Past Newsletters

HADAS Diary

Saturday 20 July Outing: FLAG FEN AND LONGTHORPE TOWER with Tessa Smith and Sheila Woodward, At Flag Fen we shall see the latest developments at one of the largest collections of bronze age artefacts in Europe; and at Longthorpe Tower the remains of a fortified manor with the finest examples of 14th c domestic wallpaintings in Northern Europe.

Saturday 17 August Outing: FARNHAM/WAVERLEY ABBEY with Bill Bass and Vicki O’Connor

Thur/Fri/Sat/Sun 4 DAY VISIT TO CORNWALL. We have had a good response to this

29/30/31 August/ 1st Sept and the group is full. Names for the waiting list are welcome, we had several late cancellations last year.

(Tel: Dorothy 203 0950).

Saturday 28 September Outing: WHITECHAPEL/BELL FOUNDRY with Mary O’Connell

DIGGERS WANTED S.O.S. from Vikki O’Connor

Excavation News: Oh, come all ye faithful!

The two trenches currently under excavation at the rear of Church Farmhouse Museum have reached their initial objectives insofar as the eastern trench has revealed the continuation of the ditch with its medieval fill (as found in 1993) and the western trench has now reached the level of the ‘old land surface’ and appears to contain the gulley which ran along the northernmost trench excavated three years ago.

Work will continue within these trenches, after which we shall open a third trench close to the area where post holes and ditches were found in 1993.

This new trench, which will be quite large and deep, will require a good size team of excavators, as will the possibility of opening a fourth trench nearer the pond, and you are therefore reminded that the success of the Society’s fieldwork does depend on volunteers. Our initial response of 14 volunteers has dwindled somewhat. There is also the need for a processing team to undertake the washing and labelling of finds. We shall be at the Farmhouse every Sunday until the end of July and on certain weekdays as well, depending on the response. So please contact Brian Wrigley on 959 5982 or Roy Walker on if you are interested in assisting in the excavation.

The Amazing Discovery of the Coelacanth by Stewart J. Wild

Many HADAS members will, I feel sure, be aware of the bizarre discovery of the coelacanth, the prehistoric fish that was thought to be extinct until a specimen was caught off South Africa in 1938, and again near the Comores Islands in 1952.

On a recent trip I was able to inspect and photograph a coelacanth in the museum in Moroni, Grand Comore, and learnt more of the fascinating story behind the discovery of this amazing deep-sea relic of prehistory.

The coelacanth gets its name from the Greek coelus akantha, meaning ‘hollow spine’. Fossil records show that the species appeared over 350 million years ago, and was abundant over much of the world. It might well have been amphibious, and members-of its related but extinct suborder Rhipidistia are generally considered to have been the ancestors of land vertebrates.

Present-day coelacanths are bigger than most fossil coelacanths, and are powerful predators with heavy, mucilaginous bodies and highly mobile, limblike fins. It was long supposed that they became extinct, like the dinosaurs, about 60 million years ago, but in 1938 a dead, evil-smelling specimen was caught by trawlermen off East London, South Africa.

This would probably have been the end of the matter had it not been for the earlier efforts of a South African scholar, Professor Smith, who was passionately interested in the creatures of the sea, and established marine museums along the South African coast, including one at East London. He encouraged trawlermen to hand in any unusual finds, and employed a keen young curator at East London by the name of Marjorie Courtney-Latimer.

So it was that the strange rotting fish, four and a half feet long, was brought to the museum at East London, where Marjorie measured and sketched it and wrote excitedly to the Professor that an extinct fish seemed to have appeared. The species was named Latimeria chalumnae, the first part to honour Marjorie, and the second after the river estuary at East London near where the fish was found.Professor Smith spent the war years working on his book Fishes of South Africa which was published in 1949. The following year, he distributed posters along the coast offering a reward of £100 for any coelacanth specimen that was brought to his notice. Then in December 1952, a schooner skipper from Zanzibar netted a dead coelacanth while fishing off the Comores Islands, and sent Smith an urgent telegram from Mayotte.

The professor had just arrived in Durban aboard a Union Castle liner, but it was the week before Christmas, and there was no way to reach Dzaoudzi, Mayotte’s main port. Smith was desperate, and through the intervention of a Durban MP, Prime Minister Dr Malan was persuaded of the importance of the find, and agreed to place an Air Force Dakota at the professor’s disposal.

So it was that on Christmas Eve the professor and his wife landed on the grass strip at Pamanzi Island, Mayotte, eager to feast their eyes at last on this prehistoric wonder. Capt. Hunt had packed the fish in salt, and the professor flew back to Durban with his trophy.

This specimen, which apparently lacked a dorsal fin, was named Melanie Anjouanae, honouring Dr Malan and the Comores island of Anjouan, where it was found, although subsequently it was found to be exactly the same species as Latimeria chalumnae which is the only Latin name now used. Professor Smith later wrote about the fish in a book entitled Old Four Legs.

Since that time, six more coelacanths have been found; the most recent was caught off Madagascar last year. A specimen has been on display in London’s Natural History Museum since 1955.

About ten years ago a National Geographic expedition used a special submarine to look for coelacanths off the Comores Islands. Some were found living at depths between 550ft and 650ft, and their total numbers were estimated to be no more than 100, so they are truly an endangered species.

It just goes to show that our World is still full of secrets – what other prehistoric wonders might be there be lurking in the depths of the oceans?

HADAS outing to Rye and Bodiam by Vikki O’Connor

Our first stop was at Sutton Valence, Kent, a village built in terraces on a ridge overlooking the Weald, although the mists somewhat obscured our view that day. Bill Wilson, a master at Sutton Valence School, gave us a short talk and walk, pointing out that the school of some 350 pupils, now including girls, has acquired other buildings in the village for its history and art departments at the old church and the Almshouses. The School was founded by clothworker William Lambe in 1576 (Lamb’s Conduit Street in London was named after him because he was responsible for the bringing of fresh water to Holborn in 1577).

He also donated six almshouses to Sutton Valence in 1580. Many of the older buildings in this charming village are white weather-boarded, and it has a fair sprinkling of public houses. However, we settled for coffee at the Swan Inn; the Landlady has only recently taken over, but she believed an inn on that site originated in the 13th century. A few people found time to trek up the hill to the remains of the Norman keep, an 8′ thick ragstone structure, and another couple of members were fortunate to get invited by a friendly villager to have a peek inside his house!

Our coach driver took us at an un-bumpy, steady pace (such a change from London buses!) to another hilly destination – The Ancient Town of Rye. The coach dropped us off beside the old Warehouses opposite the Quay on the River Tillingham and we first looked at the displays in the Tourist Centre to get our bearings. The Centre has acquired the Rye Town Model, built by a local couple in only four years, after much research, to represent Rye in the last century. The model is used to demonstrate the development of the town, using artfully placed spotlights, internal lighting and an informative commentary. Rye was one of the seven head ports, or Cinque Ports and Two Ancient Towns – whose duty was to provide ships for the Royal fleet. Rye is enclosed by three rivers, the Rother, the Brede and the Tillingham and on the fourth side the Ashford to Hastings railway line. It is fortunate in having kept the 20th century, if not at bay, then under control. The streets are uncluttered by bill boards, pavement advertising signs, neon intrusions, fast-food litter, satellite dishes, etc. Rye appears to be thriving – local industries include boat-building, fishing, pottery making, electronics, etc. The many tea shops are competing for attention with the largest cakes I’ve ever seen on a HADAS outing – slices of three-decker chocolate, coffee or vanilla cake at least 6″ tall! Another important industry was the smuggling ‘trade’, stemming from Edward I’s imposition of import and export taxes, and thriving until Victorian times when it was curtailed by free trade and public disapproval. Smuggling was known locally as `owling’ because of the bird calls used as signals. Illegal exports included wool, cloth, leather, gold, silver and guns, and wine, spirits, tobacco, tea, coffee, chocolate, silks and lace were amongst the imports. We walked up Mermaid Street, past the Mermaid Inn, a favoured haunt of the 18th century Hawkhurst Gang – a local smuggling fraternity.

