KAS Newsletter, Issue 64, Spring 2005

ver the last six months Wessex Archaeology have excavated a fascinating Bronze Age and Anglo- Saxon site for Millwood Designer Homes in advance of their new housing development in Cliffs End, Thanet. The Issue number 64 Spring 2005 www.kentarchaeology.org.uk discoveries on the site have shed new light on Bronze Age burial practices and provided the archaeologists with a few puzzles to chew over. The earliest remains on the site appear to belong to the Early Bronze Spring 2005 1 Age (c.1800 BC). At this time a number of impressive barrows were erected on the site, focused on the brow of a hill or ridge extending as a peninsular into the mouth Inside 2-3 Cliffs End Library Notes 4-5 Gordon Ward Funds &Grants 6-7 Lectures, Courses, Conferences & Events 8-9 Notice Board 10-11 New Books Resistivity Meter 12-13 Letters to the Editor Saxon Shore Ringlemere 14-15 Concealed Garments 16 Recording Kent nneewwss ll ee tt ee rr K E N T A RC H A E O LO G I C A L S O C I E T Y C L I F F SEND C O N U N D R U M continued on page 2 STOP PRESS Your AGM information (and Annual Report) is inside - we hope to see you there. Spring 2005 2 CLIFFS END, RAMSGATE CLIFFS END, RAMSGATE CLIFFSEND, RAMSGATE CLIFFSEND, RAMSGATE CLIFFSEND, RAMSGATE CLIFFSEND, RAMSGATE CLIFFSEND, RAMSGATE CLIFFSEND, RAMSGATE CLIFFSEND, RAMSGATE CLIFFS END, RAMSGATE CLIFFS END, RAMSGATE CLIFFS END, RAMSGATE CLIFFS END, RAMSGATE CLIFFSEND, RAMSGATE CLIFFSEND, RAMSGATE CLIFFSEND, RAMSGATE CLIFFSEND, RAMSGATE CLIFFSEND, RAMSGATE CLIFFSEND, RA the individual appears to have been thrown face down into a relatively shallow sloping scoop with hands tied at the wrists across the chest (below). Another was buried with their lower arms missing. A possible ‘family’ group of four adults and one juvenile were buried in a discrete pit within the quarry. One of the group, an elderly male, was buried holding a piece of chalk to his mouth in his left hand, whilst his right arm was outstretched with his index finger pointing in the direction of the barrows on the hill (front page). Radiocarbon dating of one of the skulls indicates that the burials took place at around 1000BC. This discovery has very important implications for our understanding of Late Bronze Age funerary practices, as the general rite at this time was cremation burial. The discovery has raised many questions: Why was this group selected for inhumation burial? Did they meet traumatic deaths as part of the Late Bronze Age funerary rite? Why was one burial apparently chewing a piece of chalk … could he perhaps be the quarryman? Hopefully some of these questions will be answered in the forthcoming post excavation works. In the late 6th century AD, as is seen on a number of sites in Kent, an Anglo- Saxon community established an inhumation cemetery on the brow of the hill, close to and respecting the Early Bronze Age barrows, which must have remained a prominent feature in the landscape some 2500 years after their construction. At the centre of the cemetery, which comprised at least 12 graves, was the burial of a woman, suggested by the discovery of a necklace of polychrome glass beads and a small knife. Surrounding her were a number of male ‘warrior’ burials furnished with shields, spears and swords. On the eastern slope of the hill a series of Anglo-Saxon pits were excavated. The majority of the pits each contained a slab of burnt sandstone in their lower fill and considerable quantities of shellfish in their upper fills. All the pits had been deliberately backfilled in the same manner and clearly had some connection with a ceremonial or feasting activity. A known practice is to pre-heat a stone in an open fire and slowly cook the shellfish on the heated stones. Altogether the site has provided a series of remarkable discoveries which will be discussed in the archaeological text books for years to come. Richard Greatorex, Wessex Archaeology of the former Wantsum Sea Channel. The barrows, some of which were surrounded by two or three ring ditches, appeared to have central burials although no skeletal material survived. Two of the burial pits contained post-holes, suggesting the presence of a burial chamber, a rare discovery, while one grave contained a cache of over one hundred flint tools. These tools appear to have been buried in two bags and have been described by Wessex Archaeology’s Phil Harding as falling within the ‘Premier League’ of rich early Bronze Age burials in Britain. While the barrows alone are an important and fascinating discovery, it is the Late Bronze Age (c.1000 BC) discoveries which have fired the imagination of the archaeologists. At that time, while the bar rows were still an important part of the landscape, the focus of activity appears to have moved to the lower eastern slope of the hill. There, two large ‘midden pits’, two large horseshoe shaped enclosures, and towards the very bottom of the slope, a substantial brickearth quarry subsequently re-used as a burial ground, were discovered. One of the horseshoe-shaped enclosures sur rounded a concentration of pits and post-holes (yet to be fully interpreted) and may have acted as a focus for Late Bronze Age ceremonial activities. This ‘midden pit’, so named for want of a better description, contained a huge assemblage of Late Bronze Age finds, possibly the largest found so far in Kent, which included pottery, quern stone fragments, bronze ingots, animal bone and occasional fragments of human bone. Within its layers, a buried soil horizon suggests, that for a time at least, the slumped fills were covered in vegetation before being sealed by a hillwash deposit. While there are a few rare parallels for such a feature elsewhere in Britain, the Cliffs End findings are believed to be the first in Kent. The most important findings on the site were the Late Bronze Age quarry pits. Initial assessment of the quality of the brickearth from the quarry suggests that the material is unlikely to have been used for the making of pottery, rather it would have more likely been used in the construction of daub walls for Bronze Age round houses. The evidence of buried soils within the fills of the quarry suggests that it was probably not open for more than a period of one hundred years and possibly only a matter of decades. Within the hollows of the quarry pits, no less than 14 inhumations have been recorded and lifted. The majority appear to be female burials, some of which may reflect a traumatic death. In one burial continued from page 1 Spring 2005 3 LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARY NOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARY NOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARY NOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARY NOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARY NOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARY NOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARY NOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARY NOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARY NOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARY NOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARY NOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARYNOTES LIBRARY NOTES Society Vol. IV 2004. ‘Copperas’. Canterbury Archaeological Trust Occasional Paper No. 2. Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History Vol. XL p.4. 2004. Place Names of Leicestershire. EPNS Vol. LXXXI. Britannia Vol. XXXV. 2004. Journal of Roman Studies. Vol. XCIV. 2004. Archaeometry Vol. 46 p.4. 2004. Medieval Archaeology Vol. XLVIII 2004. Cornish Archaeology 2000/1. Society of Antiquaries Journal Vol. 84. 2004. Review of National Monuments and Records Part 1. English Heritage. 3 Romnean Papers; ‘A Smashing Time’, ‘The Kings Evil’, ‘The Ship Fresco’. L e i c e s t e r s h i re Archaeological and Historical Society Transactions Vol. 78. 2004. Nomina. Vol. 27. 2004. Post-medieval Archaeology Vol. 38 p.2. Societe Jervaise. Annual Bulletin 2004. Prehistoric Society Proceedings. Vol 70. 2004. Maidstone 1905/6. Pikes County Series. Church Archaeology Vols. 5 and 6. Country to Suburb; Bexley Area Development 1800-1996. Archaeologia Aeliana Vol.XXXIII 2004. Newcastle upon Tyne. Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 150 2001 (2004). Trier Zeitschrift 64 Jahrgang 2001. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. Vol. 132. Funde und Ausgrabungen im Bezirk Trier No. 34 and 35. 2002 and 2003. The KAS has in store surplus copies of Archaeologia Cantiana of the following issues: 88, 90, 94, 98, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 113, 114, 115, 116, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124. KAS members may purchase these at £5 per copy. Apply to the Hon. Librarian, Frank Panton, by emailing DR.FH.PANTON@grove-end-tunstall.fsnet.co.uk. or telephoning 01795 472218. Archaeology International 2003/4. Institute of Archaeology. Yorkshire Archaeological Journal Vol. 76 2004. Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Proceedings No. 133 2003. Monumental Brass Society Bulletin No. 97 Sept. 2004. Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Soc. Proceedings Vol. 147 2003. Cambridge Archaeological Soc. Vol. XCII 2004. John Kirby’s Suffolk, His Maps and Roadbooks. Suffolk Records Soc. Bygone Kent. Vol. 25, Nos. 9, 10, 11, 12. Vol. 26 No. 1. Kent Family History. Vol. 10 No. 12. Archaeometry Vol. 46 p.3. (Aug. 2004). Kent Settlement (Poor Law) Records p.1. East Kent (Canterbury Diocese). Romano-British Religious Centre of Vagniacis, at Springhead (Victor Smith). ‘Tracks and Traces’- Archaeology of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. East Grinstead; Society Bulletin No. 83; Museum Bulletin No.15. English Heritage London Region Archaeology Quarterly Review (Winter 2004). ‘For All the Saints’. St. Michaels Church, Peckham, Parish and People. ‘Ulcombe’s Story’ – Ulcombe History Society. Memories of the School of Horton Kirby. Parish Portrait; Memories of Willington, Otham and Langley. Stansted in Kent. ‘A year in depth’- 2002/2003 report, Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Arch. Material Hefte Zur Archaologie im Baden-Wurttemburg. Heft 69. 2004. Journal of the British Archaeological Association Vol. 157 2004. Transactions of the Monumental Brass Society Vol. XVII p.1. Transactions of the Woolhope Club. Vol. L. p.II. Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological L I B R A RY NOTES ADDITIONS TO LIBRARY SEPTEMBER 04 TO JANUARY 05 ARCHAEOLOGIA CANTIANA www.kentarchaeology.ac A lot of changes have been made to the site behind the scenes, but they are only visible to those who work on the site. A new catalogue of items deposited at Kent Archives will be the next addition to the site. This will prove to be a very valuable research tool enabling researchers to search the many documents deposited by the Society. A catalogue of artefacts owned by the Society is to be added to the site. A new link will be provided from the site to the forum. A new project has been established to provide an online dictionary of the Kent Dialect. We intend to add a directory of freelance researchers. Any member of the Society who trades as a researcher may advertise on the site free of charge. Please email your details as you wish them to appear on the site. Please give your name, specialisms, address, telephone number, email address and website. Send your email to kentarchaeology@btconnect.com with the heading ‘Researchers’. Denis Anstey Project Manager continued on page 4 Archaeologia Cantiana Online All the individual Contents Pages, listing the title of every article contained within Volumes 1 to 24 of Archaeologia Cantiana, can be accessed on the Society’s Website. Now all five Index Volumes, covering Vol. 1 (1858) to Vol. 109 (1991), have also been added and can be searched for information. By January 2005 there were over sixty individual articles from early volumes on the website. Then in February, Aaron Meyer from Florida, U.S.A., very kindly offered to help with typing more articles for the website. In just two weeks he typed up the text from four volumes of Archaeologia Cantiana and emailed them to me. The text was then pasted into individual WebPages based on the pages in Archaeologia Cantiana. Any pictures or drawings were scanned and added to the website. So, in just a few weeks, Volumes 14 (1882), 55 (1942), 57 (1944) and 58 (1945) were made available to you as Society Members, more? Perhaps: belatedly recognising the attractions of her cupboard, Mrs Hammond wrote later to Ward (18 Jan 1936) saying the state of her memory was such that receipts were mandatory for documents removed. The Antiquaries Journal of July 1936 contains an item on the King Stephen charter and seal giving credit to Gordon Ward as the source and for his suggestion of a date of November or December 1141. Amongst his papers there is a typed note on the charter proposing specifically 7t h December 1141, which displays good detective work and historical knowledge in arriving at that conclusion. The seal and charter were last reported in 1969 and have since disappeare d (Cronne and Davies, 1969). As well as Hardman, Dr Ward’s circle of Kent antiquarians who had some involvement in Nonington included Arthur Hussey, W.P.D. Stebbing, Frank Tyler and Boys Richardson. In correspondence and meetings between themselves and also with the British Records Society, they exchanged advice and views, translating texts and building up collections of material. In July 1936, Hardman, excited and emboldened by information on Nonington that Ward had provided for him, wrote to him about his new thoughts and completes his letter ‘In fact it encourages me to tell a story to the guileless archaeologists who will come on 9 September which will excite your derision’. This referred to the KAS 8 6t h Excursion on We dnesday, September 9th 1936 to Adisham Church and Nonington. The Excursion Programme text was certainly something of a wonder. One highlight was St Albans Court, built by George Devey, and identified as the fourth successive house on the site, a dubious view propagated by W. P. D . The LIBRARY NOTES in the Winter Newsletter show the breadth and depth of Gordon Ward’s interests. One vignette may exemplify this and the Kentish world he worked in. A fellow KAS Council member with Gordon Ward at that time was Dr F.W.Hardman, Clerk to Walmer District Council, who was then engaged in rewriting the handbook to Nonington church.1 The Hammond family had a heavy presence in the church from 1525 onwards, as Hasted re m a r k s (Hasted, 251-262). Their seat, St Albans Court, was developed from a manor well established in the 790s, granted to the Abbey of St Albans in 1097 and in the possession of the Hammond family from the 1520s until 1938. In 1935 Mrs Ina Hammond, the widow of the last of the male line, was in residence. Hardman writes to Ward of looking with Mrs Hammond, over tea, at a print of St Albans Court (10 Nov 1936). Elsewhere, (26 July 1935) Hardman thanks Ward for letting him examine his ‘priceless exercise book of Nonington deeds’, cavils over Ward’s translation of a charter and suggests a candidate for the next KAS Council vacancy: they worked closely together. Gordon Ward himself had identified that Mrs Hammond had the charter, sealed by King Stephen, confirming the grant of St Albans (or the Manor of Eswalt or Easole as the Abbey knew it) to the Abbey in 1097. Mrs Hammond wrote to Ward (4 Oct 1935) that in addition to that document, ‘perhaps you might like to come over and look over a cupboard which is full of old documents... and certainly you can have the loan of any document I have’. Could an antiquarian have asked for Stebbing in a (now lost) manuscript quoted by the English Heritage National Records office. It also mentions an (unlocated) Nunnery Farm and draws attention to the ‘fine Tudor bell tower’ incorporated in the stables, something which would have delighted Georg e Devey who built it in 1869!2 These episodes illustrate the richness and variety of material which Gordon Ward spotted, accumulated and promoted as he pursued his interests in recording sources and documents, the originals of which may now be lost. He and his friends and contacts have left a treasure trove for us; their opinions may not always stand up to modern research but the materials are invaluable. Well done KAS, in enabling our access to this archive. Peter Hobbs Old St Albans Court, Nonington. Suggestions for further reading: Jill Allibone, George Devey, Architect, 1820-1886, (British Architectural Library, 1991). I.A. Cronne and H.S.C. Davies (eds.), Regesta Regum Anglo-Normanorum, 1066-1154, (Oxford, 1969). E. Hasted, The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent, 2nd ed. (1797-1801), IX. P. Hobbs, Old St Albans Court, Arch. Cant., (2005), CXXV. 1 In practice Hardman added little to the Notes produced in 1912. The present Church Guide written by Dr Charles Coulson in 2004 sets new standards . 2 George Devey is celebrated for his work at Penshurst Place and as an important influence on the Arts and Crafts Movement. His hallmarks are giving the impression of a medieval building by using stone under brick and by his support for English craftsmen, the unwitting progenitor of mock Tudor. Spring 2005 4 LIBRARYNOTES & GORDON WARD LIBRARY NOTES & GORDON WARD LIBRARYNOTES & GORDON WARD LIBRARYNOTES & GORDON WARD LIBRARY NOTES & GORDON WARD LIBRARYNOTES & GORDON WARD LIBRARYNOTES & GORDON WARD LIBRARY NOTES & GORDON WARD LIBRARYNOTES & GORDON WARD LIBRARYNOTES & GORDON WARD LIBRARY NOTES & GORDON WARD LIBRARYNOTES & GORDON WARD G O R D O NWA R D continued from page 3 and to the whole of the world to discover more about the history and archaeology of the county of Kent! By the time you read this article, there will be more. You will find a list of the individual articles from early volumes put up so far at the bottom of the ‘Arc h a e o l o g i a Cantiana Introduction’ page. If you would like to help with this work please contact Ted Connell at ted. connell@ btinternet.com or telephone 01474 872763. To access Archaeologia Cantiana online, log on to the Society’s website at w w w. k e n t a rc h a e o l o g y. o rg . u k , click on ‘R e s e a rc h’, then click on ‘Archaeologia Cantiana’. Kent Maps & Tithe Award Schedules Good progress is being made with typing up the tithe award schedules, with over sixty now up on the website and many more in preparation. A special ‘thank you’ to all those people who have supplied copies of their own research for making them available, and to those that are typing up further schedules for the website. To view the work carried out so far, log on to the Society’s website at w w w. k e n t a rc h a e o l o g y. o rg . u k , c l i c k on ‘Research’, click on ‘Kent Maps & Tithe Award Schedules’. The Society’s Website continues to g ro w, with over 11,000 webpages containing information on Early Wills, Monumental Inscriptions, Place Names etc. Ted Connell research, the amount you are applying for, any additional funding anticipated and proposals for publication. You may be asked to name a referee with whom the Committee could consult. If successful, you would be expected to account for the money spent and give a copy of any article, pamphlet etc, to the Canterbury Arc h a e o l o g i c a l Society’s Library. Mrs C M Short (Hon. Sec. Grants Committee) 3 Little Meadow Upper Harbledown Canterbury CT2 9BD he Society has limited funds available with which to supp o rt individuals re s e a rc h i n g the archaeology and history of the Canterbury district. It is envisaged that grants would not normally exceed £500 each and are awarded annually. Preference will be given to work resulting in publication. Please apply in writing to the Hon. Sec. of the Grants Committee (address below), as soon as possible, and in any case not later than 30 June 2005. Your letter should mention your qualifications, the nature and length of your Spring 2005 5 T H E K E N T H I S T O RY F U N D C A N T E R B U RY A R C H A E O L O G Y S O C I E T Y R E S E A R C H & P U B L I C I T Y G R A N T S FUNDS, GRANTS & MYSTERIES FUNDS, GRANTS & MYSTERIES FUNDS, GRANTS & MYSTERIES FUNDS, GRANTS & MYSTERIES FUNDS, GRANTS & MYSTERIES FUNDS, GRANTS & MYSTERIES FUNDS, GRANTS & MYSTERIES FUNDS, GRANTS & MYSTERIES FUNDS, GRANTS & MYSTERIES FUNDS, GRANTS & MYSTERIES FUNDS, GRANTS & MYSTERIES FUNDS, GRANTS & MYSTERIES he Kent History Fund, administered by the Publications Committee, awards grants to assist serious re s e a rc h leading to publication. Applications are invited from local history societies affiliated to the KHF (Kent History Federation) or KAS, and from individuals who are either members of KAS or of a local history society affiliated to either the KHF or KAS. Professional historians and postgraduates are not eligible to apply. Anyone wishing to apply should write to Dr J M Gibson, 27 Pine Grove, Maidstone, ME14 2AJ, requesting an application form. MYSTERY OBJECT FROM ULCOMBE Any suggestions would be welcomed on the purpose of this stone object which was found whilst fieldwalking at Ulcombe. The dimensions are 17cm long x 12cm wide x 10cm in depth. The stone appears to be of quartz? type composition which is unlikely to be local to the area. The most noteworthy features are a series of ‘peck’ marks on the ‘upper’ surface in an irregular arrangement. One side is slightly curved and the ‘base’ is flat. It has the appearance of being ‘ancient’. It may be a type of quern or millstone but is not near a known mill site. It was, though, found within 100 metres of both an Iron Age and a Romano-British site. Any ideas would be very gratefully received, Neil Aldridge, 31 Forge Lane, Headcorn, Kent, TN27 9QN. archaeoworld@ukonline.co.uk Free Canterbury Archaeological Trust publication! Are there any KAS members out there who teach in Kent? You can receive a free copy of the Trust’s latest annual publication ‘Canterbury ’s Archaeology’ by writing to: Marion Green, Education Officer, Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 92a Broad Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2LU or mailing to :- mariongreen@canterburytrust.co.uk. We are always interested to hear from others in the teaching profession, so do tell us what area of education you are engaged in. The free report (A4, 72pp) shows you what CAT has been doing, not just in the city, but throughout Kent – excavations, finds studies, historic building surveys and educational activities including the final phase of Whitefriars THE BIG