Annual Report
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http://kentarchaeology.org.uk/research/archaeologia-cantiana/ Kent Archaeological Society is a registered charity number 223382 © 2017 Kent Archaeological Society •ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1966 ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31sT DECEMBER, 1966 Council presents its One Hundred and Eighth Report, and the State- ment of Accounts for 1965. OBITUARY It is with the greatest regret that Council records the death of Mrs. Nancy Piercy Fox, which occurred on 30th March, 1966. She had been a valued member of the Society since 1936, and a member of Council since 1953. She occupied a foremost place in the field of excavation and, from 1955 to her death, conducted on behalf of the Society a full investigation into the problem of the Iron Age in Kent, a most valuable addition to knowledge by which she will be especially remembered. A Fund has been established by the Society to her memory, by the gift of £2,000 from the Keston Field Club and Dr. E. V. Piercy Fox, for the publication of archmo- logical research, an object in which she took a very close personal interest. A full obituary appears in this volume. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Annual General Meeting was held in the Museum, Maidstone, on 14th May, 1966, the President in the Chair. Council's Annual Report and Statement of Accounts for 1965 were received and adopted. After the luncheon interval, an audience of eighty members and their friends heard a most interesting lecture by Mr. C. R. Councer, F.S.A., embodying the results of his recent researches on the Dissolution of the Monasteries in Kent. The lecture was enthusiastically received, and the President expressed the warm thanks of the Meeting to the lecturer. VICE -PRESIDENT At the Annual General Meeting Mr. F. C. Elliston-Erwood, F.S.A., was elected a Vice-President of the Society, in recognition of his long and distinguished service to the Society in the promotion of Archeology in the County. MEMBERSHIP During the period from 1st January, 1966, to 31st December, 1966, eighty-two new members were elected, and allowing for resignations and deaths, the total membership stands at 1,149. This is a satisfactory result over the year, showing a continued increase. An acceleration in member- ship, however, is needed, and Council renews its appeal for new members. The Society's -Information Leaflet is available to all on application to Local Secretaries, Maidstone Museum, or the General Secretary. Corwin, At the Annual General Meeting the following were re-elected to Council: Professor F. R. H. Du Boulay, Wing-Commander W. V. Durn- breck, Major H. M. Rand, Mr. S. E. Rigold, and Dr. W. G. Urry, together REPORT, 1966 with Mr. A. P. Detsicas, nominated by Council to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mrs. Piercy Fox. The following have also been nominated to Council during the year: Brigadier E. V. Bowra, Mr. F. Higenbottam, and Dr. E. V. Piercy Fox, the latter to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Professor F. R. H. Du Boulay. Mr. C. R. Councer has been elected Chairman of Council, and Council membership is now complete. FINANCE The Accounts for 1965 are published with this Report. A marked increase in membership is essential if the Society is to maintain the high standard of its publications and widen its activities. Council therefore appeals for: (1) New members. (2) Donations to the Archceologia Cantiana Fund, and to the Records Publications Fund. (3) Members to enter into seven-year Covenants, to enable the Society to recover Income Tax on their subscriptions at no extra cost to members. Forms of Undertaking may be obtained on application to the General Secretary. Note. Members who do not pay their subscriptions by Banker's Order are requested to send them DIRECT to the General Secretary. EXCURSIONS Three Excursions were arranged and all were well supported by members and their friends. The individual places visited are listed below, and the gentlemen who kindly acted as guides are indicated. The Society is most grateful for their services. Saturday, East Sutton and Headcorn 21st May Maidstone Museum—Mr. L. R. A. Grove, F.S.A., and Mr. D. B. Kelly. East Sutton Church—Mr. H. A. James. East Sutton Place Headcorn Manor Mr. S. E. Rigold, Shakespeare House, Headcorn F.S.A. Church Cottage, Headcorn The Society is grateful to Miss A. R. Mitchell, Governor of H.M. Borstal, East Sutton Place; to Mr. and Mrs. R. Kinsey of Headcorn Manor; to Mr. and Mrs. 0. Evans of Shakespeare House, Headcorn; and to Mrs. M. Haines of Church Cottage; for their kindness and co-operation. Saturday, The Medway River and Sheppey 9th July Shurland Castle Mr. K. R. MacDonald. Minster Abbey Church Eastchurch Church—Rev. L. Wilkinson. Queenborough Town Hall—The Town Sergeant. Notes were provided for the River trip. The Society is grateful to the Sheerness Harbour Co.; to Messrs. A. and J. Sillars of Shurland Castle; and to the Mayor and Corporation of Queenborough, for their help and co-operation. xliii REPORT, 1966 Saturday, The Battle of Hastings 3rd September Pevensey Castle—Mr. C. T. Chevallier and Lt.