KAS Newsletter, Issue 50, Autumn 2001

Archaeological work at Bredhurst 1964 and 2000 Introduction In October 2000 the present writer acting on behalf of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust undertook a single archaeological 'watching brief' visit to St Peter's Church, Bredhurst whilst a soak-away was being excavated. The archaeological background In 1921 when the new cemetery for Bredhurst church was created flint and sarsen stone foundations and great quantities of tile were uncovered during clearance of woodland (Ocock 1965, p.272). The foundations of a building of 'substantial proportions' were apparently uncovered at that time but unfortunately no reference is given for this information. Excavations by the Lower .-fvledway Archaeological Research Group under the �;irection of L. A. Griffith took place to the south-east of the church in 1964 (Wilson and Hurst 1965, p. 202; Ocock 1965, p. 272). The present writer attempted to trace further information regarding this project in 1996 and at that time learned (Miles pers.comm) that the project began due to the finding of a coin hoard, about which nothing more is (apparently) known. Foundations were revealed during ploughing in the late summer of 1964. A well also existed in this field which, at that time, had only recently been infilled (Hudson pers comm..). The team of archaeologists hoped that permission to re-excavate the datable to the late fourteenth and fifteenth centuries· earlier pottery of c. 1300 was found in a rubbish pi; (Ocock 1965, p. 272). The excavation was then curtailed and unfortunately neither the site director nor the site records can now be traced. However, Mr Hidson showed the present writer the location of the 1964 excavation undertaken on his land. The only available primary record of that project is a small scale plan left with the landowner. The walls shown on the plan may relate to a manor house and mill recorded in c. 1300 and 1319 (Wilson and Hurst 1965, p. 202). A further plan, a tracing of the 1840 tithe map, was also left with Mr Hidson. The figure used in this short article is an amalgam of these two plans and on-site observations. The project The soak-away was excavated on the west side of the entrance to the new cemetery and more or less opposite the gate leading to the church. It was approximately 2.50m square and 3.30m deep. Below 0.50m of fine brown cr:umbly top-soil was a deposit of light brown clay-with­ flints as depicted on Geological Ordnance Survey map 272. On the same map 375m to the east, chalk is shown within the sides of a dry valley. In the event within the trench being excavated chalk bedrock was not reached and instead yellow brown sandy clay changing to red­ brown sand was observed. This material is assumed to be part of the Thanet Beds that are known to exist over the weU would be given by the landowner (Mr Hidson), but Upper Chalk in other localities. No archaeological as the weU was probably quite deep permission for the excavation was wisely refused. The team were however, aUowed to excavate in a small copse about 75m to the south-east of the church. Almost immediately the foundations of a building were exposed. The 18ft x 15ft tiled building (presumably referring to roofing tile debris) was situated at the end of a north to ·south aligned waU 45ft in length (Ocock 1965, p. 272). The pottery recovered was rather 'beaten up' and not easy to date although it is possible that Len Griffith found better examples later (Miles pers comm.). The pottery was features, remai_ ns of structures or artifacts were observed. The present writer was allowed access to Mr Hidson's land to examine the copse in which the 1964 excavation was undertaken. The woodland immediately north and west of the churchyard was also examined. A distinct ridge (c.2m wide) was observed to the west of the churchyard surviving for a length of about 38m but to a height of only 0.3m. A continuation of this ridge was (unless slaled olherw,se all lhe ,nrormallon comes from P 1 1s (2000) SI Peler's Church Bredhurst Len Gnffilh's plan or 1964 or lhe T,1he Map or 1840) A._ 0"7�...,..�. Ridge (2000) ··•••. CM oa• Church Wood Rdoe 1•,.,,,, was relatively small and the present writer suspects it was very much a wall .,, ' Church and churchyard \.. ,�, -...._ suspected line or wall �' ... following exercise but there is no reason to doubt that the building uncovered is of medieval date. As late medieval pottery was recovered it is distinctly ' .,. possible that occupation continued into the post­ medieval period. However, although buildings are + /:'\ ' ', 8 ' shown around the periphery of the area on Sile of 'walching brief (2000) Y, • � both the plan prepared by Walls or med,evJIbuilding "'- P1tsinfilled', .. "",; ·,; /'•,,, '',.,'', Len Griffiths and the tithe ! �� Site of infill:d well , ,, ' - • ,./ \� Flinty ridge R,dg / v__./- ,,, map it is very noticeable J C a that the latter refers to the site of the new cemetery and / '.. 'Utt::, Church Wooo·,..._ Walls? �- •,•._.,.,�-. •, 'V,I , P,t infilled I Sile ofMr Rayfield's House ) , 0 -.[-/ Walls seen during ploughing , ,,.__ ' P,1 the area to the east as Littl Church Wood. This of cours,..... implies that by the time the tithe map was drawn up bam �: S1te ofMrChapman's �- - Ditch . <.,,..' ·-:, / ).. . (1840) the whole area on which structures were built was covered by woodland. , v,�/ '•\ _- , / ( ' 0 ."' No doubt a detailed ', ·· Causewa:. :::/-. Walls? _..-·/, Lynchet '•. > documentary study would '<:-_.'\ ) / .