ISSUE NUMBER 97 SUMMER 2013 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Your Quarterly Newsletter

Slough FortTurn to Page 2 INSIDE THIS ISSUE

2-3 Fort + Owl Club 4-5 Hardman & the Ghostly Nun 6-7 You & Your Society + Committee Round Up 8-9 Ravensbourne 10-11 New Books + KARU 12-13 What’s On 14 Pilgrims Path

www.kentarchaeology.org.uk IMAGES

FRONT PAGE: Digging in progress

Most exciting has been the excavation of the right wing battery through a combination of the use of a mechanical digger and the work of community archaeology volunteers. From this process an epic 2500 tons of rubble, parts of old caravans and earth have been removed to reveal a triumph of concrete construction. Fig 1 FIG 1. Image of the excavated battery as it was when armed. Reconstruction drawing by Chris Forsey. SLOUGH FORT By Victor Smith The excavations have provided a major part of the information to allow the ith the participation of this by clearing undergrowth and production of a reconstruction drawing the community, the bushes to make the fort more visible, for visitors to understand how the leisure giant Bourne excavating some infilled structures battery looked soon after construction LeisureW has begun a project for the and introducing viewing routes, to and arming. repair, restoration and public be followed by the placement of presentation of the historic Slough information panels containing Fort at Allhallows. interpretation drawings by the artist THE OWL AND With a possible war with France Chris Forsey. in mind, this anti-invasion fort It is hoped to run further THE BULL originated in 1867 as a prominent community archaeology days later gun-armed edifice of granite, in 2013. If you are interested in mong the large collection positioned to oppose a landing of taking part, please contact the of glass negatives currently troops at Allhallows bent on an Volunteer Coordinator, Keith being scanned by KAS are overland attack on Chatham Gulvin at [email protected] severalA showing the interior of The Dockyard. By 1891 it had been Meanwhile there is limited (first Bull Hotel, Rochester (now The embanked with earth and enlarged stage) free public access via the Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel) as with wing batteries, both to make Allhallows Leisure Park, Saturdays it was a hundred years ago. At the it less visible and more powerful, and Sundays 10am-4pm and time these photographs were taken being armed with heavier guns that Tuesdays, Wednesdays and several rooms were named for popped up to fire and then recoiled Thursdays 10am-2pm (all year characters created by Dickens, since out of sight for reloading. It was round). Enquiries to the leisure he not only dined and stayed here, further modernised in 1906, armed park on 01634 270385 and 272929. but featured the inn in several into the First World War and novels, most notably in The reactivated as an anti-invasion Papers published 1837. About the author defence in the Second World War. Victor Smith is a member of the Kent Captions to our glass plates Afterwards it was abandoned to Archaeological Society and is currently identify The Pickwick room, also become – starting before its an historical consultant to Bourne those dedicated to Messrs Winkle ownership by Bourne Leisure – a Leisure for the Slough Fort project. and Tupman, who along with caravan park. Over time, infilling Augustus Snodgrass (what fantastic of some structures took place, others names Dickens uses ) founded The were damaged and the military Pickwick Club. signature of the fort became There is another link here with degraded. The challenge is to The Bull, for this well known retrieve the fort and make it a Rochester Hotel had its own society, meaningful heritage experience for The Owl Club. Why was this so visitors. called? Perhaps clues lie within two So Phase 1 has begun to address of our glass plates, one of which

2 Summer 2013 - KAS Newsletter - www.kentarchaeology.org.uk Fig 1

shows a room set for formal dining, Fig 2 complete with candelabra and white cloth’d tables, and on one wall a glass case complete with several stuffed owls. The owls are no more – archived “Of all the birds on bush or tree, But my blessing upon the jolly owl, “somewhere off site”, but could this Commend me to the owl; That all night blows his horn. example of taxidermy have proved Since he may best ensample be Then up with your cup till you stagger in an inspiration for The Owl Club To those the cup that trowl. speech, whose members met here in rooms For when the sun hath left the west And match me this catch till you swagger little altered from Dickens’ time? He chooses the tree that he loves best, and screech We know this from the hotel’s And he whoops out his song, and he And drink till you wink, my merry men each. ‘Souvenir and Tariff’ brochure of laughs at his jest. For, though hours be late and around 1910 (when a single room Then though hours be late and weather foul, cost 4s. 0d and luncheon 2s. 6d) weather foul, We’ll drink to the health of the bonny which tells us that “the historic We’ll drink to the health of the bonny owl.” rooms of Dickens’ fame are quite bonny bonny owl. untouched, including the ballroom The lark is but a bumpkin fowl. which in is He sleeps in his nest till morn; described as “a long room, with crimson-covered candles in glass article of the 1930s by local historian the ‘Miscellany’ in question, a chandeliers”. and printer Edwin Harris. In an magazine first published in 1836 The ballroom is featured in article for the Chatham, Rochester by Richard Bentley who asked several of our plates, as is a close up and Gillingham Observer he quotes Dickens to become its first editor. of a framed poem entitled Goldthred’s the following from A Week’s Tramp This he did, serialising Oliver Twist Song, which comes from Sir Walter in Dickens-land by William R within its pages, for which Scott’s novel Kenilworth, where we Hughes: Cruikshank drew his now famous read that “After some brief interval, “Mr Lawrence (the proprietor illustrations having already done the Master Goldthred, at the earnest of the Bull Hotel) informed us some drawings for Dickens’ collection of instigation of mine Host, and the years ago that The Owl Club held short pieces entitled Sketches by joyous concurrence of his guests, its meetings at the Bull – a social Boz. One of these, entitled The indulged the company with the club, reminding us strongly of one Great Winglebury Duel, features following morsel of melody” of the early papers in ‘Bentley’s The Winglebury Arms, the town’s (above). Miscellany’ illustrated by George principal inn which stands opposite This is all a far cry from Rochester, Cruikshank, entitled The a building “with a big clock” - so but it led me to The Harmonious Owls .” in all probability The Bull once Archives just over the Medway Cruikshank’s owl illustration was again, though with a different name. Bridge to and to a newspaper one of 126 plates he contributed to Fig 1: The dining room with glass case of stuffed owls Fig 2: The ballroom