-Col. G. W. Meates, F.S.A. Battle Abbey and Battlefield—Mr. C. T. Chevallier. Bodiam Castle—Lt.-Col. G. W. Meates, F.S.A. The Society is grateful to Miss Jacoby of Battle Abbey School; to members of the Battle Historical Society; and to the Custodian of Bodiam Castle; for generous help. Anc oIornA CANTIANA Volume lxxx was published early in 1966. It is the largest volume for many years, and includes a coloured frontispiece, all in spite of the increase of printing costs. It is very well balanced in the various papers which it contains, and members will appreciate that in Archceologia Cantiana they receive an outstanding publication. LIBRARY AND COLLECTIONS Six books, fifty-five pamphlets, and manuscript material from the late W. P. D. Stebbing and the late V. J. Torr have been given to the Library. Transcripts of the Ightham Parish Records, 1669-1915, made by the late Sir Edward Harrison, have been deposited on loan by Ightham Parochial Church Council. The Society has taken out subscriptions for the Journal of Boman Studies, the Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, and the Journal of Industrial Archceology. An exchange of publications has been arranged with the Hampshire Field Club, and the exchange with the Oxford Archi- tectural and Historical Society for Oxoniensia has been renewed. When using the Library, members are requested to show their Member- ship Cards to the Museum attendant, and members who may not hold cards are invited to apply for them to the General Secretary. RECORDS PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE It is deeply regretted that volume 19, Calendar of the White and Mack Books of the Cinque Ports, has been so long delayed. These delays have been entirely outside the control of the Society, although part of the trouble undoubtedly is connected with the size of the volume. The publication of Archbishop Warham's Visitations, edited by Dr. Wood-Legh, will be com- pleted as soon as possible after the receipt of volume 19, but cannot be expected before 1968. PLACE NAMES COMMITTEE The work of the Place Names Committee has been very seriously affected by the unfortunate loss of its Secretary, Mrs. Piercy Fox. Arrange- ments are in hand for a meeting with a representative of the English Place Names Society, but there seems no immediate likelihood of a volume on Kent, though such a volume would undoubtedly arouse considerable interest. xliv REPORT, 1966 C.P.R.K./K.A.S. PRESERVATION OF ANCIENT BUILDINGS COMMITTEE, 1965/66 (1) The fate of the thirteenth-century Commandery of the Hospitallers of St. John at Swinfield hangs in the balance, as Kent County Council had decided not to approve the money required for its compulsory acquisition and restoration. As the Ministry of Public Building and Works had agreed to provide a substantial sum towards the cost of acquisition and restora- tion, with a view to taking it subsequently into guardianship, since they considered the building to be worthy of preservation, a site meeting has been arranged between an official of the Ministry and all County Members, and the fate of the building depends upon the outcome of the meeting. (2) The Joint Committee made strong representations to save from demolition Ivy House, New Romney, an attractive early Georgian house in a somewhat unique situation facing up the High Street, from which so many ancient buildings have already been demolished, thereby completely changing the character of this pleasant small town. When a letter from the Hon. Secretary was read at a meeting of the Borough Council the Joint Committee was referred to as 'self-appointed busy bodies', and this was widely reported in the press. Far from being annoyed by this appellation, the Joint Committee took it as a compliment, as clearly it is only by the action of such busy bodies, be they self-appointed or not, that much of this country's ancient heritage is being preserved. Unfortunately and, in the Joint Committee's view, quite unnecessarily, Kent County Council decided not to oppose the demolition, so as to make it easier for the Ministry of Transport to widen the road at this point. (3) The tiny medieval St. Edmund's Chapel, Dover, which for several centuries has been in private ownership and not used for religious purposes, and had fallen into disrepair, has been acquired by the Roman Catholic Church and is to be restored. Mr. Anthony Swaine, the well-known Canter- bury architect, an expert in such work, who is a member of the Joint Committee, is in charge of the restoration, in the course of which many very interesting features have already come to light, which would lead one to believe that the chapel is a reconstruction of an even earlier building.