-::all __ add considerably to our knowledge. ' ..:.. / -..r - ,I '\� --� Melres IOC Needless to say local tradition believes that the original village of Bredhurst was situated around the shown within the churchyard on Len Griffiths plan and in this area may, at one time, have delimited the cemetery area. At the east end of this ridge, and separated from it by the churchyard wall and a public footpath a further ridge can be seen swinging around within the copse. In turn this feature joins with a ridge separating the copse from a ploughed field to the north; there is a substantial difference in height (over lm) between the levels of field and copse. In the area of the excavation other than the 'flinty ridge' noted on Len Griffith's plan nothing is visible, all the archaeological trenches have been backfilled. No doubt the walls discovered and others survive below the ground surface and the flinty ridge could itself be a building platform or alternatively the debris from the digging of the foundation trenches for the medieval building. Discussion The presence of the ridges and that of a ditch nearly 2.50m wide and 0.60 to 1.20m deep on the south (Ocock 1965, p. 272) may indicate that the building observed and excavated in 1964 were within some form of enclosure. The apparent limited size of the banks and ditch suggests that they are not defensive in intent but they may well form a farmyard boundary. The area excavated in 1964 2 church and was deserted due to the drastic population decline caused by the Black Death of 1348-50. In 1996 the present writer put forward the view that the church, known to date back to th.a.. Norman period (Newman 1969, p. 154) would originallr, have been the private chapel of the lord of the manor. It ":'as further suggested that the village itself was always situated on the road from Rainham to Maidstone rather than being hidden away (Ward 1996) and therefore any structures near to the church would be those belonging to the lord rather than the villagers. The desertion of this structure may therefore have had nothing to do with the outbreak of plague in the mid-fourteenth century. Conclusion _ _ There is no reason to disbelieve that the remains of a building of medieval date were observed within the area of the new cemetery in 1921. Whether any of this structure has survived the rooting out of tree stumps and general site clearance is more problematical. Certainly no sign of debns was noticed in the (very small) area covered by the watc�g b�ief. Obviously the most likely time to see such remains (1f they still exist) is during the digging of graves. 1n view of the known Norman date of the church and the possibility that it could have been the lord's private chapel the area is of considerable archaeological and historical interest. Acknowledgments Thanks are extended to the parochial Council for funding the archaeological watching brief. Thanks are also extended to their representative Dennis Johnson and the contractors, our long-standing colleagues, Baker's Build and Design. Without the detailed local knowledge of Mr Hidson and Alex Miles, both of whom supplied much valuable information on previous archaeological work in the area this short report would be much poorer; their help is gratefully acknowledged. References from such co-operation. On 24th September 1997 the Treasure Act 1996 came into effect, replacing the old common law of treasure trove and widening the definition of treasure. In 1997 a full­ time Field Liaison Officer (F.L.O.) was appointed, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, as part of a pilot scheme in Kent under the Portable Antiquities Scheme. The post was established in response to a bid submitted by the Kent Archaeologists and Detectorist Liaison Group. The F.L.O.'s task was to liaise and record finds at Detectorist Clubs, with Independent Detectorists and members of the public particularly through 'Finds Days' at Museums. The post has continued to be funded and the present F.L.O., Michael Lewis, is as busy as ever throughout the County. Keith Parfitt and Ted Connell both members of the Fieldwork Committee of the K.A.S have been visiting and giving talks on archaeological themes to Kent Detectorist Groups for a number of years. They have always found a �dson. Mr. Miles. A. Newman. J. Ocock. M. Ward. A Wilson. D. M. ��T- Hurst. D. G. 2000 Personal verbal communications 1997 Personal communication, letter dated 9th January 1997. 1969 The Buildings of England: North-east and East Kent. 1965 Lower Medway Archaeological Research Group Regional Survey: Results for 1964-5, Archaeologia Cantiana, Vol. Ixxx. p. 272-274. 1996 Excavations at Bredhurst, Kent Archaeological Society Newsletter, No. 36. 1965 Medieval Britain in 1964, Medieval Archaeology, Vol.ix p. 170-220. Alan Ward willingness amongst detectorists to discuss and share information with them about their discoveries. Tile F ieldwork Committee is keen to promote co-operation between archaeologists and detectorists. Ian Wigston an active detectorist for many years and a member of the K.A.S since 1992 is a member of the Fieldwork Committee. Michael Lewis, F.L.O. is also a member. The programme of talks, all limited to a maximum of 30 minutes, will include, David Holman and Keith Parfitt on the effect of our understanding of coinage in the Iron Age as a result of recording detectorists finds over many years (see Arch. Cant. Vol120, 2000). Geoff Burr and Ted Connell will relate how the pooling of information about an area of the Longfield Valley has led to an even greater understanding of the occupation during the Roman period. Neil Allen will explain how detectorist finds are helping to throw new light on the development of Old and New Romney. A report will be given from Neil Aldridge on the use of Detectors to help discover the course of Roman Roads in the Weald. Michael Lewis, F.L.O. will speak about the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Kent. Amongst other speakers talking about their work Landscape Investigators Archaeologists and Detectorists Working Together - Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Abbey Place, Faversham. Saturday 22nd Spetember 2001, 10am to 5pm Archaeologists and detectorists share a common interest in seeking through the use of different investigative methods to understand how and when our ancient landscape has been occupied by man throughout the ages. The object of the meeting is to demonstrate how by co-operating, archaeologists and detectorists can achieve an even greater understanding of the lives of people of the past. We will hear throughout the day from individuals and groups, whose researches have benefited throughout the County will be John Darvill, Nigel Betts, and Gavin Pettet. Archaeologists, detectorists and historians are invited to attend. There will be plenty of breaks for people to look at the displays, perhaps to bring along a 'find' to be identified and to generally mingle and get to know others who have a similar interest in the past. Admission is by ticket at a cost of £2.00, cheques payable to 'NCMD SR', giving the christian and surnames (for badges on the day) for each ticket requested, from David Barwell enclosing a S.A.E. Any other enquiries to Ted Connell. 