Books
ARCHAEOLOGY ON THE FRONT LINE: 70 YEARS OF RESCUE 1952-2022 ACROSS KENT AND S.E.LONDON
By Brian Philp
This much-awaited book is a second edition covering the first 50 years recorded in the (sold-out) first edition but adding another 20 years of Events and Sites up until 2022. With 300 pages, it has 350 illustrations, the great majority colour. It describes the battles, strategies and victories over this long period with sites saved by instant recording or preservation, often in the face of severe problems.
These include the Roman Forum in London, the Royal Abbey at Faversham, four Roman forts at
Dover and Reculver, six Roman villas, two Saxon cemeteries, three palaces and four manor-houses. It also lists the many published reports that are an unmatched record of publication across the country, now totalling over
400. Many awards have followed this uniquely Kentish progress.
Whilst often amusing but sometimes hard-hitting, an important feature is the acknowledgement by name of over 240 key team-members of the 2,000 who joined in the numerous training, excavation, presentation and reporting events. Nor are the cringe-worthy Gremlins left out!
The slightly anonymous character of this epic Kentish tale is the author, who started his archaeological career on 6th February 1952 whilst at Bromley Grammar School. That day the head declared, “The King has died” and closed the school.
Instead of leaving, Brian slipped into the library to discover a book on the Roman shore-forts. That began his long career with 40 years of excavation on the lost fort at Dover, his 18 years of excavation on the eroding fort at Reculver and 700 other projects. Hence Archaeology on the Front Line! Inevitably, our gracious Queen Elizabeth II became our monarch on the same day!
MEDIEVAL TONBRIDGE REVEALED
By Deborah Cole, with the Medieval Research Group of Tonbridge Historical Society and Bridgett Jones, Translator
This book examines medieval Tonbridge, researching numerous documents, writing papers that cover many aspects of everyday life from local people to royalty. 173 pages of detail, accompanied by 180 colour illustrations, chart Tonbridge’s growth from the Norman invasion to the Dissolution of the Monasteries. A fabulous 4-page Walk Around Medieval Tonbridge in One Hour