DIG. Normal retail price £5. So come on – write in and claim yours! Archaeologia Cantiana Complete Set For Sale – Volume I (1858) to Volume 123 (2003). A rare opportunity for an institution or an individual to purchase a complete set in good overall condition, price to be negotiated. Please contact the editor (contact details on back page). LECTURES, CONFERENCES, COURSESAND EVENTS LECTURES, CONFERENCES, COURSESAND EVENTS LECTURES, CONFERENCES, COURSESAND EVENTS LECTURES, CONFERENCES, COURSESAND EVENTS LECTURES, CONFERENCES, COURSESAND EVENTS LECTURES, CONFERENCES, COURSESAND EVENTS LECTURES, CONFERENCES, COURSESAND EVENTS LECTURES, CONFERENCES, COURSESAND EVENTS LECTURES, CONFERENCES, COURSESAND EVENTS Spring 2005 6 KAS Churches Committee Visit Monday 20 June You are invited to visit the two West Kent churches of West and East Peckham on the evening of Monday 20 June, meeting at West Peckham at 6.45pm. Tea & biscuits will be provided at East Peckham. Cost of the tours is £2 (students £1) with tea extra at £1. A booking slip for this visit is enclosed; it would be helpful if return was made by 10 June. KAS Visit to Chilham Castle Thursday 23 June Chilham Castle was sold in 1997 and became a private residence. This was in contrast to its previous history when the grounds laid out by Capability Brown had always been accessible to the public, and the Jacobean house itself had been used for filming. N o w, however, the new owners, Mr and Mrs Stuart Wheeler, whilst still preserving their privacy, envisage using their home to raise funds for a particular charity. The good news for KAS members is that a number are to be shown around the house. For architectural details of the house read Buildings of England, North East and East Kent, Pevsner (ed). Fuller details of the visit are not available at the time of going to press, but if you would like to register interest please contact Margaret Lawrence on 01622 871945 or email to margaret.society@virgin.net. KAS Summer Excursion 2005 ‘Looking at Lincolnshire’ We will be visiting Lincolnshire on a 5 day excursion, from 13 – 17 June inclusive, staying in a 3 star hotel. Our coach will take us to various places and we hope to visit some or all of the following; Lincoln Cathedral and the Roman colonia and medieval city, Gainsborough Old Hall, Tattershall Castle, Belton House and Woolsthorpe Manor (Newton’s home). We also hope to have a guided tour of Stamford and nearby Burghly Hall. Full details can be obtained from the Hon. Excursions Secretary, Joy Saynor, Friars, 28 High Street, Shoreham, Sevenoaks TN14 7TD, email: saynor.shoreham@amserve.com. KAS One-day Conference Visualising Four Kentish Villages Saturday 15 October 10.30am – 4.30pm Following the successful one-day conference last year, another event has been organized to take place in the Church Barn at Charing. ‘Visualising Four Kentish Villages’ will look at East Peckham, Kemsing, Loose and Charing. Charge for the day, including tea or coffee, will be £5. A booking slip for this event is enclosed. University of Kent Annual Darwin Lecture ‘Archaeology, Genetics and the Origins of Linguistic Diversity?’ by Professor Lord Colin Renfrew. Friday 22 April at 6pm Brabourne Lecture Theatre, Keynes College, University of Kent at Canterbury. Admission is free and all are welcome. Time Team: ‘Adults only’ Archaeology or Children’s TV? An Evening Lecture by Time Team’s Carenza Lewis Saturday 7 May at 8pm. D a rwin Lecture Theatre 1, The University of Kent at Canterbury. The talk will review 12 years of the Channel 4 archaeology series to see how often evidence relating to children or childhood has been discovered during the filming and how it has been presented to the family TV audience. Although the lecture is a part of the Archaeology of Infancy and Childhood Conference (see Conferences Section), admission is free and all are welcome. All enquiries to Mike Lally at ML81@Kent.ac.uk The Archaeology of Infancy and Childhood Between 6 – 8 May Darwin College, University of Kent at Canterbury. With over 30 academic papers and 3 poster sessions relating to the role and worth of infants and children within the archaeological record, the Department of Classical and Archaeological Studies invites you to register your place at the conference. In attendance will be many of the world’s leading ‘childhood’ researchers. Papers will cover many cultural examples of infancy & childhood, with presenters travelling from all over the world. A practical ‘Child’ Osteology Workshop has also been arranged in association with the conference. For full details, including registration, schedule and a list of c o n f i rmed abstracts, visit the conference website at WH A T’S ON KAS EVENTS CONFERENCES LECTURES OTHER EVENTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY > h t t p : / / w w w.kent.ac.uk/secl/classics/Childhood.htm or email Mike Lally at InfancyChildhood2005@Kent.ac.uk. Registration for the conference will be £16 (including a wine reception and conference refreshments), with an additional £10 registration fee for the osteology workshop. Study for a Certificate in Archaeology If you are interested in archaeology, deepen your knowledge and understanding of the subject through study on the University of Kent’s well-established Certificate in Archaeology. Courses include an introduction to archaeological method, prehistoric Britain, Roman Britain and Ancient Egypt. There are places available on the Certificate at the University’s Canterbury Campus starting at the end of September this year. The programme is taught on a part-time basis, one evening a week over two years. No formal entry qualifications are necessary. You need demonstrate only interest, enthusiasm and aptitude. If you complete the Certificate you can then consider progressing to a Diploma and Degree in Archaeological Studies, should you wish. Why not ask for more information? Contact the Information and Guidance Unit, the Registry, University of Kent, C a n t e r b u ry CT2 7NZ, tel: 0800 9753777, email: info@kent.ac.uk Heritage Garden Party , Mere House, Mereworth 25 June, 2.00 – 5.30 pm Kent Archaeological Society member Andrew Wells and his wife are opening their garden at Mere House, Mereworth (off the A26, midway between Maidstone and Tonbridge) to exhibit a range of interests and skills illustrating all that is best in Kent’s heritage. The garden, featured in The English Garden, February 2005, is an appropriate and attractive setting for this, centred on the 18th century house (not open). This event coincides with Andrew Wells’ year as High Sheriff of Kent. The aim of the event is to promote interest in a number of o rganisations with complementary aims and ideals. Exhibitors will include the Campaign to Protect Rural England Kent Branch, the Friends of Kent Churches, the Historic Houses Association, the Kent Gardens Trust, and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. Members will also have an opportunity to discuss their restoration techniques and skills with several leading local conservation specialists, who will be working on various projects during the afternoon. Entry will be free to members of the Society and their friends. Refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon. The garden is accessible for wheelchair users. It is re g retted that dogs are not allowed. To gauge numbers, members interested in coming should write to Andrew Wells at Mere House, Mereworth, ME18 5NB or email (andrewwells@mere-house.co.uk). Tickets will not be needed. Sheppey Local History Society Guided Walks in & around Sheerness Monday 4 July and Friday 29 July, at 2pm & 6.30 pm on both days. With this year’s ‘Sea Britain’ theme in mind, the walks will cover the personalities associated with Sheerness’ maritime past, alongside the town and dockyard’s expansion. The life of ordinary seamen and townsfolk in the 19th and 20th centuries will not be forgotten. Walks leave from the railway station forecourt in Sheerness. No advance booking is required. A charge of £1.50 will be made for Society funds Faversham Society Open House Scheme Saturdays 2, 9 & 16 July, from 11am – 5pm Over 20 historic town centre properties open to view. Admission by programme with detailed notes on each (£7 on the day, £8 in advance) from Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre, Faversham ME13 8NS (01795 534542 or faversham@btinternet. com). Crayford Manor House Historical & Archaeological Society Trip to Peterborough, Saturday 11 June Coach departs at 9am. Cost approx. £20.00. Trip to Faversham, Saturday 9 July To coincide with the Open House Scheme (above). Cost approx (but no more than) £19.00. Further information and booking from Mr L Davies, tel: 01322 525335. NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGY WEEK 2005 This year, the Council for British Archaeology have decided to extend the usual National Archaeology Days into a weeklong celebration of archaeology. Look out for events near you posted on www.britarch.co.uk, or in the local press. Here’s one not to miss! B.C.UK Prehistory - ‘life b4 txt’ Sunday 24 July in the Museum of Kent Life, Sandling from 11am – 4.30pm A family fun-filled archaeology day, focusing on the period before the Romans. Living History groups will set up camp – try flintknapping or bronze axe-casting; lots of free activities for young & old including food tasting, creative crafts & mini-excavation; exhibition of local history and archaeology groups; Carenza from Time Team speaking. Entry is free for all children 16 & under (normally £4.50), adults £6.50. Spring 2005 7 LECTURES, CONFERENCES, COURSESAND EVENTS LECTURES, CONFERENCES, COURSESAND EVENTS LECTURES, CONFERENCES, COURSESAND EVENTS LECTURES, CONFERENCES, COURSESAND EVENTS LECTURES, CONFERENCES, COURSESAND EVENTS LECTURES, CONFERENCES, COURSESAND EVENTS LECTURES, CONFERENCES, COURSESAND EVENTS LECTURES, CONFERENCES, COURSESAND EVENTS LECTURES, CONFERENCES, COURSESAND EVENTS COURSES EVENTS Thank you for sending me your subscriptions either by post or bankers order. Please check your bank statements to make sure that your bank is sending the correct amount only once a year. If you have not yet sent your subscription to me please do so as soon as possible so that you will not miss out on your copy of Archaeologia Cantiana. If you are going to conferences, meetings etc. please help to publicise KAS by putting out a pile of application forms in a prominent position. I have plenty here, so do get in touch for your supplies. Shiela Broomfield I am pleased to welcome the following new Members: AFFILIATED SOCIETIES Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne, Mr P Talbot HRGS, c/o 27 Canterbury Road, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 4SG The Isle of Thanet Archaeological Society, Crampton Tower Yard, The Broadway, High Street, Broadstairs, Kent, CT10 2AB JOINT MEMBERS Beeby, Mr D I, and Mrs, Two Kiln Oast, Church Lane, Newington, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7JX Cozens Mr M J & Mrs D G, 33 Dunes Road, Greatstone, New Romney, Kent, TN28 8S Cridge, Mr J M, and Mrs, Henden Place, The Green, Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent, TN26 3PF Hart Mr P C & Mr A W Hart, 3 Yew Tree Close, Broadstairs, Kent, CT10 2L Kefford, Mr R H, and Mrs, Gould Farm Oast, Mill