3 White Cliff's M. D. Club introduction to Kent Archaeological Society. The White Oiff's M. D. Club was formed on the 4th July 1994 and since then has steadily increased it's membership and standing within the archaeological and metal detecting world. We have all worked hard to establish strong links with the various bodies within archaeology, which until recent years was unheard of The White Cliff's is now prominent in the South of England and well known for promoting and preserving our valuable heritage. The Club offers a unique opportunity to exchange information between all interested parties. This in turn has led to a deluge of new information of historicdl and archaeological interest for the public record. The recording scheme that we adopt is the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Our Club was involved in its establishment 3 years ago, as one of the first pilot schemes in Britain. Since that time the scheme has been adopted by eleven counties in England and Wales and hopefully nationally in the near future. Members are encouraged to record their finds, with all details remaining confidential. The Club offers free recovery and support to Kent's archaeological groups and has recovered objects from sites that would other wise have gone undetected by eye. In 1998 Dover Museum gave the White Cliff's a display case at Dover. This is one of only three in the country awarded to a club. During 1997 and Club staged an exhibition at Dover Town Hall, raising £350 towards the It is evident that in a changing world where there is a distinct lack of funds for excavations, metal detecting can provide a free resource, which managed responsibly and correctly can minimise the need for sub-surface excavations. Therefore valuable finds can be redirected to threatened sites. Resumption of the Kent Victoria County History: - Report on Progress At the AGM of 1st July 2000 I suggested a small committee should be formed to consider the restarting of the Kent VCH, the last volume of which had been published in 1932. The President, Mr Oldham, asked me to form such a Committee, and Dr. C. Chalklin and Mr. Tony Smith at once asked to join. To these I was able to add Dr. Frank Panton and, after receiving an.-. encouraging letter from her, Dr. Joan Thirsk. ,,--� My first step was to interview the acting Editor of the VCH at the Institute of Historical Research, Dr. Alan Thacker, and I spent a fruitful hour-and-a half with him on 2nd November. He expressed delight that things were beginning to move in Kent and said that if some £17,500 could be raised, a lottery bid to make up the remaining £52,500 would enable work to be started. As a meeting of the KAS Publications Committee was shortly to be held on 11th November, Dr. John Whyman of the Committee asked me to prepare a report for its consideration. The Publications Committee accepted the need for restarting the Kent VCH and recommended the proposal to the Bronze Age Boat Trust. Throughout the August Bank Holiday 2000 we were also invited to take part in the Time Team Live at Canterbury for Channel 4, on which our members recovered 96% of all metal artifacts found on three sites. At present the club is promoting two pilot schemes. The first is a Finds Identification Clinic, where independent detectorists are invited to bring along their collection whole or in part, to be identified by a panel of experienced detectorists. This event is being supported by the Kent Finds Liaison Officer, Michael Lewis, local archaeologists and Dover Museum. It is hoped that this Council. And then an unforeseen and wholly welcome development occurred. The newly appointed General Editor of the VCH, Professor Anthon/"""\ Fletcher, telephoned me on the 9th Novemb�r saying that the University of Greenwich had promised £4,000 for restarting Kent VCH. Even better, as it turned out, they were to provide premises, secretarial help, and in Dr. James Longmore, Head of the School of Humanities, a scholar of boundless enthusiasm and a born organiser. Suddenly I knew what Moses felt like when the Red Sea opened up before him. will help to promote the finds recording of many independents. The service is free of charge, however donations are gratefully received for Dover Archaeological Trust. The second pilot scheme is a Research Team. Many members are interested in unravelling the history of their sites and to put finds into context with the changing landscape. Hopefully with the help of Kent Archaeological Society and local archaeologists there can be a better understanding of sites, combining archaeology, research, metal detecting andfield walking. 4 Dr. Longmore began by setting up a Steering Committee for restarting the Kent VCH and I simply added my little committee to it. The first Steering Committee meeting was held on 7th December and the second on 20th February. Huge progress has been made between these two dates. Some twenty two people attended the second meeting including the General Editor of the VCH, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Greenwich and representative of the Kent County Council. At the December meeting it was decided to start with the topographical volumes and at the February meeting that the first of these should cover the parishes of the lower Medway. The reason for this location was that it would be the one most likely to attract the support of two large local authorities: the KCC and the Medway towns. The General Editor congratulated all concerned at the swift progress made. 7. The third meeting of the Steering Committee was held at the University of Greenwich on the 12th June. Here it was revealed that progress on the VCH had had to be cut back on some counties for economic and administrative reasons, but so impressed had been the management with the speed with which Kent had got off the mark that the county was not one of those adversely affected. For this credit must go chiefly to Dr. Longmore and her Greenwich colleagues. Secondly gratitude was expressed to the KAS Council for the valuable help of £2,000 p.a. (I presume that this has been, or will be, formally conveyed). This has helped enable the target sum to be met, and on the assumption that the lottery bid is successful, work on the fourth Kent volume should begin in April 2002, with completion five years later. 