Our party re-formed at the Gungarden – a former gun emplacement now occupied by ornamental cannon, for a guided tour with a lady (I apologize for not having caught her name) who had stepped in to replace a colleague at the last minute. We looked at the Ypres Tower, built around 1250 as a fortification; it has subsequently been used as a dwelling, prison, mortuary and presently the Rye Museum. Unfortunately, the roof needs vital repairs and until the local authority obtains funds, the museum will remain closed.

The town has attracted many well-known poets and authors: Henry James; H G Wells; Kipling; Belloc; G K Chesterton. E F Benson also stayed here and his Mapp & Lucia stories were actually filmed in Rye. There are, however, plenty of real stories to entertain as our guide told us of gruesome goings-on. A monk from the Augustinian Friary (built in 1379) eloped with Amanda, the daughter of a local merchant who lived in the Tower House nearby, but the couple were caught, brought back and bricked-up alive together. People claim to have seen Amanda’s ghost in her house, and the monk’s ghost was said to have become a turkey and was heard in Turkey Cock Lane. We heard how two skeletons were in fact discovered behind a bricked up wall and that they were re-buried in the churchyard and, of course, the ghosts have now disappeared. Another gruesome tale was that of local butcher/innkeeper by the name of Breads who, bearing a grudge against the local magistrate James Lamb, set out to stab him to death in the churchyard. However, it was Lamb’s brother-in-law Allen Grebell who died because he had borrowed Lamb’s cloak. Breads was hanged and chained to a gibbet and his skull, still within the gibbet cage now resides in the Town Hall.

None of our party were impressed to learn of the medieval custom of the Mayor and Councillors of throwing of hot pennies to the local children from the Town Hall windows. The race not to the swiftest but to the asbestos coated?

Lamb House was built by James Lamb 1722-3, who was mayor of Rye thirteen times. I was unable to establish whether William Lambe, the clothworker of Sutton Valence and London, was related to the Rye Lambs. Can anyone enlighten me?

The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin sits at the summit of the town, and the tale of the bells is ‘told’ with pride. In 1377 the French attacked Rye, torched the 12/13th century church and captured the church bells. Next year Rye and Winchelsea sent a force to Normandy, recapturing and restoring the bells.

Our last port of call – Bodiam Castle – was accompanied by a summer shower. After cake and several cups of tea, we walked over to the moated castle, noting that a small entrance faced the river presumably for boats only, but the main entrance is on the far side, and the straight approach over the moat originally dog-legged in from one side. The castle was built in 1385, when Sir Edward Dalyngrydge was granted a licence to crenellate.

Much of the structure remains intact, making it possible to picture what life there could have been like – probably very busy and quite noisy, with up to 200 people when visitors and entourage arrived. Most of us tried to shelter in a little room to watch a video on medieval life but the rain soon eased off and the warm air had dried off the excess damp by the time we returned to the coach. Our thanks to Micky Cohen and Micky Watkins for selecting three picturesque and interesting places for this outing, and for those members who have not yet visited Rye – recommended!

FLAG FEN :

A report in the GUARDIAN on 30 May reveals a new theory about the Fen. Frances Pryor suggests that the small Bronze Age fields around the site are evidence of inten­sive sheep rearing (thousands of animals) and therefore of a much larger population than envisaged up to now.

A full report will appear in ‘Antiquity’. Frances Pryor expects to be slaughtered by unconvinced colleagues

FROM THE NEWSPAPERS

MEXICO : What could be the earliest sporting facility in the world – a court on which the ball was bounced off two walls -­3,500 years ago. Losers were sacrificed (TIMES – 11 June)

COVENT GARDEN : evidence of a lost Saxon city beneath the Opera House, west of Roman Londinium. Archaeology could hold up redevelopment of the site – a dilemma for the Opera House and the Museum of London. (SUNDAY TIMES – 9 JUNE)

IRELAND, DRUMANAGH : A coastal headland with rampart and ditch fortification may have been a major trading station – not Roman occupied. (TIMES – 20 JUNE) See also NEWSLETTER of February ’96.

AVBURY : Stones farthest from the village have been vandalised with daubed symbols; security is a problem in a site so open and dispersed. (TIMES – 20 JUNE)

MOROCCAN SAHARA : Dinosaur, the largest ever found, dated to 90 million years ago. A skull over 5 feet long implying a body 45 feet long : This is the first Dinosaur find in Africa. Previous discoveries confined to North and South America. This report in the DAILY TELEGRAPH of 17 May, was illustrated by a fearsome photograph of a reconstruction of this monster’s skull, dwarfing a human skull superimposed on the lower jaw of the dinosaur. Below is reproduced a diagram which also accompanied the report – showing a tiny man about the size of half the leg of the creature which once roamed Morocco’s Sahara when it was a vast flood plain laced with rivers, edged by coniferous trees.

No. 304 AUGUST 1996 Edited by Peter Pickering

DIARY

Saturday 17 August Outing: Farnham/Waverley Abbey – Bill Bass & Vikki O’Connor

Thurs/Fri/S at/Sun Four-day visit to Cornwall. We have had a good response to this and

29/30/31 Aug the group is full and booked in at hotels. Names for the waiting list are

and 1 Sept welcome: ‘phone Dorothy Newbury: 203 0950. (Last year there were

several late cancellations)

Saturday 28 September Outing: Whitechapel Bell Foundry Mary O’Connell

Tuesday 8 October Lecture: The Temple of Mithras & Cripplegate Fort – John Shepherd

Saturday 12 October MINIMART

NEW MEMBERS

The committee would like to welcome the following new members who have joined HADAS this year:- lain Macmillan, Ron and Louise Glover, Linda Barrow, James Lonsdale, Ernest Kirk, Joyce Fisher, Ray Gibbs, Dr David Grant, Jack Richardson, Michael Hooper, Miss C Troddyn (rejoined), Angela Gill and Tim Gillott. Some of these new members came along to our recent dig. Perhaps other new members would like to introduce themselves to members of the committee at meetings or outings or our famous Minimart.

MILL HILL WORKHOUSE

There is a lot of interest in the Bulletin of the Mill Hill Historical Society, and we are indebted to Richard Nicholls of that Society for sending it to us. Here is a section entitled “Did you know that Mill Hill once had a workhouse?”

The Middlesex Records show that in 1712 there was a workhouse in Mill Hill situated near Ridgeway House – probably at the top of what is now Wills Grove. It would have been a cottage owned or rented in the name of the Hendon Overseers of the Poor to house paupers. There was also one such cottage on Highwood Hill (location unknown), and two at the Hale, of which the last was sold in 1837. This was in addition to the almshouses at the top of Milespit Hill.

