№ 110 Winter 2018

THE OLDEST AND LARGEST SOCIETY DEVOTED TO THE HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE ANCIENT COUNTY OF KENT

Lynsted Kent’s literary heritage Iron Age custom and belief Fort Amherst Excavation of a An untapped mine Interpreting Kent’s Uncovering a Napoleonic V2 rocket of local history ancient finds fortification 06 19 22 25

2018 UPDATE LEES COURT ESTATE President Hon. Editor Dr Gerald Cramp Terry G. Lawson [email protected] Vice Presidents Mr L.M. Clinch Hon. Curator Mr R.F. Legear Dr Elizabeth Blanning [email protected] Hon. General Secretary Clive Drew Hon. Librarian [email protected] Ruiha Smalley [email protected] Hon. Treasurer Barrie Beeching Press [email protected] Vacant

Hon. Membership Secretary Newsletter Mrs Shiela Broomfield Richard Taylor [email protected] 87 Darnley Road, Gravesend, Kent DA11 0SQ [email protected]

WELCOME FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to the Winter 2018 Newsletter. learn new skills and make contributions to our County’s fantastic archaeological and historical heritage. Following a busy summer, we have a bumper issue packed with abundant and intriguing fieldwork, historical The Newsletter remains an outlet for this fantastic research projects and discussion. It seems such a heritage and the tremendous work going on out there. long time ago that I was surveying in the scorching It exists so that you, the membership, may communicate summer heat at Lees Court Estate. Indeed, much a broad range of topics devoted to the history and of that warm weather held out until late September archaeology of Kent. I continue to encourage as many enabling us to successfully carry out excavations members as possible to think about writing articles and at Woods Court Field and Stringmans Field. Shortly help inform the broader historical and archaeological after that, I was excavating at a fascinating site at community of what is taking place in our heritage-rich Fort Amherst in Chatham. What struck me most at and diverse County. Please continue to forward articles both locations, however, was the invaluable efforts of or notices to [email protected] the many volunteers that took part, and made both projects so successful. Following positive experiences Enjoy this issue and Season’s Greetings to all readers. at these projects, it is equally rewarding to see so many new members joining the Society. For me, the Best wishes, best way to increase the Society’s membership is Richard Taylor engagement – get people involved, try new activities,

The editor wishes to draw attention to the fact that neither he nor the KAS Council are answerable for opinions which contributors may express in their signed articles; each author is alone responsible for the contents and substance of their work. Front cover image courtesy of Anthony Mak using KAS drone.

02 | Kent Archaeological Society № 110 Winter 2018 CONTENTS

FEATURES Lynsted V2 Rocket Excavation 06 Allen Grove Local History Fund 10 The Ian Coulson Annual Bursary 14 William Somner, Kentish Scholar 16 Kent’s Literary Heritage: A (Largely) Untapped Mine 19 A Glimpse into Iron Age Custom and Belief 22 Dowsing at Springhead near Gravesend in the 1950s 24 Excavations at Fort Amherst 25 Lees Court Estate: 2018 Excavations 33 – A Thank You from the Countess Sondes 33 – Excavations in Woods Court Field, September 2018 34 – Site Administration 36 – Geophysics at Lees Court Estate 37 – Estate and Farming View of Archaeological Digs 38 – Stringmans Field Excavations 2018 39 – Lees Court Estate 2018 42

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REGULAR President’s Column 04 Cobham Landscape Detectives 05 An Interview With... Lucie Bolton 12 Letters to the Editor 13 The Finds Corner 17 Membership Matters 32 Notices 44

Winter 2018 | 03 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN The CIO Status is nearly here

The culmination of the process started by my The Allen Grove Local History Fund has made grants predecessor Ian Coulson and Peter Stutchbury of over £3,000 to five local history projects this year. in 2014 is almost here. The existing Society will Applications are now invited for grants to be awarded merge with the KAS Charitable Incorporated in 2019. Kent is fortunate in having many thriving local Organisation (CIO) on 1st January 2019. historical and archaeological projects, but in general, the County’s heritage is under threat from many quarters. During September the Society continued its archaeological excavations at Lees Court Estate Sevenoaks District Council has produced its Draft near Faversham confirming the presence of a multi- Local Development Plan and, as the document period Prehistoric settlement. As reported in this had little archaeological content, I wrote to them edition, the excavations were supervised by Keith emphasising that archaeological assessment Parfitt and the University of Kent, at Wood Court remains a material aspect in the planning process. Field and Stringmans Field respectively, and carried During my brief research, I noticed that authorities out by many volunteers from across the county. such as Ashford District Council do include an archaeological history of their district: a practice I The Membership Secretary reports that nearly would encourage all planning authorities to follow. 40 new members have joined the Society since the last issue of the newsletter. We must Museums have been a significant repository of the continue our efforts to recruit members. County’s historical and archaeological heritage. In the past few years, museums at Bromley, Gravesend In my last column, I reported that Paul Oldham, a and Canterbury have closed, and one of the museum former President of this Society, assisted Brian Philp buildings in Rochester sold. The Canterbury Heritage in the formation of the Kent Archaeological Research Museum, which told the history of Canterbury, is Groups Council in 1965, which later became the a significant loss. It is sad to see that during this Council for Kentish Archaeology (CKA). It is with period of financial restraint, the County’s historical regret that I have to report that the CKA has been and archaeological heritage is at risk. Nevertheless, dissolved. The CKA has served the County well for it is pleasing to report that the Maidstone Museum over 50 years with its extensive work on numerous has produced its 20-year plan for consultation, and I archaeological sites throughout the County. hope the Society and Maidstone Museum continues its association, one which dates back to 1858. During the summer, the Shorne Woods Archaeological Group (SWAG) continued its excavations in the Gerald Cramp, President village of Cobham and at Spur Battery, Fort Amherst. Both excavations have produced impressive results which are detailed in separate articles. COBHAM LANDSCAPE

DETECTIVES By Andrew Mayfield

Welcome to the latest Cobham Landscape Detectives Investigations began in June, with a number of test project update! Following on from the mammoth pits dug at Jeskyns Court, west of Cobham village. West Park survey, featured in Issue 109, the summer Research indicates that this could be the site of the lost fieldwork season aimed to answer two questions: medieval manor of Henhurst. A tour of the current house suggests that we could be looking at fourteenth-century Firstly, could we identify the location of a timbers in the roof of the building. Is the medieval manor number of the lost medieval manor sites still standing? One of the test pits yielded medieval within our project area? Secondly, could we pottery, with the rest revealing post-medieval activity. push back the dating of Cobham village?

04 | Kent Archaeological Society Further work over the summer at a second possible site Evidence for earlier activity proved the highlight of our for Henhurst Manor drew a blank for medieval activity, summer season! Working at Owletts, a National Trust so Jeskyns Court remains our favoured candidate. property west of the village, the team excavated a Gallo- Belgic site, recording ditches, pits and metalworking Moving into the village, we gained permission from evidence. In the field next door, geophys suggested the Forestry Commission to geophys and test pit an extension to this settlement and a quantity of a second possible Manor site, known as North Roman building material indicated a building nearby. Court. Despite some promising resistivity results and a single late medieval pottery sherd, we must In this summary of current progress, I have not wait till 2019 to groundtruth the results further. had a chance to detail further work on our post- medieval Great House site at the east end of the At the east end of the village, the volunteers village. Nor the input and continued support from investigated the grounds of Cobhambury House. the North Downs Young Archaeologists Club. This location is a further possible Manor site, Credit, however, must be given to all the landscape with medieval remains again proving elusive. As detectives; whose continued enthusiasm and in all great archaeology tales, a significant flint professionalism drives this project forwards. and chalk foundation structure of some age did appear towards the end of the dig. This will require For further information on the project, do contact further investigation in 2019! Although the Manor Andrew Mayfield, [email protected], sites remain somewhat elusive, we are refining see www.facebook.com/archaeologyinkent, our understanding of their relative locations. or @ArchaeologyKent on Twitter and our website www.shornewoodsarchaeology.co.uk In Cobham village, many residents allowed us to investigate their gardens further. On the south Acknowledgements side of the village, we recorded fourteenth- Aerial view image courtesy of Dean Barkley century activity and a possible boundary ditch. On the north side, we recorded a pit, with further evidence for early fourteenth-century activity.

The village itself is stubbornly refusing to reveal any earlier medieval activity. The church dates to the 12th century, but we have yet to see this early date in the wider village archaeology. There is also no sign, as yet, of earlier Saxon, Roman or Prehistory activity ‘under’ the village. Great minds have dwelt on these conundrums! The current school of thought is that the village may have developed on the joins between Henhurst, North Court, Cobhambury, Cobham and a further manor at Vyaundes (south of the village), focused around an implanted Church, originally appendant to Shorne Church. As to the Top, left lack of pre-medieval activity, it is possible that the Aerial view of excavations at Owletts whole area was wooded, with earlier activity focused Top, right on the ridges to the east and west of the village. Rim from Gallo-Belgic pot

Winter 2018 | 05 LYNSTED V2 ROCKET EXCAVATION

By Colin Welch

fragments of the missile were By 1944, the German war machine identified in and around the crater, was reaching its technological zenith. Adolf Hitler vaporisation must have occurred.

placed both faith and considerable resources in the Small fragments of a V2 found development of new weapons to attack Britain, in and around an impact crater at Lynsted, near Sittingbourne, primarily the flying bomb or “Doodlebug” (V1) and generated interest for the historical rocket (V2). Both weapons would leave an indelible analysis and archaeological team, Research Resource, specialists in mark on the British psyche for many generations. the study of the V-weapons and the As the allies attacked German- the V2 was the first man-made associated countermeasure battle. held territory from the west, they object to reach space. Its trajectory Run by the author and his brother, began to overrun sites in France took it to an altitude of 50 miles, Sean Welch, Research Resource and Belgium that had been built reentering the atmosphere under its has accumulated an archive that to launch these new weapons. momentum to impact at vast speed has enabled the construction of The knowledge that Germany had to explode with the detonation of a point-sensitive animated time- been developing V-weapons had 1 metric ton of high explosive. At sequence computer programme, been a secret amongst intelligence the impact site, little would remain. documenting every V1 and V2 and Cabinet circles since 1943, RAF teams responsible for formally that landed in England during and an allied bombing campaign recording the details of each V2 1944 and 1945. The ‘film’ runs for delayed and then hindered the impact, noting features such as some four minutes, and shows the V1 programme. Despite this, date, time, location, casualties, impact of the various phases of the approximately 9,500 “Doodlebugs” means of ordnance identification, offensive, and can be discriminated were launched against England crater size, extent of the blast, to highlight the component from 1944 to 1945, calling for and damage to property, would elements of attack and defence. an increasingly co-ordinated comment that since only small defence. The introduction of the close-proximity fuse anti- aircraft shell, gun-laying radar and the careful positioning of fast fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft operating zones quenched the main offensive by September 9th 1944, prompting Duncan Sandys (Chair of War Cabinet Committee against V-weapons) to proclaim that the battle against the V1 had been won. In secret, however, the authorities knew that an offensive by another new weapon was likely to be launched. Less than three days later, the first of 1,119 V2 rockets struck Britain.

There was no defence against the V2 once launched. Travelling at three times the speed of sound,

06 | Kent Archaeological Society The Lynsted V2 impacted at Phase 1 excavation Opposite page, top 08:10hrs on 17th February 1945 in Picture of a V2 rocket a small dry valley field 350 metres In 2017, following landowner Opposite page, bottom east of St.Peter and St.Paul’s approval, and the encouragement Fig 1: 1946 aerial photograph showing the Lynstead V2 crater, courtesy of Kent of the Lynsted with Kingsdown church. The bomb census report County Council from the time states that the Society, a detailed excavation Above left L.R.R. (Long Range Rocket) “fell strategy was tabled and excavation Fig 2: Evaluation trench of the crash site in (an) arable field about 250 yds. using a mechanical digger in 2016 from nearest building (a school), undertaken between 8th–11th Above right causing slight tile, glass and ceiling April 2017. The objective being to Fig 3: Lynstead V2 detonation layer at damage to (the) nearest building, clear the crater of infill, describe 5.5 metres depth, Phase 1 excavation. and slight glass and tile damage its profile and carefully search up to about 500 yds. A thorough for any remaining V2 wreckage. search was done for fragments with markings, but only small fragments The first fragments of V2 wreckage, without markings were found.” discovered at a depth of 4 metres, The form states that the missile included components of the exploded (X), creating a crater warhead baseplate surround. 57’ x 18’ deep (17.37m x 5.48m). At a depth of 5.5 m to 5.7m, a central ‘plug’ shape was visible, containing evidence of exposure Evaluation excavation to intense heat in the form of fused metalwork and soil, possible In July 2016, with landowner indications of detonation. Below permission, a magnetometer survey this, there appeared to be clean indicated large magnetic responses bedrock chalk. Further evidence in an area that corresponded to for detonation occurring at what appeared to be an impact site this depth is corroborated by on a 1946 aerial photograph (fig 1). the bomb census report.

