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ST ALBANS AND HERTFORDSHIRE ARCHITECTURAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY www.stalbanshistory.org N EWSLETTER No. 168 May 2008 Founded 1845 Registered Charity No. 226912 PRESIDENT’S REPORT Inside this issue My first task, in this my penultimate President's Report, is to introduce Council's nominee as my replacement, Michael Cooper 2 Professor Michael Cooper, whom you can meet on page 2. I was extremely pleased when he accepted Jon Mein 2 our proposal that he should stand for election as New members 2 President at our AGM in September. Michael is an acknowledged expert on the life and times of Robert Archaeology group 2 Hooke, a topic on which he has published and lectured Subscription reminder 2 previously to the Society. His contributions at our two previous Council meetings have already shown his Membership cards 3 quiet ability to listen to the debate and then suggest Apsley Paper Mill 3 the way forward. I hope you will give him your support at the AGM. Programme Development 4 I would also like you to welcome Jon Mein as our new Publicity Officer (see page 2), Committee to replace Ann Dean who does not wish to serve again. Jon has been co-opted to Library notes and queries 5 Council for the time being and will be nominated for election at the AGM, along with other officers. Clock Tower report 6 We are also pleased to announce outline details of the Mayor's prize (page 9), E-news broadcasts 6 which Kate Morris is creating as her farewell gift to the City when her mayoralty Verulamium Heritage Park 7 comes to an end this month. Her mayoral activities during the past year have kept Project the theme, the importance of our history, much in the public eye. Herts Association for 7 I have enjoyed my three years enormously and believe the changes in our Local History constitution have strengthened the Society. While the reduction in the number of Westminster Lodge 8 ALH lectures next season (see page 12) will sadden some of the regular Tuesday audience, I know that the new activities now being developed will more than take Mayor’s Prize for 9 their place. The Society owes a huge debt of gratitude to Roy Bratby, who has contribution to history spent endless hours analysing the responses to the questionnaire, both on what Tuesday lectures 10/11 members want from our Society and on what they can contribute. The Programme Development Committee has been working hard behind the scenes during recent Friday lectures 12 months, enhancing the programme for 2008/2009, and you will find more ALH Group AGM 12 information in the report from its Chairman, Roy Bratby, on page 4. Society lectures 13 Although I continue as President until the AGM, my task through the summer is to What’s on? 13 pave the way a smooth transfer into capable hands. Since I have resigned both as the Society's President and from the District Council, I thank you all for your support River Ver: can you help? 13 and look forward to finding time for a wide range of other activities. Society publications 14 Clare Ellis :1 : SAHAAS Newsletter No. 168 May 2008 INTRODUCING EMERITUS PROFESSOR MICHAEL COOPER COUNCIL'S NOMINEE FOR ELECTION AS PRESIDENT 2008-11 After graduating from the the History of Science. He is now researching the origins University of Bristol in 1957 and practice of land surveying from the earliest times to with a degree in Physics he 500 BC. was recruited by the Colonial Office and sent to the School He said: “Jennifer and I have been members of the of Military Survey (RE) for 18 Society for about 15 years, but I am no specialist in local months to be trained as a land architecture and archaeology. I was therefore honoured, surveyor. He was appointed as but surprised, to be invited to stand for election as Land Surveyor to the Federal President. I then realised that my own shortcomings were Nigeria Survey Department, outweighed by the knowledge, enthusiasm and expertise returning to the UK in 1964 to of members of Council and of the Society as a whole, so I take up an appointment with agreed to stand. the Ministry of Defence. He “Brian Moody, in The Light of Other Days, describes the then decided on an academic career which lasted until he Society's first three half-centuries as the 'Verulam Years', retired in 2000 as Emeritus Professor of Engineering the 'Wheeler Years' and the 'Post-War Years'. If elected, I Surveying at City University. He is also Visiting Professor shall encourage and support the Society in its use of at University College London, where he is engaged on his information technology when it benefits members, or current research. It