The Mill Hill workhouse was not in use for very long. A much larger one was opened in the Burroughs in 1735. It was mostly for orphan children who helped to maintain themselves by spinning flax and weaving threads into sheets. As the name suggests these were workhouses. Exactly one hundred years later in terms of the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 Hendon joined with Harrow, Pinner, Edgware, Kingsbury, Willesden, and Great and Little Stanmore to form a “Union”, as such shared workhouses were known in Victorian times. A substantial redbrick building in Tudor style was erected at Redhill, roughly where the Edgware Hospital car park is now. It could accommodate no fewer than 350 paupers.

In 1859 a school was built for 150 pauper children, and then in 1865 an infirmary. The Medical Officer from 1877 was Dr W Blasson who lived in Partingdale Lane and was also Medical Officer to Mill Hill School. In 1889 it became necessary to enlarge the workhouse. But after the war the need declined, and with all such institutions it was closed in 1930. As the Redhill Institution the building was not demolished until 1971 when it was replaced by a block of flats. Meanwhile in 1937 Redhill Hospital had been built and in terms of the National Health Service in 1948 it became Edgware General Hospital.

It might also be recalled that for twenty-five years the house which is now known as Highwood Ash was used to accommodate pauper children. In 1819 Thomas Nicholl, who lived at Copt Hall but also owned the house, let it to the Overseers of the Poor of the parish of St Martin’s in the Fields for the housing of poor homeless infants under the care of matrons. It is recorded that at one time as many as forty-seven children and sixteen adults were accommodated there.

SOLDIERS SLAIN AT THE BATTLE OF BARNET

Jeannie Cobban wrote an interesting piece in the April Newsletter about the burial of soldiers slain in the Battle of Barnet, and the chantry chapel that Edward IV is said to have erected near the burials. Cyril Pentecost has now drawn attention to a fascinating passage in “One Hundred Years of Playing the Game”, a history of Finchley Football Club edited by Harold Whiddon and published in 1974. According to that book, in the days of Totteridge Park School (who were original founder members of the Football Association), a “house on Totteridge Common called ‘Montebello’ and previously called Lincoln Lodge” was the home of the Headmaster. “The school was opposite the long ponds, and the house still remains (1971). On each side of the entrance gates are pillars on which are mounted stone eagles whilst the famous playing fields are at the rear. Incidentally deep in the grounds is a mound reputed to be the burial place of many soldiers killed in the Wars of the Roses, Battle of Barnet, April 14th, 1471”

THAMES FORESHORE SURVEY

At our April meeting Mike Webber told us about the Thames Foreshore survey. According to the Guardian of 5th July this survey has discovered the remains of a Tudor jetty used by Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and the diarist Samuel Pepys. Perhaps when the survey has been completed we shall have another talk reporting on all the discoveries.

SITE WATCHING Bill Bass

Tree Planting at Whitings Hill Open Space, Barnet

This is an area of fields and open land south-east of Chipping Barnet, probably used as farm/pasture land for many years and known also as part of Barnet Common until Barnet’s Enclosure Act of 1815.

The fields are defined by NCR:

a) 22739552 b) 22909562

c) 22979512 d) 23299542 e) 23029546

and

a) 22709500 b) 22979512

c) 22759482 d) 23059499

(field adjacent to Mays Lane)

The trees were planted from November 1995 to April 1996 as part of the Watling Chase Forest Scheme and also by the Woodland Trust. ‘Compartments’ were marked out in the above areas.

Several methods were used to plant the trees including: digging/augering of pits, and insertion into 2-3m wide strips of rotavated topsoil.Beneath the grass, most observation revealed a layer of approx 20-30cm of clayey topsoil which sits on top of natural London Clay; generally there were little or no finds.

Pits (60 cm sq x 60cm deep), dug into the north and east sides of Whitings Hill itself, revealed some finds of Victorian or modern pottery (china and stoneware), window/bottle glass and clay pipe. Some of the ground here was thought to be made-up, as there was a lack of topsoil and the subsoil appeared `graded’; this may be due to a possible levelling of the surrounding area.

The large field adjacent to Mays Lane had many hundreds of trees planted. The nature of the planting (narrow augered holes) made it difficult to see the underlying subsoil, but inspection of several post-holes showed a slightly deeper topsoil at approx 40-50cm, again directly above the natural clay. The only finds to be seen were scattered modern building materials on the surface.

. . . and the digger wends his weary way home . .

THE END OF CFM 96 Roy Walker

The second phase of our excavation at Church Farm House Museum, Hendon, has now concluded and it is pleasing to note that all three “matters requiring further investigation” listed in the Interim report produced after Phase 1 have been further investigated. Here is a very brief summary, which will be followed by a detailed report once post-excavation work has been completed. This should be read in conjunction with the CFM93 interim report (Newsletter No 279 of June 1994).

Three trenches were opened, one continuing further west of the old land surface, another on the line of the mediaeval ditch and the third within the known area of the old land surface close to where features cutting it had been found previously. These trenches were numbered 4, 5 and 6 to avoid confusion with trenches 1, 2 and 3 of CFM93.

Trench 4: The old land surface was located beneath garden and cultivation soils. Beneath were two gullies, which it filled; one gulley terminated within the trench, and the other ran beyond it Both were orientated EM/ The sandy “drift” located further east was not present. Disappointingly there was no dating evidence recovered from within this trench.

Trench 5: A three metre stretch of the mediaeval ditch was located, the fill excavated, and the cut exposed. It ran N/S rising as it neared the farmhouse. Many shards of mediaeval pottery were recovered together with possible Roman tile.

Trench 6: Due to lack of time, it was only possible to expose a small area of the old land surface which was at a far greater depth than that in trench 4 owing to the overlying depth of drift, i.e. the sandy soil that had drifted onto the old land surface from some distance away. There were no features.

Auger survey: A gridded, auger survey was conducted to build up a picture of the stratigraphy outside the excavated areas, correlating the results with known contexts. It confirmed that the mediaeval ditch excavated in trench 5 continued north and south of that trench.

On the logistics side, we worked ten Sundays and managed an additional eight weekdays including one Saturday. A total of twenty-seven volunteers contributed to the work, some for only a day, others for longer, including five non-members – Greg Hunt, Nilam Naidu, Daniel Seedburgh, Daniel Susman and Tessa Smith’s grandson (who assisted with the pot-washing). We thank Susan Bates, Jean Bayne, Graham Bromley, Tony Crawley, Ray Gibbs, Helen Gordon, David Grant, Victor Jones, Tom Real, Denis Ross, Kim Russell, Tessa Smith, and Stewart Wild

for their assistance and hope to see all of them again on future excavations. It is appreciated that it is not always possible to commit oneself to every Sunday for two months but any additional help is very welcome and it is rewarding for the regulars to know that they are not alone when it comes to this aspect of the Society’s work. The basic team comprised Brian Wrigley (site director and )/C augering), supervisors Roy Walker (trench 4), Bill Bass (trench 5) and Gareth Bartlett (trench 6), Brian McCarthy, Andy Naidu (HADAS’s only junior member), Vikki O’Connor, Peter Pickering and Andy Simpson.

We are grateful to the London Borough of Barnet for allowing us once again to excavate at the Farmhouse and especially to Gerrard and Derek at the Museum for their tolerance and patience during our disruptive works.

PREHISTORIC SOCIETY CONFERENCE JUNE 1996 – ST IVES Brian Wrigley

I think we can say that HADAS was well represented at this Conference by six members, forming about one-eighth of the party. We were made very welcome by members of the Cornwall Archaeological Unit (CAU), some of whom we shall I think be seeing again on HADAS’s forthcoming trip.

