Books
VAGRANTS, GYPSIES AND 'TRAVELLERS' IN KENT. 1572-1948. by Miss G. Rickard, B.A. (our member) is the third book in her series on Kent Settlement Records. This volume runs to form a history of vagrants, gypsies, travellers and strangers in the pre-1974 county of Kent, based on the author's extensive research in Kent records. There are chapters on laws against vagrants, various aspects covering such topics as origins, gender and age, a chapter on gypsies and finally one about the sort of lives vagrants and travellers led. The history is followed by a catalogue of Kent records sources, comprising a gazetteer listing all loose documents in parish collections, followed by a listing of other sources of information held both inside and outside Kent. The whereabouts of all sources is detailed together with Archive references. This work will prove to be indispensable to anyone interested in the subject of travellers and in the history of Kent in general. Paperback, 88 pp. Price £5.00 (£5.50 incl. P & P inland) may be obtained from Miss G. Rickard, 20 Grove Terrace, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3SZ.
UNDERRIVER, SAMUEL PALMER'S GOLDEN VALLEY. by Griselda Barton and Michael Tong, (to be published in August/September 1995).
Samuel Palmer was one of England's greatest landscape painters who came from London to live and work in the Kentish village of Shoreham. Through his artistic perception Shoreham was to have immortality bestowed upon it as 'The Valley of Vision'. Palmer often walked at night to the distant hills where he could watch the sun rise over his 'Golden Valley' the hamlet of Underriver.
The book, due for publication in August or September 1995, will retail at £8.95 and contain fifteen Palmer paintings and drawings, including twelve in full colour which have not been published before. Advance copies may be ordered from: Froglets Publications, Brasted Chart, Westerham, Kent TN16 1LY. Tel: 01959 562972.
EXCAVATIONS IN THE MARLOWE CAR PARK AND SURROUNDING AREAS. Published by the Canterbury Trust.
This is a boxed set of two hardback volumes. 1343 pages, 580 figures, 163 plates and a wallet with 30 outsize figures. May be obtained from all good booksellers and from the Canterbury Archaeological Trust Ltd. 92a Broad Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2LU. Price £60 (plus £7.50 P & P) Friends of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust and members of the Kent Archaeological Society may obtain a copy for £45 (plus £7.50 P & P).
KENT CHURCHES by John Vigar. Obtainable from the author, J. E. Vigar, Price £8.99 (includes P & P).
THE ROMAN SITE AT FORDCROFT, ORPINGTON, by Brian Philp and Peter Keller. The detailed excavation of a site at Poverest Road, and a consideration of the Roman Villa Settlement in the Fordcroft - Kent Road area. 44 pages with drawings and photographs. (No. 8 in the Kent Special Subject series) Price: £4 (plus 20% P & P.) from KARU.
THE IRON AGE AND ROMANO-BRITISH SITE AT LENHAM, KENT. by Brian Philp. The discovery and excavation of an extensive working Farmstead site at Runhams Farm. 7 pages with drawings and photographs. (No. 7 in the Kent Special Subject Series.) Price: £4 (plus 20% P & P) from KARU as above.
THE CANTERBURY AREA. This book was published as a supplement to the Royal Archaeological Institute Journal No. 151. It contains chapters contributed by several KAS members who spoke at the meeting of the RAJ which was held in Canterbury in 1994.
Distributed with the annual Journal to RAJ members, there may be copies available for the individual inquirer to the Assistant Secretary, RAI, c/o Society of Antiquaries, Burlington House, Piccadilly W1V 0HS.
THESAURUS OF MONUMENT TYPES. Published by RCHME and English Heritage, 360 pp. £20. Obtainable from RCHME Publications, NMRC, Kemble Drive, Swindon SN2 2GZ. (Tel: 01793 414618).
20th CENTURY DEFENCES IN BRITAIN, An Introductory Guide. This illustrated practical handbook (No. 12 in the C.B.A. Practical Handbook in Archaeology Series) provides an introductory guide to the recognition and interpretation of Britain's wartime archaeology. Price: £6 (plus 50p P & P per copy) it may be obtained from C.B.A. 111 Walmgate, York YO1 2UA. Tel: 01904 671417.
ANCIENT INVENTIONS by Peter James and Nick Thorpe. This splendid book contains a mass of material about scientific, technological and practical know-how in the remote past. Chapters headings and contents include Medicine: eye operations, plastic surgery and brain surgery. Transportation: map-making; odometers and the compass. High Technology etc. etc. Published by Michael O'Mara. Price £25.
VIDEOS
TIME CAPSULES II (duration 53 minutes) This video, second in the series, of Kent Churches which are in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, is now available. Like its predecessor, it is an informal exploration of our member Dr. Andrew Ashbee, Rev. James Tipp, Rector of Snodland, and Roy Tricker, Field Officer for the Trust, this time of five churches in East Kent: St. Mary, Capel-le-Fern; St. Peter, Sandwich; St. Mary, Sandwich; All Saints, West Stourmouth; and St. Clement, Knowlton.
Price: £14.99 (Plus £1.50 P & P) from Capricorn Productions, Delta House, 11-13 Albion Place, Maidstone, Kent ME14 SOY (01622 691431). It can also be obtained through W. H. Smith.
ON TOP OF THE WEALD (duration 60 minutes)
This programme concentrates on the region of Kent and East Sussex. From castles and Kings to the Cinque Ports and smugglers, orchards and abbeys, weaving and windmills this video illuminates the region's evolution and history. Price: £11.99 (Plus £1.50 P & P) from Capricorn Productions. (see above)
DISCOVERING HISTORIC MAIDSTONE (duration 38 minutes) Updated version for 1995. A fascinating sweep of the town's past from Norman times to the present day. Price £11.99 (Plus £1.50 P & P) from Capricorn Productions (see above).