KAS Newsletter, Issue 89, Summer 2011

2-3 Making Waves i 4-5 Queensborough Castle Remembering Lydd's Dead 6-7 What's On 8-9 You and Your Society: Committee Round Up 10-11 Committee Round Up Notes from the Archl 12-13 Kent Records & N Newlands Chapel 14-15 Newlands Chap Visit to Cheven ISSUE NUMBER 89 SUMMER 2011 Fragment of 'retlcella' glass from the East Kent Access excavations By Rail: High Speed 1 Perhaps the only project ro rival the East Kent Access Road in either scale or archaeological discoveries is High Speed 1, the UK's only high speed railway line. With other archaeological practices, Wessex A r chaeology undertook a significant part of the excavation and post-excavation works. The various publications are all nearing completion. Most recently, the popular publication 'Tracks and Traces: the archaeology of High Speed J' was published, taking the reader along the route from the magnificently restored St Pancras International Station to the Anglo-Saxon cemetery near Folkestone. If you would like to buy a copy, please contact High Speed 1 at info@ highspeed I .co. uk. Focusing on Kent, the four volumes about Springhead and Northfleet are available for pre-order from Oxbow B ooks and will be delivered to the printers in August. The post excavation works have been a vast undertaking by the joint venture of Oxford and Wessex Archaeology. We hope you enjoy reading about it all. By River: Bishops Palace From one of our largest excavations to one of our smallest! At Halling, anyone who walks their dog by the river will have seen some big changes at the Bishops Palace. Until recent years che site was the location of a busy ferry crossing across the River Medway. The popular beaury spot is now being landscaped by Valley of Visions Landscape Partnership Scheme to create a modern communiry space reflecting rhe historic roots of Halling. We recently undertook an evaluation on rhe sire, monitored the construction of a new path and hosted an open day during the excavation for local residents. The ruined walls and mysterious mounds at the Bishops Palace are By Road: East Kent Access Update The lase two issues of the Newsletter have featured this excavation, one of rhe largest ever undertaken in the country. The journey is now beginning through post-excavation. The assessment report has just been completed, setting out the aims and objective of analysis and the scope of the dissemination. Some beautiful objects have been uncovered, including (above) this finely decorated 'reticella' glass, which would have come from a drinking vessel. It tantalising clues to a fascinating past stretching back for at least 1,000 years. The first mention of the name 'Halling' is in an 8th century charter and the name is thought to mean 'hall dwellers.' The Bishops Palace itself may have been built by Gundulph in 1077, bur rhe ruins visible today may be slightly lacer, belonging to the 12th century. The site had fallen into disrepair, although some of the original hall survives because it marks the boundary of the churchyard. The archaeologi cal investigation found little evidence for rhe medieval occupation of the site, as it had been disturbed by the nearby cement works in the 19th and 20th century. An imposing tram embankment was builr across the sire at this rime, and this has been is almost certainly an import and dares from the mid to late Saxon period (c. AD 650-1066). The decoration is formed by applying rods of different coloured glass to the surface of che vessel. Visigothic brooch, found in the High Speed 1 excavations incorporated into the new landscape design with tunnelled footpaths and walkways. The open day was a great success, with over a hundred people seeing archaeology in action, and learning something new about a place they had visited countless times before. www.kentarchaeology.org.uk - Summer 2011 - KAS Newsletter I 3 D uring the fourteenth century, the small fishing settlement of Binney was chosen by Edward III as the site of his new castle. Alongside it was founded the planned new town of Queenborough, named after che king's wife, Queen Philippa of Hainault. The cascle seems to have been built as a refuge from che Black Death for the ageing king, but its technologically advanced concentric circular design embodied the most upto- date military chinking, responding to the new threat from artillery. Its complement of cannon suggests that it also had a defensive role. There are few other large round structures known from the medieval period, though Edward's own abandoned building of 1344 at Windsor to house his round table, and the slightly earlier Majorcan Castle Bellver in Spain, are both interesting parallels. The new town was granted the wool staple for ten years to encourage its growth bur soon declined once the right to export wool reverted to Sandwich in 1377. The medieval street and tenement plot layout, focused on Queenborough Creek and the Swale, is still visible in the town today. In the end, the castle only saw military action during the Cade rebellion, when the garrison repelled a small attack, but it continued in use until rhe seventeenth century. In 1650, deemed to be no longer suited to the warfare of the day, it was demolished by Parliament. Affected in pares by the neighbouring railway and Queen borough's Vi ctorian development, the cascle sire received little archaeological attention until it became the subject of an episode of Time Team in 2005. Their geophysical survey and trenching work identified the castle layout and walls for the first time and enabled an estimate of the structure's size to be made. Time Team also found masonry remains and a Second World War air raid shelter built to serve the nearby school. Now a public open space, the cascle mound is to be brought to life again with new planting to mark the walls and gates, alongside a programme of fieldwork, research and education involving the whole community. 