From the seminar on the opening day, one gained an impressive view of the richness of Cornwall’s archaeology, with visible land patterns dating from mediaeval times commonplace, and many from prehistoric times – so that detailed survey of them, and of their relationships is very rewarding, and is being eagerly pursued by CAU. The sort of research framework, one might say, which many would dearly love to be able to achieve in London! (No-one mentioned PPG16 in Cornwall!)

And so for the next four days we travelled round to see some of these landscapes and monuments. I cannot mention them all, but must make a selection.

Leskernick, on Bodmin Moor, is an area of presumed Bronze Age settlement in roundhouses (outlines still visible), with stone circles and a stone row, amid higher ground seemingly in every direction, nearly every peak of which has its stone (ritual?) monument. Survey of the settlement was going on whilst we were there, and it was really amazing to see the strings and tapes measuring this enormous surviving ancient landscape.

Then further to the south on Bodmin Moor, in the area of The Hurlers (three stone circles in line), are The Pipers, Rillaton Barrow, Craddock Moor Stone Circle, an embanked avenue and a prehistoric round cairn, sharing a number of alignments. (it was quite a walk seeing them all.)

Our guide for Carn Brea neolithic hill-fort was Roger Mercer who excavated it in the 1960s. It was in a dense fog for our visit, which was disappointing, but he kept us entertained with frequent remarks like “I had been going to say, if you look in that direction you can see (so-and-so) .. but you can’t”, We heard of the vast amount of neolithic arrow-heads found around the entrance area, and of arguments as to whether this represented a battle for possession of the fort.

Bodrifty Iron Age settlement consists of eight round houses within a low enclosing bank. We took our lunch amongst them, observing the solidity of the wall remains, and of the remains of banks defining garden plots and animal enclosures attached to some of the houses, within quite a small area. Excavation has found hearths, drains, cooking and storage pits, much pottery, spindle whorls and querns; all in all, a feeling of a busy, close little community – perhaps the Iron Age equivalent of a dormitory suburb?

As for the most enjoyable social side, one must end by mentioning our hospitable reception by Truro Museum with wine and a tour of the Museum: and the Conference dinner, at which, by invitation of President Tim Champion, Past President Thurston Shaw entertained us with an account of our doings, in verse.

FINCHLEY MANOR HOUSE, EAST END ROAD (STERNBERG CENTRE) Brian Wrigley

On 3rd July, by invitation, I represented HADAS at a site meeting of the estate manager and representatives of English Heritage and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV), to discuss plans for vegetation clearance, planting, path construction and a possible pond. The project was, in essence, the laying down of a nature trail with disabled access, including some replanting, whilst English Heritage’s concerns were, of course, preservation, clearance, and a view of the old moat feature. The upshot was a general consensus on a path (Hoggin gravel between wood sideboards) – to include an offshoot to an area giving a good view of the moat -and clearance, but no excavation for replanting. There was also discussion of providing an interpretation board, and possible leaflets, to explain the site, on which I said HADAS would be glad to help.

I have since been give a copy of the draft new specification for the work. This, if adopted, will provide for clearance, the making of the path, including the interpretation board, and continuing maintenance.

It now appears, unlike my first impression, there will be no earth disturbance to need archaeological work such as sampling or observation, but we clearly should make our best possible contribution to the interpretation board. I have assembled a small bundle of relevant records, and if any members would like to help in getting these into suitable form, or in supplying further information, I should be delighted to hear from them.

A VISIT TO THE LEBANON Peter Pickering

Marie and I went on a British Museum Tour to the Lebanon over Easter When we set off things were peaceful – though there were numerous military road blocks – but a couple of days before our return the Israelis started bombing guerrilla strongholds, and we were relieved to get out safely_

Lebanon has one ancient monument of stupendous grandeur – the temple of Baalbek – several excavated sites of very early civilisations, and numerous other features of interest. Beirut is properly described as `war-ravaged’; and when the great Museum will re-open who can tell. But as the work of reconstruction proceeds – and it is, encouragingly – archaeology is not forgotten. The Museum of London is helping, and some sites of great interest have been found – for instance what may be remains of the law-school, of fame throughout antiquity.

We visited two extensive excavations. First, Tyre, an island in early times linked to the mainland by a mole under Alexander the Great – there were many finely carved Punic sarcophagi, a vast Roman stadium for chariot racing, colonnades, an aqueduct, ritual pools, and complex jumbles of ancient masonry. Second, Byblos, which dates as far back as 5000 BC, though the slight remains from then are suffering from the elements. It is dominated by a Crusader castle, and has a restored Roman colonnade and odeon. But it is the temples that are most absorbing – so absorbing indeed that Marie and I failed to notice the Israeli jets overhead. The earlier temple (about 2800 BC) is L-shaped; the later, Amorite, one shows strong Egyptian influence, being crammed full of small obelisks. The second temple was built over the first, but has been restored some 50 yards away, so that both of them can be seen,

Neither words nor pictures can do justice to Baalbek. The union of exotic Syrian cult and Roman determination to impress has produced a colossal complex, with an enormous ruined temple of Jupiter Heliopolitanus behind massive courtyards, a large and extremely well preserved temple perhaps of Bacchus, full of carvings, and a small circular temple, perhaps of Venus. All around there are carvings of We spent a whole day there, and then visited it at night under floodlights. We stayed within a stone’s throw of the site, in the most memorable, if least comfortable, of hotels – the last word when it was built in the. nineteenth century, and full of ancient objects from the site.

We were accompanied by two experts from the British Museum – George Hart and Simon James – and were therefore thoroughly well informed.

WHERE WOULD YOU SIT IN AN ANCIENT THEATRE? Peter Pickering

Anyone who has visited Turkey or Provence, in particular, will have seen great open-air theatres, often well preserved, and may have wondered what it was like to go to the theatre in antiquity. I recently heard a lecture by Charlotte Roueche, which answered some of one’s questions while, of course, raising more. She has worked particularly at the theatre of Aphrodisias in Western Turkey. There, carvings on the seats (disparagingly called graffiti) are particularly common, and give a fascinating picture of the audience. For seats seem to have been reserved by writing on them names – of important civic officials, of private individuals, or of groups of people who would sit together – for instance the goldsmiths or Jews. And yes – I hear the question- women did go to the theatre in Roman times, whatever may have happened earlier – since many names of upper-class ladies have been found, high up at the back, where men could not peer down at them.

We must remember that though people certainly went to the theatre to see plays, they were admirably suited, and used, for other sorts of public gathering – it was to the theatre in Ephesus that the populace rushed to meet when incensed at the preaching of St Paul. Nor was the theatre always filled by people absorbed by what they saw and heard – very many gaming boards are carved on the seats, for whiling away the time

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

The Museum of London Archaeology Service (MoLAS to most of you) has a new address -Walker House, 87 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4AB

Dark Age London Peter Pickering

Are you up to date on archaeological research work and excavations relating to London and its hinterland in the centuries between the end of Roman rule and the Norman Conquest? A Conference in the Museum of London on Saturday 5 October 1996 will ensure that you are

Speakers will include Martin Welch on why the Croydon cemetery should be excavated, John Hines on the early Anglo-Saxon evidence, Bob Cowie on the Middle Saxon trading and manufacturing settlement along the Strand (Lundenwic), Peter Rowsome on the exciting discoveries relating to Late Saxon London within the City walls, Lyn Blackmore on the crucial Anglo-Saxon and imported pottery sequences and James Rackham on the ever-growing contribution of environmental archaeology for the London region.

