New Book Review: Rediscovering Dartford
29.5 x 21 cm. Pp. 50 with numerous illustrations. Published by the Dartford District Archaeological Group. 1986.
Price £3.50.
The Dartford District Archaeological Group was formed in 1972 and has since carried out valuable research in the town itself and in the surrounding area. Under skilful direction, its amateur members have undertaken numerous excavations, some in advance of commercial development which would have destroyed important archaeological evidence. Outstanding among their successes have been the uncovering of the remains of Roman buildings in Tenter's Hill Field and at Wilmington. Most spectacular was the finding of a complete glass bowl at Darenth bearing a Christian Chi-Rho monogram accompanying a fifth-century Anglo-Saxon burial. This almost unique object would undoubtedly have been shattered by ploughing over the shallow grave if it had not been rescued by timely controlled excavation.
Our knowledge of the Tudor manor house on the site of Dartford Priory and the origins of Horsman's Place has been increased by the Group's researches. Altogether, a dozen excavated sites are described in this publication and the quality of the fieldwork reminds us that the term 'amateur' defines a status that frequently strives after the highest standards. The group is fortunate in having permanent headquarters in the town where finds can be processed and stored, and meetings held.
Excavation is often necessarily destructive, a fact that throws responsibility on those involved to record and publish the evidence in detail. Results of fieldwork over the last fourteen years have been summarised in this well-produced brochure, and it removes to some degree the reproach often levelled at professional as well as amateur archaeologists for neglect of publication. Quite justifiably, century imported North French grey ware pitchers from recent City excavations.
3. Better still, (although the full argument cannot be presented here), links with Cathedral Precinct document-dated sites confidently indicate a date between c. 1150-1175 for the kiln. The implications of this find are wide-ranging, but initially one of the most interesting aspects is that its distinctive products have so far been recognised only once amongst the enormous quantities of excavated twelfth-century pottery. The continental characteristics are so strong that we may well have here a French potter, operating as a specialist for a strictly limited market.
Post-excavation work on this unique material will begin in the next financial year and this will include not only documentary research, but also a search for similar products in Kent, and, more specifically, its continental parallels. Any information that could further this work would be most welcome (please contact Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 92A Broad Street, Canterbury, Kent Cfl 2LU). In the meantime, we are particularly grateful to Mr. Geoffrey Barrett, the site owner, for financial assistance, encouragement and interest; to Mr. John Hurst (of H.B.M.C.) and to Mr. John Cherry (from the British Museum) for advice, discussion and confirmation; finally to Mr. Andrew Savage for the photographs.
Much of the content is intended to stimulate popular interest and this has meant the sacrifice of some features generally found in specialised archaeological reports. One notes the absence of the customary pages of pottery drawings and diagrams of sections. Several plans are well drawn although in some cases the degree of reduction has involved loss of clarity. The photographs are mainly of good quality and often of human as well as archaeological interest, but perhaps, a number could have been spared to make room for more descriptive notes on the sites and finds; in particular, it might be felt that some of the small photographs, such as those between pages 40 and 45, would be of greater significance to the reader if they were accompanied by more descriptive captions.
Recording of buildings of architectural and historic interest can be of as much value as excavation, and the D.D.A.G. has made worthy contributions in that respect. The drawing of the Mill House at Hawley is a good example of proper recording and should set a standard to be followed in other cases.
Without in any way wishing to detract from the interest of the publication, one is left to wonder whether this is to be the definitive account of work on the sites mentioned. If so, it might be considered to fall short in certain ways of what is required to constitute a permanent record. Do we, moreover, have to wait another fourteen years to catch up with the Group's continuing programme; and would it not be advantageous to publish interim reports of a more formal nature in periodicals such as the annual volumes of Archaeologia Cantiana?
P.J. Tester
Ed: Copies of "Rediscovering Dartford" may be obtained by sending a cheque for £3.50, made payable to D.D.A.G, to Mr G. Mitchell, Treasurer.