ARCHAEOLOGICAL ISSUE NUMBER 91 SOCIETY WINTER 2011

Your Quarterly Newsletter

The Davington

MysteriesPage 2-3

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

2-3 Davington 4-5 Stockbury IA Furnaces 6-7 What’s On 8-9 You & Your Society + Committee Round Up 10-11 Notes from the Archive + New Book 12 New Community Arch 13 Letters to the Editor + Hasted Prize 14 Warren 15 Tower 15 Thames Defence Research Group

www.kentarchaeology.org.uk the Cricket Pitch suggested important features and although one of our twelve-hour trenches was disappointing (the curved concentric ditch and bank turned out to be a hedge clearance trench filled with building rubble), the other revealed a flint floored track way running across the pitch, bordered by a small V shaped ditch to the west. We returned to this feature in 2011 and will be reporting on our findings in spring 2012. At present we are seeing this as a late Iron Age/Romano-British track. The search for the ‘real’ Davington Manor was also successful. When Stephens Close was built in the early 1960s, rescue Aerial photograph of the Davington Plateau in 1962 archaeology was almost unknown, all seemingly swept away except for a 17th century brick and re-used The Davington Mysteries: a medieval stone wall with two community archaeology project gateways in Mannerist style. One of these gates has a plaque with the Dr Pat Reid, Community Archaeologist for the date 1624. Locally, this wall has Society, Director FSARG been seen as a kitchen garden wall, The Davington plateau lies just found on the side of Dark Hill, the a belief I have always found westwards of old Faversham, beyond cutting which goes through the implausible, and made even more the Westbrook. For many years plateau east to west. This was joined unlikely by the presence of an rumours have circulated about Late by many more sherds, some from unrecorded substantial medieval Iron Age pottery up on the plateau, ‘foraging’ and keyhole excavations stone wall and 13th century gateway and speculation about a hill fort. in the gardens of Stephens Close tucked away in Stephens Close, There had also been speculation and others from one-day trenches inside the area enclosed by the 17th about a medieval roadway and century wall. The metal detecting team possibly a small village in front of readying themselves for work Using the medieval wall as a Davington Priory (founded starting point, a number of small cAD1154). Confusion also scale excavations were carried out reigned over the exact location of and yielded demolition dumps, Davington Manor, demolished underground structures, clearance around AD1650 according to dumps, flint wall foundations and Hasted. For 2010, the Faversham courtyard/pebbled floor surfaces. Society Archaeological Research Not only had we found the site Group (FSARG) designed a one of the actual manor as featured in year research project to test these documents, but the demolition ideas. This brief report outlines the in Davington cricket field. Analysis material (decorative pantiles, glazed main findings: details are showed that some sherds were bricks, 17th century glazed floor on our website www.community- middle and even early Iron Age; tiles), suggested that the stone archaeology.org.uk. others were early Romano British medieval house had been Firstly, the Iron Age. On our (with a few tiny sherds of considerably refurbished in the late first day of field work in April 2010, Samian ware). Tudor-early Jacobean periods. In flint tempered ‘Belgic’ pottery was A major geo-resistivity survey of all, we identified at least 4

2 Autumn 2011 - KAS Newsletter - www.kentarchaeology.org.uk demolition/conversion phases for Foundations and a cobbled floor - this unfortunate mansion. The part of the original Davington Manor main one in the 1650s was only a generation or so after the refurbishment - perhaps provoked by the rapid growth of the gunpowder manufacturing right on their doorstep in the Westbrook valley? Finally for our project, we were given three days access to Davington Priory, now the private residence of Bob Geldof. Exhaustive geo resistivity and metal detecting surveys were carried out. The metal detecting team produced a lively collection of artefacts from the Davington Fetes held on the Paddock over the years but were disappointed to find no medieval. Aerial Photo library - please contact Heritage of KCC Conservation to view the collection. Apart from a possible circular dove We are, of course, always I need to congratulate are the cote near the house, the geo extremely grateful to Faversham FSARG team. The sheer hard work resistivity also failed to produce any folk for their support and interest and professionalism (and the sense clear cut evidence for medieval road - without this there would be little of fun) are hard to beat: I am a very or settlement. point in what we do. But after this lucky Director! What the resistivity survey did particular year, I think that the folk show, however, was a strongly marked collection of features in the north part of the Paddock - concentric circles and radiating ditches which are almost certainly prehistoric. Abundant evidence for prehistoric occupation on the Davington plateau was found in nearly all of the sites investigated. The finds were mostly Mesolithic and included a tranchet adze and many blades, but there were also finds from most other post-glacial periods. The prehistoric finds will contribute to an Arch. Cant. paper on the prehistory of the Westbrook valley. In October 2010 we held a one day conference which brought a happy end to a rewarding year. In April 2011, an exhibition at the Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre included highly successful hands-on Saturday sessions for families. All excavation reports are now on A selection of flint tools from the 2010 Davington excavations our website.

