Issue Seven, Summer 2017 This issue of the Archive Service Team’s newsletter coincides with the launch of our latest exhibition ‘Bawleys, Barbels and Owlers: Life along the Kent coast’. The exhibition is in partnership with Screen Archive South East and is part of the British Film Institute’s ‘Britain on Film’ national campaign, which this year explores the theme ‘Coast and Sea’. Bawleys, Barbels and Owlers is open until October 28 during normal library hours and is free to visit. The exhibition runs alongside a programme of fascinating history talks (and performances of sea shanties); details of these can be found on the last page of this newsletter. Bawleys, Barbels and Owlers Kent’s coast comes to the Kent History and Library Centre If you visited the KHLC recently you may have heard the squawk of seagulls coming from our new exhibition ‘Bawleys, Barbels and Owlers’, which opened on Saturday 5 August. The exhibition looks at life along the Kent coast using documents from Kent’s archive collections, film from Screen Archive South East and objects from Dover Museum. The exhibition explores the history of Kent’s coast through the stories of the people who have lived and worked along its shores. These stories show how the coast has sustained and sometimes devastated lives, how it has provided places for entertainment and fun, and been witness to scenes of bravery and endeavour. A variety of documents can be seen from a range of periods throughout history, covering subjects from smuggling and sea-bathing to shipwrecks and coastal defence. A series of photographs are also on display, mostly taken in the early 20th century, showing fascinating views of the landscape and scenes of tourism and industry in Kent’s coastal towns and villages. Screen Archive South East are displaying original archive Bawleys, Barbels and Owlers at the KHLC film, including a visit to North Foreland Lighthouse in Broadstairs; Herne Bay pier ablaze in 1970; cockles and whelks and the Hoverlloyd in Ramsgate harbour; and the earliest publicity film of Margate from 1923. Find out about the first successful attempt to cross the Channel by hot air balloon in 1785 and see a piece of the propeller from the first cross-Channel flight by aeroplane. You can learn about Captain Matthew Webb, Timothy Burgess, and Ethel Lowry who all accomplished the gruelling swim across the Channel in 1883, 1911 and 1933 respectively. If you’re curious for an explanation of the words ‘bawley’, ‘barbel’ and ‘owler’ their meanings can be discovered by visiting the exhibition. If you’re unable to visit and want to know more please email the Archive Service Team who will be happy to reveal the definitions. Catalogue Transfer Project First update on newly transferred catalogues To make our collections more accessible archives staff and volunteers are currently adding the details of collections previously only available as paper catalogues to our electronic catalogue. These collections predate the introduction of our electronic cataloguing software and its online counterpart. Newly added catalogues include: Ch5: Records of Cranbrook school, 1563-1883 Ch45: Maidstone British School, 1758-1886 Ch48: Kent Guiding records, 1921-1974 Ch54: Records of the Kent Bee Keepers’ association, 1911- 1997 Ch55: 497th Starr-Bowkett Building Society, Dover, 1882-1913 Ch70: Records of the Maidstone Society, 1973-1981 Ch148: Records of Springetts Charity, Hawkhurst, 1814-1968 Ch153: Thomas Iddenden’s Charity, Hawkhurst, 1665-1960 RD-Se: Sevenoaks Rural District Council records U6: Collection of deeds deposited by Essex Record Office U106: Deeds of Hockeridge Mill, Cranbrook and accounts of the Peel Estate, 1511-1766, 1811-1863 U283: Deeds of Bobbing and other parishes, 1664-1923 U285: Deeds of Swanscombe, Hollingbourne and Hoo, 1414- 1868 U451: Order of St John Manuscripts, c1260-1774 U464: Ralph Griffin Collection, 1543-1831 U787: Manorial papers and deeds of Birling and Ryarsh U998: Letters of J. A. Hammond reporting antiquarian matters, Our volunteer Kevin working on the Catalogue 1760-1802 Transfer Project in the KHLC’s search room U1155: Title deeds and estate papers of Brasted and Greenwich U1212: Pamphlets of the Civil War Period, 1641-1648 U1290: Estate papers of the Ashdowne and Streatfeild families, 1585-1728 U1298: Title deeds and estate papers, Isle of Oxney and East Sussex, 1668-1940 U1314: Deeds of Dover and West Malling, 1802-1867 U1491: Records of the Brands Hatch Combine U1506: Book of Maps Concerning the Thomas Nevitt Charity, c.1640 U1510: Title deeds and insurance papers, 1713/14-1953 U1511: Draft and copy tithe maps and awards, and some estate maps U1512: Deeds and maps, 1632-1923 U1513: Campion Manuscripts, 1509-1664 U1537: Miscellaneous bills, receipts and vouchers for the Leeds Castle Estate U1996: Campbell (Colgrain) MSS. Formerly in Sevenoaks Public Library U2385: Polhill Family MSS U2429: Registers of motor vehicles registered and licensed by the motor taxation department of Canterbury City Council between June 1962 and September 1974 U2725: Records of Porter and Cobb, estate agents, Dartford U2741: Various probates and deeds, 