In October 2016 an evaluation The finds appeared to be from the trench 1.5m wide and 3m deep front section of the weapon. They was then cut into the north- included sections of the warhead western edge of the crater baseplate, electrical components using a mini-digger, successfully and associated materials from defining the crater edge profile the control compartment situated as it met the rising land of the behind the warhead, a gas bottle, north-west side of the valley. The parts of the liquid oxygen and trench revealed that the large alcohol tanks and a section of magnetic responses were due the permanganate tank. Analysis to buried domestic and farmyard of the finds suggest that 153.5kg rubbish, but no V2 wreckage. (5%) of the 3150kg (dry weight) of the V2 was retrieved, but none of these finds included heavy items from the tail section.

Winter 2018 | 07 Phase 2 excavation

A 3-dimensional model was launch (fig 5) Given the trajectory Phase 2 excavation took place built to understand the work and a belief that there must be between 11th-13th May 2018. At a undertaken, showing the crater, more of the missile in the ground point 3 metres deep, on the south- the excavation extent, and to at Lynsted, there was much debate western side of the crater, past evaluate the trajectory of the about where the heavy items had the detonation centre and in line V2 in relation to the finds. ended up? Most contributors to the with the incoming trajectory, half debate believed that considering a metre into the crater wall, gas The missile was launched at the immense forces, further bottle remains were discovered. 08.06hrs GMT on 17th February wreckage would be in line with The bedrock below the central 1945, by Artillerie-Abteilung 1./485 the trajectory, either in front of detonation was also excavated. At from a mobile launch pad in the or behind the detonation point. 9.5 metres depth, some 3 metres Statenkwartier of Den Haag, north-west of the centre, at a Netherlands. The target, London, After consideration of the model 125° tangent from the incoming on a bearing of 255° (from Den and trajectory, it was noted that trajectory, the shattered remains Haag). However, according to radar the areas behind and in front of of the turbo pump was found plot returns, the Lynsted V2, for the trajectory of the missile leading embedded in the bedrock. At a some reason achieved a trajectory to the central detonation point depth of 6.5 metres, through the bearing of 249°, somewhat off- had not been fully excavated and crater wall to a point perpendicular target. The most likely explanation a further search was proposed to the outer rim of the crater, for this error was that the V2 was on using a mechanical excavator. we recovered the remains of a steady, but faulty trajectory, from the combustion chamber.

Top left Fig 4: 3D model of the Phase 1 excavation Middle left Fig 5: Radar plot returns for the Lynstead V2, fired from Den Haag 08.06hrs GMT 17th February 1945 Middle right Fig 6: Section showing the contours of the Phase 1 April 2017 excavated crater, and some of the remaining infill in situ Below left Fig 7: Plan view of the Phase 1 April 2017 excavated crater showing the areas fully excavated (green) Below right Fig 8: Phase 2, May 2018, impact crater and finds analysis plan

08 | Kent Archaeological Society Anti-clockwise from left Fig 9: Part of the V2 turbo pump Fig 10: Remains of the V2 turbo pump central drive shaft Fig 11: Burner cup from V2 combustion chamber Fig 12: Inspection approval stamp on the V2 turbo pump component

Conclusions The designer’s hope for the V2 was A recent study of a V1 missile that it would explode on the surface impact at Ham Street, Kent, The excavations resulted in to create maximum blast damage. showed the same tangential effect interesting conclusions. In the However, because the missile of heavier finds in relation to the final analysis, a further 533.5kg was travelling supersonically, and incoming trajectory. Comparing (17%) of material in the phase 2 the fuse train for detonation was the physical and archival evidence project, including 279kg (50.72%) subsonic, it punctured the ground between the V2 and the V1, it of the combustion chamber was to a depth of 5.5 metres before fully is clear that due to the slower recovered, resulting in a combined detonating. The heavy components speed (400-450mph), the V1 finds weight of 687kg (21.80%). of the V2 continued moving forward was the more effective surface Work is ongoing to conserve under their momentum, but the blast weapon, and had the enemy the Phase 2 finds. In general, energy release from the impact been able to bring it to readiness their condition is moderately and detonation deflected them earlier, the ensuing “Second Battle good since the chalk had sealed from the main trajectory. Under the of Britain’ (as we have come to them at great depth where immense pressure of the impact, believe that it was) would have oxidisation could not occur. the chalk was reduced to a tooth- been more difficult to overcome. paste like liquid which absorbed and sealed the finds in the bedrock with no visible trace of their path.

Winter 2018 | 09 ALLEN GROVE LOCAL HISTORY FUND President’s legacy has supported local history for 24 years

By Paul Tritton

Five local history projects received Folkestone and District Local The grants are made from the grants in 2018 from our Allen History Society: £500 to help legacy of Allen Grove, one of Kent’s Grove Local History Fund. Every publish The Folkestone Pulpit, most eminent historians of his year the society awards more a brief history of the town’s generation who was Hon. Curator than £3,000, apportioned among churches that existed in 1875. of the KAS for 26 years (and its individuals, groups, organisations The book will publicise the early President in 1987/88), Curator of and students, to help cover the cost histories of churches that were Maidstone Museum from 1948 to of research, publications, exhibitions thought to have been lost, and 1975 and Chairman of the Kent and other projects focused on help local historians with their History Federation for eight years. Kent’s history and heritage. research into their churches. When Allen Grove died in 1990 he The successful applicants Kent Gardens Trust: £750 towards left £26,000 from the proceeds of in 2018 were: a book on five properties in Kent the sale of his house to the KAS, on which Humphry Repton, the last with instructions that the society Eleanor Bliss, who received £250 great English landscape designer should invest the legacy and towards publishing a biography of the eighteenth century, worked distribute the interest in ways that of Margaret Agnes Babington (Bayham, Cobham, Kippington, would promote the enjoyment of OBE, who became steward to Montreal and Vinters) and five Kent’s local history (including that George Bell, Dean of Canterbury, others with which he is associated. of the London Boroughs of Bexley, in 1928. In 1927 Bell founded the Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham, Friends of Canterbury Cathedral, Wealden Iron Research Group: which were once part of the county). the first organisation of its kind in £1,500 will help fund Adventures the world. Miss Babington made in Iron by Brian Awty, a book The first grants were made 24 a considerable contribution to tracing the development of blast years ago, in 1994, mainly to its success, staging plays and furnace technology from Belgium support the publication of books concerts and enticing illustrious in the mid-fifteenth century to and booklets but also for displays people such as John Masefield, north Normandy and the Weald of in heritage centres, for oral Sir Adrian Boult, Gustav Holst, south-east England, from where history projects, & for establishing Dorothy L Sayers, Dame Myra it spread into Kent after 1550. archives and research centres. Hess, Rudyard Kipling and George Bernard Shaw to the cathedral. Woodchurch Ancestry Group: Application forms for 2019’s grants £325 to cover printing and should be submitted by 31 March ‘Miss Babs’, a Tenterden vicar’s publicising a collection of 2019 & can be downloaded from daughter, was a “fundraiser illustrated articles on the history http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/ extraordinaire and an incredible of Woodchurch, including medical grants/ or obtained by email from force,” said Eleanor. “She cajoled care in the seventeenth and allengroveadmin@kentarchaeology. deans and bishops into getting eighteenth centuries, First World org.uk or by post from the KAS things done! Hers was a life War recipes and smuggling. c/o 8 Woodview Crescent, worth recording for posterity.” Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 9HD (please enclose a s.a.e.).

10 | Kent Archaeological Society Humphrey Repton in Kent Mother’s Union and WI in Tenterden. She worked tirelessly throughout By Kent Gardens Trust the first war setting up and supporting the War Hospital Supply As part of a country-wide Depot at Homewood; she organised celebration of the work of the the National Egg Collection scheme 19th-century landscape gardener in the town and surrounding villages; Humphrey Repton, the Kent she raised vast amounts of money Gardens Trust research team have for various local charities and good produced a beautifully illustrated causes – all a rehearsal for what book describing Repton’s five she achieved when she moved commissions in Kent, with a short to Canterbury in 1924. She lived introduction to his life and artistic in the Cathedral Precincts with principles. Humphrey Repton in her father. In 1928 Margaret was Kent is a companion volume to appointed the Secretary, Steward Capability Brown in Kent. It is 140 and Treasurer of The Friends pages long and will interest not only of Canterbury Cathedral, and is garden historians but for anyone credited with raising over a hundred keen to know more about the thousand pounds for various social history of the county and the cathedral projects. This is the lives of the leading figures of the The Urgent Miss equivalent of £1.65 million in today’s time. The research has revealed Babington money. In 1937 she was awarded fascinating and hitherto unknown the OBE ‘for services to the contemporary letters and drawings cathedral’. She wrote a bestseller and has made extensive use of By Eleanor Bliss – The Romance of Canterbury Repton’s famous Red Books. Cathedral. She was the driving Who would have thought that force, along with Dean George Copies are available through a few lines from a story in 1917 Bell, behind the first Canterbury ww.kentgardenstrust.org.uk and all would start me off on a research Festivals. Queen Elizabeth II sent good bookshops, priced £10 (Kent project which has now culminated, a message of condolence to her Garden Trust members £8), postage seven years later, in me writing a family and friends when she died, and packaging £3.50 extra. Kent book? It was the last thing on my and she was honoured by having Garden Trust members may obtain mind when I signed up with my two memorial plaques placed in a discount code by contacting the husband, Andrew, in 2011, to join a Canterbury – one in the Cathedral Secretary, Lynn Phillips at lynn. Tenterden Church Group visiting and one in the Cloisters. [email protected] the Somme battlefields. Rev. Keith Fazzani told us about the life and However, this is only a part of her Alternatively, a cheque for the death of Humfrey Babington, a story. There is so much more… appropriate amount may be young man who is listed on the St forwarded to Lynn Phillips at Mildred’s Church World War 1 War With the help of a grant from the Yew Cottage, Station Road, Memorial. The Babington family Allen Grove Fund organised by KAS Eynsford, Kent DA4 0ER. made an impression on me. The and a very helpful publisher – Ed father was Rev J A Babington, vicar Adams of Canterley Publishing of St Mildred’s Church Tenterden – I now find that I have written a from 1907 until he retired in 1924. ‘proper book’ with an ISBN! I am An older brother was a poet, and pleased to report that I have had daughter Margaret stayed with her some encouraging comments father throughout his ministry in from various people who have Tenterden and later in Canterbury. already bought it from me.

I began to research Margaret, little Copies are available at £10. suspecting where her life story Postage is £1.50 for UK orders. would take me. A valuable source Phone 01233 770082 or email of information was the archived [email protected] Parish Magazines, written by Rev Babington and his daughter. Profits will all go to St Mildred’s Margaret played a significant part Church, Tenterden, where in the history of Tenterden – indeed this project all started. I found references to her being involved in 36 different groups, as I have enjoyed researching secretary, treasurer or leader! She and writing this book. I hope was a founding member of both the that you enjoy reading it.

