ESSEX SOCIETY FOR ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY (Founded as the Essex Archaeological Society in 1852) Digitisation Project ESSEX ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY NEWS DECEMBER 1992 TO AUTUMN/ WINTER 1999 (Nos. 116 to 130) 2014 ESAH REF: N1116130 Essex Archaeology and History News 0 December 1992 THE ESSEX SOCIETY FOR ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTOI~Y NEWSLETTER NUMBER 116 DECEMBER 1992 CONTENTS FROM THE PRESIDENT ............................ ... ....I 1993 PROGRAMME ..•...... ....... .. ...............•.. .2 SIR WILLIAM ADDISON ... .................... .........•2 VlC GRAY ..... ...... ..... ..... ........ .. .. .. ...... .4 THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF TilE ESSEX COAST ..............•.. .....•4 ESSEX ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL CONGRESS: LOCAL HISTORY SYMPOSIUM .. .................... ...•.... .5 TilE ARCHAEOLOGY OF ESSEX TO AD 1500 .........•.........•... .5 NEW BOOKS ON ESSEX at DECEMBER 1992 ... ... .. ... ......•6 BOOK REVlEWS ....•. ..... .................. .........•6 RECENT PUBLICATIONS FROM THURROCK .. ........ ........... 7 SPY IN THE SKY ............................. •......... 7 COLCHESTER ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORT ..•. ............... ...8 LIBRARY REPORT .... ......... ... .... .. ........ .......8 ESSEX JOURNAL ....... ............... .. ..... ........8 WARRIOR BURIAL FOUND AT STANWAY ..........................9 ENTENTE CORDIALE .................... ...........•......10 WORK OF THE TliE COUNTY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SECTION . .. ..........11 Editor: Paul Gilman 36 Rydal Way, Black Notley, Braintree, Essex, CM7 8UG Telephone: Braintree 331452 (home) Chelmsford 437636(work) COPY FOR THE NEXT ISSUE SHOULD BE SENT TO THE EDITOR AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS NO LATER THAN 31 MARCH The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the contributors and not necess­ arily those of the Society or its officers. COVER ILLUSTRATION: catVed panel (bargeboard?), 32 East Street, Colchester (drawn by Richard Shackle) Arthur Mee inscribed on the volume's fly­ leaf these words Good Morning, John FROM THE PRESIDENT Appleby. (Signed) Anhur Mee. In that book - Good Morning England - Arthur stated "Soon you will see across the World". How right he was - we can see events not only Lord Braybrooke, Her Majesty's Lord happening in Australia or Tokyo, at the Lieutenant. has been pleased to accept the North and South Poles, but now beyond invitation of the Society to become its Pa­ the moon out into space. What strides in­ tron and succeeds Admiral Sir Andrew ventors and inventions have taken! Lewis. Lord Braybrooke reminds me that his predecessors have had connections Among Essex inventors are Nathaniel with the Society since it was founded in Heckford from Halstead who was awarded 1852. We are greatly honoured. a patent in 1684 for Horizontal Sails for Mills. In 1738 Adrianus Vanden Bomme­ naer of Leyton won a patent for making It is with regret that we record the death of cambric and lace. Sir William Addison, Past President of the Society. It is gratifying that "Essex Herit­ Thomas Frye, painter, from West Ham, age", edited by Kenneth Neale, was had patents granted in 1744 and 1749 for published and seen by Sir William before making porcelain. Here was the beginning his passing. He was a man who gave his all of the famous Bow factory about which our for Essex and its history; an author held in members, the late H.W. Lewer F.S.A, and high esteem by us all; a perfect gentleman Frank Stevens, were experts. and scholar. R.I.P. Daniel Sutton, an Ingatestone surgeon, produced A Medicine for producing a fa­ The article entitled "But who was Arthur vourable species of Smallpox in 1766 - Mee?" from the pen of Raymond Powell and published in the April1992 edition of possibly the first work on inoculation. Essex Archaeology and History News John Baker, haymaker of St Martin's Par­ brought back many memories for me and ish, Colchester, registered the secrets of other members. making a "striped baize" in 1769 while James Noble of Coggeshall, worsted spin­ I hunted out a small volume which Arthur ner, registered a machine for combing and Mee sent to me in 1942 when I submitted drawing wool in 1805, (Patent No. 2861). a review copy of my booklet The Parish Church of St. Runwald, Colchester, which Miller Christy in Victoria County History, the late Sir Gurney Benham saw through Vol ii, Industrial Section, tells of more the press on condition that I, a young Essex Inventions and Inventors, among schoolboy, obtained sixty subscribers of them a great Essex mechanician and five shillings each to pay for the printing. author, Isaac Taylor of the famous Taylors The late Gerald 0. Rickwood also took me of Ongar, who perfected a pantographic under his wing and with the then Rector of engraver which was later used for engrav­ All Saints with St Nicholas cum St Run­ ing calico-printing rollers. wald's parish, Colchester, Canon Robert Hunter Jack, M.A., B.Sc., saw to the proof Body snatching being "an honest trade" in reading. All were members of the The the early nineteenth century commanded Essex Archaeological Society. the attention of John Hughes of Barking E.