Winter 2010/86
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KENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER ISSUE NUMBER 86 WINTER 2010 Sheltering from bombs Graffiti in Ramsgate tunnels INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 2-3 Making their Mark 4 Notes from the Archive 5 New books 6 -7 What’s On 8-9 You and Your Society 10-11 Pioneers, Powerbrokers and Saints 12-13 East Farleigh Roman Buildings Update Letters 14-15 Blean liDAR 16 HER www.kentarchaeology.org.uk Neanderthal Occupation Main picture: Incised Field Cannon Insert Above: Stenography, not yet decoded Insert Left: Breach caused by groundworks Front cover: Popeye \ MAKING THEIR MARK The urge to embellish a wall with a name, a comment or a cartoon was as strong 70 years ago as today, although pencils, rather than aerosols, were construction is apparently typical of used on the soft chalk of Ellington School’s air raid shelter. First World War chalk-cut tunnels observed elsewhere. The method In April 2010 groundworks for a Provision of shelters was made towards follows the mining methods employed housing development on the site of the the end of the war in response by colliers and it is suggested that men former Ellington Girl’s School, to Zeppelin raids and naval from the Kent collieries were drafted Ramsgate, breached the roof of an bombardments, but many were not in to carry out the tunnel construction. entrance tunnel leading into a set of completed until late 1918. The graffiti The tunnels are chalk-cut with no tunnels beneath the former school. The present within the shelter indicates lining, shoring or supporting arches, school buildings were demolished in fairly extensive use during the Second except at the south-west entrance where early 2010. The site had already been World War. Although much of it is a concrete lining was present. They the subject of an evaluation carried out indicative of use by the school, there average 1.3m wide by 2m high, with by Canterbury Archaeological Trust is some indication that the wider local variations, most notably in the and a watching brief was being community also used the facility. height, as the roof appears to have been maintained during the groundworks. The shelter was of simple form with cut following natural seams within the The Trust was commissioned to carry two tunnels, lined by benches, linked chalk. The side walls are near vertical out a survey of the tunnels, their fittings by cross passages terminating in toilet or slightly bowed out, to a height of and of the significant amount of cubicles, marked girls and boys. Three c.1.5m, then slope in to meet a flat or graffiti they contained. They also stairways entered the c.12m-deep concave roof c.1m wide. Tool marks, carried out a brief documentary study tunnels, corresponding to the Boys’, from round-bladed shovels, trenching to place them in their historic context. Girls’ and Infants’ departments of the tools and picks, are evident on all the The well-preserved tunnels are school. Two vertical shafts cut from the surfaces. Traces of fittings survive, such thought to belong to an air raid shelter surface are thought to represent as stair risers, bench support brackets, dating to the end of the First World construction shafts, excavated to the toilet cubicles, electrical (light) fittings War. It is unlikely, however, that they required depth and the tunnels cut and candle ledges. These are generally saw much, if any, use at this time. from their bases. This method of in poor condition. 2 Winter 2010 - KAS Newsletter - www.kentarchaeology.org.uk The tunnels contain many graffiti, dating, for the most part, from between late 1943 and late 1946. Due to the sealing of the tunnels after the war, these are relatively free from later additions, and thus provide an interesting ‘snapshot’ of the time. Already, however, at least six individuals have contributed new graffiti, since the rediscovery of the shelter in April! The more significant historic examples were recorded, together with a representative sample of the remaining graffiti in order to characterise its nature. Most of the graffiti were simply outside of school hours. unlike any artillery in use during the incised or in pencil, probably brought One group of graffiti reveals the Second World War, or probably even into the shelters to continue an antipathy of a faction at Ellington during the First. It is most likely, interrupted lesson. In contrast to what School towards the pupils of St George’s therefore, a historical depiction. might be found in today’s school spaces, School, Ramsgate. An inscription Swastikas are present in abundance, the toilets contained almost none, asserts: ‘St Georges are stacked painted together with a number of simplified perhaps due to the confined space! chads’, whilst another provides what union jacks. Pictures and patterns abound; was presumably intended as a Collections of strange symbols are human faces and their variants were generalized portrait of a St