______society NEWS

The Bulletin of the ENFIELD ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY ______

December 2000 No 159

CONTENTS

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

EAS MEETINGS

15 December 2000: and the Jubilee Line Extension 19 January 2001: Medieval London Bridge: Lost and Found 16 February 2001: Molluscs to Mamelukes –

OTHER SOCIETIES

REFLECTIONS FROM THE CHAIRMAN

MEETING REPORTS

High Street Londinium Medieval Popular Religion in Hertfordshire

THE SOUTHGATE BEAUMONT Arnos Grove – Part 2

OBITUARY Dr John Kent SMALL FINDS

Society News is published quarterly in March, June, September and December The Editor is Jon Tanner, 24 Padstow Road, Enfeld, Middlesex EN2 8BU, telephone: 020 8350 0493

2 3 FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Friday 16 February 2001 Meetings of the Enfeld Archaeological Society Molluscs to Mamelukes – are held at Jubilee Hall, 2 Parsonage Lane, Archaeology of Lebanon Enfeld (near Chase Side) at 8.00pm. Tea and Ian Jones cofee are served and the sales and information table is open from 7.30pm. Visitors, for whom a Despite its small size Lebanon contains a charge of £1.00 will be made, are very welcome. wealth of archaeological remains. It was the heartland of the Phoenicians, the greatest Friday 15 December 2000 traders of the ancient world, working from sites Archaeology and the Jubilee Line Extension including and Tyre. Their famous purple James Drummond-Murray, MOLAS dye and later silk from China provided much of the wealth to build the incredible Roman The Jubilee Line Extension gave the opportunity sanctuary at and at Athens. The early to investigate three major historic areas in 8th century AD saw its Arab conquerors create London: Westminster, North Southwark and their frst town at Anjar while from the 12th Stratford. Remains from the medieval palace century the Crusaders fortifed various coastal were recovered at Westminster whilst in north sites including and Tripoli. Southwark the excavations concentrated more Ian Jones on the Roman settlement to the south of London Bridge. At Stratford parts of the medieval Stratford Langthorne Cistercian Abbey were  uncovered including areas of the cemetery.  

James Drummond-Murray

Friday 19 January 2001 MEETINGS OF OTHER SOCIETIES Medieval London Bridge: Lost and Found Bruce Watson, MOLAS EDMONTON HUNDRED HISTORICAL SOCIETY You might say to yourself “I have managed to lose my newspaper or my car keys but never a 8.00 p.m. in Jubilee Hall, Parsonage Lane, large medieval bridge.” Well, by “lost” I mean Enfeld unless otherwise stated. Visitors £1.00 that it no longer exists as a landscape feature today and by “found” I mean that parts of the Wednesday 13 December 2000 bridge have been rediscovered archaeologically Seasonal Evening during 1921-11, 1937 and 1984. These discoveries have allowed us to produce a new Wednesday 24 January 2001 history of one of London’s most famous A Centenary Celebration of the Tottenham monuments. Hotspur 1901 Cup Final Victory The Thames was frst bridged in London David Pavey during the Roman period and by the mid 4th century this bridge had probably gone out of Thursday 22 February 2001 use. The bridge was replaced by c. 1000 by the At Ordnance Road Methodist Church, 2.15 p.m. frst of a series of short-lived timber bridges, all Industries of Eastern Enfeld of which were swept away by ice and foods. David Pam During c. 1176 – 1209 a stone bridge was constructed and with various modifcations this bridge remained in use until 1831 when it was Enquiries to the Local History Section, Town demolished. Hall, Green Lanes, Palmers Green London N13 Bruce Watson Tel: 020 8379 2724

4 HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION – NORTH LONDON BRANCH SOCIETY MATTERS All meetings are held at 8.00 p.m. in Jubilee Hall, Parsonage Lane, Enfeld. SUBSCRIPTIONS Tuesday 9 January 2001 The History of Cricket 1550 – 1950 Members are reminded that subscriptions Mr Stephen Green (MCC) fall due for renewal on 01 January 2001. Tuesday 13 February 2001 Spas of the Historic Counties of Surrey and Please send the Renewal Form (enclosed with Kent this edition of Society News), together with the Judith Goodman appropriate sum, to the Secretary, Jon Tanner, 24 Padstow Road, Enfeld, Middlesex EN2 8BU; Tuesday 13 March 2001 or, if you prefer, you can accost me at a Lecture The Reasons for the Fall of the Templars Meeting. A glance at the enclosed Programme Prof. Malcolm Barber (University of Reading) Card for the forthcoming year will show that once again an outstanding series of speakers For further details, contact Robin Blades, 020 has been arranged, giving excellent value for 8368 5328 your subs. – and tea or cofee is included!