8. It simply remains to say that this will be an ongoing project, that further volumes are envisaged, and that it is incumbent upon all who want to see this great work completed to rally support, both moral and financial, throughout the County. Brian E. Porter, Ph.D., F.R.Hist.S. 23rd June 2001 Greater Thames Estuary Archaeological Steering Committee .._Annual Conference Report - Held in Thurrock Museum, r-,;rays, Essex: on Saturday 19th May 2001. Attended by about a half-hundred persons from local Archaeological Groups from both side of the Thames, with local councillors and officials: all interested in the information discovered, and the likely affects of the surveys undertaken by both professional units and amateur groups. The meeting, in the very pleasant auditorium, was chaired by Dave Buckley (from Essex County Council), in the morning, and by Joh n Williams (from Kent C.C.), in the afternoon. There was, as is typical of these conferences, a very tight time-table with questions often delayed until the luncheon or tea breaks, when various speakers were waylaid and huddles were created in a variety of corners. Joh n Williams provided an amiable welcome and explained the background of the enquiries generated by the Thames Estuary Project, supported by English Heritage since 1997 and co-ordinated by U.C.L. More work had been done on the north (Essex) side, and EURO and Lottery funding for baseline surveys encouraged local groups and individuals to publish their findings. After the welcome, the first speaker was Anthony Firth of Wessex Archaeology who had done a very detailed'desk­ top' survey of the north Kent coast to the 5 metre contour line, listing all the SMR points (totalling about 4 thousand sites) aided by maps from 0.5. and aerial photographs of the 1940's, together with more recent pictures provided by Swindon, taken in the 1980's. There were clear biases in the type of data recorded, either through the interest focus of the individual or group providing the data, eg. new metal detecting site records, and previously unknown sites exposed during the massive developments of motorways and the Channel Railtrack - which would otherwise probably not have been discovered. Ellen Heppel, Essex County Council, followed with a survey of 400 miles of the Essex coast to determine the effects of erosion, with detailed work on the Foulness and Canvey Island areas. These surveys of the salt maishes had been greatly aided by the support of local groups and many historic seawalls, sluices, 'red-hill' sites (salt panning) had been identified. Fred Nash, a local Essex defence expert studying the WW II Defences of the Essex Coast, was introduced as an enthusiast, and well justified the description with his lively presentation of various concrete and steel defences against invasion, well interspersed with anecdotes. 1600 sites recorded since 1993, 1 / 3rd survive of a potential of 3000 that were known from records. Many different types of pill box and coastal emplacement were listed and fortunately recorded as they were constructed or being demolished post waI. Some survive as features. The highlight of the talk was the tale of the Home Guaid unit demonstrating their gunnery skills by firing their 4.7" (made in Japan in 1918) naval guns, by firing 'to straddle' and 'near miss' a borrowed boat. The audience did not need the punch line! He closed with photos of a 'Phoenix' caisson, intended to be part of the 'Mulberry Harbour' on the 'D' Day Beaches, which sank en­ route ln 1944. A pleasant cold buffet was necessary to recoup stamina ready for the afternoon session. The break also allowed strangers from Kent to visit Thurrock Museum and enjoy the many interesting display panels containing material from the area. The conference continued, in a less comfortable lecture room, by lane Siddel of English Heritage, who was reseaiching sea level changes in the Inner Thames Estuary and their effects upon the archaeology. The different models proposed by researchers were not compatible and there were many questions raised about the causes of sea level change, and the effects on silting, 5 Discussion raised questions about the use of the 'hole's' as fish tanks, and as there was agricultural activities, drainage, underground water-level changes. The problems of the range of dates afforded by current Carbon-dating techniques, the great value of modem dendrochronology (where specimens are suitable), the changes of salinity in the Thames - perhaps by variable tidal pressures and/ or greater rainfall upriver, the northward movement of the Thames channel as shown by recent work in London by the Monument and Silvertown - were topics raised and discussed. Ian Tackson, of Upchurch Arch. Research Group, spoke about some parts of his thirty year researches on the banks of the Medway, trying to locate pottery and salting sites, fish traps and hurdle causeways to grazing areas, tracing different levels of peat beds etc. The problems with working in a river which allows only a few hours of work; sites, which have to be protected and then uncovered after each visit until recording is completed, and then revisited to see the effects of further erosion, some over an eight year time span. Ian expressed his appreciation for the support received tram the land owners and for funding to obtain specialist reports on timber, pottery etc. Ron Hall, a local Essex independent field worker, followed with further work on fishtraps, the barges and quays of the Blackwater Estuary. Observed originally from a tug, the rows of stakes in the floodplains provided intriguing research, and were identified as successive rows of fish traps which guided fish into collecting points made from wattle and stakes in morticed and tenoned frames, the earliest dated to 1268 BC. Many have been recently damaged by trawling and small-craft crossing channels. The sites were only visible for a limited time, and the rising tide had to be watched very closely, which often encouraged urgency of action! Auger borings had been taken to identify successive inundations and peat beds. Satellite geo-positioning had been used to record sites. An 'interesting' novelty was an area of unexploded ordnance, which was treated with respect. Moving south to Swalecliffe in Kent, Ron Masefield, of RPS Consultants, described the discoveries made whilst excavating a water treatment plant, when an underlying Pleistocene river and land surface was uncovered, within which Late Bronze Age pots and a yoke for carrying jars or buckets and other artifacts were found in a series of 17 'water sources' ie. wide but shallow wells woven wattle had been used to make revetments for the sides of these _holes, and planks