www.kentarchaeology.org.uk - Autumn 2011 - KAS Newsletter 3 Partly excavated iron smelting furnaces situated around a central ore-roasting pit (beneath 1m scale) Late Iron Age iron smelting works found near Stockbury by Tim Allen

much larger, and preserve the unexcavated better preserved remains in situ. and multiphase, Along with flint- and grog- consisted of tempered Late Iron Age pottery the five intercutting site produced nearly half a tonne of pits that iron slag and smaller amounts of together created ‘bloom’ (the spongy conglomeration a substantial of iron particles produced from the sunken-floored ore at about 1200°C within the structure furnace during firing). The bloom containing at would later be re-heated until red A half-sectioned ‘tapping’-type smelting furnace showing the adjacent least ten in-situ hot and hammered into the required hollow into which the molten slag iron was conducted (4 x 0.25m scale) and intact shape by a blacksmith. The relative furnaces of a inefficiency of the method meant previously that the large amount of iron uring archaeological unknown type and two iron-ore still present within the slag went monitoring of a now roasting pits. Potsherds found to waste. completed new water main within the remains dated the works The furnaces were clay-walled Dinstallation by South East Water to the Mid-to-Late Iron Age (c.150 structures of approximately 0.32m near Stockbury, northeast of to c. 50 BC). in height and 0.2m diameter at the , archaeologists from Following discussions with South top, narrowing down to half or less Kent Archaeological Projects East Water, the County Heritage of that at the base, and looking like discovered the remains of two Conservation Group and English upside-down chimney pots. The ancient iron smelting works on the Heritage, it was decided that the walls were up to 40mm thick and Clay-with-Flint surface of the chalk remains were of national importance were scorched deep red on their uplands. One of the works consisted and that sufficient excavation and inside surface. Each furnace had a of two separate pits, each containing sampling had taken place to hole knocked out at the base, this two clay-built, funnel-like iron characterise them in detail. It was being where the bloom was removed smelting furnaces. The other, therefore decided to cease excavation after the firing (until their final

4 Winter 2011 - KAS Newsletter - www.kentarchaeology.org.uk Stockbury furnace Figure (Final)

abandonment the access holes were in use into the post-medieval period. found when Sarah Paynter, the re-sealed with clay prior to the next In the ‘slag-pit’ type the molten slag English Heritage expert on this firing). The shallow roasting pits accumulated in the furnace base; in subject, discovered partly fired were used to heat the ore before it the ‘tapping’ type the molten slag pieces of ore amongst the piles of was packed into the furnace, along was conducted into a basin-like waste slag iron. The ore consisted with much charcoal, which was then hollow cut adjacent to the furnace of flint nodules surrounded by ignited. It is thought that air had to base. In one example on the site the metallic iron-rich accretions. Such be blown with great force into the solidified slag, still with a liquid nodules occur commonly within furnace to reach the required appearance, lay within the hollow the Clay-with-Flint surface geology temperature, but no air holes were as if frozen in time for over two of the area and enough evidence was observed in the Stockbury examples, thousand years (for further therefore available to identify the probably because they had been information on prehistoric iron Stockbury Industry as a separate situated at the front base of each smelting search online ‘Wealden and independent industry, and to furnace, which had been broken out Iron Research Group’ and ‘English provide the reason for its location to remove the bloom. In fact, Heritage, Pre-industrial Ironworks’). (smaller amounts of iron slag and removal from anywhere else would The question of what kind of ore Iron Age pottery previously exposed have been impossible because the was used was quickly identified as nearby in a ‘bloom pit’ at South top-heavy furnaces were not free of critical interpretive importance. Street Road could now be standing, as are other known Were these works part of a satellite understood in this context). examples, but were set into and industry associated with the well- As an environmentally responsible supported by densely packed clay, documented Wealden Industry or organisation South East Water was with only the front part accessible were they part of a separate industry quick to recognise the archaeological from within the pit. using a different source of ore? In importance of this site and, Two kinds of furnace were the former case, a supply system and following consultation with English identified in the works, the ‘slag-pit’ route serving the Stockbury area Heritage and Kent County Council, type and the ‘tapping’ type, the with Wealden clay ironstone could agreed to fund technical analysis of former being the earliest known be postulated; in the latter case the recovered materials prior to British type, the latter being a Late another source for iron-rich ore had the production of a report for Iron Age innovation that remained to be identified. The answer was wider publication.

www.kentarchaeology.org.uk - Winter 2011 - KAS Newsletter 5

WHAT’S ON

KAS EVENTS KAS Historic Buildings Committee KAS CHURCHES COMMITTEE VISIT Visit to Knole on Tuesday May 1st 2012 School Chapel & Tonbridge at 10.30am. Parish Church The proposed visit will take in the Retainer’s Gallery, the Saturday 28 April Gatehouse Tower, Pigeon Lofts and East Attics. These areas are not normally open to the public. There will be Please meet at 1.45 for 2pm start at Tonbridge School a charge of £15 payable to the National Trust. There is a Chapel (postcode TN10 3AD). Parking available on limit on numbers so if you are interested please either Tonbridge School Quad Avenue entrance off email Mike Clinch at [email protected] or Road not High Street entrance. Parking also on local telephone 01322 524425. This visit will not be suitable roads near Tonbridge School and town car parks. for anyone with mobility problems. After the School visit, we will walk about 300 metres to the Parish Church. Cars may be left on the School Quad. KAS LECTURES IN THE LIBRARY There is a small disabled parking car park at the church Classes are on Mondays at a cost of £35 for (postcode TN9 1HD). 6 weeks starting after Easter The cost of the visits is £5, to include tea and biscuits at 10.15-12.15 Tonbridge Parish Church. Please register by emailing or This class will look at the lives and careers of British men telephoning the Churches Visits Secretary, Jackie and women who achieved personal success, or made a Davidson - [email protected] or 01634 contribution to national life, in the early twentieth 324004. century. Dates of all visits in 2012 can be found in the diary at 14.00-16.00 www.kentarchaeology.org.uk This class will study the history of the American colonies from the earliest voyages of exploration to the American KAS CHURCHES COMMITTEE STUDY DAY Revolution. Topics will include the role of the European nations in American colonisation; the origins of the The Oxford Movement & its Legacy Thirteen Colonies; their different characteristics; their Saturday 14th April 2012, 10.00–16.00 relations with the Native American Peoples; their Holy Trinity church hall, Folkestone economic development; the wars of the eighteenth century; the road to independence and the Three morning lectures including ‘The Oxford Movement’ Revolutionary war. by Dean Michael Chandler & ‘Medieval symbolism and by Durandus’ Canon Christopher Irvin. Three afternoon workshops looking at the Oxford INVESTIGATING THE ROMAN ARCHAEOLOGY Movement & its legacy – studying documents from OF KENT JOINT STUDY DAY organised by Canterbury Cathedral Library, Holy Trinity church University of Kent with the Council for Kentish and its documents. Archaeology and the KAS £15.00 including lunch, tea and coffee. Saturday 14 April 2.00 – 5.30 pm For booking form go to: www.kentarchaeology.org.uk Rutherford College, University of Kent, Canterbury Or by post from (include SAE) Mrs J. Davidson, 7 Publications on aspects of the history and archaeology Chatsworth Rd, Gillingham ME7 1DS. of Kent will be on sale on the day. Tel: 01634 324004 (home); email: [email protected] Topics include:- »» Villa Excavations - Albert Daniels »» East Cliff Villa, Folkestone - Keith Parfitt »» Reculver and Dover Forts - Brian Philp »» Roman Thanet - Ges Moody Parking is available on the university campus. Buses to the University run from close to Canterbury