George’s evident, perhaps representing some common motifs. As one might expect, pupil, with crazed expression, curiously kind of phonographical shorthand. many of the graffiti comprise the formed upper lip, and thin, untidy, Girls at the school may well have names, or more usually initials, of hair. St George’s School pupils were studied stenography in preparation for individuals using the shelter, sometimes typically from wealthier families than secretarial careers – especially, perhaps, accompanied by other details including Ellington’s. By 1942 the term ‘stacked’ considering Ramsgate’s historical links their age, form, and the year, or even was well-established within American with that science. The script has not the precise date, of the inscription. slang, meaning ‘shapely,’ with regard been decoded. Together, these provide some useful to the female figure. By 1944 it may The tunnels are being resealed, clues to the use of the shelter. The great well have been known in Kent. The leaving them in a stable state with the majority were of 1944, with only two term ‘painted’ often referred to the use graffiti preserved. for 1945. It would be interesting to of cosmetics, frequently with some CAT would like to thank developers compare the graffiti giving a precise disreputable implication. ISG Jackson and the sub-contractors, date with details of known raids on Perhaps the most striking of the Cliffe, for their assistance during these Ramsgate – 12 dates are given in 1944. pictorial graffiti are two depictions of works. Particular thanks are expressed Several graffiti commemorated D-Day the American cartoon character to ISG Jackson for arranging confined on 6 June 1944. ‘Popeye’, closely similar except in size spaces training. Thanks are also One ‘Mable Jenner’ inscribed her and probably copied directly from a extended to Rod LeGear and the Kent name twice, once aged sixteen and comic strip. To the larger depiction, Underground Research Group for their again at seventeen – on both occasions someone has added Popeye’s signature assistance and comments. using the same slightly unusual spelling tobacco pipe, albeit disproportionately of her first name, and reversing the ‘N’s small. in her surname. Assuming she existed, Among the inanimate objects The photographic survey was undertaken by Andrew Savage, assisted by Adrian depicted, maritime and military themes Mable Jenner was above the normal Murphy, and the documentary research and school-leaving age when she carved her seem to have predominated, including \ name, perhaps reflecting the use of the an anchor, a small steamship and a field the tunnel was conducted by Crispin shelter by members of the public cannon with spoked wheels. This is Jarman, assisted by Russel Henshaw www.kentarchaeology.org.uk - Winter 2010 - KAS Newsletter 3 NOTES FROM THE ARCHIVE the French slides, which A Lecture on cannot be replaced. She also makesm a number of technical Stained Glass with specificationss for the lantern equipment.e Grinling, Lantern Slides delighted,d agrees only to find thatth Mrs. Arnold has left for by Pernille Richards SwitzerlandS with her children, beforeb he has had a chance to “My Lecture came off last night. We An exchange ofof makem his selection. He is left had an excellent attendance and the correspondencece choosingch from the 50 slides slides were much enjoyed. A number follows from whichch stillsti held by Dr. Legge. The of the audience told me afterwards how we learn that thehe selectionsel includes good pictures beautiful they were.... I did not use the slides belonged ttoo of Canterbury Cathedral, West three from Sens, as Dr. Legge told me her late husband,d, WickhamW and Dartford, but that these could not be replaced if any Hugh Arnold (18722 notnot nearly enough for a lecture accident happened to them”(Letter to -1915). He was a on Kent glass. Grinling is Mrs. Arnold 4/11/1920) stained glass artistt rescuedresc by fellow antiquarians Mr. C. H. Grinling (1861 – 1947) influenced by thee F. C. Eliston Erwood and collected information relating to Arts and Craftss LockwoodLoc who both lend him stained glass. Although the topic cries movement whoo momorer slides, but he still ends up out for illustration there are only a had his own studio hhavingavi to rewrite the lecture. small number of sketches among his from 1903-1914 DespiteD these stresses, the papers as well as a few photographs of working closely lecturelectu appears to have been a the windows of the Beauchamp Chapel with Lowndes & success.succe The mention of the slides in Warwick. The need for illustration Dury at the Glass arousedarou the interest of Percy was obviously keenly felt when House in Fulham. DearmerDear (1867 – 1936), an lecturing and Grinling’s correspondence In 1913 he eminentemin liturgist and historian of introduces some interesting slides, published the ChristianChris worship, at this point eminent people and a poignant personal influential book: lecturinglectur on ecclesiastical art at story of an artist.