www.kentarchaeology.org.uk - Summer 2013- KAS Newsletter 3 n the Autumn of 2012 Pernille wrote about Dr F W Hardman’s collection of documents and his Iinterest in St Albans Court at Nonington. His papers are a veritable treasure trove, containing as they do transcripts of documents such as Court Rolls both pre- and post- Dissolution for St Albans Court as well as of documents from the Hammond collection. Gordon Ward, another prominent local historian of the 1930s, was a close working colleague of Hardman. Ward had a letter from Hardman in July 1936 in which Hardman enthuses that he has new thoughts as the result of information recently acquired and Fig 1 completes his letter: “In fact it encourages me to tell a story to the guileless archaeologists who will come on 9 September which will excite your derision.” This referred to the KAS 86th Dr Hardman and the Ghostly Nun Excursion on September 9th to By Peter Hobbs MA(Oxon) CCIP FRSA Church and Nonington.

So what was this story? Oeswalum and gave them to name reflected a substantial 9th century Hardman was a respected scholar and Cwoenthryth. However, Wulfred, occupation by the nuns before they an able philologist. He had early on Archbishop of , claimed either returned to their original houses appreciated that Nonington was laden that Oeswalum had been awarded to or took refuge in Canterbury. He took with history, even if its neighbours saw him on the death of Abbess Selethryth issue with the Victoria County History

Notes from the Archive – Further Research it as a rather boring place in the middle and a protracted dispute arose. which re-designated the Domesday of nowhere. Now, access to Hardman’s Wulfred eventually had to concede a Manor of Bedmersham from newly catalogued papers show that he large fine and tracts of his personal Beauchamps to Betteshanger, a had formulated a theory relating to 9th landholdings to the Crown. King rejection of Hasted’s identification and century activities on the site on part of Kenwulf died and his brother seized one which negated Hardman’s the Beauchamps manor. The key is the the throne. Wulfred and the new king philological arguments that the name first fifty or so hand written pages of made common cause and in 824, had church origins. his draft for a history of Nonington Cwoenthryth was stripped of Where do we stand today? In the and accompanying notes and Oeswalum and Wulfred received back last decade, Keith Parfitt and the transcripts. his other lands.1 Archaeological Group have, in To understand his “story”, we have Hardman concentrates on the a series of on-going excavations, shown to go back to the late 700s when Danish detailed Latin record of these decisions, the supposedly Tudor Old St Albans raids appear to have laid waste to the noting that Oeswalum is identified Court to be early 1300s and unearthed Royal foundation Abbeys at Minster, more than once as being a small, but a previously unknown manor house and Lyminge and the Abbess by implication a special, part of the at Beauchamps, perhaps dating back Selethryth sought a refuge for her nuns. land in dispute and that despite the to the 13th century, as well as extensive Selethryth was the joint owner with agreement in 824, part of it was never later remains, a 7th century Anglo her brother, Ealdebeorht, of an estate handed over but exchanged for other Saxon burial ground and Neolithic called Oeswalum of about 800 acres, land. It was also observed that Werhard, remains.2 They have also surveyed the covering what became the later estates Wulfred’s kinsman to whom he gave substantial early earthworks in around Nonington of St Albans, Oeswalum amongst other lands, Beauchamps Wood itself. Beechams, Fredville and Soles. The required in his will (he says at the As a result, we have a much more joint communities of nuns within that behest of Wulfred), a substantial extensive set of ruins than Hardman estate were supposedly located on a hill charitable contribution to the knew. We now know more about the site across the ancient North-South inhabitants of Oeswalum. The site of the manor called Beauchamps. roadway, now called Beauchamps Lane. contribution was greater than the For example, the site has a ditched On Selethryth’s death she was endowment for the poor of Canterbury. rectangular embankment, parts of succeeded as Abbess by King Kenwulf’s Hardman was aware of the 19th which may be prehistoric, and the daughter, Cwoenthryth. Dramatically, century evidence of an Anglo-Saxon Anglo-Saxon name for it could, a senior Kent noble, the Ealdorman burial ground at Nonington and according to the latest authority, Oswulf, took the ownership deeds of thought that the Nonington place- actually be the Place of God. The level