WEST ESSEX ARCHAEOLOGICAL GROUP Subscription rates for 2001 are as follows:

th Lectures are given in the 6 Form Unit, Ordinary Members: £5.00 Woodford County High School, High Road, Joint Memberships: £7.00 Woodford Green, at 7.45 p.m. Junior Members: £2.50

Monday 11 December 2000 New members who joined the Society after 30 Port of Roman London September 2000 can relax – their subscriptions Bruce Watson ( of London) are valid until 31 December 2001 Monday 22 January 2001 Social Evening CAN YOU DRAW? Monday 12 February 2001 Ilford Hospital Chapel of St Margaret & St I am attempting to put together some Thomas of Canterbury illustrations for a new publication, An Herbert Lockwood Archaeology of Enfeld, and I am looking for a member who can draw fint implements and LONDON AND MIDDLESEX other items. Anyone who feels qualifed to do so ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY and has the time to spare is asked to get in touch with me: Geofrey Gillam, 23 Merton Lectures are held in the Interpretation Unit of the Road, Enfeld, Middlesex EN2 0LS tel: 020 8367 Museum of London beginning at 6.30p.m. 0263

Wednesday 13 December 2000 London on Ice: The Thames Frost Fairs VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED Jeremy Smith (Guidhall Library) Wednesday 17 January 2001 Volunteers are still required to help with the Hugh Chapman Memorial Lecture: running of the Society. In particular, although In Mint Condition the programme for 2001 is arranged, a new Jenny Hall (Museum of London) Meetings Secretary is desperately needed, to help with the administration of the programme Wednesday 21 February 2001 for 2002. In the Lecture Theatre We always need volunteers to help AGM followed by Presidential Address: deliver Society News – delivery rounds do not The Streets of Medieval London number more than about a dozen copies. Dr Derek Keene (Centre for Metropolitan History)

5 If anyone is able and willing to help in these - or in any other - ways, please contact the Chairman Dennis Hill, telephone 020 8440 1593.

6 A weir, which set the level of water in the loop, REFLECTIONS FROM has been excavated, the sluice most likely being THE CHAIRMAN

Autumn is well and truly with us as evidenced by ferce gales and driving rain. Waiting outside used to drain down the loop. Work is in hand to Jubilee Hall waiting for it to open before our ascertain the role of a subsidiary stopcock. lectures has its moments! Following the A brick lined pit some 2.4m deep contains excellent Opening Lecture by Jenny Hall, a 635mm diameter pipe, which is thought to run Curator of the Museum of London’s Roman back to the old Whitewebbs pumping station, Collections, Stephen Dore followed on with a and a large stopcock. The question remains – well-illustrated lecture showing many did all the output from the pumping station issue Hertfordshire churches and entitled “Medieval into the ornamental stretch of the loop in front of Popular Religion in Hertfordshire”. In both cases Myddelton House, or did the pipeline run on to there was a substantial audience who asked a the New River near to the Maiden’s Bridge goodly number of questions, all of which shows aqueduct with the subsidiary valve providing a our appreciation of speakers who give of their take-of to refresh the ornamental loop twice a spare time to educate and entertain us. week? Our programme of feldwork continues The depth of the main pipe makes it slowly but surely. Neil Linford of the English difficult to excavate, while it is so frustrating that Heritage Archaeometery Laboratory at no map can be located which shows the course Portsmouth kindly carried out a ground of the pipe from the pumping station. penetrating radar survey of the site of the 1960’s This is an intriguing industrial archaeology excavations by our Society at Elsyng Palace, project, which is making numerous friends for Forty Hall. His report suggests that the radar the Society. Much has been written about the transects have picked up the brick-built Tudor joys of Gussie Bowles’ famous gardens at drains shown in the Society’s publication “The Myddelton House, but there are real gaps in our Royal Palaces of Enfeld”. knowledge of its vital water supply. It is now planned to hold a round-table A number of Society members have discussion on future plans for the site involving asked if they can assist with these projects and representatives from the Society, Enfeld if this gives us a viable feld archaeology team, Leisure Services, Compass Archaeology and then this is encouraging. We desperately need English Heritage. It is hoped to agree the layout volunteers to write up accounts of our lectures of exploratory trenches and a submission for for Society News: please contact Jon Tanner. Consent to excavate on the site of a Scheduled In spite of all my appeals, not one Ancient Monument. If this is obtained, member has come forward to take over as application can be made to the Countryside Meetings Secretary from Geofrey Gillam. The Commission for funds to enable Compass Society’s Officers will provide suggestions for Archaeology to supervise the excavations. This speakers, the Meetings Secretary generates the will provide a valuable opportunity for members correspondence and builds up the programme. of our Society, together with members of the If you all continue to show no interest in this vital West Essex Archaeology Group, to work on a work, you may just fnd that the Society will historic site under the guidance of professional cease to meet in 2002! To prevent this archaeologists. catastrophe from happening will someone Work has continued on the area please contact Jon Tanner. surrounding the sluice on the old loop of the Christmas is appearing over the horizon, New River in the grounds of Myddelton House. and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the Compliments of the Season and look

