The Leicestershire Archjeological and Historical Society 1961-2
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THE LEICESTERSHIRE ARCHJEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY 1961-2 President Lieut.-Col. Sir Robert Martin, C.M.G., D.L., T .D., LLD., M.A. (Deceased 13 1une 1961) Colin D. B. Ellis, Esq., C.B.E., M.C., M .A., F.S.A. (Elected 29 September 1961) * Vice-Presidents Kathleen, Duchess of Rutland The Hon. Lady Martin The Right Revd. The Lord Bishop of Leicester, D.D. The High Sheriff of Leicestershire The Right Worshipful The Lord Mayor of Leicester The Very Revd. H. A. Jones,, B.Sc., Dean of Manchester Albert Herbert, Esq., F.R.I.B.A., F.S.A. Victor Po:::hin, Esq., C.B.E., M.A., D.L., J.P. A. Bernard Clarke, Esq. Levi Fox, Esq., M.A., F.S.A. W. G. Hoskins, Esq., M.A., Ph.D. Miss K. M. Kenyon, C.B.E., M.A., D.Lit., F.B.A., F.S.A. * Officers Hon. Secretary: David T-D. Clarke, Esq., M.A., F.M.A. Hon. Treasurer: C. L. Wykes, Esq., F.C.A. Hon. Auditor: Lieut.-Col. G. L. Aspell, T.D., D.L., F.C.A. Hon. Editor : Professor J. Simmons, M .A., F.R.Hist.S., F.R.S.L. Hon. Librarian: G. H. Martin, Esq., M.A., D.Phil., F.R.Hist.S. * Trustees of the Leicestershire Archawlogical and Historical Society J. E. Brownlow, Esq. Colin D. B. Ellis, Esq., C.B.E., M.C., M.A., F.S.A. Albert Herbert, Esq., F .R.I.B.A., F.S.A. J. N. Pickard, Esq., J.P. C. L. Wykes, Esq., F .C.A. * Trustees of the Leiceste,rshire Archaological Research Fund Colin D. B. Ellis, Esq., C.B.E., M.C., M.A., F.S.A. Anthony Herbert, Esq., A.R.I.B.A. Professor J. Simmons, M.A., F.R.Hist.S., F.R.S.L. H. 0 . Wilshere, Esq. C. L. Wykes, Esq., F.C.A. vii LEICESTERSHIRE ARCHltOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY Representatives on Other Bodies Council for British Archceology: David T-D. Clarke, Esq., M.A., F.M.A. H. P. R. Finberg, Esq., M.A., D.Litt., F.S.A., F.R.Hist.S. County Records Committee: Mrs. E. M. Dickson Rural Community Council: J. A. Daniell, Esq., A.M.A. Committee Mrs. F. E. Skillington (Chairman) The Hon. Secretary The Hon. Treasurer The Hon. Editor The Hon. Librarian S. Bennett, Esq. J. E. Brownlow, Esq. F. S. Cheney, Esq. G. A. Chinnery, Esq., M.A. H. Collinson, Esq., A.R.C.A. T. H. Corfe, Esq., M.A. J. A. Daniell, Esq., A.M.A. Mrs. E. M. Dickson The Ven. I. D. Edwards, M.A. H. P. R. Finberg, Esq., M.A., D.Litt., F.S.A., F.R.Hist.S. A. E. Grimbley, Esq. Albert Herbert, Esq, F.R.I.B.A., F.S.A. Anthony Herbert, Esq., A.R.I.B.A. Mrs. W. A. North L. A. Parker, Esq., B.A., Ph.D. Miss M. P. Rippin, B.A. N. Scarfe, Esq., M .A. John R. Webster, Esq. K. C. Wright, Esq. Sub-Committee for Lectures and Excursions The Hon. Secretary Frank S. · Cheney, Esq. (Excursions Secretary) :H. Collinson, Esq., A.R.C.A. ·T. H. Corfe, Esq., M.A. A. E. Grimbley, Esq. MELTON MOWBRAY AND DISTRICT BRANCH Officers Chairman: H. L. Copson, Esq. Vice-Chairman: A. E. Grimbley, Esq. Hon. Secretary: T. H. Corfe, Esq., M;A. Hon. Treasurer: K. C. Wright, Esq. Committee W. H . Bailes, Esq. Mrs. E. Bartram W. A. Bayliss, Esq. P. E. Hunt, Esq. Revd. R. T. H. Pearse, A.KC. Mrs. H. A. D. Walkden viii THE LEICESTERSHIRE ARCHJEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY 106th ANNUAL REPORT, 1960-61 In order to simplify administration it was agreed at the Annual General Meeting to emend the rules to allow the Society's year to run from I May to 30 April. This report therefore covers 16 months. Eight general meetings were held, at which the following papers were read: 1960 IS January Walter E. Nicholls, Esq.: "The History of English Furniture" illustrated with models. 18 March J. S ..Wacher, Esq., B.Sc., F.S.A.: "Excavations in Blue Boar Lane, 1958". Jointly with the Vaughan Archreological and Historical Society and the Leicester Museums Association. ' 6 May The Rev. Canon Noel Boston, M .A., F .S.A., R.D.: "Old Musical Instruments". A lecture-demonstration . .12 July Annual General Meeting. 21 October H. J: · Case, Esq., M.A., F.S.A.: "English Barrow-diggers of the Nineteen!h Century". · 2 ·becember Norman Cook, Esq., B.A., F.S.A., F.M.A.: "Recent Discoveries in Roman London". Jointly with the Vaughan Archreological and Historical Society. 1961 20 January P.A. Stevens, Esq., M.A., A.M.A.: "English Domestic Architecture". By kind invitation of the Vaughan Archreological and Historical Society. 10 March P.A. Newton, Esq., B.A.: "A Fourteenth-Century Group of Glaziers in the Midlands". In addition there was a Social at the Guildhall on 28 October. The following meetings of the Melton Mowbray and District Branch were held: 1960 5 February D. T-D. Clarke, Esq., M.A., F.M.A.: "Roman Leicester to 1957''. 