4 Summer 2013 - KAS Newsletter - www.kentarchaeology.org.uk such connection being suggested. But what a splendid tale for the romantics amongst us! On the site itself we have found Neolithic remains, some small fragments of Roman and a great mass of material and building from the 13th to the 16th century. However, we have nothing Anglo-Saxon, ironic when the spur to dig there initially came from the suspicion that a 7th century Anglo- Saxon burial ground on the opposite slope of hillside might have been overlooking an Anglo-Saxon settlement. We have yet to put a spade within the embanked enclosure and a large area is untouched apart from a geophysical Fig 2 survey suggesting the presence of potentially extensive further remains. Anglo-Saxon habitation remains are of occupation revealed by excavation which could argue for an earlier Anglo- normally very sparse. Nevertheless, an on a fairly inhospitable site suggests Saxon presence. Anglo-Saxon presence should by now activity by the 13th century and it is It is clear from the Latin records of have manifested itself with at least a therefore likely to have been based on the 824 Court disputes that there was fragment of pottery: to date, we have earlier occupation. It is not improbable something special about Oeswalum. none. So Hardman’s story to KAS still to surmise that a small wooden church However, the earliest specific reference remains a “story”, but a tantalizing one. on the hill was replaced with something to the site and a connection with nuns About the Beauchamps site as a more substantial on Christchurch land is not until John Harris in 1719.3 whole, we can say that we now know down below, perhaps explaining why although we have references to the a great deal more than when we started, there is a church at Nonington. We manor in land documentation from both in terms of documentation and know it was extant in the 11th century, the 11th century onward without any uncovered remains. What we are less certain about is exactly what we do have! But at least Hardman’s “story” might explain the ghostly nun whom so many have seen wandering around the vicinity.

1 Kingdom of Kent: K. Witney: Phillimore 1982 The Period of Mercian Rule in Kent: K. Witney: Arch Cant 1987 Early History of the Church of Canterbury: Nicholas Brook: UP 1984 Church, Land and Local Nobility in early 9th Century Kent: the case of Ealdorman Oswulf: Julian Crick: BIHR October 1987.

2 Investigations at Old St. Albans Court at Nonington: Parfitt, Jones and Hobbs: KAR Winter 2001 Anglo Saxon Cemetery at Nonington: Keith Parfitt : KAR Spring 2002 Old St Albans Court: Peter Hobbs: Arch Cant 2005 Fig 3 3 The : John Harris: Midwinter 1719 Fig 1: Dover ArchaeologicalFig 1: Dover Group ArchaeologicalFig 2: Dover Group at work Field, 2011 in Ruins Fig 3: Map of Nonington from out of the Gordon the KAS Excursion Archive Ward in 1936,

www.kentarchaeology.org.uk - Summer 2013 - KAS Newsletter 5 YOU & YOUR SOCIETY

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS Preservation and Education Director of the Historic Dockyard at Chatham. He focused Some of you will have received a letter I look forward to your continued support on the role of Kent’s Royal Dockyards in about the removal of the concessionary of our excellent Society. supporting the Royal Navy over a 400-year rate – this is due to the fact that the lower period. During the heyday of the age of sail, I am very pleased to welcome the subscription does not cover the costs of Chatham Dockyard was Britain’s principal following new members: the Newsletters and Archaeologia shipbuilding and repair yard. Cantiana. I am most grateful to those of Joint Members We then moved on to more recent times with you who have sent amended standing Dr N S & Mrs Corfield, Ashford Malcolm Moulton, Chairman of Medway order forms to reflect the subscription you Mrs A & Mrs M Fisher, West Farleigh Aircraft Preservation Society Limited, now need to pay in order to maintain your Mr & Mrs R M Fuller, Dover covering the history of aircraft preservation membership. Please check your bank Mr & Mrs J M Rushton, Rochester at Rochester Airport from 1977 to the statements for January to make sure that it present day. During that time they have has been changed and, more importantly, Indiv. Members completed 31 projects, including 14 that your bank is not paying two amounts! Mrs M E Cooley, complete aircraft. The company is unique of If you haven’t yet sent your form to me or, Ms C J Ellis, Upper Belvedere its kind in being allowed to restore aircraft alternatively, contacted your bank yourself, Miss V King, from the collection of the RAF Museums at please do so soon. Mrs A Thomas, Harpenden, Herts London and Cosford. Mrs P Weeds, Rochester After lunch we moved on to the Early Years of I am in the process of changing to a new J & E Hall of . This talk was given by membership software package and would The majority of new members have Terry Young, Director/General Manager J & like this to be as up to date as possible joined by downloading the application E Hall Technology Centre. The company before dealing with the 2014 renewals. form from the website but it is equally started when John Hall came to Dartford important that blue application forms from seeking work as a skilled Please remember to send any changes of are available in other locations and addresses etc. to me either by post or millwright. His services were soon in taken to conferences etc. Please demand from industries located in the area. email. I am aware that some emails are contact me if you would like a bundle. incorrect and it is very necessary that they One year later, in 1785, he started a are up to date as it is so much more cost Shiela Broomfield, 8 Woodview blacksmiths shop in Lowfield Street and effective to contact members by email Crescent, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, from this modest start an engineering instead of post, even though I now have a Kent TN11 9HD telephone: 01732 business would grow and prosper, swept franking machine which saves on rates. 838698, email as above. along on the tide of the industrial revolution. The business expanded uninterrupted for My email address for KAS matters is many years, providing opportunities to [email protected] employ great innovators such as Richard Trevithick and Brian Donkin. When Terry started as an apprentice he found a hammer made by a previous apprentice, which he SOUTH EAST REGION INDUSTRIAL restored. Whilst researching his talk he ARCHAEOLOGY CONFERENCE by Mike Clinch came across a lady looking for a hammer made by her grandfather - the apprentice Kent Archaeological Society hosted the Archaeology. who had made said hammer. We were 2013 South East Region Industrial The Society’s President opened the hoping that she could attend the Conference Archaeology Conference. The Conference Conference and Jim Preston, Chairman of and be presented with her grandfather’s was held in the Mick Jagger Centre at the KAS Industrial Archaeology Committee, hammer, but unfortunately she was unable Dartford Grammar School, a venue decision then took charge of proceedings. The first to do so. made as KAS events tend to be central or in speaker was Professor Alan Crocker, whose Jim Preston then got down to the nitty gritty the east of the county. The Conference was topic was the gunpowder industry of Kent. of the Cement Industry in the county. Kent well publicised throughout the county by Alan is President of the Industrial had the largest concentration of cement Paul Tritton, the Society’s Publicity Officer History Group and was the organiser of the works in Britain with over 60 works in and over 200 delegates attended from Kent, first SERIAC meeting back in 1983. operation. By 2011 there were no Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire and Greater Together with his wife Glenys, who has done operational works and the sites had been London. Nearly a dozen societies had much of the research on the topic, he largely cleared, leaving little trace of this stands with publications and material and founded the National Gunpowder Mills once important industry. Jim outlined the Shiela Broomfield, our KAS Hon Sec, ran a Study Group. Peter Draper added to the developments within the industry and the KAS stand - it is important that the Society ambiance by setting off a small charge of changing production methods employed. is promoted whenever conferences and guncotton. Much to the relief of the The final speaker was Nick Kelly, who gave a meetings are organised. The conference organisers he did not set off the sprinklers! potted history of Kent’s Motorcycle Industry. themes were centred on Kent’s Industrial Alan was followed by Richard Holdsworth, Nick has had a lifelong interest in