4 I Summer 2011- KAS Newsletter- www.kentarchaeology.org.uk There will be numerous opportunities for everyone who wants to get involved. We'll be digging deep in the archives to uncover Queenborough's history on a training day at the Centre for Kentish Studies. Then, we'll be putting that information to good use when we dig for real at the site, excavating the sites of the new tree pits and monitoring the creation of new flower beds. The trees are located over Time Team's locations for the castle gates and our fieldwork will help refine, or perhaps even challenge, their conclusions. Local people will also be researching, designing and creating artwork for new permanent information boards at the site, telling the story of life in the castle. Finally, there will be a guided walk taking in all the sights of historic Queenborough, looking to appreciate the setting of the town and the cascle as well as teasing out its medieval roots. Queenborough Primary School will also be involved in the project with visits and activities from a community archaeologist. For more information and to register your interest, you can visit ,. . - I ·.. .. --􀂾- 􀂿-- ,,., - - , : ,,. ; ::,._ .a.! .. ----- ,. .. - J ... ·􀀊 ---.,. - ;. .. :,r_ 􀀁 http:/ /www.kent.gov. uk/leisure_and_ cul cure/heri cage/ getting_involved/ queenborough_castle_project.aspx or email queenboroughcastle@kent. gov.uk The project has received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Kent County Council. The project is a partnership between Swale Borough Council and Kent County Council Regeneration & Economy and Heritage teams. 􀂽 "° ,., .. Plan of Qucenborough Castle. (Clopham and Godfr,y/ Remembering Lydd's dead byTerreena Bellinger Lydd church, known as the "cathedral of the m arsh", contains a w i d e a n d i m p r e s s i v e r a n g e o f m e m o r i a l s chat date from the medieval period to the present day. These commemorative and dedicatory items, including tombs, plaques and brasses, have been the subject of a recently completed research project funded by the Romney Marsh Research Trust. A new survey of the monuments has updated and expanded the previous records made by Leland L. Duncan, Thomas Cobb and Bryan Faussett, and includes full tr anscriptions, photographs, and surname lists, as well as monuments now probably lost. My full report has been made available online at www.rmrt.org.uk. One of the Appendices (VI) lists 104 monuments of various kinds not recorded by Duncan, Cobb and Faussett. There is also a link to this website from the KAS's own research pages under Lydd Church Monumental Inscriptions. From the 13th century the Godfrey family formed part of the social elite in the towns of the Cinque Ports confederation, their increased prosperity and social standing manifest in the memorials commissioned to praise their dead and still-living family members in Lydd church from c. 1430. Several of their monuments have survived. Along with testamentary and other manuscript records these memorials have formed the basis for a paper, coauthored with Or Gill Draper, in which the commemorative culture of the late medieval and early modern period is examined. The full article, "'My boddye shall lye with my name Engraven on it': remembering the Godfrey family of Lydd'', can be found in Romney Marsh: Persistence and Change in a Coastal L owland (eds. M. Waller, E. Edwards and L . Barber), Romney Marsh Research Trust, 2010, 117-40. www.kentarchaeology.org.uk - Summer 2011- KAS Newsletter I 5 WHAT'S ON KAS EVENTS KAS Aeldwork Committee Two ONE DAYTRAINING COURSES on PRACTICAL SITE SURVEYING (Same course on both days) Location: The Roman Buildings at Gallants Business Park, Lower Road, East Farleigh, Maidstone. TQ 72805345 Course 1-Wednesday 3 August Course 2 - Saturday 6 August From 10am - 4 pm each day (lunch 12.30 to 1pm - please bring a packed lunch). Cost £5 per person (pay on the day). Subjects covered: » Detail Surveying » Base lines and offset methods of booking detail » Triangulation and Traverse Surveys » Tape alone » Triangulation using theodolite and tape » Triangulation and traversing using electronic distance measurement (EDM) » Calculation of co-ordinates (please bring a scientific calculator if you have one) » Basic Site Levelling » Plan Drawing The course will be limited to two groups of three on each day. Further courses will be run if there is sufficient demand. To book contact Mr AJ.Daniels, BSc. on 01622 757536 or email a.daniels249@btintemet.com KAS Historic Buildings Committee ONE DAY WORKSHOP In conjunction with the Wye Rural Museum Trust Saturday 10 September Held at the Agricultural Museum at Brook, nearWye This workshop will give practical experience in building interpretation & recording. Three workshops will cover the following topics:- » Understanding timber framing and construction - Jane Wade » Reading and interpreting a building - Peter Seary (Canterbury Archaeological Trust) » Recording a building - George Denny RIBA In addition, Shella Sweetinburgh will be discussing, with examples, documentary sources relating to Medieval Buildings. The day will be run in two sessions, morning and afternoon, and the workshops will be repeated in each session. Participants will be asked to choose two of the three sessions. It will also be helpful if you could bring the following items:- » measuring tape » clip board » note book » torch The cost for the day is £12. You are advised to bring a packed lunch. An application fonn is available on the Society's web site or direct from Mike Clinch on 01322 526425, or from 2 Parkhurst Rd, Bexley DAS 1AR or email mike@mikeclinch.co.uk KAS Churches Committee VISIT St Peter and St Paul, Luddesdowne & St Mary Magdalen, Cobham Saturday 24 September Please meet at 1.45 for 2pm start at Luddesdowne, St Peter and St Paul (postcode DA13 0XE; grid reference TQ 669 661 (fQ6666) The church is off a country lane and is not visible from the road, but there is a sign. There is a church car park. We will then move on to Cobham, St Mary Magdalen (postcode DA12 3DB; grid reference TQ669 683 (fQ6668)). The church is highly visible in the village, opposite the Leather Bottle Inn. Parking is at The Meadow Room (the village hall) a couple of hundred yards or so down the road. There are maps linked from the churches' website: http:/ /www.cobham-luddesdowne.org/ location.html The cost of the visits is £5, to include tea and biscuits at Cobham. Please register by emailing or telephoning the Church Visits Secretary, Jackie Davidson - jacalyn.davidson@btintemet. corn or 01634 324004 Dates of all visits this year can be found in the diary at www.kentarchaeology.org.uk. KAS Historic Buildings Committee HISTORIC BUILDINGS CONFERENCE Accommodation in Medieval and Early Modem Buildings Saturday 15 October Harrietsham Community Centre, 9.30am for 10am until 4pm. Main talks: » The House Divided - the use of internal space of buildings as revealed through archaeology; Andrew Linklater(Canterbury Archaeological Trust) » The Provision of Services in Medieval Rural 6 I Summer 2011 - KAS Newsletter - www.kentarchaeology.org.uk and Urban