laid to provide a threshold on which the water-drawer could stand. A' dendro' date for timber was 1164 BC with an estimated 50/ 60 year life span for each dug hole. So the site had been in use for a very long period, and there was very good pollen evidence from the area: open-site grass and cereals included. The timber had been obtained from coppiced stands of Hazel while very ancient woods had provided at least one 180 year old plank. no evidence of dung beetles, their use as cattle troughs was unlikely. Louise Barker, an English Heritage officer based at Cambridge dealt with old Hall Marshes, near Sakott, and Blue House Farm nature reserves etc. The local marshland had lost 73% of its area due to flooding or agricultural development. Redhills had been recorded, with saltings and kilns, oyster tanks and other reclamation work supervised by the Kings Justices dating back to C12/ 13th, with other documentary evidence of 1451, and more recently from C16th by private landowners, aided by refugees from the Low Counties (eg. Canvey Island) who used the land to feed London's growing population. Recent arable use for grain production was destroying earlier archaeology as chalk was dug up from lower levels and exposed for 'marling'. The use of 'decoy' ponds where tamed birds enticed newly arriving wild fowl, and the use of local reed fo,_., making the necessary tunnels and traps was illustrated. This was a very informative and wide-ranging conference linking together the various individuals, officials, and groups who have an interest in their common inheritance of the Thames River shores and estuary. Future meetings will be held (the next probably in Kent) to further develop links across the River. � WALLACE HARVEY, M.A. (1906-2000) died in Kent and Canterbury Hospital on 2nd November aged 94. He had been a member of the Kent Archaeological Society since 1948. He was also a founder member of the Whitstable Historical Society from 1947 and its Life President. His knowledge of Whitstable and its past was unrivalled. He published several monograph's relating to the history of the town, and notably, in 1993, as the fruit of a lifetime's research, The Merchant Ships of Whitstable. For this splendidly illustrated and definitive work the University of Kent, in 1995, conferred upon him the degree of an Honary M.A. A fuller obituary will appear next year in the Archaeologia Cantiana. Brian Porter 6 KAS HOMEPAGE You and Your Society CHRISTMAS LUNCH SATURDAY DECEMBER 1st AT THE HOP FARM PADDOCK WOOD Entertainment by the Oast Theatre Tonbridge followed by a visit to Preston Hall Aylesford (not normally open to the public) ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING At the A.G.M. on the 23rd July members expressed their thanks to Margaret Lawrence for her 17 years service as Hon. Membership Secretary. The President, who presented her with an original painting of East Peckham Church and a cheque, paid tribute to her work and particularly her friendly interest in the members. Over 80 members attended the meeting at Maidstone, renewed and made new acquaintances, and viewed the displays by the County Archaeologist and others and browsed the bookstalls. Mrs. Sheila Broomfield was elected Hon. Membership Secretary. All the other officers were re-elected and Keith Parfitt was elected to the Council. Robert Hiscock, who had been a member of the Council since the 1950's and more recently a Vice President, was elected a Patron of the Society. The amendments to the rules were all approved 'nem. corn'. The most important of these reduce the quorum for general meetings to 25, allow officers to remain in office until the A.G.M. following their election, reduce the size of the Council to 28 over a period of four years and put a limit on how long some office holders can remain in office. In the afternoon Dr. Michael Zell gave a fascinating lecture on the composition of households in the 17th. century. This provoked many questions from an obviously interested audience. KENT HISTORY FUND The Kent Archaeological Society has a Local History Fund Sub-Committee of the Publications Committee with representation from the Kent History Federation, to award grants to assist serious research leading to publication. Applications are now invited from Local History Societies affiliated to K.H.F., or K.A.S., and from individuals who are either members of K.A.S. or a Local History Society affiliated to either K.H.F., or K.A.S. Professional historians or post graduate students are not eligible to apply. Anyone wishing to apply should write to the Sub-Committee's Secretary requesting an application form. The Sub-Committee will be the panel judging applications received. Please apply to Miss E Melling. KAS CHURCHES COMMITTEE The Churches Committee invites members to visit the two marshland churches of Brooklands and Ivychurch on Saturday 13th October meeting at Brookland Church at 1.45 for 2pm. For details see enclosed leaflet. 7 Courses, Events, Teaching Aids Sevenoaks District Com.m.ittee of the Council for the Protection of Rural England is organising a one day course 'Reading the Landscape; focusing on West Kent' on 16 March 2002. 10-4pm. Venue Ide Hill Village Hall. Four expert speakers to cover aspects of geology, landscape, history, aesthetical appreciation and ecology will be explained. Coffee I tea and lunch included in the cost of £8.00 for the day. Deadline for booking 1st February 2002. Contact for details/booking: Mrs Susan Pittman COUNCIL FOR KENTISH ARCHAEOLOGY ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES IN THE SOUTH EAST SATURDAY, 3rd NOVEMBER 2001 -(2.00 -5.30pm) CHRIST CHURCH UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, CANTERBURY * Illustrated lectures on some recent exciting archaeological discoveries in the S.E.* SUSSEX Shinewater Park, near Eastbourne the story of a Bronze Age waterlogged landscape SURREY the Roman circular temple at Wanborough Betchworth: a place of special significance? LONDON The Roman City of London current research Dr. Andrew Woodcock (East Sussex County Archaeologist) David Williams (Director of Excavations) Philip Treveil (Senior Archaeologist, MOLAS) TICKETS: £3.00 (Payable CK.A. and sae, please) from CK.A. 7 Sandy Ridge, Borough Green, Kent TNlS 8HP ISLE OF THANET ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY presents a series of illustrated lectures entitled PRIDE IN OUR PAST - SEAWAYS AND ROADWAYS TO A GATEWAY ISLAND All lectures will be at St. George's High School, Westwood Road, Broadstairs. Doors open 7.15pm, lecture start 7.45pm. Tuesday 25th September 2001 - A Gateway Island by Dr. David Perkins, Trust for Thanet Archaeology. Monday 19th November 2001 - An Update on the Stirling Castle Wreck, Norman Temple of Seadive by Dr. David Perkins, Trust for Thanet Archaeology. Tickets £3.50 at the door, £3.00 in advance, £W for all lectures in advance. Tickets and further information from:-The Events Secretary. 