6 Summer 2013 - KAS Newsletter - www.kentarchaeology.org.uk COMMITTEE ROUND UP researching the transport industry and infrastructure. He surprised many of the Fig 1 audience with the extent of the industry in Kent, particularly the steam motorcycle which ran on paraffin, petrol being very expensive even then. However, the machine’s Achilles heel was the hard water we all know in NW Kent, which caused the boiler to fur up rapidly! The Society’s Industrial Archaeology Committee is new. If you have an interest in industrial archaeology and would like to join in its work please contact Mike Clinch 01322 526425 or mike@ Fig 2 mikeclinch.co.uk. We intend to run a day in the latter part of next year centred on the paper industry, The building has evidence of many keys, view a 16th-century funerary with particular emphasis on Kent. If you different phases, not least the tower helm, and (for the adventurous have any suggestions or would like to of c. 1810, sympathetically built in climbers), a climb up the tower to take part please let me know. brick with pointed windows and view the 18th century clock crenellations. Dr Pat Reid explained mechanism. A beautifully-preserved COMPLETE SET of how recent excavations by the rood stair in the north aisle indicates ARCHAEOLOGIA Society have pinpointed the presence of a lost rood screen, CANTIANA the site of the lost north tower which may explain the unusual All in very good condition and which fell in 1806, in the process configuration of the easternmost including all Indexes. revealing evidence of re-used Roman nave arches, which both descend at £450 or nearest offer. roof-tiles and the presence of a much shallower angle than Flemish paving tiles coloured bright expected. Lynsted contains many Please contact green and yellow, which were monuments to local aristocratic [email protected] helpfully on temporary display families in the north and south in the first instance. inside. Notable interior features chapels and no less than eighteen include a sturdy Victorian stove and hatchments; Simon Langton, a medieval tomb-cover from the brother of the 13th-century KAS Churches Committee nearby ruined church of Stone-by- archbishop, was the first priest here. Visit to Luddenham and Faversham. The church probably There is also a chandelier dated Lynsted, 20 April 2013 only ever served a small, scattered 1686, parts of which were reinstated by Toby Huitson community, and is now maintained in 1904 after being found hidden by the Churches Conservation in a recess in the tower. n a sunny but fresh Spring Trust, their welcome recent We extend warm thanks to Dr afternoon under a cloudless acquisition of Swingfield near Pat Reid and David Wood for blue sky, a group of over Dover now adding to their open introducing the buildings so Othirty people met at the rural buildings in the region. knowledgeably and enthusiastically. farmland setting of St Mary, The church of St Peter and Paul Luddenham a few miles north-west at Lynsted made a refreshing of Faversham for the first of this contrast, as a large, mostly later years’ eagerly anticipated Churches medieval building with tall roofs, visits. side-aisles and altars, and one still This twin-cell manorial church very much at the centre of its is essentially Romanesque at its core community. Churchwarden David - the west door has traces of chevron Wood shared his formidable decoration - with later additions knowledge with the group, which Fig 3

including a 13th century chancel. had the chance to handle some large Mary,Fig 1: St Luddenham stairFig 2: Rood at Lynsted Fig 3: The chancel at Lynsted

www.kentarchaeology.org.uk - Summer 2013 - KAS Newsletter 7 The Palaeolithic of the Upper Ravensbourne Valley, Kent - Research in Progress By Frank Beresford

he study area is in West Wickham, Kent, now part of the London Borough of TBromley, and is located where the Wealden Anticline in the south meets the edge of the London Basin in the north. Two main arms of the Ravensbourne Valley, now dry, with some smaller subsidiary valleys, dissect the chalk. Dewey noted that on account of the erosion of the overlying beds by the river Ravensbourne, the chalk forms a re-entrant angle into the Tertiary outcrops that occupy the north of the area (Dewey 1924). Palaeolithic material was located in this area in the period 1880 to 1905. However, the last report by any of the original investigators was in 1908 in VCH (Kent) Volume One (Clinch 1908, 307). All subsequent mention of this material derives from this report and is associated with the writer George Clinch. In 1999, John Wymer noted that the area was “alleged to have produced large numbers of surface palaeoliths in the 19th century, but few can now be found or identified as coming from the locations recorded” (Wymer 1999, 167).

