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PEOCEEDINGS 1887. THE Council met, on the 28th of December 1887, in the Society's Eooms at Maidstone Museum. Five members were present, of whom G-eorge M. Arnold, Esq., was asked to preside. The first copy of Archceologia Oantiana, Vol. XVII., was laid upon the table by its Editor, Canon Scott Eobertson. This volume contained 474 pages of printed matter, 55 Illustrations, and 27 Papers upon various branches of Archeology. Its total cost was £527, for 985 copies. Of this cost, no less than £210 was expended upon the 55 Illustrations. It was resolved: "That the.Council congratulates Canon Scott Eobertson (the Honorary Secretary and Editor) upon the issue of the 17th Volume of Archceologia. Oantiana, and desires to express the Society's warmest thanks for the great labour and attention he has bestowed on the preparation, revision, and editing of that work; o£ which this is the ninth Volume that he has himself edited and issued." Mr. Gt-eorge Dowker submitted a Eeport of 'the excavations at Eichborough* outside the Eoman Castrum. The Secretary read a letter from Mr. Samuel Mercer which stated that when the names of two new Trustees (the present Earl Amherst and J. Or. Talbot, Esq.) were inserted in the books of the Bank of England, our bankers, Messrs. "Wigan, Mercer, and Co., caused all the Society's Stock to be transferred into Consols. Mr. Mercer adds that the total amount of the Society's Consols is £985 : 1 : 5. Thanks were voted to Mr. Lambert "Weston of Dover (a member of the Society) for gratuitously photographing on an enlarged scale, for the Society's Eoomsat Maidstone, a portrait of the Mar- quess Camden (the first President of the Society), kindly lent to Canon Scott Eobertson for this purpose, by his Lordship's daughter, Lady Frances Pratt. Six new members were elected. * Printed in this volume, vide pages 6—14. VOL. XTlll.

1888. On the 24th of March, the Council met in the Society's Eooms at Maidstone Museum. Eight members were present, and Captain Tylden-Pattenson was voted into the Ohair. Upon the application of several members it was resolved to recommend that a General Index to Archceologia Oantiana should be prepared. It was agreed to accept the Q-overnment Scheme for Converting 3 Per Cent. Consols into 2f Stock. Eighteen new members were elected.

The Council met in London, on the 21st of June 1888, at the house of the Noble President, Earl Sydney, in Cleveland Square, St. James's. Fourteen members were present, and the Earl Sydney presided. The Programme of the Annual Meeting, to be held at Hythe, was discussed and settled. It was resolved to recommend to the Annual Meeting that, as Consols now produce only £2 : 15 : 0 per cent, per annum, and will soon yield only £2 : 10 : 0 per cent., the composition for Life membership shall be increased (from £5) to £6. Eleven candidates were elected members of the Society.

The Annual Meeting commenced at Hythe on Wednesday, August 1st, 1888. In.Hythe Town Hall, the Lord Bishop of Dover presided at the business meeting. The Eeport was read by Canon Scott Eobertson as follows:—

REPORT. • I?* presenting the 31st Annual Eeport of the Kent Archaeological Sooiety the Council cannot enter upon its details until expression has heen given to theii profound sense of the loss, sustained by the Sooiety, in the death of Mr. Eoberi Furley, of Ashford. . •xr ^i s History of the Weald of Kent remains to us a mine of information foi Kentish Antiquaries of future generations, and a monument of Mr. Furley'i painstaking research. Nevertheless the members of this Sooiety will sadly mis his .genial presence and his hearty voice, whioh had become so familiar to them a their Annual Meetings. With satisfaction we may now recall the faot, that a Mr. hurleys last appearance amongst us, he occupied the place of highes honour; he presided over every portion of our Meeting at Tunbridge last year All will unite m regret for his loss. Since our last Meeting, excavations have heen made outside the walls of th •Boman Castrum at Riehborough, at the Sooiety's expense. Mr. George Dowke ably directed the work, and Mr. Murrell kindly acted as overseer of the worls men. Many matters of interest were found, hut no important discovery wa REPORT, 1888. xliii