7 forward to joining with you further enjoyable timber, and members recovered from other Society activities in the Spring of 2001. London excavations indicate details of construction, jointing techniques etc. and Dennis Hill suggest that the buildings were prefabricated

of-site. MEETING REPORTS

High Street Londinium Friday 15 September 2000: Jenny Hall

As Curator of the Roman Collection at the Museum of London, Jenny Hall was responsible The frames consisted of base and top plates for the temporary exhibition currently open at with vertical members between: there were no the Museum entitled “High Street Londinium.” foundations. That one example was clad with One of the principal objects of the exhibition was external planking was shown by nail holes, and to dispel the popular myth that all “Romans” the walls appear to have been left bare lived lives of luxury in stone built houses with internally as suggested by lamp scorch marks mosaic foors, wearing the toga and indulging in on wall timbers from a site at Cannon Street. feasts and other pleasures of the fesh. On the Although these lamps were suspended at two contrary, the population of Londinium endured levels, the rooms must have been very dark. harsh, overcrowded and somewhat unsanitary Another example, from the Sufolk House site, conditions in this nevertheless vibrant and had wattle and daub infll between the uprights, thriving city in the new province. with a window at a height of 1.5m; mullion The wealth of information obtained from rebates and a groove for sliding shutters were excavations carried out between 1996 and 1998 visible on a sill or lintel. The Poultry site yielded at No. 1 Poultry was the inspiration for the a planked and rebated door with bracing bars, exhibition, and the main part of the exhibition and all these features were incorporated in the comprises an accurate reconstruction of three replicas. excavated houses from the Londinium of around A Rotherhithe flm set company was AD100. The triangular site on the bank of the selected for the construction of the replica former Walbrook River was investigated by buildings, using tools similar to those of the means of a below slab excavation: that is, the period. Roman jointing methods are believed to ground foor was constructed and as the be much looser than those in medieval building work progressed upwards, the buildings, and Damian Goodburn of the archaeologists toiled below the slab, going Museum of London believes that a king post downward, in very unpleasant conditions. roof construction was employed. No evidence of Below the Victorian and Medieval the type of roofng survives, and the buildings contexts was evidence of over 70 Romano- from Poultry were of too low a status to have British buildings – this was in fact the heart of been tiled, therefore the replicas were roofed the town. A 9m wide cambered road that ran with planking. east-west with timber box drains either side was The replicas were prefabricated of site, the earliest structure found. Londinium was the component parts being delivered by crane approaching its peak at this time, with most of and erected in three weeks. Some glass the features of a typical Roman town including a fragments were recovered from the Poultry site forum, and basilica (a second basilica being and it was decided that one window in the constructed around the frst), and an exhibition replicas would be glazed. The BBC amphitheatre. The frst public baths, adjacent to was at the time engaged in making a series on the river, were built around AD90 and modifed Roman technology, and Mark Taylor attempted in the 120’s, and of course there were port glass making using what are believed to be facilities along the river – wharves, revetments, Roman methods. This resulted in the tell-tale storage buildings and so on. pinch marks around the edge of the pane. Mark The Museum of London already has Taylor also made replica glass bottles and reconstructions of domestic rooms of the period bowls, and replica includes that of a but these are all representative of dwellings of small cup found in the excavations as well as the wealthy minority. Most buildings were of decorated Samian ware bowls. For safety reasons, replica metalwork

8 was made of resin and includes keys, candlesticks and a bronze mirror. One house is reconstructed as a baker’s premises, based on a variety of pieces of evidence, and includes a preparation room with