Winter 2018 | 11 AN INTERVIEW WITH… Lucie Bolton Fifth Continent Heritage Officer

I began by asking Lucie to tell us based on Romney Marsh. We have a bit about her background: many projects we are delivering which focus on heritage, wildlife LB: I grew up in Kent, and I and community on the Marsh. remember always being aware of the tremendous amount of RT: ‘Heritage Officer’ sounds history and archaeology we have like it possesses a broad surrounding us. I loved History remit of responsibilities? and Geography at school, and I started to think about a career in LB: It does! My day to day role is archaeology when I was around quite varied, but I wouldn’t want 16. It was not long after that I had it any other way. I am the lead for my first experience volunteering three projects which are focusing on a site at Canterbury. on the heritage and archaeology of the Marsh. The projects are I went on to do an undergraduate working with volunteers to carry out degree in Archaeology at the archaeological investigations on the University of Exeter before churches and various landholdings. doing a Masters in Palaeolithic We are also investigating the Archaeology and Human Origins possible locations of the pre- at the University of Southampton. Medieval port of Romney. I returned to Southampton for my PhD which was also in Palaeolithic RT: How does the role of the geophysical surveys on a couple Archaeology and included studying Heritage Officer fit into the of sites, and now we have the material from many well-known Fifth Continent Project? results we can start to think about Palaeolithic sites from Kent such where we would like to excavate. as Cuxton and Frindsbury. LB: I am one of three Project Officers, and there are five of us in We also have a significant RT: What did you do after the team altogether. My colleagues excavation planned for New graduating? Did you head straight Stan Smith and Dawn Apcar are Romney in summer 2019 so keep into the heritage sector? the Biodiversity and Community your eyes peeled for that! Officers. We also have our Scheme LB: After completing my PhD, Manager Lisa Barrett-Smith and RT: What are the biggest I worked for a few years as a Team Administrator Viv Kenny. challenges facing community Palaeolithic Specialist in commercial fieldwork in Kent at the moment? archaeology and spent much RT: I’m aware that you’ve been time working in the Ebbsfleet leading community fieldwork as LB: One of my biggest challenges area. I finally moved across to part of the Project… tell us a bit at the moment is the weather! In my current role as a Community more about what you’ve been up to. commercial archaeology, I got Archaeologist working for Kent used to working in all conditions County Council a year ago, and LB: Community fieldwork is a but now I’m relying on volunteers I have been seconded to Kent considerable part of the heritage I don’t feel I can ask them to work Wildlife Trust as the Heritage Officer projects, and all three of the in the pouring rain. My volunteers for the Fifth Continent since then. projects have fieldwork planned. are very dedicated, and most We have run a number of training of them would turn up whatever RT: Tell us about the Fifth sessions for our volunteers covering the weather but I have had to Continent Project. topics such as landscape survey, rearrange a few activities at short geophysical survey and church notice over the past few weeks. LB: The Fifth Continent is surveys. Over the past month a Heritage Lottery Funded, we have also carried out some Landscape Partnership Scheme

12 | Kent Archaeological Society RT: Having been active now for RT: What legacy do you hope a while, what would you say are to leave behind once the Fifth the essential characteristics of Continent Project ends? a successful Heritage Officer? LB: I hope this project helps people LB: I think being organised is critical. to connect with the history and Juggling three projects with 70 archaeology of the Marsh. If by the volunteers and multiple landowners end of this project people feel they can get quite complicated at times know more about the archaeology but I’m a big fan of to-do lists, and on their doorstep, I will be happy. I’ve just discovered Bullet Journaling which is helping me to stay focused. It also helps that I’m a people person and I love talking to people about their local archaeology! LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor ‘Mrs Howe, Mrs Piercy Fox & Miss Waugh, and Messrs Bradshaw, Detsicas, Harrison, Horner, Howe, Jackson, For the benefit of members, may I be permitted Lyle, Meates, Ocock, Parsons, Philp, Tester, & one other’. to add some detail to the President’s kind remarks about our past President, Paul Oldham My notes of the meeting reminded me that discussion (The President’s Column, Issue 109). was dominated by the thorny subject of a proposal to create a new Council for British Archaeology (CBA) In the weeks before the Society’s 1969 AGM, Paul regional group, a Group that would see Kent ‘unite’ wrote to members seeking support for his resolution: with Surrey. The reason for this preoccupation with CBA matters was that some of those attending the ‘The sale of any item from the collection of May 21st meeting had been at an earlier informal antiquities, pictures and documents, owned by gathering, also held in Rochester, at which an invitation the Society, is detrimental to the interests of from CBA Group 10 (London) was discussed. This archaeology in Kent. In consequence, no further unexpected communication suggested that Kent sale of such articles is to take place without the should join with CBA Group 10 and not support the consent of members at a General Meeting.’ creation of a new CBA Group 11B. In addition to exploring reactions to the CBA initiated problem, the Two years before, officers had sold an important earlier gathering, held under the auspices of the Lower portrait from the collection bequeathed to the Society Medway Group (of which I was secretary at the time), in 1938 by Sir John Twisden. In the early 1960s, the had gone on to discuss ideas for establishing better Margary bequest was still some years away, and the links between active local groups working in Kent and Society’s Council often took big decisions about money to consider suggestions for launching a new body to without consulting ordinary members, who in 1969 represent Kent field archaeology. The outcome was were unaware that an asset of the Society had been the 21 May meeting and ultimately the KARGC. lost. After a stormy AGM debate, Paul’s resolution was passed with acclamation. As a result, members The inaugural meeting of the KARGC would take can today view Sir John’s collection, which continues place at Canterbury on Saturday 10th October 1964. to be housed at Bradbourne House, East Malling. Bill Penn became KARGC chairman, Graeme Horner its secretary and Brian Philp, its treasurer. The Paul certainly played an active part in the early years KARGC was later renamed the Council for Kentish of the Kent Archaeological Research Groups’ Council Archaeology (CKA) which, in the years since, has (KARGC). However, its actual formation came about benefited Kentish archaeology by adopting a novel as the result of a widespread desire among field approach to rescue excavations, public relations, research groups working in Kent for a body that media briefings and the writing up of history. would encourage county-wide collaboration and make it easier to share information and learning. A first Yours sincerely, meeting of the ‘Ad hoc Committee of Kentish Field Michael Ocock, KAS member Archaeologists’ took place at Rochester on 21 May 1964. Recorded as being present at the meeting were:

Winter 2018 | 13 THE IAN COULSON ANNUAL BURSARY FOR LOCAL HISTORY/ARCHAEOLOGY IN KENT SCHOOLS 2017–18

By Andy Harmsworth and Marion Green

On 2 October 2018, we attended 25 years and, at the time of his The successful school then has a whole school assembly at St premature death in 2015, President one academic year to research John’s Catholic Comprehensive of the Kent Archaeological Society. their chosen topic and produce School in Gravesend. The purpose The bursary aims to support related classroom materials. For of the visit was to present Colm the teaching and learning of the duration of the project, teachers Murphy, Subject Leader for History, archaeology and local history, two will have access to an adviser with a cheque for £1,000 for his of Ian’s great passions, in Kent and appointed by the KAS Education department’s work on the local Medway schools. One bursary, Committee. They are expected impact of the First World War, worth up to £1,000, for which any to deliver in digital format: the first award from the newly Kent or Medway school (primary established Ian Coulson Bursary or secondary) may apply, will be • local history/archaeology for Local History/Archaeology. available each academic year. resources for children to use in the classroom over a sustained This annual bursary was established To apply for the bursary teachers period (i.e. several hours of in 2017 by the Education Committee have to submit a short application work in the classroom) of Kent Archaeological Society, form before the end of June. of which we are both members, in The KAS Education Committee • support materials for other memory of Ian Coulson. As many examines all of the applications and teachers; for example a scheme of you will know, Ian was Adviser informs schools of their decision of work, detailed explanatory for History in Kent schools for over before the end of the summer term. notes and advice, additional resources and a bibliography

14 | Kent Archaeological Society These materials will then be made available to other schools on the Kent Archaeological Society and Canterbury Archaeological Trust websites. The bursary will contribute up to £1,000 towards expenses incurred during the completion of the project; acceptable expenses include the costs of supply cover, the purchase of equipment, software and/ or subscriptions essential to the project, photocopying expenses and travel expenses (for example to an archive office or museum).

The St John’s project was an investigation into the impact of the First World War on the locality. Using the names on their local Students went on to research the war memorial as a starting point, Battle of Cambrai and the results Year 9 students (13–14-year-olds) of their findings, together with carried out research to produce their completed biographies, were biographies of soldiers from their published in a commemorative local area who died in action during booklet ‘Gravesham and the the First World War. With the help Battle of Cambrai, November of their teachers, local historians 20th – December 4th 1917’. The and surviving family members, they biographies were also published then used a variety of sources to on the school website. find out about the soldiers’ lives, including the Commonwealth The culmination of the project War Graves Commission website, was a visit to the First World War military service records, census battlefields and cemeteries in returns, local newspapers, war Northern France and Belgium. diaries and the histories of Pupils were able to visit the graves particular regiments and units. and memorials of the soldiers whose lives they had researched, During their research students providing added poignancy to discovered that several local their learning experience. Please help us to publicise the soldiers were involved in the Battle bursary by telling any teachers you of Cambrai in November 1917, the A teaching and learning resource know about it. We do not doubt first battle in which tanks were used for schools based on the project, that Ian would heartily approve of on a large scale. Coincidentally, ‘Investigating the Impact of the innovative work in Kent schools Gravesham is twinned with Cambrai World War l in your Locality’, has which the bursary is supporting. and students were working at now been produced. It contains the time of the battle’s centenary. detailed guidance which can One of the first soldiers they be used by teachers anywhere Opposite page researched was Thomas Boucher in the country and consists of Marion Green presenting the cheque of 7 Dover Road, Northfleet, who a teacher’s guide, a scheme of to Colm Murphy with Andy Harmsworth was training to be an engineer work and a student booklet. (right) and Headteacher Matt Barroe (left) Top left when the war broke out. He joined Thomas Boucher, 1897–1917 the Royal Field Artillery in 1915 and These materials can be Top right was subsequently transferred to downloaded, along with further From the Kent Messenger, 15 December the Machine Gun Corps and then information about the bursary, 1917 the newly formed Tank Corps. from the Canterbury Above In 1917 he fought at the Battle Archaeological Trust website: Front cover of the commemorative of Messines, taking control of a www.canterburytrust.co.uk/ booklet produced by the students of St John’s Catholic School Mark IV tank when its driver was learning/schools/coulson-bursary/ severely wounded. During the Battle of Cambrai, shortly after his 21st Or follow the link on the Kent birthday, he was shot after his tank Archaeological Society website: had been hit by artillery fire and died www.kentarchaeology.org.uk from his wounds. He has no known grave, but his name is inscribed on the Cambrai Memorial at Louverval. Winter 2018 | 15 WILLIAM SOMNER KENTISH SCHOLAR

By David Wright

William Somner (1606–1669) was one of the great English scholars of the seventeenth century. Somewhat forgotten today, his reputation is in need of restoration as we approach his 350th anniversary.

He spent his entire life in Canterbury, a constable, juryman and freeman initially at the family home in of the City, was a noted benefactor Castle Street, and then in the to the cathedral and paid for the Cathedral precincts. His father, erection of the Bullstake market William Somner senior, came from house in the Buttermarket outside Boxley near Maidstone and initially Christ Church gateway. William the language. The genesis of the drew his more famous son into himself married twice and produced work arose from Somner’s study or the practice of a notary public eight children, none scholarly, transcription of many of the most after arrival in Canterbury in the but including a clergyman and a important Anglo-Saxon manuscripts 1590s. However, William junior was surgeon, both died young. The (held in the famous Cottonian library destined for greater things after Somner surname seems to have and the libraries of other noted an education at the King’s School, died out around the 1760s when scholars), and also of contemporary although a university did not follow the father of the future Archbishop English and continental this. As a born antiquarian he had John Bird Sumner arrogated the printed works on philology. prodigious natural energy and love Somner coat of arms which had for researching, recording and been granted in 1663 jointly to For several decades Somner writing and soon knew the records, William and his brother John. maintained a correspondence monuments and architecture of with noted scholars, many of his beloved Canterbury and its As a close confidant in the whom united in a close circle cathedral better than any of his employment of Archbishop Laud existing to share information about predecessors. His first masterpiece, where he practised as a registrar discoveries and encourage mutual The Antiquities of Canterbury, was of the consistory court and research. Numerous dedications published in 1640 at the young age cathedral auditor, Somner was well and references in their printed of 34, and still stands as perhaps the placed to assist the prelate with works are ample evidence of such best of the early borough histories, ecclesiastical and other enquiries, relationships. Relatively little has based on extensive reading and book and record-keeping, and survived following a disastrous supplemented by transcripts of many played no small part in saving many fire in the cathedral library a year post-conquest charters and other registers and books from loss or after his death when many of historical documents. For many destruction during the 1642 sacking his deposited books and papers years afterwards Somner gathered of the cathedral and subsequent were destroyed. However, known fresh material for a proposed second dislocations of the civil war. connections with other scholars edition, but nothing would come of and their works are well established this until well after his death in 1703, Despite many demands upon his and include Somner’s great at which time posthumous works on time, Somner devoted enormous and personal local friend Meric the Kentish Roman forts and ports, energy to his next masterpiece, Casaubon who offered constant and the departure point of Caesar’s the Anglo-Saxon/Latin/English help and encouragement, Sir Roger Kentish invasion would be shown Dictionary of 1659, the working Twysden for whose Historiae to the world. Another on the Saxon manuscripts for which may still be Anglicanae Scriptores Decem Shore remains in manuscript. seen in the Cathedral archives. Somner contributed the glossary, A two-volume work of profound and William Dugdale’s Monasticon One of seven children, his eldest and staggering scholarship, the Anglicanum and Warwickshire on brother, Major George Somner, Dictionary set Anglo-Saxon studies which Somner commented and distinguished himself but was killed on a new path for the next three contributed. Moreover, indeed, in a skirmish at Wye in 1648. generations and laid the basis for by the 1650s Somner’s name Another brother, John Somner, future research and publications into was the one above all others