8 A Brief Guide to Using the Library of The Kent Archaeological Society response to an enquiry. If a work is recorded in the Library catalogue, locating it Th� Society's Library is housed within the premises of the Maidstone Museum, at Faith Street,Maidstone, and it is available to members during Museum opening hours upon production of a current Society membership card to the �useum staff on duty. The library room has a selection of comfortable chairs and tables, good lighting and some computer equipment to enable members to engage in private study or research amongst the detailed collections which are available to them. Volunteers with a bac�ground knowledge of the library are usually on hand dunng Monday and Friday afternoons, and also on Wednesday mornings. The library has a varied stock and allows members an easy access to material that is not commonly available �sewhere. A notab�e fe�ture is the large selection of r '-.aunty archaeological Journals, and other academic serial publications, which have been steadily acquired by the Society since the latter part of the 19th century. The topography and history of Kent is well represented, and �ere are many books on archaeological techniques, history, genealogy and similar subjects, all of which relate to the work and interests of Society members. A considerable collection of records is being indexed and developed, and these can be utilised, along with the book and journal collections, to further many aspects of research into Kent related topics. Many of the items in the stock of the Library are unique, or rare, and for this reason, some items have a security protection that can only be accessed when the Library is manned. Members having to make a long journey to use the collections should therefore check the availability of volunteers, and other staff, to ensure that the material that they wish to use can be made available on the day of �heir intended visit. However, the open shelves do comprise the broad mass of the collections and do provide much of use and interest to members at any time. As with any library, the key to successful use lies via a good acquaintance with the stock and the scope of the collections, so that any time spent in thus browsing can only be of value to potential users. 1n an ideal world, we would have a single, clearly labelled sequence, closely linked to the catalogues. The Society's Library has many constraints of space, and as a result the sequences, though logical, do require some prior study in order that the best results may be obtained. For instance, it has been necessary to house some older journal runs at Bradbourne House, and other material, which is not often called for, is stored at Marsham Street, Maidstone. The Hon. Librarian can always advise if members wish to consult works at either of these locations. The prime tool for accessing the collections is the Library catalogue. This is available in two forms, both of which are easy to use. A simple card index can be consulted, but there are also computer databases for both books and visual records, and these can give users a detailed on the shelves is not especially difficult, and book sequences are as follows: Kent places: an A-Z sequence regardless of subject Kent subjects: a simple classified order General subjects (not Kent related) : a simple classified order Oversize volumes for each of the above sequences Journal runs: as labelled on the appropriate shelves Rare and valuable books in secure cases. The Library also houses many pamphlets and ephemeral items, in addition to collections of papers and materials bequeathed to the KAS by antiquarian and historian members in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Society has a vast number of of engravings, drawings, paintings and photographs of all aspects of the ancient county of Kent. A visual records group is busy cataloguing the collection, and a sizeable data-base is now available to access the collection. However, most of the images can be viewed only with the assistance of a member of the visual records group. The Library is constantly being developed and the stock extended. Current work centres on the development of the catalogues, and upon the better use of information technology. Volunteers are also working to improve labelling and guiding , the better presentation of the stock, and upon increasing their own knowledge of the books and journals so that other members may benefit from their experience. A great deal of useful developmental work has been done at the Library in recent years, and members are fortunate to have access to this valuable resource. KAS members are very welcome to use the Library on their own at any time, seven days a week, during normal opening times of the Maidstone Museum, on production to the Museum staff of a KAS membership card and on signature of an entry book. The Library itself is, however, not regularly staffed, but on Monday and Friday afternoons (2 to 4pm) and Wednesday mornings (10am to 1pm), KAS volunteers with knowledge of the Library are usually present ready to give assistance and advice to members should they require it, and to supervise non­ member visitors who are permitted to have access to the Society's collections at those times. Members and visitors wishing to access visual images should attend on Wednesday mornings, when specialist help on that subject is normally available. Mike Perri, is very willing to advise on visual records. The Hon. Librarian, Dr. Frank Panton, is always keen to know what members would wish to find in the stock or their Library, and to have suggestions for useful additions, or to receive suitable material as donations. 9 Recent Additions to the KAS Library 942K YATES, Nigel ed. Kent� the 20th century. Boydell Press with Kent County Cow1cil, 2001 Illus, maps, plates, bibliog. O 85115 5871 . The 6th �o!un�e a major 10 volume history of the county. Experts rn rnclividual fields cover important themes, such as population, economy, politics etc. Well illustrated, with a useful bibliography. Essential background material for any person working in this field. 