is not unusual for retired academics in contributes to the Society's Objects set out in the science or engineering to turn to the history of their Constitution. I shall also do all I can to maintain the subjects, a move he prepared for by obtaining a PhD in Society's high standard of scholarship in its 'IT Years'. JON MEIN PUBLICITY OFFICER Over the last few years, as my sporting days topic can be much less daunting than it used have waned, I have indulged my enjoyment to be. With this and other developments the for history working on the 18th and 19th importance of the Society increases as a century history of the Saundersfoot area in centre for education and research. So, Pembrokeshire. Getting my hands dirty whether you are researching the history of (sometimes literally) in records offices from Saundersfoot or St Albans or simply enjoy London to Haverfordwest has been fun, listening to good lectures, membership of although somewhat daunting in the early the Arch and Arch and, importantly, days. But with the growing availability of on- participation in its activities are line of primary source material (from family indispensable. Raising awareness both history information at Ancestry.co.uk, the inside and outside the Society of what we 18th and 19th century newspaper collection offer is at the heart of my role as Publicity via the British Library), starting to research a Officer. ARCHAEOLOGY GROUP NEW MEMBERS Given better luck with the weather than last year we The following have joined since the last newsletter. We hope will be excavating at Amwell in the summer. This will they enjoy their membership and join in many Society activities be for the last two weeks of August, i.e. the weeks around the Bank Holiday. Anyone wishing to take Mrs S Betteridge and Grange Street, St Albans part should please contact me nearer the scheduled Mr P Vaughan start – say a week or ten days before – to confirm Anthony Druce Culver Road, St Albans that it is going ahead. Christine Dunn Chime Square, St Albans Paid-up members of the Society are free to join in; Dr I St John and Dr C Kau Ridgeway, St Albans anyone from outside the Society will be welcome as Miss T Maurer St Raphael's Court, St Albans well, but required to join the Society in order that Richard Mein Welwyn Garden City they (a) are covered by our insurance and (b) are contributing to the cost of running the dig. Janet Ouston Spencer Street, St Albans H Petri College Place, St Albans Looking further on, we should be undertaking either Janet Richards Hart Road, St Albans or both of fieldwalking and geophysical surveying in the autumn. Anyone beyond the Archaeology Group David Robathan Yeabridge, Somerset 'regulars' interested in taking part, please contact me John Robins Westfields, St Albans when the excavation is over. Alan J Smith Lemsford Road, St Albans Alan W Smith Belmont Hill, St Albans Roger Miles :2 : SAHAAS Newsletter No. 168 May 2008 SUBSCRIPTION REMINDER VISIT TO APSLEY PAPER MILL By the time you receive this newsletter it will be nearly the On 5th March 31 members went to Frogmore Mill to see end of the Society's financial year. I would remind the very interesting work that is continuing there. This members that at the EGM of the Society held in October followed the lecture that their Chief Executive, Jacky 2006 it was agreed to change the financial year to run Bennett, gave SAHAAS in February. from 1 June to 31 May. As a consequence subscriptions are due and payable for the forthcoming financial year on We were guided around the project after a video 1st June. presentation showing the development of the Mill and Visitor centre. The Heritage Lottery Fund has given As a reminder the level of subscriptions currently in force £1 million and work is still in progress to improve the are as follows; visitor facilities. Individual member £12 This was the site where paper's industrial revolution began. Frogmore Mill has been making paper for over Spouse or partner of a member, living at £6 200 years. the member's address It gave us access to the heart of a real working Children of a member under the age of 18 £6 environment, an insight into the history of paper making living at the member's address as well as their plans for an active future in recycling and Students who provide evidence that they £6 sustainability. are in full time further or higher education We were made very welcome and enjoyed our morning. Family membership £21 For those of you who signed up to the direct debit system you do not need to do anything; your subscription will Gill Charles automatically be paid on 2nd June (the next banking day following 1st June).