KAS Newsletter, Issue 71, Winter 2006/7

nneeww ss ll ee tt tt ee rr K E N T A R C H A E O L O G I C A L S O C I E T Y Issue number 71 Winter 2006 /7 www.kentarchaeology.org.uk Inside 2-3 Snodland Coins Arch. Cant. DVD 4-5 Dig for History at Folkestone Eccles &Publication 6-7 What’s On 8-9 Notice Board AGM 10-11 Lenham Resistivity Hasted Prize 12-13 New Books Dover Boat Letters to the Editor 14-15 Allen Grove Fund Bygone Kent Appeal Tebbutt Research Fund Oare Works 16 CATKits REVEALED BY WORKMAN’S TRENCH S N O D L A N D C O I N H O A R D At about 11am on Tuesday 26th September last year, a quiet day in the o ffice at Kent County Council was interrupted by a phone call from G e o - E n v i ronmental Limited who had just made an interesting discovery in Snodland. A team from the company were mechanically excavating trenches as part of a geo-technical s u rvey on a piece of land earmarked for a housing development. The process involved digging 2m deep trenches, filling them with water and timing how long it took the water to drain away. In the second of four trenches the team had, however, made a significant d i s c o v e ry. As the JCB bucket was lifted out of the trench there was “a sound like bre a k i n g glass” and hundreds of small green discs Winter 2006/7 2 RIGHT : Cleaning up the find. BELOW : Detail of the pottery vessel and coins. A R O M A N C O I N H O A R D F R O M S N O D L A N D 3 Winter 2006/7 p o u red out of the bucket. On examination these proved to be Roman copper alloy coins. Many fragments of pottery and tile were also p resent, and more coins could be seen in the p a rtially excavated trench. Realising the potential significance of the find, the team l e a d e r, Matt Bulmer, telephoned Kent County C o u n c i l ’s Heritage Conservation team and asked for assistance. In response to the phone call, We n d y Rogers, the Archaeological Officer re s p o n s i b l e for the Snodland area, and Andre w R i c h a rdson, the Finds Liaison Officer for Kent, w e re able to get to the site at short notice, accompanied by Laura McLean fro m Maidstone Museum and Nigel Betts from the Mid-Kent Metal Detecting Club. With assistance from two local volunteers they commenced a careful search of the spoil heap and the area around the trench to recover any disturbed coins and associated finds. Meanwhile the Geo-Environmental team excavated two f u rther trenches which were observed by A n d rew Richardson. The second of these produced amounts of Roman brick and tile. Laura McLean led the cleaning up and excavation of the trench that had produced the coins and by the afternoon had located the lower half of a grey pottery vessel in situ. This contained a large quantity of coins, clearly the undisturbed portion of the coin hoard and vessel that had been truncated by the JCB bucket. Due to security considerations, the decision was taken to plan and lift the hoard and p o t t e ry vessel immediately, and this task was completed by late aftern o o n . The following day Andrew and Laura re t u rned along with metal detectorist Gill Davies and archaeologist Tay Keen to complete the excavation and planning of the h o a rd ’s context. It became apparent that the vessel containing the hoard had been placed between some upright tiles in a small pit. The pit cut through the upper fill of a large ditch. This fill was largely comprised of stiff orange b r i c k e a rth derived from the adjacent topsoil. T h e re were large quantities of Roman brick and tile in this deposit; it is not clear whether the upright tiles surrounding the hoard had been deliberately placed as such, or whether the pit dug to contain the hoard had simply revealed them. The upper ditch fill sealed a soft brown sandy lower fill that contained l a rge quantities of Roman pottery. The sloping edge of one side of the ditch was located, indicating that it ran from south-east to nort h - west, but there was not sufficient time to locate the base or other side of the ditch. C l e a r l y, however, Roman activity on the site p redated the deposition of the coin hoard . The coin hoard itself was found to comprise almost 3600 copper alloy coins which had been contained in a narrow-necked pott e ry vessel. A pre l i m i n a ry examination suggests that all the coins were minted between the years 330-348 AD. Issues present include Gloria Excercitus, Urbs Roma and Constantinopolis types, with the latest examples appearing to be the ‘Twin Victories’ issue minted in 347-348 AD. The year 348 saw a major currency re f o rm, with previous issues being demonetized, and it seems likely that this was the reason for the deposition of the h o a rd. Intere s t i n g l y, there seem to be no cont e m p o r a ry forgeries in the hoard; all the coins appear to be official issues. This, combined with the apparent lack of coins earlier than 330 AD, suggests that the hoard, rather than re p resenting someone’s loose change collection, is derived from an official source, such as a pay chest. If this is the case, it seems surprising that it could not be exchanged for new coinage as part of the currency re f o rm . P e rhaps its owner did not have it legitimately and thus, unable to exchange it, decided to conceal it. As potential Tre a s u re, the hoard is now being studied in the Department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum; the ensuing re p o rt should reveal more about this i m p o rtant find. A n d rew Richard s o n PRE-PUBLICATION OFFER EXPIRES 1 MARCH 2007 RETURN YOUR ORDER FORM TODAY TO RESERVE YOUR COPY AT THE SPECIAL PRE-PUBLICATION PRICE £20 FOR INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS £50 FOR INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS l contains volumes 1-125 of Archaeologia Cantiana plus Index to Archaeologia Cantiana 1858-1968 and Testamenta Cantiana l user friendly automatic start up and contents file l every volume fully bookmarked and paginated for direct and quick access to articles l all illustrations and fold-out pages fully scanned in colour ARCHAEOLOGIA CANTIANA DVD Winter 2006/7 4 In October 2006, Folkestone school children and local residents spent three days at Folkestone L i b r a ry and Museum finding out about archaeology and the history of their local area in Roman and Anglo-Saxon times. Two hundred and forty children came from St Mary’s, St Eanswyth’s, Cheriton, St Martin’s and Morehall primary schools and had a lot of fun l e a rning about the past and the work of a rchaeologists. A few older children also popped in from Grace School - literally next door! They began their visit with a digital presentation from Canterbury Archaeological Trust about the jobs archaeologists do and the kind of evidence we find (bones and poo popular as ever). Each group was very attentive and the children asked some astute and thoughtful questions. They then moved on to a number of ‘stalls’ set up in the museum’s Art Gallery. It was noisy, very busy and we all enjoyed it! At the Canterbury Archaeological Trust stalls (‘Keeping Toes and Togas Nice and Toasty’ and ‘History is a Load of Old Rubbish’) Andy Linklater (field archaeologist) and I showed them what it was like to live in a Roman house and how we can find out about people by examining modern and ancient rubbish. They heard about the Roman villa at East Cliff and there were lots of hands-on opportunities with finds, models, plastic sandwich boxes and rotting fruit! Dominic Andrews (archaeologist and reconstruction artist) showed the children how he builds an image from archaeological evidence, drawing up some lightening sketches for them at the ‘Picturing the Past’ stall and Andrew Richardson (archaeologist and KCC Finds Liaison Officer) took them into the museum gallery and thrilled them with the skeleton on display from the Dover Hill Anglo-Saxon cemetery. Maurice Wo r s l e y, re p resenting the Kent Arc h a e o l o g i c a l Metal Detecting Support Unit (established