4 March Members' Evening. 13 May Annual General Meeting. 7 October Mrs. Olivia Wigram: "The True Richard III". 21 October P. A. Stevens, Esq., M.A.: "English Domestic Architecture". 25 November L. A. Parker, Esq., B.A., Ph.D . : "The County Record Office". 9 December Mrs. S. J. Hallam, M.A.: "Romano-British Canals and Colonisation on the Wash Marshes". 1961 27 January J. G . Hurst, Esq., M.A.: "Deserted Medieval Villages". 17 February Members' Evening. 17 March S. E. Thomas, Esq., M.A.: "Burrough Hill and Hill Fort Problems". ix LEICESTERSHIRE ARCH£0LOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY Though outside the period of this report the Committee records with deep regret the death of Sir Robert Martin, one of the Society's oldest members and President since 1953. Few men have been so devoted to the history of Leicestershire, and to the preservation and enrichment of the county's heritage. He himself has already acquired a place in our history and, indeed the more honoured shrine of popular legend, and his support for the Society's work will long be remembered. A full memoir appears elsewhere in this volume. Of recent years it has become apparent that the Society should engage in new activities to fulfil its function as the guardian and recorder of the County's history. One of the most important of these is the conservation of minor antiquities which may not qualify for help from the nation or public bodies. A scheme has therefore been put forward to make grants to assist in suitable cases, and grants have been made to Sir John Moore's School, Appleby Magna (£10) and to assist the church council of Asfordby in extracting the Anglo-Saxon cross shaft from the wall of the church (£5), to which the Melton branch added £2. It is hoped to develop this further and perhaps establish a Trust Fund. The destruction of historic buildings within the County continues and many demolitions in remoter villages are known to pass unrecorded for lack of advance information. The Society has, however, submitted a Report to the County Council on the Ivanhoe Baths (1822) at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, and was represented at discussions on the possible future of the building. It also provided a report for Mr. Sherwin, the owner of No. 38 Southgate Street, Leicester, a fifteenth-century house with a brick front c. 1720, in support of his unsuccessful appeal for the ring-road plans to be modified by a few feet to save this remarkable property. Enquiry was made into the possibility of obtaining entry to city churches, now kept locked. The evil times render some form of security imperative, but incumbents undertook to consider arrangements for bona-fide visitors. In an attempt to develop interest in the architectural heritage of the county, to increase knowledge and to raise funds, the Society has begun a series of picture post cards of local antiquities. A competition was run in the summer as a result of which one card (King's Norton church) is now on sale, and two more (Burley-on-the-Hill and Donington-le-Heath) are in production. The Society also made a new Christmas card. The Society was represented at the meetings for the formation of the Midlands Area Council for Museums and Art Galleries, a co-operative scheme which promises well for the future of art. Mrs. F. E. Skillington resigned from the Lectures and Excursions Sub-Committee after 21 years service. During this time she has undertaken almost all the advance arrangements which contribute so materially to the success of these occasions, and the Society is deeply indebted to her for this outstanding record of service. The Melton Mowbray Branch continues to provide an example (much envied in other counties) of local independence coupled with co-operation in the wider field. Its meetings are now held in Egerton Lodge, by kind permission of the Urban District Council, and attendances ranged from 30 to 55. Visits were exchanged with the Loughborough and District Archreological Society. Regular reports are contributed to the local press which keep its activities in the public eye. An album of local photographs is being compiled. Members have contributed materially to Mr. Colin Ellis' survey of monuments in churches. In the summer Mr. A. E. Grimbley conducted a small excavation in Kirby Bellars churchyard where much pottery had been found whilst digging graves. Traces of occupation with pottery ranging from Roman to the nineteenth century was found, also a silver penny of Burgred (852-874 A.D.).