KAS Newsletter, Issue 66, Autumn 2005

nneewwss ll ee tt 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 Issue number 66 Autumn2005 www.kentarchaeology.org.uk Inside 2-3 Hawkinge Iron Age Settlement Library Notes 4-5 What’s on 6-7 What’s on New Books, Faversham Website Plaques 8-9 Notice Board 10-11 Churches Competition Winner 12-13 Letters to the Editor HRGSTomb 14-15 Furfield Quarry MoLAS, VCHProject 16 Out of the Shadows: Into the Light - Photographs in Maidstone Museum HAWKINGE SETTLEMENT S P A N N E D T W O C E N T U R I E S IMPORTED GAULISH SAMIAN WITH HUNTING SCENE BAS-RELIEF, ONE OF THE MANY FINDS AT THE FORMER AIRFIELD. Full story on page 2. continuous occupation and land use. Many of these enclosures contained structural evidence, including at least a dozen fourpost structures, traditionally associated with grain storage. Two grain storage pits were also identified in the south central enclosure, containing large quantities of burnt grain. Many other pits, identified as waste pits, may have served this function originally. Several groups of post-holes would, on initial inspection, appear to make up at least three large rectangular stru c t u res, either domestic or agricultural in function. In the nort h- west enclosure was located a smaller sub-enclo- Between May and August 2005, AOC A rchaeology Group Ltd undertook an archaeological investigation on behalf of Pentland Homes on 3.5 hectares of land at the f o rmer Hawkinge airfield near Folkestone. This identified an extensive Prehistoric and Romano-British landscape, located on the northern side of a small spur which descends gently to the east. The position, along the North Downs ridge, overlooks the Channel, and is c.10km to the north-east and 11km to the south-west respectively, of the Roman ports of Dover and Lympne. Following machine stripping, a plan was prepared (right) which revealed an extensive system of boundary ditches defining at least nine sub-rectangular enclosures, which extend north and south beyond the site boundary. Substantial pottery and finds assemblages indicate two main periods of occupation The earliest occupation would appear to be Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age (c.900 - 600BC), although there is a small quantity of residual material demonstrating occupation in the local vicinity between c.550 - 400 BC. The most prominent feature associated with this earlier phase is a large ring ditch measuring more than 30m in diameter to the west of the site, which has two visible entrances, one to the north and one at the south-east. The entrance to the north also had an associated oblique ditch, probably acting as a corral mechanism for livestock, the terminus of which produced one of several large Late Bronze Age loom weights found scattered across the site. Within the ring ditch enclosure were scattered numerous post- holes and pits. The second, and by far the most prevalent period represented, is Late Iron Age – early Romano-British (1st century BC – 1st century AD). Many of the forms and fabric types were associated with ‘Belgic’ pottery, including grog tempering and decoration using both curvilinear grooved and combed or scored ornamentation. The most visible and prolific of the features identified were the sub-squared and rectangular enclosure ditches. The general impression is that the enclosures and associated stru c t u res re p resent a small agrarian settlement. From the large quantities of cultural material associated with the ditches, the e n c l o s u res appear to have developed during the Late Iron Age and continued with later subdivision into the early Romano-British period, representing a period of two hundred years of H AW K I N G E ABOVE: Sub-enclosure containing hut circle. RIGHT: Pre-excavation site plan (detailing features discussed in body text). Autum n 2005 2 sure 14m square, with an entrance to the east. Within this were several post-holes forming a possible hut circle, the only one identified on site. Given the quantity of cultural material, this lack of round houses is a notable feature of the site. It is tempting to speculate that this could support previous observations that rectangular buildings became more common by the latter part of the Iron Age, and the prospect, at least for the south-east of England, is that there may be a correlation between the demise of circular huts/round houses and the emergence of the Belgic dynasties (Drewett et al. 1988). At present we are at the very early stages of analysis, and this statement is a provisional account of the excavation. Given the abundance of material recovered, detailed postexcavation analysis will focus on further refining the chronology of the phases of activity and perhaps addressing issues of regionality and cultural changes in south-east England during the later centuries BC. Mike House AOC Archaeology Refs: Drewett P., Rudling D., & Gardiner M., (1988). The south-east to AD 1000 Kent Archaeological Society Librar y. Acquisitions May to August 2005. Essex History and Archaeology. Vol. 34 2003. Records of Buckinghamshire. Vol. 45 2005. Cranbrook Pamphlets:- Cranbrook Turnpike Roads. 1795-1878. Watermills and Windmills. Charities of Cranbrook. Broadcloth Industry. Dissenting Congregations. Inns of Cranbrook. Cranbrook School. Dences School. Bygone Kent. Vol. 26, Nos. 6,7. Postmedieval Archaeology. Vol. 39 p.1. Roman Pottery in the Tongeren Reference Collection. Sonja Willens. Wiltshire Studies. Vol.98. 2005. Archaeometry Vol. 47 p.2. Visitation of London begun in 1687. Harleian Society. Antiquities of Anglo Saxon Cemeteries. Faussett Collection Lecture, Thomas Wright, 1854. Southern History. Vol. 26. 2004. Suffolk Records Society. Vol. XLVIII. Archaeological Journal. Vol.161. 2004. STACKS OF INFORMATION 2 In the last KAS Newsletter, I wrote an article , “Stacks of Information?” about a stack of manuscript note books, bequeathed to us by long dead members of the Society, and stored for decades in a corner of the Library. Among these are some 60 note books by V.J.Torr, who died in 1965. Six of these seemed to contain detailed descriptions of monumental inscriptions in Kentish Churches and churchyards, most probably copied from an original compilation by the Kentish Antiquary the Rev. Bryan Faussett (1720-1776). If this were so, then Torr’s books could contain valuable information on inscriptions on monuments and gravestones existing in the mid eighteenth century some of which may by now have disappeared. Before I could ask Library Volunteers to work to produce from Torr’s books information on names, dates and locations which could be useful to genealogists and family historians, I had to investigate further the validity of the information they contained. To do so, I visited the library of the Society of Antiquaries, London, in which are housed Faussett’s original four manuscript volumes on Kent Churches, compiled in 1757-9, with additions in 1775. Spot checks of comparisons of descriptions of particular churches in our 6 Torr volumes with Faussett’s