9 a hot food shop or cafe area. As most housing Medieval Popular Religion probably comprised bedsit-like accommodation it is likely that eating out was common, or in Hertfordshire possibly food was taken to the bakers for Friday 20 October 2000: Dr Stephen Dore heating. The original of the building was double fronted with a central corridor, and was “Medieval Popular Religion in Hertfordshire” was dendrochronologically dated to c.AD70, being the title of an interesting talk given to the Society burnt down in AD120. Two dough troughs were by Dr Stephen Dore on Friday 20 October 2000. recovered together with evidence of milling. The speaker opened by considering the The second building is the premises of a cave discovered in 1791 at Royston at the carpenter. This was a long thin building, with junction of the Icknield Way and Ermine Street. three rooms. The central space was the general The church at Royston is the church of a living area, being equipped with a hearth, medieval priory and the cave may have lain although the large cauldron and chain could not beneath the priory. The walls of the cave are be replicated in the exhibition for safety reasons. decorated with religious motifs including a A storage jar set in the foor probably comprised representation of St Catherine and her wheel. the sanitary arrangements. Continuity of religious sites was The third building actually dates to AD60 important, as witness the proximity of St Peter’s and was destroyed in the Boudican revolt, and Abbey at Bath to the sacred Roman spring. is interpreted as a merchant’s shop. Finds Other churches on former sacred sites include included green pottery from Gaul, imported Brent Tor on Dartmoor and St Michael’s Mount. spices on a wooden shelf, complete with wood Montacute was a shrine before the Norman and bone spoons, the inevitable Samian ware Conquest. St Michael’s church lies on the site of and central Gaulish glazed ware. There was no the Roman Forum at Verulamium. The church at evidence of a wall - presumably shutters were Bishop’s Stortford is situated on a hill whilst that used to form an open shop front. at Edelsborough, near the junction of Herts, The alleys between the buildings were Bucks and beds, is on an artifcial mound. St less than one metre wide, and the rooms within Ippollits at Hitchin is named after a good the buildings must have been quite dark. horseleech. The view from the merchant’s shop is of a A pope told Christians to keep the pagan typical bustling frst century Londinium street. temples and debase their idols and introduce This is in fact electronic wizardry – three relics and altars. The re-use of religious sites enactment groups wearing accurate costumes harnessed the social intentions of the local walked up and down in a flm studio near peoples. Stratford. The church at Wheathampstead is St Artefacts recovered included various Helen’s, an English version of St Ellen who was brooches and rings, combs, a manicure set, and a Celtic water goddess. Amwell church was a bronze hanging lamp that still retained a hemp originally located above a spring providing three wick. Among the evidence of foodstufs were million gallons (13.5 million litres) of water per sheep, pig, thrush, lentils, olives, crane, hare, day – highly suggestive of a previous religious fallow deer and almonds. Cats and dogs were site. This output fed the New River, but in 1800 kept, and the mandible of a housemouse was local people used it to bathe their animals, found. regarding the water as having special This was an immensely enjoyable and properties. informative lecture that painted a vivid picture of St Faith’s church and well in North the lives of the ordinary people in frst century Hertfordshire lie near Waiting Hill, which had a Londinium. The exhibition has been extended grave barrow on the summit. Each year local until 28 January 2001, and a visit is strongly men and women held a tug of war ceremony recommended. and a feast. Jon Tanner The altar of a church radiates a special sanctity,

10 which perfuses the whole church. Pagan fgures watching chamber overlooking the shrine of St can still be found in our churches, e.g. Alban to enable the monks to watch over it day unrestored mermen on the font of Anstey church and night. in North Hertfordshire, whilst Little Munden has A great deal of popular medieval religion a grotesque gargoyle. Wittlesford in was concerned with the provision of protection Cambridgeshire has a statue of a bare breasted against one’s enemies in this world and the woman, and on the north wall of Cottered next. Ashwell church reminds us of the Black church near Baldock there is a statue of St death of 1360. Christopher carrying the Christ child. Souls in hell rested there for good, but In the fourteenth century Lollards were souls in purgatory were passing through. famous for regarding images as unchristian as Local guilds are often associated with breaking the second commandment – “thou chapels added to churches such as that of the shalt not make graven images”. The Earl of Guild of the Trinity at Baldock. There is a Salisbury allowed the Salisbury Hall Lollards to Carver’s Guild chapel in the church of St keep an image of St Catherine in their Margaret, Stanstead St Mary’s. Broxbourne bakehouse. church has chantry chapels in memory of Sir Kelsall church in North Hertfordshire William Say 1522 and his son. contains painted images of saints whilst The lecture was well illustrated with many Whitworth church in Dorset has a reliquary with slides of churches and their interiors and holes in the sides to enable the devout to crawl represented years of painstaking research by Dr alongside the bones. St Albans Abbey has a Dore. Dennis Hill