by the National Council for Metal Detecting), joined the team on the Saturday showing the visiting public how archaeologists and metal detectorists can responsibly work together. The days were part of ‘Dig for History Weekend’ which also included evening lectures. The programme was organised jointly by Canterbury archaeologists, Kent County Council, local schools and colleges. The Centre aims to make history, archaeology and geology accessible to the people of Folkestone and wants to encourage a relationship between academic study of history and popular enthusiasm for the past. Find out more about the FPHC on 01303-850614 and lah16@canterbury. ac.uk. Marion Green Education Officer, Canterbury Archaeological Trust Christ Church University and Kent Libraries and A rchives and was supported by Canterbury Archaeological Trust. It was the first step to building a community archaeology project in Folkestone under the direction of the Folkestone People’s History Centre. The FPHC is based in Folkestone’s Old High Street and is a joint initiative between Canterbury Christ Church University and the Cre a t i v e Foundation with the support and involvement of local historians and historical societies, ABOVE & BELOW: Drawings by children inspired by archaeology at Folkestone Museum’s event. DIG FOR HISTORY IN FOLKESTONE publication of the archaeological work undertaken in advance of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link archaeology, which has made a really major contribution to understanding Kent’s arc h a e o l o g y. Again 2007 should see the latest volume of the County Council’s Kent History Project, T h e Archaeology of Kent to AD 800, with contributions f rom Francis Wenban-Smith, Tim Champion, Martin Millett and Martin Welch, who relate the latest findings from development-led archaeology to our inherited views of Kent’s past. There is another general problem in seeking to ensure that the archaeological archives from excavations in Kent, both written records and finds, are retained in Kent, for display and access and to be available for future generations of students and researchers. We have been striving for some time to develop the concept of an Archaeological Resource Centre. Much remains to be done but progress is being made. I started this piece with Eccles and perhaps I can finish with it. Certainly the site deserves further research and publication and we all need to give consideration to how this might be achieved. John Williams Head of Heritage Conservation, Kent County Council 5 Winter 2006/7 BELOW: Eccles excavation in 1971; corndrier and hypocaust. In the last issue of the Kent Archaeological Society Newsletter Michael Ocock drew attention to the continuing absence of a final report on the Eccles villa excavations undertaken by Alec Detsicas. Perhaps I can take the opportunity to clarify the Eccles situation and also to draw attention to some wider initiatives relating to Kent’s archaeological heritage. As Michael Ocock indicates, Eccles is an immensely important site, not only for Kent but for Roman Britain as a whole. While not of the same grandeur as the Fishbourne palace, nonetheless it is a substantial structure of high status, which goes back to soon after the Roman Conquest. We have to ask the reason why. John Creighton has developed further the hypothesis of Claudius entering an already, at least partially, Romanised Britain (Coins and Power in Late Iron Age Britain and Britannia; see also David Mattingly, A n Imperial Possession: Britain in the Roman Empire). Some areas of South East England, notably the Catuvellauni and the Atrebates, were perhaps client kingdoms. So where does Kent come into the argument? The work of David Holman and others in looking at Kent’s late Iron Age coinage will hopefully help to elucidate the hundred years before the Conquest, as will the growing corpus of detectorists’ other finds and, import a n t l y, the ongoing body of development-led archaeological work in the County. But Eccles must surely be a key to understanding this still somewhat enigmatic period in Kent and its full analysis and publication is demanded. Towards the end of his life Alec Detsicas, concerned about the need to try to secure a future for the Eccles archive and bring the work to publication, approached myself and Peter Kendall of English Heritage and we then brought Paul Bennett of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust into the discussions. Michael Ocock refers to a transfer of responsibility for publication to myself. Rather the three of us, very much concerned about the future of the Eccles project, undertook to do our best to try to take things forward. The finds archive (two lorry loads) was collected by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust and placed in a specially racked-out part of its store. The small finds were placed in their environmental store and the film and paper archive was deposited with Rachel Shaw, Alec’s former research assistant. The Trust utilised the remaining funding available to Eccles to put the film and paper archive into good order and to catalogue the finds archive. It has subsequently maintained the finds archive and provided access to it to specialists seeking to study aspects of it. All three of us have investigated funding avenues for completing the publication of the project but without success. It must be emphasised that substantial resources are still needed and that it is not just a matter of a few thousand pounds. The search will continue and any constructive suggestions will be very welcome. The case highlights something that I think Sir Mortimer Wheeler once wrote, that an excavation project is not complete until it is published, and we need to continue to address this issue in the world of development-led archaeology. An ‘indicator’ related to Kent’s Environment Strategy records the number of excavations undertaken each year that significantly contribute to our understanding of the past. This hopefully demonstrates that PPG 16 is working but also provides information on the ongoing loss of the heritage. For 2004 the figure was 120 investigations. Extrapolated over a number of years one can see the arc h a e o l o g i c a l resource being substantially reduced, so it is most important that fieldwork is translated into knowledge through publication. In this re s p e c t Canterbury Archaeological Trust’s recent volume on the excavations in Townwall Street, Dover, is most welcome and I am looking forward to the O N ECCLES, ARCHIVES A N D P U B L I C AT I O N I N G E N E R A L Winter 2006/7 6 Shoreham church in the morning. Lunch will be provided in the village hall, after which there will be a guided visit of Eynsford Castle. We meet at 10.30am in the Shoreham Village Car Park. Cost to cover lunch: £5 each. More details from Joy Saynor on 01959 522717; email: saynor@shorehamkent.wanadoo.co.uk Joint Meeting with the Society of Antiquaries ‘THE BIG DIG’ Thursday 19 April Canterbury Christ Church University Our Society will be holding a joint meeting with the Society of Antiquaries of London at Canterbury on Thursday, 19 April. The subject of the lecture will be the Canterbury Archaeological Trust’s major excavation at Whitefriars in Canterbury, the ‘Big Dig’, which produced some exciting discoveries. The meeting will follow the format of the Society of Antiquaries’ meetings by starting with tea and sandwiches at 4.15, followed by the lecture and then a Presidents’ reception with wine. Admission will be by ticket ordered in advance. Numbers are limited so early booking is advisable. Tickets cost £10 each. Please use the booking slip enclosed with this Newsletter and enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope. Cheques should be payable to Kent Archaeological Society. The meeting will be at Canterbury Christ Church University and full details will be sent with the tickets. For more