6 Winter 2011 - KAS Newsletter - www.kentarchaeology.org.uk WHAT’S ON

East station. Turn right into Station Road East, don’t vernacular architecture, the contribution that Kent’s cross the bridge. Follow this road till you get to Pin Hill/ natural and traditional materials have made in creating Rheims Way. Turn right for the bus stop. Stage Coach 4 the texture of the local landscape - Richard Filmer . runs to the University. The yellow Unibus leaves from the bus station nearby. Saturday 21 April AGM and President’s Lecture Tickets are FREE for KAS members, Friends of the CKA All meetings are held at The Baker Trust Hall, Maxim and KAR subscribers. Road, Crayford at 7pm for 7.30pm. Non-members are welcome to attend lectures at a fee of £3 per lecture Tickets will be available on a ‘first come, first served’ (except for December when there will be an additional basis, as space is limited. charge). Non-members tickets £5.00, cheques payable to C.K.A. Enquiries to Mrs. J. Hearn-Gillham - 01322.551279 or Please send S.A.E. to C.K.A. 7, Sandy Ridge, Borough e-mail [email protected]. Details of the Green TN15 8HP. Society’s summer excursions from Mr. L. Davies - EVENTS AROUND KENT 01322.525335. FRIENDS OF CANTERBURY ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST WATERINGBURY LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY Saturday 28 January 15 February Frank Jenkins Memorial Lecture Queen Victoria’s Dreadful Uncles - Sheila Boyd. The annual review of the past year’s work by the 21 March Archaeological Trust by Dr Paul Bennett (Director, Some Historic Kentish Towns - David Carder. C.A.T.) A joint event with the Canterbury Archaeological Society. 6.00pm. 18 April The Great Flood of 1953 - Bronwen M Sadler. Thursday 16 February An update on Roman Canterbury 20 June A symposium with speakers from Canterbury AGM followed by The Queen’s Jubilee - Peter Hartley. Archaeological Trust 6.30 pm, Keynes College, Lecture Theatre 5, We also organise a coach trip to a venue of interest, this University of Kent. year it will be held in May. The Society meets in the Village Hall at 7.40pm. Thursday 22 March Policing the Past: Seven Years of Tackling Visitors are welcome at £2.50. Heritage Crime in Kent and beyond Andrew Richardson (Finds Manager, C.A.T.) 7.00 pm, Canterbury (details will be available later). BEXLEY ARCHAEOLOGICAL GROUP For all events which do not have a stated charge, FCAT Saturday 28 January requests a donation of £2.00 for members, £3.00 for Ceramic Building Materials Workshop led by Dr Phil Mills non-members, and £1.00 for students, to cover of University of Leicester costs and to help to support the activities of the Cost £25 (non-members of BAG), £20 members. Archaeological Trust. Saturday 25 February Glass workshop led by John Shepherd CRAYFORD MANOR HOUSE HISTORICAL & Cost £20 (non-members of BAG), £15 members. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY To be held at Bexley-Sidcup Conservative Club, 19 Station Road, Sidcup DA15 7EB. Saturday 11 February The Suburban Home Front in the Second World War To book a place please contact rationing, clothes, Dig for Victory, gas masks, the - Pip Pulfer [email protected] or blackout and more. Illustrated with artefacts - Mike call 07961 963 893. www.bag.org.uk Brown. Saturday 10 March Traditional Kentish Building Materials An illustrated presentation examining, through

