Newsletter
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Our last lecture of the Winter Season will be given up 2nd April 1974
at the Central Library, The Burroughs, at 8.00 for 8.15p.m. Dr Gareth
Davies, who is the Curator of the Verulamium Museum will speak on
"Verulamium". He was concerned in last summer's excavations in the
area, and has been asked to give any fresh information that has come to
light, particularly of any pre-Roman settlement.
The Programme Committee would like you to put the following
dates in your diaries -- with brief details -- for the summer's
outings:
Saturdays –
18th May
| - Lewes, Sussex
|
|
15th June
| - Bath, Somerset
|
|
13th July
| - Danebury, Petersfield, Hants
|
|
14th September
| - Compton Wyngates, Worm Leighton, Warwick
|
Full details of the first trip, on 18th May, will be sent with
the May Newsletter. All those who can are urged to support these
outings, as only a full coach will enable costs to be kept to a
minimum; the Committee are working hard to ensure that the price of
tickets will not be appreciably higher than last year.
Annual General Meeting
The Society's 13th Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday
7th May at 8.15p.m. at the Central Library, The Burroughs, NW4. A
formal notice summoning the meeting is enclosed with this Newsletter,
as are the minutes of the 1973 meeting.
Once the official business is over, we shall be offered several
items of interest: four members will illustrate with slides short talks
on Skara Brae (Orkney), Italy, Turkey and Sicily. Coffee will be served
during evening. Don't be put off by the formality of the notice; we in
HADAS aim to keep our AGMs both businesslike and thoroughly enjoyable!
Other Societies' Events
The Hon. Secretary will supply further details of the following on application from interested members: --
The Wembley History Society are holding an Anniversary Dinner at
Esso Motor Hotel, Empire Way, Wembley at 7.30p.m. on Tuesday 23rd April
1974 to mark the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the British Empire
Exhibition on 23rd April 1924. Tickets are £4 a head. There will be an
exhibition of B.E.E. souvenirs and entertainment from a West Indian
steel band and Maori dancers. The Society is publishing to booklets,
one of the story of the Exhibition and one of pictures, at £1 the two,
post free or separately £0.25 and £0.80 respectively.
The Moated Sites Research Group will be holding a conference at
Leicester University on Saturday 4th May 1974 at a cost of £1.40
including refreshments. Miss Ann Dornier has offered to arrange an
excursion to local moats on Sunday 5th May for those able to stay on in
Leicester. Application is required from those wanting to take part in
either or both of these activities.
The Fulham and Hammersmith Historical Society (Archaeological
Section) announce the publication of Occasional Papers Nos. 1 and 2.
1. The Fulham Pottery, a preliminary account … £0.50
2. A report on some of Archaeological Work in the Borough of Hammersmith … £0.25 (both post free).
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Church Terrace Dig
Under the existing arrangement with the London Borough of Barnet the
Society's activities on the Church Terrace site are to cease on 31st
March 1974. So much interesting material is now being uncovered,
however, that we have applied for an extension of that time limit, and
if the Borough does not intend to begin re-development immediately, we
have sought permission to continue excavation until such time as it
becomes imminent.
This quotation from our Chairman's letter to the Borough sums up the importance of the Church Terrace dig: --
"Today we can say with confidence that on the Church End site
there is definite physical evidence for the existence of Saxon Hendon.
This evidence consists of a complex ditch system, now clearly visible
on the site. The dark fill of these Saxon ditches, which are cut into
the yellow-coloured clay which forms the undisturbed natural subsoil of
the site, contains grass-tempered pottery, dated by the experts at the
Department of the Environment to 700-1050 AD. This is the first
physical evidence for Saxon Hendon ever to be found, and it reinforces
and confirms the few documentary references that exist."
Unless we hear that our request for an extension cannot be
granted, members may expect digging to go on at Church Terrace after
31st March. All who can lend a hand will be warmly welcomed. Digging
times are: Saturdays and Sundays: 10.00-5.30 and Wednesdays:
10.30-4.30.
Chance Finds
The close proximity of the dig to the Society's exhibition at Church
Farm House Museum is proving fruitful in more ways than one. For
instance, people who come to see the exhibition often stayed to watch
the dig and sometimes end by coming digging themselves.
The exhibition is producing good results in another direction.
We have received much information from visitors about chance finds of
archaeological material in the Borough. Half-a-dozen people have
written or telephoned to say that they have found clay tobacco pipes.
Finds of pottery have been reported -- ranging from half a Victorian
candlestick, of curious design, to the base of a Samian cup of the
1st/2nd century AD. Two or three people have tipped us off about
proposed developments, suggesting that the sites would be worth
watching. We even had some gruesome reports of two finds of human
bones, made during roadworks on the A1.
This interest in chance finds is sparked off by one particular
exhibit, which occupies the bay window recess in the Westernmost room
at the Museum. It shows many chance finds which have come the Society's
way during the last few years, from all periods and all parts of
Barnet.
The exhibit outlines the part which chance finds can play in
local archaeology. Roughly speaking, such finds can be divided into
three types which are of varying archaeological value:
1. - finds of which the precise find-spot, or provenance is
known. This is the most hopeful kind of chance find; it is the most
likely to lead to further finds, or at best to the discovery of a new
site.
2. - finds which are known to have been made in the Borough,
but no one can pinpoint the exact place. These finds are often brought
in by a friend or relation of the original finder, usually with some
such comment as "we've had this for ages -- my Dad found it long ago,
somewhere by Copthall Fields (or Apex Corner or Hadley Highstone)". The
more vague the description of where the object was found, the less
likely it is to lead to some discovery of archaeological importance.