information contact Andrew Moffat at T h ree Elms, Woodlands Lane, Shorne, Gravesend, DA12 3HH, secretary@kentarchaeology.org.uk or 01474 822280. OTHER EVENTS AROUND KENT CONFERENCES Council for Kentish Archaeology The Lost Valley: 2000 years in the Upper Darent Valley Saturday 14 April, 2 – 5.30pm Sevenoaks Community Centre, Otford Road, Sevenoaks. A conference examining the major discoveries, historical and oral traditions, landscapes and buildings of the upper Darent Valley Speakers: Major Discoveries in the Upper Darent Valley Brian Philp On East Hill – the Changing Way of Life A M Parkin The Beauty of the Upper Darent Valley Edwin Thompson Tickets £4.00. Please send cheque (payable to CKA) with SAE to CKA, 7 Sandy Ridge, Borough Green TN15 8HP. Further information can be found at www.the-cka.fsnet.co.uk, or from Ruth Plummer, tel: 0208 7777872, email: davru58-arch@yahoo.co.uk. TALKS Time Talks Programme The Centre for Kentish Studies, Maidstone Library and Maidstone Museum present a series of talks on aspects of local history. This year’s programme explores the general themes of Kent’s rich heritage. Talks last about an hour, with time for questions afterwards. Earning a living in the lower Medway valley, 1750-1900 Andrew Hann Thursday 25 Januar y, 6.30pm at Maidstone Museum Andrew Hann, editor of the Kent VCH, looks at the wages earned by working KAS EVENTS CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF THE KAS Kent’s Past - 50 years of Advances in Knowledge Saturday 21 April University of Kent Medway Campus, 9.30am – 5.30pm The theme for this conference is the advances made during the last 50 years in knowledge of the history and archaeology of Kent. Each paper will take approximately 35 minutes. Speakers: The Roman Villas of Kent Steve Willis The Romans in Dover Brian Philp The Napoleonic Defences of Dover Jon Iveson The Archaeology of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Helen Glass The Politics of Death in Elizabethan and early Stuart Kent Stephen Hipkin Drama in Medieval Kent Jim Gibson The Development of the Weald in the 16th and 17th Centuries Michael Zell The Industrialization of the Lower Medway Valley Andrew Hann Cost is £10 per person. A booking form for this conference is included in the Newsletter. Catering venues will be given when tickets are sent out, but the price does not include lunch. In an English Country Garden KAS Garden Party Sunday 20 May, 3.30 – 6.30pm Dig out your boaters and striped blazers, your fringed dresses and your parasols, for we are partying, 1920’s style! The Society will be holding a garden party in the grounds of the beautiful Allington Castle, a privately-owned home not open to the public. Jazz band, New Orleans Echoes, will play whilst afternoon tea is served. If the day is wet, we will be in the Great Hall of the Castle. Tea will consist of a variety of sandwiches, salads, scones with jam and cream, home made cakes and biscuits, and strawberries and cream, with tea, coffee and homemade squash. Pimms will also be available. Costume of the period is optional, but the organisers will most certainly be getting into the spirit of things and donning the dress of the Jazz age! Cost is £30 per person. A reservation form for this party is included in the Newsletter. KAS Visit to Yaldham Manor, W rotham. Thursday 8 February 10.30 – 12 noon. Coffee and biscuits. Yaldham Manor, dated to 1412, with its famous medieval great hall, is on the market and passing into new ownership. This may therefore be the last chance to see this architectural gem. Edward Lade, our KAS member, was born in the house and is very nobly willing to undertake a conducted tour for thirty members at the above time (notable because these are the only hours available in his busy house-moving schedule!). Stout shoes are advisable for the outside tour. Lunchtime food is available at local pubs and the Wrotham Historical Society has an excellent ‘Guided Tour of Wrotham’ leaflet which will be available. The tombs of the Peckham family who lived at Yaldham Manor are in the church. To book a place and find out travel directions please ring Margaret Lawrence on 01622 871945 or email to margaret.society@btinternet.com. Cost is £5 – please only send cheques (made out to Kent Archaeological Society) when your place has been ascertained. Cheques should be sent to: Mrs M Lawrence, Barnfield, Church Lane, East Peckham, Tonbridge TN12 5JJ. KAS Historic Buildings Committee Saturday 7 April Spring outing to Shoreham, comprising a conducted tour around the village looking at the historic buildings, followed by more detailed discussion in W H AT ’ S ON > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Friends of The Canterbury Archaeological T rust Visit to Normandy 23-27 April We travel by Gillies Coaches via the Tunnel and are based in Bayeux at the central 3-star Grand Hotel de Luxembourg. The visit is centred on Abbeys, Churches and Chateaux and the towns of Caen, Bayeux, Creully, Lessay and Fecamp and the Garden of Les Moutiers. Several Parish churches are included as a study of the similarities to our own Norman buildings. The price is £470 based on a group of 30 on a B&B basis, sharing twin/double rooms. £85 single supplement. A deposit of £100 per person is required before 25 February to secure the hotel booking. For a booking form please apply to: Heritage Group Travel, Charlotte House, 12 Charlotte Street, Bath BA1 2NE. EVENTS ELSEWHERE British Archaeological Association Burlington House, Piccadilly 7 Februar y Held in the Linnean Society at 4pm (Joint meeting with the Church Monuments Society). The Survey of Sussex church Monuments: preliminary findings Prof. Nigel Llewellyn 7 March Held in the Geological Society at 5pm Fulk Nerra’s donjons: the road to Dover Dr Pamela Marshall 4 April Held in the Geological Society at 5pm Making friends on the borders: Cistercian strategies from northern Europe in the 12th – 14th centuries Dr Emilia Jamroziak 2 May Held in the Linnean Society at 4pm The Donald Strong Memorial Lecture Horror vacui: framing the dead on Roman sarcophagi Dr Verity Platt The Linnean Society and the Geological Society are both within Burlington House. Tea will be served in the Society of Antiquaries half an hour before each meeting. The BAA welcomes visitors to their lectures, but non-members should please make themselves known to the Hon.Director on arrival and sign the visitors book. CBA South East The Archaeology of the Weald: Bridge or Barrier? 10 Februar y Gatton Hall, Reigate, Sur rey The recent CBA SE conference on ‘The Archaeology of the Weald: Bridge or Barrier?’ was very successful, with various speakers attempting an answer to the question, from the Mesolithic through to the Medieval. As there were a large number of individuals who wished to attend, but could not be accommodated, CBA SE are repeating the conference on 10 February at the same venue of Gatton Hall, Reigate, Surrey. Tickets are £15 for CBA members and £17.50 for non-members - this includes tea/coffee and a two course lunch. To avoid disappointment this time book early by contacting Steve and Eva Corbett, 4 Ditchling Close, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 8LS, or 01323 743889 or cbase@scorbett.co.uk. (Applicants who were unsuccessful in obtaining tickets for the 4 Nov conference will be contacted direct). 