Kentish Houses; Sarah Pearson (author of The Medieval Houses of Kent: an Historical Analysis) » Towards a Material History of Early Modem Accommodation - houses, objects and daily routine; Catherine Richardson (University of Kent) The day will also include short accounts of research projects. Admission - £10. Buffet selection lunch - £7 (vegetarian option included, but we are unable to cater for other special diets). Tea and coffee provided on arrival and at the end of the Conference. Deadline for applications Monday 3 October. Further details will be included with tickets. The booking fonn is on the Society's website. For those unable to access this, please send your cheque, payable to 'Kent Archaeological Society' to: Mr D Carder (KAS), 53 The Ridgeway, Chatham, Kent ME4 6PB. Please ensure you state your name, address, tel no, number of tickets & number of lunches (including any vegetarian options). Please enclose a SAE for return of tickets or tell us you will collect on the day. KAS LECTURES IN THE LIBRARY From Monday 19 September Life In England 1901-1939 Mornings 10.15 - 12.15 A time of war, social conflict and depression, but also rising living standards for many people. Topics will include the beginnings of the Welfare State under the Liberals, 1906-1914; the home front in the First World War; unemployment and the great depression; housing; education; leisure. The Making of Europe, 410-1453 Afternoons 2.00 - 4.00 In this period, foundations were laid which continued to influence European affairs down to the twentieth century. Topics will include the fall of the Roman Empire in the West and the 'barbarian' migrations; the rise of Islam; the Empire of Charlemagne; the Vikings, Nonnandy and Sicily; the Medieval Papacy; the Crusades; France; Gennany and eastern Europe; the Renaissance; the Byzantine Empire. Cost is £80 for 20 sessions. Please contact Joy Sage at the museum or on 01622 762924. One-Day Conference held jointly by KAS and the Friends of the Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies, University of Kent LATER MEDIEVAL KENT Saturday 10 December 9.55am (register from 9.30) to 5pm Grimond Lecture Theatre 1, University of Kent, Canterbury campus Programme (2 lectures per session): » The Aristocracy: Dr David Grum mitt & Richard Eales » The Economy: Professor Mavis Mate & Dr Gillian Draper » The Church: Dr Elizabeth Edwards & Dr Robert Lutton » The Town: Sarah Pearson & Dr Sheila Sweetin burgh Tickets £12 (lunch NOT provided - see campus outlets). Further details and to book (by 2 December): Claire Taylor, Centre for Medieval and Early Modem Studies, Rutherford College, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NX; c.l.taylor@kentac.uk or 01227 823140. Cheques should be made payable to 'UNIKENT'. EVENTS AROUND KENT FESTIVAL OF BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGY 16 - 31 July Festival events in Kent are being held at Folkestone, Shome, Dartford, Tunbridge Wells, Birchington, Rochester, East Far1eigh, Dover, Orpington, lower Higham and Bexley. Go to www.archaeologyfestival.org.uk to find out more. Details of 3 events appear below. EAST FARLEIGH ROMAN VILLA OPEN DAY Sunday 31 July 11.30am - 3.00 pm. Site tours, displays of finds, poster displays and geophysics demonstrations. Tours throughout the day - tum up at any time. Access is through Lower Gallants Business Park (ME15 OJS), on Lower Road (B2010), Just west of its junction with Gallants Lane, through a big green gate. Drive down the track for c150 yards, through a green metal gate, tum left through outbuildings onto open field to park within a few yards of the excavation. SHORNE WOODS ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT EXCAVATION, TOURS & FINDS DISPLAYS From the 9 - 31 July, we will be investigating the remains of Randall Manor, In this, our sixth season. Run as a community archaeology dig, local schools will be Joining volunteers to excavate the remains of the main building of the Manor, once owned by the de Cobhams of Randall. Visitors are very welcome and Guided Tours will run dally, with displays of Finds on site at the weekends. We look forward to welcoming many members of the Society on Tours of the dig this summerl Please note - Tours will not run on Monday 18th or 25th. If you would like to find out more about the Project and the Dig, please contact Andrew Mayfield at andrew.mayfield@kent.gov.uk or 07920 548906. See www.kent.gov.uk/randallmanor and www. facebook.com/ archaeologyinkent where Andrew will be posting daily updates from the Dig. CROFTON ROMAN VILLA, Orpington Life In the Roman Villa Wednesdays 20 & 27 July Fridays 22 & 29 July Visit the Villa and discover what life was like there 1,800 years ago. Claim your FREE book on 'Excavations in West Kent', covering 30 local sites with drawings and photographs. Normal opening times and charges. CRAYFORD MANOR HOUSE HISTORICAL & ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY Saturday 8 October - Meals and Manners in Shakespeare's Time by Shirley Newton Saturday 12 November - Pepys Hereabouts by John Swindell and Lesley Veach Saturday 10 December - An Audience with Queen Victoria by Anne Carter Saturday 14 January 2012 - Migration Triangle; Calico Printing on the Cray, the Lea and the Wandle by David Cufley Saturday 11 February 2012 - The Suburban Home Front in the Second World War by Mike Brown Saturday 10 March 2012 - Traditional Kentish Building Materials by Richard Filmer All meetings are held at The BakerTrust Hall, Maxim Road, Crayford at 7pm for 7.30pm. Non-members welcome to attend - £3.00 per lecture (except December when there will be an additional charge). Enquiries to Mrs. J. Heam-Gillham - 01322 551279 or email janet.hearn-gillham@ntlworld.com LOOSE AREA HISTORY SOCIETY Monday 10 October - Hazards of the Journey Pilgrimage and Travel by lmogen Corrigan. Monday 14 November - Despatches from the Home Front by Chris Mccooey. Monday 12 December - A Shopping trip in Downe In a bygone era by Barbara Stevens. Unless otherwise Indicated all meetings are held WHAT'S ON at Loose Infant School Hall, Loose Road, Loose, Maidstone, Kent, starting at 7.30pm. Non-members welcome. Admission £2.50. Pay at the door. Free parking In school grounds. Enquiries 01622 741198 or www.looseareahlstorysoclety.webeden.co.uk CROFTON ROMAN VILLA Ancient Heroes & Legends - every Wednesday In August 3 August - Romulus, Remus and the Wolf 10 August• King Midas and his Ass's Ears 17 August - Phaeton and the Sun-Horses 24 August• Pegasus, the Prince and the