The aim of this study is to establish: »» What is the research history of the palaeolithic in this area, both archaeological and geological, in the late 19th and early 20th century? »» What remains of the lithics collections Fig 1 that were found in that period? »» To what extent is it now possible to

Abstract from a presentation given at the British Museum, Franks House, 17th April 2013 to the Lithics Studies Society to Studies the Lithics 2013 April Abstract from a presentation Franks House, 17th Museum, at the British given construct a useful account of the

8 Summer 2013 - KAS Newsletter - www.kentarchaeology.org.uk Palaeolithic of the Upper Ravensbourne Valley?

Research has established that three men discovered most of the lithic material found in the study area in the years from 1878 to 1898. • George Clinch (1860-1921) • Arthur Santer Kennard (1870 – 1948) • Alfred Edward Salter (1863 – 1926)

Parts of their collections have been discovered at the British Fig 2 Museum, Bromley Museum and Museum – all having passed through the collections of at members of the Geologist’s proposed that together with the least one other person or museum. Association who wrote about and Oldbury site this suggests a hitherto About 100 artefacts have been discussed the geological context of unsuspected wider Mousterian located and analysis of this is in their finds. Although the finds were Landscape. Consequently the progress, to which will be added mainly surface finds after deep Upper Ravensbourne material is published information about other ploughing, all three men linked also being assessed on typological artefacts which can no longer be them with river terraces and in grounds for evidence of similar MIS traced. particular the highest terrace. 13 material. All three wrote about their finds The current Ravensbourne is the It is hoped that a final report will in academic journals, popular remnant of a much longer pre- be completed in 2014 for subsequent journals, personal notebooks and Anglian river which once flowed publication. maps, personal scrapbooks, privately further south and further north published papers and local possibly in channels subsequently BIBLIOGRAPHY newspapers during the period 1882 used by the post-Anglian River Lea. Clinch G. (1908) Early Man. Victoria to 1908. Many of these accounts The possibility of some of the County History Kent 1 307-38 have been located for this study. palaeolithic material being linked Dewey H, et al. (1924) Geology of the The various find sites have been to a pre-Anglian terrace (MIS 13) Country around Dartford, Memoirs of mapped using these contemporary is therefore being investigated. the Geological Survey of and , Explanation of Sheet 271 accounts and the field names from Another possibility for dating an 1882 map produced by Clinch some of this material links to its Hinton M. And Kennard A. S. (1905) and an 1838 tithe map. The main association by Kennard with The Relative Ages of the Stone Implements of the Lower Thames site is in one of the small subsidiary Prestwich’s Hill Group (Prestwich Valley. Proceedings of the Geologists dry chalk valleys with some material 1889, Hinton and Kennard 1905.) Association XV, 76 – 100 from another similar valley. Other While this supports the proposal McNabb, J (2012) Dissent with material was found at the confluence that some of this material could be modification: human origins, of the two, now dry, arms of the derived from MIS 13 deposits, it is palaeolithic archaeology, and Ravensbourne and on the also possible that some of the evolutionary anthropology in Victorian surrounding hills. material is much later. Britain, 1859-1901, Archaeopress. Although the current BGS John McNabb (McNabb 2012, Prestwich, J. 1889. On the occurrence geological map shows no evidence 218) noted that on typological of Palaeolithic Flint Implements in the of river terracing in this area, grounds some of the material, now Neighbourhood of Ightham, Kent; their accounts contemporary with the located in Maidstone Museum, that Distribution and Probable Age. finds and recent field observation was used to illustrate Prestwich’s Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London, 45, 270–297. indicate that traces of river terracing original paper “should be were and are evident even though unambiguously Lower Palaeolithic, Wymer J. 1999, The Lower Palaeolithic they are not of a sufficient depth to yet, it appears dominated by Occupation of Britain 1, Wessex be included on the geological map. Neanderthal/ Mousterian tools of the Archaeology and English Heritage.

Clinch, Kennard and Salter were all later Middle Palaeolithic”. He page illustrationFig 1: Full of lithics from I Kent the study area in VCH South East London Geology Sheet Fig 2: Geology of the Upper Ravensbourne Area – from the 1905

www.kentarchaeology.org.uk - Summer 2013 - KAS Newsletter 9 NEW BOOKS

Anglo-Saxon people who occupied a pint as payment. the Isle of Thanet and whose lives and culture were shaped by this Examples of collections can be seen unique landscape. in the British Museum, The V&A, A5 format, with 87 pages with 3 the Ashmolean and the City of black and white and 6 colour Art Gallery and in illustrations, and 4 colour plates. private collections.

£9.99. Mail order price £8.00 + A5 format. £4.00, available from £2.00 P&P, available to order online [email protected]. from http://thanetarch.co.uk/ co.uk publications/list.html A postal order form can also be downloaded from the page.