16 | Kent Archaeological Society which scholars would consult the exact anniversary. Proceedings on all matters relating to Anglo- will open with an exhibition of Saxon philology and linguistics. Somner manuscripts and books in the Cathedral Archives, and then be Somner’s last major work was his followed by five speakers, including A Treatise of Gavelkind of 1660 Professors Jackie Eales and Kenneth in which he described in great Fincham, who will set Somner’s life detail the origins, practicalities and into its seventeenth-century context problems of this quintessentially and examine his literary legacy. Kentish custom. Busy until the very end he died on his sixty- A full life (in two parts) of William third birthday and was buried in Somner by Dr David Wright will the family parish at St Margaret’s appear in the 2019 and 2020 church. His widow, now remarried volumes of Archaeologia Cantiana. as Barbara Hannington, later caused a monument to be erected in his All enquiries about the colloquium Above memory and chose to be buried (and any other Somner matters) Dr David Wright alongside him in preference to her are featured in the Notices Section two other previous husbands. of this issue. For any further information, please contact Dr David A one-day William Somner Wright at [email protected] colloquium will be held at the Old or visit www.drdavidwright.co.uk Sessions House, Christ Church University, Canterbury, on Saturday Images courtesy of 23 March 2019, just one week before www.drdavidwright.co.uk THE FINDS CORNER

In our second piece highlighting finds from Kent reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) the Kent Finds Liaison Officer, Jo Ahmet, looks at non-metallic objects reported to the PAS in Kent. Anywhere you see a number proceeded by ‘KENT-’ you can use it to find the record on the PAS public database. It can often seem that FLOs are obsessed with coins, buckles, brooches and the metallic finds familiar to metal detectorists. In reality Kent, like most counties, frequently sees ceramics and lithics, from keen-eyed detectorists as well as many other finders such as mudlarks (foreshore fieldwalkers) and fossil hunters.

Ceramic objects and fragments are perhaps the most common finds to most European archaeologists, and indeed they are a significant minority of finds we deal with at PAS Kent (roughly 2–3% of total finds recorded from Kent). Most such finds are scatters of ceramic fragments, oft-recorded in bulk in a similar way to site finds. About once or twice a year, however, we see complete, or near complete pots. Usually from coastal or waterlogged areas, Fig 1 though hoard containers or cremations are known.

Winter 2018 | 17 Most commonly these complete vessels are late Medieval or Post-Medieval. Often these are of quite distinct and well-known types such as green glazed or salt glazed types like Bellarmine, although a Roman Samian ware bowl is currently awaiting recording. The vessel here, KENT-589236, is a rather lovely small complete jugglette dating c.1600–1850 and, unusually, has come from Spain or Portugal. It was found in Margate Bay just above the mean tide line (fig 1, previous page).

After ceramics, it is lithics which dominate many archaeological sites and indeed dominate the materiality of human history. In Kent we have recorded everything from Palaeolithic handaxes and choppers, through Mesolithic tranchet axes, adzes and microliths, vast swathes of Neolithic scrapers with the occasional fine early arrowheads spreading into the Bronze Age, topped by very scrappy late Bronze Age and Iron Age tools. One last group of lithic objects to be occasionally recorded are gunflints (fig 2).

Fig 2

Often, as gunflints tend to be dated c.AD 1600–1900, they fall outside the general pre-c.AD 1700 cut off for finds recorded with the PAS. This tends to mean that many of those recorded exhibit unusual morphology or features such as being found in lead wraps to fit the hammer lock of the firearms. KENT-AA1B15 is unique to the PAS database and indeed so far to Kent as it is a probable gunflint blank from which the gunflints could be produced. Most examples recovered seem to be directly related to gun producing areas, so this example from the wilds of east Kent makes it even more unusual.

Other materials frequently recovered such as glass, bone and depositional conditions allowing leather are all represented from Kent on the PAS database albeit in small numbers. Of these materials, Roman glass is often the most striking, since despite its age and frequently being recovered from coastal or riverine locations it remains in excellent condition. This fragment (KENT-E0F864) of early Roman cylindrical (c.AD 43–100) or square/rectangular (c. AD 43–200) bottle is an excellent example of such material and was recovered from the Medway Estuary (fig 3).

For more discussions on the unusual finds of Kent Fig 3 see our blog series ‘Kent is wyrd’ at https://finds. org.uk/counties/kent/blog/. If you want to keep up with where the Finds Liaison Officer will be, have finds to record or want to keep up with some of the discoveries being made in Kent. Keep an eye on the Archaeology in Kent Facebook page, Kent_Finds on twitter or drop the FLO an email to [email protected]

Acknowledgements All images courtesy of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) and Kent County Council (KCC)

18 | Kent Archaeological Society KENT’S LITERARY HERITAGE: A (LARGELY) UNTAPPED MINE

By Kerry Brown

Kent is a profoundly historic landscape, as the work of the KAS has testified to since its foundation in 1858. However, it is also one of the most important centres for literature not just nationally, but globally. That heritage is perhaps less celebrated than it should be. Also, while there is extensive knowledge of Charles Dickens and Geoffrey Chaucer, the literary roots go far deeper and are far more varied and influential.

Just a haphazard list of writers native to Kent, or who have lived and worked here for significant parts of their careers over the centuries, would need to include not just the aforementioned two ‘superstars’ but figures like Joseph Conrad, Ian Fleming, Noël Coward, Sir Philip Sydney, Christopher Marlowe, H E Bates, W Somerset Maughan, E H Nesbit, H G Wells, Jocelyn Brooke, and Jane Austen.

This list could also include those for whom significant things happened in their writing experience here – the fact, for instance, that T S Eliot wrote part of his immensely influential The Waste Land in a shelter still preserved on Margate seafront, or that Samuel Beckett spent time in the 1930s driving around the villages of West Kent, apparently amused by the names of places like ‘Snodland’ and the curious divergence between the spelling and the pronunciation of ‘Trottiscliffe.’ figures like James Joyce, George Top Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde Shelter in Margate where TS Eliot Given this heritage, it is a curious are remembered and celebrated. wrote some of The Waste Land thing why it is so little celebrated However, Kent lacks a focal point to Above in the county. Dublin, which has its bring its group of equally illustrious Jane Austen was a frequent collection of globally recognised figures together. That seems like a visitor to Godmersham Park writers, has a splendid museum lost opportunity – and a disservice in a Georgian house in the city to this extraordinary heritage. centre in which the works of

Winter 2018 | 19 Below left Part of this anomalous situation Twice there. But for the many Ian Fleming’s former home, can be vividly illustrated by what aficionados of his work and its Old Palace in Bekesbourne has become of the living places of multiple translations, a visit to the some of these world famous authors. place he spent so much time in, and Below right Godmersham Park Jane Austen, records show, was where he set some of this works, a frequent visitor to Godmersham would prove frustrating, with bits Park which her brother inherited and pieces memorialising and a through marriage, and reportedly lack of any central point of focus. wrote much of Mansfield Park in the library there. Today, despite her One place he did stay at was being one of the most loved figures also home to Noël Coward, on in English literature with appreciate St Margaret at Cliffe’s seafront. societies in the US and Japan, These days, however, the house the house is mostly off bounds, sits unmarked, seemingly let out as accommodating the Association of holiday cottages. Joseph Conrad’s British Dispensing Optometrists. The habitations were of longer standing other place she is closely associated because Kent was his base for the with Goodnestone, near Canterbury, final decades of his life. His family is a little more accessible (its rented a house in Addington, which gardens are often open), though is now the home of more recent it is likelier she stayed in Rowling celebrities. However, the place in House on the estate, now a private which one of the greatest masters residence. Possibly here she wrote of modernism in literature died, in parts of Pride and Prejudice. 1924, sits next to Bishopsbourne Church. Oswald’s, as it is called, is For Ian Fleming, his creation, James marked by a blue plaque, but once Bond, is a global phenomenon, more it is a private residence. Conrad popular in countries as diverse himself is buried in Canterbury City as China and Australia. The sole cemetery. Some artefacts relating memorial to his longstanding to him were preserved until recently residence in Kent (much of the in the Canterbury Heritage Museum time he was also in the Bahamas before it closed. But for the author where he had a house) is a metal of Heart of Darkness, a novella that statue on Dover beach front, remains one of the most powerful depicting his most famous creation denunciations of colonialization rather than him. The house he ever written and which was made lived in for some years opposite into an epic film in the 1980s by the church in Bekesbourne, the Frances Ford Coppola (Apocalypse Old Palace there, is now privately Now) getting global audiences, it owned. A pub, the Duck Inn in Pett seems an underwhelming way of Bottom, commemorates how he remembering such a great figure. may have written You Only Live

20 | Kent Archaeological Society While Charles Dickens gets more Digges family who were patrons proportionate treatment, with at of the players. The German writer, least a part of the old Restoration Uwe Johnson, regarded alongside House and the Guildhall Museum his contemporary Günter Grass in Rochester dedicated to him, the as the most important author house in which he lived for his final in German after the Second decade, Gad’s Hill, while occasionally War lived mostly in obscurity in open to the public, serves as a girls’ Sheerness till his death in 1984. private school. The same could be His Anniversaries will be published said for H G Wells, a man who was in a new translation this year. born in Bromley, then part of the Kent area, and who spent almost a In an era when tourism is so decade living in Folkstone. His works important, and where almost predicting the future were massively everywhere is attempting to promote successful, both during his life, but a brand to showcase their attributes, also subsequently, with The War it seems perverse that Kent, one of the Worlds having resonance to of the truly great global literature this day. Pilgrims to his home by the centres, a place that can boast an seaside, however, will be met with a authentic link with W Somerset small memorial at the gate of what is Maugham (who went to the King’s Top now the Wells House Nursing Home. School, Canterbury), Mary Tourtel Joseph Conrad’s grave, (who is buried here), E H Nesbit and Canterbury City cemetery A proper account of the literary Edmund Blunden (who both had links Below left history of Kent would need to factor with Yalding), Siegfried Sassoon (a H G Wells’ house in Folkstone, now in the ways in which, through figures student at Sevenoaks School), Vita the Wells House Nursing Home like Chaucer, whose visits to the Sackville-West (resident of Knole country were in the guises of a House and Sissinghurst), and many Below right spy and a tax collector (an unholy more, lacks a single focal point to Shakespeare may have performed dual career if ever there was one!) tell this story. At best, that is a pity. at Chilham Castle, owned by the Digges family who were or Christopher Marlowe, the great At worst, it is a lost opportunity. The patrons of the King’s Players contemporary of Shakespeare, it literary history of Kent is in many was a place that was present at the ways the literary history of Britain very beginning of the English literary and the English language. It is a tradition. This alone makes it unique. story that deserves being better told, and better commemorated in Another important aspect is how the place where this all happened. the county has fascinating byways, where it has been associated with figures in diverse and intriguing ways. Shakespeare may well have performed in Faversham, as his group, the King’s Players, are recorded to have visited and played there. He may well have performed at Chilham Castle, owned by the

