The Ancient Monuments Society
The society, founded in 1924, is concerned with the conservation and study of buildings of all ages and types. They are a 'National Amenity Society' and as such are consulted by local authorities in England and Wales on applications for listed building consent, whether partial or whole demolition. They handle some 7000 such cases each year, commenting on a broad range of cases both secular and ecclesiastical.
They work in partnership with The Friends of Friendless Churches, who own 31 disused but beautiful and interesting historic churches which they have saved from demolition and decay. The Friends are the proud owners of the medieval ruins and 19th-century mortuary chapel of St. Mary's Eastwell, Kent, where they have carried out an extensive programme of repairs on the tower and are about to introduce a screen by an artist blacksmith at the base of the tower.
Each year the Societies jointly publish three 40-page Newsletters and a 150-page volume of Transactions – the latter a collection of scholarly articles on subjects as diverse as brick noggin, vernacular architecture (including Kent and the South East), Victorian cemeteries and burial chambers. They also run a series of Autumn Lectures at the Courtauld Institute, Strand, London. This year's theme is 'The Architecture of Shops and Shopping'.
The AMS and the Friends run a joint membership scheme at £18 (£12 for senior citizens) and can be contacted through the Membership Secretary, St. Ann's Vestry Hall, 2 Church Entry, London EC4V 5HB. Tel: 020 7236 3934, email: office@ancientmonumentssociety.org.uk.