Topographical Picture Survey
by John Owen
The idea for this project was conceived while I was working on a history of Throwley, so proving how historical research becomes self-generating. I had always hoped to discover albums of eighteenth-century watercolors of the Village but was always led back to the standard works of Fisher and Petrie or drawings of every village but my own. How could one find them?
A watercolour of the interior of Charing Church painted in 1840 and recently rediscovered. An example of what we wish to find.
The aim of this survey is to do just that; to locate, research, calendar and photograph Kentish topographical drawings, paintings, watercolors (but prints or photographs of exceptional rarity only) produced in the centuries before the Great War by professional and amateur artists. Interest will be of greater significance than pure artistic merit, for "Works of Art" are often more revealing than "Works of Art". The survey will include pictures of Kent towns but primary emphasis will be on those of Kent villages, churches, houses, gardens, and countryside; places away from main roads and where only local artists worked. The sources to be approached will range from national and local institutions, picture dealers and auction rooms, but particularly private collections of accumulation and acquisition.
The project is not a difficult one but it will be time-consuming, so volunteers are required: a few enthusiasts spread across the country to locate and visit sources, topographers to recognize views, specialists to recognize artists, photographers to record discoveries and before all, collectors to come forward with undocumented works. A final word, security. Ownership and location of pictures will remain strictly confidential, for the intention is not to print a burglars' gazetteer, but to publish a comprehensive record of the artistic heritage of Kent, which will be lodged permanently in the Society's library. If you are willing to assist in any way with this project, please write to me.
More Letters
Sir,
With regard to your item in K.A.S. Newsletter No. 4, may I make the following request to help me with my research. I am undertaking research on Chapels, Churches, and other places of Worship, in the area around Gravesend. The area covered is from Swanscombe to the Isle of Grain and from the Thames to Culverstone, excluding the Medway towns, Cuxton and Halling.
Information in the form of Church Magazines, Church Guides, photographs or just personal recollections would be gratefully received and acknowledged.
Yours sincerely
E.G. Lane,
A Green Man
Sir,
I would be most grateful if any of your members could give me information about "a certain John Green, who emigrated with a party of Kentish Men (or Men of Kent) to South Africa in 1820".
Yours sincerely,
G. Stanhope-Lovell,
A Thank-you Letter
Sir,
I felt I had to write on behalf of my husband and myself, to thank you and everyone else concerned in planning and running "Archaeology at Work".
We had a busy and informative day, enjoying both the talks and exhibitions at the school and the visits to Scotgrove and Ash Church. It was a constant pleasure to meet so many enthusiasts who were so willing to share their knowledge and expertise.
I am a fairly new K.A.S. member and we had not attended one of the Society's meetings before but we are both looking forward to similar events in the future.
Yours sincerely,
Margaret Cufflin,
A Prize-giving Project
Sir,
I hope that you will agree that the publication of this letter in your excellent Newsletter will be of use to the Society and of interest to members. If so, I would like to take the opportunity to seek the views of yourself and fellow members on the possibility of our Society offering prizes to encourage both interest generally in and in the study of the history and field archaeology of Kent.
I would suggest these are awarded annually for young people, not necessarily Members, who are normally resident in Kent, including the London Boroughs of Bromley, Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham, i.e. the ancient County, and between the ages of 18 and 30 at the closing date.
Secondly, I would advance the following subject areas for their competition:-
(a) Competence and achievement in field archaeology, including all chronological periods and aspects, such as pre-history, industrial, aerial etc. This would be on the reports of Directors and by a report submitted to a panel of three authorities who would also hold an oral examination.
(b) An essay or article showing originality of research and intellectual depth in archaeology, including all periods, and for example, ecclesiology, genealogy, family, legal, commercial and local history, assessed similarly to
(a) but without the need for a Director's report.
The prizes might be two for £200 - £300 each, with a prize for the runners up and awarded annually, in memory of the great generosity of that kindly gentleman, Ivan Margary.
It would be most interesting to have the views of members as to whether they consider such a proposal viable and if the suggested areas of study might usefully be modified in any way.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Draper,
c/o Maidstone Museum,
St. Faith's Street,