www.kentarchaeology.org.uk - Winter 2011 - KAS Newsletter 7 YOU & YOUR SOCIETY

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS been used. She drew attention to the differences between urban and rural Thank you to all of you who have sent in I am very pleased to welcome the buildings. Although there was generally your renewals by cheque. If you haven’t following new members: more conformity in the floor plan of done so yet please do so as soon as urban dwellings, identifying the precise possible. You will be aware that we have Mrs S Bartholomew, Ashford, Kent not raised the subscriptions since 2008 Mr D M Boys, Monmouth functions of rooms proved even more but, because of increasing postal costs, Ms B Coddington, Victoria, Australia difficult because of the likelihood of a we might have to in the next year or so. Miss R M Delman, Cambridge greater variety of activities taking place Mr R E Emmett, , Kent in urban premises. Sarah believed that We have been discussing ways to keep Mr & Mrs S Golding, Maidstone, Kent costs down and one idea under serious Mrs S Hall, Gravesend, Kent in the past there had been too consideration is reducing the number of Miss H Meehan, Maidstone, Kent standardised an interpretation of newsletters from 4 to 3 a year. We value Mr M Simmonds, Maidstone, Kent utilisation of rooms/space in Medieval our membership – without you there would Mrs T Sowerbutts, Gloucester buildings. be no Kent Archaeological Society! The majority of new members have joined The third talk was given by co- We are also thinking about distributing by downloading the application form presenters: Catherine Richardson of information and perhaps newsletters to from the website but it is equally the University of Kent, and Tara members by email – if you agree with this important that blue application forms Hamling of the University of please let me know – by email if possible. are available in other locations and taken Birmingham. Their presentation was to conferences etc. Please contact me if We will not disclose your details to any entitled ‘Towards a Material History other organisation. you would like a bundle. of Early Modern Accommodation – Please remember to send any changes of Shiela Broomfield, 8 Woodview Houses, Objects and Daily Routine’. addresses etc. to me either by post or Crescent, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Catherine spoke on the varied and email. [email protected]. Kent TN11 9HD telephone: 01732 flexible use of space by ‘middling’ urban uk 838698 email [email protected] households from the late 16th century I look forward to your continued support of to the early 17th century. Tara focussed our splendid Society. on differences between the contents of urban and rural dwellings. Both speakers drew upon their extensive examination of archival material to KAS HISTORIC BUILDINGS provide a vivid picture of domestic life CONFERENCE by Angela Davies in households of the period. Their diverse and diverting evidence The theme of ‘Accommodation in of materials and objects found during illustrated the challenges of Medieval and Early Modern excavation of layers of occupation, and disentangling the complexities of what Buildings’ drew an audience of around explained the clues that these finds accommodation could mean. 80 to the annual one-day Historic provided when trying to interpret the After lunch there were Buildings Conference held on 15 functions of internal space. During presentations on three local October last year in the discussion session that followed, topics. Paula Jardine-Rose of the Community Centre. the knotty problem of the prevalence Wychling, Doddington & Newnham First was the welcome return of of detached kitchens in Kent was raised, Historical Research Group talked about speaker Andrew Linklater, of a topic which was the subject of lively the first community dig that the Group Canterbury Archaeological Trust. In debate throughout the day. had organised, which took place in his presentation, ‘The House Divided Next Sarah Pearson, buildings Newnham. She reported on the – The Use of Internal Space of historian, formerly working with the findings, the most notable being the Buildings as Through Archaeology’, Royal Commission on Historic discovery of a Roman road. Andrew drew attention to the scarcity Monuments of , and author Next was Deborah Goacher, of hard evidence from which to deduce of ‘The Medieval Houses of Kent: An member of the Historic Buildings how space was used in Medieval Historical Analysis’, spoke on ‘The Committee and Maidstone domestic life, thus explaining the Provision of Services in Medieval Archaeological Society. The title of her significance of both documentary Rural and Urban Kentish Houses’. presentation was ‘Another Kentish research and micro-archaeology when Sarah detailed the evolution of the Medieval House: The Cottage, Little trying to establish what activities had layout of medieval dwellings, offering Buckland’. She shared the findings of taken place. He described the types suggestions as to how space might have the research she had undertaken on her

8 Winter 2011 - KAS Newsletter - www.kentarchaeology.org.uk COMMITTEE ROUND UP unique house, a building that had been of England to work on names, so that brasses and the Church Monuments constructed of stone and timber in one work on his place-names books on Kent Society records memorials but, as far build around 1400. has slowed. However, he is helping to as I know, there is no specific society Patricia Reid, Community create a searchable electronic names for benefaction boards. These are Archaeologist for the Faversham database based on 1377-81 poll-tax recorded by NADFAS when they Society, spoke on ‘Finding a Lost assessments, which rely heavily on undertake their comprehensive surveys Manor: Search for the Real Davington place-names used as surnames. He and are generally included in church Hall’. In her presentation she would like volunteers to help turn his and parish histories. illustrated the adage - particularly true paper records into Word or Excel This is something that can be in archaeology - that things are not format. Is there anyone out there who recorded on future Church Visits and always what they seem. Pat described might respond? His email address is then added to the archive on the a community-based project aimed at [email protected] . He thought churches of Kent which we are building finding out more about Davington Hall that the Committee should consider on the Churches Committee section and its relationship with surviving 17th enlarging its interests to cover names of the KAS website. If members have century walls and gate. This led to the as well as place-names. After a full any pictures or reports that include discovery that the building demolished discussion it was agreed that such a benefaction – or are willing to in 1968 and generally thought to have small committee should keep to the take pictures of any in their been Davington Hall had, in fact, been narrower focus of place-names only. local churches – please contact a farm bailiff’s house. It had been [email protected] or constructed of stone from the original November Study Day write to the secretary of the Churches manor house located elsewhere on the This committee decided unanimously Committee, Dr Paul Lee, 22 Arcadia site and demolished in the 1770’s. to run a fourth Place-Names Study Day Road, Istead Rise, Gravesend, Kent Finally, Christopher Proudfoot, on a Saturday in November 2011. This DA13 9EH. We would also love to Chairman of the Historic Buildings will take place at Rochester, date, hear from you, if you know of anyone Committee and the Conference, speakers and subjects to be arranged, else collecting this information! rounded off by expressing thanks to but they will be Kent-based. the speakers for contributing to such Visit to Luddesdown an absorbing and informative day, and Website section and Cobham churches to Historic Buildings Committee Mr T Connell suggested that, like the by Gill Wyatt member, David Carder, and his team Churches Committee, we should have for arranging the event. a section on the KAS website on which The visit to Luddesdown and Cobham to display the talks given at previous churches on a late September afternoon study days. could not have been blessed with better weather. John Bailey, architect for both PLACE-NAMES The next meeting will take place at the churches and a past chairman of SPAB, COMMITTEE KAS Library, Maidstone Museum, on gave an excellent and succinct account Saturday 10 March 2012. of each church while Philip Lawrence New Chair gave an equally excellent and well A new Chairman of this committee, informed précis of the brasses at Dr Mark Bateson, was elected on 1 CHURCHES Cobham. Both churches were October 2011 in place of Mr Pat COMMITTEE connected with a great house and an Harlow, who was thanked in absentia important family, but are different in for over 10 years’ hard work. Dr Benefaction Boards atmosphere and size. Bateson was proposed by Mr T Connell St Peter’s Luddesdown is a Saxon and seconded by Mr C Ward: he is in Churches foundation but owes many of its by Mary Berg, Chairman, moving from Canterbury to work as features to the patronage of Marie, wife Churches Committee Community History Officer, a of Aymer de Valance, Earl of new post, at the new Kent KAS member Dr John Physick wrote Pembroke in the mid fourteenth Archive building in Maidstone. to ask if the Churches Committee century. However, today’s visitor will would be interested in recording church be struck most by the Victorian Volunteers needed benefaction boards, some of which are decorative scheme, much of it dating Dr P Cullen, Academic Advisor, has in increasingly poor condition. The from the restoration carried out in moved to the University of the West Monumental Brass Society records 1865-6 by Alfred Stump. Unusually,