Augustine’s First Footfall Gerald Moody An investigation into the probable location of the landing place of St. Augustine’s mission in AD 597. Bede records that Augustine’s first footfall in Britain took place on the Isle of Thanet. The landing place is unknown to history and this investigation of the landscape, historical and cultural context of Thanet in AD 597 seeks to identify possible locations. Using Old Dover Road – Past and Present archaeological evidence and new Oaten Hill Society’s Local History research on the historic landscape Group the significance of Augustine’s Franklin White’s Shoreham Characters The latest book in the series on mission is reconsidered for a modern Shoreham & District Historical Society streets and families in the area, an audience. Newly arrived from Australia in illustrated history of places, people 1919, Charles Franklin White and events along Old Dover Road Although focussed on Augustine’s bought one of Shoreham’s oldest from the Riding Gate to the Gate arrival in Thanet in the Anglo-Saxon houses, ‘Reedbeds’, to live and paint Inn, Canterbury. It includes period, the book contains valuable in until his death in 1975. His son descriptions of a leper hospital (now discussions of the evolution of the has gifted some hundred drawings developed for housing), current and landscape and the region’s role in of the working people of the village former public houses, a former British history. The study traces the to the Historical Society, a few of windmill, the man who captured geological formation of the Isle of which are reproduced in this Gibraltar, the KCC cricket ground, Thanet from earliest times and publication. They are wonderful farming memories, the discovery of describes the significant geographic figure studies, capturing the village a new planet and the elegant features that shaped its landscape. characters in exquisite detail in buildings. pencil, inks, chalk and watercolour. Historiographical interpretations of Most evenings he would be found £5.00 or £6.20 with P&P. Tel: Augustine’s journey and landing drinking in The George as Franklin 01227 767343 or 01227 472932. place are examined and compared White decided upon his next with current knowledge of the subject, who would then be offered

10 Summer 2013- KAS Newsletter - www.kentarchaeology.org.uk KARU awarded Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

Kent Unit volunteers were delighted to be awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service on the 60th anniversary of the Coronation. The Unit, founded in 1971, has engaged hundreds of volunteers in its 42- year programme of work across the county.

The Unit’s main public role has been the long-term management and presentation of the Roman Villa at Orpington and the Roman Painted House at Dover. At both sites the Unit carried out rescue excavations, raised the funds and constructed the covering buildings over the Roman structures. Over the past four decades over 700,000 visitors, from here Canterbury and the Gothic Revival and abroad, have been given guided tours of the two sites by the Unit’s How Canterbury’s visionaries helped to spread Victorian Gothic volunteers. Of special importance are school workshops, started nearly at home and abroad. 20 years ago, which have seen some 80,000 children in activities led Lawrence and Marjorie Lyle by volunteers. ’s medieval Gothic image survived centuries Four volunteers from the Unit were invited to a garden party at of religious discord and neglect. Buckingham Palace in May. The event was hugely enjoyed by Gillian From 1800 onwards a new Bowes and Daphne Kettle from the East Kent team and Eileen Vassie generation was re-inspired by the and Liz Saunders from the West Kent team. artistic ‘Gothik’ vogues and the prevalent architecture. Through ambitious young architects, such Brian Philp, Director of the Unit, said “We’re delighted with this as William Butterfield, who prestigious award, for it stands as a signal tribute to the voluntary effort created a Gothic missionary by so many of our members over the decades. This Diamond Jubilee college in two years, and the award also coincides with the completion of my 60 years of rescue Dean of Canterbury, who wanted archaeology in Kent, which started with my first excavation as a the Cathedral to rival St Peter’s schoolboy at Reculver in 1952”. in Rome, the rolling repair programme continuing in today’s Appeal began. This book explores the influence of artists, architects Have you just joined the Society? and religious reformers on the Do you wish you could collect all the back issues city of Canterbury and on the of Archaeologia Cantiana? Gothic movement as a whole, showing how Canterbury’s visionaries helped to spread Victorian Gothic at home and abroad and includes over 60 illustrations displaying Now you can have 125 volumes of Archaeologia Cantiana at the amazingly low cost of Canterbury’s gothic architecture £31 for individual members and £76 for institutional members on the KAS Sesquicenten- and history. nial DVD.

978-0-7524-6294-3 - £14.99 To order your copy, send a cheque payable to Kent Archaeological Society to : Paperback Original. Peter Tann, 42 Archery Square, Walmer, Deal CT14 7HP.