THE SOUTHGATE BEAUMONT aka SOUTHGATE HOUSE, NORTHMET HOUSE, ARNOS GROVE, ARNO’S, ARNOLD’S: Part 2

THE HOUSE – INTERIOR

Entrance Hall carried out restoration work on his instruction. The central porch and doorway in the east front The remainder of the paintings may be provide access to the large hall with a freplace considered as three separate pictures. That on in the centre of the rear wall. A wide staircase the South wall depicts the nine muses, the west ascends in two stages on the east and north and north walls show Caesar’s triumphal entry sides to a frst foor gallery. The staircase and into Rome and his apotheosis is depicted on the gallery walls and the ceiling are covered by ceiling. murals painted by Gerald Lanscroon, a pupil of Firstly, the south wall. This is painted to Verrio, in 1723. He also painted the murals in represent a large gilt frame enclosing a group of nearby Broomfeld House. 19 muses proclaiming the genius of Julius Caesar. On the staircase wall of the east front the Caesar himself, wreathed and holding what paintings consist chiefy of columns and appears to be a golden lyre, is seated on a decorative fllets. In the bottom left hand corner, cloud, top left, and the muses are grouped on on the frst landing, is the date 1723 and the the ground beneath. One plays a stringed name “Gerald Lanscroon”. Until the cleaning instrument and has books, scrolls and maps at carried out in 1969, when several coats of her feet. Another, who can be identifed as varnish were removed, the words “Restaure Urania, reclines on a globe and holds a pair of 1918, A. Hamesse” could also be seen. 20. The dividers. A seated muse wearing thonged house was in the ownership of Lord Inverforth sandals and a bracelet and with fowers in her between 1918 and 1928 and A. Hamesse

11 hair, studies a scroll of paper. Another holds a painting has been lost, with a corresponding caduceus and has one arm uplifted towards loss on the east wall. 21 Caesar. A ffth, probably Clio, holds a writing This part of the painting may be considered a tablet, whilst another behind bears an astrolabe continuation of the procession. On the left are and holds a telescope to her left eye, the right people looking round a column. Unfortunately, eye being closed. the insertion of a doorway at this point has Another, possibly Terpsichore, is seated resulted in the removal of the most important at a keyboard instrument – perhaps a primitive person in the procession, namely Caesar organ. An eighth muse, perhaps Euterpe, holds himself, as well as his chariot. The only parts of a fute ready for playing and has a pearl bracelet Caesar now visible are an arm, holding the on her arm. The ninth muse holds a quill out eagle-headed sceptre of Rome, and part of a towards Caesar, alluding no doubt to his written leg, and all that can be seen of the chariot is the works. In the bottom right hand corner are three edge of the nearside wheel. cherubs: one is writing on a scroll, another holds The chariot is pulled by four spirited what appears to be a magnifying glass to his horses attended by two fanking grooms. Behind eye and the third seems to be singing or reading the chariot are men bearing fasces – “ and to Terpsichore. Beside Urania’s globe in the bundles” – signifying the authority of the Roman foreground is a decorated globular pot Senate. Two more fasces-carriers are in front of containing a fowering shrub or plant. the horses and the procession is led by a The panel on the west side of the hall Roman officer wearing a wreath of laurels. above the freplace was later pierced to enable Above, a winged cherub blows a trumpet a doorway to be inserted. The scene shows part to announce his arrival. On the right stand two of the procession. It is terminated at either end female fgures. One is that of a girl holding a by Corinthian columns with gilt capitals and basket of fowers and standing on a breastplate. swags of fowers. Beginning on the left, there is Between two columns stands an urn full of a small altar with smoke ascending surrounded fowers and, behind, the second fgure, of a by men, a woman and a child. Next is the woman, ofers fowers to Caesar. Behind her are procession itself. In the foreground there are the crowned heads of two fgures, an African onlookers playing musical instruments or and a European. Tied to the top of one of the holding up sprigs of laurel. In the procession columns is the red banner of Rome, with there are women carrying and wearing sprigs “S.P.Q.R.” and three golden orbs on it. Below is and wreaths of laurel-leaves. Two men carving a legionary standard, with a helmet and a incense burners on staves walk behind men breastplate. In the foreground are slaves: an carrying a litter on poles. It is laid with a tapestry African, an Indian and perhaps a Gaul. worked in blue and gold and is heaped with the On the ceiling is the apotheosis of spoils of war – barbaric spiked crowns, Caesar. It is painted to represent a circular sceptres, including one bearing a feur-de-lys, balcony open to the sky. Caesar himself, and a great silver urn full of coins and precious wearing laurel wreath, cloak, breastplate items. In the bottom right hand corner is a decorated with sprigs of leaves, a military skirt woman selling fruit from a stall in front of a and thonged sandals and carrying in his hand a column. The background shows buildings, staf or sceptre, is reaching forward supported domes, pediments, columns etc. intended to by a winged white-bearded “angel”, possibly represent Rome, with vistas of distant houses Time or Death, because two of a group of and temples. People stand on parapets and at cherubs are holding a large scythe. The other windows, which are hung with tapestries. This cherubs are holding Caesar’s helmet and his scene may be said to depict Caesar’s military sword. Leaning over the parapet on the balcony prowess. Above the centre of the mural, on a are a man and a woman holding a wreath of cloud, is Diana, goddess of hunting, bearing her laurels. The four winds represented by puffing crescent-moon badge on her head and cherubs in a cloud are in the sky and close by equipped with arrows and a bow. are the fgures of Mars, with his helmet, and The lower part of the panel on the north Bacchus, holding a staf and wearing vine- wall has been reduced by the remodelling and leaves in his hair. raising in height of the staircase and the In the centre of the sky is the fgure of insertion of a doorway at frst foor level by the Jupiter, king of the gods, crowned and holding a Northmet. This was done to provide access to sceptre, who has a hand outstretched to the large north wing constructed in 1935, as a welcome Caesar. He is borne on the back of an result of which some of the lower part of the eagle with wings outspread, this being the symbol of Jupiter. Beside him is Juno, his