Winter 2018 | 21 A GLIMPSE INTO IRON AGE CUSTOM AND BELIEF

By Nigel MacPherson-Grant

This article reviews three seemingly or were not socially connected innocuous items – a raw un-worked enough, to own or gift-receive a lump of red iron oxide, the rather bronze vessel(s), they could at least drab looking lower body of a bring out their quality wares when fineware pot and part of a small receiving guests or on special- perforated iron oxide disc. The first occasion days. Figure 1 illustrates a is from Dumpton Gap, Broadstairs, fineware bowl sherd from the earlier recovered from the base of a first millennium BC settlement at large pit by the present author Minnis Bay, Birchington. To achieve in 1971 and before subsequent the red finish, raw iron oxide similar excavations by Professor Tim to Figure 2 had to be collected. Champion. The second two are Since nodules of this material from pits recorded during recent were unlikely to be easily found, 2003 and 2018 excavations in the they were probably prized and Trinity Square area of Margate exchanged via trading networks. (reviewed here courtesy of the Once acquired, some of the nodule Fig 1 Swale and Thames Archaeological would be ground down to powder Survey Company). All three are, and then applied either dry (rubbed broadly, of Early–Mid Iron Age on) or more probably as a wet slip date – between c.600–350 BC. painted on to a bowl’s surface, mostly with no additional decoration. The cultural background to these This potting convention lasted elements lies in earlier periods – throughout the Earliest Iron Age, the Late Bronze and Earliest Iron for the next 300 years and, for a Age. During the former and into while after c.600 BC, continued into the latter, sheet bronze cauldrons, the Early–Mid Iron Age. However, tall high-shouldered storage-jars this period represents a new phase or situla and metal cups were of continental influences with new arriving in modest quantities from pot shapes and new decorative the Continent. These new shiny styles. The use of red-finishing metal objects were prestigious continues but now in conjunction Fig 2 and highly prized. Their existence with white (ground chalk) or black began to affect contemporary (ground charcoal) paint applied as a pottery styles with the production component of polychrome-painted of metalwork simulates – tall high- rectilinear schemes. With these, shouldered storage-jars, often the red colour is used to enhance similarly-shaped though not so tall and frame various design formats cooking-jars and small variously- – the most typical of which are shaped fineware cups and bowls. spaced square unpainted panels, Near the beginning of the Earliest bordered in white and then in-filled Iron Age, from around 900 BC, it with white or, less frequently black, became fashionable to produce painted designs. The technique is fineware vessels with a bright red a classic diagnostic of the period slip intentionally aping the glowing – and several Thanet examples appearance of bronze vessels. Most are illustrated (figs 3 & 4). The contemporary settlements had at design details would be painted least a few red-finished pots – so on using either a stick end chew- Fig 3 that even if they could not afford, softened into splay, bound horse

22 | Kent Archaeological Society hair – possibly – or bound reed With the possibility of a sense of or dried grass heads. The latter mystique being attached to the is still used in modern Himachal acquisition of iron ore and its softer Pradesh in India to skillfully paint relation, iron-oxide nodules, an beautiful white-on-red or black- interesting adjunct to the above may on-red designs – the same types be represented in some later Iron of design on the same types of Age spindle-whorls recorded from pot as were made at Harappa Thanet. Four have been recorded in the Indus Valley over 4000 to date, with three recovered from years ago (Perryman 2000, 21). the late upper fills of a much, much earlier Later Neolithic ceremonial The fineware pot base (fig 5), as far enclosure ditch at Lord-of-the- as I know, is currently unique. The Manor, which must still have been angle of its body wall suggests that partially visible in the landscape it came from an angle-shouldered and respected as an ‘ancestor’ Fig 4 bowl or drinking beaker, a common monument. All were carved from form during the Early–Mid Iron dark brown or pale pink-brown Age. It had been discarded, either iron-oxide nodules. Compared with cracked during firing or broken the majority of whorls made with during use. Irrespective – it has tempered potting clay or chalk, had its sides chipped down roughly these are relatively rare. Two of level and to a shape ideal for these whorls are decorated – one holding in one hand while painting. in particular with a simple cross Inside are definite traces of red design scored on one of its flat and white paint, mostly mixed and sides. The decoration of mid or merged into a pale pink colour. later Iron Age spindle-whorls does There is little doubt that it was not occur that frequently, most – used during the decoration of however well-made – are rather polychrome finewares, although mundane and plain. Crosses incised the pink colour is a little unusual. on objects or pots, whether as purely decorative or as a symbol The function of the small perforated have a long history in Europe and iron oxide disc (fig 6) is less readily the Middle East. The association Fig 5 determined. Since it was excavated, here with weaving is interesting and like the paint pot, from a large reminiscent, albeit rather stretched settlement-site site producing topographically, of one aspect of fragments from a number of West Semitic belief systems current polychrome-decorated and red- during their Bronze and Iron Ages. painted vessels the first thought is This involved a goddess called that it was threaded onto string or a Asherah – related to Ashtoreth leather thong and worn around the or Ishtar – who appears to be a neck of the potter or hung from his patroness of spinning, weaving and belt during pot-painting sessions. cloth production (Rich 2017, 152–4). Alternatively, since Bronze Age She, like Ishtar, is often portrayed metal-smithing and the procurement with a crescent moon on her head, of ores was, initially, a mysterious which relates to the concept of time process imbued with a sense of and cyclicity. This can, in turn, be magic and power some of this linked to a late nineteenth century mystique may well have rubbed AD, but ultimately probably much Fig 6 off, to some degree, not just on the older, North Russian custom of production of painted finewares but embroidering aprons with calendars more specifically on the iron oxide (Barber 2013, fig.2). These include Bibliography itself and its bright red colour. It is a cross-in-circle symbol which Barber 2013 – Barber, E.W., The not entirely unlikely that this disc may indicate cross-quarter days Dancing Goddesses, W.W.Norton was worn as a protective amulet or those when the four Celtic and Co.(New York) 2013 by a woman. Like the colour of festivals were, and still are by some, Perryman 2000 – Perryman, J., the Great Mother’s blood, it could annually celebrated. It is not too Traditional Pottery of India, A be a life-giving charm, a help- far fetched to assume, or believe it & C Black (London) 2000 meet during childbirth and for is possible, that similar beliefs and the rigours of life in general – a customs were active in southern Rich 2017 – Rich, S.A., Cedar Forests, thought that met with enthusiasm Britain during the Iron Age. Cedar Ships, Archaeopress (Oxford) 2017 from a lady at a recent workshop.

Winter 2018 | 23 DOWSING AT SPRINGHEAD NEAR GRAVESEND IN THE 1950s

By Victor Smith

Long forgotten and recently loan of equipment from the Kent discovered in a photographic Archaeological Society, this method collection are several images was used. The equipment was very of uncertain date in the 1950s slow but produced reasonable showing the late Bill Penn, the results. As a small diversion, the Gravesend Historical Society’s author was tempted to dowse and, Director of Excavations, trying in doing so, discovered the edges out dowsing rods on the site of of a previously uninvestigated the Romano-British religious length of Roman road, also at centre at Springhead. Springhead. When, in 1989, he came to manage an historic National In those days archaeological Park in the Caribbean, he dowsed prospecting at Springhead was on the property, identifying the mostly through the plotting of exact edges of previously unknown crop marks and the study of aerial buried structures. He later found photographs as well as augering out that he had been watched and and walking over ploughed fields to that this had begun a short dowsing look for concentrations of surface craze on part of the island, with evidence. Occasionally dowsing wire coat-hangers being taken was attempted. Geophysical by maids from the rooms of two prospecting had hardly asserted hotels at the request of those itself in British archaeology. who wished to make the rods.

As a scientist, Bill Penn was a The author inclines to rely upon trained sceptic, and he decided to geophysics, most recently under subject dowsing to methodological the leadership of the Gravesend testing. Having received some initial Historical Society’s Verna Row, coaching from a visiting dowser, also at Springhead. The Kent Top he did this with carefully laid out Archaeological Society has several Bill Penn dowsing traverses over part of One Tree times replaced the originally bought Bottom Field at Springhead where stakes equipment with better, quicker Part of the rectangle staked out on the ground were inserted into the ground at the and more versatile instruments. places where the rods closed and opened. This produced a rectangle The author retains dowsing rods on the ground, subsequently for very occasional and responsible confirmed by excavation as a ‘recreational use’, avoiding any Roman building. This impressed possibility of addiction. It would be Bill and the excavators around interesting for any dowsing readers him but the results were not to share their experiences in the Author’s note: scientifically explicable. Although pages of this newsletter. Discussion The author began excavating this was a memorable achievement, of the effectiveness of dowsing at Springhead in 1961 when he dowsing was subsequently used tends to go round in a circle and heard of the dowsing success on only fitfully at Springhead. As then back round the other way, not the site, now supported by the soon as electrical resistivity least because there is no universally photographs (with kind thanks surveying became available at accepted scientific validation of to the late Phillip Connolly), the start of the 1970s through the this method of investigation. which appear with this article.

24 | Kent Archaeological Society EXCAVATIONS AT FORT AMHERST

By Roger Hornsby and Richard Taylor

Background

A brief introduction to the reason for the fortifications starts with the use of a Medway Reach as a mooring for out of commission Royal Navy ships in the mid-16th century, keeping the narrow Thames area at Deptford Dockyard clear. Soon the facilities to store gear for the moored vessels expanded to become Chatham Dockyard.

The Dutch naval assault on the lower Medway, inflicting humiliating damage to ships at Chatham, in 1667 exposed the inadequacy of the defences. Two new forts were rapidly built to guard the river and then Chatham area Medway defences followed to protect the Top Naval Dockyard from the landward Fig 1: Excavations at Fort Amherst 2018 side. Starting with a cleared area Above to the east as a ‘Field of Fire’, the Fig 2: The Chatham Lines showing Spur remains of which are the Great Battery to the southwest c.1810 Lines by the mid-18th century Right Fig 3: 1879 map showing SB17 a defensive ditch and ramparts excavation targets on Spur Battery had been built. Considerable improvements followed; some to thwart the American, French and Spanish activities in the latter third of the 18th century but mostly at the beginning of the 19th century, during the Napoleonic Wars, that included additional fortification to both north and, at the south end, Fort Amherst.

Winter 2018 | 25 This remodelling of the south-east Amherst. These remain within Group (SWAG) was invited to corner expanded Prince William’s the Chatham Lines, albeit what investigate this area in September Bastion by adding Spur Battery, then was Kitchener Barracks is now a 2016 and found a series of cross forming a ditch on the western side private housing development. Apart walls that elucidated the constantly so this area became an ‘outwork’ from that, the Garrison Church, evolving defences on Spur Battery. (fig 2). This effective separation married quarters and some sports The Medway Council and HLF from the Fort followed the current facilities the RSME continues to funded ‘Command of the Heights’ defensive practice. Soon rapid link to the Fort within the Lines. project will see the ‘ampitheatre’ advances in artillery range in the space on Spur Battery transformed early 19th century made these Fort Amherst has been described into an open-air auditorium. defences ineffective, so generating by English Heritage as the most the ring of “Palmerston Forts” to complete Napoleonic fortification SWAG returned in 2017, under the the east of the Medway towns gave in Britain and as such has great site director Andrew Mayfield, as the Dockyard effective protection. national historical significance. part of the Dig Deep community Generally, there is public access archaeology initiative at Fort In 1980 Fort Amherst was purchased to most of the ‘open to the sky’ Amherst, funded by Medway from the MoD by the Fort Amherst areas of the Fort but presently not Council and the HLF, to investigate and Lines Trust and public open to Spur Battery and some adjacent the scrub-covered area to the east days began; before that it had been fortifications. of the proposed ‘amphitheatre’ of ‘Government Property’. There are the courtyard casemate. SWAG well recorded uses made of the Excavations 2016–18 was expecting to find traces area during both the world wars; at Spur Battery of buildings that are indicated administrative within existing on plans (fig 3) dated later than underground chambers and There is a proposal to adapt an those of the ‘outwork’. None were probably anti-aircraft measures. area, probably remnants of Prince of found, though evidence for the Following WWII, neglect allowed Wales’ Bastion that is incorporated construction of the Spur Battery undergrowth to flourish. The Royal into Spur Battery, that ramps down platform using vast quantities of School of Military Engineering between two revetted walls to a chalk rubble and various sandy (RSME) Brompton facilities are caponier, as an open-air auditorium. infills were detected (figs 4 & 5). spread northwards from Fort The Shorne Woods Archaeology

Left Fig 4: Various backfills visible as part of Spur platform make-up Above Fig 5: Various backfills visible over casemate structure of Spur Battery