www.kentarchaeology.org.uk - Summer 2013 - KAS Newsletter 11 WHAT’S ON

KAS EVENTS and afternoon, and ALL the workshops will take KENT: IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION place in BOTH sessions. One Day Conference KAS CHURCH VISITS 7 December, 9.30am – 4pm St Mary’s, Sundridge & St Peter & Timetable: Grimond Building, , St Paul, Shoreham Canterbury. Saturday 28 September 10.00 – 10.30 Coffee and registration The Kent Archaeological Society, with the Please meet at 1.45 for 2pm start at St Mary’s 10.30 – 12.30 First Session support of the School of History, University of Church, Sundridge, Church Road, Sundridge, Kent. Kent TN14 6DT. OS Grid Ref: TQ4861854950, 12.30 – 13.30 Lunch (not provided) OS Grid Coords: 548618, 154950 The conference will focus on the role of 13.30 – 15.30 Second Session population movements, immigrants and We will then move on to the Church of St Peter 15.30 – 16.00 Tea and way forward emigrants to and from Kent from the settlement and St Paul, Shoreham, Station Road, of very early migrants crossing the Channel to Shoreham, Kent TN14 7SD, OS Grid Ref: There will be FOUR workshops covering the Kent to the modern movements since the 16th TQ5227961590,OS Grid Coords: 552279, following: century. 161590 »» Field walking (or alternative if problems of 9.30 Arrival and registration Cost £5 to include tea and biscuits at Shoreham availability) Village Hall, provided by the Shoreham WI. 10.00 Welcome: Professor Kenneth »» Finds identification & recording Fincham, Head of the School of Please register by emailing or telephoning the »» Reading stone buildings History Church Visits Secretary, Jackie Davidson »» Assessing timber-frame buildings ([email protected] or 01634 10.15 A fine mixter-maxter! Incomers, 324004) Please select workshops in order of preference multiculturalism and cultural (see application form). Due to limitations on transmission in prehistoric Kent? by group size early application is advisable. Peter Clark However, every endeavour will be made to give KAS HISTORIC BUILDINGS COMMITTEE participants their first two choices. To that end, 10.45 The “Romans” in Kent by Jake HISTORIC BUILDINGS CONFERENCE tickets will be allocated on a first come, first Weekes Saturday 26 October served basis and will be sent out at the end of Harrietsham Community Centre, 9.30am for August. 11.15 COFFEE 10am until 4pm. Cost £30 for the day. Please bring a packed 11.30 Who were the Cantwara? Migration The theme of this year’s Conference is lunch. Cheques made payable to CAT. and Identity in early Anglo-Saxon Fortifications. Main topics are (provisionally): Kent by Andrew Richardson Tonbridge Castle by David Martin (Archaeology Application form is available on the KAS, South-East); Museum Trust and CAT websites or direct from 12.00 Ethnicity in Norman Kent by Richard Dr S. Sweetinburgh, 11 Caledon Terrace, Eales Slough Fort, Allhallows by Victor Smith; Canterbury CT1 3JS; s.m.sweetinburgh@kent. ac.uk or 01227 472490. Please enclose a SAE if 12.30 LUNCH The Development of the Tower Armouries as an using Royal Mail. Exhibition Venue, by Malcolm Mercer (Curator of 1.45 Starting a new life: the Intrantes in Tower History at the Royal Armouries Museum). Ricardian and Henrician Canterbury by Sheila Sweetinburgh In the afternoon there will be various short talks, ARCHAEOLOGY ABROAD including accounts of local research projects. Saturday 19 October, 2 – 5.30pm 2.15 Immigrants from the Low Countries to Kent in the late 16th and early Cost £10. Buffet lunch available. Joint study day organised by University of Kent 17th centuries: the experience of the with Kent Archaeological Society and Council for port and town of Sandwich by Jane Booking form available online from the KAS Kentish Archaeology Andrewes website, or by post from Mr D Carder (KAS), 53 The Ridgeway, Chatham, Kent ME4 6PB. Please Rutherford College, University of Kent 2.45 TEA enclose an SAE. »» Roman Ostia: Urban Life in AD387 – as 3.00 A small but persistent presence: seen by St Augustine by Dr Mike Mulryan or people of African origin and descent Dr Luke Lavan in Kent since c.1600 by David ARCHAEOLOGY & STANDING » Killingray BUILDINGS STUDY DAY » Madeira – The Gateway to the World: One Day Workshop Origins and Discovery (Men of Kent and Portugal) by Dr Brian Philp 3.30 Migrants to the Kent Coalfields until Saturday 14 September, 10.00am – 4pm Nationalisation in 1947 by Ann Kneif Agricultural Museum at Brook, near Wye, »» Third speaker tbc TN25 5PF 4.00 Closing remarks: Ian Coulson, Tickets free for KAS members and Friends of the President of Kent Archaeological Organised by Wye Rural Museum Trust and CKA, available on a ‘first come’ basis. Society Canterbury Archaeological Trust, with Kent Non-members £5.00, cheques payable to ‘CKA’ Archaeological Society and the Dover with SAE please, to 7 Sandy Ridge, Borough Conference fee £10.00, including tea and Archaeological Group, to provide practical Green TN15 8HP. coffee. Lunch not provided, but may be bought experience in the study of archaeology & at various outlets on campus. standing buildings. More information from Richard Ansell tel: 01732 884059 or on www.the-cka.fsnet.co.uk Please print off, complete and return the The day will be run in TWO sessions: morning or [email protected] . booking form in the Events section of the KAS

