Newsletter
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Looking back at Summer Pursuits
Winchester outing. Despite heavy rain during the evening and night
preceding the final outing of the season of that September, a party of
37 assembled for the expedition to Winchester. They were rewarded, for
the clouds began to clear at the outset and the weather remained
reasonable all day. The first stop was at Sparsholt Roman Villa,
situated in the middle of a forestry plantation just outside
Winchester. The approach was appropriately via a of Roman Road and we
were conducted around the side by Mr David Johnston of the Extra-Mural
Department of Southampton University. Evidence existed of occupation
from the Iron Age to the mid-4th century A.D. At the most important
phase there was a big house with a large courtyard, an aisled building
and various out-buildings. There was also an interesting a sequence in
the development of the Bath House and a beautiful mosaic floor has been
uncovered, which we later saw in the City Museum at Winchester. Some
more wall plaster, imitating mosaic was another interesting a find.
From of the villa we returned to Winchester, where we were free to
explore until 2.30 p.m., when we met at the City Museum to see some of
the evidence of Winchester’s long and eventful history. Mr. Cottrill,
the curator, was kind enough to be available to answer questions. Next
we proceeded to the cathedral to meet Canon Bussby, who introduced us
to its history. We saw an exhibition of Saxon and Norman art in the
Treasury, and the beautiful twelfth century Winchester Bible, kept in
the library, itself the oldest bookroom in Europe, also dating from the
twelfth century. The Canon told us something of the cathedrals
administration, including the fact that when the gates of the Close are
shut at night, the community has nothing further to do with England
until the next morning. We finally repaired at to the Cadens Cafe in
the High Street for tea before returning home.
Brent River Walk
The upper reaches of the year River Brent (or Dollis Brook) were
explored on the sunny afternoon or Saturday 23 September by a
regrettably small party, half of which was comprised of members of the
Middlesex Society, under the leadership Mr Jeffrey Evans. Shortly after
the start at Totteridge Lane, the Middlesex Hertfordshire boundary was
located near the road named County Gate. From here the walkers followed
the diminishing river westward to a point beyond Totteridge Vale Farm.
Nothing of note was found in the river gravels. Some
pollution from tipped rubbish was noted at one point near a car park
and it was thought that a complaint would be justified. On the return
journey, the travellers were welcomed by the Trewicks in Western Way
and refreshed to buy a delicious tea - a bonus highlight to a pleasant
occasion. As mentioned in the previous newsletter, it is hoped that
there will be a further walk to find the river's source next spring.
Second Chance
Those members who missed the first of Mr Jeffrey Evans’ river walks
by along the lower reaches of the River Brent, may be interested to
know that he will be conducting a similar walk for the Middlesex
Society on the Saturday 4 November meeting at the Brent Bridge, Hendon,
NW4 at 2.30 p.m.
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Erratum
The Editor wishes to apologise to all bemused Anglo-Saxon scholars
and to Mr Jeffrey Evans for incorrectly rendering “GRENDELES GATAN” as
“Grendchen Gatan” when the transcribing the original handwritten draft
of his feature article along by Brent which appeared in the September
newsletter.
Looking Ahead to Winter Plans
Lectures
Arrangements for the 1972/3 Winter lectures have been delayed by
various obstacles and at the time of writing several problems have yet
to be resolved, reports the Programme Secretary. The date and time of
lectures are as announced in the September newsletter, and you will
find a map enclosed which shows the exact location of St. Mary's Church
Hall and gives details of bus and services in the area. Plans so far
completed are as follows: -
17th October 1972 – Baynards Castle – a Lecture by Jeremy Haslam
The site of the castle, once a Royal Palace, was excavated this
summer by the Guildhall Museum. Jeremy Haslam’s talk, which will be
illustrated with slides and diagrams, is the first public lecture to be
given on this important and interesting site.
21st November 1972 – “They’ll never be missed” – a lecture by James Lee
A member of the GLC’s Historic Buildings Division, Mr Lee will speak
on the problems of saving historic buildings, with particular reference
to the Borough of Barnet, illustrating his talk with selections from
the GLC’s fine collection of slides of important and historic
buildings.
20th March 1973 – The Fulham Pottery – a lecture by Dennis Haselgrove
The result of this summer's excavations will be outlined by Mr
Haselgrove and slides will be shown to illustrate his talk. Should any
member wish to help the Fulham and Hammersmith Historical Society with
the processing of finds (mainly on Sundays), Mr Haselgrove will be very
pleased to hear from them.
17th April 1973 – A Maps Evening – with Dr, Helen Wallis
This talk by the Superintendent of the Map Room of the British
Museum will cover maps as aides to historical research. Dr Wallis will
talk with special local reference to the Borough of Barnet.
15h May 1973 – Annual General Meeting
Other Meetings
The arrangements for the meetings on 16th January and 20 February
1973 have not yet been finalised. One lecture will be on a prehistoric
subject, however, and the other of interest to students of the Roman
period. It is hoped to be able to give members full details in the next
newsletter.
The Festive Season
Make a note in your diary now and tell your friends to - on Friday
15th December the Hendon and District Archaeological Society will be
holding a Christmas Party at 166 Station Road, Hendon, NW4. Further
details will appear in the November newsletter, but meanwhile if any
member would like to donate raffle prizes, or offer assistance with the
catering or other arrangements, the Treasurer (Richard Deacon) would be
very pleased to hear from you.
Sadly the last social gathering was poorly attended,
despite great efforts on the part of those who undertook the
organisation, so make a firm resolution now to come along and enjoy
yourselves on 15 December.