26 | Kent Archaeological Society In addition to the discovery of the who participate in such activities. platform make-up, other features Unfortunately, there are no records were located and cleaned, including of by whom, how and when this area a probable WWII foxhole, original was used save that there were no gun emplacement positions and public displays and these hirings of possible evidence of a retaining wall the Spur Battery area ceased some associated with an earthen ramp five years or so ago. Presently the providing access to the earliest area has been cleared of most of phase of Spur Battery (figs 6, 7 the trees that covered much of the & 8). It soon became clear, via a area until this year, presumably as combination of the excavations and part of the ‘amphitheatre’ works. the study of aerial photography, that the Royal Engineers probably ‘Blank ammunition’ is almost always a levelled much of the Spur Battery casing to suit the weapon’s chamber platform surface, removing shape without any projectile and a remnants of 19th-century internal reduced propellant charge to suit the buildings and structures in the action of the weapon. This “action” process. However, many exciting falls into two main categories, artefacts were discovered, hinting one being the simple need for a at a rich and varied military use ‘bang’ that requires manual action for over 200 years (figs 9 & 10). to reload – breaking the weapon to insert a live round, lever or bolt action in conjunction with a charged Spent ammunition magazine or mechanical action as discoveries – the in a revolver – that needs a simple cartridge as, apart from fitting the value of research chamber and ease of ejection, there is little need for other than some gas What did appear in 2017, mostly tightness. The other form of ‘blank’ by metal detection in the surface round is one that needs to operate layer of low growth, where 220 the reload action of the weapon, or so spent blank cartridges in a so a form of choke attachment to comparatively small area. At first the weapon is mostly needed to sight, (and given the former MoD ensure enough force is generated on location), one might assume many firing to operate the working parts. of these blank cartridges are Now, this type of blank round has evidence of military exercises or to emulate the shape of its lethal wartime training. However, following counterpart to prevent ‘jamming’ Top left much painstaking research, the as it cycles from the magazine to Fig 6: Cleaned Spur gun emplacement reality is somewhat different. ejection. The only real difference looking east between a ‘self-loading’ and an Top right The cartridges are likely to have ‘automatic’ weapon is the former Fig 7: Probable WWII fox-hole position constructed against east wall needs the trigger pulled each time been the result of private re- Bottom right enactments or war games, the Trust to fire a single round; automatic will Fig 8: Retaining wall associated with management renting this securable fire continuously once the trigger is an earthen ramp providing access and isolated outwork to those pulled back until release, misfire or from the barrier ditch during earliest there are no more rounds to load. phase of Spur Battery’s use

Winter 2018 | 27 Ammunition generally is described by calibre, and case length as these broad dimensions tend to indicate which weapons are chambered to use them. It is fair to assume that much ammunition is manufactured for use by nations’ armed forces, but there are thriving forms of target and hunting shooting activity that demand ammunition for a wide variety of weapons, from the arcane to the most up to date. There a few military chamber shapes have been long-lived – the Russian 7.62 taper rimmed 57mm, German 7.92 parallel rimless 57mm, British 7.70 (303) taper rimmed 56mm to name but three. Post-WWII alliances have introduced their small arms ammunition for use in the standard chambers incorporated in national weapon designs.

Headstamps are the details Top left stamped into the base of the Fig 9: Royal Welsh Fusilier tunic button case – that part that has the cap Top right or primer in the centre. They are Fig 10: 20th Century toy soldier featuring a Vickers machine gun generally manufacturers’ markings Middle left for that maker’s country and vary Fig 11: 0.303 British rounds immensely in detail. Some of the Middle right blanks found at Fort Amherst are Fig 12: 7.62 x 54mm - Russian 1891 round blank in every sense, having no Bottom left markings whatsoever. The military Fig 13: 7.92 x 57mm German Mauser use both headstamps and colours rounds Bottom right to indicate specific uses for a Fig 14: 7.62x 51mm Standard variety of specialised and up- Nato 1957 rounds graded rounds developed over time. Sadly there is little detail on ‘blank’ rounds, so identification has had to rely on that for lethal rounds.

28 | Kent Archaeological Society Below Fig 15: 1878 map showing SB18 excavation target on Spur Battery Right Fig 16: WWII fox-hole (darker vertical soil to left) position cut through Spur backfill platform

The cases collected from the tiny To summarise; there is evidence, in Excavations progressed throughout areas investigated within Spur one of the remoter areas of the Fort, a two-week period and, in addition to Battery in October 2017 mostly that 20th-century weaponry has a further WWII fox-hole discovered appear to be post-1980, suggesting fired blank ammunition probably for to the east of the casemate in a no armed forces training but ‘re- some form of re-enactment as the service trench for the proposed enactment’ by such groups. Of the rounds seen represent mainly British, amphitheatre (fig 16), the main cases collected only 64 are “UK German and American chambering. excavation gradually exposed a MoD issue” and most of these can Unfortunately, no records seem remarkably well-preserved buried be dated from a 1991 supply of 7.62 to exist to reveal greater detail structure. As backfill was removed x 51mm NATO blank rounds, the of such usage. At the very least and shoring applied to the walls, twilight years of the Self Loading a musket ball for the regulation evidence for a multi-arched chamber Rifle. A quarter of the empty cases musket of the era of the Fort’s with an attached access shaft, are “9 x 19” that have a vast range construction was also unearthed. slowly emerged (fig 17). Excavations of weapons chambered for this ceased at a depth of 2.0m without ubiquitous round so no particular finding the base of the structure. nation or alliance can be attributed A Nice Set of Latrines However, this depth did demonstrate to these blanks. There are sufficient a well-engineered structure grounds to suggest German, British SWAG returned in October 2018 employing curved buttresses to the and American WWII weapons have under the Dig Deep banner to inner corners and well-preserved been used in re-enactments, be they investigate an area immediately arched brickwork figs 18, 19 & 20). solely for the entertainment of the to the west of the courtyard participants or some cinematic need. casemate. SWAG was expecting to Descriptions of the Spur Battery find traces of a building indicated hospital confirm the wards were Current re-enactments suggest the on plans (fig 15). Unlike 2017, this in Prince William’s barracks (next ‘Redcoat and Brown Bess’ era of the time a building was very much in door) but explicitly state that there Napoleonic Wars. These are much evidence, one that first appears were no internal latrines with more audience-friendly through as part of the construction of patients having to go outside to encampment to demonstrations the courtyard casemates and these. The excavation structure of battle formations – the vestiges is marked on a plan of 1813. is perhaps a little too far from this of which still grace the Queen’s hospital building and is more likely Birthday Parade – and may be On subsequent maps the precise to have been used by troops. considered more appropriate to that location of the structure varies in period generating the need for the its depiction but, current thinking There is a possibility that the Fort Amherst and Chatham Lines as is that it was built as latrines structure might link to the 1858 protection for the Naval Dockyard. from the outset. There may be period of use of Spur Battery as a evidence that it was rebuilt at some summer camp to help preserve the point resulting in the excavated health of the garrison. Newspaper building that correlates to the accounts describe how the Royal 1879 OS depiction in fig 15. Engineers laid out the camp including a piped water supply, but there is no mention of latrines.

Winter 2018 | 29 The Sanitary Commission condemned cesspit latrines in barracks in their report of 1861, and over the following years, these were replaced with water flushed versions connected to main sewers. The isolation of the excavated latrines may have seen the continued use of a drop arrangement and a large soakaway that would have been periodically emptied using the shaft revealed on site. The structure is demolished by the epoch 4 OS map (1919–1939).

In conclusion, the excavations of 2016–18 were a success (fig 21). Much has been learned about the construction of Spur Battery, its use and, of course, answered the age-old question of “where did the soldiers go to the toilet?” SWAG wishes to extend its gratitude to Medway Council, HLF, and the Trustees of Fort Amherst for enabling the excavations, Ben Levick for his encyclopaedic knowledge of Fort Amherst, Clive Mortley of Colman & James building contractors for his patience and understanding whilst excavation works were ongoing, and Peter Kendall of Historic England for his continued guidance and input.

Acknowledgements: Figs 1 and 21 courtesy of Dean Barkley Fig 2 courtesy of Ben Levick Figs 3 and 15 courtesy of National Archives

Top Fig 17: Latrine structure exposed Middle Fig 18: Internal brick arch Bottom left Fig 19: Internal walls showing curved buttress of latrine ‘drop’ chamber Bottom right Fig 20: Internal curved wall of access shaft and internal brick arch Opposite page Fig 21: Spur Battery, showing excavation of latrines, the courtyard and surrounding casemates

30 | Kent Archaeological Society Winter 2018 | 31 MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

I have been in touch with many of you lately either by Affiliated society post or electronically and I enjoy this contact and also speaking to many of you at events and on the telephone. Snodland Historical Society Snodland One of the main reasons for contacting you is because of the change of status – KAS becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) from January 2019. Individual Members (including students) This meant that we had to set up a new bank account so all those existing standing orders have to be ceased Mr Paul Atkinson Folkestone and new ones set up. Many of you have already helped Mr Andrew Bates Horsham, Sussex me by doing this, but there are still many outstanding. If Mr Gary Bennett Otford you are one of those who hasn’t yet changed to the new Miss Abigail Coskun Oxted, Surrey account, please do so as soon as possible especially Mr Michael Curtis West Kingsdown cancelling the old standing orders. If you contact your Mr Malcolm Davies London WC1N bank this will be a great help to me – please let me Mrs Nicola Dawkins Rotherfield, Sussex know if you do this so that I can mark your record with Mr Keith Dorman Willesborough the information. Of course, you can continue to pay for Mr John English Tonbridge your subscription by cheque – I send out renewal letters Mr Kevin Fromings Marden in December in time for January 2019. Please get in Miss Kiera Greenwood Wateringbury touch if you need help or guidance with any of this. Mrs Lene Gurney Crowborough, Sussex Mrs Emma Harker Sevenoaks Thank you for the many kind comments which have Mr Stanley Hockham West Wickham helped with these extra tasks – much appreciated! Mrs Josephine Horton Sturry Mrs Fiona Jarvest Lympne Once everything has settled down, I shall Miss Lesley-Ann Jones Ramsgate be arranging for a new set of membership Mrs Helen Kemp Oxted, Surrey cards reflecting the new charity number. Mr Anthony Mak London SW12 Mr Richard Morkill Green Street Green I am pleased to welcome the following bumper list Mr Darren Mummery Selling of new members. Many of these joined because Mr Patrick O’Mara St Mary’s Island, Chatham of taking part in the Lees Court Project so could Mrs Gill Rumsey St Mary’s Island, Chatham experience excavating at this exciting area. Because Ms Ann Russell, Orpington the membership year is January to December, Miss Rachel Stuart Hove, Sussex they have the benefit of an extra month or two Mr Guy Topham Lympne membership. Even with this bonus of members we Miss Olivia Vincent Canterbury need more so that we can continue to serve Kent! Dr David Walsh Canterbury Mr Colin Welch Selsted, Dover My apologies if I have omitted anyone from this list!

Shiela Broomfield Joint Members Membership Secretary [email protected] Mr & Mrs Nigel & Venetia Jennings Gillingham Mr & Mrs Sam & Lesley Samson Finglesham Mr Michael Sanders & Ms B Kelly Faversham Mr & Ms Anthony & Minette Smith Canterbury Mrs & Mr Anne And Phil Stone Herne Bay Mrs & Mr Denise and Ray Taylor Faversham Mr & Mrs Lee & Nicola Williams Charing Heath

32 | Kent Archaeological Society LEES COURT ESTATE: 2018 EXCAVATIONS

Since 2016, the Society has investigated a prehistoric multi-period landscape on the Lees Court Estate in Kent. Thanks to the drive and enthusiasm of the Society’s Patron, Lady Sondes, excavations to date have revealed a multi-period prehistoric landscape atop the North Downs overlooking Faversham Creek. Located in eastern Kent, one interpretation could be that a prehistoric community used the area as a designated space for gathering people, the treatment of the dead or a point where technological and cultural exchange took place over many thousands of years. A THANK YOU FROM THE COUNTESS SONDES

I am delighted to take this opportunity to thank the Kent Archaeological Society, University of Kent and all the volunteers for the ‘journey’ we have shared on the Lees Court Estate.