www.kentarchaeology.org.uk - Winter 2011 - KAS Newsletter 9 COMMITTEE ROUND UP continued

this ‘Victorianisation’ has not blessing the children. tomb was built in 1561, well in advance succumbed to later changes in taste. Cobham, by contrast, is a much of Lord Cobham’s death, and is sited The result is a decorated and intimate larger and grander church with the on the exact place of the medieval high interior which gives the church a largest collection of brasses in the altar, a statement of reformation welcoming atmosphere. Of interest to country. Perhaps the most striking sentiment at the beginning of bell ringers, there are two medieval bells feature here is the alabaster and black Elizabeth’s reign. Unlike Luddesdown, surviving and a pole ladder (not for the marble Brooke tomb commemorating this church is a grand statement of fainthearted!) which it is hoped will George Brooke, Lord Cobham and his family pride and status. soon be saved and replaced by a more wife Anne Bray. Round the base are The Churches Committee are to be modern one. Further late Victorian figures of their ten sons and four congratulated on arranging yet another work was done by Heaton Butler and daughters, all meekly kneeling except interesting and enjoyable outing, and Bairn, between 1870-94, including the for the (reputed) black sheep, George, we must also thank the congregation baptistery with its mural of Christ who is crouching on one knee. The of Cobham for a delicious tea!

NOTES FROM THE ARCHIVE The Curator, the Camera and the Survey From the Papers of the Hon. Henry A. Hannen (d. 1933) by Pernille Richards

“There was a fair attendance of members at the annual meeting of Image Name the Kent County Photographic Record and Survey, which was held in the Bentlif Art Gallery of the Maidstone Museum on Wednesday afternoon.” Maidstone Gazette, June 1912

A cutting from the Maidstone Gazette reporting the 1912 annual meeting of the Kent Photographic Record and Survey meeting is found among the papers of the Hon. Henry A. Hannen in a section which consists mainly of lists. There are lists of historic houses, castles and churches in Kent as well as lists of sources and images relating to them. The lists represent Hannen’s participation in the fashion for surveys and show an awareness of photography’s potential for recording and sharing information. The Kent Photographic Record and Survey was launched with the support of the South Eastern Scientific Societies in 1904. . The purpose the Survey was: ‘to preserve by photographic processes, records

10 Winter 2011 - KAS Newsletter - www.kentarchaeology.org.uk NEW BOOK

The Stones of Reculver Country Park (Maidstone Museum, 1998). experienced. Together with its (ISBN: 978-0-9561690-2-0, A5, 41pp) In The Stones of St Augustine’s companion guide, The Geology of and The Geology of Reculver Country Abbey, Canterbury (2009), KAS Reculver Country Park, it can form the Park (ISBN: 978-0-9561690-1-3, A5, member Geoff Downer studied a single basis of an enjoyable day out (in good 53pp). By Geoff Downer, published site, and he adopts the same approach weather). by GeoConservation Kent, 2011. in The Stones of Reculver Country My only niggle is that there are no £4.50 each. Park. bibliographies, but otherwise both Concise historical accounts are given guides are produced to a very high The study of building stones in Kent of the two monuments - the Roman standard in full colour with many owes much to John Archibald’s fort and medieval church - with photographs and diagrams and pioneering work Kentish Architecture building stone trails linked to detailed represent excellent value for money. as Influenced by Geology, published in plans. Each type of stone is illustrated 1934. Nationally during the last 30 and fully described, as a building stone The guides can be obtained from years or so many popular guides have and geologically. The Millenium Cross GeoConservation Kent, 6 Manor Close, been published, often in the form of - heavily weathered after just 11 years Canterbury, CT1 3XA at £4.50 each, or “town trails”. Dr Eric Robinson has - and the stones used for the local sea £8 for both. The St Augustine’s guide is contributed to several, including in defences are also included. available at £3.95. Post and packing is The Curator, the Kent the Faversham Stone Trail I visited the site and found the guide included - cheques payable to Kent RIGS (Faversham Society, 1994) and The easy to use and very informative, Group. Camera and the Building Stones of Maidstone suitable both for novices and the more Survey

