Leland Lewis Duncan, MVO, OBE, FSA

At 11 am on Saturday, 19th September 1998, the members of the Lewisham Local History Society unveiled a black granite headstone on Leland Duncan's grave in Hither Green cemetery.

A glance at the early volumes of Archaeologica Cantiana will serve to show the extent of his contribution to the research and development of our Society. He died in 1923 aged 61. The obituary in Arch. Cant. XXXVIT, p.218, (1925) gives fuller details. The Lewisham Society has extended our knowledge of this quiet, unassuming scholar in a pamphlet, a copy of which they have donated to our Library.

His written works include extracting Kentish wills (Testamenta Cantiana 1906 etc.), Memorials in Tenterden churchyard (1919), and The History of the Borough of Lewisham (1908).

He worked at the War Office from 1862 until retiring in 1922. Seemingly this gave him considerable time to pursue his antiquarian studies. According to his own recollections, he was often able to slip out to Somerset House and copy Wills etc. He was also an early advocate and applicant of the methodical recording of monumental inscriptions.

Numerous local worthies attended the ceremony including the Vicar, MP, Deputy Mayor, Head of Colfe's School and relatives, some from Ireland, to witness the unveiling by Lewisham Society's Chairman. It is unfortunate that we only heard of this event too late to be represented, it also coincided with a council meeting.

Sadly this is a measure of the gap which has gradually grown between us and those with similar aims in SE London and whose area our Rules include as part of 'Ancient Kent'. Recent contacts may serve to restore this link.

Peter Draper.