There was a constant ‘buzz’ during the six weeks of Excavations with special excitement with every significant ‘find’ (especially the numerous features that emerged) which would spread like ‘wildfire’ making its way to the Estate Office and beyond!

All the members of the Estate staff were involved – whether in a small or large capacity and embraced the Project as part of our Community. I would particularly like to thank Liz Roberts for heading the Lees Court effort working closely with Clive Drew, the outstanding Leader of the Project. We tried to make the work of those involved run as smoothly as possible.

I would encourage every potential volunteer to take advantage of the opportunity to join our adventure. It is a great chance to work with Keith Parfitt, one of Britain’s top archaeologists, on what will be the largest Archaeological Project in Britain.

We are all ready to welcome you to the Lees Court Estate.

Phyllis Sondes

Winter 2018 | 33 EXCAVATIONS IN WOODS COURT FIELD, SEPTEMBER 2018

By Keith Parfitt

Fig 1: Aerial view of excavations in Woods Court Field, courtesy of Anthony Mak

Background this hoard located two further pits • Are there any more hoards close-by (with no metalwork). buried in the immediate area? In September 2017 a metal detecting rally was held on the Hoard III, spread by the plough, lay • Were Hoards II and III buried Lees Court estate, with fields 17.50m to the south-west of Hoard in a contemporary settlement across the historic parishes of II. It again consisted of fragments site or open country? Badlesmere, Selling and Sheldwich of bun-ingot, totalling 34 in number. being searched. A team from The distance makes it unlikely that The excavation provided useful the Kent Archaeological Society these pieces could be derived information concerning all these was invited to attend the event to from Hoard II, so a third discrete points. In particular, it would seem record any artefacts of interest. hoard in the same area is implied. that Hoards II and III had been buried within a settlement area. No less than four hoards of Late Bronze Age metalwork (perhaps KAS investigations 2018 with hints of a fifth) were found The Excavation during the course of the rally. Three Taken together, the Bronze Age were discovered in the same field, metalwork discoveries made in The excavation covered some 450 Woods Court Field, at Badlesmere Woods Court Field suggested square metres and was conducted (Hoards I–III), with the fourth about that larger scale excavations as a continuous, twenty-day 1.7km further to the north-east. would be informative. As part operation, mostly under bright and Hoards I and II remained largely of the KAS’s long-term Lees breezy weather conditions (apart in situ and were archaeologically Court Estate landscape study, from the final weekend when there excavated at the time of their an excavation was arranged was persistent, steady rain!). The discovery (see Newsletter 107). for September 2018. This was natural subsoil on the site consisted focused on the area where Hoards of Clay-with-flints, a notoriously Hoard I was found to be contained II and III had been discovered. difficult material to work, being within an inverted pottery vessel and quick to bake like concrete in the yielded more than 16kg of metal – A range of research questions sun or turn to a sticky porridge mostly plate scrap and sword chape needed to be addressed in the wet (we experienced fragments of the Wilburton Industry, by the excavation: both forms in the excavation, broadly datable to 1150–1000 especially the concrete version!). BC. Hoard II (fig 2) lay some 164 • Can any more loose material metres to the north-west of Hoard relating to Hoards II and III be Cutting into the natural clay below I and contained thirteen pieces of recovered from the plough-soil? the plough soil, a scatter of 28 broken bun-ingot, tightly packed mostly shallow features, including into a very small pit. A limited • Does any in situ material relating the three previously recorded in excavation was undertaken around to Hoard III remain in the ground? 2017, was revealed (fig 3). These

34 | Kent Archaeological Society features consisted of a series of Conclusions variously sized pits, together with eight post-holes. There was no clear Although no more significant evidence to show that Hoard III finds of Bronze Age metalwork had ever been contained within any were made, the 2018 excavation of the features located, although was highly successful. There two sizeable pits producing now seems little doubt that Late Late Bronze Age pottery were Bronze Age hoards II and III had found in its immediate vicinity. been deposited within a broadly contemporary settlement area, Two adjacent pits located towards although more work is required the centre of the cleared area were before full details on the layout of substantial proportions (Fs 164 of this site can be set out. & 172), much larger than any of the other features discovered (fig 4). Finds discovered during the Both pits extended into the undug excavation included significant area so that their full extent was not amounts of prehistoric pottery, revealed. About three-quarters of together with substantial quantities F. 172 was examined, but perhaps of struck flint and very large less than one-quarter of F. 164 was numbers of calcined flints. No exposed. From what was seen of pit animal bone or marine shell had F. 164, it is at least 5 metres across survived, however, due to the acidic and more than one metre deep, nature of the soil here. Some of the Clockwise from top left Fig 2: Hoard II as it was containing significant amounts pottery recovered is decorated, and excavated in 2017 of pottery and large quantities all of it has been provisionally dated Fig 3: Pit F.155 of calcined flint (pot-boilers). to within the period c. 1150–600 Fig 4: Feature F.164 BC; it is thus apparently broadly Fig 5: Pottery c.1150–600 BC

Winter 2018 | 35 contemporary with the hoards inhabited part of the site or was Acknowledgements: previously recovered (fig 5). it denser in other areas? Are The excavation was undertaken there any identifiable buildings? with the enthusiastic encouragement We are now actively preparing for and support of Lady Sondes and next year’s excavation, equipped • Did a ditch or palisade the Lees Court Estate. Through with an additional series of enclose the settlement? the Estate Administrator, Elizabeth research questions, answers Roberts, much practical support to which should significantly • What was the source of and assistance was provided on enhance our understanding of water for the settlement? the ground, making the whole Bronze Age Badlesmere: project thoroughly enjoyable • How does this site fit in with other and mostly hassle-free. Large • What is the extent of the implied Bronze Age activity in the area? numbers of KAS volunteers, some Late Bronze Age settlement? new to the Society and some new to fieldwork, joined in with • Was it seasonally occupied the excavation, enduring some or permanent? hard digging conditions without complaint. The writer extends • Does the area investigated in 2018 his sincere thanks to everyone represent the most intensively concerned. We are greatly looking forward to our return next year… SITE ADMINISTRATION

By Mike Curtis

September 2018 saw the Society begin to undertake a significant archaeological project at Lees Court Estate. This year presented a challenge as the excavations were carried out over two sites: Woods Court Field and Stringmans Field (fig 1). While relatively close, the sites produced different archaeology with interesting findings from each.

With a project as large as Lees Court Estate it was essential to get the administration of the site up and running well before the actual excavations began. Fig 1

Not knowing how many people site and the Society. For security Context sheets and cut and would turn up made planning purposes, these paper records were deposit records were entered onto difficult but we hoped we had not computerised or kept on site. a database as soon as they were ordered enough water, toilets completed. A link to a photograph of and tools… and first aid kits. Although many packs of these each sheet, plan and sketch allows documents were prepared we the original documents to be viewed Although it was the intention to very quickly ran out, Lees Court from within the database. Eventually, make the site as digital as possible, Estate quickly helped, printing all finds will also be photographed several documents had to be paper- another 50. Then another 50! and linked to the database. based, this included the health and safety assessment which every To try and keep track of the Our intention for season 2019 is visitor to the site was required to visitors to the site a signing in and to have all finds photographed read and sign. Data protection and out sheet for each day was used, and logged as soon as they are Finds and Treasure agreements had although people remembered washed and identified; ideally, Keith also to be read, understood and to sign in, signing out was Parfitt would use a tablet for all his signed. The data protection form often forgotten – or we have paperwork so that would also be allowed visitors to opt-in to receive buried many archaeologists! immediately available, but I don’t updates and information about the see that happening any time soon!

36 | Kent Archaeological Society GEOPHYSICS AT LEES COURT ESTATE

By Fred Birkbeck

The excavations at Woods Court Before the September excavation, Field and Stringmans Field on the the exact location of the hoards Lees Court Estate were a perfect was established using a sub- opportunity to test out the new centimetre accurate GPS system KAS surveying equipment. Richard that established an exact location at Taylor, Fred Birkbeck and Andy which to conduct a pre-excavation Bates were tasked with finding out magnetometer survey of the trench what archaeology lies hidden under area (highlighted in yellow in fig 1). the soil and how these hi-tech tools The results could be used to inform can aid project planning, recording the excavation strategy, and the and reporting by members of the excavation itself could be used to society and its affiliated groups. ‘ground-truth’ the results of the survey, a perfect complement. What Remote sensing was conducted the survey revealed was a heavily using a magnetometer to detect settled landscape to the west and minute contrasts in the magnetic south of the hoard site, evidence polarity of soil that has been of pits and general occupation disturbed from the soil in the natural activity on the slope facing the geology. Richard Taylor conducted valley is characterised in the survey the first survey using the equipment results by contrasting black and in the west of Stringmans Field white (high and low magnetism) in the spring of 2018 where he readings. Intriguing linear anomalies revealed a circular anomaly were also detected which lay which was crying out for further just outside the excavation area investigation. A small team of KAS (marked in red on fig 1). All in all, it volunteers subsequently excavated looked as though there was already the potential feature in May which some evidence to support Keith’s revealed an astonishing prehistoric hypothesis of hoard burials close monument cut into the landscape. to settlement sites without a trowel The implications were that there making contact with the soil, and is some exciting and important so it proved when several large archaeology in this previously features were excavated which overlooked part of the county. precisely matched strong anomalies Galvanised by success and looking on the magnetometer survey. for more hidden ‘treasures’, myself and Andy Bates were recruited The rest of Woods Court Field was onto the survey team and set about surveyed over the course of the surveying the rest of Stringmans month by the team ably assisted Field. Sure enough, another circular by volunteers from SWAG and feature was identified just south of FRAG during which, several other the previous monument and this potential features were revealed, Anyone interested in learning more became the target of the University including an interesting rectilinear about geophysical survey and how of Kent dig which revealed another feature (fig 2) which was test- they can take part can contact potential monumental feature. pitted. Further investigation is Richard Taylor at: warranted in these areas such as [email protected] Further potential features were fieldwalking and targeted metal also identified in the field giving detecting. What is certain is that the project team a ‘kid-in-a-candy- this landscape is proving to be store’ choice of where to direct the gift that keeps on giving and future investigations. Conveniently, that geophysical survey will be the site of the Bronze Age hoards an invaluable tool in identifying discovered in Woods Court Field, further excavation targets and Top which lies directly across the answering more questions about Fig 1: Excavation area results modern road, had already been the extent of the settlement Bottom selected as the location of the history of the Lees Court Estate. Rectilinear feature further subsequent excavation project. north of excavation site

Winter 2018 | 37 ESTATE AND FARMING VIEW

OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIGS

By Liz Roberts, Estate Administrator, Lees Court Estate

Being asked to take a field out of farming operation for four weeks or more is an interesting dilemma. This is especially challenging when the Archaeologists have a fixed start date, and the weather can alter that start date with five minutes of rain.