The conference is being organised by SCOLA (the Standing Conference on London Archaeology). It will cost C7.50 (C6 for individual members of SCOLA) to include tea and coffee. I am the Assistant Secretary of SCOLA, and if you will send me (P E Pickering, 3 Westbury Road London N12 7NY) a cheque payable to SCOLA I shall send you tickets. (A stamped addressed envelope would be helpful)

HADAS Diary

Saturday 8 June Outing: RYE AND BODIAM with Micky Watkins and Micky Cohen

Saturday 20 July Outing: FLAG FEN AND LONGTHORPE TOWER with Tessa Smith and Sheila Woodward, At Flag Fen we shall see the latest developments at one of the largest collections of bronze age artefacts in Europe; and at Longthorpe Tower the rema14th cf a fortified manor with the finest examples of 14thc domestic wallpaintings in Northern Europe.
(Application form in next Newsletter).

Saturday 17 August Outing: FARNHAM/WAVERLEY ABBEY with Bill Bass and

Vicki O’Connor

Thur/Fri/Sat/Sun 4 DAY VISIT TO CORNWALL. We have had a good response to this

29/30/31 August/ 1st Sept and the group is full. Names for the waiting list are welcome, we had several late cancellations last year.

(Tel: Dorothy 203 0950).

Saturday 28 September Outing: WHITECHAPEL/BELL FOUNDRY with Mary O’Connell

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The 35th AGM of HADAS was held at Avenue House on 14th May with fifty people present. We were very pleased that our President, Michael Robbins, was able to make the cross-London Journey to be with us and chair the meeting. As usual the business matters were dealt with quickly. The annual report of the Chairman is published in this Newsletter. Victor Jones and Dr, Derek Renn were elected as new Vice-Presidents of the Society. The only item in the agenda which caused some discussion was the motion proposed by the Chairman on behalf of the Committee that the concession subscription rate for membership of people over 60 should be withdrawn and the annual subscription rates be amended as follows:

Standard subscription: £8.00 per year

Additional family members: £2.50 per year

Members under 18 years: £5.00 per year

This was agreed with the recommendation that the Membership Secretary should have the discretion to amend it for anyone finding the increase a problem.

When the formal business was over four members of the Society gave short talks with slides – Roy Walker on the Mount House, Monken Hadley dig and the Hampstead Heath survey; Brian Wrigley on the Church Farmhouse Museum garden dig, which has just recommenced; Bill Bass on Martin Biddle’s dig at St. Albans; and Andy Simpson on Transport in Barnet.

Hendon and District Archaeological Society

Chairman’s Report AGM, 14th May 1996

The Society continues to flourish and has had a successful 12 months. The Society carried out a small scale excavation last summer at St Martha’s Convent School, Monken Hadley in advance of a new classroom. Most of the finds consisted of modern pottery, but some fragments of clay pipes were tentatively dated to about 1750. Subsequently work continued on the Hampstead Heath Project to investigate the nearly vanished bank and ditch that runs across Hampstead Heath. This has long been thought to be Saxon in origin, a suspicion confirmed by the recent book The Westminster Corridor by David Sullivan. Work was carried out in the autumn by the excavation team surveying the course of the ditch in Kenwood notably in the area adjacent to the abandoned garden of the Elms House, though somewhat hampered by the lack of a resistivity meter, and we are applying for a grant from the Barnet Council charities to purchase a new one. The excavation team under Brian Wrigley, Roy Walker and Bill Bass looks forward this summer to continuing work at Church Farm hoping to follow up the medieval activity which we picked up two years ago, and volunteers will be welcome every Sunday. The main event of the excursions programme was the long weekend to Durham in September when the Society visited three World Heritage sites, Durham itself, South Shields and Hadrian’s Wall. Other notable excursions included one to the House of Commons by courtesy of John Marshall MP and outings to Avebury, Colchester, Silchester, Boxgrove and the Royal Institution. There was also a very successful Christmas dinner at St Albans.

The highlight of our fund raising activities was the Minimart held on 14th October when, thanks to the work of

Dorothy Newbury and her helpers we raised nearly £1,500. What always surprises me is that the Minimart is fun – a rare example of how to make money while also enjoying yourself.

The Newsletter continued to appear throughout the year. The March 1996 issue was in fact our 300th issue, a feature which was celebrated by a reprint of the very first issue – a single sheet flyer. An early members list of 1970 shows that 33 names arc still members, including our secretary, Liz Holliday.

On the personnel side, several changes must be reported. Will Parnaby, our Treasurer for the last three years is retiring and we welcome Mrs Michaela O’Flynn as our new Treasurer. Our thanks go to June Purges who has arranged a lively series of lectures now held on the ground floor at Avenue House. A particularly warm vote of thanks must as always go to Dorothy Newbury who not only arranged the excursions under a series of loyal lieutenants but who also oversaw the production of the newsletter throughout the year, and most of all masterminded the Minimart. My thanks too to Liz Holliday, our ever-efficient secretary, and to Vikki O’Connor who performs that most thankless of tasks that of Membership secretary.

Finally can I give a particular vote of thanks to Victor Jones who sadly had to resign from the Committee during the year because of his increasing infirmity, though I am happy to say that following an operation in the Royal Free, his backbone has been straightened up and he is now able to walk again. For long he was our Treasurer but perhaps more important than that was his work behind the scenes making arrangements for the well-being of the Society for which I was particularly grateful. We hope we will continue to see him at our Meetings for a long time to come.

Andrew Selkirk, 14th May 1996

CHURCH FARMHOUSE EXCAVATION. De-turfing commenced on Sunday 12th May with a splendid turnout of fourteen including some first-time diggers with HADAS. Two trenches have been opened and it is likely in the time available that it will be possible for two further areas to be investigated. We will be working most Sundays until late July and will certainly work OR weekdays depending on the numbers available to make it worthwhile. If you are interested in participating please contact Brian Wrigley (0181 959 5982) or Roy Walker (0181 362 1350) for confirmation that the site will be open.

THAMES FORESHORE. It has not been possible to find a convenient date in June for a visit to the foreshore with Mike Webber, but the tide tables are being consulted (along with the HADAS calendar and digging days) to pick a convenient time before the end of summer. Details will appear in a subsequent Newsletter.

MUSEUM OF LONDON. Cash cuts have forced the Museum of London to close its archeological archive, which includes material from some of the most important Roman, Saxon and medieval discoveries in the City and the surrounding area. Although some of the more spectacular objects are on display in the museum, hundreds of thousands of others, ranging from the Stone Age to Victorian times, are in study collections. These are complemented by drawings, photographs and descriptions of the sites and their excavations. Scholarly access to the archive has already been restricted and no new material will be accepted once current investigations have closed. The museum said it would enter into agreements to take finds and records only if funds were provided from private or public sources. (The Times 6.5.1996)

A STONE AGE VILLAGE has been unearthed beneath the site of the Newbury bypass. Wessex Archaeology think this could be one of the best six sites of its kind in Britain. Flint tools up to 10,000 years old, have been discovered during preliminary digs. A £300,000 contract will be awarded by the Highways Authority for excavation. But the bypass will be built above the area nevertheless, however significant it will turn out to be. (The Times 9.5. 1996)

MUMMIES, MUMMIES EVERYWHERE

– Nevada mummy oldest in North America. The mummy known as The Spirit Cave Man had a fractured skull and was tightly wrapped in tule mats and a fur robe. Using new dating techniques Nevada Museum researchers discovered he was buried 9,415 years ago, about 6,500 years earlier than had previously been estimated. The body was naturally mummified by the extreme dryness of the cave and the wrappings. Some of the man’s hair and skin was preserved, together with his well-made moccasins. Woven bags and other everyday artefacts were found nearby; also bags containing ashes and bone fragments of two people who had been cremated. (Cyprus Weekly, 3 May 1966).