12 queen, holding sceptre and wearing a crown. Unfortunately, the view of the ceiling is She is surrounded by blue draperies and is partly obscured by a large chandelier replacing accompanied by her peacock. Above, two an earlier version installed by the Northmet. cherubs hold laurel-wreaths over Jupiter and Reception Room Juno. Behind Jupiter stands Ganymede, the cup-bearer of the gods, carrying a golden The present waiting room to the left of the main goblet, Round the edge of “Heaven” there are entrance may have originally served a similar the fgures of Venus, with attendants and two purpose as a place in which to receive visitors to white doves, and Minerva, goddess of wisdom, the house. In 1928 it was furnished as a sitting wearing her helmet. Nearby is a child holding room 23 but shortly afterwards was converted the shield of Minerva, which shows in its into a reception office by the Northmet. polished surface the refection of the Medusa’s head – of the story of Perseus. Here also is Drawing Room another fgure, probably Hercules, with long hair and massive biceps, dressed in a lion-skin and A doorway at the rear of the hall leads to a long carrying a club. Close to Caesar is the fgure of drawing room, 10.97m by 8.23m (36’ by 27’). In Mercury, messenger of the gods, with winged the rear wall is a large external bow, previously helmet and feet, carrying the caduceus or rod of described, from which access to the garden Hermes – a winged staf entwined with two could be gained, and which is separated from snakes. the rest of the room by two futed columns. Not A rich red tapestry, fringed and decorated only was the bow completely rebuilt in the with gold, overlaps the edge of the balcony at 1920’s by Lord Inverforth, but the room was this point, and there is a male fgure with cheeks redecorated by him in pre-cast plaster in pufed out seated on the edge who possesses a imitation of the Adams style, adding the double pair of wings, rather like a moth. This Inverforth coat of arms over the doorway from may possibly represent Zephyrus, the west the hall. 24 Although he at frst retained the 18th wind, who was the servant of Cupid, the god of century fre surround in Sicilian jasper marble love. this was later removed and taken to his new In the coved border, between the top house at Hampstead. 25 It was replaced with an edge of the wall panels and the fat surface of imitation Adams style surround. Fortunately, a the ceiling, there are swags of fowers, scrolls, photograph exists showing the former cherubs, altars, shells, clouds and a red appearance of this room. 26 cockatoo. The coved corner-pieces have painted representations of sculpture; chained Back Stairs and Water Closet slaves on either side of a gilt bust of Julius Caesar with weapons, trumpets etc. arranged The last bay in the south-west corner of the behind. central block is occupied by the back stairs In each corner of the ceiling there is some leading to the basement and the upper foors of heraldry. The shield (repeated in opposite the house. In the far corner there would have corners) is that of the Colebrooke family, and in been room to accommodate a water closet, a heraldic terms may be described thus: feature one would expect to see being installed Colebrooke, gules, a lion rampart ermine, in a house of this standard at this time. crowned with a mural crown or, on a chief or, three martlets azure, impaling Hudson (his wife Room Behind the Reception Mary); party chevron-wise embattled or and azure, three martlets counter-changed. In the Behind the reception room is a narrow room other two corners there is a crest, viz., on a 2.13m by 6.1m (7’ by 20’) occupying the last bay torse or and gules, a wyvern or, tongued and in the south-east corner of the central block. Its tailed gules, holding an escutcheon of the last. original purpose is not known. 22 The faces of the people, particularly the Ante Room women, portrayed in such paintings were often done as a family likeness and members of the At the north end of the drawing room is a Colebrooke family may therefore be represented doorway leading into a rectangular ante room amongst those fgures witnessing Caesar’s which occupies the full width of the last bay on triumph or his apotheosis in Lanscroon’s murals. the north side of the central block and is part of the work of Sir Robert Taylor. It has apses at either end and a recessed area containing the

