Newsletter
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Outings
It is encouraging that we can report that there has been good
support for recent outings. A short account of the Grimes Graves visit
in included in this newsletter.
It is hoped that a good number will be able to join the
15th July party that will visit the Roman villa at Eccles, near
Tunbridge, and after a picnic lunch, the Sailing Barge Museum at
Sittingbourne.
Please keep a note in your diary of the 9th September
outing to Winchester, where a varied programme is being arranged,
including a visit to the Roman villa at Sparsholt, the City Museum and
the special exhibition at the Cathedral.
Don’t forget “Strand Looping” – a walk to search along the
river mud (meeting at 2.15 p.m. at London Bridge Underground Station on
August 19th). This will be conducted by John Cresswell and the London
History Society. Please bring Wellingtons and old clothes.
It is possible that an outing to view the excavations at
Dover mounted by the “Rescue” team might be arranged for 12th August.
It would be essential to let Mr. Martin Long know immediately if
members are interested, so that he could make arrangements for a coach
booking. The committee thought members might like an opportunity to
view this excavation in view of the “Rescue” lecture given last winter,
and the value of the knowledge that is being gained from the
investigation. Proof is emerging of the site of the Classis Britannica
fort.
Many members have been enjoying the walks arranged along
the river by Mr. J. Evans; it is hoped that he will lead a walk along
the final section in the autumn, towards the source near Arkley.
Festival of London
A great deal of effort has gone into making possible the
participation of the Borough of Barnet in these events, and the Society
has been playing its part. The contribution has been twofold – history
walks and exhibitions. Mr. Jeffrey Evans kindly organised three history
walks on the Society’s behalf, and they proved very popular; a river
walk, a walk around Hendon (including a visit to our own dig) and
another around Mill Hill. Mr. Enderby, at the Society’s suggestion,
compered a walk around the Hampstead Garden Suburb.
A photographic exhibition of the Historic Buildings of
Barnet was arranged by Ted Sammes and Jeremy Clynes. This was mounted
on stands and has been moved weekly around the borough. From 24th June
to 8th July, it will be on show at the Tea House, Northway, Hampstead
Garden Suburb during the day and evening. At the same place is another
exhibition by the Society on the history of the Garden Suburb, with
photographs and documents, showing the origins of the famous estate and
throwing a few sidelights on its equally well-known founder, Henrietta
Barnett – the formidable “Dame”. This was a co-operative exercise by a
number of members, including Philippa Bernard, Christine Arnott, Enid
Hill, Brigid Grafton Green, William Morris, Eric Grant, Ted Sammes,
Jeremy Clynes and John Enderby.
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Reports
June outing. The first of our new-type archaeological outings, on
June 10, proved both financially successful and enjoyable, and it
managed to cover a
Wide archaeological range. We saw barrows at Royston (Bronze Age and
Neolithic), The Devil’s Dyke beside Newmarket Racecourse (Dark Age) and
had a conducted tour around Thetford with a guide who tried to persuade
us that the great mound in the town is NOT the remains of a Norman
motte, but a monument similar to Silbury Hill with undertones of
megalithic mathematicians and astronomers. Not all of us were convinced
by his arguments, but it was an interesting theory to cap an
interesting day. We finished with a first-class tea in Newmarket – and
the outing had been sufficiently well supported for the Programme
Committee to be able to include the cost of tea – 35p – in the overall
ticket – something they had promised to do if enough people took the
trip.
31-41 The Burroughs – Excavations started on this site on
29th April in rain and drizzle. Despite this, the grid was laid out
with the assistance of Mr. B. M. Martin, and digging commenced at the
rear of the demolished houses. The area proved to be very disturbed,
producing modern plastic material mixed up with 18th century. Further
trenches opened up have been more successful. We now have a collection
of 18-19th century sherds, clay tobacco pipes of mid-19th century
dating and 19-20th century coins.
Beneath these layers, we ar now digging into an area, which
has produced some 60 sherds of coarse pottery, tentatively dating to
the Medieval period. This has not been fully excavated, nor are its
limits known. It will therefore be necessary to open up more trenches,
and Ted Sammes would welcome some more regular diggers. Excavations
will be continuing for at least another four weekends. The site is open
on Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 5.30 and Sundays from 10.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Please bring a small trowel with you. There will be no digging on July
15th, the day of the outing to Eccles.
New Members
Many new members are joining the Society, and this month the
Newsletter welcomes them and as a new feature lists below their names
and the areas of the borough in which they live. May we suggest that
old members look around at meetings, and if they come across any new
faces, please welcome them and make them feel at home. It can be very
helpful if lifts are offered to those members who find Church House a
little off the beaten track, and who have no cars themselves.
Under 18: Percy and Martin Reboul, Hendon; Christopher and
Marion Newbury, Hendon; Simon Gale, Hendon.
Mrs. Caroline Algoe, Hampstead Garden Suburb; Mrs. Bright, Temple
Fortune; Mrs. A. Brind, Hendon; Mr. & Mrs. Colin Evans, Finchley;
Joseph Gardyn, Hendon; Mrs. P. S. Karet, Finchley; Mr. D. Miller,
Cricklewood; Miss F. Milligan, Edgware; Mrs. D. A. Newbury, Hendon; C.
J. O. Webb, Barnet; C. P. Wells, Hendon.
While on the subject of new members, we must mention one of our
very important “old” members, Jim Banham, without whose help (and that
of his wife) these newsletters would not be addressed and posted off to
you. Mr. Banham was taken off to hospital last month at short notice,
but after an operation, we are glad to report that he is back home and
slowly getting back to normal health. We are very grateful to his wife,
and also Jeremy Clynes who took over circulation of the last newsletter
in the middle of the emergency.
New Book
A book has recently been published that may be of interest to you –
it is, however, one to order from the library, unless you have a fairy
godmother – the price is £8. “Amarna” – city of Akhanaten and
Nefertiti. With 75 illustrations., it is published by Aris and Phillips
Ltd.
Subscriptions
May we remind members that the subscriptions for 1972-3 are now due.
The new rates are: £1 except for those under 18; 65p for under 18s; 75p
for O.A.P. The Treasurer – Richard Deacon, will also be pleased to
receive any spare Green Shield or Pink Stamps.