– Chinese mummies. The discovery of white men in European style clothing of c.2,000 B.C. in northwest China was discussed at an international
archaeological conference in Philadelphia recently. There seems to be evidence of long term occupation of this part of China by Europeans. (The Times 10.5. 1996)

NEWSPLAN FOR LONDON AND SOUTH EAST REGION. This project is part of a nation wide scheme to identify and microfilm all local newspapers from their origins to the present day. The project is managed by the British Library in co-operation with other libraries and the newspaper industry. (Library Association Record

May 1996).

OTHER SOCIETIES AND EVENTS

Roman Fair: Sunday 2 June, 11am – 5pm (Adults £3.00 Children £1.50)

Welwyn By Pass, Welwyn Village. (Tel: 01707 271362)

Includes: Guided tour wi
th Tony Rook, excavator of the Roman baths; washing and sorting real Roman finds; Roman drama and mime; Roman food, etc

Hertfordshire History Fair: Sunday 16 June, 10am-5pm (Adults £3.00

Children £2.00) Sherrardswood School, Lockleys, Welwyn Garden City (Tel: 01763 848759).

Includes: Special opening of the Roman baths; talks on Victorian deaths, schools and underwear; the Panshanger Papers; films of old Herts; tradition) gardens; troubadours; Nordic story telling; Viking gathering.

Crofton Roman Villa Crofton Road, Orpington: till 30 October

Contacts: Dr. Alan Tyler, Bromley Museum, Orpington (Tel: 01689 873826) Brian Philp, Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit (Tel: 0181 462 4737)

Chiltern Open Air Museum: till 31 October

Newland Park, Gortelands Lane, Chalfont St. Giles, Bucks HP8 4AD (Tel: 01494 872163)

Mill Hill Historical Society Newsletter, Bulletin no.2 February 1996. Includes a number of interesting items:

– a description of the Barnet Local Studies and Archives Centre, 34 Egerton Gardens, NW4 and an appeal for more material. The Centre contains more than half a million documents, manuscripts, books, maps, prints, census returns, directories, rate books, church records, deeds, photographs and postcards.

– a note on the gas works at the bottom end of Bittacy Hill establihed in 1862. British Gas has notified Barnet Council that it plans almost complete disposal and redevelopment of the site which comprises over 24 acres. The future will depend in part on would-be buyers, and on planning approval.

– an item on the old fire station established in 1889 in a shed Just below the old Three Hammers which was demolished in 1939. From 1914-1929 Mill Hill became the responsibility of the Hendon brigade, until the fire station in Hartley Avenue was opened.

– the site of the only known maypole, on Fir Island. Towards the close of last century a substantial residence was built there; amongst better known occupants were Sir J.H.Cunliffe, K. C., M.P. and Captain W.A.Nell, chairman of the Express Dairy.

– a prison: location and use not known. The Hendon Vestry minutes for 1778 record “ordered that a cage be built at Mill Hill”.

– biographical note on James Le Marie, born in 1804 of French parents. He married Martha Ellen Garrud in 1828 and very soon afterwards became bailiff on the estate of William Wilberforce at Hendon Park on Highwood Hill. He later became the Mill Hill village beadle. The latter presumably on appointment by the vicar of St. Mary’s Hendon, the notorious Theodore Williams.

No: 302 MAY 1996 Edited by VIKKI O’CONNOR

DIARY

Tuesday 14th May Annual General Meeting – chaired by Michael Robbins, followed by the Excavation Team’s summary of their year’s work. Also, short slide-talks by Andy Simpson on transport in Barnet and Bill Bass on Martin Biddle’s excavation at St Albans last summer, in which some of our members participated.

8.00 for 8,30pm – Avenue House, East End Road.

(There is an induction loop system available in this room).

Saturday 8th June Outing: Rye and Bodiam. – Micky Watkins & Micky Cohen Details and application form enclosed.

Saturday, 20th July Outing: Flag Fen – Tessa Smith & Sheila Woodward

Saturday, 17th August Outing: Farnham/Waveriey Abbey – Bill Bass & Vikki O’Connor

Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday 29/30/31/ August 4-day visit to Cornwall. We have had a good response to this and the group is full. Names for the waiting list are welcome: ‘phone Dorothy: 203 0950. (Last year we had several late cancellations).

Saturday 28th September Outing: Whitechapel/Bell Foundry – Mary O’Connell

Tuesday 8th October Lecture: The Temple of Mithras & Cripplegate Fort John Shepherd.

HADAS member Tom Real phoned to say that his Field Archaeology class have spare places on their field trip to Portchester, Fishbourne & Bignor. The day trip ( Sunday 12 May) is being conducted by Harvey Sheldon, and will cost under £15 – they meet at the Embankment, 9am, Any HADAS members interested (and not planning to join us on our dig that day) should phone Harvey on 0181-693 9533 (evenings) for details.

Society of Genealogists “Family History Fair” 4/5 May, Royal Horticultural Society New Hall & Conference Centre, Westminster, £5 at door – offering lectures, regional societies’ exhibits, and ‘clinics’ for individual enquiries. Timing etc from: Society of Genealogists, 14 Charterhouse Bldgs, Goswell Rd, London EC1M 7BA.

MEMBERS NEWS

Gill Baker is home again after a month in the Royal Free, but few days before her return, her sister, Jean Brearley (also a HADAS member) was taken into hospital, Gill has now ‘phoned Dorothy to say that Jean died last week – our sympathies to Gill.

Micky Watkins ‘phoned Dorothy recently to say she ‘had joined the club’ – she has broken her wrist (the third HADAS member to do so in the last 9 months). Fortunately, she had made her preliminary trip for our June outing to Rye the previous week!

Dorothy Newbury would like to thank her team on the Programme Committee for their invaluable help in reducing the load of organising outings and lectures. It was becoming an almost full time job and she is very grateful to the two Mickys, Sheila and Tessa, Bill and Vikki, and, of course, Mary O’Connell.

We were pleased to see Victor Jones once again attending lectures, and our thanks go to HADAS members who have given Victor a lift to Avenue House.

‘BUDDIES’ We do, from time to time, get asked by members with temporary or longer-term mobility problems if is possible to get a lift to lectures. We realise that it is difficult to make a permanent commitment, but if car drivers would be prepared on an occasional basis to collect and take home another member from their own part of the Borough, please contact Vikki , Roy or Dorothy so that if a need arises we could take advantage of those offers.

Congratulation to Sian and David Plant on the birth of their son, Matthew – they joined HADAS during our Church Farmhouse dig but will have to drop out for a while. We look forward to seeing them again when they have more time!

RENEWALS – we have two thirds of renewals in already. If you have mislaid your renewal form, please phone Vikki O’Connor for another – there are plenty of spares!

