KAS Committee Round-Up
CHURCHES COMMITTEE
Study Afternoon: A Parish Pump Revolution
This half day exploring the local impact of the Reformation, held in November, was the last special event of the KAS’s 150th anniversary year celebrations. It was led by Dr Andrew Foster of the University of Chichester, who ably communicated his expertise and enthusiasm for the subject to the large gathering of participants. For, indeed, this was a KAS event with a difference, in which Dr Foster got the audience actively participating in an exploration of how the Reformation was experienced in local society.
Dr Foster began with a short discussion on the causes, characters, chronology, concepts and consequences of the Reformation. He then gave a slide show giving examples of the changes to church interiors (and what these changes tell us) from the pre-Reformation period to the 17th century. This reinforced Dr Foster’s point that many scholars now see the Reformation as a long process lasting well beyond the 16th century. Other themes included local variations in the impact of the Reformation, developments in education and the influence of the gentry in local society.
Following an excellent tea, provided by the East Peckham Historical Society, the participants were divided into groups and asked to imagine themselves into the mentalities of various groupings in a country parish in the 1580s. These included the law-abiding silent majority, the feckless teenagers, the traditionalist Catholics, the radical Puritans, the churchwardens, etc. Together they explored how such groups would have related to each other and responded to the social and religious turbulence of the period. In this they were assisted by the expertise of Dr Foster and his assistants for the day, Professor Kenneth Fincham and Dr Doreen Rosman from Canterbury. This proved an enjoyable way of considering the dynamics of change and complexity of the Reformation. It also served as a reminder of how much historians do not know about the majority of English parishioners of the period, of what they thought and felt. The Churches Committee chairman Philip Lawrence and secretary Liz Nussbaum spoke for everyone in thanking Dr Foster for an enjoyable and thought-provoking afternoon.
Visit to Bekesbourne and Patrixbourne Churches
Over 40 people attended the visit to Bekesbourne and Patrixbourne churches organised by the KAS Churches Committee in September. These two churches are sufficiently close together for it to be possible to walk from one to the other in just a few minutes. It was a particular pleasure to do so on this day as we were blessed with a very pleasant afternoon. These beautiful churches are of great interest both architecturally and in their historical associations. Mary Berg, a member of the KAS Churches Committee, gave a talk at both churches and drew out the important points with clarity and humour.
St Peter’s Bekesbourne is a Victorian reconstruction of an ancient medieval church, with a fine Norman doorway, set on what is most likely an even more ancient religious site upon a hill above the Nailbourne stream. The Norman church was extended in the 13th century both eastwards and westwards, with the construction of a tower. The manor of Bekesbourne was acquired in the early 16th century by Canterbury Cathedral Priory as a place for the monks’ recreation. Following the Dissolution, the Archbishop of Canterbury owned the manor and had a palace here until 1647. A brick south transept was added to the church in 1715, replacing an earlier chantry, probably to serve as a family pew for the Hales family of Howletts. It contains some interesting monuments including a memorial to Richard Fogge, a naval captain of the time of Charles I. The church owes its present appearance to the drastic but necessary restoration of 1882, apart from the tower which was rebuilt in 1841 having collapsed some time before 1817. Today the church is obviously well loved and cared for.
St Mary’s Patrixbourne is one of the most impressive and best preserved monuments from the post-Conquest era in rural east Kent. Its Norman features are truly remarkable.
Visit to Bekesbourne and Patrixbourne Churches
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include a round east window (intriguingly of the same dimensions as that not far away at Barfrestone) and a superb portal with richly-carved tympanum. The village owed this high-quality rebuilding of its church in the 1170s to its Norman lords of the manor - the Patricks - the latest of whom had recently married rather well (to a great grand-daughter and heiress of the prudent Henry I). The church’s patrons before the Reformation were Beaulieu (near Rouen) and Marton Priories. The south chapel was added in the 15th century to house the family tomb of the Isaacs, who were major local landholders. An unusual feature of the church is the position of the tower, on the south side of the nave, through which one enters the building. A north aisle with arcade was added in the 19th century, and Gilbert Scott restored the church in 1857. One of the churchwardens kindly attended to provide the welcome tea and biscuits and she spoke about the interesting 16th and 17th century Swiss glass which was installed second-hand in 1837. She and her fellow villagers are working hard to keep the church in good order, and for that we can all be grateful.
Paul Lee
Promotion of Church Guides
The Churches Committee is keen to promote the production and publication of church guides, with information for those wishing to visit, or study, any particular church.
Guides may already exist for many parish churches, but may be usefully supplemented with further accurate historical or archaeological detail of the building, its monuments, and its role in the local area and community. It would, however, be ideal if each church were to have at least a simple information sheet available, preferably with a plan of the building.