7 Winter 2006/7 people in the Medway valley, and the strategies they adopted to make ends meet during the 18th and 19th centuries. How did earnings change as the area industrialised, and what were the implications for household incomes? Did people become more or less dependent on poor relief, charity or the support of family or friends? Malling Abbey and the Malling charter Anne Oakley Monday 12 Februar y, 6.30pm at Sessions House Founded as a Benedictine nunnery by Gundulf, bishop of Rochester, in about 1090 and almost wiped out by the Black Death in 1349, Malling Abbey was dissolved in 1538. For over 350 years the splendid medieval buildings were in secular hands, but in 1893 the wheel turned full circle when nuns returned to Malling. Since 1916 the Abbey has been home to an Anglican Benedictine community and is again used for its original purpose. Paper-making in Kent Maureen Green Wednesday 14 March, 6.30pm at Sessions House In 1588 John Spilman built a paper mill on the River Darent near Dartford, Kent. Spilman’s enterprise marked the beginning of a viable paper industry in Britain. By 1800, the county had become one of the most important centres for the production of fine quality, as opposed to more utilitarian brown, paper. The history of the industry in Kent and the role played by mills located in and around the county town of Maidstone, will be covered in this illustrated talk. Ightham Mote: history and conservation Pat Mortlock Wednesday 28 March, 6.30pm at Maidstone Museum Ightham Mote is now a remote and tranquil manor house but this was not always so. In the period c.1475-1640s it was the residence of several owners of national importance whose ownership resulted in the buildings and ornamentation we see today. The house was refurbished in the late Victorian period, but in the twentieth century there was quiet neglect until the National Trust began an impressive£10 million conservation programme. There will be slides of much of the recent work -from timber to wallpaper! To book please contact the correct venue dire c t l y. For talks at Maidstone Museum please phone the museum within a month of your chosen talk on 01622 602838. For talks at Sessions House please phone The Centre for Kentish Studies on 01622 696197.Cost £3 per person, discounted cost £1.50 to Friends of Maidstone Museum & Friends of the Centre for Kentish Studies. Loose Area History Society Talks Programme 2007 Monday 12 Februar y A Tram Ride through Rochester Bob Ratcliffe Monday 12 March Ightham Mote 1470-1641 – Intrigue, Ambition and Respectability P a t Mortlock Monday 16 April Victorian and Edwardian Mineral Water Bottles Andrew Robinson Monday 14 May Cornell’s of Maidstone: 1796-2007 David Taylor Monday 11 June, 7pm Guided private tour of Stoneacre, the National Trust’s 15th century yeoman’s house at Otham. Monday 9 July, 7.30pm Guided private tour of Maidstone Carriage Museum Monday 8 October The Battle of Britain Dick Collinson Monday 12 November A Day in November – The Mary Stanford Lifeboat Disaster Geoff Hutchinson Monday 10 December The Golden Age of Mechanical Music Paul Bellamy Unless otherwise stated, all meetings are held at Loose Infant School Hall and start at 7.30 pm. All welcome. Admission £2.50. Pay at the door. For more details telephone 01622 741198. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Canterbury Campus. Further details of this event and booking forms will appear in the April issue of the Newsletter. Celebration Dinner A dinner will take place on the evening of 15th September in Darwin College at the University, at which the Hasted Prize will be presented. This is a KAS-sponsored prize for the best thesis on some aspect of Kent’s history. See page 11 of the Newsletter for further details of the Prize. Booking forms for the dinner will appear in the April issue. The Hidden T reasures of Kent 12th May to the 9th September This exhibition will be held in the Bentlif Gallery within Maidstone Museum. On display will be Several events are planned to take place this year, the sesquicentennial of the KAS – come and join the celebrations! K e n t ’ s Past – 50 Years of Advances in Knowledge Two one-day conferences on the above theme are to take place. The date of the first conference is fixed for 21st April, at the Medway Campus of the University of Kent, near Rochester. The cost is £10 per person. Further details appear in the ‘What’s On’ section, and a booking form for the conference is included in the Newsletter. The second conference is booked for Saturday 15th September at the University of Kent’s artefacts ranging from the Palaeolithic to the Anglo Saxon period which, although all originally from Kent, are now dispersed in museum collections across Britain. This will be a rare opportunity for KAS members to view some of Kent’s littleseen but important finds gathered together under one roof, and it is hoped that many public visitors will also benefit. More details of the exhibition will appear in the April issue. In an English Country Garden The Society will be holding a garden party in the g rounds of the beautiful Allington Castle, on Sunday 20th May from 3.30 – 6.30pm. A Jazz band will play whilst afternoon tea is served. Further details of this event appear in the ‘What’s On’ section and a reservation card is included in the Newsletter. MEMBERSHIP MATTERS Welcome to the beginning of what promises to be such an exciting year for the KAS, celebrating 150 successful years! Of course, this is the busiest time of the year for me dealing with incoming subscriptions – if you haven’t yet sent your cheque please do so as soon as possible so that you will not miss any of the excellent newsletters and your bumper copy of Archaeologia Cantiana, which will be sent to you in the summer. Those of you who pay by bankers’ order please check your bank statements to make sure that your subscription has been paid correctly and only once annually – not, as some are, monthly! The current rates are: £20 for ordinary members, £25 for two adults living at the same address and £10 for members who are under 21 in 2007. If you have mislaid your membership card please send me a stamped addressed envelope for a replacement – you need it to use the KAS library for your research. The library has the best collection of books on Kent in the county, if not the whole of the UK. The address for all correspondence relating to membership is – 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. We are pleased to welcome the following new members: JUNIOR MEMBERS Fenton, Mr A 5 The Old High Street, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 1RJ ORDINARY MEMBERS Burr, Mr J 3 Bassetts Way, Farnborough, Orpington, Kent, BR6 7AE Dean, Ms L 143 Old Folkestone Road, Dover, Kent, CT17 9H Dececco, Mr R B 15 Bridgewater Place, Leybourne, West Malling, Kent, ME19 5QN Lapper, Mr P 5 Dartry Park, Cootehill, County Cavan, EIRE McLean, Miss L Flat 8 Elmsdale House, 9 Buckland Hill, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 0SB Randell, Mr N 12 The Street, Lower Halstow, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7DY Tritton, Mr E P, 2 Salts Avenue, Loose, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 0A Y O U A N D Y O U R SOCIETY Winter 2006/7 8 COPY DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF THE KENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY HISTORIC BUILDINGS COMMITTEE The Committee has been working on preparations for a number of events and activities planned for 2007: l Spring outing to Shoreham on 7th April 2007, comprising a conducted tour looking at the historic buildings in the village, followed by a more detailed discussion in the church in the morning. After lunch there will be a guided visit of Eynsford Castle. (See What’s On for more information) l P roduction of a leaflet entitled “Historic Assessment and Survey of Old Buildings”, aimed at offering guidance to people who want to find out more about their property. l As part of the KAS 150th Anniversary celebrations, a One-Day Conference on 20th October 2007. Themes will include the documentary history of buildings; timber framed buildings, architectural features of stone buildings; and fixtures and fittings – dating by detail. More details on the leaflet and the conference will be available in the next KAS Newsletter. F i n a l l y, The Weald & Downland Open Air Museum in West Sussex has offered KAS members a discount of 10% on the cost of its courses, or 20% for a group of 4 or more