13 door to the drawing room on one side; the door concealed by a modern false ceiling. In the case and the half domes of these features are remaining two bays there is a full height fat elaborately decorated. Carved mouldings ceiling. It has been suggested that this was a decorate the other doors and the skirting. The bedchamber with the bed contained in the ceiling has a cross vaulted central section, decorated alcove 29. separated from the barrel vaulted sections at either end by pairs of Ionic pilasters with entablature and a cornice. It has been shown First Floor that this ante room was originally open to the dining room, only separated from it by two Ionic At the north end of the frst foor gallery, columns at the corners of the central section of opposite the head of the main staircase, is a the ceiling, and the existing pilasters and the recessed doorway approached by a short fight other, dissimilar, doorcases were the result of of steps, the installation of which had alterations carried out this century, 27 probably necessitated cutting through the Lanscroon by Lord Inverforth. mural at this point. They gave access to a former dressing room, formerly with only internal North Wing access, to what must have been the main bedroom of the house situated over the drawing The eating room has a ceiling 6.1m (20’) high room below. It is uncertain when these divided by three plaster-decorated beams in alterations were made as the foor level of the both directions, each supported on scroll dressing room would have had to be raised to brackets inserted into the surrounding modillion accommodate the barrel vaulted ceiling of the cornice. Ionic pilasters, cornicing and blind ante room constructed in the 1760’s 30 and the arcading in plasterwork have been applied to doorway could have been inserted at that time. three walls. Above the windows in the garden Alternatively, it could have been part of the wall is a blank tablet with cornicing along the major alterations carried out by the Northmet in upper edge, again in plasterwork, in each of the 1930 when they were converting the former three bays. The fourth wall contains a fre bedrooms on this foor into offices. surround in Sicilian jasper marble which has the Another bedroom was situated over the head of Apollo surrounded with sun rays. reception room and two others occupied the frst Unfortunately, it has been covered with white foor of the south wing; that in the south-east gloss paint. The doorcase of the entrance to the corner of the wing probably had a dressing room central corridor has a triangular pediment. attached to it. On the other side of the central corridor The back stairs continued through the frst was the library which was originally a double and second foors into the roof space. An area height room decorated in a style similar to the beyond the stairs, matching that on the ground adjoining eating room. Recesses on the foor, could also have contained an earth or freplace wall contained ornamental features water closet. and smaller recesses above the dado accommodated busts. All were swept away Second Floor during alterations by Northmet c1930 and a foor was inserted to divide the room into two. The Accommodation for servants and probably some lower room, which became the manager’s office, guest bedrooms would have been provided on was refashioned in Art Deco style. the second foor, but apart from the spinal corridor the original layout is now uncertain. South Wing Recessed Basement At the front of the south wing is the site of Lord Newhaven’s Eating Room, now stripped of any The basement of the house is recessed and a decorative features it once had, the west wall of sunken way extended along the front and both which, like that in the north wing, was rebuilt in sides of the original house and its wings. In the the 20th century. The western half of the wing is space provided by the sunken way it was divided in two by a wall with a centrally placed therefore possible to install windows and chimney breast with the freplace in the central provide natural light to the interior of the room. Beyond, in the south-west corner of the basement rooms. It has been stated that remaining space a single bay contains Ionic because of the fall of the ground at the rear of pilasters and a shallow cross-vaulted ceiling the house the basement area was open and with a decorated boss and ribs 28 – all now

14 only later was a terrace created necessitating a particular, later on to meet the catering needs of continuation of the sunken way. 31 a large number of employees when it was the All cooking, laundry and other domestic work head office of the Northmet, and the conversion would have been carried out in the basement of other areas to meet the requirements of a from the time the house was built. There is no commercial organisation. There must have been surviving evidence of dumb waiters to enable a large fuel store such as a coal cellar beneath cooked food to be lifted to the eating room and it the house. No reference has been found to an is assumed that it all had to be carried by hand ice house, either within the basement area or as on warming trays. A butler’s pantry and a a separate structure within the grounds, servants’ hall were no doubt also part of the although there is little doubt that ice would have original design. However, no convincing been used to help keep food fresh. 33 reconstruction of the internal arrangements of the basement is possible because of the large To be continued scale alterations made during the time when the house was a private residence as cooking Geofrey Gillam arrangements changed from open to closed ranges, gas and eventually electricity 32, and, in