<sc·x .4rcltaeo/Cigv attd 1/istc>ry.• New.< and the early registration of the means of securing the bodies ofthe dead in coffins. 1993 PROGRAMME George Courtauld of Braintree, Silk Throwster; Thomas Wedlake of Horn­ church, Agricultural Implement Maker; Members will already have received their Edward Hammond Bentall of Heybridge; programme card for 1993. The following William Rhodes of Leyton (Grandfather notes provide further information about of Cecil Rhodes), Brick Maker; Waiter the first two events in 1993: Hancock, Steam Engineer and author; and Thomas Hancock, India Rubber Manufac­ Saturday 17th April- visit to Pentlow Hall turer, of Stratford, are all Essex inventors (cost .£3.50). and patentees in the early nineteenth cen­ tury. This impressive timber-framed manor house stands on a moated site in a bend of The Catalogue of Exhibits and Exhibitors the river Stour. Adjacent is the 12th-cen­ at the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace, tury church which has an apse and round 1851, includes the work of more Essex in­ tower. The visit will include the hall, ventors. church and the historic landscape, and will conclude just over the county border in When asked by students and teachers for nearby Cavendish. possible topics for project study for the GCSE examinations I suggest that here is Friday 7th May- the Morant lecture (cost a fascinating field which has still to be .£350) will be given by Peter Minter, pro­ more fully explored. prietor of the Bulmer Brickworks, who will talk on the history of bricks and brick-mak­ Now to other Society matters. ing in Essex. The Bulmer Brickworks is one of the last surviving traditional brick­ works in the country, and Mr Minter is well On Friday, 16th October, the Annual Mor­ known as an authority on bricks and as a ant Dinner was held and our Legal supplier ofTudors and 'specials' to famous Adviser, Mr Charles Sparrow, Q.C., buildings such as Hampton Court. F.S.A., D.L., was our special guest and speaker. It was a most enjoyable evening and we thank all who made it so. SIR WILLIAM ADDISON As I said in April - Watch this space - as there is much to tell you all soon about the launch of our Publications Fund and Pro­ gramme. William Addison, the Essex author and historian, died on 1 November 1992 aged 87. In a remarkable versatile life he My wife and I hope that you all enjoyed the achieved distinction and attracted numer­ Christmas Season and, with you, look for­ ous friends and admirers in the various ward to another successful year for the fields in which he worked. Although born Society in 1993. in the north, to which he was devoted, it was to Essex that he largely dedicated his John S. Appleby talents and industry. That did not preclude a major contribution at the national level 2 Deamher JW:! to the magistracy in which he wa~ deeply founders of the Essex Archaeological and interested and to topographical literature Historical Congress, President of the of value to all local historians. He wa~ a Essex Archaeological Society, Chairman writer of graceful prose and an engaging of the Friends of Historic Essex and of the speaker. His capacity for hard work, the Victoria County History of Essex as well as qualities of sound and moderate thought, serving in those capacities for other Essex and a natural poise made him an effective societies during his long association with and respected chairman of the bodies on county history. His services to the preser­ which he served. vation of Epping Forest, dedicated to the use of the people for ever by Queen Vic­ Addison was born on 4 April at Mitton in toria in 1882, was epitomised in over the Ribble Valley. He always cherished his twenty years as one of the Verderers, an family's roots there and it was the beauty ancient office that dates from at least the of the northern landscapes that originally time of Cnut. He was particularly proud of inspired his life-long interest in the Eng­ his Fellowship of the Society of Anti­ lish countryside. His literary work reflects quaries. his sensitive perceptions of the reticent charms of the Essex and East Anglian The magistracy was fortunate in his ap­ landscapes. The delights of the 'corn and pointment to the Bench, as a Justice of the copse' country, quiet winding landscapes Peace, in 1949. Having served as Chairman and the elusive beauty of the marshlands of the Epping and Ongar Petty Sessions and coastal reaches of the eastern counties and on the Council of the Magistrates' stimulated his imagination. Among his Association for England and Wales, he was books is the Epping Forest trilogy which elected as its Chairman in 1970, a post established Addison as the leading chroni­ which he held until 1976. His stature and cler of the Forest's history and its legends wide knowledge of the difficult problems and traditions. of the Criminal Justice system and practi­ cal experience on the Bench made him a His interpretation of the landscape and the valuable member of several advisory social dimensions of history are best exem­ bodies to which he was appointed.