Past Newsletters

Newsletter
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Edited by Liz Sagues
Diary

Our autumn lecture season opens on:

Wednesday October 7 with Bridget Cherry talking about Medieval Parish Churches in Middlesex.

Bridget Cherry is the editor of The Buildings of England, a job which she took over from Nikolaus Pevsner. The lack of substantial material remains of medieval churches makes it difficult to appreciate the number and importance of the monastic houses in the vicinity of London. Yet Merton Priory was the wealthiest of all English Augustinian houses, Bermondsey the second wealthiest of the Cluniac priories, she points out.

Recent excavations on these and other sites have focused attention on their significance. More survives of the fabric of parish churches, particularly in outer London, but relatively few churches have been thoroughly examined by recent archaeological methods. There is scope here for more research, which could throw light on the nature of medieval village communities in the the London region and reveal to what extent they were in touch with major building developments at different periods.

This, and succeeding lectures, is at Hendon Library, The Boroughs, Hendon, 8.30pm start, coffee available beforehand.

Next, an addition to the published programme:

Saturday October 17 outing to Wimbledon Village and Southside House.
1.45pm We meet Mary O’Connell’s colleague, City guide John Barrett, for a guided walk, leaving from Southside House, opposite the Crocked Billet.
3.00pm We return for a guided tour of Southside House, a little known but fascinating Restoration building. It houses an extraordinary collection of objects ranging from mementoes of Ann Boleyn through Boneparte to Axel Munthe. “I can recommend the visit wholeheartedly,” says Mary O’Connell.

We have not hired a coach for this trip. Will any members travelling by car please indicate on the enclosed application form if they can take a non-car member – route via Kew and Richmond. Alternatively, the nearest Underground station is Wimbledon, then a 93 bus. For members wishing to lunch beforehand, in Wimbledon Village there are several restaurants and cafes and a pub, the Rose and Crown. Nearby in Southside are the Crocked Billet and Hand in Hand pubs.

Price (covers entrance fee and guiding charges) £2.50 per head. Afternoon tea will be available at Ructuals cafe nearby at about 4.45pm (not included in price).

Wednesday November 4 Lecture on Late Celtic Art in Britain and Ireland by Dr James Graham-Campbell.
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Saturday November 28 10.30 for 11am, all day. London and Middlesex Archaeological Society 22nd Local History Conference at the Museum of London. The theme is Local Spas and Pleasure Gardens. HADAS will have a stand there and one of the speakers in the afternoon will be our friend Christopher Wade on Hampstead Wells. Admission, by ticket only, is £2.50. Apply to Miss P.A.Ching

December We are endeavouring to arrange our usual Christmas event – more details later.
News of Members

Many members have asked for news of Brigid Grafton Green. She reports that she has been out of hospital for some weeks and is making “steady but slow progress”. We hope the progress will soon be more rapid.

There is good news of Eric Ward, who was invaluable to the society for his photography for many years till he was struck down with a crippling illness which put him in a wheelchair. We now hear that at last the illness has been diagnosed and there are drugs which may help him. He is going into hospital for trials and we all wish him well.
New Members

Welcome to the following new members who have joined this year: Mr F.W.H.Abrams, Miss D.Abrahams, Miss Suzanne Beevor, Master Richard Bruce-Green, Miss M.Coghill, Miss M.Cohen, Mr and Mrs D.G.Dunn, Miss I.B.Gavorre, Mr M.J.Goldenfeld, Mrs. N.Graham-Yooll, Mr M. Hillier, Mrs V. Hodes, Mr D.Hutchings, Miss E.C.Isaacs, Dr D.W.Kay, Mr and Mrs K.King, Dr King, Mr B.Marston, The Musuem of London, Mr P. Oak, Miss J.R.Platt, Mr C.K.Reed, Mr C.Richardsor, Mrs M. St.Clair, Mr and Mrs R. Sobell and their sons David and Andrew, Mr M. Streatfield, Miss S. Terasaki, Mr T.S. Tucker, Mrs E. Wilson and Miss E.Witherow.
… and Old

Membership secretary Phyllis Fletcher still has a list of some 80 members who have not yet renewed their subscriptions and who will, with this newsletter, be receiving reminders. And she offers apologies in advance to any members who have paid too recently for the reminders not to have been stopped.
… and the Shutter-happy

Photographers are urgently wanted to record sites, buildings and artefacts. The society would like to compile a list of members interested in photography who are willing to help and are available (with their cameras) either during the week or at weekends. Please phone Liz Holliday if you can volunteer.
… and the Abergavenny Party

John Enderby took his party of 26 to Wales on September 11-13 and then departed almost immediately for a sunshine holiday abroad – to recover. Apart from getting very wet, all went well. Some members were exhausted (including John), and some of the regulars could have doubled the page.

John will put in a full report in the November newsletter.
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A Palatial Lifestyle

Little Palacos: The Suburban House in North London 1919-1939 is a title which hardly does justice to the exhibition now in its final days at Church Farm House Museum, Hendon. It closes on October 4, get there if you can!

