Manorial Documents Register
The Manorial Documents Register (MDR) is the official index to English and Welsh manorial records and provides brief descriptions of documents and details of their locations in public and private hands. The National Archives at Kew now provide online access to this resource. Manorial documents include court rolls, surveys, maps, terriers, documents and books of every description relating to the boundaries, franchises, wastes, customs or courts of a manor.
University of Kent students fieldwork award grant update
Dr Steve Willis of the University of Kent provides an update on a fieldwork grant awarded in 2019 to enable students from the university to attend a training dig in Lincolnshire.
Randall Manor, Shorne Woods
Randall Manor, once home to the de Cobhams of Randall, is situated within what is now Shorne Woods Country Park, near Gravesend in Kent. This talk covers the community excavations between 2006 and 2015 and the history of the site.
Albert Daniels
It is with immense sadness that we bring you the news that Albert Daniels, the longstanding MAAG archaeological lead and KAS member died on the morning of 24 November 2020 in Maidstone
Hoo Peninsula Historic Landscape Project reports online
Reports from the "Hoo Peninsula Historic Landscape Project" are currently available to download online, via the Historic England website.
A History of the County of Kent (Vol. 2)
British History Online provides a digital version of "A history of the County of Kent: volume 2", originally published in 1926. This volume deals with the religious houses of Kent, including accounts of the early history of Canterbury and Rochester cathedrals.
The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: online
British History Online provides online access to "The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent", volumes 1 to 12, by Edward Hasted and originally published in 1797. These volumes include a general account of the history, topography and natural history of the ancient county. It also details the parishes of the two hundreds of Blackheath and Bromley and Beckenham, including several parishes which now form part of metropolitan London. These include Charlton, Deptford, Greenwich, Lewisham and Woolwich.
Free to View Monographs
A collection of monograph titles have been opened up in their entirety, free to view, during October.
Library Acquisition: Cobham Landscape Detectives
Cobham Landscape Detectives was a three year, lottery funded, community archaeology project. It aimed to explore the Kentish Parish of Cobham and beyond. The booklet details some of the discoveries that were made and the history that was uncovered. It takes a chronological approcah, beginning in Prehistory and ending with WWII military camps that still dot the landscape. This booklet has kindly been donated to the KAS library by the Detectives.
Library reopening from August
From August 2020 it will be possible for members to visit the Library again but due to Covid 19 there are restrictions in place
Bones found in Kent church likely to be of 7th-century saint
Bones discovered more than a century ago in a Kent church are almost certainly the remains of an early English saint who was the granddaughter of Ethelbert, the first English king to convert to Christianity, experts have concluded.
KAS features in The Great British Dig on Channel 4
The Society features in Channel 4's The Great British Dig, available to watch now on-demand at 4OD.
1989 Day out in Kent
I came across this video (slightly dated) on the weekend where the London and Surrey 'Earth Mysteries' groups have a day trip around some of the Kentish prehistoric sites. Particularly of interest to me was the visit to Chestnuts. (I believe that site is currently inaccessible, being on private land.) The video prompted me to take my own little day trip to to find the Chiding Stone.
Oxford Dictionary of Family Names during Lockdown
For a short period of time the Oxford Dictionary of Family Names has made its database available for free. "This huge, new dictionary is the ultimate reference work on family names of the UK, covering English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Cornish, and immigrant surnames. It includes every surname that currently has more than 100 bearers, and those that had more than 20 bearers in the 1881 census."
Video message from KAS President-Elect Kerry Brown
Kerry Brown, appointed President Elect of the Kent Archaeology Society in May 2020, talks about what the Society means to the county of Kent and his vision for the KAS in the future.
Free access to digital record from Kew
The National Archives are making digital records available on their website free of charge for as long as our Kew site is closed to visitors. Registered users will be able to order and download up to ten items at a time, to a maximum of 50 items over 30 days. The limits are there to try and help manage the demand for content and ensure the availability of our digital services for everyone.
Archaeology Resources Hub
The Council for British Archaeology are bringing together free resources to help anyone engaged in archaeology, whether you are an organisation looking for practical help, or are looking for content to keep you or your family entertained at home.
- #CreepyKent
- Agriculture
- Allen Grove Local History Fund
- Archaeology Research Group
- Ashford
- Barham
- BBC
- Benenden
- Bethersden
- Bridge
- Canterbury
- Canterbury Christ Church University
- Centre for Kent History and Heritage
- Charing
- Chatham
- Chatham Historic Dockyard
- Chislehurst
- Church History
- Conservation
- Council for British Archaeology
- Crayford
- Crayford Manor House Historical Society
- Deal
- Detling
- Dover
- Dover Museum
- Education Committee
- Excavations
- Farningham & Eynsford Local History Society
- Faversham
- Fundraising
- Geophysics
- Halling
- Halling Historical Society
- Hasted Prize
- Heritage
- Historic Buildings Research Group
- History & Archives Research Group
- Isle of Sheppey
- Isle of Thanet
- Isle of Thanet Archaeological Society
- Kent Archaeological Field School
- Kent Archaeological Society
- Kent County Council
- Kent County Show
- Kent Defences Research Group
- Kent Messenger
- Landscape Explorers Group South East
- Lees Court Estate Project
- Little Chart
- Lives In Our Landscapes
- Maidstone
- Maidstone Carriage Museum
- Maidstone Community Support Center
- Maidstone Museum
- Margate
- Maritime
- Maritime Kent Research Group
- Medieval
- Medway Council
- Metal Detecting
- Military History
- Modern
- Monasticism
- Norton
- Orpington & District Archaeological Society
- Ozengell
- Place Names Research Group
- Pluckley
- Prehistoric
- Ramsgate
- Romney Marsh
- Royal Phoenix Metal Detecting Club
- Selling
- Shoreham
- Shoreham & District Historical Society
- Smarden
- Smarden Local History Society
- Snargate
- Society Collections
- Students
- Surrey Archaeological Society
- The Faversham Society
- The White Cliffs Metal Detecting Club
- Thirsk Prize
- Tonbridge
- Trust for Thanet Archaeology
- Volunteering
- Westerham
- Westwell
- Women's Histories
- Wye