account of the same, showed that Torr’s work is a faithful copy of Faussett’s, except that Torr does not attempt to reproduce F a u s s e t t ’s beautiful hand coloured illustrations of coats of arms and hatchments. Torr’s order of presentation of locations in his six books does not seem to follow Faussett’s, but Torr does cross reference his entries to their location in Faussett. A curiosity is that the Antiquaries’ Library also houses seven loose leaf files in Torr’s handwriting, which contain copies of Faussetts work. Again, a check showed the entries to be copies of Faussett, and identical with our Torr copies. It would seem that Torr was indefatigable enough to make two copies of Faussett! The Antiquaries’ reference to their Faussett and Torr material in their catalogue of manuscripts lists the locations covered, but gives no further detailed information. On this basis, I think it may be useful to ask our library volunteers to extract from our 6 To rr books, for re s e a rch purposes, information on names, places and dates. Dr Frank Panton L I B R A RY N O T E S RIGHT: Archaeologists working on a possible sunken feature building. 3 Autum n 2005 churches in Romanesque Europe Jill Franklin 3 May 2006 Worcester Cathedral: architecture and historiography Dr Ute Engel All meetings are held at 5pm in the rooms of the Society of Antiquaries, Burlington House, Piccadilly. Non-members are very welcome but are asked to make themselves known to the Hon.Director on arrival and to sign the visitors book. Canterbury Archaeological Society Winter Programme Ramsey Lecture Theatre, Canterbury Christ Church University at 6pm. Visitors welcome. 29 October The First Benghazi: Excavations at Euesperides, Libya Paul Bennett 12 November The Horses of St Mark’s, Venice, and the Politics of Display Charles Freeman 3 December Saving the Children of the Perishing Classes: British Industrial Schools 1854-1932 Dr William Giles 7 January 2006 Some Norman Churches in the Canterbury Diocese Mary Berg 14 January 2006 The Frank Jenkins Memorial Lecture – Annual Review of the work of Canterbury Archaeological Trust Paul Bennett (note: Powell Lecture Theatre) 4 February 2006 Houses and Households in 16th century Canterbury D r Catherine Richardson 4 March 2006 Dover Western Heights Jon Iveson Tonbridge Historical Society Lectures 27 October, 7.45pm The Unusual River Crossing at Rochester Paul Oldham 19 November, 2.30pm Records of the Civil War Michael Gandy (2 sessions, with refreshments in between. Must be booked, see below) 5 January 2006, 7.45pm An Illustrated Walk around the Saxon Shore Christopher Wade 16 February 2006, 7.45pm The Art & Architecture of Rochester Cathedral Simon Bliss 6 April 2006, 7.30pm AGM plus lecture (TBA) All lectures are at the Adult Education Centre, Avebury Avenue, Tonbridge. For further details, and to book the 2 session lect u re, contact THS Secre t a ry, Shiela Broomfield on 01732 838698 or mail to s.broomfield@dial.pipex.com. Autum n 2005 4 KAS EVENTS KAS History and Archaeology Show Saturday 29 October , 10am – 4.30pm in Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art Gallery. A flyer for this event (with list of exhibitors) is included in the Newsletter. KAS Christmas Lunch 26 November 2005 By popular request the Christmas lunch will again be held in the Hall of Wye College. Members may arrive at 10.30am in order to do full justice to the bookstall, to which they are invited to bring their own publications. The bar will be open from 11am and the traditional Christmas lunch will be served at noon. An alternative vegetarian meal is available if pre-ordered. Full details of the menu are available on request. After lunch we are to be truly entertained by the Tonbridge Mummers, newly performing a seasonal Mummer’s play, ‘The Leigh Combat Play’, plus the Kent Hooden Horse and merry seasonal songs. Following this we will be welcomed by the Curator at the Brook Museum who will describe the agricultural treasures there. Price is £21.00 (excluding Brook Museum). A booking form is included as a flyer within this Newsletter. OTHER EVENTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY TALKS & LECTURES British Archaeological Association Meetings 2 November “this little Westminster”: the chantry-chapel at To n g , Shropshire Heather Gilderdale-Scott 7 December ‘Bigger Digs – Widening Participation in Archaeology’ Dr Carenza Lewis 4 January 2006 Breton Craftsmen in Tudor Devon Dr John Allen. A joint meeting with the Society for Post-Medieval Archaeology. 1 February 2006 The Chapter House Vestibule and Masons’ Drawing Loft at York Minster Dr Kate Giles 1 March 2006 New facts about the Carolingian Imperial abbey of Lorsch Dr Markus Sanke 5 April 2006 The aisleless cruciform plan: Augustinian and other canons’ W H AT ’ S ON > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 5 Autum n 2005 C a n t e r b u r y Archaeological Trust 30th Anniversary Lectures Tim Ta t t o n - B rown, founding Director of Canterbury Archaeological Trust and leading architectural historian and freelance archaeologist. The Building of Canterbury Cathedral ~ Archaeology and Architectural Histor y Thursday 6 October The great Gothic rebuilding, 1174-1220 Thursday 3 November The Perpendicular rebuilding 1350-1500 All lectures are in the Grimond Lecture Theatre 1 (GLT1), University of Kent, Canterbury. Suggested donation at the door: £3.00 for Friends of CAT, others £5.00. Organised by Friends of Canterbury Archaeological Trust in association with Darwin College, University of Kent. Centre for Kentish Studies Local History Talks. 19 October Kent and the Second World War Bob Ogley 17 November Bridging Two Worlds Peter Ewart. The story of a young Zulu convert despatched to Victorian England for training as a missionary. 15 December The Perfect Lady Lee Ault. Looking at the clothes, accessories and social attitudes of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. 19 January 2006 Chatham Historic Dockyard: 400 years of naval history Alison Marsh. All talks are held in the Sessions House Lecture Theatre in County Hall, Maidstone at 6.30pm and last about an hour. Cost £3 per person. To book, please send cheque payable to Kent County Council to Centre for Kentish Studies, Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone ME14 1XQ, stating which event/s you wish to attend and enclosing a stamped addressed envelope. Crayf or d Manor House Historical & Ar c haeologic al Society Winter Talks 12 November Dance Band Days Don Dray 10 December Quiz and Buffet (additional charge) 14 January 2006 17th Century Men of Science Toni Mount 11 February 2006 Lost Pubs of Crayford & Locality Jim Packer 11 March 2006 Kent Women – Famous, Infamous & Unsung Chris McCooey 8 April 2006 Village Signs in Kent – Designs and Royal Connections Roger and Carole Smith All meetings held at the Baker Trust Hall, Maxim Road, Crayford at 7 for 7.30pm. Non-members are welcome to attend at a cost of £2 per talk. More information on 01322 551279. CONFERENCES Council for Kentish Archaeology