The exhibition has been arranged by the Middlesex Polytechnic and the London Borough of Enfield’s Community Programme. Funding has come from the Manpower Services Commission and the John Lewis Partnership.

If you live in a house built during that period you will find much nostalgic material to interest you. There is something for everybody in sections which cover architecture, decoration, household management, transport and leisure activities. There is also a reconstruction of a typical suburban room of the end of the period. I felt I could sit down in it and be “at home” at once.

It’s a very good show – congratulations to all concerned. And it is proving to be deservedly popular. Members will recall the exhibition a few years back at the Museum of London which dealt with the Silver family’s collection – the Silver Studio. This exhibition is yet another facet of that collection plus material from other sources. It is complemented by an illustrated catalogue, produced by the polytechnic, which sells at £2.
Marvels Head

Next exhibition at Church Farm House Museum has the intriguing title of Matchstick Marvels. These are intricate models of famous buildings, houses and ships made by a former Mill Hill resident. It opens on October 17 and continues until January 1988.
More Diary Dates

Two lectures in the current Barnet Libraries’s series have a historical appeal:
Wednesday October 14, Burnt Oak Library, 8.15pm Ellis Hillman on The London Under London – tubes, tunnels, crypts, etc.
Wedneday October 28, Hendon Library, 8.15pm Victor Lewis on David Garrick of Drury Lane Theatre.
Admission to lectures is free and the full programme is available from all libraries.

The University of London Extra-Mural Department is continuing its popular Thursday evening public lecture series. Landscape Archaeology runs for 10 sessions from October 8. Stock and Crops: Aspects of Early Domestication follows on after Christmas, with the first of the 10 lectures on January 7. Both courses are at the Institute of Archaeology, Gordon Square, Bloomsbury, lectures start at 7pm, there are various speakers and the fee for each course is £27.50, or individual lectures £3.50 at the door. More details from Miss Edna Clancy, Department of Extra-Mural Studies, 26 Russel Square, WC1B 5DQ.

Time Past, Time Present is the title of an afternoon illustrated talks and exhibitions presented by local history, archaeological and conservation societies being held at Millfield House, Silver Street, N9, on Sunday October 11. The event runs from 1.30pm to 7pm, admission is free and participants include Enfield Archaeological Society, North Middlesex Family History Society and Edmonton Historical Society.
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A Greater Architect than Wren?

Some authorities claim he was, but Henry Yevely, master mason, is a name of little popular recognition. HADAS member Ann Saunders is aiming to end some of that neglect, with an exhibition on Yeveley at the Church of St Magnus-the-Martyr, Lower Thames Street beside London Bridge, from October 12-18.

Henry Yeveley, writes Dr Saunders, was responsible for raising the walls of Westminster Hall to support the magnificent hammerbeam roof, for continuing the nave of Westminster Abbey, for work on Canterbury Cathedral and at the Tower of London, and for much else besides. The exhibition attempts to illustrate his more important achievements and to give some idea of the religious and social life of the 14th century.

Events associated with the exhibition are an illustrated talk of The Dress of Working Londoners in the Time of Henry Yeveley, by Helen McCarthy (October 13, 1.05pm) followed by a short recital of medieval music; a slide lecture on Yeveley by John Harvey (October 14, 7pm); readings from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales (October 15, 12.50pm); a lecture for schools on medieval London by Dr Saunders (October 15, 2.30pm). All are in the church.

The exhibition will be open Monday 2pm to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 12.30pm to 5pm. Details of the schools lectures are available from Dorothy Barker.
A Way to Stop the Crumbling

Philip Venning, a HADAS member and secretary of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, suggests: A Way to Stop the Crumbling

I was interested to see the item in the September newsletter about the old wall in Brent Street, and I had a chance to look at it the other day.

It may indeed be 16th century, as the Borough Engineer concluded in 1957, but it is worth mentioning that dating bricks is exceptionally difficult and even experts (which I certainly am not) would, I think, be cautious about identifying them as such.

There is no inherent reason for them to continue crumbling: the tendency of some bricks to “spall” is the result of moisture in the bricks freezing in the winter and shattering the surface of the brick. The wall would greatly benefit from some attention fairly soon. It badly needs repointing, but it is essential that this is done in a soft lime mortar which will permit any moisture to evaporate through the pointing and not the surface of the bricks. There is also a layer of hard cement-mortar along the top of the wall which has cracked and is exacerbating the problems, while the flowerbeds banked up behind the wall are keeping the lower courses permanently damp.