On the 28th of December 1887, the earliest copies of the 17th Volume of Archceologia Cantiana were presented to the Council at their Meeting. The circulation of copies among all the members immediately followed. Containing 474 pages of printed matter, and 55 Illustrations, this volume has been con- sidered to he not unworthy of its predecessors. 985 copies of it were printed and bound, at a cost of £527, and nearly the whole of that cost was defrayed during the year 1887. Three sheets of matter for the 18th Volume are already in type, but it is not proposed to issue that Volume until next summer. The Society began the year 1887 with £697 :16 :1 at its Bankers. The income of that year was £380 : 7 : 6. During 1887 we expended £509 upon our 17th Volume; we invested £80 in Consols; we spent £26 upon exoavations at Riehborough: our Maidstone Rooms and their Curator cost us £50 per annum; and all the other working expenses of the year amounted to £44. So that on the 31st of December 1887 the Society had £369 at its Bankers. At that time the Society's invested Capital derived from Life Compositions was £985; hut since the 1st of January 1888 an additional sum of -£25 has been invested, so that at the time of this Annual Meeting the Sooiety possesses £1010 invested in Consols. Under the old system of the 3 per cents, the income from this sum would be £30 : 6 : 0 per annum; but the entire reduction sanctioned by Parliament will oause our Capital to produce only £25 : 5 : 0. The Council has determined, therefore, to ask this meeting to sanction the increase of the amount of Composition for Life Membership to £6. That sum invested in Consols will eventually, at 2J per cent., yield to the Society 3s. per annum; whioh is the exact sum hitherto derived by the Sooiety from £5 invested at 3 per cent. The Council desires also to obtain the opinion of this Annual Meeting with respect to a General Index to the Volumes of Archceologia Cantiana. Probably none will deny that such an Index is necessary. The difficulty arises when we consider how many copies of it shall be printed. The number of pages to be indexed will he about 7000. Experts tell us that our Index ought therefore to occupy between 400 and 600 pages of matter printed in double columns. The similar Index of the Sussex Society occupies 423 pages. If only 50 or 100 copies were printed the cost of each would be as muoh as 3 or 4 years' subscription to the Society. On the other hand, if the Index were printed for every Member, like au ordinary Volume of the Society's Transactions, each member would obtain- a copy of it without any extra subscription. Our Printers estimate the total cost of compiling, printing, aud binding such an edition of the Index at about £380. For their 31st Annual Meeting the members of our Society have assembled in the anoient Cmque Port of Hythe, where they were cordially received 26 years ago, on the 10th of July 1862. The members of the Council rejoice to say that after the lapse of so many years, the Society has again the advantage of being weloomed and assisted by the same efficient colleague, Mr. Maokeson, whose exertions made the former Meeting at Hythe so successful They .know that he has done much for the preservation of the various Records that elucidate the History of this anoient town, and they congratulate him _ upon finding in the worthy Town Clerk, Mr. Wilks, a colleague who is continuing Mr. Mackeson's work of elucidating the local History and of pro- moting our Society's welfare. We thank them both for their effective efforts to make this Meeting a success.

On the motion of the Very Eeverend the Dean of Canterbury seconded by the Eev. Canon the Honorable "W, H. Fremantle, it was resolved: " That the Report-as read le adopted" xllV PROCEEDINGS, 1888.