The Committee has already been able to assist with projects to produce individual guides, which have even included printed, coloured books. It may be able to provide advice on both content and sources for new guides using its database, and knowledge of bibliographic or illustrative material, and church-related websites; it may also have access to knowledgeable individuals. Additionally, there is material held in the K.A.S. Library collections, which may include earlier published guides, or previous relevant studies.
If you are considering producing a church guide, or know of others who might wish to, whether as an individual, local historian, or member of a particular church, the Churches Committee would welcome any queries. There are research facilities and assistance in locating resources which the Kent Archaeological Society may be able to offer.
We would also be pleased to hear of anyone interested in becoming involved in actually producing new guides for any churches where there is not at present a potential local compiler for an information sheet, or guide.
Contact: Churches Committee, KAS Library, Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Gallery, St. Faith’s Street, Maidstone, Kent. ME14 1LH. E-mail: churchguides@kentarchaeology.org.uk
HISTORIC BUILDINGS COMMITTEE
Historic Buildings Conference
Over 70 people attended the KAS Historic Buildings Conference held last October in Lenham Village Community Centre. The Conference Chairman, David Carder, opened the day by welcoming everyone and providing background on the KAS Historic Buildings Committee. He went on to explain that the conference was the first to be held by the Committee. However, it could be considered the successor of the annual Conference of Building Recorders, originally organised by the late Kenneth Gravett, which evolved into the Autumn Conferences organised so ably by Joy Saynor. David expressed the hope of the Committee that the day’s programme, dealing as it did with a variety of aspects of the history of buildings, would live up to the high standard set by those earlier events.
The day got off to a good start with first speaker, Andrew Linklater of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust, whose topic was the ‘From Hip to Hearth’. Rather than dealing with high status buildings, he focussed on the type of domestic structures in which 90 per cent of the British population would have lived. Among Andrew’s fascinating slides, of particular note were those of the excavations that had taken place at North Street and Stour Street in Canterbury, which he used with great effect to illustrate the evolution of buildings. The many questions and wide ranging discussion that followed were a measure of the enthusiasm stimulated by Andrew’s presentation.
The next speaker listed on the programme was Charles Brooking. However, as he was unwell and unable to give the planned talk on dating buildings by architectural features, Christopher Proudfoot, Chairman of the KAS Historic Buildings Committee, kindly stepped in at short notice. He brought along part of his collection of doorknobs and locks, which formed the subject of a very novel and amusing exposition on the evolution of door fittings from the 18th century. Everyone enjoyed his lively presentation as well as the opportunity for closer examination of the collection of fittings, which was on display during the lunch break.
After lunch, Elizabeth Finn of the Centre for Kentish Studies (CKS) explained how the CKS could help researchers trace the history of specific buildings in the county. She gave very useful guidance on accessing the extensive documentary sources held by the Centre, followed by a ‘whistle-stop tour’ of the contents of the local studies collections and archives. Judging from the response of the audience, Elizabeth should expect an increase both in requests for reader’s cards and in visits to the CKS website.
HISTORIC BUILDINGS COMMITTEE
Historic Buildings Conference
Aided by slides and models, David Carder then gave an overview of the construction of timber-framed structures, and more specifically of Kentish barns, as an introduction to the visit to the magnificent medieval tithe barn in Lenham. Thanks were given to the owner, Valerie Woolven, for so generously allowing the rare chance to examine one of Kent’s finest barns, and to Martin Porter for giving his time to guide the group around the building.
Before everyone set off to visit the barn, Christopher Proudfoot rounded off the conference by leading the expressions of appreciation that went to David Carder for organising such an enjoyable and informative event. It had provided a remarkable insight into historic buildings from the archaeological and documentary point of view. Debbie Goacher, who had helped to arrange the programme of speakers, and Ted Connell, who had taken care of the equipment and other technical aspects, were also thanked for their contributions to the success of the day.
Future Activities
When the committee met on 10 November, in addition to deciding to hold another conference next October, it agreed to organise three excursions during 2008. All three will focus on Kentish barn structures. The first will be a visit to Westenhanger Castle and Barns on Tuesday, 26 May. (See What’s On section for more information and how to book). The second visit will be to Boxley Abbey and Barn on Saturday, 28 June. More details on this event, and a third visit scheduled for September, will be given in the Spring issue of the Newsletter.
Advice leaflet
In an earlier issue of the Newsletter it was announced that the committee was producing a leaflet entitled 'Historical Assessment and Survey of Old Buildings', an advice note for those who care about them. This document offers guidance to people who want to find out more about their property. In addition, a separate publications list is being prepared. The list contains reviews of publications that might be helpful to anyone interested in carrying out an assessment or survey. Both documents will be available on the KAS website and in hard copy. In order to cover the cost of production, a small charge will be made for hard copies. (Leaflet £1; Publications List 50p.)