of objects of archaeological, historical, among the prints contributed that year 1915 and in the prefatory note to the literary, and scientific interest connected was a set of 26 images by Mr. H. J. volume Mr. Elgar is thanked for his with the county, and to deposit such Elgar of Anglo-Saxon jewellery. These contribution of information and records in the County Museum at were good enough to merit mention. ‘photographs of much value.’ In 1914 Maidstone, and in other places where Mr. Elgar had been appointed as the Baldwin Brown was given permission they may be suitably preserved and Clerk and Curator of the KAS collection to photograph the Anglo Saxon readily accessible to the public.’ A at Maidstone in 1905 after the collection, so the resulting images were major contributor to the Survey was resignation of George Payne. He also probably the ones to appear in his 1915 the Maidstone and District Institute held the post of Assistant Curator at book rather than the research Photographic Society, which is still Maidstone Museum. Elgar was a keen photographs supplied by Elgar. going strong as Maidstone Camera photographer and is mentioned in the Maidstone Museum holds some Club, and whose contributions to the 1907 report of the Curator and of Elgar’s photographs, but survey are still in existence. The KAS Librarian, J. H. Alllchin, as frequently unfortunately it doesn’t look as if any endorsed the Survey in the Proceedings taking part in the excursions of the of his Anglo Saxon images are of 1904 and it is recorded that they local Natural History Society and among a collection of recently digitised images. A few have no identification, offered a number of negatives as a photographing geological features, but many contain the initials contribution. In the spirit of the time antiquarian objects and ‘specimens of C.E.F and some are clearly inscribed the Society also had an honorary Natural History.’ Maidstone Museum with the name N.C. Cook, 1931. photographer for a number of years, holds a series of correspondence, from Elgar’s Anglo Saxon images may yet E. C. Youens Esq. Individual members the years ca. 1913-14, between Mr come to light but for the moment of the KAS were more directly involved Elgar and G. Baldwin Brown concerning it looks as if they have suffered in the project. Sir Martin Conway was the Anglo Saxon Material from Bifrons more from the passage of time Vice President of the Survey and and Sarre. Baldwin Brown requested than the objects they were presided over the 1912 meeting. The lantern slides and photographs from supposed to provide a record of. Survey was mostly interested in Elgar and these enabled him to study recording buildings; in 1912 Mrs the material from Maidstone in detail With thanks to Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art Gallery and Giles Guthrie, Snowden Ward contributed prints of from his base in Edinburgh. Images Collections Manager, for use of photos Canterbury Cathedral and the convey more than words, especially in and access to letters. Maidstone Society worked on old and the study of art. The Bifrons material timbered buildings, as well as locks and was extensively used in Vol. 3 of The bridges on the Medway. However, Arts in Early England, published in

www.kentarchaeology.org.uk - Winter 2011 - KAS Newsletter 11 Community Archaeology News from Kent by Andrew Mayfield, Kent County Council’s Community Archaeologist

Greetings! From October last year Kent County Council created a two-year community archaeology post, part-funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. As the former community archaeologist for Shorne Woods Country Park, I will be running a series of events over the next two years that YOU can get involved with.

The Medway Valley LiDAR survey project (see article in last newsletter) Working with Valley of Visions and the Medway Mosaics Project we will be groundtruthing the results of the HLF- funded LiDAR survey over the next two years. This will involve a series of woodland walks to find, check and record features, followed by a series of geophysical surveys and small scale excavations at locations including Shorne Woods and Boxley Warren.

The Shorne HubCAP Project This exciting new project at Shorne Woods Country Park will build on the work of the Shorne Woods Archaeology Project. We will be running a free training programme over the next two years that is open to all. This will include sessions on pottery identification, worked flint, conservation of finds, geophysical survey, Total Stations and a series of field archaeology taster sessions during our summer dig. We will be creating a series of Finds Boxes (SWAP boxes) to take to local schools and events and designing some new tactile interpretation for visually impaired visitors to the Park. We will hold a series of Local Groups Conferences, where archaeology groups across Kent can come together to give short presentations on their current projects. There will be opportunities to participate in a test pit survey of a large new Mesolithic site discovered in Shorne Park and the excavation of a second lost building, Randall Hall.

Randall Manor excavations In 2012 and 2013 excavations will continue on the site of Randall Manor. This community archaeology dig has now run for six seasons and attracted hundreds of volunteers each year. The dig is free to attend and no previous experience is necessary. We now have a good understanding of the layout and phasing of our main medieval buildings. An early aisled hall is extended with the addition of a stone cross wing, built of ragstone and flint with greensand mouldings. This cross wing is in turn added to with a further wing, containing a garderobe. These buildings are connected by a yard surface to a detached kitchen block. We have received reports on the pottery, bone and tile assemblages from the first five years and an interim report on the archaeology of the first six years is due in the spring of this year.

Getting people involved For me, the most important part of this new post is getting people involved across the county in the archaeology of Kent. The HubCAP project has a large supply of equipment it can lend out to groups. If there are particular free training sessions that you would like us to run, then do get in touch. Likewise, if you are holding a dig or event and would like help in advertising it then please contact me. We have a Shorne News email ring that reaches over 300 people and groups, a facebook page with over 500 ‘likes’ and the will and enthusiasm to spread news and opportunities to as many people as possible. Look forward to hearing from you!