Lane, Frittenden, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 2DT Sharpe Mr S J & Mrs C Dawes, 6 Orchard Cottages, Hampstead Lane, Nettlestead, Maidstone, Kent, ME18 5H Soderland Ms L & Mr N Baldey, 78 Linksfield Road, Westgate-on-Sea, Kent, CT8 8HF Young, Mr P, and Mrs, 80 The Landway, Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 4B JUNIOR MEMBERS Mitchell, Mr L, 10 Oak Road, Five Oak Green, Tonbridge, Kent, TN12 6TA LIFE MEMBERS Lister, Mr I, Wildwood, Bitchet Green, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0N ORDINARY MEMBERS Allen, Mr P, Danemead, Waterloo Road, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 3JQ Ball, Mrs L, 16 Granville Road, Broadstairs, Kent, CT10 1QB Baxter, Mrs P, 2 Stanmore Court, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 3DS Bayford, Mrs J, 19 Wingrove Drive, Grove Green, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 5SP Bowman, Mr G, Donjon House, 12 Worthgate Place, Castle Row, Canterbur y, Kent, CT1 2Q Burgess, Mr R A, Barn Owl, Dwelly Lane, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 6QE Chapman, Mrs S, 14 Discovery Road, Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 8H Clark, Mrs J, 2 Margaret Villas, Maidstone Road, Matfield, Tonbridge, Kent, TN12 7JR Clucas, Mr P, 24 Tudor Drive, Otford, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 5QP Cousins, Mrs J V, Little Croye, The Avenue, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 3EL Edmeads, Mrs L R, Oaklands, Rye Lane, Dunton Green, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 5JD Edwards, Mr J C, Fairways, Back Lane, Ightham, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 5AU Grebby, Mrs J, Giles Farm, The Pinnock, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent, TN27 0SY Hooker, Mrs R, 59 Thornton Place, Horley, Surrey, RH6 8RZ Knight, Mrs P G, 355 Maidstone Road, Rochester, Kent, ME1 3P Lee, Mr D A, Mountfield, London Road, Crowborough, Sussex, TN6 2TR Livingstone, Ms L, 29 St Swinthins Road, Tankerton, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 2HU Luxford, Ms E, 66 Cromwell Road, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 1NL Mayfield, Mr A, 58 Thorpe Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent, TN10 4PR McFarland, Mr D G, Selby Oast, Howland Road, Marden, Tonbridge, Kent, TN12 9DH Palmer, Mr A F, 20 Prospect Park, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 0EQ Powell, Miss J, 24 Offham Road, West Malling, Tonbridge, Kent, ME19 6RA Raraty, Dr M, 41 Bridge Down, Bridge, Canterbur y, Kent, CT4 5BA Taylor, Mr P N, 9 The Platt, Sutton Valence, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 3BQ Tomaszewski, Dr N E, 12 Stoney Road, Dunkirk, Faversham, Kent, ME13 9TN White, Mrs S, 7 Victoria Crescent, Dover, Kent, CT16 1DU Winfield, Mr R, Willowdene, 122 The Street, Adisham, Canterbury, Kent, CT3 3JT The address for all correspondence relating to membership is – Mrs Shiela Broomfield, KAS Membership, 8 Woodview Crescent, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 9HD. Tel: 01732 838698. Email: membership@kentarchaeology.org.uk or s.broomfield@dial.pipex.com. Spring 2005 8 NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD MEMBERSHIPMATTERS Copy Deadline for the next issue is We You and Your Society Canterbury District schools is progressing well (Issue No 63) and CAT is soon to p a rtner Canterbury Museums for National Science Week with a 3-day event, ‘Skeleton in the Cupboard’ wher e schools and public will see what can be learnt from human and animal remains. A big plasma screen presentation of burial excavations at various Kent sites will add a techno dimension! North Downs YAC has been looking at the history of guns (which included firing a miniature cannon!) and learning about publishing from the new editor of the National YAC magazine, ‘Yo u n g Archaeologist’, who hosted a group session. Other events are planned for the summer. Ian Coulson is, as usual, extremely busy promoting History and Archaeology throughout the county and is involved in many diverse projects and events; ‘ Veterans Remembered’ (oral history involving Kent pupils and WWll veterans) and assisting with plans for a Local History Shop in Folkestone’s High Street (a regeneration project) are but two of them. Society members continue to contribute to their website where 65 tithe schedules are now posted for easy access. The committee’s chairman will give a presentation at the AGM in May and a display will be set up for this year’s History and Archaeology Show at Maidstone Museum in October. Bob Spain is retiring from the Council and from the Education Committee. Members thanked Bob for his contribution and Paul Oldham for his constant support of the Education Committee during his term of office as President. We wish him well. Marion Green Hon Secretary ‘Tour de force’ is hardly adequate to describe Professor Nigel Saul’s performance on March 12 at St Helen’s Church, Cliffe. Prof. Saul was the main speaker at the Churches Committee’s T h e re might be a third c h a m b e r. Members of the Kent Underground Research Group are currently carrying out a survey of the site. Keith Parfitt re p o rted that Canterbury Archaeological Trust are carrying out a survey of the topography of Sandwich, this to assist with the study of the Saxon and Medieval town. Already a contour map of the town has been produced, the spacing of the contours set to suit this lowlying coastal town. Andrew Richardson (Finds Liaison Officer for Kent) reported that a gold disc, dating to the Beaker period, had been recovered at Cobham. Equipment Shiela Broomfield reported that some of the Society’s equipment is being put to very good use by pupils at Meadow School, Southborough. If any of the ninety one new members who joined the Society last year have talents they would like to share, or have ideas to suggest, they are invited to meet the Publicity and Membership Committee to hear of the vital work contributed by the members; for example, the Membership Secretary, and the Newsletter Editor. Support would be given to someone who could use technology to promote the public awareness of the Society – many sources have already been assembled awaiting use. Please phone me for the date of the next meeting or for a convenient date to meet. M a rg a ret Lawrence, email to m a rg a re t . s o c i e t y @ v i rgin.net. or tel. 01622 871945. Keen members made it to the Maidstone meeting, despite the snow! The ‘CAT Kits’ project for The Committee last met on Saturday 22 January and will next meet on Saturday 23 April, under a new C h a i rman, Professor David Killingray. The Committee has approved the digitisation of Archaeologia Cantiana, as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Society in 2007. That year will also see the publication of a second and special volume of Archaeologia Cantiana, the contents of which are currently being finalised by the Honorary Editor. Other publications nearing completion will focus on Faversham and Hadlow. A revised Grant Application Form for the Kent History Fund has been approved. The Committee is considering the possibility of awarding an annual prize for the best PhD on Kentish archaeology or Kentish history. This is the final report from Dr John Whyman, previous Chairman of the Publications Committee. Dr Whyman has been on the Publications Committee for 31 years, since January 1974; long service indeed. Excavation and Recording Abbey Farm: The Society propose to apply for a grant from the Robert Kiln Trust towards the cost of a report on the painted plasterwork. To this end, Chris Pout has sought advice about the plaster from Steven Rickerby of the Courtauld Institute. To make his assessment, he visited the Thanet Arc h a e o l o g i c a l Society’s HQ at Broadstairs, where the plasterwork is held, on the 8 February. Over the winter months, members of the Dover Archaeological Group have been washing the recovered pottery and worked flints from last year’s excavation at Ringlemere. This site has produced considerable quantities of Gro o v e d Ware pottery, and flints. Ground subsidence at a site to the south of Sittingbourne has led to the location of a two-chambered chalkwell. Spring 2005 9 NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARD KAS COMMITTEE ROUND-UP is Wednesday 1st June - to usual address You and Your Society PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHURCHES COMMITTEE FIELDWORK COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE continued on page 10 yard, the first instalment of a project designed to promote wider enjoyment of the building and its tre a s u re s . Leaflets include Ecology, The Windows, The Clocks (each £1), The Historic Churchyard, History & Monuments, The Bells (each £1.50), The Organs, The Brasses, and The Misericords (each £3). A whole set costs £12.00. All prices include p&p. Available from The Vicarage, Newton Road, Faversham ME13 8DY. Spring 2005 10 District Local History Society. £5.00 The detailed story of the six roads that led to Cranbrook and the system intended to raise money for their maintenance and improvement. Interesting information on toll houses and gatekeepers is given; also the fate of those who tried to avoid payment ‘by passing through the fields’. Available from Cranbro o k Museum, Carriers Road, Cranbro o k TN17 3JX. Iwade – Occupation of a North Kent Village from the Mesolithic to the Medieval Period by Barry Bishop and Mark Bagwell. Pre-Construct Archaeology, Monograph 3. £14.95 Following excavation at this entry point to the Isle of Sheppey, this report charts periods of intense activity and times of neglect. “The authors are able to portray Iwade as a microcosm of wider social changes.... integrating the site into a wider regional context” David Yates, Dept of Arc h a e o l o g y, University of Reading. Available from PCA, Unit 54 Brockley Cross Business Centre, 96 Endwell Road, London SE4 2PD tel: 0207 7323925 email: info@pre-construct. com. St Mary of Charity, Faversham - Built to InSpire. A series of heritage booklets and leaflets about the church and church- NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS NEWBOOKS A Study in Woodlands Archaeology: Cudham, North Downs by Sue Harrington. Archaeopress, BAR British Series 368. 