Letters

The Geoff Porteus Appeal

Under the patronage of the past and-present Bishops of Rochester, the Right Reverend Michael Turnbull and the Right Reverend David Say, a committee has been formed from Dartford people who knew Geoff Porteus. Besides a lifetime of service to his Church he was also the Chairman of the Historical and Antiquarian Society as well as the Editor of its publications and was a well-known and much admired lecturer on Historical and Architectural subjects. His books included: The Book of Dartford, Yesterday's Town, and Dartford Country.

The Committee are considering a number of suggestions for a suitable means of commemorating this true Dartfordian; among them a stained glass panel incorporating Geoff's interests to be placed in Trinity Church, Dartford and a commemorative tablet. We invite you to make your contribution. H. Fenton, Memorial Appeal Committee. Donations to: Manager, Lloyds Bank, 55 High Street, Dartford DAI lDJ.

Help Requested

Ms. L. B. R. Goodwin is a third year graduate in Historical Archaeology. Her main interest is in the archaeology of 17th Century rural domestic sites and for her dissertation she would like to compare the results of the excavation of such a site in South-east England with that of a similar site in the North-east of the U.S.A. If any KA.S. members can give advice or suggest any suitable sites for study could they write to [?]

East London River Crossing

Your readers will probably know about the eighteen month Public Inquiry into the East London River Crossing held during 1985/86. This road would run from Beckton to the Rochester Way Relief Road at Falconwood and would cause widespread damage to historic sites, the environment and local communities. It would pass near to the Medieval Parish Church of St. Nicholas at Plumstead; pass through the site of the Two Roman burials at King's Highway (the lead coffin is in the Maidstone Museum) and the probable Roman site below Bleak hill. It would destroy the 1930's Rackliffe Gardens, built over former brickworkings; destroy part of the Green Chain Walk and open farmland of Woodlands Farm; demolish the ancient woodland of Oxleas Wood, as well as causing the loss of 260 homes.

As the Department of Transport has now altered the design of the River Crossing Bridge to allow jets to fly from the Stolport and has introduced six traffic lanes instead of four there will be a Public Inquiry in June 1990 into the aspects of the proposed road. People wishing to become objectors should write to the Department of Transport,

Susan Parker