Monster 31 August• Hercules Holds up the Sky Sessions at 10.30am and 2.30pm. For 5 -11 year olds. No booking required. Children to be accompanied. Entry £4.00 per child, accompanying adult free. Fun with Pots - every Friday In August Find out about Roman pots and have some real fun making your own 'Roman' mini clay pot to take home! Sessions at 10.30am and 2.30pm. For 5 -11 year olds. No booking required. Children to be accompanied. Entry £4.00 per child, accompanying adult free. Open City 2011 - Sunday 18 SEPTEMBER 10.00am - 4.30pm. FREE ENTRY with guided tours at 11.00am, 2.30pm and 3.30pm St MARGARET'S HISTORY SOCIETY Tuesday 20 September, 7.30pm - Life in the Victorian Workhouse; Peter Ewart Tuesday 18 October, 7.30pm - Ramsgate in World War II - 1938 up to and including Dunkirk Tuesday 15 November, 7.00pm (AGM) • A Little Bit of Chanting - the story of educating the masses; Denise Baldwin & Katherine Harding All talks held In St Margaret's Main Hall, Reach Road. Visitors welcome, entry £3.00. CBA SE CONFERENCE 'Policing the Past' Saturday 12 November University of Sussex Focussing on recent work to tackle heritagerelated crime, the keynote speaker will be Chief Inspector Mark Harrison of Kent Police. See CBA SE website for more details & tickets. www.kentarchaeology.org.uk - Summer 2011 - KAS Newsletter I 7 YOU & YOUR SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP MATTERS A plea for help! I have spent some time recently cleaning up the membership database and would like to know if any of you know the whereabouts of the following: life Members A Cronk, 0X7 6DG P H Kinslow, TN21 9JU E P Mount, PE26 1NE Major S EL Phillips, CT15 68B J W Walker, ME9 88B Ordinary Members D Crowther, CT15 5JX P M De Paris, DT10 2LX SA Marsh, BT19 HU (Northern Ireland) R Sherratt, TN15 6TB Their Newsletters and Archaeologia Cantiana have been returned to me marked 'gone away' or 'not known at this address'. If you can give me any clues please do so soon. An Extra Task for the Membership SecretarySupervising Ballots! by Shiela Broomfield I must admit chat this was one pare of che duties of che Membership Secretary chat I did not relish, bur in the event it proved not co be as onerous as I had first feared. As you know, we had an election this May for the important post of President of KAS. Once I knew this was going to happen, I warned my team of eight scrutineers ( elected at the 2010 AG M) chat their skills would be needed. Because rwo of the elected scrutineers had asked co stand down, rwo more were elected by the KAS Council so chat the required number of at least four were available. To save a considerable amount of coses the ballot papers and return envelopes were printed in my house - all in accordance with the rules laid down in the Constitution. We then met in the KAS library to pack these with the Spring Newsletter in plenty of time. I am very pleased to welcome the following new members: Joint Members Mr and Mrs R Coleman, Sutton Valence Mr & MrsJ Howe, Eastry Ordinary Members Mrs D Dann, Chatham Miss C E Hawes, Canterbury Mr G Hutchinson, Dover Mr J Jennings, Reigate, Surrey Dr Labon, Canterbury Mr SW Lawley, Northenden, Manchester Mr M Newton, Strood Mrs S White, Sevenoaks Mr BJ Wright, Cliffe, Rochester This list is somewhat shorter than usual, so please spread the word about KAS and distribute application forms when you visit museums or attend conferences and other meetings. There should be some in the KAS library, or ask me for some. Shiela Broomfield, 8 Woodview Crescent, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 9HD telephone: 01732 838698 email s.broomfield@clementi.demon.co.uk Over the next few weeks my kind postman staggered to my front door with bundles of ballot envelopes. These I kept unopened ready for the team co re-assemble, co open and then count the ballot papers on the Friday before the AGM. We again assembled on the following morning to count any ballot papers that were handed in before the AGM. The final vote was Ian Coulson - 231, Frank Panton 107, with only 3 spoilt papers. It was good to see chat both candidates had good backing. I am so very grateful for the support and hard work given by the stalwart band of scrutineers, making the task an enjoyable event. AGM 2011 The splendour of the Guildhall Museum in Rochester High Street set the scene for the Society's AGM in May 2011. The fifty five members that attended were welcomed by the President, Chris Pout, who then presided over business items relating to 2010. Following a derailed 8 I Summer 2011- KAS Newsletter - www.kentarchaeology.org.uk report on Finance, he announced the result of the election for the new President: Ian Coulson had been elected as President. Retiring after six years in office, Chris Pout handed the meeting over to the new President, and immediately stepped down. Six officers were declared elected - the office of Hon Excursions Secretary was, however, left unfilled after the retirement of Mrs Joy Saynor who had held this post for many years. President Ian Coulson welcomed six members co the Council, four who had been re-elected and rwo new ones. After the conclusion of formal business the audience were entertained, informed and amused by three presentations: Dr Andrew Richardson gave an overview of the Town-Unearthed project of Folkescone, Professor David Killingray elucidated the subject of Publishing Kent's Past and Rod LeGear completed the session with a lively and fascinating report about Chislehurst Caves. The most likely location for the AGM in 2012 will be Canterbury and nominations for members to the Council must be sent to the Hon. General Secretary (email: secretary@kentarchaeology.org.uk) by the first day of March 2012. Living through the Reformation at St. Dunstan's, Canterbury by Jose Gibbs Once again the KAS Churches Committee managed co combine beautiful weather with a well-organised event to produce an interesting and stjmulating day. 94 people made the journey to St. Dunstan's church. Committee chairman, Mary Berg, opened the day by welcoming everyone, especially the many who were not KAS members, and thanking the team from St. Dunstan's who were co provide refreshments. She gave especial thanks CHURCHES COMMITTEE Visits to Lullingstone & Eynsford by Toby Huitson On a glorious afternoon on the lase day of April, some 30 people congregated in north-west Kent for two visits. The first was to Sc Botolph, Lullingstone, wit􀂛in the castle boundary. Its interior is a fusion of the Gochie and Classical styles. A