What’s On

KAS EVENTS

KAS Churches Committee Visit
Monday 20 June

You are invited to visit the two West Kent churches of West and East Peckham on the evening of Monday 20 June, meeting at West Peckham at 6.45pm. Tea & biscuits will be provided at East Peckham. Cost of the tours is £2 (students £1) with tea extra at £1.
A booking slip for this visit is enclosed; it would be helpful if return was made by 10 June.

KAS Visit to Chilham Castle
Thursday 23 June

Chilham Castle was sold in 1997 and became a private residence. This was in contrast to its previous history when the grounds laid out by Capability Brown had always been accessible to the public, and the Jacobean house itself had been used for filming.
Now, however, the new owners, Mr and Mrs Stuart Wheeler, whilst still preserving their privacy, envisage using their home to raise funds for a particular charity. The good news for KAS members is that a number are to be shown around the house. For architectural details of the house read Buildings of England, North East and East Kent, Pevsner (ed).
Fuller details of the visit are not available at the time of going to press, but if you would like to register interest please contact Margaret Lawrence on 01622 871945 or email to margaret.society@virgin.net.

KAS Summer Excursion 2005
'Looking at Lincolnshire'

We will be visiting Lincolnshire on a 5 day excursion, from 13 – 17 June inclusive, staying in a 3 star hotel. Our coach will take us to various places and we hope to visit some or all of the following: Lincoln Cathedral and the Roman colonia and medieval city, Gainsborough Old Hall, Tattershall Castle, Belton House and Woolsthorpe Manor (Newton’s home). We also hope to have a guided tour of Stamford and nearby Burghley Hall.
Full details can be obtained from the Hon. Excursions Secretary, Joy Saynor, Friars, 28 High Street, Shoreham, Sevenoaks TN14 7TD, email: saynor.shoreham@amserve.com.

KAS One-day Conference
Visualising Four Kentish Villages
Saturday 15 October 10.30am – 4.30pm

Following the successful one-day conference last year, another event has been organized to take place in the Church Barn at Charing. ‘Visualising Four Kentish Villages’ will look at East Peckham, Kemsing, Loose and Charing. Charge for the day, including tea or coffee, will be £5. A booking slip for this event is enclosed.

OTHER EVENTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY

LECTURES

University of Kent Annual Darwin Lecture
'Archaeology, Genetics and the Origins of Linguistic Diversity' by Professor Lord Colin Renfrew
Friday 22 April at 6pm

Brabourne Lecture Theatre, Keynes College, University of Kent at Canterbury. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Time Team: 'Adults only' Archaeology or Children's TV?
An Evening Lecture by Time Team's Carenza Lewis
Saturday 7 May at 8pm

Darwin Lecture Theatre 1, The University of Kent at Canterbury.
The talk will review 12 years of the Channel 4 archaeology series to see how often evidence relating to children or childhood has been discovered during the filming and how it has been presented to the family TV audience.
Although the lecture is a part of the Archaeology of Infancy and Childhood Conference (see Conferences Section), admission is free and all are welcome. All enquiries to Mike Lally at ML81@kent.ac.uk

CONFERENCES

The Archaeology of Infancy and Childhood
Between 6 – 8 May

Darwin College, University of Kent at Canterbury.
With over 30 academic papers and 3 poster sessions relating to the role and worth of infants and children within the archaeological record, the Department of Classical and Archaeological Studies invites you to register your place at the conference. In attendance will be many of the world's leading 'childhood' researchers. Papers will cover many cultural examples of infancy & childhood, with presenters travelling from all over the world. A practical 'Child' Osteology Workshop has also been arranged in association with the conference.
For full details, including registration, schedule and a list of confirmed abstracts, visit the conference website at www.kent.ac.uk.

http://www.kent.ac.uk/secl/classics/Childhood.htm or email Mike Lally at InfancyChildhood2005@kent.ac.uk. Registration for the conference will be £16 (including a wine reception and conference refreshments), with an additional £10 registration fee for the osteology workshop.