It was moved by H. B. Mackeson, Esq., J.P., seconded by Frederick "W. Porter, Esq., J.P., and carried:— " That George Willes, Fsg., Town Olerh of Hythe, be elected a member of the Oouncil, and that the retiring members of Oouncil and the Auditors be re-elected." It was moved by Gr. E. Hannam, Esq., J.P., seconded by the Venerable B. F. Smith, Archdeacon of Maidstone, and carried:— " That the amount of Composition for Life Membership shall henceforth be £6; and that in Rule 9 this sum be substituted for £5." It was moved by the Lord Bishop of Dover, seconded by the Eev. Canon. Scott Eobertson, and carried:— "That a General Index to the Volumes of AucnaiOiiOGiA CAOTOXAETA shall be prepared; and that this shall be issued (during the year 1890, if possible) to all members of the Society, like an ordinary volume of Archceologia Canticma." Seventeen candidates were elected members of the Society. This concluded tbe business of the Meeting, and the Members then proceeded to the Church of St. Leonard, Hythe, where they were received by the Eev. T. Chippy Hall, the vicar, who described the works of restoration carried out by Mr. Gr. E. Street, and lately by Mr. Pearson. The Vicar also kindly led the way to the vaulted "Processional "Way" beneath the East end of the chancel, and commented upon the collection of bones stored therein. A paper written by Mr. A. Eandall Davis, descriptive of the architecture of Hythe Church, and printed by the kindness of Mr. Gr. "Wilks, was placed in the hands of all members before they visited the Church. Hired carriages, seating 132 persons, together with private carriages of members and their friends, then conveyed the assembly to LYMNE CHTJBCH of St. Stephen, where the Eev. H. B. Biron welcomed the Society, and the Eev. Canon Scott Eobertson described the Church.* The ARCHDEACON'S HOUSE, or " Lymne Oastle," now a farm- house, was next visited. Assembling on the hill top, south west of Lymne Castle, the company looked down upon the relics of the ruins of the Eoman CASTBTM, known as " STtrDiAH, CASTLE," of which a descriptive history was given by Mr. Charles Eoach Smith, F.S.A. f The recent heavy showers rendered it undesirable to descend the grassy slope to the Euhis of the Castrum; but the Secretary had, with the assistance of Mr. Gfeorge Dowker and Mr. Biron, caused coloured flags to be placed upon the sites of the Decuman and Postern Grates, which could therefore be discerned from above. At ALDINGTON CHTJBOH, dedicated to St. Martin, the members were received by the rector, the Eev. Gf. J. Blomfield, who described his restoration of the fabric, and drew attention to the Saxon remains at the south-west corner of the nave's south aisle, and in the north wall of the nave. * His Paper is printed in this volume. t This is printed on pages 41-45. PROCEEDINGS, 1888. xlv

ALDINGTON MANOR farmhouse was also visited, and its ancient dining-hall was traced and shewn by the Honorary Secretary, who led the members into the upper rooms now formed in its roof. The ANITOAD DINNER was served, in the Town HaU at Hythe, at 5 p.m. Seventy-seven sat down, and Canon Scott Eobertson presided. The other speakers, for the several toasts,' were Eev. T. G-. Hall, Eev. F. T. Scott, Lewis Levy, Esq. (Ex-Mayor of Eochester), 0. Boaeh. Smith, Esq., H. B. Mackeson, Esq., J. F. Wadmore, Esq., and George "Wilks, Esq. The EVENING- MEETING was held in the Sessions House at Hythe, H. B. Mackeson, Esq., J.P., presiding. Papers were read on Hythe: its Records and Ohurch (by George "Wilks, Esq., Town Clerk), and on The River Limen (by George Dowker, Esq.). The latter elicited opposing criticism from C. Eoach Smith, Esq., Major George Lambert, F.S.A., and Oanon Scott Eobertson. After the Meeting, several members availed themselves of Mr. F. "W. Porter's invitation to visit his house, Moyle Tower, into which he has built interesting carvings from old Clothworkers' Hall (by Grinling Gibbons probably), handsome doorcases and doors from the Duke of Northumberland's old House, at Charing Cross, recently demolished, and a billiard-room, 40 feet by 20 by 25, fitted with a carved wood ceiling, mantelpiece, and paintings from an old house at Amsterdam.