OBITUARY

JOHN KENT 1928-2000 Enfeld in 1954 and 1955 and he urged the members to form a local society, and at the end I frst met John Kent in the summer of 1949 when I became part of his small team excavating a medieval moated site at Welham of 1955 the Enfeld Archaeological Society was green in Hertfordshire. We subsequently made born. He became Director of Excavations and forays into Hertfordshire on our bicycles to look was the frst speaker on the very frst at archaeological sites, in particular Ermine programme of lectures. Between 1958 and 1960 Street when we managed to follow the line of members of the Society carried out excavations the Roman Road from Ware through to Enfeld, under his direction at another medieval site, more often than not having to carry our bicycles! Perriors Manor in Cheshunt. (this must be some sort of record). All of this Later on, he spent several seasons’ work activity was at the time he was studying for his in excavating the motte and bailey castle at degree, and later on he began preparing for his South Mimms, the results of which brought post-graduate PhD. about a rethink regarding the way such places Having obtained his doctorate and served were constructed. his delayed National Service he was appointed John became president of the Royal Assistant Keeper of Coins and Medals at the Numismatic Society 1984-90, president of the in 1951 – he became Deputy British Association of Numismatic Societies Keeper in 1974 and was promoted to Keeper in 1974-78, President of the London and 1983. John became the world’s leading authority Middlesex Archaeological Society 1985-88 and on late Roman coinage. He set new standards served on the International Numismatic and produced many publications on Roman, Commission 1986-91. He was elected Fellow of medieval and modern coins. the Society of Antiquaries in 1961, and of the His other interests included medieval British Academy in 1986. music, music halls, history of railways, and of In recognition of his work in bringing course, cricket – I remember bowling to him with about its formation and his contributions to its a tennis ball while he held an improvised bat success in its early days, he was elected Vice- during the lunch break in the ditch of the Bush President of the Enfeld Archaeological Society. Hill Park earthwork where he was directing excavations for the Enfeld Archaeological Geofrey Gillam Society. John was the founder member of the Society. He gave a series of tutorial classes in Dr John Kent died from leukaemia on Sunday 22 October 2000, and his funeral was on Friday

15 27 October 2000. Donations to the Leukaemia Research Fund, 43 Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3JJ

16 SMALL FINDS website www.archaeologyatthegrove.com

HIGH STREET LONDINIUM EXHIBITION FORTY HALL OUTBUILDINGS

The “High Street Londinium” exhibition at the Enfeld Council has received applications for Museum of London (see Meeting Reports) has Planning Permission for the repair and been extended until Sunday 28 January 2001. refurbishment of the bullock shed and brick There are also numerous events, addition, an open sided barn and four bay demonstrations, study days, tours and so on, on timber frame building at Forty Hall, together with the general theme of Roman London. For the demolition of a shed building and shelter. details telephone the Museum on 020 7600 The bullock shed is of at least 18th century date 3699, or visit their website at but was relocated from elsewhere, probably in www.museumofondon.org.uk the 19th century. The Society’s views have been sought by the Council, and it is understood that English Heritage have no objection to the PLOUGH DAMAGE AT VERULAMIUM proposals. The Society also has no objection, and has confrmed this view to the Council. Following the attention drawn by RESCUE to the extensive plough damage being caused to a considerable area of Roam Verulamium, the St INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY Alban’s and Hertfordshire Architectural and Archaeological Society organised a petition and Work is progressing on clearing the sluice and the local media became involved, and the City associated valve pit, weir and other features on Council passed a motion calling upon English the old loop of the New River at Myddelton Heritage to put a stop to the ploughing, House (see Reflections from the Chairman). according to Rescue News, No. 82. Members of the Society have been joined on the Subsequently, a test pit survey funded by project by members of the West Essex English Heritage was carried out in January Archaeological Group. Anyone wishing to help 2000, and “substantial destruction” had taken should telephone Dennis Hill on 020 8440 1593. place and was continuing to occur. However, following a meeting between RESCUE officers and the Secretary of State for OTHER EVENTS Culture, Media and Sport, the Earl of Verulam’s Estate has undertaken to limit the depth of A special exhibition at the British Museum, ploughing for a period of one year, and English “Gladiators and Caesars: the Power of Heritage are investigating the possibility and Spectacle in ” will run from 21 implications of the permanent removal of the October 2000 until 21 January 2001. land from cultivation. Writing in Rescue News 82, Chair of Rescue (and President of the Enfeld SOCIETY NEWS - NEXT ISSUE Archaeological Society) Harvey Sheldon says that it is necessary for all levels of the Members are invited to submit papers, articles archaeological community to continue to apply or letters for consideration for publication in pressure for English Heritage to arrive at a Society News. Items should be submitted to the solution providing permanent protection for this Editor, Jon Tanner, as early as possible but no important Scheduled Ancient Monument without later than 10 February 2001. penalising the tenant farmer.

AND FINALLY... EXCAVATIONS AT WATFORD A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year AOC Archaeology is carrying out large scale to all members and readers. excavations at the Grove, Watford, where there is extensive evidence for occupation. Details can be found at their

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