COURSES

Study for a Certificate in Archaeology

If you are interested in archaeology, deepen your knowledge and understanding of the subject through study on the University of Kent’s well-established Certificate in Archaeology.
Courses include an introduction to archaeological method, prehistoric Britain, Roman Britain and Ancient Egypt. There are places available on the Certificate at the University’s Canterbury Campus starting at the end of September this year. The programme is taught on a part-time basis, one evening a week over two years.
No formal entry qualifications are necessary. You need demonstrate only interest, enthusiasm and aptitude. If you complete the Certificate you can then consider progressing to a Diploma and Degree in Archaeological Studies, should you wish.
Why not ask for more information? Contact the Information and Guidance Unit, the Registry, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NZ, tel: 0800 9753777, email: info@kent.ac.uk

EVENTS

Heritage Garden Party, Mere House, Mereworth
25 June, 2.00 – 5.30 pm

Kent Archaeological Society member Andrew Wells and his wife are opening their garden at Mere House, Mereworth (off the A26, midway between Maidstone and Tonbridge) to exhibit a range of interests and skills illustrating all that is best in Kent’s heritage. The garden, featured in The English Garden, February 2005, is an appropriate and attractive setting for this, centred on the 18th century house (not open). This event coincides with Andrew Wells’ year as High Sheriff of Kent.
The aim of the event is to promote interest in a number of organisations with complementary aims and ideals. Exhibitors will include the Campaign to Protect Rural England Kent Branch, the Friends of Kent Churches, the Historic Houses Association, the Kent Gardens Trust, and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. Members will also have an opportunity to discuss their restoration techniques and skills with several leading local conservation specialists, who will be working on various projects during the afternoon.
Entry will be free to members of the Society and their friends. Refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon. The garden is accessible for wheelchair users. It is regretted that dogs are not allowed. To gauge numbers, members interested in coming should write to Andrew Wells at Mere House, Mereworth, ME18 5NB or email andrewrwells@mere-house.co.uk. Tickets will not be needed.

Sheppey Local History Society
Guided Walks in & around Sheerness
Monday 4 July and Friday 29 July, at 2pm & 6.30 pm on both days.

With this year’s ‘Sea Britain’ theme in mind, the walks will cover the personalities associated with Sheerness’ maritime past, alongside the town and dockyard’s expansion. The life of ordinary seamen and townsfolk in the 19th and 20th centuries will not be forgotten.
Walks leave from the railway station forecourt in Sheerness. No advance booking is required. A charge of £1.50 will be made for Society funds

Faversham Society Open House Scheme
Saturdays 2, 9 & 16 July, from 11am – 5pm

Over 20 historic town centre properties open to view. Admission by programme with detailed notes on each (£7 on the day, £8 in advance) from Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre, Faversham ME13 8NS (01795 534542 or faversham@btinternet.com)

Crayford Manor House Historical & Archaeological Society
Trip to Peterborough, Saturday 11 June

Coach departs at 9am. Cost approx. £20.00.
Trip to Faversham, Saturday 9 July
To coincide with the Open House Scheme (above). Cost approx (but no more than) £19.00.
Further information and booking from Mr L Davies, tel: 01322 525335.

NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGY WEEK 2005

This year, the Council for British Archaeology have decided to extend the usual National Archaeology Days into a week-long celebration of archaeology. Look out for events near you posted on www.britarch.co.uk or in the local press. Here’s one not to miss!

B.C.UK
Prehistory - 'life b4 txt'

Sunday 24 July in the Museum of Kent Life, Sandling from 11am – 4.30pm
A family fun-filled archaeology day, focusing on the period before the Romans. Living History groups will set up camp – try flintknapping or bronze axe-casting: lots of free activities for young & old including food tasting; creative crafts & mini-excavation; exhibition of local history and archaeology groups; Carenza from Time Team speaking.
Entry is free for all children 16 & under (normally £4.50), adults £6.50.