On THURSDAY, August 2nd, 1888, the members left Hythe Station at 10.30 A.M. (in hired carriages seating 146 persons, and in private carriages), and proceeded to CHEBITON CHUBOH, where the Eev. A. Hall-Hall (rector) welcomed them, and Oanon Scott Eobertson described the building.* At NEWINGTON OHUBCH, the Eev. L. Buckwell (vicar) welcomed the Society, and Canon Scott Eobertson acted as cicerone. At LYMINGE CHUROH, the rector, the Eev. Canon E. 0. Jenkins, from the western tower arch, read a paperf descriptive of the Eoman Basilica which was here used as a Saxon Chnreh, of which the foundations are preserved and are visible, under iron gratings in some places, in the churchyard. A large number of rubbings from Kentish Monumental "Brasses were displayed in the north aisle of the church. Canon Jenkins and his daughters most hospitably entertained more than 150 of the company at Luncheon in the Eectory. In the Library Canon Jenkins had arranged many objects, of interest to antiquaries, and there the Society's thanks were gratefully tendered to the Canon by Mr. 0. Eoach Smith. At SALTWOOD Castle the members were received by Mrs. Deedes (widow of the late William Deedes, Esq., M.P., who restored the Gatehouse as a residence), who was accompanied by Wilfred Cripps, Esq., C.B., J.P., and his brother-in-law Count Bismarck. * His Paper is printed in this volume. t Canon Jenkins's Paper will be found in this volume at pages 46-54. Xlvi PROCEEDINGS, 1888.

The History and Plan of the Castle were elucidated by Canon Scott Eobertson, who pointed out the two Norman towers, and drew attention, for the first time, to the site of the Archbishop's Banqueting Hall, running east and west, with its porch, and its hearth, both on the north side, and the staircases (at the west, or dais, end) which led down to the cellar and up to the Lord's With- drawing room, both of which run north and south (one above the other). The cellar has windows in its west and north walls. SALTWOOD CHUBOH, the last place visited, was described by Canon Scott Eobertson.*

The Council met on the 27th of September 1888 at Deal Castle, by invitation from the Earl Sydney. Twelve members were pre- sent, the Earl Sydney presiding. The Secretary reported that through the great kindness of the Corporation of Hythe and of Mr. George "Wilks, the actual local expenses of the Annual Meeting in Hythe had been almost nil. From the proceeds of 45 Visitors' tickets sold there was a surplus of £3 in hand which had been paid in to the Bankers to the Society's credit. Seldom, if ever, has the Society been so generously assisted by the local authorities and friends, at an Annual Meeting. Thanks were voted to Mr. George "Wilks and Mr. H. B. Mackeson for their valuable assistance at that Annual Meeting. To their kindly help the Society's being saved from expense was mainly due. Thanks were also voted to George Payne, Esq., and the Eev. W. Gardner Waterman, for superintending carriage arrangements; to Canon Jenkins for great hospitality at Lyminge Eectory, to Mrs. Deedes for admission to Saltwood Castle, and to Messrs. Davis, T. G. Hall; H. B. Biron; a. J. Blomfield; F. W. Porter; A. Hall-Hall; and L. Buckwell for help or welcome at the places visited. Dartford was suggested as the place of Meeting for 1889. Canon Scott Eobertson was elected a Trustee (t° he nominated by our Society) under the Charity Commissioners' new scheme for the management of the property of the dissolved Corporation of Ford wich. Canon Scott Eobertson, and Mr. A. A. Arnold of Eochester, were chosen as the Society's delegates to a Conference of Archseo- logical Societies to be held at Burlington House, under the auspices of the Society of Antiquaries. Deliberation was held respecting the compilation of the General Index. The question of reprinting Volume I. of Archaologia Oantiana was discussed, and the Council declined to undertake that work. "With thanks to Lord and Lady Sydney for their kindly hospi- tality the meeting ended.