Andrew Mayfield: [email protected]; 07920 548906 or 01622 696919 www.facebook.com/archaeologyinkent and www.kent.gov.uk/randallmanor

12 Winter 2011 - KAS Newsletter - www.kentarchaeology.org.uk Letters to the editor... Dear Editor Sanatorium, later known as Benenden Dear Editor, Staff at Dartford Borough Museum Chest Hospital. Rodney Dann, the Reading Pennille Richards article on and Dartford Library would like to say Curator of Cranbrook Museum, the sparrow club a big ‘thank you’ to the people who has also been very helpful and (Autumn 2011) reminds me of two were kind enough to contact us with we are currently arranging family stories. In 1933 my mother went answers to our questions about the for a copy of the hitherto to live with her parents in a house near mystery photo of a royal visit to an unknown image to be lodged in his the North Pole pub on the / unknown town in Kent, which Museum’s archive. Wateringbury border. One particular appeared on the back page of the day when the men came along to shoot autumn Newsletter. The first two Dr Mike Still the sparrows roosting in a holly tree in replies were received from KAS Assistant Museum Manager the garden, my Gran, who was a members who actually live in the Dartford Borough Museum passionate animal lover, ordered the street itself! men off in no uncertain terms. Although the men tried to point out We now know that the photograph Dear Editor the benefits of their sport, Gran, shows Stone Street in Cranbrook, at Some years ago when I was embarking standing less than five feet in height, its junction with the High Street. The on my thesis ‘Elizabethan and Jacobean was not unnerved by a group of armed central footpath leads up to the church Deer Parks in Kent’ I asked Newsletter men and told them to ‘never come back’. and the people who appear above the readers to contact me if they had Nice one Gran! It happened at dusk bunting are actually standing in the information about individual parks or sometime between 1933 and WWII. raised churchyard. As to the details of might offer me access to explore former The article also mentioned the capture the actual occasion, we have Dr Phil park boundaries etc. I had a very of butterflies. I presume they might Betts, President of the Cranbrook and encouraging response from several KAS have been the cabbage white. My District Local History Society, to thank members, I would now like to thank brother has told me that during the for informing us that it shows the visit all those involved, having now war children were rewarded by their of Princess Christian of Schleswig- successfully achieved my doctorate. I school for the most cabbage whites that Holstein on 14 July 1906. She was one am still very interested in the subject could be caught with the nets provided. of Queen Victoria’s daughters and so would welcome further exchanges. He said the creatures were so numerous undertook much charity work. On this Many thanks to all who have helped ‘it was like walking through a snow occasion she had visited the church to me and given encouragement. storm’. unveil a new East Window, dedicated to the Tooth family, and was going on Susan Pittman Sandra Manser to open the first section of the National

HASTED PRIZE The Hasted Prize, inaugurated in 2007, is a biennial prize The Hasted prize for 2011 has been awarded to Dr Alison awarded by the KAS for what is assessed by a panel of judges to Klevnäs for her Cambridge PhD thesis (2010): ‘Whodunnit? be the best thesis on an aspect of the archaeology or history of Grave robbery in early medieval northern and western Europe’. the historic County. The purpose of the Prize is to encourage research at a higher level on the County’s past, and to rescue The thesis draws on recent, mainly German, literature on grave academic theses that merit publication from the comparative robbing in central Europe and then closely examines and obscurity of university library shelves. The Prize is worth £3000; analyses similar practices and processes in Thanet during the £1000 goes directly to the successful entrant, and £2000 is 7th century. All copies of theses submitted for the Hasted Prize retained by the Society to be used as a supplement towards the are available in the Society’s Library at Maidstone Museum. cost of publication once the work has been accepted by a publisher. Two books have been published with the help of the Hasted Prize.

www.kentarchaeology.org.uk - Winter 2011 - KAS Newsletter 13 Local volunteers attending a heritage trail guided walk led by Nicola Bannister

Site of the underground structure, marked by the thorn tree

BOXLEY WARREN - heritage survey results

In the Autumn 2011 Newsletter Boxley Warren is a landscape The Warren may have also been the site ‘Celebrating Boxley Warren’ outlined through which people have travelled of one of the top secret hideouts which this Heritage Lottery Funded project, for thousands of years. The ‘Pilgrim’s were to be used by resistance fighters which includes an enhanced heritage Way’ follows a track along the foot of in the event of a German invasion. landscape survey of the site. the Downs escarpment and is probably The woods and scrub along the top Commissioned by Boxley Parish an ancient route along the edge of the edge of the Warren hide quarries, pits Council and the Mid-Kent Downs settled and cultivated lands in the vale. and deneholes. One of the quarries Countryside Partnership (in The farms and small settlements here close to the Road had a limekiln conjunction with the Heritage Section had links to grazing wood pastures on and small cottage and was probably in of Kent County Council) and the top of the Downs and evidence of use in the 18th century according to undertaken by Nicola Bannister, these links are seen in the sunken historic map evidence. The sites of two landscape archaeologist, here is an hollow ways which wind their way from or more dene-holes (or chalk wells) overview of the survey’s results. The the vale to the top of the escarpment. were located along the northern aim is that further study will be Boxley Warren has several of these yew- boundary of the warren on the edge of undertaken by the local community. lined routes; one runs up the slope the arable fields. Interestingly, these The features range from the from the ‘Pilgrim’s Way’ skirting the dene-holes were cut across remains of prehistoric period to the modern; from rifle targets. banks and lynchets running along the crop marks to extant earthworks. They Both Boxley and Boarley Warren top of the wood, thus pre-dating the are evidence of how this part of the have been used for military training holes. Medway Valley and the North Downs from the late 19th century. The remains The survey has only highlighted the was exploited from earliest times. The of the rifle targets lie partly within heritage resource preserved at Boxley LiDAR survey of the Lower Medway scrub. They comprise two large mounds Warren. As part of ‘Celebrating Boxley Valley (see p2 and 3 of the Autumn with a levelled platform in between. Warren’ there will be opportunities for Newsletter) just clips the western end The Rifle Range was built in 1885 on local people to undertake more detailed of Boxley Warren, but it does show the land belonging to Boarley Farm, for field surveys, excavations, archive and flint and chalk pits within West Field use with small-arms fire by regiments oral history research. Contact Mike Wood as well as traces of from the barracks in Maidstone. It was Phillips, Mid Kent Downs Projects lynchets following the contours of in use for the First World War but fell Officer for further information on the escarpment. into disuse between 1933 and 1938, 01303 815170, go to www. On the edge of the wood and close being reinstated during the Second midkentdowns.org.uk or find us on to the ancient track, the ‘Pilgrim’s World War. Nearby in the pasture field Facebook – search for ‘Friends of Way’, is the White Horse Stone, an close to Westfield Wood are cropmarks Boxley Warren’. up-ended sarsen stone, thought to be of former foxhole dug outs used in the the remains of a Neolithic long barrow. Second World War for field training.