3. - finds which have their own intrinsic interest (such as
coins) but very little archaeological value, because nothing is known
or remembered about where they came from. They cannot add to local
knowledge, and they may even have been brought back from a holiday
abroad.
All of which underlines the old archaeological maxim: it isn't what you find that matters -- is where and how you find it.
Contributed by BRIGID GRAFTON GREEN
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Report on March Lecture
Contributed by Elizabeth Holliday.
Forty six members of the Society were present at the March
meeting when Mr N. H. MacMichael spoke about "The Documents and
Manuscripts in the Westminster Abbey Library".
Mr MacMichael divided his talk into three parts. The first, of
particular interest to members, was about documents relating to Hendon
in the Abbey archives. Among these are a collection of Anglo-Saxon
charters, rewritten in the twelfth century, including the Charter of
St. Dunstan, which records the grant of Hendon to Westminster Abbey.
The collection of title deeds recording land and rents in the area is
not very great, although the original documents are supplemented by
copies taken in the reign of Edward II as part of the "Westminster
Domesday" records. There are 28 account rolls dating from 1319-1376 and
a register of estates leased about 1486. Other financial documents and
lists of tenants are included in the Abbey collection and there is a
complete index to material including entries under names and places.
The Abbey archives also contain maps of estates in the Hendon area
dating from the eighteenth century.
In the second part of his talk, the lecturer outlined the
history of the Abbey library which was originally part of the monastic
dormitory, and has a beautiful hammer-beam roof, probably dating from
the fifteenth century.
Mr MacMichael described and illustrated a selection of the
unique items in the Abbey collection. Among these treasures are a
charter of William the Conqueror which still has fragments of his seal
attached to it; a beautiful embroidered seal bag of Edward I, dating
from about 1290, depicting three golden lions, and a lease dated 1399
granted to Geoffrey Chaucer for a house near the main chapel.
The Abbey has a large collection of illuminated manuscripts
including a two-volumed mass book (or missal) which took about two
years to produce and cost £35. The artist is unknown but the scribe's
name was John Preston. The missal was lent recently for an exhibition
and was insured for £300,000.
Mr MacMichael concluded his talk with a series of slides
illustrating a bestiary, which contains information about a variety of
animals and mythical creatures including instructions for catching
tiger cubs with the aid of small mirrors!
Mr MacMichael invited members to visit the Abbey Library, by appointment, and to study the documents relating to Hendon.
Book Box
Recent accessions to the HADAS book box include:
ROMAN BRITAIN, I. A. Richmond (Reprint 1970 Penguin Books Limited) – from Christine Arnott
THE STORY OF TUTANKHAMUN, Otto Neubert (Reprint 1972 Dragon Books)
STUART LONDON, Malpas Pearce (Pub MacDonald London Weekend Television 1969) – from Dorothy Newbury
A COUNTRY CAMERA 1844-1914, Gordon Winter (Penguin Books 1973) – from Paul Carter
Many thanks to the three members who added these books to the
box. Any other editions will be very welcome, if in good condition and
dealing with archaeology and related subjects.
The full book list is now available upon request from the Hon.
Librarian, George Ingram. If you have already asked for it there is no
need to apply again. George will be sending you your copy in a few days
time.
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Book Review
Contributed by Philippa Bernard
Discovering Regional Archaeology -- South East England -- by Edward Sammes
It is with a considerable sense of pride that we draw readers'
attention to this new publication by prominent member of the Society.
One of the useful little "Discovering " books published by Shire
Publications, this is the ninth in the series which investigates and
explains archaeological sites all over England. The area covered by Mr
Sammes book includes Greater London as well as Hampshire, Kent, Surrey
and Sussex. Much useful information is condensed into an easy-to-read
yet scholarly little work, accompanied by clear maps and plans, grid
references and full details of access.
In his preface the author notes that "approaching a site on
foot is still the best way to appreciate the site in its environmental
surroundings, and, with a little imagination, the past also".
Imagination Mr Sammes certainly has -- he tells briefly but vividly the
story of Fishbourne near Chichester, giving a clear impression of what
the great villa was like in the time of its Roman occupation. He is
precise in his descriptions and many of the excellent photographs are
his own. Other well-known and sites are mentioned Danebury Hill Fort,
St. Catherine's Hill, Canterbury, Richborough and Bignor -- some less
well-known may prove of equal interest.
Members of the Society will, perhaps, be particularly
interested in sites in and around London. Pride of place in goes to
Sulloniacae, the Brockley Hill Roman Pottery in the Borough of Barnet.
Excavations in the City, Highgate and Hampstead are worth noting, and
an excellent Time Chart showing the dating of the different
archaeological periods puts the whole account into perspective. This
excellent little booklet is obtainable from most bookshops, price
£0.40. It should certainly give our Programme Committee some good ideas
for the summer.
Stop Press
Contributed by Jeremy Clynes
The Minimart on 9 March at the Henry Burden Hall was very
successfully, and we have just heard from the Treasurer, Richard
Deacon, that the net amount raised was £115!
Items for sale included stamps, home-made cakes and jams,
books, plants, bric-a-brac and a "nearly new" boutique (this was
literally true as a large number of items came from a shop turning out
unsold stock from a previous year.). There were two raffles -- one for
a selection of prizes, and the other for two packets of toilet rolls!
It was especially encouraging to see so many members who dropped in for a chat over coffee and biscuits.
As so often with HADAS the success of this venture was due to
the active co-operation and support from many members. In thanking most
warmly all those who helped on the actual date of the Minimart, we
particularly mention Joan Bird who provided tea, coffee and biscuits,
and the main organisers of the event, Dorothy Newbury, Daphne Lorimer
and Christine Arnott.
This newsletter has been edited by Christine Arnott.