* His Paper will be found commencing on p. 421. PROCEEDINGS, 1888 AND 1889. xlvii

. The. Council met on the 29th December 1888,at the Society's Eooms in Maidstone Museum. Nine members of Council attended, and Gr. M. Arnold, EBq., was voted into tbe Ohair. Mr. George Payne attended on behalf of the Honorary Secretary with the Minute-book and necessary papers, and explained that Canon Scott Eobertson was suffering from the effects of a slight stroke of paralysis, which came upon him ten days beforehand that he would be confined to his bed for many weeks to come. The Council received this intelligence with much sorrow, and requested Mr. Payne to act temporarily as Secretary, and to convey to Canon Scott Eobertson the assurance of the deep sympathy of every member. A vote of condolence with Lady Caroline Stirling, on the death of her husband Sir Walter Stirling, one of the Society's oldest and most active Vice-Presidents, was passed. Thanks were voted to Mr. Samuel Mercer for his good offices in procuring the repair and painting of the rooms hired by the Society from the Maidstone Museum Committee. Consideration of the compilation of the General Index was postponed on account of the illness of the Honorary Secretary. Three gentlemen were elected members of the Society. Mention was made of the Cruciform mass of masonry within the Eoman Castrum at Eichborough, and it was suggested that the Public might be invited to. assist in once for all exploring it.

The Council met in London on the 21st of June 1889 at the house of the noble President. Fourteen members attended, and the Earl Sydney presided. The Programme of the Annual Meeting, to be held at Dartford, was discussed, and finally settled.' It was resolved that this Society shall be enrolled among the Societies in Union, under the Scheme for the closer "Union of all British Archasological Societies, settled at a Conference of Delegates held at Burlington House. The Council addressed to the Dean and Chapter of Eochester a protest against Mr. Pearson's proposal to demolish the ancient western screen of the choir, and to replace:it by a new screen of open ironwork. [The Dean and Chapter rejected Mr. Pearsons scheme in this particular.'] It was resolved that Mr. William Brigg (B.A. of Magdalen College, Cambridge) should be employed to compile the General Index to Archceologia Oantiana. Canon Scott Eobertson stated to the Council that as his health is now precarious, and his physical powers are still feeble, he would desire to be relieved from the duties of Honorary Secretary, al- though he will endeavour to continue his work as Honorary Editor. The Council, upon his suggestion, resolved to recommend to the General Meeting that Mr. George Payne, F.S.A., F.L.S., a member xlviii REPORT, 1889.

of the Council of the Society of Antiquaries, shall be requested to become Honorary Secretary of the Society, and that Canon Scott Eobertson should be permanently retained upon the Council by being elected a Vice-President of the Society. Fourteen gentlemen were elected members of the Society. With a vote of thanks to the noble President for his kindness in receiving the Oouncil and for his hospitality the meeting ended.

The ANNUAL MEETING was commenced, at Dartford, on "Wednes- day, July 31,1889. At the BUSINESS MEETING, held at 10 A.M. in the Hall of the Dartford Conservative Club, Colonel Edwin Hughes, M.P. for Woolwich, presided. Canon SCOTT EOBERTSON read the Annual Eeport as follows :— • BEPOBT. The 32nd Annual Beport of the Kent Archseological Sooiety is presented in the ancient town of Hartford, whioh was visited by the Sooiety 20 years ago. As the Sooiety grows in years it is inevitable that the older members and familiar helpers pass away. As last year we missed the genial presenoe of Mr. Robert Furley, the Historian of the weald of Kent, so this year we mourn the loss of one of our oldest Vice-Presidents, Sir "Walter Stirling. As he was always ready with some quaint speech, or genial witticism, his absence will be generally felt, and regretted. The Sooiety's position is flourishing as ever; and at the present moment there is a large balance to its oredit in its Bankers' books, slightly exceeding £700. This sum would enable the 18th Volume of Archceologia Oantiana to be issued in the autumn of the present year, and would justify the determination to bring out a General Index to all the Volumes issued, to whioh the Sooiety agreed at our last annual meeting. The 18th Volume will (it is hoped) Joe issued this autumn, and a competent compiler, a graduate of Cambridge University, had been found for the Index. The set of Volumes was in his hands, and he was commencing the work, when ' his health broke down; and within the last few days notice has been received that he must return to the Society the set of books. Thus, although the money is duly prepared, the worker has again to be sought for. • This unfortunate delay is much to he regretted, hut immediate steps will be taken for obtaining another competent compiler. During the year 1888 the Society's income amounted to £567 :12 :11 j its expenditure during 1888 was only £224:15 : 0 in addition to £40 invested in Consols. Of this £224 :15 : 0, the sum of £50 is the fixed annual payment for our Booms at Maidstone Museum, and for our Curator there; £40 :14 : 0 defrayed the remaining cost of Volume XVII.; £100 went to the printers on account of the cost of Volume XVIII., whioh is now in preparation. During the past 12 months 34 members have joined the Sooiety, and several await election at your hands to-day. A movement for the closer union of all Archaeological Societies has heen adopted and fostered by the Sooiety of Antiquaries of London, and your Council has given in the adhesion of this Sooiety. A Congress was held at Burlington House, to which your Society sent delegates. It is hoped that good results may flow f r o m this movement. One thing greatly spoken of at the Congress, and held up by the Society of Antiquaries as a model to be imitated in every county, was a map of Kent marked with signs of discoveries of British, Roman, and Saxon remains, and this map was made by our active colleague Mr. George Payne, F.S.A. PROCEEDINGS, 1889. xlix