SUBSCRIPTIONS: PROPOSAL FOR AGM

Three members of the Society contacted the Hon.Secretary with views on changes to the annual subscription rate, which were presented to the Committee at their meeting on 19th April. These, and several other ideas were discussed before the Committee finally agreed to recommend the following alterations to subscription rates, with effect from 1 April 1997: Standard subscription £8.00 per year

Each additional family member: £2.50 per year; Under 18s £5.00 per year.

All members will have the opportunity to give their views and vote on the proposed chances at the Annual General Meeting on 14th May.

THE THAMES FORESHORE SURVEY Roy Walker

The concept of a Thames foreshore survey was first mooted by Gustav Milne at the LAMAS Conference in 1994 under the title of “The Final Frontier”, for that was how he envisaged this neglected area of London’s archaeology, Mike Webber, the Survey’s full-time officer, thanks currently to funding from the National Rivers Authority, explained the aims of the Survey at our April meeting and was able to show some of the results of the first season’s work,

The foreshore can be regarded as a single site some two hundred miles long. Knowledge of water levels during the Roman period indicates that foreshore gravels were originally deposited on dry land hence modern low tide could reveal prehistoric contexts. As the river is 3 metres below Ordnance Datum the archaeologist has no need to excavate to that level nor to step-in at intervals, thus a ready-made trench with no inhibitions already exists. Past excavations at Tilbury had revealed sequences of prehistoric peats, Wheeler had located wattle structures at Brentford, and artefacts such as the Battersea Shield and the Waterloo Helmet confirmed the importance of the Thames to the archaeology of London. Yet it had not been treated in the same way as dry land sites – it did not appear on the Sites and Monuments Record (SMR), finds were not correctly provenanced and erosion together with human interference was destroying the archaeology.

The Survey operates by finding access to the foreshore, undertaking initial “fieldwalking”, making brief notes then returning for more detailed study and recording with the aim of notifying English Heritage of items relevant to the SMR. This

work was undertaken during the Pilot Study in 1995 primarily by local societies and students whose assistance will be required during the coming 1996 season.

Mike ran through the highlights of the year showing the nature of the foreshore and features that have been located and recorded. Watermen’s stairs (still used today, with caution, by the Survey) and jetties abound – the jetty at Richmond served the Tudor Palace – and within the gravels at Chambers Wharf, Southwark are prehistoric peats, stakes, barge beds and 18th/19th century gridirons, plus a dump of sugar refining moulds! This is genuine archaeology in need of interpretation and recording.

Marine archaeology, naturally, is to the fore. Barge beds of various construction (rammed chalk, gridirons, timber baulks) were illustrated. At Custom House the 19th century gridiron used for barge repairs had reused house timbers beneath. Similarly at Billingsgate, 18th century planking beneath the silts were reused ships timbers including a rudder from a frigate.

At Brentford Ait a “graveyard” consisting of the remains of over twelve boats was recorded. An almost 4 metres long, centre post of a 17th/18th century ship’s windlass at Bermondsey could actually be assigned to a specific stratigraphical level. Peats outcropping along the foreshore contain the environmental evidence needed to interpret the landscape and state of the river at the time of deposition. There are exposures even within the City areas as well as further out, and neolithic remains have been recovered from the peats at Bankside Power Station.

Many features have been recorded, especially fish traps evidenced by wattles and stakes, sometimes broken off with bases now eroding. The nature of the Thames fishing industry is not well-documented so this Survey is providing an insight into its character. An intriguing sequence was that of a tufa layer predating a peat deposit, surmounted by a wattle structure and within the tufa were aurochs’ remains. This deposit may represent an eroded walkway. Mike summarised the archaeology as being prehistoric all the way along with Roman mainly at the bridging points.

A spur to setting up the Survey was the threat to the resource. Development along the foreshore should not necessarily cause damage but we were shown how tracked vehicles could erode rammed chalk barge beds, how boats swinging on a single mooring could scour away the peats and gravels and how the river washing around firmly moored boats could also wash away deposits. Rudder and propeller cuts can increase the rate of erosion. A barge leeboard laying near to the MI6 building caused scouring by the tide which has left it further exposed and subject to drying out. The extent of this danger was illustrated by slides of a 19th century rowing boat comparing the 1988 situation with that in 1996. Treasure hunters pose a threat to both archaeology and the archaeologist. Holes dug by metal detectorists destroy the stratigraphy and leave pits up to two metres deep which are extremely dangerous to others using the foreshore such as those engaged on the Survey.

Mike’s lecture, presented in his usual enthusiastic style, certainly revealed the potential of this archaeological resource running the breadth of London. To supplement this lecture, he has kindly offered to conduct a foreshore walk later this year. Full details, hopefully, will be in the June Newsletter.

PLANNING APPLICATION ?? Bill Bass

The Building Management & Design Dept at the University of Northumbria, have compared the construction programme for Durham Cathedral from 1093 to 1242 with what would happen if construction were started today:-

“The original building period was prolonged by labour and materials being used on the construction of nearby Durham Castle and there were delays due to several outbreaks of hostilities. Our prediction, reflecting today’s building practices, was for a seven-year construction period, though the likelihood of the present-day construction industry being able to find or train the necessary number of stonemasons (200-plus) is debatable. Our best guess for today’s cost would be £167 million. This would includ such things as stained glass windows, but not furniture, fittings, pews, artwork, sculptures or even an organ – all of which could add another £15 million. The cost of the design would be another £9 million.” What about an archaeological evaluation?

BOOK REVIEW Roy Walker

“HERTFORDSHIRE INNS & PUBLIC HOUSES” Andrew Selkirk in Current Archaeology No 42 divided archaeologists into two types – beer drinkers and chocolate cake eaters. However, it may be that the cake-eating members of HADAS share Stewart Wild’s enthusiasm for the buildings within which beer is drunk (HADAS Newsletter, October, 1994) in which case the latest addition to the Society’s library will cater for all tastes. “Hertfordshire Inns & Public Houses” is subtitled “an historical gazetteer” and restricts its entries mainly to houses which were established before 1900 but which were still open in the 1990s. This differentiates it from Barnet Local History Society’s “Barnet’s Pubs” of 1995 which covers all houses whether extant or not and the two publications therefore cannot really be compared.

“Hertfordshire Inns” updates W. Branch Johnson’s two volume work of the 1960s and reflects changes over the last thirty years. Helpfully, it provides a detailed list of sources used, The entries are grouped under parishes each with a brief background to the area and in particular its licensing history.

The histories of the houses themselves are detailed and there is a selection of

photographs of the more picturesque buildings. Dates and names abound as should be expected in such a book but reference to events and personalities of national importance and the related local significance make it a valuable companion to students of local and social history. This also makes it very readable. For example, the entry for The Mitre in Barnet High Street tells of associations with General Monck (1660), Dr Johnson (1 774) and reveals that the licence to William Cobley was refused in 1869 following the finding of a rat pit (and two dogs and twenty-one dead rats) in the ballroom. This style runs throughout the book with the advantage that it is not necessary to know the inn or public house (or even the parish) to benefit from dipping into its pages. Indeed, it will probably encourage a trip into Hertfordshire to inspect the buildings for oneself and perhaps try a little of the produce on sale.

“Hertfordshire Inns & Public Houses” by Graham Jolliffe and Arthur Jones. Published by Hertfordshire Publications, 1995. Price £78.00.

HADAS member, Graham Javes, contributed the section on the Barnets, A rkley, Hadley and Totteridge.