Nelson and Trafalgar: Celebrating the 200th anniversar y of the battle of Trafalgar . Saturday 5 November 2 – 5.30 pm at Canterbury Christ Church University College, North Holmes Road, Canterbury. Victory and the Road to Trafalgar Richard Holdsworth, Museum and Heritage Director, Chatham Historic Dockyard. Nelson and the Trafalgar Campaign P rofessor Richard Harding, University of Westminster What if Nelson had lost Trafalgar? Andrew Saunders, leading authority on Medieval and later fortifications. Tickets £4.00 available from CKA, 7, Sandy Ridge, Borough Green TN15 8HP. Cheque payable to CKA, please enclose SAE. Building Bridges: A Comparative Approach to Roman and Medieval Artefacts 28 – 30 October University of Kent at Canterbury A joint meeting of the Roman and Medieval Small Finds Research Groups. Constrained by traditional period sub-divisions, finds researchers working in the different periods rarely get the chance to exchange ideas. The conference aims to address this problem by bringing specialists together to present innovative research to a new audience. Sessions are arranged thematically (dress, medicine & healing, writing & literacy, finds contexts), comparing methodologies and similar categories of material in both periods re s p e c t i v e l y. Programme: 28 October 7pm Interim results from Whitefriars excavations, Canterbury Mark Houliston 29 October 11am – 4pm Roman dress accessories in the social context Dr Ellen Swift New Perspectives on later Anglo-Saxon dress accessories Dr Gabor Thomas > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> CONTINUEDON PAGE 6 copied from the collections at Maidstone, Canterbury and Dover. It consists of three elements; Nelson’s Kentish connections, the role of the Cinque Ports in defending the realm, and Kent’s coastal defences. The exhibition will run concurrently at the three Archive Centres during October and early November. The Sikh Community in Gravesend As part of Black History Month in October, the Centre for Kentish Studies, Maidstone, will be holding an exhibition on the Sikh community, featuring stories of the lives and experiences of individual Sikhs from Gravesend and providing information on Sikhism and Sikh history. House History for Beginners 20 February 2006, 10am – 4pm in the Centre for Kentish Studies, Maidstone. Includes how to use directories, census, electoral rolls, maps, parish material, estate papers, rating and taxation records, and more. Cost £4 per person to include refreshments (lunch not included). Tickets available by post (cheque payable to Kent County Council) from CKS, Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone ME14 1XQ. Tel: 01622 694363. Friends of the Canterbury Archaeological T rust Field Trip to Orkney, 3 – 8 July 2006 Led by Peter Clark FSA, deputy director of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust, this tour will encompass some of the bestpreserved and spectacular monuments of all periods anywhere in Europe, set in a beautiful landscape of gently rolling islands, seascapes and astonishing wildlife. Orkney lies at the centre of sea routes between Scandinavia, Iceland, Northern Britain and Ireland, and has been attractive to settlers from the Mesolithic onwards. Stone has always been the primary building material; abundance and ease of working made it unnecessary to rob older structures to build anew. This fact, and the lack of intensive arable farming, means that monuments of all periods have survived largely intact to the present day. The tour will visit many great sites, including the Neolithic village of Skara Brae, the stalled cairns of Isbister and Midhowe, the passage grave of Maes Howe, and Dwarfie Stane on Hoy, the only prehistoric rock-cut tomb in Britain. Iron Age b rochs, enigmatic souterrains, the Romanesque monastic church at Birsay and the round church at Orphir will also be visited. Peter Clark spent every summer season excavating in Orkney between 1978 and 1985; he has visited all the inhabited, and many of the uninhabited, islands, and has an intimate knowledge of their archaeology. F u rther details and a booking form will appear in the January 2006 Newsletter. Meanwhile, it would be helpful if e x p ressions of interest are made (there is a limit of 35 travellers) to Ann Vine, tel/fax: 01227 721760, or email: ann.vine@gmail.com. Autum n 2005 6 The Comfort of Strangers. Anatomical Ex Votos in Romano- British and Gallo-Roman Religious Practice Dr Iain Ferris Going beyond Bald: is there an archaeology of Anglo-Saxon medicine? Dr Sally Crawford R e s e a rching Roman Seal Boxes: Some methodological approaches Colin Andrews Temporary texts and signs of status: the Anglo-Saxon stylus considered Dr Tim Pestell 30 October The use of correspondence analysis in examining finds assem - blages from late Roman urban contexts Mark Houliston Votive deposition and religious identity in Roman and early medieval England Dr David Petts Far from the closed context: interpreting surface scatters of metalwork Dr Andrew Rogerson For further information, including accommodation, go to www.kent.ac.uk/secl/classics/Finds.htm or contact E.V.Swift@kent.ac.uk, tel: 01227 827898. OTHER EVENTS Faversham Society Archaeological Research Gr o u p Exhibition 8 – 21 November The findings of the Community Archaeology Project, ‘Hunt the Saxons’, will be exhibited in the Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre. It will feature interactive displays and have a volunteer on hand to answer questions. 10am – 4pm from Monday to Saturday & 10am – 1pm on Sundays. Royal Archaeological Institute young archaeologists’ event 10 December at the Museum of London, 11am – 3.45pm. Dead dogs and Houndsditch: Some finds from the ditch - es of the City of London Do you have interested children or grandchildren? This event offers a full programme, including a guided visit to archaeological remains, a talk with a re-enactor, a visit to one of the museum’s galleries, finds handling and all refreshments including lunch. Numbers limited to 40 young people, who must be accompanied by an adult. Cost £3 per child, £5 per adult. Tickets available from RAI Administrator, Society of Antiquaries, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1V 0HS. Website is at www.royalarchaeolinst.org. SeaBritain 2005 Exhibition To commemorate the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar as part of the SeaBritain celebrations this year, the Kent Archive Service has produced an exhibition consisting of documents CONTINUEDFROM PAGE 5 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 7 Autum n 2005 Windmills – A Pictorial History of their Technology by Rev. Dr Richar d Hills. 1-84306-189-9. £21.99. This book, by the former Curator of The Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester, covers the various types of windmills and their main uses, both in this country and within Europe. 