Projects
The Society has several research projects planned for the coming winter :-
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Portrait Survey
About a year ago, Hendon and District Archaeological Society was
invited by the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society to
participate in the Middlesex Portrait Survey with responsibility for
the Borough of Barnet. From the outset, the idea appealed to the
Committee as being both worthwhile and of interest to members. For
various reasons, however, the start had to be postponed until now.
The idea behind the survey (which is part of a nationwide
Portrait Survey, organised on a County basis) is to fill the gap which
exists when a portrait can not be found in one of the larger galleries.
There is at present no national record of portraits which can be
consulted by historians, biographers, or those arranging exhibitions or
illustrating books. Yet such portraits (for this purpose, the word
covers representations in any medium, including sculpture) do exist. A
team of 30 researchers in Kent, where the survey commenced, managed to
find and record 1,400 portraits in two years, by combing schools,
municipal offices, vestries, boardrooms, hospitals and territorial army
headquarters. The facts about each portrait, when located, are recorded
on a special form, which will ultimately provide an archive at the
National Portrait Gallery.
Our team is not yet 30 string, but a start has been made
with a group of a dozen keen members who are prepared to give this
long-term project an hour here or an afternoon there. Some are working
in pairs, while others are lone wolves. They plan at first to
concentrate on schools and churches. We hop that the team may swell in
numbers after you have read this – more volunteers will be very
welcome! It is something you can do in your own time and at your own
speed, and it should provide opportunities for getting into interesting
corners of the Borough and meeting many different people. The project
organiser is Mrs. Nell Penny. If you would like to join in, please
contact her - she’ll be delighted to hear from you.
Tombstone Survey
Just as interesting and equally useful is Project No. 2 – our old
friend the Tombstone Survey – which Ted Sammes will direct again this
winter in St, Mary’s Churchyard, Hendon. This, as members will know, is
another long-term project, which has been in progress during the last
two winters. Mr. Sammes called a halt this spring to direct the
Burroughs Gardens dig, but hopes top resume work at St. Mary’s some
time in November – the exact date will be announced in the next
Newsletter.
Already many hundreds of headstones have been recorded, but
much still remains to be done and more volunteers are needed. Strange
as it may sound, grubbing around among the St, Mary’s tombstones on a
fine Sunday afternoon has a gentle fascination all its own – and is
often very interesting. Do try it! Mr. Sammes will also be happy to
hear from any member who would like to try their hand at assembling
biographical information about some of the better-known worthies who
are buried at St. Mary’s – another job which can prove most rewarding.
Cataloguing Brockley Hill finds
Our third project, plans for which are not yet complete, concerns
another familiar friend – the finds from the early Brockley Hill digs.
Arrangements are in had for spending two full weekends after Christmas
on further sorting, cataloguing and indexing at the Hampstead Garden
Suburb Institute. This will provide an excellent chance to handle,
identify and get used to the feel of Roman pottery from the late 1st to
the early 4th century. Further details will appear in subse1quent
newsletters.
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Looking forward to next Spring - Archaeological Weekend
It has been proposed that the Society should organise a weekend trip
for members, possibly staying at Salisbury, and visiting important
archaeological sites on the Dorset/Wiltshire borders. Departure would
be on a Friday night, returning home on Sunday evening. It is important
to know how many would be interested in joining such a party before any
definite plans are made or the likely cost estimated, so please
register your name provisionally with Jeremy Clynes now if you would
like to participate.
Subscriptions
As we are now half way through the financial year, please could all
those who have not yet renewed their membership of the Society for
1972/3 let Richard Deacon have their subscriptions at an early date, to
ensure that the current membership list remains up-to-date.
P,S, The Treasure would also be most grateful for any unwanted Green Shield or Pink stamps to augment the Society’s funds.
The Blue Plaques of Barnet
- A special article by Philippa Bernard, Editor of the Society’s forthcoming publication.
The Society will shortly be publishing the second of its
occasional papers. The first was “The Chroniclers of the Battle of
Barnet” and No. 2. is to be “The Blue Plaques of Barnet”. It is over
100 years since the first blue plaque in London was erected to the
memory of Lord Byron on his former home in Holles Street. Since that
time, many famous men and women, historic houses and place of interest
have been commemorated in the form of the familiar blue circle.
In the Borough of Barnet, there are 21 Blue Plaques, some
clearly evident and well-known to passers-by, others less easy to find,
marking places unknown to the public. Many members of the Society have
co-operated in the writing of this booklet. A considerable amount of
hard work has gone into the research, with each plaque telling its
story and much fascinating information has emerged. The Borough has
been the home of many famous men and women: Anna Pavlova, Wllliam
Wilberforce, Sir Stamford Raffles among them. Plaques also mark
important historical locations such as the site of the old parish cage
and the tollgate. What has become clear as work proceeded, is that
there are many equally important spots within the Borough which are not
dignified by plaques, and it is hoped that at some future date the
Society might co-operate in establishing the situation of additional
sites, so far unrecorded.
P.S. Watch for an announcement of the publication of “The Blue Plaques of Barnet” in the Newsletter.
British Museum Exhibition
An exhibition entitled “A Panorama of Drawing, 11,000 B.C. - 1942
A.D.” is to be mounted in the Prints and Drawings Gallery of the
British Museum between 27th October 1972 and February 1973. Man’s
achievement as a draughtsman will be illustrated, with the inclusion of
material from several of the Museum’s Departments, in order to cover
the period from prehistoric times to the present day.
Collector’s Item
Your attention is drawn to the notice enclosed with this newsletter
advertising the forthcoming Borough of Barnet publication “Local Maps
and Views 1600-1850” in a limited edition, which it is thought may be
of particular interest to members.