The first excavation was in and finish times of archaeological moved to the site. Everyone pulled Stringmans Field, close to our work; the aim is to cause as little together, and all was completed in Bronze Age Burial Mound. The disturbance to the gamebirds as time for the Dig to start on time. site area was plotted partly over a possible. The planning paid off, Higher Level Scheme (HLS) field as we had reports most mornings The second site, which we refer margin and a game plot. With our from those first on site that they to as the University of Kent (UKC) shooting calendar running from had to evict the pheasants from dig site, is in Stringmans Field. This 1st October to 1st February and the centre of the dig area! site causes little farming disruption, a new game plot of maize having as it is on the HLS grassland to be drilled by June, a two-week In the lead up to the dig, daily margin. This site is actually of dig was planned for May 2018. communication with Clive Drew benefit to the management of was vital to keep everything on the gamebirds, as having some Although this site created little time: status of the harvest; planning human activity at the end of the disturbance to the general farming when the JCB could remove the game plot, meant that birds were calendar, permission had to be topsoil; taking delivery of 1000 discouraged from venturing out granted by English Nature to bottles of water, a portacabin and a on to the road. The site will stay disturb an HLS field margin. We shipping container. The portacabin ‘open’ but covered throughout the also liaised with Kent County and shipping container was stored winter and will be revisited by UKC Council (KCC) Footpath Office temporarily in the field opposite students in early Spring 2019. to explain how close the site was until the harvest was completed and to a footpath. KCC were happy the site prepared. The Estate team Once the dig was underway, we for the Dig to continue without later moved them on to the dig site. took day trips out from the Estate having to apply for a Footpath Office to see what was happening. Diversion Order; had the footpath Woods Court Field was planted with Every day new gems emerged, dissected the site completely, we a Non-Food Crop called Echium, and we started to be able to look would have had to have waited which is one of the last crops to at the differences in soil structure, a further six weeks to obtain the be harvested. To enable this crop learnt what a potboiler was, learnt necessary permission, a matter to be combined, the Echium is cut about flint knapping and, most we will have to address for 2019. and laid in rows to allow the crop importantly, learnt how to use a to dry, allowing it to be processed trowel, hand shovel and hand brush. The September excavation created through the combine. This drying more farming complexities due period takes typically three to five And then it was all over. Once given to both the size of the excavation days. Having had a long run of dry, the all clear by Keith Parfitt and site (20x30m) and the number of hot weather we were confident we Richard Taylor, the JCB returned people expected each day. The dig would have the crop off in plenty to backfill the area. Next, it was site was in a productive arable field of time but, as soon as the crop the cultivator and drill. The 2019 (Woods Court) as well as being a was cut it rained. This left the crop of first wheat was drilled and high habitat area for the gamebirds. team (consisting of KAS members is now several inches tall. This and Lees Court Estate staff) crop will be harvested in late July Working with our gamekeeper only two days in which to get the 2019, and we will return to the Shayne Dean, we planned the site marked out, topsoil removed site to continue the excavation. site layout, as well as the start and containers and portacabin

38 | Kent Archaeological Society STRINGMANS FIELD

EXCAVATIONS 2018

By Richard Taylor

Fig 1: Aerial view of excavations at Stringmans Field 2018, courtesy of Anthony Mak

The excavation at Stringmans Field was carried out from 12th–24th September 2018 as part of the KAS Lees Court Estate Archaeological Project. Under the site directorship of Dr David Walsh of the University of Kent, many volunteer students from the University of Kent assisted with excavating a 25m x 5m trench over a strong geophysical response, found in 2017, thought to be a ring ditch.

The work carried out at Stringmans soon yielded results as a ring a silty, chalk-flecked matrix that Field suggests the most likely ditch gradually appeared. The seems too delicate to be part of a explanation for the geophysical outer cut for the ring ditch 521 is structure, and thought instead to anomaly is a Bronze Age barrow. clear (figs 2 & 3) in the slot trench. be an accumulated run-off from A combination of geophysical and the barrow structure (fig 4). excavation evidence suggests the The most likely purpose of the ring barrow has a ring ditch c.15–20m ditch was to surround a barrow. Further examination of the section in diameter, approximately 1.0 to In the slot trench section profile, reveals that there appears to 1.5m wide and c.1.0m in depth. the barrow structure appeared be a primary ditch fill 524. 532 curvilinear and composed mostly of is a later fill that suggests the up-cast chalk from the excavated ditch has undergone a series KAS Excavations 2018 ring ditch, though the original profile of re-cuts over time, indicating of the barrow has been ploughed the structure was maintained. Area 1 – Slot Trench away. South of 521 can be seen No context numbers have been the first indications of the barrow attributed to any re-cuts until further Excavations concentrated on structure, which appears to be excavation reveals conclusive three areas of the 25m trench. composed of large chalk pieces evidence for these potential A slot cut at a right angle to a compacted in a thin brown silty clay events. Nevertheless, these re- strong geophysical response matrix. This context is covered by cuts are hypothesised in fig 5.

Winter 2018 | 39 No pottery was found in the slot Area 3 – East research objectives, answers trench, though a small quantity to which should significantly of lithic material was retrieved East of the slot trench, Area 3 enhance our understanding consisting of flakes and pieces of presented some issues, not least of Bronze Age Badlesmere: waste flint arising from the knapping because a shallow linear ditch 505 process. No cores were found. The soon became apparent which, at the • Excavate other slot trenches patination was uniformly white. All time, was thought to be responsible through 521 towards the centre the flakes were small and thin, with for the magnetic anomaly in the of the barrow to gain further one or two possible primary flakes. geophysics results (fig 8). Indeed, insight into re-cuts of ring ditch it was not until the slot trench and increase the potential Area 2 – West was excavated to a depth that for locating stratified finds; indicated the presence of a much A trench to the northwest reveals broader and deeper ring ditch, • Deepen Area 2 to gain a a continuation of the ring ditch, that this notion was dismissed. better understanding of ring but this time cut through natural ditch cut into natural clays; sandy clay. This discovery came The relationship between ditch as something of a surprise, given 505 and 521 remains unclear. 505 • Discuss with LCE the possibility the ring ditch in slot trench is cut is partly cut into the natural chalk, of cutting an evaluation into the chalk bedrock. The chalk but its fill was visible once the top trench on the south side of bedrock dives off to the northwest, and plough soils were machined off. the fence to establish the which must have presented a Given its relatively shallow depth, diameter of the ring ditch; problem for those constructing it was suggested the 505 might the barrow, though it appears they be a Post-Medieval field boundary. • Conduct all of the above adapted the construction method to However, subsequent results from with the University of Kent to use the natural sandy clay deposit the analysis of its fill 506 revealed enable students to develop as part of the barrow make-up, a sherd of Later Prehistoric their excavations skills. though, again, much of the curvature pottery (c.1500–600 BC). has been lost to ploughing (fig 6).

The fill of the ring ditch in Area Conclusions 2 had a different composition than that found in the slot trench, Although no more significant finds due mainly to the lack of chalk beyond the potsherds were made, run-off (fig 7). However, small the 2018 excavation was highly sherds of pottery from the fill in successful. Current evidence this area reveal possible dating suggests the presence of a Bronze evidence: upper fill contained Age barrow from c.2000 BC that one small, but fresh sherd of appeared to be maintained and possible Middle Bronze Age pot possibly used up until c. 600 BC. (c.1500–1300 BC) and the lower Top, left fill contained two scraps of the We are now actively preparing for Fig 2: 521 cut into natural chalk same pot which may be late next year’s excavation, equipped Top, right Beaker Potter (c.2000–1500 BC). with an additional series of Fig 3: 521 and north-facing section face

40 | Kent Archaeological Society Acknowledgements: The excavation was undertaken with the support of Lady Sondes and staff of the Lees Court Estate. Many thanks to the numerous and willing University of Kent students who laboured through the painstaking and delicate excavation, during hot and sunny weather for a scarcity of finds. Dr David Walsh, Lecturer in Archaeology at Kent, said: ‘To have found as much as we did is Top left amazing and an exciting opportunity Fig 4: North-facing section of slot trench for further investigation of this in showing what remains of barrow make-up Top right future. Ideally, in years ahead, we Fig 5: Hypothesised re-cuts of ring ditch in would dig more deeply in targeted slot trench areas to try to gain a better Middle left understanding of this barrow. This Fig 6: Adapted construction method is an invaluable experience for our using natural sandy clay as part of barrow archaeology students.’ The work make-up throughout the summer yielded Middle right Fig 7: Continuation of ditch fill (darker significant reward, and we now soils) to the west have a much better understanding Bottom of the anomaly that first appeared Fig 8: Linear ditch 505 cut on the geophysics in 2017. into chalk in foreground

Winter 2018 | 41 LEES COURT ESTATE 2018

By Clive Drew

As 2018 draws to a close, I thought I would give you a quick round-up on the Society’s activities on the Estate and a flavour on what we are planning for the 2019 Season.

Early 2018 was spent finalising the excavation timetable as we were going to open up three sites in the Stringmans Field – Woods Court Field area. The next task was to purchase the equipment needed, and I would like to thank Past Horizons, Opit- cal, Travis Perkins and Portable Space, all of whom granted the Society generous pricing.

In May an evaluation excavation was conducted over a 20m ring ditch in Stringmans Field. The initial interpretation that the ditch could be a Neolithic causewayed enclosure will be further tested in 2019 when it is proposed to excavate a 30m x 30m trench over the entire target. Throughout 2018 both Stringmans On behalf of the Society, I would September saw the excavation at Field and Woods Court were subject like to thank Lady Sondes for Woods Court Field over the site to a full magnetometry survey. The her drive and enthusiasm for this that contained two of the Bronze survey has thrown up more targets project, Liz Roberts and her team Age Hoards found in 2017. A 30m x for further investigation at a future from the Estate for making us 20m trench was excavated, yielding date. In 2019 additional survey most welcome. From the Society’s numerous prehistoric features work will commence in the hunt for side Keith Parfitt for his excellent and a collection of pottery, spot “Badlesmere Castle” at Badlesmere leadership, Richard Taylor and Fred dated to c.1150–1000 BC (Late Bottom. We will also be revisiting Birkbeck for the surveying and Bronze Age plainware tradition), Woods Court Field in 2019 further mapping, and Michael Curtis for consistent with the dating of the excavate a large pit in the existing his administering the site and the hoards. The School of Classical trench. Hoard 1 is located to the digitising of all the site paperwork. & Archaeological Studies at the west of this field. The intention is University of Kent at Canterbury to cut a c.150m trench between However, above all I would like had a dedicated trench located on the current site and Hoard 1. to thank all of you who travelled the edge of Stringmans Field to the to Badlesmere and joined in east of the Neolithic causewayed Throughout the September this wonderful project – without enclosure. The initial interpretation excavations at Woods Court and you, there would be no project, of the students’ work here is that Stringmans Field, 253 volunteers and I look forward to welcoming they found a Bronze Age barrow. took part in the project. I understand you on site again in 2019. that over 30 of our guests have since joined the Society, and this is a considerable success.

42 | Kent Archaeological Society Image courtesy of Lord Hereford

Winter 2018 | 43 NOTICES

Election of Trustees 2019 Complete Set of Archaeologia Tudors and Stuarts 2019 A message from the Cantiana – 1858 to 2016 History Weekend Hon. General Secretary Price £1,000 Saturday 13 and Printed annually in hardback Sunday 14 April 2019 On 31st December 2018, the form until very recently this full Mostly held at Old Sessions Society will merge with itself and collection of Archaelogia Cantiana House, CCCU, CT1 1PL become a Charitable Incorporated was brought together by a late Organisation (CIO) with a new Kent Archaeologist and his wife. It Supported by Canterbury registration number with the Charity consists of every published volume Archaeological Trust and Commission 1176989. With the since inception in 1858 until 2016. Canterbury Cathedral merger comes a new Constitution Archives & Library. (in old parlance “Rules”). The condition is generally good although earlier books inevitably This educational weekend Each year one-third of the Trustees have somewhat battered or in comprises 22 ‘events’. The lectures must retire from Council. They may some cases, sun faded jackets. and guided visits showcase seek re-election to Council. You Owing to weight and size these recent research on the Early as members of the Society are items are of course collection Modern period, making it readily entitled to seek election to Council. only, from the Bexleyheath area. accessible to a wide audience. Among the internationally known The election process will be open For further details, please contact scholars and well-known, more for you to submit your application [email protected] popular historians are Alexandra to become a candidate on Saturday Walsham, David Starkey and 5th January 2019. On 5th January, William Somner (1606–1669) Miranda Kaufmann, who will cover please visit the Society’s website Colloquium with Dr David Wright topics from the Tudor Counter- http://www.kentarchaeology. Saturday 23 March 2019 Reformation to Black Tudors. org.uk. The whole process and Old Sessions House, relevant forms will be available for CCCU, CT1 1PL Lectures and guided tours are you to download and complete. classified under four themes: This one-day colloquium to Kings and Queens; War and Best wishes, celebrate the 350th anniversary Politics; the Church, and Social Clive of this great Kentish scholar will History to allow audiences to gain be preceded by an exhibition of access to new interpretations, Somner manuscripts and books ideas and knowledge in a range in the Cathedral Archives. of early modern topics. Those attending book their chosen events Speakers include Professors Jackie using a pick-and-mix approach, Eales and Kenneth Fincham. using the descriptions provided on the Centre’s web pages. Tickets cost £20 for the full day; £16 without the exhibition; students £10. Any surplus from the Weekend Tickets may be obtained from: goes into the Ian Coulson Memorial Ruth Duckworth 01227 782994 Postgraduate Award fund to aid Email artsandculture@ postgraduates at CCCU who are canterbury.ac.uk studying Kent history topics.

For details of all the events and to book: www.canterbury.ac.uk/tudors- stuarts Email artsandculture@canterbury. ac.uk Phone 01227 782994

If undelivered, please return to S. Broomfield, 8 Woodview Crescent, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 9HD