16 Kentish windmills are included in the text. Over 450 photographs appear, many not previously published. Available in bookshops, or direct (no p&p inland) from Landmark Publishing Ltd., Ashbourne Hall, Cokayne Avenue, Ashbourne DE6 1EJ, tel: 01335 347349, email: landmark@clara.net. The 1258-9 Special Eyre of Sur rey and Kent Are you interested in 13th century crime in Kent? Published by the Surrey Record Society, this volume is packed with details about justice, or specifically the lack of it at local level in the 1250’s. It also offers the opportunity of learning how to translate the Latin used. Every entry is given in full, both in extended Latin and in English, making the information held in the original plea roll at the National Archives easily available to all for the first time. Cost to non-members of the SRS is £15.00 plus £4.00 postage. Available from Maggie Vaughan-Lewis, Hon. Secretary, at the Surrey History Centre, 130 Goldsworth Road, Woking GU21 6ND. Cheques payable to the Surrey Record Society. Traces of the Templars by George F. Tull. Reprint of original 2000 edition. An examination of the remains today of the various properties established by the Knights Templar in England, including the Preceptory and the church of SS Peter and Paul at Temple Ewell, the church on Western Heights at Dover, Temple Manor at Strood and various other land holdings in Kent. £12.95 plus £1.50 postage, from The King’s England Press, Cambertown House, Commercial Road, Goldthorpe, Rotherham S63 9BL. The West Kent Probate Index, 1750-1858, compiled by Dr David Wright. A master index of wills and administrations to the two probate and two peculiar courts of the Diocese of Rochester. All the 6,300 or so entries have been brought together into a single alphabetical sequence, each entry showing the name and surname of the testator or intestatee, the parish of residence, occupation and/or marital status. The index is preceded by a comprehensive account of the material indexed (citing CKS references), a summary of abbreviations, index of parishes, other locations, and occupations. The entire text of ‘Kent Probate Records – A Catalogue and Practical Guide’ by the same author, is also included. Available as a CDRom in Adobe Acrobat, price £12.50 + 50p postage inland, or £15 airmail, from Dr D Wright, 71 Island Wall, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1EL. Tonbridge’s Industrial Heritage – a Guide and Gazetteer. Tonbridge Historical Society. £10.50 A broad survey of the town’s industrial development covering a wide range of topics including agriculture and allied trades; water and wind power; extractive industry; metalworking and engineering; manufacturing (including Tunbridge Ware and cricket ball-making); utilities and services; communications and entertainment, and transport. Each topic has an historical introduction followed by a number of gazetteer entries describing surviving sites and artefacts, 98 in all, plus a further 66 of relevance but where nothing now remains to be seen. Publication date due before Christmas. Further details from Shiela Broomfield, Secretary, Tonbridge Historical Society, 8 Woodview Crescent, Hildenborough, Tonbridge TN11 9HD, tel: 01732 838698, mail: s.broomfield@dial.pipex.com. N E WB O O K S Do you know where in Faversham James II was briefly imprisoned in 1688? Or where the pioneer of tea-planting in Assam once lived? Or where one of the early American cinema magnates grew up? If not, take a look at the Faversham website, www.faversham.org. The website trust and the Faversham Society have just completed a joint project whereby you can now view all the town’s commemorative wall plaques on-line. The updated page on the website makes it easy to find the plaque you want, of which there are over 40. Using the ‘menus’ provided on the page, you can find a particular plaque either by place, person or street, or by using the interactive map. You can then read the plaque, view where it is and see where it is located. There are also links to related information on other pages on the website. The presentation of the plaques on-line and the interactive map complement a free-of-charge glossy leaflet, sponsored by Faversham Town Council and others and available from the Tourist Information Centre in Preston Street. View the plaques on-line by going to www.faversham.org/history and clicking on ‘Commemorative Wall Plaques’. FAV E R S H A M ’ S P L A Q U E S G OO N - L I N E BELOW: 18 Court Street, site of James II’s imprisonment. MEMBERSHIP MATTERS We are pleased to welcome the following new members: JOINT MEMBERS Dunn, Mr J, and Mrs, Heather Bell, Orchard Lane, Kennington, Ashford, Kent, TN25 4DX Reader, Mr C N, and Mrs, 11 Rushmead Drive, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 9UB Short Mrs S L, & Mr R C Winn, Beech Cottage, Hookwood Road, Pratts Bottom, Orpington, Kent, BR6 7N Wood, Mr C A, and Mrs, 14 Compton Terrace, London, N1 2UN Worrall Ms H, & Mr A Austin, 6 Wood Street, Swanley Village, Swanley, Kent, BR8 7P JUNIOR MEMBERS Jackson, Mr R, Breeches Field Oast, Egerton, Ashford, Kent, TN27 9HA Richardson, Miss S, 13 Oakfield Park Road, Dartford, Kent, DA1 2SR Williams, Miss P P, 14 Epsom Close, West Malling, Kent, ME19 6NX ORDINARY MEMBERS Barden, Mr P C, 74 Maplins Close, Rainham, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 8BG Beadle, Mrs H, 6 Old Drive, Loose, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 9S Clifton, Mr S, The Cobbles, The Priory, East Farleigh, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 0EX Ellis, Mr M G, 42 The Quarries, Boughton Monchelsea, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 4NJ Finch, Mrs J, Hillcrest, St Helens Lane, East Farleigh, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 0JY Fitzgerald, Mr M, Heronden, Staplehurst Road, Frittenden, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 2EA Jennings, Ms S, 1 Clifton Gardens, Clifton Road, Whitsable, Kent, CT5 1DQ Shepherd, Mrs J, 17 Court Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 7EB Shuff, Dr R, 2 Stratton House, Stratton Terrace, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1RL For all correspondence relating to membership please contact Mrs Shiela Broomfield, KAS membership, 8 Woodview Crescent, Hildenborough, Tonbridge TN11 9HD. Tel: 01732 838698. Email: membership@kentarchaeology.org.uk or s.broomfield@dial.pipex.com Y O UA N DY O U R SOCIETY COPY DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT OUR SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS The Society will achieve its 150th anniversary in 2007. Some committees have been working on projects to celebrate it, but now we need a group of members to consider other ideas and co-ordinate these activities. Would you like to join this group? We think it is important that some members who are not involved in the day-to-day running of the Society should take part. Even if you do not want to join the group you may have some ideas we could consider. If so, we would like to hear from you. If you are interested, want more information or have any ideas to contribute, please contact Andrew Moffat, Hon. General Secretary, at Three Elms, Woodlands