striking feature is the unusual rood screen w i t h i t s carvings of pomegranates and the Pechey rebus. For these reasons it is usually dated co between 1 502 a n d 152 2, although it sparked interested discussion as co which parts might be original. Philip Lawrence shared his expertise about the impressive chancel brass inlay commemorating Sir William Peche (1487). There is also sixteenth-century glass in the nave and chapel, both figurative and armorial. The north to Sheila Sweetinburgh and Jacqui Davidson for all their work in preparing for the day. A l a s d a i r H o g a r t h , Chairman of the 'Friends of Sc. Dunstan's', spoke on the history of the church prior to the reformation, showing how it responded to political and architectural changes. First recorded in 1030, it may be the earliest church to have this dedication and was perhaps preceded by a preaching cross COMMITTEE ROUND UP chapel contains a fine Tudor monument to Sir John Peche with an effigy and finely-carved canopy. The church owes much to the Queen Anne period, including its porch, bell turret, miniature font, raised roof and plaster ceiling, and even the chancel arch. Like Lullingstone, Eynsford once had two churches, the other long since lost. Eynsford represents picturesque Kent at its best, with the river Darent and castle ruins nearby. Sc Martin's is a fascinating building on an unusual uphill sloping site. It has a fifteenth-century font and a spacious chirteench-cen tury south transept. On the north side there is a Tudor chapel to St Katherine with a 'green man' corbel and evidence for a lost chapel. The most surprising feature of the church is its large chancel with its apse. From the outside this appears to be pure Victoriana, but it is original, if heavily re-fenestraced. The Norman origins of the building are clear in the west door with its spiral and zig-zag columns and chip-carved tympanum at the key position just outside the city walls on the roads to London and W h i t s t a b l e . Following the m u r d e r o f Thomas Becket in 1170, it was ideally sited to profit from the thousands o f p i l g r i m s , including Henry II, who flocked to Canterbury. In1 525 William Roper, son-in-law to Sir T homas More, added the Roper chancel. By 1535 (just before the onset of reform) the church looked externally above. All in all, these two buildings are well worth visiting. Special thanks are expressed ro Joy Saynor for her enthusiastic and knowledgeable inuoductions to both churches, to those who made the delicious tea at Eynsford and homemade shortbread, and to exchurchwarden Frank Rogers for opening Eynsford church for us. The next Churches Committee visits take place on Saturday 24 September - details are on the 'What's On' pages. much as it does today, but internally very different, with gilded statues, four altars with expensive frontals, relics of saints and illuminated books. Professor Ken Fincham of the University of Kent then outlined the religious changes of the 16th century that were to bring about upheaval of all kinds, the consequences of which are still with us, for example, abbey ruins, Tyndale's Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. Following lunch, four workshops gave the opportunity co look at the church building and 16th century documentation relating to Sc. Dunstan's, such as the Churchwardens www.kentarchaeology.org.uk - Summer 2011 - KAS Newsletter I 9 COMMITTEE ROUND UP continued Accounts. Using copies of these, we looked for evidence of the changes outlined in the morning. We also had the chance to see (but not handle) some of the original books brought by Jacqui Davidson from the Cathedral Archives. Over in the church Ken Fincham and Imogen Corrigan talked us through the various changes by pointing out how the liturgy influenced the layout of the church. Thank you to Mary Berg and her committee fo r organising a day that brought to life the many upheavals and changes that the ordinary person in the street experienced in the space of 40 or so years. HISTORIC BUILDINGS COMMITTEE by Angela Davies Over the last few months Committee members have been finalising the arrangements for two events: » The Workshop on Building Interpretation and Recording to be held in conjunction with the Wye Rural Museum Trust at the Agricultural Museum in Brook on Saturday, 10 September 2011. » The Autumn Historic Buildings Conference to be held in Harrietsham Village Hall on Saturday, 15 October 2011. More details of both events can be found in the What's On section of this Newsletter Looking further into the future, following in Joy Saynor's footsteps, the Committee is planning several visits in 2012, the first of which will take place sometime in the spring. More information will be given in the next Newsletter. Also, preliminary discussions have taken place on the feasibility of a project studying a group of buildings in one area. The aim of the project would be to tie in the buildings with any documentar y evidence that can be found relating to their construction, owners or tenants. Repairing 'The Comarques', High Street, Deal by Pernille Richards 􀀖 In the afternoon of Sunday 4 December 1943, the Germans shelled Deal. Among the properties damaged was 'The Comarques' in the High Street. W.P.D. Scebbing had noted this house as a good example of architecture from the first half of the 18th century back in 1937. An architect by training, Scebbing took a keen interest in the old buildings of Deal and one box in the KAS collection contains papers relating to this. In some cases he is merely documenting architectural derails, but in other cases the papers reflect Scebbing's active involvement in local matters relating to historic properties. In 1943 Scebbing became involved in the process of repairing The Comarques as he considered it of architectural merit. Box 14 contains correspondence between Scebbing and the owner, Mrs Gladys Hulke, who was residing in Surrey at the time, as well as other parties involved in the process. The road to repair was to prove a long one. Initially the house was made secure and some debris was removed under the direction of the Borough Surveyor. In February 1944 Scebbing organized a visit to the building by people from the Minis cry of Works in order to obtain their support for the preservation of the house. Once the agreement to save the house had been secured the process of applying for a licence for the repair works from the War Damage Commission began. This required the employment of the architect