KAS members. A course entitled An Introduction to Dating Timber- Framed Buildings is scheduled for 7th March 2007 ( n o rmal price £95), and the next course on Traditional Timber Frame Construction is to be held on 3rd May 2007. Anyone interested in attending either of these courses, or wanting more information, should contact Mike Clinch (tel: 01322 526425; e-mail: mike@mikeclinch.co.uk). CHURCHES COMMITTEE Over fifty people attended the Churches Committee’s final visit of 2006 which was to the churches at Eastchurch and Harty on the Isle of Sheppey. The visit was organised by committee member Jonathan Fryer who, as a native of Sheppey and expert in its history, welcomed everyone first at Eastchurch. In his talk he placed the church firmly in the context of the history and geography of this distinctive part of the county. He said that Sheppey is more remote now than in the past when it was connected to the mainland by a number of ferries. The separate island of Harty for example had stronger connections with Faversham than with Sheppey. Similarly at one time there were notable non-conformist links between Grain and Sheerness. He went on to give an overview of the churches on the island COMMITTEE ROUND-UP 9 Winter 2006/7 past and present of which Eastchurch is one of the four medieval buildings. It was built about 1430 and was heavily restored in 1871. Features of interest include a fifteenth century screen, early seventeenth century pulpit and a south aisle window commemorating two early navigators who conducted their experiments in flying in the parish in 1912. The chancel was shut off because of death watch beetle and it is to be hoped that repairs can be completed soon. Everyone then made their way to the remote c h u rch at Harty which occupies an exposed position with spectacular views over the Swale. The churchwardens, Colin Patience and Marion Studd, spoke about church life, the parish and this delightful ancient building. The church is over 700 years old. A round Norman arch of tufa on the north wall was a window before the north aisle was constructed around 1200. A massive medieval timber structure at the back of the nave s u p p o rts the bellcote. A fourteenth century screen divides the nave and small chancel. A small south transeptal lady chapel contains a notable fourteenth century Flemish chest. M o re recent additions to the church include some delightful windows depicting the farming and wildlife of the parish. A fascinating and enjoyable afternoon was rounded off with tea at the Harty Inn. Mary Berg. ISSUE IS MONDAY 3rd MARCH A.G.M. 2007 Maidstone will be the location of the Society’s annual general meeting on the 19th May this year. The meeting will be in the morning in the council chamber at Maidstone Town Hall and we hope to be supported by you and the attendance of plenty of other members. After the business there will be a presentation about the Society’s work and other topics of current interest. The results of the elections will be announced at the A.G.M. Nominations can be submitted for any office; it is the sign of an active society if there is competition for office. Any five members can propose a candidate for election as a member of the Council or as an officer. Nominations have to be received by the Hon. General Secretary by the 1st March at the latest and must be accompanied by the written consent of the candidate. F u rther information and guidance can be obtained from the Hon. General Secretary Mr A.I. Moffat, Three Elms, Woodlands Lane, Shorne, Gravesend, DA12 3HH; or email secretary@kentarchaeology. org.uk. Although an application form does not have to be used, he can supply a suitable form. Winter 2006/7 10 any floors. The shallow depth of the ruins (25cm) was somewhat surprising. Later that year, after the heavy rains in September and October, we started using the KAS resistivity meter. As we had already measured and plotted the position of the building ( h e reafter Building 1), and a second one (Building 2) that had also appeared as a parch mark 65m to the east, we knew where to look. (Right are the printouts for both structures.) These printouts are very clear. Perhaps because the ground was so dry and hard in August, when we came to do the resistivity, moisture had still not managed to percolate through the walls and foundations. L A S ’s recent publication ‘Discovering Ancient Lenham’ (see details of this publication at the end of page), carries an article by Dennis Rayfield in which he has drawn the floor plan of Building 1. It is remarkably similar in size, layout and orientation to the Villa at East Farleigh dug by the Maidstone A rea Archaeological Group last summer. (Below are the two plans together. Left is the Hollingbourne building and right is the Roman Villa at East Farleigh.). If our Building 1 is so similar to East Farleigh, one could even assume that it was built by the same architect, and if this is the case, is it of the same third to fourth century date? It might then follow that the apparent curved apse in building 2 (the apse shows on the inside of the western end) could be that of an early Roman church, for these two buildings seem to be related and therefore of the same date. The apse and altar of Roman churches was often at the western end. Nay, I hear people say - it’s just a bath house ….. However, we have found a third structure standing close to the nearby stream. Perhaps it would be more logical to assume that this is the bath-house. We have not finished the resistivity as yet, but the printout appears to show a curving ditch (perhaps a leat from the stream?) entering the building into a 9m x 6m cistern. The leat runs under an existing bank and there is no hint of a ditch on the surface. It has been difficult getting all the building surveyed because of dense blackthorn thicket. Other resistivity printouts in the area show e x t r a o rd i n a ry underlying features. There appear to be a double ditched circle 30m across, linear features and a possible cursus. We can only do more resistivity and roll back the blinds on this remarkable hidden ancient landscape. Building 1 was found just in time for inclusion in our recent publication, ‘Discovering The last KAS Newsletter brought news of a new Roman villa site near Sheldwich and a hexagonal bath house near Faversham. The trend continues; Lenham A rchaeological Society have re p o rted two Roman buildings to the SMR Officer since August and we now have a possible third one which looks like a substantial bath house with a large plunge pool. These finds are in the neighbouring parish of Hollingbourne. Little archaeology has ‘officially’ been found in Hollingbourne parish. I say ‘officially’ because it is well known that nighthawks have been raiding the church field for many years for Roman, Medieval and Saxon finds. Also, a huge Iron Age settlement was revealed by construction work at Junction 8 of the M20. I was not surprised, therefore, when a farmer friend phoned in August to say that a building had ‘appeared’ in one of his meadows. Even in the drought of 1976 it had not revealed itself, but now it was a very distinctive parch mark. The field is not far off the spring line, so presumably has subterranean water supplies - but in August they failed. The farmer was keen to use his JCB to see what the mark was, so he expertly opened up a short 1m x 2m slot across one wall and another in the centre of the building. Then we trowelled back carefully. Bingo! A 70cm-wide wall of ragstone overlaying a flint foundation, a small amount of mortar, two scraps of grey Upchurch ware, iron slag and a few pieces of IA pot were found. There was no evidence of BUILDING 1 BUILDING 2 MORE ROMAN FINDS BY THE 11 Winter 2006/7 A£3,000 prize is being off e red to the author of the best thesis on any aspect of the archaeology or history of Kent. The Kent Archaeological Society’s new Hasted Prize aims to encourage