Lane, Shorne, Gravesend, DA12 3HH; email secretary@kentarchaeology.org.uk; or telephone 01474 822280 or contact the President, Chris Pout, on 01227 860207. Autum n 2005 8 MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Outing to Chilham Castle. A day later described by a tired but happy member as ‘idyllic‘, began in the shade by Chilham Mill stream, where Michael Peters welcomed fifty KAS members. In the area of Julliberr i e ’s Grave, a Neolithic long barrow, he set Chilham in its time context. After a coffee break members regrouped in the church to learn about the families who had lived at Chilham and influenced both its development and conservation. This was in preparation for the muchanticipated visit to Chilham Castle, the Jacobean mansion in private ownership. A walk around the exterior brought the party close to the Norman cas - tle normally hidden from view. Constantly accompanied by Michael’s expert commentary on the exterior of the house, the party also enjoyed the views, so magnificent that almost reluctantly they entered the house! Tessa Wheeler, who had given her permission, allowed them to see not only the ground floor, but also the bedrooms, the ballroom, the period swimming pool and finally the original 1609 kitchen, where she had provided a delicious English tea of homemade cakes and biscuits. She was warmly thanked, as was Michael Peters, for their contribution to what was truly a wonderful June day. Margaret Lawrence CHURCHES COMMITTEE The midsummer evening visit was to the churches of West and East Peckham. At the ancient church of St Dunstan at West Peckham we were welcomed by Mr Corfe, who has been a churchwarden ‘on and off’ since he was 20, and whose father was also immersed in village life. Mr Corfe did not claim to have any special knowledge of the art history of the church but had a fund of interesting stories relating to the families associated with it in the post- KAS COMMITTEE ROUND-UP FIELDWORK COMMITTEE KAS Wins Grant for Minster Plaster – and your help is wanted As we re p o rted in Newsletter no.63, the KAS were runners-up in the Pitt Rivers Aw a rd last year, for the excavations at the Abbey Farm villa at Minster- i n - Thanet. With the award came the opportunity to apply for a grant, to further study some aspect of the villa. We are delighted that a substantial grant has now been given by the Robert Kiln Trust, to support work on detailed recording and interpretation of the fragments of decorated wall plaster recovered during the eight years of excavation. The collection of fragments has been examined by a wall plaster expert and assessed as “an important collection”, both because of the high quality of some of the decoration and because of the sheer size of the collection; there are several thousand pieces in all. The grant will cover the cost of supervision, by one or more professional archaeologists, of the sorting and recording process, which can be carried out by members of the Society. This process will take place during evening and/or Saturday morning sessions, at the Broadstairs base of the Trust for Thanet Archaeology. Sessions will be no more than once a week and will probably spread out over as much as a year. We are now putting together a team of volunteers to do the work and all KAS members are cordially invited to join the team. You do not have to commit to regular attendance – any help at all will be welcome. Whilst we hope that members who took part in the excavations will join in, you do not have to have any previous experience or expertise. There won’t even be any physical hard work! If you can spare the odd evening or Saturday morning and would like to join in, please call Mrs Pip Fisk on 01227 273797, leaving your name, address and phone number, so that you can be sent further details in due course. Chris Pout Reformation years. The building itself seems likely to have pre-Conquest origins as there are indications that the very substantial low tower at the west end may have been all, or part of, an early building. The nave was probably added in the 12th century, the chancel in the 13th and the north aisle in the next century. The outstanding feature of the church is the ‘Geary Pew’. This was originally a chantry chapel founded by Sir John Colepepper in 1409. In the mid-17th century a vault was built in the ground floor and the large, comfortable pew with seating for 10 people was erected on top of it. The Geary family retained the pew for many generations until 1944. The rood screen and pews are evidence of a thorough restoration and regeneration in the 19th centur y. The party then ventured across country to St Michael’s church, East Peckham. Here we had the advantage of an expert introduction by Margaret Lawrence, who has written a book on the church and its parish.* There is some evidence of Norman work in the present chancel, although the major building programme was carried out between 1287 and 1309 with further work around 1500. Again, there were major restorations in 1853 and 1863. This isolated church is now redundant, but cared for by Church Conservation. There are a number of interesting memorials, of which the Tw ysden Memorial in the Twysden Chapel is of particular interest. The chapel also contains the tomb of a knight whose armour indicates a date of about 1420. Margaret was kept busy answering questions and joining in discussion of a number of points for some time while others enjoyed the tea and biscuits that had been provided. A delightful and informative evening! Mary Berg * ‘For All the Saints. St Michael’s Church East Peckham Parish and People’, available from M a rg a ret Lawrence on 01622 871945 or margaret.society@virgin.net. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN HISTORIC BUILDINGS? The Society does not have a group studying secular historic buildings. Our Churches Committee is very active and its visits to churches are popular. The Council believes that a committee or group to study other historic buildings may be just as valuable and popular and is considering forming one. The Society was a joint sponsor (with the Kent branch of the Council for Protection of Rural England) of the Kent Historic Buildings Committee. Because its ISSUE IS THURSDAY 1st DECEMBER work was concerned mostly with making representations about listed buildings consent applications that committee has now become part of the CPRE (Kent), which is more involved in that type of work. Before making a decision we would like to know what you think about it. Also, do you have any suggestions what it could do? Would you like to join the group? We would like to hear from you. To give you a chance to hear about our ideas and to contribute your own, the President and Hon. General Secretary will be present to talk to you on the following occasions: (a) in the Society’s library at Maidstone Museum, St 9 Autum n 2005 Faith’s Street, Maidstone. or (b) before the Christmas lunch at Wye College on Saturday 26 November at 11 am. There is no need to book - just turn up and have your say. Needless to say, either of them would be pleased to speak to you about this at other times. If you are interested, want more information, or have ideas to contribute, please come to one of these meetings or contact Andrew Moffat, Hon. General Secretary at Three Elms, Woodlands Lane, Shorne, Gravesend, DA12 3HH; email secretary@kentarchaeology.org.uk; or telephone 01474 822280. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> K A S C H U R C H E S C O M M I T T E E C O M P E T I T I O N Autum n 2005 10 St Peter’s is one of the three medieval churches of the Cinque Port town of Sandwich. In its churchyard, due west of its west door, stands a large medieval window. In this short article, we will examine the window, and find out something about its history. The churchyard window is a substantial and high-quality architectural feature which might easily be taken for granted, and it deserves closer inspection. Description of the window The window itself, in the Decorated style, is large and free-standing (see below). It consists of masonry tracery without glass, standing on a chamfered plinth and supported by narrow modern side walls. The medieval part is about 8 feet 6 inches (2.6 m) high and 64 inches (1.6 m) across. A hood-moulding on the side facing the church door suggests that this is the original front face. The lower half of the tracery, which is 8.5 inches (21.6 cm) thick, consists Mr Toby Huitson’s winning entry appears here. ABOVE: Thomas Elys’ tomb OPPOSITE: The Medieval Window. 11 Autum n 2005 of two lower lights with trefoil tops. The upper part has three quatrefoils - one large one above two smaller examples. The smaller two quatrefoils are 14 inches (35.5 cm) across, while the larger one is 19 inches (48 cm) in diameter. The cusped tracery extends upwards to the sides, allowing the design to take up the full space of the rectangle. The design is beautifully proportioned, and the ratio of its height-to-width approximates to the famous Golden Section ratio (1 to 1.61). It has been built from two main stone types. One is a pale yellow sandstone, similar to Caen stone. Other sections have been carved from a light grey stone, packed with shells. The window is, unfortunately, not in perfect condition, and it has been patched and repaired. This is particularly apparent on the inside face, where it has been re p a i red using several diff e rent materials - cement (mixed with sand and crushed sea-shells), together with an orange-buff coloured plastic stone, and even pieces of brick. Most of the spaces between the tracery sections have a 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) rebate, which suggests that it was originally glazed, although no traces of the original glass survive. These glazing slots are not present on the lower section of the window, suggesting that some of this stone may have been replaced. The central mullion is certainly quite modern. The window is framed by a surround of knapped water-rounded flints and edged with ashlar. On the inside face of the surround, light yellow and orange bricks have been used for the fill. The mortaring of these bricks is the same cement and aggregate mix that we noted earlier reinforcing the window tracery, suggesting that these repairs were contemporary with the building of the surround. Although the surround as a whole is clearly modern, it re-uses medieval stone of the same types as the window, together with blocks of Kentish ragstone with its characteristic light green colouring. Some of this stone is carved. To the sides are pieces of a string-course with a simple chamfered top and bottom, and below are two sections of a roll-moulding. These may be older than the window itself, and could be of Romanesque or thirteenth-century date. Given that the adjacent church has vestiges of such work, and its south aisle is in ruins, it is quite possible that these roll-mouldings could have been salvaged from the vicinity. History of the window Did the window originate from the church? Reassembled windows in churchyards taken from an associated building are known elsewhere in Kent, such as at St Mary, Ashford, where nineteenthcentury photographs show large Gothic windows in the churchyard, reputedly salvaged from the adjacent late medieval secular College. In our case-study, we know that it came instead from a rather different source, as an inscription at the base of the plinth tells us: ‘This window was formerly in St Thomas’ Hospital, founded in 1392. Presented to the Corporation by E.C. Byrne, Town Clerk, and erected here in 1923’. St Thomas’ Hospital was built by Thomas Elias or Elys, a merchant draper who was Mayor of Sandwich twice in the 1370s. The hospital, which provided accommodation for twelve poor people, was apparently named in honour of St Thomas Becket of Canterbury. Thomas was also, of course, the patron’s own Christian name. Nothing remains to be seen of the original hospital building near New Street in Sandwich. This was demolished in the mid-nineteenth century, although an engraving, dated 1851, preserves an impression of its appearance. It shows a long building with several dormer windows and a projecting wing at one end. The window now in the churchyard appears in the sketch, located immediately to the right of the entrance porch. This shows that, at this time, it was partially blocked by several courses of bricks. This may explain why the lowest section of the window seems to have been renewed. The hospital’s foundation date of 1392 fits the Decorated style of the window very well. It could have either been an original fixture, or perhaps the result of a subsequent modification made in the early fifteenth century. A clue to other local work of similar quality survives on Elys’ tomb, located, appropriately enough, within St Peter’s church itself. Here, in the North aisle, where he founded a chantry chapel in the same year as the Hospital, a central table-tomb recess is traditionally attributed to Elys. Interestingly, the side face is filled with four square carved panels, each with a cusped quatrefoil bearing a central shield (see above). Strongly reminiscent of window tracery, the design has been elaborated to fill the entire space of the square, just as the window fills the whole rectangle. The two designs look roughly contemporary, and it suggests that Elys was an important local patron of high-quality architecture, at the point where the Decorated style was anticipating subsequent Perpendicular forms. The churchyard window would, therefore, serve as a fitting legacy to the man and his charitable work. See Roy Tr i c k e r ’s guidebook St Peter’s Churc h , Sandwich, Kent (Churches Conservation Trust) 2002, p. 15. Dear Editor I noticed on the internet an article by Michael Leach in the Spring 2004 issue of your Newsletter, entitled ‘Evidence of Vi c t o r i a n Recycling in Archaeologia Cantiana’. At the time I was searching on ‘Mechi and Bazin’. Mr Leach had found some scrap paper with their names on,inside the binding of Arch. Cant. vol. 5, but had not