12 Summer 2013 - KAS Newsletter - www.kentarchaeology.org.uk WHAT’S ON website and return it with your payment to: CROFTON ROMAN VILLA (opposite THE ORPINGTON AND DISTRICT Orpington Railway Station) ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY Dr Elizabeth Edwards, School of History, Festival of British Archaeology Annual Open Weekend, opening the excavations Rutherford College, The University, Canterbury, Family Fun Event at Scadbury Moated Manor, Chislehurst. Kent CT2 7NX Sunday 21 July 14 &15 September, 2 – 4.30pm (last entry). EVENTS AROUND KENT Guided talk of the villa house for adults, with Admission free. activity sessions for children with Roman LANDSCAPES OF SOUTH-EAST BRITAIN artefacts and dressing up. Villa quiz and win Visitors can follow a self-guided trail around the DURING THE ROMAN PERIOD special villa badges! moated manor site, see ODAS’ excavations, and Conference & AGM - Council for British explore the foundations of the Tudor kitchens Archaeology: South East, with the Kent Sessions at 10.30am and 2pm. and Great Hall to see how they would have been Archaeological Field School used when the house was owned by the Saturday 16 November For all the family - children to be accompanied. Walsingham family. It’s also possible to see No booking needed. the World War II defences, and a restored Assembly Rooms, Preston Street, Faversham, shepherd’s or gamekeeper’s hut which Kent. 9.30am to 4.30pm. Entry £1.50/concessions £1.00. belonged to the estate in the 19th century. »» Jeremy Hodgkinson ‘The Landscape of Iron Growing up as a Roman Child Refreshments, bookstall and exhibition about Production in the Roman Weald’ Every Wednesday in August the history of Scadbury (and WC). »» Lacey Wallace ‘A newly discovered Roman Find out about Roman babies, games and toys villa in Bourne Park, Canterbury’ and join in a Roman lesson. Make a Roman Access is from the public footpath around the »» David Staveley ‘The Sussex Roman road child’s good luck charm and take part in a estate. Entrance to the site is where the footpath network’ Roman citizen’s quiz to win your Roman citizen passes the moated site. Nearest access from certificate and badge. the road is along the footpath at 14 St Paul’s »» Simon Elliot ‘The Upper Medway during the Wood Hill; turn left along the circular footpath, 5 Roman Occupation: Industry, agriculture Sessions at 10.30am and 2pm. mins walk. From Old Perry Street car park, the and elites’ entrance is around 30 mins walk along the »» David Rudling ‘Roman period Settlement For 5-11 year olds, children to be accompanied. footpath. and Land-use in the Sussex Ouse Valley’ No booking needed. »» David Bird ‘Landscapes of Roman Surrey’ There is some limited parking at the site for Entry £4.00 per child, accompanying adult free. elderly/disabled visitors: apply with SAE to »» Paul Wilkinson ‘Villa landscapes in Roman ODAS, 28 Church Avenue, Sidcup, DA14 6BU. Kent’ Costumes and Horrible Habits »» Andrew Richardson ‘Emporium to villa: 500 through the Ages. For more information about ODAS and Scadbury years at East Wear Bay, ’ Every Friday in August see www.odas.org.uk Discover some horrible habits! Find out about fabulous fashions! Make a collage of a Tickets available in advance from www.kafs. fashionable historical character (from Celts to co.uk/news.aspx or 01795 532548 for booking Victorians) and take home a horrible habits form. Cost £8 for members of CBA SE and KAFS information sheet. or £10 for non-members and on the day. Sessions at 10.30am and 2pm.

For 5-11 year olds, children to be accompanied. FRIENDS OF CANTERBURY No booking needed. ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST 11 September Entry £4.00 per child, accompanying adult free. Royal Norman Castles in Kent Richard Eales For more info visit http://cka.moon-demon. 2 October 2013. co.uk/villa.htm or from Kent Archaeological The Stones of Canterbury Rescue Unit, tel: 020 8460 1442, email: Geoff Downer [email protected]

Both talks at 7pm, Room 03, Newton, Canterbury Christ Church University, North Holmes Road, Canterbury. SHORNE WOODS COUNTRY PARK, off the A2 between and Rochester FCAT requests a donation of £2.00 for members, £3.00 for non-members and £1.00 for students, ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE PARK until 28 July to cover costs and to help support the activities of the Archaeological Trust. Visit the excavation of Randall Manor, now in its 8th season, 11am – 3pm each day. Free guided tours. RE-ENACTMENT WEEKEND with the WOODVILLE HOUSEHOLD 27 & 28 July

For more details www.facebook.com/ archaeologyinkent email: andrew.mayfield@ kent.gov.uk tel: 07920 548906

www.kentarchaeology.org.uk - Summer 2013 - KAS Newsletter 13 Pilgrims Path by Roger

he old Thames frontage the lane becomes Swanscombe High little green valley to join the Pilgrims from to Street and the modern pilgrim may Way at the St Clere estate, which Gravesend has been largely follow it onwards into Southfleet before 1300 was known as Aldham, Tdestroyed by industry. Only a few parish at Betsham. “the old place”. Its further course old lanes run up from the river to Then the lane heads south into the Weald is unclear. higher ground and preserve the old towards the Wheatsheaf Inn at Routes such as Roman roads and ground profile. Westwood, down White Hill and Victorian railways are easy enough Most of Swanscombe marsh along the valley passing to confirm, with a little clearance remains untouched, though close by the medieval church and of the ground surface. Anything else development is coming. A long- manor of Fawkham. At Fawkham is notoriously hard to prove. This forgotten little lane runs south from Green the lane bears slightly left for trackway may not have been used the Thames foreshore across the Crowhurst Farm and at West by pilgrims, but it looks like an marsh. At the edge of the marsh the Kingsdown windmill it becomes ancient route and it feels like one lane finds its way up a fragment of Pells Lane and runs past Drane Farm when you walk it. But is it, or was ancient hill slope between deep and Summeryards Wood. it ? chalk quarries. Local people call it Finally the lane crosses the North the Pilgrims’ Path. At Galley Hill, Downs Trackway and descends a

Copy deadline for the next issue is 1st Sept 2013 The editor wishes to draw attention to the fact that EDITOR: LYN PALMER neither she nor the Council of the KAS are answerable 55 Stone Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2QU for opinions which contributors may express in their Telephone: 01892 533661 signed articles; each author is alone responsible for Email: [email protected] the contents and substance of their work.

14 Summer 2013 - KAS Newsletter - www.kentarchaeology.org.uk Published by the Kent Archaeological Society, Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Gallery, St Faith’s Street, Maidstone, Kent. ME14 1LH.