Rediscovery of the Quex Park Potin Coin Hoard
In 2010, the existence of hundreds of unrecorded coins came to the attention of David Holman, a local amateur archaeologist and Iron Age numismatist. These had come to light during cataloguing of the Quex Park collections by members of the Isle of Thanet Archaeological Society and the Trust for Thanet Archaeology. The 509 coins are a major part of a Flat Linear potin hoard found in 1853 at Quex Park – the largest ever hoard of its type – originally supposed to be of around 600 coins.
The hoard ‘surfaced’ at various times during the mid to late 19th century in the writings of various antiquaries and numismatists, such as Sir John Evans. Major Percy Powell-Cotton’s diaries make numerous references to the ‘tin money’ in his possession. By 1960, twenty years after his death, the hoard was thought to have been largely dispersed, although numismatist Derek Allen noted that the hoard had still been intact some 30 years earlier.
In 1961 Sheppard Frere established the Celtic Coin Index and visited Quex, where he was shown 44 coins by the curator, Mr Barton, who told him that this was all that survived. Professor Frere expressed the hope that the remaining coins would one day reappear and, after a wait of nearly 50 years, he was pleased to be informed that they still existed!
It is intended that the hoard will now finally be fully recorded and published. A selection of 24 coins is on public display.
Denmark and Finland resumed after the war. An unusual and now listed Swedish Gymnasium building (later Dance Theatre) was built during Miss Wright’s headship. In 1952, after Miss Wright’s retirement, the College came under the administration of KCC’s Education Department. The College modernised and continued to deliver successful teacher training courses, which from 1966 onwards became open to male trainees. During the stewardship of the next two Principals, Winnifred Whiting and Ellinor Hinks, KCC invested heavily in the School providing it with excellent sport and performing arts facilities. In 1959 a new gymnasium, incorporating new and creative equipment designed by Ellinor Hinks, was opened and in the 1970s a Sports Hall, Performing Arts Centre, kitchen and new residential accommodation were added.
Unfortunately, changes in Government Policy on Teacher Training in 1977 meant that teacher training ceased at the College and it came under increasing threat of closure. Innovative and determined efforts by Nonington’s last Principal, Stanley Beaumont, and his dedicated staff kept the College going through diversification into a wide range of non-teaching qualifications and services to the local community. After another round of government cuts the College finally closed in 1986 ending the tradition of teacher training and physical education. The wheel of change spun again in 1995 when St Albans Court became the home of the Christian Bruderhof community. It is now known as Beech Grove.