identified them. He might already have found out about them from the saleroom references on the internet, but if not I can offer the following information. The 1840 Post Office Directory lists ‘Mechi, John Joseph, cutler, dressing case, bagatelle and magic strop manufacturer, 4 Leadenhall Street’. The firm later became Mechi and Bazin, with premises at 112 Regent Street, 48 Glass House Street, 4 Leadenhall Street and Crystal Palace, Sydenham. Mechi exhibited at the 1851 and 1862 International Exhibitions. Envelope and stationery cases were illustrated in ‘Masterpieces of Industrial Art and Sculpture at the International Exhibition’ by J. B. Waring, 1862, vol. II, pl.123. One of the partners, C. Bazin, acted as a Juror for this class. Waring says that the firm was founded by Alderman Mechi in 1827 and in 1859 his manager, Bazin, was made a partner. It is possible that the paper lining the volume was from one of the international exhibitions. Incidentally, Mr Leach also mentions Christie, Manson and Woods, now known as Christie’s, the London saleroom. Kate Hay Assistant Curator Department of Furniture, Textiles and Fashion Victoria and Albert Museum ABOVE: Strand Street house in Sandwich dated by dendrochronology to 1334. Autum n 2005 12 Dear Editor Stacks of Information Our Society is fortunate to have not only a substantial collection of Kent antiquaries’ notebooks and files, but fortunate that their worth is recognised by the splendid indexing work of Dr Panton and Sheila Wilson. That worth is their quirky nature and information recorded nowhere else. However, these are tips of icebergs, for what the Society holds is in many cases the random parts of much larger lifetime collections of antiquaries. As death has a nasty habit of breaking up the bestregulated collections, many Society members will have items complementary to those of the KAS. I would suggest that all of us who have such material, or know of the whereabouts of such, should write to Dr Panton enclosing brief details and provenance. A huge corpus of information would be built up very quickly, at no cost, but at enormous benefit to fellow historians and the KAS indexers. I was particularly interested to see in the article the name of Canon Greville Marius Livett, (1859-1951), for I have sixteen of his field notebooks, from 1888-1902, and some of his correspondence. These, with many of his papers, emerged at auction in the West Country thirty five years ago, were bought by the late Cecil Bradshaw of Canterbury, and emerged again locally at his death in 1991. As private collectors and antiquaries I believe we should share access to our collections to serious researchers, subject of course to reasonable safeguards. Hopefully other KAS members will feel likewise. John Owen FSA Throwley Dear Editor It was interesting to read (Newsletter no.65) about the ancient town of Sandwich again and ideas, most not new, about its possible origins. The Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit teams have carried out more than a dozen rescue excavations across the town in recent years, in spite of the inadequate funding. This work awaits funds for its analysis and publication, estimated at about £30,000. Meanwhile our surveys and research continue. The claim, however, that minor variations in the street-levels in Sandwich are highly significant, must be regarded with caution. The very same process was tried at Dover in 1969 when similar minor variations produced the claim that a Roman fort by the market was “a geographical impossibility”. Our extensive work in Dover, now in its 35th year, not only found a very large Roman shore-fort in exactly that position, but also two more forts of the Classis Britannica nearby. With stratification in depth varying from 2 – 7m across ancient D o v e r, minor street-level variations can be totally misleading. Similarly, our work in Faversham has shown that the stratification can vary from 1- 8m in depth and that present street-levels can fail to reflect these major variations. Our work also proved this to be the case across parts of ancient Sandwich. Brian Philp Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, Dover L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R A U T U M N 2 0 0 5 S TM I C H A E L’ S H I D D E N T O M B ABOVE TOP: The tomb of the woman and baby. ABOVE BOTTOM: The three skulls at the woman’s feet. 13 Autum n 2005 Whilst searching for medieval graffiti in St Michael’s church, Sittingbourne, members of the Historical Research Group of Sittingbourn e (HRGS) chanced upon a long-lost architectural treasure. In the north wall of the north aisle, in what was the Bayford Chapel, they discovered an effigy of a woman. She is lifesize, recumbent, and occupies the lower shelf of the Easter Sepulchre, which is now obscured behind the church organ. She is ‘dressed’ in what appears to be a shroud, which is open and gapes at the torso. Her right arm is now missing but once held a swaddled baby, and her left hand holds her exposed breast, as if preparing to breastfeed. The shroud is gathered above her head and her hair is visible at either side of her face. At her feet are three skulls, now barely visible. The location and enlargement of the church organ has meant that she has been obscured from public view for more than a century. No-one knows who she was; descriptions of her in old church publications are very vague. Initial investigations suggest a 14th century date. Could she be the wife of one of the de Nottinghams, who held Bayford Manor, Sittingbourne, in the 13th and 14th centuries? Do the skulls, and the fact that the lady’s ribs can plainly be seen, indicate a Black Death victim? The graffiti survey continues; one piece uncovered shows a group of interlocking circles, depicting St Katherine, patron saint of travellers. Chaucer mentions Sittingbourne in his Tales; it is interesting to speculate that this might be the first tangible evidence of the visits of pilgrims on their way to and from Canterbury. Alan Abbey made available both online, via the VCH website, and in paperback as part of a new VCH Studies series of accessible local histories. Andrew will be based in the Medway area, and will initially focus his research on eight parishes in the lower Medway valley (Aylesford, Burham, Cuxton, Frinsbury, Halling, Snodland, Strood and Wouldham), looking specifically at processes of industrialisation during the 18th and 19th centuries and its impact on the local environment, society and economy. Special feature was an Iron Age ditched enclosure that was possibly defensive in function. It was 123m long and over 46m wide, with ditches 3 to 3.5m wide and up to 1.5m deep. At some time this enclosure was divided with a line of closely-spaced postholes; a second parallel line of postholes 3.50m away may relate to buildings. The enclosure was later extended a further 14m towards the east, with a new ditch being dug. In the early Romano- British period, a new shallow ditch surrounded the earlier Iron Age e n c l o s u re, however, whether