scholars to choose Kentish studies for their re s e a rch, and to promote publications that will advance knowledge of the County’s past. It will be awarded for the first time during the KAS’s 150th anniversary celebrations in 2007. The Society is seeking original, eye-catching work that will shed new light on the history of Kent, or areas of London that were once part of the County. Any relevant master’s or doctoral thesis Marketing and Publications or by a university or academic press. This will ensure that it will become accessible to the public and not be confined to the shelves of a university library. The Hasted Prize will be a biennial award. The second will be presented in September 2009 for the best thesis submitted during 2007 or 2008. The prize is named in honour of Edward Hasted (1732-1812), one of Kent’s most celebrated historians, author of The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent. Full details of the Hasted Prize can be obtained from Dr James M. Gibson, Secretary, KAS Publications Committee, 27 Pine Grove, Maidstone, Kent ME14 2AJ. that has been successfully examined by a university, college or other higher education institute in 2005 or 2006 can be submitted for the award, provided that it is accompanied by a recommendation from the thesis supervisor and the names of its examiners. The deadline for the competition is 31 May. The winner will be announced in August and the prize will be presented during the society’s Sesquicentennial Dinner at the University of Kent in Canterbury in September. £1,000 will go directly to the successful author; the remaining £2,000 will help pay for the winning thesis to be published as a book. The author will be able to choose between having the book published by Heritage NEW £3,000 PRIZE WILL SUPPORT KENT HISTORY RESEARCH For those interested, we had the machine set on ‘rural’ and the ohms were fairly low, background 6-7 and the RV walls w e re only 12-13 (widely spaced remote probes 1.5m). But the ‘bath house’ was more, up as high as 30 ohms. This leads to p roblems when attaching the areas together; we have tried o ffsetting them, but it still seems best to print in 60 x 60m blocks as in this case. The subsoil is chalk hill-wash and top soil mainly silt/clay. Ancient Lenham’. This includes articles on our Chapel site, an Iron Age fortified high status site, ancient earthworks on Stumbles field, a previously unrecorded moated manor site, a secret army WW2 station, and much else, and is available from Lenham Library, Marriot’s Newsagent in Lenham High Street, and the Centre for Kentish Studies, County Hall. Lesley Feakes Lenham Archaeological Society Parchmarks in the field. THE KAS RESISTIVITY METER >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> re p o rt outlines the history of medieval Dover and then describes the evolution of the site f rom initial colonisation, up to the twentieth c e n t u ry. It focuses on the main period of a c t i v i t y, c. AD 1175-1300, when simple timber buildings were crowded onto an open beach ridge adjacent to the seashore . L a rge quantities of domestic ru b b i s h including pottery, small finds, animal bone and fish bone were re c o v e red. These import a n t assemblages have been analysed in some detail and a special study of the extensive pott e ry collection is presented. The large amounts of fish bone found, together with many fishhooks and other items of fishing equipment, underlines the importance of fishing to the humble medieval folk who lived in this are a . Amongst them must have been some of the mariners of Dover who provided annual ships e rvice to the King, under the arrangements of the medieval Cinque Ports Federation. Available from Heritage Marketing and Publications Ltd at Hill Farm - Unit F, Castle A c re Road, Great Dunham, King’s Lynn, Norf o l k PE32 2LP. Tel: 01760 755645, web: w w w. h e r i t a g e m p . c o m . The Story of Brenchley House The Historical Research Group of S i t t i n g b o u rn e The HRGS has published its first book, ‘The S t o ry of Brenchley House’ with the grateful assistance of the Queenborough Fisheries Trust and M-Real. To celebrate their 50th anniversary in 1954, the staff and pupils of the County Grammar School for Girls, later re n a m e d Highsted School, compiled a history of their school, Brenchley House. The school had been located here since 1904, a time when seco n d a ry education for young ladies was re l atively uncommon. To local historians and past pupils it is a fascinating study of the old buildi n g ’s history as it was known and understood at that time. Compiling the book was a tru e labour of love; the text was laboriously typed on a manual typewriter, accompanying sketches had to be scratched on to a wax sheet with a special stylus pen and copies produced on a hand-operated Gestetner stencil printer. To d a y v e ry few copies still exist. Moving on 50 years, the Historical R e s e a rch Group of Sittingbourne decided to republish the book more - o r-less in its original f o rm for the next generation of Grammar School girls to enjoy, and in so doing, re - e v a luate the building’s history. In the course of their re s e a rch many new and pre v i o u s l y u n c o n s i d e red facts came to light. The book, of 119 pages, is divided into two distinct sections, the first being the original, complete with its charming sketches, whilst the second takes the re s e a rch to the next stage by Winter 2006/7 12 The Ringlemere Cup: P r ecious Cups and the Beginning of the Channel B r onze Age edited by Stuart Needham, Keith Par f i t t and Gill V a rn d e l l 120p, 57 b/w illus, 4p col pls (British Museum Research Publication 163, British Museum Press 2006). ISBN 0861591631. Paperback. Price £23.00 In 2003 the British Museum acquired the recently discovered Ringlemere gold cup, a r a re example from the Early Bronze Age. The volume provides definitive publication of the R i n g l e m e re cup and its immediate site context. Dating and fuller social significance a re assessed through thorough re a p p r a i s a l and cataloguing of the fifteen comparable cups in gold, silver, amber and shale fro m Britain, Brittany, Germany and Switzerland. This leads on to novel discussion on the e m e rgence of a specialised maritime interaction network early in the 2nd millennium BC. The cups are interpreted as part of a ritual system developed to ‘service’ this network. I m p o rtant distinctions are brought out between southern English coastal communities and a Wessex core zone, and interactions c o n c e rned with the transmission of amber are h i g h l i g h t e d . The cups have profound significance for understanding the development of Bronze Age c u l t u re in north-west Europe, for which it should be a standard re f e rence work. The publication also provides an interim statement on the sequence of events and activity at R i n g l e m e re Monument 1 - initially constru c t e d as a henge - as revealed by the British Museum-backed fieldwork (2002-2005), and to review the significance of the prehistoric monument complex for the Neolithic and Early B ronze Age of east Kent. Available from Oxbow Books. Townwall Street, Dover, Excavations 1996 Keith Parfitt, Barry Corke and John C o t t e r H a r dback, 460pp, 240 figs. ISBN: 9 7 8 1 8 7 0 5 4 5 0 5 1 . Web price: £25.00 In 1996 Canterbury Archaeological Tru s t excavated a large site off Townwall Street at D o v e r, funded by BP Oils UK Ltd. The site lay outside the main centre of the historic town, below Dover Castle, about 150 metres inland f rom the present seashore. A complex sequence of medieval and post-medieval buildings was re c o rded. Detailed study of the site has provided much important new i n f o rmation, which greatly enhances our understanding of the medieval town. The reconsidering the early history in the light of new re s e a rch. In many areas the two studies a re similar and