Fawcett Martindale, further surveys and paperwork. It had all the complications of any large insurance 10 I Summer 2011 - KAS Newsletter - www.kentarchaeology.org.uk claim and wartime conditions did not aid matters. Progress was slow; it was lace April 1944 before the builders Denne & Son commenced clearing more debris. The repair work was co be limited to the essentials to prevent further deterioration of the building. This proved to be a sticking point, as the owner's view of what constituted essential repairs differed from the view of the Ministry of Works. Stebbing also championed the view that the repairs should be made in brick, which although initially more expensive than wood, would prove more durable. Protracted negotiations rook place to sort out the derails. The combination of bureaucracy and wartime conditions makes for some surreal paperwork. In May 1944 Stebbing informed Mrs Hu.Ike that she would have to carry some expenses for the survey of the building and for worm-damaged timbers exposed by the shell as: "The War Damage Commission in such cases say the decay was not caused by the enemy and so expect the owner to bear that pre-war trouble." Mrs Hulke was initially aghast: "It is incredible to me that the War Damage Commission disclaim their responsibility for wormeaten timbers, after all it is due to war damage they have been exposed, and their replacement made necessary. .. " However, she did accept responsibility for the timbers. Mrs Hulke's letters provide interesting information on how the house was arranged and past alterations made to it. Mr and Mrs Hulke had central heating installed in 1926 and later Mrs Hulke split the Fig 1. The Comarques - 1943 Fig 2. The Comarques - present Day house into three flats. Many details are given as to the location of kitchenettes, bathroom facilities etc. The seven pages of repair specifications and plan made by Fawcett Martindale in June 1944 are also of interest, showing what was damaged in each area. Finally, in July 1944, things were ready for Denne & Son to price the job. The cost proved too high for the Ministry of Works to accept and a new phase of negotiations started. In December 1944 it briefly looked as if the house might be classed as too damaged to rebuild. Once agreement had been reached the labour shorrage caused delay. The years 194 5 and 1946 passed without repairs. Mrs Hu.Ike was seriously concerned about the property -_.:'°' 􀀸􀀹 . -" ,...._ 􀀷 . - by this stage. Finally, in July and August 1947, reconstruction was underway and Mrs Hulke was reassured that the new bricks would mellow in time and fit in with the old ones. There are no more letters after this point, but the serene facade of The Comarques was eventually restored and the house is today a visual asset of Deal's Conservation Area. It has just been on the market after being in the same family, descendants of Mrs Hulke , for over 250 years. www.kentarchaeology.org.uk- Summer 2011- KAS Newsletter I 11 Kent Archaeological Society Kent Records (New Series) Volume 5. ISBN 978-0-906746-75-2 SUBSCRIPTION VOLUME 5, parts 5 & 6 Members and non-members of the Society are invited to subscribe to the forthcoming parts of the Kent Records (New Series). Please send a cheque/money order in s􀄃erling_ for £11.00, made payable to Kent Archaeological Society for your subscription to yolume_ 5, parts 5 &_6. Because of_the d1fflcult1es and fluctuations of exchanging currencies, all remittances MUST BE made only in sterling. Please include your title, name and address. This should be sent to Kent Archaeological Society Ashton Lodge Church Road, Lyminge, Folkestone CT18 8JA ' ' 􀄄incere apologies for the delay in produci􀄅g yolume 4, part 10. I am currently working on part 10 which is the name and place index to the whole v􀄆l􀄇me, together with a limited subjec! index conjointly with title pages and contents listing for binding. Future parts of Volume 5 will include further early Kent Feet of Fines and more lost Sandwich Muster records. Duncan Harrington SALE ITEMS Volume 1 (10 parts, 448 pp., 1990-95). Due to poor storage whilst held by another company, the staples have rusted; these are offered to subscribers free, paying only £3.50 for postage and packing. Volume 3 ISBN 0-906746-50-7 (1999-2007). Parts 1-11; £27.50 (includes p&p), normally £55. Tenterden Tailor's Accounts, Shipboume T itle Deeds, Hearth Tax Constables' returns, A Seventeenth-Century inventory for Westenhanger Castle and Sturry Court with a 1559 survey of the manor, Faversham's Assessment for a ship for the Counter Armada of 1596 and piracy document, Inhabitants of West Kent 1487, Faversham Fines 1295-1610 & an appendix of fines taken from some Borough accounts, material from the Public Record Office Feet of Fines and comment on Concords of Fines. There is an introduction to the Early Kent Muster Rolls and a transcript of the 1545 listing E101/61/ 40 & ElOl/65/27 from the NA (PRO). There are introductory sheets for the volume, contents for Volume 3, and a name and place index to Volume 3, parts 3-10 (the Tenderden Tailor's accounts parts 1-3 were indexed in Vol. 3/3). Volume 4 Parts 1-9 (2004-2010). £22.50, normally £46.50. A calendar of the Kent Feet of Fines for Edward VI, Mary and Philip and Mary; Eastry 1801 census; Feet of Fines Richard II, some now lost Elizabethan Musters for the Town of Sandwich. Volume 5 Parts 1-4 (2010-11). £22.00. 'Some Title Deeds relating to Tonbridge Town and parish 1476-1869' and Feet of Fines for Henry IV and Henry V. Copies available at £5.50 each. Email queries to: booksales@kentarchaeology.org.uk. NEW BOOKS New from the Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit lhe Norman Fortified Manorhouse at Walmer 12 pages+ plans, sections, pottery drawings & colour plates. Kent Minor Sites Series No 21. £5.00 + £1 p&p Describing work on this scheduled monument, a substantial flint-built fortified structure, surviving in pares co a height of 7m and dating from about AD 1120. It consisted of a lower cetlar with adjacent storage rooms, an upper Great Hall with solar rooms, the latter being approached by a stair in a substantial forebuilding. It was originally enclosed by a dry ditch, which also enclosed the present church as part of che manorial complex. The manor house is in private hands. The Iron Age Farmstead at Snodland 16 pages + plans, sections & pottery drawings. Kent Minor Sites Series No 22. £5 +£1 p&p Excavated just ahead of sand quarrying and destruction, this site consisted of a sub-rectangular ditched