1 84171 601 4. £25.00 An examination of the woodland banking in the parish of Cudham, to establish the phases of expansion and contraction of the woodlands in the Medieval period. This was with particular re g a rd to the anomaly evident between two re f e rences; from the Domesday Book suggesting extensive ploughlands and from a post-Medieval one suggesting extensive woodlands. Investigation included sampling survey of the banking, place-name evidence and documentary sources. Cranbrook’s Turnpike Roads 1759 – 1878 by Alan Sanders. Cranbrook and N E WB O O K S The Churches Committee is again promoting an essay competition. This time the subject is an archaeological, architectural, historical or aesthetic feature in a Kentish churchyard (excluding the church itself and not botanical). Essays of between 500 and 1000 words in length should be sent to: Mary Berg, KAS Competition 5 Orchard Street, Canterbury CT2 8AP The prize is £100. Entries will be judged on clarity and liveliness of description of the feature rather than on academic excellence. Entries are open to KAS and non-KAS members. All ages welcome! Please tell your friends and any societies or groups with which you are concerned as we wish to attract entries from as wide a cross-section of the community as possible. The final date for entries is 15 July 2005. Good luck! He covered all possible aspects, from the use of the nave and chapels to the individual physical features, including how the building had been enlarged and altered as its use had changed. The audience of over a hundred people then moved up to the chancel – or as near to it as possible – where Prof. Saul gave the last of his three talks. Again, he used the present building to illustrate his points and to describe the architectural features found in the chancel. Throughout the day, the level of rapport between speaker and listeners was of a height not often reached, with questions being dealt with seriously and sympathetically. Prof. Saul had prepared his contribution very well and it was very hard to believe that this was his first visit to St Helen’s! When the KAS President, Paul Oldham, proposed a vote of thanks to Prof. Saul, the applause resounded round the large church for some time. A truly memorable day. Mary Berg study day, ‘Reading a Church’ with the building itself as the visual aid. Firstly, Chair of the Churches Committee, Philip Lawrence, set the scene by painting pict u res of Cliffe and its surro u n d i n g s through the ages using examples from his own research. He brought the area to life for the audience and gave us wonderful pictures of the sort of people who lived at C l i ffe and worshipped at the churc h through many changes, both physical and liturgical. Prof. Saul’s first one-hour lecture led on perfectly from Mr Lawrence’s introduction and dealt with the church and the parish. He spoke of how churches came into being, how they were built and paid for, the Reformation in the 16th century and the Victorian contribution. After an excellent lunch provided by the parish and a little time to explore the church, the audience was seated in good time for Prof. Saul’s talk about the Nave and Chapels. continued from page 9 CHURCHES COMMITTEE COMPETITION square test pit within the main settlement area; could this be a ditch around a sacred site, particularly given its rectangular shape? Further RM work located the causewayed gate to the main Iron Age settlement. There appears to be a bar/bank directly in front of the entrance, possibly with a stone abutment holding the original palings, for the reading was exceptionally high. The old name of the field is ‘Mouldstone Gate’ so it does not preclude the possibility that there was some fancy stonework involved! There is evidence of Romanization from Samian scraps found amongst Iron Age pottery in a trial pit. We anticipate more findings when the barley is cut later in the year. Our excavation then moved to the site of the medieval chapel where we dug a narrow trench across the area and extended it in slots to try and find the walls. Most of the walling was robbed out but 15cm depth of rubble with mortar, wall plaster fragments and floor tile was found (fig 2), together with a few scraps of window glass and leaded edging. Within the rubble was the skeleton of a modern pig, possibly buried early last century. Kent peg tiles and a piece of the floor tile lay underneath it, and it had been weighted down with a large piece of iron slag and wall stones (fig 3). Lesley Feakes Lenham Archaeology Group he new KAS resistivity meter (RM) is a great improvement on the old one. That one refused to work for us on some of our sites, even if one gave it some coercion with the rubber mallet, (yes, it really was a recommended practice!). It may have been unable to cope because our Lenham Heath sites have a dense, hard iron pan some 50cm beneath the sandy soil. The new one, we find, switches up into high - er range automatically to cope with this. Our most recent investigations have been on a medieval Chapel site (1296), and an Iron Age settlement lying close by. Using the RM in the summer, when the subsoil sand is like the Sahara, gives a very high reading, and tends to mask the true situation. Winter investigation is therefore better, and during the short farming slot this winter, we worked hard to cover as much of the site as possible. There is much demand for use of the machine and we had to vie for booking with the Otford and Dover Archaeological Groups, and the University of Kent! Our work using the new RM revealed almost the same shape as images on aerial photographs; was this a possible rectangular ditched area? Certainly it is a feature lying outside of the main Iron Age settlement area. Our excavations of the site had some success; the feature shown so clearly is a ditch, but was at a depth of 130cm. This deep detection by the RM was more likely to be the absence of the iron pan as much as the presence of a ditch. For, when we sectioned the feature, in the area to the east of the ditch the iron pan is in evidence, but to the west it appears to have been removed. Finds indicate quite clearly an Iron Age date for the ditch, with pottery sherds interspersed with iron slag and pieces of charcoal. The presence of several worked flint flakes at the bottom layer indicates the ditch could have earlier origins, and may have been re-cut on an older one, but it is difficult to say. Close to the pieces of Iron Age pot was one piece of ironstone, unremarkable till it was lifted and then one could see it had a natural form exactly like that of a female breast! (fig1). The possibility that it was buried as an offering to the Earth goddess becomes likely. There were far less sherds and iron slag in this ditch compared to the number found in a 1m Spring 2005 11 KAS RESISTIVITY METER KAS RESISTIVITY METER KAS RESISTIVITY METER KAS RESISTIVITY METER KAS RESISTIVITY METER KAS RESISTIVITY METER KAS RESISTIVITY METER KAS RESISTIVITY METER KAS RESISTIVITY METER KAS RESISTIVITY METER KAS RESISTIVITY METER KAS RESISTIVITY METER KAS RESISTIVITY METER KAS RESISTIVITY METER KAS RESISTIVITY METER KAS RESISTIVITY METER KAS RESISTIVITY METER KAS RESISTIVITY METER KAS RESISTIVITY METER KAS RESISTIVITY METER M A K I N G G O O D U S E O F T H E K A S R E S I S T I V I T YM E T E R 3 2 The tiles are highly glazed with clear, black, or yellowish green,not unlike the glazing colours used at Boxley Abbey 1 Dear Editor We believe that the ruins we have indicated on the map (1st ed OS), at approximate NGR 615850, 150110, are those referred to in medieval times as Sir Garwynton’s Chapel (or St Radigund’s more latterly). Elderly people in the village still refer to the ruins as ‘the monastery’. The site has become a confusing picture as follies have been created out of recycled flints and tipping has taken place. If any member of your Society can shed further light upon the history of these ruins we would be delighted to learn from them. Not far away, at NGR 615500, 147000 is a farm now called Fryane Park. In medieval times this was referred to as Holyrood and, again, I wonder if any of your members can help unravel the history of this place. The village south of Stelling Minnis is now known as Rhodes Minnis. In the 18th century it was referred to as Roods Minnis; can anyone explain the cause of this origin? I can be contacted at the address or telephone number below. Thank you. Colin Robbins Secretary, Stelling Minnis & Upper Hadres Historical Society C/o Church Lane Cottage Harvest Lane Stelling Minnis Canterbury 01227 707552 Spring 2005 12 LETTERSTO THEEDITOR LETTERSTO THEEDITOR LETTERSTO THEEDITOR LETTERSTO THEEDITOR LETTERSTO THEEDITOR LETTERSTO THEEDITOR LETTERSTO THEEDITOR LETTERSTO THEEDITOR LETTERSTO THEEDITOR LETTERSTO THEEDITOR LETTERSTO THEEDITOR LETTERSTO THEEDITOR LETTERSTO THEEDITOR LETTERSTO THEEDITOR LETTERSTO THEEDITOR LETTERSTO THEEDITOR LETTERSTO THEEDITOR LETTERSTO THEEDITOR LETTERSTO THEEDITOR LETTERSTO THEEDITOR T H ES A X O NS H O R E : AV I E WF R O MT H E O T H E RS I D E n Monday 7th Febru a ry, Sophie Vanhoutte of the State Archaeological Service for Flanders visited the University of Kent to give a talk on her excavations at the Roman ‘Saxon Shore’ Fort at Oudenberg. The fort now lies a few kilometres inland from Ostend but was at the head of a lagoon in Roman times. The site was occupied in the mid-Roman period and was then developed with the construction of a series of large forts equivalent to the great ‘Saxon Shore’ forts at R e c u l v e r, Richborough, Lympne and Portchester. There are associated civilian settlements outside the fort and important Roman cemetery remains. The c u rrent excavations have taken place over several years and are now coming to an end. They have yielded much new information, allowing the conventional phasing of the development of the fort to be reassessed. Environmental evidence was exceptionally well-pre served, including wells with spectacular timber construction. An audience of 80, including many LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SPRING 2005 Sophie Vanhoutte and Steve Willis display a poster of the Oudenberg excavations. KAS members, enjoyed the talk, which was followed by a reception hosted by the University’s Darwin College. Other lect u res, seminars and conferences are planned by the University to encourage the complementary study of archaeology on both sides of the Channel. Details will appear in future Newsletters. Spring 2005 13 MORE RINGLEMERE DISCOVERIES MORE RINGLEMERE DISCOVERIES MORE RINGLEMERE DISCOVERIES MORE RINGLEMERE DISCOVERIES MORE RINGLEMERE DISCOVERIES MORE RINGLEMERE DISCOVERIES MORE RINGLEMERE DISCOVERIES MORE RINGLEMERE DISCOVERIES MORE RINGLEMERE DISCOVERIES MORE RINGLEMERE DISCOVERIES MORE RINGLEMERE DISCOVERIES MORE RINGLEMERE DISCOVERIES n the summer of 2004, archaeologists resumed excavations at Ringlemere Farm near Sandwich, where the now famous Bronze Age gold cup was discovered. The new excavation (Trench 5) was funded mainly by the British Museum but other significant contributions came from the Kent Archaeological Society and the British Academy. Supervisors f rom Canterbury Archaeological Tru s t led the team and were joined by staff from the British Museum for some of the time. Much of the digging was carried out by volunteers, notably from Dover A rchaeological Group, several other local societies and the arc h a e o l o g y d e p a rtments of various Universities. In order to maintain public interest in the excavations, regular re p o rt s appeared in The Ringlemere Director’s D i a ry, published on the Canterbury A rchaeological Tru s t ’s website (see www.canterburytrust.co.uk ). Trench 5 was the largest so far, but work throughout much of August and September was hampered by heavy rain. Despite this, much significant new information was re c o rded, including evidence of a hitherto unknown early Anglo-Saxon cemetery. The Anglo-Saxon Cemetery The post-Roman re-use of prehistoric burial mound sites is becoming increasingly familiar. However, given the lack of Anglo-Saxon graves from the previous four trenches, it looked unlikely that this would be the case for Ringlemere. Moreover, the discovery of a sunken hut cut into the northern edge of the mound during 2003 suggested that local Anglo-Saxon