this earlier one had been t o t a l l y >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F U R F I E L D Q U A R RY FINDS V I C T O R I A C O U N TY Autum n 2005 14 Between 6th April and 22nd July this year, a team from the Museum of London Archaeology Service (MoLAS) excavated an important site at Furfield Quarry, Brishing Lane, Boughton Monchelsea. This work was in advance of a residential development on a part of the site known as the East Field, and was on behalf of George Wimpey, South London. Along the south-eastern edge of the site, and outside the area of redevelopment, exist the remains of substantial eart hworks, provisionally dated to the late Iron Age. These have not previously been investigated and were recorded by MoLAS to allow the local authority to formulate a longterm management p ro g r a m m e , e n s u r i n g t h e i r c o n s e rv a t i o n . These eart h w o r k s a re probably associated with the Boughton Camp, a late Iron Age oppidum, located c.1.5km to the west, and other earthworks c.800m to the south, and c.1.9km to the north-west of the current site. The earliest features uncovered on the excavation site were a series of undated shallow curvilinear ditches, probably enclosures related to stock management. There were also traces of the eaves gully of a large roundhouse, c.12m in diameter. The most prominent Dr Andrew Hann has recently been appointed as Kent Team Leader for the Victoria County History’s ‘England’s Past for Everyone’ (EPE) programme, and started work on 1st September. EPE is a new venture for the Victoria County History, to help widen access to, and involvement in, the writing and use of the VCH’s parish-by-parish local histories. The aim is to provide accessible, reliable and engaging local history materials for life-long learners, volunteers, schoolchildren and young people. The research will be dump of pottery, possibly from a nearby kiln, and several others which contained charcoal and whole pots. At present it is not known if these were funerary deposits or if there is some other explanation. All this Roman activity appears to be part of an agricultural/industrial settlement and is perhaps an element of the same local villa estate whose bathhouse was discovered in a nearby quarry in 1841. Finally, in the post-medieval period, a well-built building with ragstone walls, possibly a barn, stood 18m long and 7.5m wide. Ongoing work on the assessment will undoubtedly throw more light on the history of this important site. Tony MacKinder MoLAS infilled at this time is unknown. Postholes revealed two large aisled buildings; these buildings are thought to be barns, and one of them had been built over an infilled section of the Iron Age enclosure. Some distance away was a large, robbed, stone-built structure that may have been a corn drier or malting oven. Other features within the enclosure included a well, ragstone footings and other posthole buildings. There were also several interesting pits; one with a large >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> H I S T O RY P R O J E C T 15 Autum n 2005 OPPOSITE BELOW: The site plan. OPPOSITE ABOVE: Roman building, possibly a large corndrier, under excavation. BELOW: The post-medieval building. attention will be paid to linkages between the older maritime and newer industrial sectors, although the relationship between these local communities, the port city of Rochester and the naval base in Chatham will also be examined. This research will be published as a paperback volume, ‘People and Work in the Lower Medway Valley, 1750-1900’. In the longer term it is hoped to broaden the chronological and geographical scope of the research, one possibility being a study of early modern Rochester and its neighbourhood. A central aim of the EPE programme is the involvement of local people in researching and writing the history of their own communities, and thus there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved from an early stage of the research. Andrew will be pleased to hear from anyone who is interested in the project and would like to know more. He can be contacted on 01634 202724, or mobile 07776 183310, or by email at ha81@gre.ac.uk. Published by the Kent Archaeological Society, The Museum, St Faith’s Street, Maidstone, Kent. ME 14 1LH www.kentarchaeology.org.uk 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 Copy deadline for the next issue in January is Thursday December 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. ABOVE: 1 Gun battery, HMDockyard, Sheerness, c.1870 2 Maidstone museum, c.1920 3 Family group, location unknown, c.1900 4 Boy and dog, unknown location, c.1910 5 Junction of King Street and Church Street, Maidstone, c.1880 6 Starre & Crowne Hotel, Goudhurst, c.1920 7 High Street, Maidstone, c.1920 8 Maidstone Gas Company, Middle Row, Maidstone, c.1925 Autum n 2005 16 1 5 6 8 7 Over 660,000 artefacts and specimens jostle for space in Maidstone Museum and, sadly, many items go unseen for years. These hidden gems include a collection of over 4,000 glass-plate negatives, most deposited over 100 years ago by local photographers. Very few of these negatives have been printed, so the collection has remained inaccessible. That is until the Maidstone Camera Club offered to help. Their members spent hundreds of hours laboriously scanning the images and removing blemishes to restore the pictures to their original splendour. Over 800 plates have been scanned so far with 200 of the best printed as superb black and white images. There are busy Kentish street scenes, hop-pickers at work, Victorian picnickers at the beach, dock workers unloading sailing ships, long-demolished buildings and labourers toiling on farms, all captured in amazing detail. These wonderful images are being exhibited at the Museum in a temporary exhibition called ‘Out of the Shadow; Into the Light’. The Camera Club will continue working on the collection until all 4,000 negatives have been copied and preserved for posterity. The Museum’s Manager, Simon Lace, said “The exhibition is a great example of how museums can bring history to life. The negatives were inaccessible and forgotten. Now, thanks to the efforts of a dedicated team of local enthusiasts, we can offer our visitors an amazing glimpse into the lives of their ancestors”. He added “To have attempted this project using commercial photographers would have been ruinously expensive. The local Camera Club, full of highly skilled amateurs, has provided a way for us to bring this important resource to a wider audience. Without their help we could never have achieved it and without our willingness to provide access to the collections they could never have had so much fun!” This exhibition runs until 29 January 2006. Open Monday to Saturday 10.00 - 17.15; Sundays 11.00 - 16.00. Admission is FREE. For more information phone Maidstone Museum on 01622 602838 or visit the website at www.museum.maidstone.gov.uk Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery OUT OF THE SHADOW; INTO THE LIGHT 2 3 4