Dear Editor, Appeal for help on Black People in Kent.
There have been Black people in Kent, people of African origin and descent, in England since Roman times but in increasing numbers from the 17th century onwards. There are some well-known Black figures - Olaudah Equiano, the Igbo former slave whose autobiography Interesting Narrative was published in London in 1789. Samuel Barber, the servant of Dr. Johnson, William Cuffay the Chartist transportee who was from Chatham, and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor the distinguished composer, but of the vast majority, possibly 15-20,000 people throughout Britain in 1750, little is known. Black people were not only slaves, servants, seamen; they were also to be found in a wide range of positions, professions, and places. Their record is often a single entry in a parish register or census enumerators' schedules, perhaps with an indication that they are from 'Guinea' or 'West Africa', possibly noted as 'Negro' or 'Black', in mendicity records, or an item in a newspaper report. Most Black people lived in London, Liverpool, and Bristol, but it is evident that they were scattered all over the country. I am trying to compile a register of Black people in Kent for the period c. 1500 to 1920. I am fully aware of the limitations of looking at communities and individuals within the boundaries of a county but the collection of data has to begin somewhere. Only when there is a solid bank of references, and not just for Kent, will it be possible to undertake a serious socio-economic analysis of the history of Black people who have formed a small but significant part of the British population. I would be grateful for any references of any kind, including from secondary sources, as to the presence of Black people (Africans, Afro-Americans, Afro-Caribbeans) living within the boundaries of the county of Kent, i.e. to include Kentish London. I have recently edited a book "Africans in Britain" (Frank Cass, London, 1994.) but along with my work on African and imperial history, I am also involved in research on the history of 19th-century Sevenoaks. The first product of this latter project is an article which may be of interest to some readers. Rights, Riot, and Ritual: the Knole Park access dispute, Sevenoaks, Kent. 1883-85. Rural History, 1994. 5.1, pp63-79. David Killingray.
KING ALFRED'S ABBEY
In the first part of the Archaeological Series 'Time Team' which was transmitted on Channel 4 television on 16-1-94, the 'timeteam' claimed to be the first ever to determine the exact whereabouts of the Abbey built at King Alfred's island stronghold Athelney - the 'ey' as in 'Sheppey' meaning 'isle'.
I find the team's claim most odd because in 1801 Colonel John Slade (perhaps a relative of mine) erected a monument right in the middle of the Abbey site at Athelney. It is also reliably recorded that in 1674 workmen unearthed Abbey type stone features and stones at the Abbey site marked by Colonel Slade's monument. What then can we make of the 'time team' being televised walking around said monument using high-tech, state-of-the-art electronic equipment and claiming to be the first to discover where the Abbey was situated? Why did they not explain the meaning of the monument to viewers? If they were unaware of the workmen's discoveries in 1674 the monument is there for all to see. KAS members might like to refer to my book "Minster Abbey, Sheppey, England's Second Glastonbury" pp 220-221. in which I noted these important points. Brian Slade.
CHANNEL TUNNEL - Ancient Links to the Continent?
Mr. P. H. Bick is researching ancient trackways in the South East and their possible association with trackways near the French coast when there was a land link between England and France. If any member can advise him as to previous research on this subject please contact him.
MEDIEVAL and TUDOR TILE MAKING IN KENT - Information required
In the course of investigating the early history of Crockenhill, my interest in Medieval and Tudor tile-making has been aroused. I have been collecting information about Medieval tile-making sites but wonder whether any written records of tile-making survive. Kent Archives hold two documents dated 1466/7 and 1497 for grants of the 'tylehoste' (tile-kiln) at Crockenhill which have recently been drawn to my attention. I wonder how unusual these might be.
I would be very grateful if any readers could let me know of any areas, records, and enough surviving Medieval and Tudor tile-making material, because it might be a suitable subject on which to base my M. A. dissertation. Susan Pittman.
Higham
I am interested in receiving any information regarding excavations on a prehistoric site at Lower Higham which, I believe, took place in the 50's or 60's and was located along Church Street, in the proximity of the now redundant church of St. Mary the Virgin. If KAS members can draw attention to any report or article in past issues of Archaeologia Cantiana or provide reference to any other source of information, I shall be most appreciative if they can contact me, Chris Heselden.