During the year interesting discoveries have been made in the Cathedrals at Canterbury and at Boohester, descriptions of whioh may be looked for in the 18th Volume of our Archceologia. The Council rejoice to know that through the active exertions of the Arch- deacon of Boohester, who invoked and received our Council's aid and support, plans for the destruction of the Pulpitum, or "Western Screen, of the ohoir of Boohester Cathedral have been frustrated, and the Screen has been preserved. The Council being requested to relieve the Honorary Secretary of the Secretarial duties which he has discharged for the past 17 years, rejoice to be able to recommend to the Society one so able, sp aotive, and so well known as Mr. George Payne.

G. E. HANNAM, Esq., J.P., moved, and the Eev. J. A. BOODLE (Vicar of Boughton Blean) seconded the first resolution, which was carried unanimously, " That the Report as read le adopted." It was moved by Oanon SCOTT EOBERTSON, seconded by F. F. , GIRAUD, Esq., Town Clerk of Faversham, and carried unani- mously:—"That George Rayne, J3sa., E.S.A., E.L.S., le appointed Honorary Secretary (the duties of Honorary Editor being separated from that office)." It was moved by GEORGE PAXNE, Esq., F.S.A.; seconded by FLAXMAN 0. J. SPURRELL, Esq., and carried unanimously:—" That the Archdeacon of Maidstone (Ven. JB. F. Smit7i), the Arclideacon of /Rochester (Ven. H. Cheetham), and the Rev. Canon TV. A. Scott Robertson, be elected Vice-Presidents of the Society." It was moved by the Eev. 0. H. BANNING (Vicar of Strood), seconded by JOHN WOOD, Esq., of Hampton House, Chatham, and carried unanimously, " That Herbert Hordern, Fsq., and Captain Chas. F. Hooper, J.P,, be elected Auditors. That Cecil JBrent, Fsq-,, be elected Honorary Secretary for Bromley district. That R. W. Cradoc7c, Fsg_., be elected Honorary Secretary for Dartford and Belvedere district. Thai the thanks of the Society le given to J. TV. Ilott, Fsg;., and to F. 0. J. Spurrell, Fsa., for their long-continued services as Local Secretaries for Bromley and Dartford respectively." G. E. HANNAM, Esq., J.P., moved, and the Eev. 0. H. BANNIHG seconded an additional Eesolution, " That the Society's hearty thanks be conveyed to Canon Scott Robertson for his able services during the past 17 years, and that the Ooimcille aslced to consider what special form of acknowledgment should be offered to him." Nine persons were elected members of the Society. With thanks to Colonel Edwin Hughes, M.P., for presiding, this Business Meeting terminated. At DARTEORD OHURCH the Members were welcomed by the Vicar, Eev. Alan H. "Watts, and the building was described by Canon Scott Eobertson. CRAYEORD CHURCH was described by Major Alfred Heales, F.S.A. At MAY PLACE in Crayford Mr. and Mrs. Edward Horner hospitably entertained the members at Luncheon. The house was described by Flaxman 0. J. Spurrell, Esq., who also described ERITH CHURCH, which was the last place visited this day. The ANNUAL DINNER was held at the Bull Hotel, Dartford, VOL. XTIII. / 1 PROCEEDINGS, 1889. at 5.15. The ARCHDEACON OE MAIDSTONE presided, and in ad- dition to him, the speakers to