1.99
Under the Road: Archaeological Discoveries at Bronze Age Way, Erith by Maureen Bennell, published by Bexley Council 1998. 50pp. Colour illustrations. Available from Bexley Local Studies Centre, Hall Place, Bourne Road, Bexley, Kent DA5 1PQ (telephone 01322 526574) at £3, plus 60p post and packing.
When the Erith to Thamesmead Spine Road (Phase 4) was constructed in north Kent, major archaeological discoveries were made. This book describes Roman and medieval sites excavated ahead of construction and mesolithic, neolithic and bronze age finds, including part of a trackway, found in and below peat during monitoring of the marsh area. Bexley Council Engineers' Department has commissioned the book which is written by an archaeologist but aimed at the general reader.
Gaudeamus - a Historical Account of Music at The Grammar School, Maidstone by James Clinch
In 1999 Maidstone will celebrate the 450th anniversary of the granting of its Charter and the founding of its Grammar School. Music was certainly not on the curriculum at that time, and it is not until the 1860's when Royal Commissions were set up to survey educational establishments, that any mention is made of the subject. At that time Henry Faulkner Henniker became organist at Holy Trinity Church, Maidstone, and he was soon appointed Professor of Music at the School. He also taught at St Lawrence's College, Ramsgate, Sutton Valence School and Cranbrook School. Peripatetic teaching is not new!
This well-researched book owes its title, 'Gaudeamus', to the school song composed by Dr Henniker in 1908, and the author's lively style evokes more than a hundred years of musical teaching and performing. It also touches upon the founding of local amateur orchestras and choirs, the appointment of a County Music Advisor, the beginnings of the Kent Rural Music School, the formation of the Kent Youth Orchestra and so on. There are examples of programmes performed throughout the century and it is fascinating to see how tastes have changed over the decades. Mr Clinch has interviewed many former teachers and pupils and it is fortunate their memories have been preserved.
Maidstone Grammar School has enjoyed the skills of many well-qualified Directors of Music, but it is to the dedication and enthusiasm of a totally unmusical headmaster, Mr W.A. Daydon, it owed its musical renaissance after the Second World War and beyond. This volume is a tribute to all who have recognised the importance of music in education and proof of the author's well-publicised affection for, and knowledge of his old school.
A4 format ix + 111 pages, including four pages of photographs, illustrations and appendices.
ISBN 0 9530861 00
Published privately by the author, a former pupil, staff member and current Clerk to the Grammar School.
Price £10 (£11.50 incl. p&p from the author at 3 Upper Street, Leeds, Maidstone, ME17 1SL)
Archie Donald, Early Communications in the Tenterden Locality including Postal Services and Postmarks, (1998), 82 pages, spiral bound. ISBN 0-9512887-1-7. Available from Woodvale Press, The Pond House, Tenterden, TN30 6SB. -£8.50 including post and packing.
This book is a must for the postal, local and family historian, packed with the names of local personalities and facts and figures on the transport, communications and postal services throughout the Tenterden area over the centuries, a labour of love by our member Archie Donald.
It was interesting to read that by 1250 AD a National Carrier Network had been established. In 1750, R. Hammond's eight horse-drawn wagon was leaving Tenterden on Monday morning to arrive at the George Inn, Borough, on Wednesday, a journey of three days! One can wonder at the problems they must have faced along the way, mud up to the axles, sick horses and perhaps highwaymen thrown in for good measure.
Communications are dealt with in depth, from Fire Beacons to Signal Stations. While Cinque Ports Messengers were carrying administrative letters from 1449-1655, Tenterden was serviced from the nearest Stage Town on the six great roads that had a regular service in the 17th C, the author has included postal maps from this period. From 1721 when William Read was salaried Postmaster of Tenterden, the Postmasters are listed up to 1988 when the organisation was split into three.
The student of philately is well catered for, the postal markings of Tenterden date from 1714 through to 1997 and include Parcel and Railway letter stamps, some 30 pages of illustrations, which must be unique. Certainly a book that postal historians must have on their bookshelf.
Alec Miles
The Freemen of Canterbury 1800-1835 In 1990 Kent Record Collections published The Freemen of Canterbury 1800-1835, a list of freemen of the City of Canterbury in the last years before the Municipal Corporations Act of 1835 abolished their exclusive right to vote and to hold municipal office. The list, compiled from the city archives by Stella Corpe in collaboration with Anne M Oakley, is an invaluable source for the histories of the leading families of early nineteenth-century Canterbury.
In that period, the freedom of the city could be acquired in five ways - by patrimony, by apprenticeship, by marriage to the daughter of a freeman, by redemption (i.e. purchase) or by gift of the city - and the list shows, in addition to the name and trade of the freeman and method of acquisition, either the name and trade of the father (patrimony), the name and trade of the father (patrimony), the name and trade of the master (apprenticeship), the name of the wife and name and trade of her father (marriage) or the place of residence of the freeman, if not Canterbury (redemption). Citations enable reference to be made to the original sources from which the information has been extracted.
Copies of the volume are now available from English Record Collections (the successor of Kent Record Collections) at a reduced price of £10.00, including postage and packing. Orders, accoll!panied by cheques or money orders (made payable to English Record'Collections), should be sent to English Record Collections (Canterbury Freemen), c/o Anthony Adolph.
Michael Roper
Chairman, English Record Collections
Letters
MISSING DIARY VOLUMES
The Editors have received a letter from a member who has 25 out of the 28 or more volumes of the diary of Louisa Goldsmid de Visme, who was born 10th February 1810, married Richard Thomas in December 1838 and died 18th February 1911. They are full of interest for their description of life in Hollingbourne throughout the nineteenth century. It is possible that the whereabouts of these volumes may be known by someone who does not know what they are. The missing volumes are all early, June 1827 to June 1828, March 1830 to February 1835 (this may be in three or more volumes), February 1836 to August 1837. At these times she was living mostly in Brighton and there would be frequent mention of the names Goldsmid and de Visme.
Any members with information on the above diaries should in the first instance contact the Hon. Editors.
THE DOVER BRONZE AGE BOAT
I thought that your readers might be interested to know that The Dover Bronze Age Boat has recently been returned to Dover Museum, following three years of conservation work at the Mary Rose Trust in Portsmouth.
The boat, which is in 32 pieces, is to be re-assembled over the next six months by Canterbury Archaeological Trust, supervised by English Heritage and assisted by the Mary Rose Trust.
During this period visitors to the museum are able to view the re-assembly and a temporary exhibition explaining the significance of the Boat and how it was found and preserved.
We cannot guarantee that work is taking place on every day • (the re-assembly team sometimes need to be engaged in work off site), but there will always be some of the Boat on view.
There is no extra charge to view the gallery. Dover Museum is open 7 days a week from 10am to 5.30pm, admission £1.65 adults and £0.85p for children and senior citizens.
For further enquiries ring the museum on 01304 201066. There is also information about the Boat on our website www.doveruk.com/museum/.
Miss C Waterman Museum Curator
KAS Hon. Editor's Announcement
The Hon. Editor welcomes all letters, articles, and communications and would particularly like to receive more from members and others, especially requests for research information, finds, books, and other 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 solely responsible for the contents and substance of their letters, items, or papers. Material for the next Newsletter should be sent by 1st March 1999 to Hon. Editors, Mr & Mrs L. E. Ilott.
Published by the Kent Archaeological Society, The Museum St. Faith's Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1 LH
Printed by Meran Press, Bullen Lane, East Peckham, Kent 1N12 SLP. 01622 8n416 Typeset and design by Richard Hunt (87) Ltd. 0181 692 3101