571,03 SHAW, Ian and JAMESON, robert A dictionary of archaeology. Blackwell, 1999 Illus, maps, diagrs. 0 631 17423 0 Two contemporary archaeologists have compiled a complete reference guide to the field, and over 40 of the world's leading archaeologists have contributed. Key words help the searcher. Built upon the assumption that archaeology is a process, not just simply a body of knowledge. Good on technical terms and world wide in scope. 620.9 ANGERSTEIN, R.R. R.R. Angerstein's illustrated travel diary 1753-1755 industry in England and Wales from a Swedish perspective. Science Museum, 2000 front. port., illus., map, diagrs. 1 9007 47 243 A valuable translation from the Sweetish, illustrating the vital stirrings of the Industrial Revolution. Author visited many early industrial sites and made trenchant observations on other aspects of British life as he travelled. Some Kent coverage. Excellent contemporary diagrams and illustrations. 942K SANDWICH HISTORlCAL SOCIETY Sandwich recollected: an oral history 1914-1950 Sandwich Historical Society, 2000 illus. Liverly personal accounts of Sandwich life in the first half of the 20th century. Good source material for historians. 942K (623.83K) MacDOUGALL, Philip Sheerness Dockyard : a brief history, Ptarmigan books, 2001 maps, diagrs. Readable and informative, this shoet work usefully fills gaps in Kent's maritime history and points the way for other research. Leland L. Duncan papers in K.A.S. Each person that carries out archaeological and historical throughout their lifetime a research, accumulates vast amount of data, as scribbled notes, written up documents and even some published articles or books. Our member (1862-1923) was such a Leland L. Duncan person who worked tirelessly to promote interest in our past through such as wills and documents, the study of early State Papers through to the recording of churchyard memorial Library Kent came to Archaeological some societies; learned XXXVII (1926) gives details of Archaeologicn Cantina Vo/ of information. After his death inscriptions as a source unpublished notebooks, very many of his papers and other collections were put into the care of archives and Society of which he was a life member. An his life and achievements. obituary in ' as a junior clerk, he would slip out of the War OffictA during the luncheon hour and make for the undergrounci'9" chamber at Somerset House, where those interested were allowed to copy the wills entered in the various registers. He would copy a will -or two and then return to the office'. - 'Duncan, besides finding a rich store of matter in the testamentary disposition of the dead, paid very special attention to their existing memorials in our churches and churchyards. He had a well-thought-out plan of plotting the churchyards, so as not to risk getting an accurate copy of all the legible inscriptions remaining. The memorials he copied at 'Tenterden were printed at his own expense in 1919, and he very handsomely presented a copy to every member of our Records Branch. Those of many other panshes were left in the manuscript at his death'. Duncan was a leading force in the establishment of our Society's 'Records Branch'. . Churchyard memor.ial Inscriptions and wills are a very u�efu� source of information for local and family hist�nans and can contain 'nuggets' of information about relationships, locations of places mentioned that might been typing up some of Duncan's notes on wills and Our member Zena Bamping and her husband Frank have not occur in other forms of records. Duncan churc�yar? memorial inscriptions from the c?llection rn the K.A.S. Library. Between them twenty­ eight churchyards mostly in North West Kent have been completed together ·th d mentio_ne�. Six quarto Duncan's exercise books of trans�nptions of wills from the Shoreham Deanery that . . wi an rn ex of names and places mentioned some parishes in Kent have also been indexed. A quote here from L L D "" t • years _to come those with the facilities may be able to exploit my work". · • . 1 1s my earnest hope that m een a e to place the typescnpts With modern technol th e m ernet we have b bi th . t ogy m e form of computers and 10 - completed by Frank and Zena onto a website where ?1embe.r� an� any other interested party can access the Ulformahon ITTstantly from anywhere in the world. This information can be accessed from the website at www.kasreasearch.com Would you like to help? There remains at least another forty-five churchyards mostly in East Kent, not typed up. If you have access to� computer and would be willing to type up from a photoco�y, which could be posted to you, of Duncan's manuscript quarto sized books or his 'scribbled' notebooks that information, with suitable acknowledgement could be put up onto the website. Or maybe you would be willing to help type up some of Duncan's transcriptions of the Shoreham Deanery Wills these could also be put up on the website. All this work would be possible for you to carry out at a place, i.e. your ho�e, and at a time and pace suitable to you without �a�g to travel to the Society's library in Maidstone. Copies of the completed typescripts will also be placed in the K.A.S. Library and Record Offices for visiting researchers to consult. If you are willing to help please contact Ted Connell, 110 Manor Forstal, New Ash Green, Longfield, Kent DA3 8JQ. Tel: 01474 872763, email: ted.connell@btinternet.com Kent Visual Records For over six years a small group of members of the Society have been working on cataloguing the Society's collection of visual records held in the Library in Maidstone Museum. The collection consists of paintings, early prints, etchings, glass plate negatives, photographic prints and 35mm coloUI slides illustrating aspects of the archaeology and history of Kent numbering many �housands. To date the details of over 11,000 images have been entered onto a computer database housed in the Library for all K.A.S. members to access and use. Work is also in hand through the use of a scarliler and digital camera to put an image of each painting etc. on the computer. Successful Lottery Bid for Video Projector and Laptop Computer However only a relatively small number of members can make use of this facility in the Library so a successful bid has been made to the Lottery Fund that has lead to the pUichase of a video projector and a laptop computer so that demonstrations of the society's database of visual records can be shown to Society members, Local Historical and Archaeological Society members, other organisations and individuals, including school children. It should be appreciated that the database is probably not suitable for formal lectures, but for 'dipping' into perhaps display information about a particular village or type of 11 building etc. Without doubt the use of the database will evolve so that indjvidual interests can be more easily catered for. If you as an individual, a member of a local orgarusation or teacher are interested in finding out more about arranging such a demonstration please contact Ted Connell. BOOK REVIEWS Romney Marsh : Survival on a Frontier Jill Eddison, with a foreword by Professor Barry Cunliffe. Tempus Publishing, 2000. 