yet very diff e rent in others. The second study draws several conclusions that not only show Brenchley House in a new light but also offers a new insight into the development of Sittingbourne as a whole. Illustrated throughout with the original sketches, plus photos old and new, the book is priced £3, plus £1 p&p. Available from Alan A b b e y, tel: 01795 559207. The Historical Development of the Port of Faversham, 1580- 1 7 8 0 Paul W i l k i n s o n BAR 413. ISBN 1 84171 946 3. £37.00 A British Archaeological Reports (BAR) volume based on a Ph.D thesis. A compre h e n s i v e historical and archaeological investigation of the maritime organization of the port. The early development of the port is examined, also a survey of the shipping fleets of Kent during their formative years. The study analyses the variety of mercantile responses to marketing opportunities; the Thames and water transport were the key to the development of London, and Faversham was well placed to take advantage with its geographic and maritime primary, forging ahead of its competitors in north Kent. Chapters cover in detail the historical and topographical context, the ships and seamen, administration of the p o rt, and the cargoes carried, this last including such diverse goods as hops, oysters, leather and wool, coal, cheese and butter, copperas and salt, and gunpowder. Available from Arc h a e o p ress, Gord o n House, 276 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7ED, tel: 01865 311914, email: bar@arc h a e o - p re s s . c o m . Dode – The Missing Y e a r s Eiley J Bassett The small church of Dode, set in a lonely valley in the north west Kent chalk Downs, is an enigmatic relic of the Middle Ages that has intrigued historians and writers over many years. Why build a church here in this isolated place? Who worshipped here, and what happened to them? Remains of a village have never been found, the little church has no known graveyard, and even its saintly dedication is unknown. Local Catholics refer to it by the picturesque title of ‘Our Lady of the M e a d o w s ’ . This booklet explores the history of Dode, unoccupied long before Henry VIII’s destru ction of the monasteries. Copies are available at £1.25 (includes postage) from Ha’penny Cricket, Henley Street, Luddesdown, Gravesend DA13 0XB. N E W B O O K S 13 Winter 2006/7 Dear Editor Roman Buildings in the Faversham Area It was most interesting to read about the recent work on two Roman buildings in the Faversham area in the last issue of the KAS Newsletter. One reports on the discovery of a ‘rare octagonal bath-house’ (page 14). In fact this precise Roman building was really discovered and partially excavated by the Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit in 1986 under my direction. The discovery was also listed in our publication ‘Archaeology in the Front Line’ published in 2002 (site no.80 at Bax farm). Of greater interest was the reported discovery of a wall of a Roman building, by survey and trial excavation, at nearby Sheldwich. The photo (page 15) shows only the bottom three courses of pilae tiles surviving to L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R W I N T E R 2 0 0 6 wall height of a hypocausted room. Clearly this pilae stack would originally have been 12-20 courses high so that the corresponding Roman floor, above it, would have been at about present ground level. This has major implications for the rest of the site, for, apart from any countersunk hypocausts, the floors and most of the walls will have gone, probably by ploughing and robbing over centuries. This is why so much debris showed up on the surface. In fact, we found exactly this when we substantially excavated the Roman villas at nearby Faversham (in 1965) and Blacklands (in 1995). Our Faversham villa was fully published in 1968 and both our Bax Farm and Blacklands sites are due for publication towards the end of this year. B J Philp Director, Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit Bronze Age Connections: Cultural Contact in Prehistoric Europe Following on from the first Dover Boat conference in 2003, which was primarily concerned with the physical structures of such vessels, their discovery, recovery and preservation, the second conference examined the wider issues raised by such finds. Hosted by the Dover Bronze Age Boat Trust (DBABT) and the University of Kent over the weekend of the 21st and 22nd October, some 180 delegates gathered in the Cru i s e Terminal at Dover’s Western Docks, a fitting setting for papers on the subject of trade and contact in a European context. 16 speakers covered a diverse range of subjects in four themed sessions; Prehistoric navigation in NW Europe; The production and distribution of bronze and other goods; The politics of power: the economic basis of a ruling elite, and The symbolism of travel and the voyage in prehistory. Well-known local Kentish archaeologists, such as Peter Clark (Canterbury Archaeological Trust) and David Perkins (Trust for Thanet Archaeology), were joined by speakers from elsew h e re in Britain, and from France, Holland, Belgium, Ireland and America. Professor Barry Cunliffe (Oxford University) took thoughts on maritime contact further forward into the Iron Age and beyond. A wine reception was held on Saturd a y evening in the award-winning Dover Boat gallery in Dover Museum. This gave everyone the chance to view the Ringlemere Cup, on loan from the British Museum, which Stuart Needham was to discuss in context with other similar cups from Europe the following day. The conference dinner in the magnificent 12th century refectory of Dover College followed this, with the atmosphere and good food much appreciated by the diners. The conference concluded with an announcement by the DBABT that they were currently in negotiations to raise funding for a full size reconstruction of the Dover Boat. The project is 3- phase; re s e a rch, construction of diff e re n t reduced-scale versions, and finally a full sized boat to be sea-trialled. The project will take a minimum of three years, but one suspects that many will jump at the chance to crew such a vessel when it is eventually completed! DOVER BRONZE AGE BOAT CONFERENCE ABOVE: Artist’s reconstruction of the Dover Boat at sea. BELOW: Professor Cunliffe addresses the conference. Winter 2006/7 14 ‘ B Y G O N E KENT’ APPEALS T O K A S M E M B E R S T H E A L L E N G R O V E L O C A L H I S T O RY F U N D Bygone Kent, the county’s only local history magazine, is appealing to KAS members to take out a subscription. Inside this issue you will find a handbill detailing the cost of a year’s worth of issues. £20 buys six issues which are published bimonthly. Bygone Kent was rescued from closure early in 2006 by Nick Evans after the previous publisher went into administration in March. Since then Nick has published the magazine himself at bimonthly intervals, giving it a much needed fresh new look. It now includes a ‘Making History’ news section, reporting on events which affect local history, a self-guided walk as well as the usual contributed articles and book reviews. Plans are in hand to resurrect Bygone Kent’s website at www.bygonekent.com and it is hoped something will be online soon. It is intended that readers will be able to log in to the full index which stretches back 27 years, subscribe, contribute an article or request back numbers. The newly published January/February issue includes articles about trades in Maidstone, Shrimping in Gravesend and a retirement home for horses in Broadstairs. If for some reason your handbill is missing, a subscription can be purchased by sending a cheque for £20 to Bygone Publishing at PO Box 201, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1WT. If readers send now, the first issue will be March/April 2007. Contributions or press releases relating to Kent’s local history are always appreciated and these can be