enclosure with at lease two entrances. Boch within and externally were 12 pies, mostly for storage. Outside was the outline of a round house. The pottery dace-range 12 I Summer 2011 - KAS Newsletter- www.kentarchaeology.org.uk suggests about 120BC to AD50. A small amount of Roman pottery was also recovered from a nearby feature. The Major Iron Age Riverside Fort at Woolwich 48 pages + plans, sections, finds drawings & colour plates. Kent Special Subject Series No 19. £6+ £1 p&p Dealing with the discovery and partial excavation of a major Iron Age defensive site on the south bank of the Thames. Two large defensive ditches, marching chose of some hillforts at over 35 feet wide, were found; also two round-houses, pits and pottery. The site dates back to at lease 250BC, when ir muse have controlled access to the London Basin and is estimated to have covered 15-17 acres. It was reoccupied in the fourth century, as substantial deposits of pottery and coins have been found in the upper fill of the Iron Age ditches. This phase may have related to laceRoman defensive measures protecting Londinium. All the above are available from KARU, Roman Painted House, New St, Dover en 7 9AJ. Cheques payable to KARU. Victorian Herne Bay an illustrated history - Mike Bundock ISBN 978-1-9046 61-15-3 48 pages, art paper, 120 greyscale images. £7.50, post free. The book uses a collection of images from the collection of the Herne Records Society, all predating 1901, to show the rich and varied history NEW BOOKS of the area. Many have not previously been published. The book commences with an introductory history and follows with three sections of individually captioned images covering the seafront, the pier and the town. Available from Pierhead Publications, PO Box 145, heme Bay CT6 8GY, email sales@pierheadpublications.co.uk, tel 01227 370971. Newlands Chapel, Charing by David Carder In 1911 H. Bensred of Bearsred wrote a shore account of Newlands Chapel near Charing (Arch. Cant. 29, pp. 85-6), with plan and drawings of internal elevations. 100 years later the author and Roger Cockett visited the chapel to review Bensred's account and to record changes made since his time. This was presumably the manorial chapel of an adjacent manor house, but is now in secular use and ownership, and has probably been so for centuries. It comprises nave and chancel with a blocked two-bay arcade, presumably opening originally into a lost south aisle. The fabric has been much altered and rebuilt, the last major restoration apparently being in 1967 /8, but sufficient detail survives for the building to be dated with reasonable confidence. Although the walls have been shortened, destroying the window-heads, the springing points of the arcade arches remain, apparently in situ, allowing the original wall heights to be estimated at about 5.3 metres, 1.3 metres higher than at present. Bensted's plan and drawings are reasonably accurate, but his description and analysis must be challenged, although some details now visible may then have been covered. He tries to attribute an early 13th century date to the building, but this cannot be justified. The building materials are accurately described, except that some of the internal jambs of the east windows are apparently of Caen stone rather than www.kentarchaeotogy.org.uk - Summer 2011- KAS Newsletter I 13 Newlands Chapel, Charing continued chalk. Caen srone quoins survive in rhe north-west and north-east corners, bur much of the fabric is now brick. The chancel contains a piscina with a very slightly pointed head, probably 13th century and almost certainly nor an original feature. There is a later aumbry on the north side. There is no clear evidence for a chancel arch - the "destroyed arch" shown on Bensted's plan does not seem to correspond to any extant feature. The inside and outside wall surfaces contain much graffiti, including pilgrim's crosses, one or rwo red wall paintings, and possibly some apotropaic symbols (to ward off evil spirits). Various items of carved stonework are not mentioned by Bensted, so were probably added after his time. These include a Caen-srone shaft and capital, in the north-east corner of the nave, and a re-set capital with leaf decoration in the nave north wall. Their detail does not match anything else 111 the building, so they may have come from elsewhere. Some of the window jambs shown on Bensted's plan no longer exist, and it is not clear that Bensted actually saw the south chancel window (dotted on his plan) - he may simply have assumed there was one opposite that in the north wall. The most notable features, which provide good dating evidence, are the pillars and responds of the arcade and the north doorway. Rather elaborate for a small, remote manorial chapel, they perhaps were re-used from another site. The arcade east-west responds have keel mouldings, not the round mouldings shown on Bensted 's plan. Keel mouldings appear after about 1150. The capitals appear ro have been re-cut and/or added in modern rimes. The north doorway is clearly Norman, the semi-circular head having a roll moulding with bobbin ornamentation. In Bensted's account and in the I 952 listing description it was blocked, but is now open. It is remarkably unweathered, so its authenticity is in doubt, but perhaps it was in store for a long period before re-assembly in its present location. Bobbin ornamentation is rare - the author does not know of any in Kent - but St Albans Cathedral has a similar example. Originally in the monastic slype, it is now in rhe south transept and has been dared c. 1155-60. I understand that it also appears in the west facade of Ely Cathedral, and in the parish churches at Hellingly (Sussex) and Kirton-in-Holland (Lincolnshire). Overall, a dare of c.1180 for Newlands Chapel would fit the evidence of the arcade and north doorway, bur it could be later if these were re-used. My thanks to the owner, for providing access; to Mary Berg, for helpful suggestions; and to Ron Baxter of the CRSBI (Corpus of Romanesque Sculpture in Britain and Ireland) and Sarah Pearson, for the locations of bobbin ornament. 