populations had instead chosen to use the mound for habitation. Such a simple picture was, h o w e v e r, dramatically overt u rned in 2004 when no less than thirteen burials of Anglo-Saxon date were discovered on the south side of the bar row. Eight of the burials were inhumations of more or less typical Kentish form but the remaining five consisted of inurned cremations - a burial rite rarely encountered in east Kent during the early Anglo-Saxon period. Preliminary inspection of the urns and grave goods structed. Its inhabitants used highly dec - orated Grooved Ware pottery and the assemblage of such pottery fro m Ringlemere now stands at over 4000 sherds, by far the largest from Kent and one of the largest from south-east England. Trench 5 revealed a series of associated late Neolithic pits. Of particular interest was one surrounded by an area of heavily burnt clay which clearly represented a hearth. With the completion of Trench 5 about half the area of the Ringlemere barrow has now been excavated. There are still important questions left unanswered: no clear evidence has yet come to light for the original provenance of the Bronze Age gold cup. Moreover, we have no close dating evidence for the construction of either the ditch or the mound; this leaves some uncert ainty about the relationship between the monument and the gold cup. Ploughing continues to erode the upstanding remnant of the Ringlemere barrow and it is intended to excavate the whole of the monument in future seasons. Planning for a 2005 excavation is now in hand and volunteers will again be welcome. Keith Parfitt (Canterbury Archaeological Trust) Stuart Needham (The British Museum) indicates that some are of fifth century date. Objects recovered from the inhumations included two fine glass claw beakers, decorated beads, iron knives and belt buckles. The Barrow Mound and Ditch Many centuries of ploughing have removed all but the base of the prehistoric barrow mound. A further section of its surviving turf core and outer envelope of orange clay was examined. This produced another significant collection of late Neolithic pottery and struck flints, derived from a pre-barrow occupation site. The ditch around the mound was located in its expected position, which largely confirms that the diameter of the enclosed area was a massive 41.50 metres (136 feet). Excavation of the ditch revealed that it survived to over two metres deep and around five metres wide. Stratigraphy within the ditch fill yielded strong evidence for the former presence of an outer bank. The ditch seems to have been completely silted and invisible by the Roman period when its upper levels were being ploughed across. Pre-Barrow Features Survival of the barrow mound has served to preserve evidence of earlier activity beneath it. A late Neolithic settlement had existed on the site some centuries before the mound was con- MORE IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES AT RINGLEMERE FARM The Ringlemere site. ric pieces (most with a knot in the middle), sections of horse harness, pieces of leather gloves, a 17th century receipt, buttons, clay pipes…the list goes on. Were the shoes deposited as a fertility charm, as well as for spiritual protection? We’ve all heard of the little old lady that lived in a shoe, who had so many children she didn’t know what to do. Shoes are still tied behind wedding cars to this day. We looked in this chimney’s opposite number with high hopes, but found just a single high quality piece of fine fabric at the bottom of a pile of dust and debris. The disparity was astonishing. In this room though, we found many items under the floor boards; a shoe by the fireplace along with many children’s marbles from all periods, a freemason’s skillet and clay pipe (some floorboards had been cut to form a ‘grave’ as part of a masons ritual and we now believe the Plough to have been the earliest masons lodge in Sittingbourne). Further into the room we found a group of three 17th century items - a ladies bodice, a child’s bonnet and a pair of men’s underpants (opposite page). Despite all being heavily repaired at various times they were in excellent condition. We know who owned the building at this time, and C O N C E A L E DG A R M E N T S Spring 2005 14 CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS o most of Sittingbourne’s inhab - itants the Plough Inn was a rather run of the mill building. It had an archetypal Vi c t o r i a n façade and an aspect and position that hardly caught the eye. East Street, despite being part of the great Roman road, was a relative economic backwater compared to Sittingbourne’s ‘High Street’. The building was not listed, nor had any form of preservation order upon it, so when it was sold for demolition and redevelopment, few took much notice. Sittingbourne, however, is blessed with many people who do recognise their town’s heritage; they took a closer look, and I was fortunate enough to be invited to take part. It was apparent from the start that the building was far older than was generally imagined; initial stru ctural surveys dated the oldest section to the 17th century. Further investigations disc o v e red other important period features, but none were deemed important enough by English Heritage to warrant preservation. It became a race against time to record and save what little we could. During an earlier survey we had disc o v e red a mid to late 17th century ladies shoe under the floorboards in the oldest section. It lay east/west and sole down, a few feet from the front wall. This wall had been replaced at the very beginning of the 18th c e n t u ry when the new east range was constructed and the building completely re f ronted. The shoe was placed at this point as an offering to the house spirit and to spiritually ‘reseal’ the building’s perimeter against any evil. It was sole down to keep the luck from spilling out and purposefully damaged (some would go so far as to say sacrificed) to make it unusable again. It seems only single shoes were deposited in this way, so the devil couldn’t wear them. Shoes were commonly used as they took on the shape of the owner, becoming a part of them; hats and gloves were used for similar reasons and almost always ‘sacrificed’ too. This first find indicated that others might also be found, and we made an ongoing documentary study and took a series of measurements, drawings and photographs. It was to be a year, however, before we were allowed to survey more invasively. The opportunity to do this was presented suddenly, as the building changed hands and the demolition order given! We made contact with the new owners, SEEDA, who gave us permission to carry out a deeper survey; we had just two and a half days. We began by examining the 17th century ‘axial’ chimney which had been hidden by early 18th century boarding. Here we found a second shoe, high above the mantel. Between the shoe and the original mantel, was a deposit of finds some 3 feet deep and 4 or more feet across, mixed in with centuries of dust, debris and rodent nests. It took all the time we had been allocated to clear just this one area. Here we found 5 more shoes, a tricorn hat, dozens of fab- A shoe found on the site. The HRGS were recently awarded a Heritage Lottery Funding ‘Awards for All’ grant of £4,806 which will be used to purchase equipment to further their research. Author of the above article, Alan Abbey, Chair of the Group, says “March saw our first anniversary and we’ve come a very long way in a short space of time thanks to our members and sponsors. Several major projects are being planned; this new equipment will make their undertaking possible sooner and allow us to ‘step up a gear’ in taking local history further into the community”. to consider whether the building had been divided into gender specific areas. Do the fireplace finds, with their more f e rtility-based artefacts, indicate a ladies room, whilst the ‘protective’ finds under the floorboards identify that room as belonging to the man of the house? The study continues. The clothing is now with the conservation department at Southampton University for further work. If you have found, or know of, such concealed garments, please let me know. Alan Abbey Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne Spring 2005 15 CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS CONCEALED GARMENTS there are two main families as candidates responsible for deposition. The couple who first owned the building lost many children; they sold the property after the death of their fifth child. Could the clothes be celebrating their first surviving child and be keeping the family together in their new house? Or could the bonnet belong to a lost child, with the adult clothes keeping that child close to its parents? The other candidates are a couple that remained childless; was the bonnet a way of attracting a child to the relationship? Lifting the floorboards in the room with the artefact-packed fireplace found nothing! The balance of finds has led me Below:Some of the items of found clothing. RECORDING KENT’S 20th CENTURY DEFENCES Spring 2005 16 guns, visual and acoustic detection, and e l e c t ronic and telephonic coord i n a t i o n systems. Even civil defence was introduced. During WWII, feared ‘Blitzkre i g ’ attack by dive bombers and tanks in an invasion was to be countered first by stoplines of pillboxes and ditches, and subsequently by anti-tank islands and fortresses, mobile infantry, armoured forces and fighter bombers. Whereas stoplines are well known, the sites from the second method have been little studied. Current research demonstrates that anti-invasion defences embraced more points of resistance than had been supposed. Air defence elaborated the methodologies from WWI with the injection of radar, automation and information technology. Civil defence was embedded in the community but has been little archaeologically studied in Kent; similarly, the industrial infrastructure. Defence sites show astonishing variety, also including road, rail and beach obstacles, anti-landing devices for planes, minefields, fougasses, radar and intelligence-gathering stations, airf i e l d , RECORDING KENT’S20TH CENTURY DEFENCES RECORDING KENT’S20TH CENTURY DEFENCES RECORDING KENT’S20TH CENTURY DEFENCES RECORDING KENT’S20TH CENTURY DEFENCES RECORDING KENT’S20TH CENTURY DEFENCES RECORDING KENT’S20TH CENTURY DEFENCES RECORDING KENT’S20TH CENTURY DEFENCES RECORDING KENT’S20TH CENTURY DEFENCES fter CBA’s and the Defence of Britain Pro j e c t ’s epic studies of Britain’s 20th century defences and earlier site-logging by the Kent Defence Research Group, you might think that there is little more to learn about this subject. But discovery is far from over. Kent County Council’s strategic study of Kent’s defences, ‘Kent’s Defence Heritage’ (2001), suggested that much more needed to be done to gain a complete geographical distribution and understanding of such sites within the county. Through a project called the Historic Fortifications Network, an alliance of fortified sites, towns and regions in Kent, Nord-Pas de Calais (France) and West Flanders (Belgium), KCC have commissioned me to design a methodology for recording 20th century military and civil defence sites. An application for European Union