emailed to bygonekent@btintern e t . c o m . Alternatively, you can call Nick Evans on 01227 275157 to discuss further. The late Allen Grove left a legacy to the Kent Archaeological Society to establish this fund to be used for the purposes of research, preservation and enjoyment of local history. The trustees will consider applications for grants for any project with one or more of these purposes. Projects may be practical ones such as presentation, publication and education as well as research. Grants may be made to societies and groups as well as to individuals and are not restricted to members of the Kent Archaeological Society. They are usually around £200 to £400 each but the trustees would consider a larger grant for a particularly imaginative or innovative project which might not be able to proceed without the grant. Awards may not be announced until the summer of 2007. Applications must be submitted, on the official application form, by the 31st March 2007. Application forms and further information may be obtained from the Hon. Secretary: Mr A. I. Moffat, Three Elms, Woodlands Lane, Shorne, Gravesend, DA12 3HH, or by email to secretary@kentarchaeology. org.uk. 15 Winter 2006/7 ABOVE &BELOW: Walkways to explore structures at Oare. The Oare Gunpowder Works are the remains of a former gunpowder factory known to have been in production from the late seventeenth century until it closed and relocated to Scotland in 1934. It is the best preserved example of its kind in the UK, after that at Waltham Abbey. Gunpowder was manufactured in Faversham in the sixteenth century and by the late-seventeenth century there were three such factories – Marsh, Home Works (now known as Chart Gunpowder Mills) and Oare (originally known as Davington Mill). Today, only the latter two remain. As well as the industrial remains, the site contains a wide range of wildlife habitats. By following the well signposted woodland and waterside trails, you’ll discover the narrow-gauge canals once used by the powder punts to transport people and materials around the site, a mill pond, an 80-year-old powder mill repatriated from Ayrshire (one of only two surviving in the UK) and the remains of the structures wherein gunpowder was once made, tested, packed and stored. The Visitors’ Centre is housed in the former coopers’ shed where displays explain how gunpowder is made, how the site developed and the wildlife to be seen. The Oare Gunpowder Works was established in about 1690 by Huguenot refugees who were encouraged to settle in Faversham as seventeenth century French gunpowder production technology was far more advanced than that of the British. The mill was progressively modernised and expanded throughout its working life and what you see today reflects the changes made. By 1844 the Chart and Oare mills, both situated on the Oare stream, were being operated as one by the family firm John Hall & Co, who had acquired at least part of the site in 1812. The works were refurbished in 1926 and continued manufacturing gunpowder until they relocated to Ardeer in Ayrshire, Scotland in 1934, taking much of the machinery with them. Closeness to the continent and London, the original rationale for setting up the works in Faversham, was a distinct disadvantage in times of war. A more remote site had to be found and Scotland was seen as being ideal. The site lay neglected for more than 70 years and nature took its course. The mature trees and bushes you see today were once part of the works’ anti-blast defences in the event of an explosion, forming an effective blast screen to reduce damaging eff e c t s . Similarly, many of the buildings were flimsily constructed to reduce damage in case of accidents. A major conservation project began in 2004 to preserve the remaining structures and to facilitate access to all parts of the site by improving the footpaths. The site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, having been recognized as such by the RCHME and English Heritage. It is one of only three sites of prime national importance in the gunpowder industry, whilst the reed beds at the Lower Mill Pond form a part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest. A grant awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, together with other money given, enabled local charity Groundwork Medway Swale to begin restoration work. OARE GUNPOWDER WORKS COUNTRY PARK The last Newsletter carried news of the grant given to Leigh Gunpowder Mills and proposed restoration works. Here are details of the newly-restored mills at Oare. Oare Gunpowder Works is a ‘must’ for visitors, no matter whether you live locally or are visiting Kent. There are four different routes to explore, each indicated by coloured marker posts and it takes about an hour to stroll leisurely around the site. For location, opening hours and disabled access information (fully accessible) contact Gro u n d w o r k Medway Swale who manage the site with local volunteers on 01634 855166 or email to gms@groundwork.org.uk. Admission is free. John Clancy Published by the Kent Archaeological Society, Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Gallery, 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: 07920 548906 Email evelyn.palmer@virgin.net or newsletter@kentarchaeology.org.uk Copy deadline for the next issue in April is Monday March 3rd. 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: A CAT Kit, and school children enjoying the contents. Winter 2006/7 16 It was a year ago that Canterbury Archaeological Trust held the C AT KIT training sessions for local teachers and sent them off happy with their new ‘toys’. Since then I have been evaluating how the kits are being used in the classroom by talking to pupils and teachers and collating feedback. At the end of the summer term teachers were invited for a strawberries and cream tour of the Trust’s headquarters and group discussion about their experiences. Children and teachers have clearly been enjoying themselves! The feedback has been very positive and we are delighted with the results of this project. Primary schools have the flexibility to do cross-curricula work and have used the CAT KITs in the classroom to teach History, Maths, Art, Science, Literacy and IT. Teachers like the combination of resources in a CAT KIT - the finds, the teaching ideas and reconstruction photos on the website. As they become familiar with the kits they begin to see other ways of using the materials. The broad ‘Archaeology’ theme of the kit also makes it a useful resource for introducing ‘What is History?’ to young secondary school students. Over the past few months, eleven and twelve year olds at the Orchard School, Canterbury, have been having new classrooms built at their site and they took the opportunity to look at modern and ancient building technology using CAT KIT materials and talking to the builders! The project has been publicised in archaeological periodicals, the local press and at conferences and public events including the Society’s History Show. Through publicity on the CAT website, I am also speaking with Harvard University who would like to adapt the CAT KIT idea and produce their own version for teachers in the USA. Building on this experience, we will continue with our long term plan of building more kits to go into more Kent schools. With the help of the Kent Archaeological Society we have begun to collect suitable material and we are aiming for the first of the next tranche of kits to be available to schools in West Kent next year. All parties involved are agreed that this selective use of archaeological material is very beneficial and CAT is very happy that our partnership with the Society is enabling us to extend this project. To find out more about the CAT KITs project go to www.canterburytrust.co.uk Marion Green CAT Education Officer A few quotes from CAT KIT users: MORE CAT KITS FOR KENT SCHOOLS (child!)