Westhawk Farm Excavations

"Kent archaeologists have made a major step forward in the involvement of volunteer archaeologists in PPG16 excavations. These are excavations required by the planning process before development of land. Most work has usually been done by professional archaeological contractors with little or no involvement of volunteers. Last year KCC agreed that volunteers should be invited to help where possible. As a result, we compiled a list of volunteer archaeologists willing to help (anyone who would like to join the list should contact us), after making an appeal in the Newsletter. It was not long before it was needed. We were asked to provide volunteers for the excavations by the Oxford Archaeological Unit at Westhawk Farm near Ashford where an important Roman settlement had been discovered on land being developed for housing. As a result, a significant number of volunteer archaeologists took part in the excavations. In some ways, the most significant development was the provision of probably the first training excavation in the country as part of a PPG16 excavation. The society made a grant of £2,500 towards the cost of this, which lasted for three weeks, and it was soon followed by one from English Heritage.

The public was not forgotten. A leaflet was produced for public distribution explaining the significance of the site and advertising five days when the excavations were open to viewing and guided tours. The KCC also sent a circular about the opportunity to take part in the excavations and the open days to K.A.S. members in and around Kent.

We pay tribute to the KCC and County Archaeologist Dr John Williams, Ashford Borough Council, the Oxford Archaeological Unit, and the developers, Wilcon Homes for promoting public interest in archaeology.

THE ALLEN GROVE LOCAL HISTORY FUND Nine grants totaling £2,350 were awarded last year. Six of these (for sums ranging from £200 to £400) were for producing publications and included research or production costs, or both. Another three were for costs involved in mounting exhibitions or displays in museums, and these ranged from £200 to £300.

Applications are invited for grants. 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.

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.

Awards may not be announced until the summer or autumn of 2000.

Applications must be submitted, on the official application form, by the 31st March 2000. Application forms and further information may be obtained from the Hon. Secretary: Mr A I Moffat.