1424-1815 U2742: Literary and other papers of novelist and playwright Lt. Col. Eliot Crawshay-Williams, 1901-1962 U2745: Deeds of Faversham Cement Works and Tenterden, 1751-1918 U2748: Faversham deeds, 1846-1956 U2790: Papers of J. H. Haynes, pacifist, c.1931-1980 U3139: Deeds of Badlesmere, Throwley, Challock, Sheldwich, Leaveland and Woodchurch, 1587/8-1782 U3191: Miscellaneous deeds and documents [including papers of the Kent Water Preservation Association], 1901-1902 U3205: Sale book of A. J. Burrows, auctioneer and land agent, 1895-1896 Thank you to our volunteer, Kevin, and work experience student, Holly, who have provided fantastic assistance in contributing to this major project. As more catalogues are added we will share updates in this newsletter detailing our progress. Newly Catalogued Collections at Kent Archives Search these and other records using our online catalogue Records of Elmsted Court Farm [U2916] This collection contains an unusually complete series of farming records for Elmsted Court Farm near Ashford whilst it was owned by the Youard family prior to and during World War Two. The business records include detailed information about the farm’s management, including accounts, wage books, and stock inventories. There are also comprehensive livestock records covering breeding histories for the cows and pigs, pedigree certificates, and auction catalogues. It is therefore possible to reconstruct both the wider history of the farm’s business fortunes, as charted through the itemised accounts of income and expenditure, and to appreciate smaller events that mark changing farming practices, such as when a tractor and a car were acquired. Specific details about individual livestock can also be gleaned from the husbandry records, including Comfort the cow’s milk yield, and the characteristics of a succession of pedigree Welsh pigs. The collection also contains biographical information about the Youard family and the reminiscences of their children about growing up on the farm. Letter from Edward Stanhope to Messrs Langville and Co., 30 Aug 1878 [U1590/C720] The collected papers of the seven Earls Stanhope represent one of the most extensive and complex collections held at the Kent History and Library Centre. This letter (right) from Edward Stanhope, son of Philip Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope, concerns a meeting with Lord Harlech and the arrangements for Captain Egerton’s marriage settlement, and was written whilst he was working at the India Office. The letter was purchased last year by the Chevening Estate for addition to the collection. Despite having been separated from the family’s ownership, it was determined that its original provenance should be restored and that it should be given a catalogue reference within the main collection; the letter has therefore been added to the series of [U1590/C720/1] supplementary papers within the correspondence. Title deeds for land in Shepherdswell, 1702-1789 [U4101] This small collection of title deeds relate to various properties and land in Shepherdswell, as well as additional land in Woodnesborough, Barham, and Brabourne, that came into the ownership of the Matson family of Shepherdswell, and later John Matson of St Margaret's at Cliffe. Recipe book (medicinal), 17th century [U1515/Z26] Cures for a wide range of ailments are covered in this seventeenth-century medicinal recipe book from the Romney of the Mote manuscripts collection, including coughs, colds, cuts, eye infections, stomach upsets, scabs, sores and swellings. The recipes provide detailed insight into early modern popular medicine and medical practice, although some of the concoctions’ suggested ingredients – including liberal use of swine’s grease, vinegar, and occasionally urine – will probably deter even the most tormented sufferers! 2017 Summer History Talks Series Life Along the Kent Coast Join us for an exciting programme of talks this summer featuring pirates, naval defence, sea shanties and more. All talks will be held at the Kent History and Library Centre, unless otherwise stated. Tickets cost £5 per talk and can be booked by emailing [email protected] or calling 03000 416438. Saturday 19 August - 2.00pm at Canterbury Library Paul Cullen (English Place-Name Society) ‘Kent Maritime Place-Names’ followed by ‘Sea Shanties and Fo’c’sle Songs’ Paul Cullen looks at the meanings of some of the county’s coastal names, then takes up his guitar to perform sea shanties and songs for the second part of this dual event. Wednesday 6 September - 6.30pm Cathryn Pearce (University of Greenwich) ‘“Those sons of plunder”: Daniel Defoe and the Wreckers of Kent’ Cathryn Pearce uses Defoe’s verse essay ‘The Storm’ as a window for viewing the world of the wreckers and salvagers on the Kent coast in the 18th and 19th centuries. Thursday 21 September - 6.30pm Gill Draper (British Association for Local History) ‘Pirates of the South-East - real lives c1300-1600’ This talk by Gill Draper will open up the nature of piracy and privateering, examine how it related to economic activity, trade and war, and set pirates in their domestic context.