14 Winter 2011 - KAS Newsletter - www.kentarchaeology.org.uk HADLOW TOWER – AN ARCHITECTURAL ICON

Image from the estate sale of 1919

‘the most singular looking thing I ever bears a striking similarity to the was only the timely intervention of saw. An immense house stuck all over erstwhile tower at Fonthill Abbey, Bernard Hailstone, a local portrait with a parcel of chimneys, or things Wiltshire; however, Hadlow Tower’s painter, who purchased the Tower and like chimneys, little brick columns foundations were to prove much the remaining courtyard buildings, that with a sort of cap on them at the top sounder than Fonthill’s, which prevented its demise. to catch earwigs’. collapsed in 1825. Built of brick and After 10 years of campaigning by William Cobbett, riding through rendered with so-called Roman the Save Hadlow Tower Action Group Hadlow in 1823. Cement, when complete with its the Tower is at long last being restored Lantern, the octagonal-shaped tower by the Vivat Trust, with money Hadlow Tower, or May’s Folly as it is stood 53 metres high (170ft), from the Heritage Lottery Fund and affectionately known, once formed part commanding the local landscape. English Heritage amongst others. In of a grand house in the Romantic The house and estate lands passed order to safeguard its future the interior Gothic style built in the late 18th and through several families during the of the Tower will be fitted out for early 19th centuries by Walter May intervening years until the estate was holiday accommodation. The Action (formerly Barton), a yeoman farmer, split up and sold in the early 20th Group are responsible for the design and was erected on the site of Hadlow century. Since the 1840s only minimal and running of the ground floor Visitor Court Lodge, a much older manor maintenance has been carried out to Centre, which will be open to the house existing in the 16th century but the Tower, with the inevitable decline public 28 days each year when the having unknown origins. The house in the fabric of the building. In the restoration is complete. was designed by a Mr J Dugdale to Second World War it served as a The Trustees of the Allen Grove an architectural style promoted by vegetable store and a lofty observation Fund (administered by the KAS for Hugh Walpole when he built post for the Observer Corps and Home projects for the purposes of research, Strawberry Hill at Twickenham. The Guard. It was doubtless used as a preservation or enjoyment of local castle and ornamental gardens covered landmark by Luftwaffe pilots on their history), awarded a grant of £400 to 6 acres with many specimen trees, way to London, who dropped bombs the Hadlow Tower Action Group for beautiful lawns and borders. in nearby fields. the cost of display panels. The group The Grade 1* Listed Tower at In 1951 the main building of the is actively seeking donations towards Hadlow Castle was commenced in castle with its ‘arches, groins, this project and further 1838 by Walter’s son and heir, Walter ramifications and various flowers of information is available from their Barton May, to a design by naval Gothic grandeur’ was tragically website www.hadlowtower.com. architect George Ledwell Taylor. It demolished for building materials. It

www.kentarchaeology.org.uk - Winter 2011 - KAS Newsletter 15 Thames Defence Research Group

Simulating the use of a Depression Range-Finder with a theodolite at New Tavern Fort, Gravesend.

his informal organisation »» Academic papers have been prepared on Have you just provides an umbrella for two of the riverside forts and others are planned. joined the Society? continuing - and expanding Do you wish you could T- research of the generality of the »» Survey of defensive sites has taken place, with others scheduled. collect all the back issues Thames defences at a serious study »» An updated popular publication on the of Archaeologia Cantiana? level, with both academic and generality of the Thames defences is popular outputs. Related strategic being researched. industries in the Thames area may »» A start has been made on an historic come to be embraced in their own defences trail booklet. right and would certainly be in the »» Linked with this it is intended to create a frame for discussion of targets for sites database and map available to all. attack in any relevant period. »» Public engagement through talks and The Thames Defence Research others means will take place. Now you can have 125 volumes of Archaeologia Cantiana at the Group is open to those with an interest »» At a ‘fun’ level it is hoped to produce a amazingly low cost of £31 for in researching, recording and ‘Horrible History’ of the Thames defences. promulgating a knowledge and individual members and £76 for Enquiries about participation to: awareness of the historic defences of institutional members on the KAS Victor Smith BA FSA the Thames. All periods are covered Sesquicentennial DVD. 65 Stonebridge Road and the geographical scope takes in the –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Northfleet military, naval (and from the 20th To order your copy, send a cheque Kent DA11 9BA century) civil and air defence sites from payable to Kent Archaeological Tel: 01474 323415 London to the extremity of the estuary Society to Peter Tann, 42 Archery Email: [email protected] and the near hinterland. Square, Walmer, Deal CT14 7HP.

If undelivered, please return to The editor wishes to draw attention to the fact that EDITOR: LYN PALMER S. Broomfield, 8 Woodview Crescent, neither she nor the Council of the KAS are answerable 55 Stone Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2QU Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 9HD for opinions which contributors may express in their Telephone: 01892 533661 signed articles; each author is alone responsible for Email: [email protected] Copy deadline for the next issue is 1st Mar 2012 the contents and substance of their work.

16 Winter 2011 - 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.