14 I Summer 2011 - KAS Newsletter - www.kentarchaeology.org.uk HAVE YOU JUST JOINED THE SOCIETY? Do you wish you could collect all the back issues of Archaeologia Cantiana? Now you can have 125 volumes of Archaeologia Cantiana at the amazingly low cost of £31 for individual members and £76 for institutional members on the KAS Sesquicentennial DVD. To order your copy, send a cheque payable to Kent Archaeological Society to Peter Tann, 42 Archery Square, Walmer, Deal CT14 7HP. T he visit to Chevening in April was a great success. We were welcomed by Colonel Richard Brook, Administrator at the house for twelve years. He ushered us into the gracious space of the sitting room, we were served delicious coffee and cakes and given a fascinating introductory talk on the house and regaled with amusing stories. We learnt that we were privileged to be among only three or four groups of visitors allowed access each year, as the house is well used by the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, and the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, who share the use of the house - together with official guests who are, from time to time, entertained there. The Colonel was cheerfully assisted by Wayne Parsonage who, with his wife, is in charge of the care of the house and extremely knowledgeable in his own right. The estate was originally the family seat of the earls of Stanhope, bequeathed to the Nation, together with an endowment, by the 7th and lase Earl Stanhope. Entitlement to use of the house is governed by the Chevening Estate Act which determines who may live there and how it is to be administered. The estate is run by a Board of Trustees under the direction of the Lord Pri vy Seal, who is the principal trustee and chair ex officio. He is assisted by members appointed by the government together with locally co-opted trustees - noted for their expertise in land-management, farming, forestry etc. Colonel Brook talked about the history and architecture of the house (built in c.1620 on the site of an Elizabethan man or), the management of the estate and the part played by its three farms. We learnt about the restoration of the house. One odd feature of the work was the removal of the mathematical tiles which had been affixed to the bricks on the front of the building. The iron pins holding the tiles had rusted with dire consequence for the bricks underneath, necessitating the reconstruction of the brick wall! The decoration and paintings in the house were of a high standard the portraits mostly having connections with the Stanhopes and Pitts. One of the most impressive features of the house was the magnificent cantilevered staircase built of Spanish oak and deal, and the views from the windows were magnificent. The Victorian basement was of great interest: the laund ry with its lead pipes and wooden sinks; the drying room with its huge airers suspended from the ceiling; the antique drying racks in a heated wooden cupboard; and even a bomb that fell through the roof and failed co explode in the cellar - thus saving the house! Indeed the basement echoed with the ghosts of the past. This visit co Chevening was truly memorable. Arranged by Joy Saynor on behalf of KAS, it was her last in her role as Excursions Organizer. We thank Joy for arranging this visit, and for the many others organized by her over the years. www.kentarchaeology.org.uk - Summer 2011- KAS Newsletter I 15 Searching for the administrative origins of early medieval Kent b I n Kent, as elsewhere in England, w e face the most elementary questions in understanding the territorial and adm iniscracive organization of the county. How old are the systems of local government: the shires, lathes, liberties, and hundreds? Where do they come from? How did the courts of these territories work? 'Landscapes of Governance: assembly places in England AD 400- 1066' is a three-year project supported by the Leverhulme Trust, which aims co address these questions by bringing archaeology, place-names and written sources together for the first time in a comprehensive national research project. W hat is more, the project is actively seeking co involve local groups in identifying possible sites and submiccing chem for inclusion in an on-line database. The project will determine the broader issue of the constitution and structure of early medieval governance in the English landscape through a study of the spacial character and If undelivered, please return to S. Broomfield, 8 Woodview Crescent, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, KentTN119HD Copy deadline for the next Issue is 1st Sept 2011 nomenclature of a fundamental, yet neglected, aspect of governance and civil society; places of political, social and judicial assembly and their associated districts. Assembly sites were important at many levels of early medieval society- royal, regional, local and urban - and they provided a means whereby royal and official prerogative met with local concerns. Place-names of assembly sites and their associated districts indicate varying origins, in some cases referring to pre-Christian gods, including Woden and Thor, while other terms relate co monuments of earlier ages, such as burial mounds and standing scones. Other meeting-places are named after seemingly mundane features such as crossroads, bridges and settlements. Only a dozen or so English assembly sites have been investigated through detailed archaeological survey and excavation. One of the best examples is the site of the early Anglo-Saxon cemetery of Salcwood, near Folkescone. Burial at the site continued from che 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. 16 Summer 2011 - KAS Newsletter- www.kentarchaeology.org.uk fifth into the eighth century, after which the same location became the meetingplace of the hundred of Heane, continuing in this use until at least 1279. Studying meeting-places and their surroundings can reveal much about their relationship to other social functions and places. Form, layout, accessibility and view-shed are among the attributes to be examined by the project. The research will generate a range of publications and a comprehensive web-based resource (the 'Online Anderson') listing all of the meetingplaces of Anglo-Saxon England. Resources designed co enable local groups to become involved by recording assembly places are available on the project website (hccp:/ /www.ucl.ac.uk/ archaeology/ project/ assembly/). If you would like co become involved, or would like more information on the project, contact Dr Stuart Brookes at s.brookes@ucl.ac.uk EDITOR: LYN PALMER 55 Stone Street, Tunbridge Wells, KentTN12QU Telephone: 01892 533661 Email: eveiyn.palmer@ virgin.net or newsletter@kentarchaeology.org.uk Published by the Kent Archaeological Society, Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Gallery, St Faith's Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 lLH.