Text Box: 4PLACES OF INTEREST …

The Beginnings of Egyptian Civilisation: Bull’s Toil and Bird Beaks is the the title of Professor Fekri A Hassan’s inaugural lecture to be held at the Darwin Lecture Theatre, Darwin Building, Gower Street, (near Euston Sq. station) on Tuesday 14 May at 5.30pm. The one-hour lecture is open to anyone interested in the subject, admission free without ticket,

How about a 45 minutes stroll along Scratchwood Nature Trail, taking you through a remnant of the ancient Forest of Middlesex? Spot the rare Wild Service trees, used as an indicator of undisturbed woodland, or the ancient boundary bank lined by old pollarded trees, The area is part of the Moat Mount and Scratchwood Countryside Park and is on the 232 bus route (Colindale -Edgware – Borehamwood, half hour service on Sundays).

For fans of Church Farmhouse Museum, an exhibition on The Fascination of Fans runs until 2nd June. Exhibits from the East and the West, dating from 1750 to the present day include examples made of lace, ivory, feathers, paper and silk. You may be surprised to learn of the existence of the Fan Circle international, an active society for people who collect or who are interested in the historical or artistic aspects of fans and fan-making. A permanent Fan Museum opened recently at 12 Crooms Hill, Greenwich, a terraced house built in 1 721 – but please visit ‘our’ museum first!

THE LATEST NEWS FROM BOXGROVE (HADAS lecture by Simon Parfitt, March 12th)

Last summer the Society arranged a visit to the now famous paleolithic site at Boxgrove in Sussex. it was inevitable therefore that a great degree of interest was generated for the visit of Simon Parfitt, who, as one of the leaders of the excavation, was to give us the most up to date report on materials recovered from the site as well as sharing with us the latest interpretations on those discoveries. A good attendence, augmented by colleagues from the City of London Archaeological Society, were privileged during the evening, to hear an informative and entertaining lecture.

Media excitement over Boxgrove has focused on the discovery of a ‘human’ tibia and two incisor teeth which have been dated to around 500,000 years old. However, Simon started by emphasising that, even without the discovery of the oldest fossil evidence for man in the British Isles, Boxgrove would have remained our richest site for information on human activity and environmental conditions in the Cromerian Inter- Glacial.

Simon outlined the climatic changes as revealed by the geological sequence and how, through evidence based on sea levels and the flow of archaic river systems, it is possible to determine when Boxgrove Man occupied the site. He emphasised the importance of the South Downs as lying just beyond the southernmost extremity of the ice sheets periodically effecting Britain over the last million years. Because it was never completely covered by glaciers, the site can inform us on the environment when the ice was advancing (when Tundra conditions would prevail) and on periods of ice retreat (when the fauna would resemble current sub tropical types). Simon illustrated this part of his talk with artistic representations showing how each environment might have looked. The crucial question was whether the occupation predated the Anglian Ice Age. Up until now the earliest fossil evidence for man in the Britain came from Swanscombe which was definitely post- Anglian, Simon referred to the fauna, in particular, water vole found at Boxgrove. Through examining teeth, the experts have been able to determine that these animals were primitive types which were extinct by the time we reached the same period as Swanscombe in the archaeological sequence.

Turning to the site itself, Simon described its position on the coastal plain below the South Downs near Chichester. Situated today in a quarry, the work is very much rescue archaeology prior to industrial development. English Heritage have fortunately come up with funds for next year to continue excavations. At the time of Boxgrove man the site was at the foot of a 100 metre cliff. The larger fauna included rhinoceros, elephant and hyena, which suggests proximity to a watering hole. Most exciting, is the evidence of man’s activity at the site through the huge number of flint hand axes of typical Acheulean design that were found.

It is fortunate that the area provides excellent raw materials for manufacturing axes, nevertheless, those found have amazed all by their exceptional quality in workmanship. Along with animal bones, 140 of these axes were recoverd from one trench alone. Simon stated that even the best modern-day flint napper would have difficulty in replicating the sharp cutting edges. Furthermore, in settling the debate as to how these were used, complementary finds of animal bones showing lateral cuts, testify to the effectiveness of these implements for butchering carcasses. Also, at least one bone has been pierced, perhaps by a spear. This is significant in revealing a hunting rather than a scavenging culture.

Turning finally to that tibia, Simon explained how the experts had given up the idea of finding Hominid remains until this discovery in 1993 and the excitement he experienced. Investigation by Chris Stringer has assessed the bone as belonging to a massive individual (assumed male) approx 6′ tall, heavily built and old at age 40 years. Fitting in with other finds in Europe from the Cromerian period we can probably say that Boxgrove Man belongs to the same Hominid group as the owner of the

Heidlberg jaw, and ancestor to later Neanderthal types, based on evidence of his massive build. The uncovering of the two teeth (the last of which was found on the final day of excavation) will tell us more about the diet of Boxgrove man.

This summer Simon wants to extend the excavations to the south of the find spots. We wish him the best of luck and wait with great anticipation for Simon’s next news bulletin when we hope more exciting finds will be announced, James Lansdale Thank you James for the report – nice to receive a contribution from a new member!

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Ed: Robin Holgate. Publisher: The Bookcastle, £16.99.

Resulting from a day conference at Luton in September 1990, this publication presents ❑ comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge of Chiltern archaeology, and of how archaeological work in the region is organised. Contributions were provided by archaeologists from Beds, Bucks, Herts, and Oxon. Included is a paper from Tom McDonald o n the Hertfordshire Archaeological Trust’s A41 project – this was the subject of a HADAS lecture.

Roman Hertfordshire, Rosalind Niblett . Publisher: Dovecote Press, £7.95.

Ras Niblett is the head Field Officer for the St Albans Museum Service, where she has conducted many excavations, including that of the Folly Lane royal burial in 1992. Hertfordshire is well-known for its Roman archaeology, which is well covered by chapters dealing with the conquest, towns, religion, burial, villas, farming and the economy. This is a wide-ranging and up-to-date study drawing on all currently available sources, useful as an introduction, or for those who wish to refresh their studies on the Roman period in this county. A very readable book, well illustrated with clear photographs and reconstruction drawings.

OTHER SOCIETIES

In their February ’96 Bulletin, Mill Hill Historical Society ask people in possession of old photographs, postcards or pictures of Mill Hill, property deeds which might be of historical interest, or memories of the area, to get in touch with Ralph Calder or Frances Bone who are constantly updating their Society’s local history records. Our contact is Mr R S Nichols, 29 Maxwelton Aenue, NW7 3NB, tel: 0181 959 3485.

COLLEGE FARM (Fitzalan Road, N3)

There has been much publicity given by the local press to the continuing fight by north Londoners and Local Societies to save the farm from re-development. The Dept of Transport bought it for a planned road-widening but these plans were scrapped and they are now obliged to sell at the best price, Acer Environmental have been commissioned to prepare a consultative report based on information from English Heritage, the local authority, and ‘other interested parties’. The report will aid the decision whether to seek planning permission for the site (from the Council or direct from the Planning Minister). HADAS has an added interest in the outcome – we store our excavation equipment in one of the outbuildings! HADAS members may transmit their views to the Highways Agency by writing to:

Mr Peter Wilson, Head of the London Branch of the Highways Agency, Land and Compensation Division, Room 5/10, St Christopher House, Southwark Street, London SE1 OTE, marking the letter ‘College Farm’, preferably by 9th MAY.

This Victorian model farm with its listed farm buildings is a local landmark, loved by generations of local children who have visited; the next monthly Country Fair will be on Sunday 5th May from 1pm, admission 52.00, concession £1.50, children ELM.