160pp, 75 b / w illustrations, 31 colour plates £14.99, reduced to £12.99 for members of K.A.S. who use the enclosed flier. Romney Marsh lies at the frontier between land and sea. It consists entirely of land gained from the sea and, being below the level of high tides, has always been threatened by flooding. Four ports now stranded miles from the sea and another lost to the sea bear witness to great changes in the coastline. This book charts the history of human occupation of a very specialised and difficult environment, especially in the last 2,000 years. Advances were made when both environmental and economic conditions were favourable. But when difficulties become insuperable, especially in Roman times and again in the thirteenth century, the inhabitants retreated. The struggle for survival continues today, and the book concludes with the challenges facing the twenty-first century. The book reflects the work of the Romney Marsh Research Group, founded in 1983 by Professor Barry Cunliffe and Jill Eddison. It brings together the recent work of archaeologists, historians and geographers, and presents an up-to-date interpretation of the history of the areas. With numerous illustrations (many in full colour), this book will delight and inform anyone interested in Romney Marsh -or in changing coastlines and sea levels. Jill Eddison is uniquely placed as its author, having been secretary of the Research Group and the supporting charitable Trust, and joint editor of three specialist publications about Romney Marsh. Originally a geologist, she lives near the Marsh and her interest in it goes back to her childhood. Quotes from Reviews: '...highly recommended to all interested in the Marsh' 'Such a book as this was long over due. Charting the creation, evolution and development of Romney Marsh from prehistory to present, Jill Eddison conveys the immense wealth of detail in a flowing style, which holds the reader's attention throughout. There are copious illustrations and photographs' '....it brings so much research and scholarship together in a way that is immensely readable'. , LETTERS Dear Editors, I enclose copies of two recent publications of mine which I would be glad if you could mention in the next available issue of the K.A.S. Newsletter. The price of the Supplement to Part 1 of the Kent Settlement Records Guide, 12 pages, is 80p plus SAE inland. Price 4 IRCs or £1.45 in British stamps if sending from overseas. The price of the Supplement to Part 2, 4 pages, is 30p plus SAE inland, 2 IRCs or 75p in British stamps if sending from overseas. Copies of both original Guides, published in 1993 and 1994, are still available from me. These publications can all be obtained from me at the below address. Please also include my fax number and Email and web site address in your column if you have room. Orders can also be made on the internet via my stand on GENfair, the on­ line family history bookshop and fair: www.genfair.com G. Rickard (Miss) Your assistance in finding a home for them will be greatly appreciated. Rosemary Yarker I welcome your offer in the No. 49 Newsletter to and dohave supply research information two Dear Editors, queries. One is : Dr. Ward (AC 1937 p.245 ) mentions the Black Book of St. Augustine and certain of the rentals of Snave Manor i.e. 'de Alano de Smallide' and 'de Emelsham et Smalide' but does not mention the date of writing of this Black Book. Is it the same as that of the White Book of St. Augustine, c. 1200? Two subsidiary questions: (a) is it possible to better date the entries for Alanea de Smallide and Radulphus de Dungeburn; and (b)• does the Black Book give any other entries for Smallhythe and Dumbourne not mentioned by Dr. Ward? My second query is again in AC 1937, p. 240. Dr. Ward states that the original charter of 833 is lost but says that Birch reports two copies, in Register C of Christchurch (B407) and in MS Lambeth 1212 (B408): is it possible to obtain a translation of this charter, one that includes a note of the witnesses (especially if there is any mention of 'the brotherhood of Appledore)'? Should there be any expenses involved (postage, photocopies and so on) by my enquiry, I should be delighted to reimburse you. Frank W. Ashenden Newsletter Copy Deadlines Spring issue - copy deadline is 1st March. S�mme� issue - copy deadline is 1st July. Wmter issue - copy deadline is 1st November. Newsletter communications, especially requests for research information , finds, books and other related topics. The Editors wish to draw the reader's attention to the fact that neither the Council of the KAS, nor the Editors The Editors of the welcome letters, articles and all Editors Announcement are answerable for op· course of their signed h'ch f 1 E eh 11Uons w 1 contributors may express m the • Dear Editors, ar 1c es. a author is alone responsible for the Further to our telephone conversation last evening, I now list below the volumes which my mother has and which I wish to dispose of. Archaelogia Cantana Years 1968 to 1999 one vol. per year except in the following years when there are two volumes. 1981, 1988, 1993, 1994. Kenl Mill◄ ILH PrinledbyComolilh,Kembl Ro d Tel: 020 86 Maidslone, 99 12 . eu etters, items or papers. Material for the . contents and substance of th • 1 next Newsletter should be sent by 1st November 2001 to Newsletter Editors, Mr & Mrs L. E. fiott by lhe Kenl Published Archaeol og,cal Society, The Museum, SL Failh's Streel, ioresl Hill London SE2J 2D). 8759 F ax : 020 � 99 :98 e-mail: sales@comolilh.demon.co.uk