various toasts were Colonel E. Hughes, M.P., Eev. A. H. "Watts, Canon Scott Eobertson, Lewis Levy, Esq., W. Cracroft Fooks, Esq., Q.C.; G. E. Hannam, Esq., J.P., and Flaxman C. J. Spurrell, Esq. The EYENING- MEETING was held in the Hall of Dartford Con- servative Club, at 7.30 P.M., G. E. Hannam, Esq., J.P. presiding. Papers were read upon Roman and Saxon Remains, and Dene- holes, discovered in Dartford District, by Flaxman C. J. Spurrell, Esq., who illustrated his lectures with a multitude of coloured drawings and plans. On Thursday, August 1st, 1889, the members started at 10 A.M. from Dartford railway station, and at BEXLEY OHURCH were received by the curate, the Eev. 0. G. M. Shaw (Professor Fuller, the Vicar, being in Switzerland for his holiday), and the edifice and its memorial monuments and hatchments were described by Canon Scott Eobertson. At HALL PEACE, in Bexley, which was kindly opened to the Society by William Eadf o r d , Esq., the tenant, Canon Scott Eobertson drew attention to the chief points of interest. Luncheon was served as 12.45 in Bexley National Schools, hy kind permission of the School Managers. At Foot's Cray Church, the rector, the Eev. C. Birch, welcomed the members and described the edifice. At ST. PAUL[INUS]'S CRAY CHURCH the members were wel- comed by the Eev. G. L. Langdon, and the building was described by Major Alfred Heales, F.S.A., who subsequently led the assembly to his residence, " Leesons," where he and Mrs. Heales hospitably entertained the members with tea, fruit, etc. The Tyrolese Singers had been engaged to enliven the proceedings, and Major Heales also exhibited in. his Library a large number of ecclesiastical orna- ments and vessels (chiefly Continental) of antiquity. Thanks were cordially given to Major and Mrs. Heales for their kindly hos- pitality. ST. MARY CRAY CHURCH was the last place visited. It was briefly described by Canon Scott Eobertson.

The Council met, at Deal Castle, on September 28th, 1889, the Earl Sydney presiding. Eight members of Council were present. It was unanimously resolved to ask Mr. George Payne to act as Chief Curator of the Society's collection at Maidstone Museum, and to assign to him £50 per annum for so doing. Mr. Payne agreed to attend at the Society's rooms every Thursday from 12 o'clock until 5. It was also resolved that a monthly meeting of members should be held at the Society's rooms (in Maidstone Museum) on the last Thursday in each month, at 4s p.m. The Eev. T. S. Frampton was elected to a seat on the Council, vacated by Mr. Payne's accession to office, as Hon. Secretary. PROCEEDINGS, 1889. 11

The Council met at Maidstone on Thursday, the 26th of December. Seven members attended, and Canon Scott Eobertson presided. " Ifc was resolved that the next Annual Meeting should be held at Canterbury. Thanks were given to Mr. Payne for the successful labour bestowed by him upon the Society's collection at Maidstone, which he has displayed to great advantage. Mr. Payne reported that he had deposited in Dartford Church the stone coffin at Dartford, ascribed to the Eoman period by the late Mr. Dunkin and by Mr. F. C. J. Spurrell.