funding for a new phase of the Network has been submitted, and, in the event of its success, KCC will now be able to begin to survey the entire county over a period of years on a ‘district by district’ basis. If the application is unsuccessful then the process will still be pursued, although it will inevitably take a much longer time. This could highlight sites for conservation and inform heritage tourism and promotion initiatives; there may also be linked educational publications. Our 20th century defences are not beautiful, but they are historically important as symbols of a determination to safeguard our freedom. It is in this context, as well as in consideration of the effects of new weapon systems, tactics and strategy, that the 20t h c e n t u ry defences of Kent deserve to be adequately studied, better understood, and valued. The 20th century marked separation from the past, introducing new technologies in warfare, including attack from the air, whether by airships, aeroplanes or ballistic missiles, as well as the enmeshing of the general population in the wareffort. Anti-invasion defences of WWI drew on a late-19th century frame of reference, with massive (still little-known), trench systems inland of the coastal batteries. Bombing attack from the air, h o w e v e r, led to profound innovation: fighter planes to intercept, anti-aircraft EDITOR: LYN PALMER 55 Stone Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2QU Telephone: 01892 533661 Mobile: 07810 340831 Email evelyn.palmer@virgin.net or newsletter@kentarchaeology.org.uk searchlights, sound mirrors, air raid shelters, wardens’ posts, barracks and naval bases – the list is too long to complete here. Indeed, the structures of war were part of the land and townscape and imposed themselves on the daily experience of everyone. The ensuing Cold War, with computers and bunkers, saw fundamental changes – again, insufficiently studied. Defence sites continue to be threatened by deterioration and development- led demolition, so comprehensive re c o rding is imperative. After pre s s appeals for further information, fieldwork will hopefully start this year. This will involve following up documentary s o u rces by visiting the country s i d e , towns and coast. Vanished sites will be logged too, to paint a complete picture. T h e re may also be opportunities for historical and archaeological groups to become involved, as local knowledge can be invaluable. Discoveries are ahead, so watch this space! Victor Smith Copy deadline for the next issue in July is Wednesday June 1st. The editor wishes to draw attention to the fact that neither she nor the Council of the KAS are answerable for opinions which contributors may express in their signed articles; each author is alone responsible for the contents and substance of their work. Published by the Kent Archaeological Society, The Museum, St Faith’s Street, Maidstone, Kent. ME 14 1LH www.kentarchaeology.org.uk Anti-tank obstacle at Chatham. Notice of the Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of the Society will be held on Saturday 21st May 2005 at 11.00 a.m. in the Council Chamber at the Town Hall, High Street, Maidstone. The meeting will be in the Council Chamber on the first floor. The entrance is through the Tourist Information Office. The agenda and other papers accompany this notice. Each Affiliated Society is entitled to send one of its members (who is also a member of this Society) to attend the meeting. Please address any enquiries about the arrangements to the Hon. General Secretary, Mr A.I. Moffat at Three Elms, Woodlands Lane, Shorne, Gravesend, DA12 3HH, Tel. (01474) 822280, email secretary@kentarchaeology.org.uk. Programme and Timetable 10.30 a.m. Arrival, coffee in the Beauvais Room and a chance to see the stalls and displays. 11.00 a.m. Annual General Meeting in the Council Chamber - see agenda Presentations by: The Churches Committee The Newsletter Editor Mr Ian Coulson on Archaeology in Education There will be no afternoon activities but the Society’s library in Maidstone Museum will be open and members will be present to welcome you and show you the collections and facilities available. K E N T A RC H A E O LO G I C A L S O C I E T Y A N N UA L G E N E R A L M E E T I N G 2 0 0 5 AGENDA 1. STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT 2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE 3. MINUTES of the Annual General Meeting held on the 15th May 2004 (a) Approval of the minutes (b) Matters arising from the minutes 4. REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR 2004: The Annual Report and the Statement of Income and Expenditure and the Balance Sheet will be presented and are enclosed with this notice. 5. ELECTION OF OFFICERS: The following Officers, duly nominated by the Council, will be declared elected under rule 25 (c): President: Mr C.R. Pout, B.A., M.A. Hon. Editor: Mr T. G. Lawson, M.A., Dip.Kent. Hist. Hon. Treasurer: Mr R. G. Thomas, B.A., F.C.A. Hon. General Secretary: Mr A.I. Moffat Hon. Librarian: Dr F.H. Panton, C.B.E., Ph.D. Hon. Membership Secretary: Mrs S. Broomfield, Dip. Arch. Hon. Excursions Secretary: Mrs J.M. Saynor, M.A. Hon. Curator: Dr M.C.W . Still, Ph.D. Vice President: Dr F.H. Panton, C.B.E., Ph.D. 6. ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL: The following will be declared elected under rule 25(c): Mr E.P. Connell* Dr. J.M. Gibson, Ph.D. Mr R. Higgs * Dr A. Richardson, B.A., Mphil., Ph.D. Mr A. Ward, M.A. * Those marked * are retiring members of the Council eligible for re-election under rule 26 7. ELECTION OF AUDITORS: Messrs. Reeves & Neylan. 8. ANY OTHER BUSINESS 9. PRESENTATIONS (a) The Churches Committee and its work, by Chairman Philip Lawrence (b) The Society’s Newsletter by its editor Lyn Palmer (c) Archaeology in Education by Chairman of the Education Committee, Ian Coulson INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING How to get to the meeting The Town Hall is in the High Street. The entrance is through the Visitor Information Centre. The meeting will be in the Council Chamber on the first floor. There are car parks in the town centre. There are good ‘park and ride’ facilities which have car parks at: Coombe Quarry at Armstrong Road, off Loose Road A229 (route 504), London Road A20, Allington behind DFS (route 503), Sittingbourne Road A249 behind the Chiltern Hundreds pub/restaurant (route 506) Willington Street off Ashford Road A20 (route 501) Parking is free and the return bus fare is £1.20 per person. Buses run about every 12 minutes from 8 a.m. to 6.29 p.m., the journey time is about 10 minutes and all stop near the Town Hall. Parking and park and ride leaflets can be obtained from the Visitor Information Centre: see below. The two railway stations (Maidstone East and West) are within about 10 minutes walking distance. There are regular bus services which stop near the Town Hall. Refreshments Coffee and tea will be provided from 10.30 without charge before the Annual General Meeting in the Beauvais Room opposite the Council Chamber. The Town Hall is in the centre of Maidstone so there are many places for refreshments and meals close by. More information from: Maidstone Visitor Information Centre (01622) 602169 Email: tourism@maidstone.gov.uk, Maidstone Council web site www.Maidstone.gov.uk or www.tour-maidstone.com. MINUTES MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Society held on Saturday the 15th May 2004 at 11 a.m. at Christ Church University College, Canterbury in the presence of 61 members. 1. STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT The President emphasised the need to maintain the Society’s profile as the significance of counties was being reduced. It was important that the level of membership had been maintained as the volunteers working for the Society were its greatest resource. Among the achievements of the year were the successful History and Archaeology Show at Maidstone Museum (in which over 40 organisations participated) and the continued development of the two web sites which were an increasingly effective way of communicating with members and making available material which would not otherwise be readily accessible. 2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from 16 members. 3. MINUTES: The minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on the 17th May 2003 (which had been circulated) were approved. 4. MATTERS ARISING from the minutes: None. 5. REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR 2003 (a) Annual Report: The Hon. General Secretary presented the Report of the Council for 2003 which had been circulated and was approved. (b) Accounts: The Hon. Treasurer presented the Society’s accounts for the year ending the 31st. December 2003. He said the value of the investments had recovered a little from its earlier decline and the modest surplus of income over expenditure was largely due to a reduction in the expenditure. 6. ELECTION OF OFFICERS: The following, duly nominated by the Council, were declared elected as officers of the Society under rule 25 (c): President: Mr P.E. Oldham, M.A. Hon. Editor: Mr T. G. Lawson Hon. General Secretary: Mr A.I. Moffat Hon. Treasurer: Mr R.G. Thomas, M.A., F.C.A. Hon. Librarian: Dr F.H. Panton, C.B.E., Ph.D. Hon. Membership Secretary: Mrs S. Broomfield, Dip. Arch. Hon. Excursions Secretary: Mrs J.M. Saynor, M.A. Hon. Curator: Dr M.C.W. Still, Ph.D. 7. ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL: The following, duly nominated, were declared elected members of the Council under rule 25(c): Mr D.G. Anstey* Mr P.A. Harlow* Dr R.J. Spain* * Retiring member of Council eligible for re-election under rule 26. 8. ELECTION OF A PATRON Dr P.H.G. Draper was elected a Patron of the Society. He had been nominated by Dr C.W. Chalklin, E.P. Connell, R.H. Hiscock, Prof. D. Killingray, Dr M.C.W. Still and M. Waite under rule 8 and biographical details had been circulated on his behalf. 9. ELECTION OF AUDITORS: Messrs. Reeves & Neylan were r e-elected as the Society’s auditors. 10. OTHER BUSINESS (a) Scrutineers: The following were elected from the members of the Society to act as scrutineers in any ballots for Officers and Council the next year: Mr G.S. Avery (Whitstable), Mrs M. Berg (Canterbury), Mr A. Daniels (Maidstone), Mr M. Jenner (Tonbridge), Mr D. Murray (East Peckham), Mr J. Noble (Addington), (b) The Society’s logo or emblem: Mrs E.A. Palmer, editor of the Society’s Newsletter, explained that the logo did not print clearly because of its ‘fussy’ design and the diaper pattern behind the horse. She and some other members thought it did not convey an appropriate image of the Society. It was agreed to refer the matter to the Council and members were invited to write to the Hon. General Secretary with their views. 11. THE LIBRARY AND COLLECTIONS Following the formal business, the meeting concluded with a presentation on the work of the Library and Muniments Committee by its chairman Dr R.J. Spain assisted by the Hon. Librarian and Mr D.G. Anstey. It was well received and led to discussion of some of the Committee’s work. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR 2004 The Council of the Society presents its one hundred and forty sixth report and statement of accounts for the year ending the 31st December 2004. Aims and organization The Society is established to promote the study and publication of archaeology and history in all their branches, especially within the ancient county of Kent. The Society’s activities are carried out throughout the ancient county of Kent. It has no staff and its officers are only paid out-of-pocket expenses. It co-operates with its affiliated societies and the organizations to which it is affiliated or of which it is a member. In particular it co-operates with the Canterbury Archaeological Trust in promotion of education. Its activities are carried out by the Council, committees and officers. Review of the year Annual General Meeting: The Society’s annual general meeting was held at Canterbury on Saturday the 15th May 2004 when the Council’s annual report and the accounts for 2003 were accepted and Messrs. Reeves and Neylan were re-appointed auditors. The officers and members of the Council were elected; details are set out below under Legal and Administrative Information. Dr Peter Draper was elected a Patron of the Society. Following the business meeting Dr Robert Spain, assisted by Dr Frank Panton and Mr Denis Anstey, gave a presentation on the work of the Library Committee which was well received. In the afternoon Mrs Jill Eddison gave a lecture Romney Marsh: Survival on a Frontier. Fieldwork: Excavation of the Roman villa site at Abbey Farm, Minster-in-Thanet continued under the direction of Mr Keith Parfitt and was attended by 40 members. A feature found in 2003 was found to be a sizeable building enclosing a double chambered drying oven or malting kiln. The excavation was runner up in the annual Pitt Rivers Award for archaeology and an article on it was published in Current Archaeology. A new TR/CIA resistivity meter was bought and used on several sites. Work started on preparing a list of people to advise metal detectorists about their sites which will be supervised by Mr Andrew Richardson, Finds Liaison Officer for Kent. Publications: Volume CXXIV (2004) of Archaeologia Cantiana was published and maintained its usual high standard and good range of papers and book reviews. An Historical Atlas of Kent, edited by Mr Terry Lawson and Prof. David Killingray and sponsored by the Society, was published by Phillimore and a free copy sent to every member of the Society. A policy was adopted that most publications will be produced on CD or put on the Society’s web site which should result in a wider circulation at significantly reduced cost. It is recognised that not everyone would want these ‘electronic publications’ so it will be possible to place advance orders for printed copies produced by ‘print on demand’ methods. Archaeologia Cantiana will continue to be printed in its traditional form. Several grants were made from the Kent History Fund for local history publications. Churches: The half day visits to churches continued to be popular with three well attended visits to pairs of churches. The Ideas and Ideals series in the Newsletter, was concluded. A new venture was an essay competition on an unusual feature in a church; it was won by Mr Alan Moss of Rochester and his entry published in the Newsletter. Several people were given guidance in their studies of churches. Library and collections: Computers in the Library were connected by broadband to the Society’s web sites on the internet. Development of these sites continued with addition of articles on history and archaeology, completion of the Gordon Ward archive index, additions to the index to the Hussey files of genealogical material, papers from past volumes of Archaeologia Cantiana, material on Kent churchyards and medieval and Tudor wills and the start of a project to add, in conjunction with local societies, Kent tithe award schedules. Donations of books and visual records were received and a selection of publications from the Society’s stock were offered to help Ramsgate Library recover from a disastrous fire. The Hon. Curator, in conjunction with Maidstone Museum and the Museum of London, made a preliminary estimate of work needed to conserve the Society’s collections of artefacts and work will start in 2005. Education: The Society’s support for Young Archaeologists Clubs was continued with a grant to the North Downs club. The Society continued its support for the work of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust’s Education Service by contributing a little over 30% of its running costs. This Service had a programme of school visits and support for teachers throughout the year. It obtained a Heritage Lottery grant to make 60 kits of archaeological finds and materials for schools and it hopes to obtain more funds to extend the project. It participated in the Dakini Project which produces GIS (digital) teaching materials promoting historic and cultural sites for schools in Kent, Sussex and northern France. Place names: A study day was held at Staplehurst in which Dr. Paul Cullen and Dr David Parsons from Nottingham University took part. It was a great success and was attended by 90 people. The Place Names Committee continued to monitor work on research and publications on place names. Membership: Despite 81 new members joining during the year the number of those leaving was slightly greater so the year ended with a membership of 1,164, a small net reduction of one on the previous year. Activities for members: A new venture was the History and Arcaheology Show which was held in Maidstone Museum and Bentif Art Gallery in June. Over 500 members of the public were admitted free and could see exhibits by the Society’s committees and local groups and organisations from around the County. There was a successful five day excursion to Dorset and a conference on New Perspectives on Four Kent Towns in place of the usual day excursions . The traditional pre-Christmas lunch at Wye College was well attended. Four issues of the Newsletter contained the usual interesting mix of news about events and discoveries. Relations with other bodies: The Society appoints members or representatives to a number of other organisations. Regular reports have also been received from the C. B. A. South East and the Standing Conference on London Archaeology. The Society has regularly been represented at meetings of the Kent History Federation. Review of financial activities and affairs The accompanying financial statements for the year ended the 31st December 2004 show the cur rent state of the Society’s finances which its Council considers to be sound. They comply with the Council’s understanding of the current statutory requirements and the requirements of the Society’s rules. Investments: The trustees seek, in the management of their investments, a balance between income and capital growth. The Finance Committee oversees the management of the Society’s investments. The portfolio, managed by USB Laing and Cruickshank Ltd, increased by 8.6% and now stands at £1,014,645. They currently yield 3.8%.. The C.O.I.F. investments, which currently yield 3.5% per cent, increased in value from £64,326 to £68,624. Reserves: The Council budgets each year to spend a sum considerably in excess of current income and tries to maintain reserves appropriate to allow this to continue. The Society relies on its officers and other members giving their time freely to organise its activities. Without those contributions it would have to spend a substantial sum on salaries. Allen Grove Local History Fund: The Society administers the Allen Grove Local History Fund which was given in the will of the late Allen Grove. Its objects are to promote research, preservation and enjoyment of local history. These objects are consistent with those of the Society. It is a restricted fund and is invested separately from the Society’s other investments. In accordance with the terms of the legacy, decisions on how the fund is to be spent are taken by the Society’s officers. During the year four grants totalling £950 were made towards the costs of producing publications on local history, oral history and preserving local records. Legal and administrative Information The Society is a charity registered with the Charity Commission under number 223382. It is an unincorporated association governed by its rules which are published in Archaeologia Cantiana from time to time and copies of which can be obtained from the Hon. General Secretary. It is also registered as a charity with the Inland Revenue which has made a direction under section 201 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 which permits certain members (generally those whose employment is related to the Society’s activities) to obtain income tax relief on their subscriptions to the Society; further details can be obtained from the Hon. General Secretary. The principal address of the Society is The Museum, St Faith’s Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1LH. However, correspondence should be addressed to the relevant officer. The governing body of the Society is the Council whose members are its charity trustees and are elected by the members of the Society at its annual general meeting in May each year. During the period covered by this report they were: P.E. Oldham President A. I. Moffat Hon. General Secretary R.G. Thomas Hon. Treasurer S. Broomfield Hon. Membership Secretary F. H. Panton Hon. Librarian T.G. Lawson Hon. Editor J. Saynor Hon. Excursions Secretary M. C. W. Still Hon. Curator C. W. Chalklin Vice President L. D. Lyle Vice President E. Melling Vice President J. Whyman Vice President * Denotes re-elected at the annual general meeting on the 15 May 2004; **Retired at the A.G.M. on 15 May 2004; *** Resigned 2 May 2004; **** Resigned 6 June 2004. The officers (other than the Vice Presidents) hold office for one year, the Vice Presidents hold office for seven years and the other members for four years. The Society’s main agents and advisers are: Bankers: National Westminster Bank plc, 3 High Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1XU Auditors: Reeves & Neylan, 37 St Margaret’s Street, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2TU Stockbrokers: USB Laing & Cruickshank Ltd, 5 Appold Street, London, WC2A 2DA Stockbrokers’ nominee company holding the Society’s investments: Productive Nominees Ltd, 5 Appold Street, London, WC2A 2DA. The Society’s activities are restricted by the terms of its objects set out elsewhere in this report. In particular its area of benefit is mainly (but not exclusively) the ancient county of Kent which is considered to be the administrative County of Kent, Medway Council and the London Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and part of Lewisham. The Society’s investment powers are those given by the general law; its rules do not give it any special investment powers. The Council has delegated some of its investment powers to USB Laing & Cruickshank Ltd in accordance with a scheme made by the Charity Commissioners on the 18th April 1994. A. I. Moffat, Hon. General Secretary on behalf of the Council 26th February 2005 D. G. Anstey * D. Bacchus E. Boast D. A. H. Cleggett E. P. Connell B. T. Cousins *** J.M. Hammond **** P. A. Harlow * R. Higgs D. Killingray ** M.T. Lawrence R. F. Le Gear K. Parfitt C.R. Pout R. J. Spain * A.L. Thompson ** A.F. Ward C.P. Ward