I don’t know who owns the wall but I hope HADAS can encourage whoever does to put in hand remedial work undertaken by a suitably skilled person. Without some low level repairs the old bricks, however old they are, will continue crumbling.
City Courses

Topics ranging from the New World Before Columbus to Pioneer Egyptologists, from industrial archaeology to Art and Life in Pompeii features in the City University’s programme of courses for adults. Some start this month, some in January. For the full prospectus, phone the university
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Victor Jones spends An Afternoon in Kentish Town

HADAS recently received a surprising telephone call from the Legal Department of Camden Council asking if we could help with an archaeological problem. The officer explained that a contractor had found some strange material dumped at the back of a building being demolished and had asked for an archaeological inspection of the site to be done quickly. Apparently Camden had asked a borough society and had been referred to the Museum of London, which was unable to spare anyone but had suggested HADAS. Dorothy Newbury received the call and she and I decided I should make a quick visit to the site.

This proved to be something of a problem. The address – Mortimer Terrace, NW5 – did not appear on my AtoZ and was eventually found to be a small L-shaped lane between two railway lines close to the junction of Gordonhouse Road and Highgate Road. It appeared to be a small development using up spare railway land.

The demolition site was about 60 metres long and up to 120m deep, but of irregular shape, two sides being formed by high railway embankments and one by Gordonhouse Road. A large building, probably a warehouse, had stood parallel to the terrace and extended back about 40m. Only part of the north end wall still stood, the remainder being spread in irregular heaps over the site. The site foreman was missing, but when the workmen learned that I only wanted to inspect the place where the interesting old materials had been found they immediately escorted me to the spot.

This was at the back of the site where the railway branched into two with two embankments about 5 to 6m high. Along the one that formed the south boundary fo the site was a large grass-covered bank 6m or 7m wide and 10 to 15m long. The end had been cleared leaving a vertical face from which pieces of china and glass and other objects protuded. These included large pieces of well decorated china, pieces of bottles and stems of clay pipes.

The foreman then appeared and explained he had been instructed that morning to close the site. This gave me only an hour to investigate. I quickly collected samples of the more obvious items, Victorian-style pottery in the lower half of the bank, also various glass fragments, mostly the thick dark green bottle glass used for beer and mineral water bottles, broken glass medicine bottles, ink wells and similar fragments generally of Victorian and later styles. In the top of the bank were quantities of shells, oysters, mussels, cockles and winkles, and the clay pipes which were mainly broken in to small pieces. I managed to find a few intact bowls and one or two with stems. The bottom of the bank contained a considerable amount of building rubble, tiles and brick fragments, cinders and coal dust. This changed to a very fine sandy, ashy mixture with a much-reduced solid content. There were some scattered objects including part of a glass sugar crusher much used on the crude sugar of Georgian and earlier Victorian eras. In the middle of the bank was a pottery marmalade jar fragment, which had the printed inscription “The only Prize-Medal awarded at the International Exhibition for Marmalade”. It was, of course, Keiller of Dundee. It might be 1851 but is possibly later.

I borrowed a spade and dug a hole about half a metre below the trodden path in front of the bank and came to a compacted surface of stone and rubble. This I think may have been a hard standing to do with the railway as there were coal fragments and dust on it before the material of the bank was deposited.

I looked up the date of the building of the railway. This was 1866 and it was called the Junction Railway. It is now part of
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Liverpool Street to Kew’s electric line. This puts the earliest date for dumping of the material to 1867. It would seem, particularly because the oldest finds are at the top, that the whole of this embankment was built up of material brought from another site.
A House with a High-flying History

Birth Firth describes a visit to A House with a High-flying History

By kind permission of the Presiden of the Officer’s Mess a group of 30 people, including a dozen HADAS members, visited Bentley Priory, Stanmore.

The history of the site goes back to AD61 when Boudicca was defeated by the Romans nearby. A priory was established in the 12th century and flourished until its dissolution in 1543. The present house dates from 1766 when James Duberley built the nucleus to designs of Sir John Soane and towards the end of the century it was enlarged by the Marquis of Abercorn also to Soane designs.

Bentley Priory was bought by the Air Ministry in 1926 and in 1936 Hugh Dowding (later Sir Hugh, later Lord Dowding) set up HQ Fighter Command, which still continued as 11 Group (the Air Defence Group of Strike Command) although the house is now just the officer’s mess and the operantional part is down the hill in Stanmore.

As a stately home one can still admire the house, particularly the Adelaide Room, named after the Dowager Queen who died there and which has a beautiful painted ceiling said to have been done to give her something to look at while lying ill in bed.

As part of RAF history one can admire the many souvenirs which decorate the walls and in particular Dowding’s office which still contains his desk and many Battle of Britain and other documents. There is also the famous operations room, now restored to stately home standards and quite unrecognisable as the room where WAAF ran the operations chart at floor level and the RAF controllers operated from a balcony specially built up on scaffolding.

There are also a number of souvenirs of the earlier days of the house, in particular some Victorian sale documents. The grounds are magnificent too, with spendid views across to Harrow on the Hill.

This was a splendid visit and we are most grateful to the President of the Officer’s Mess for agreeing to it and to the two Duty Officers who guided us round in two groups.
Westhorpe Saga

Ted Sammes continues the Westhorpe Saga

Since last month I have heard from Mr W.R.Elworthy, the youngest son, who lives at Winkerborne Monkton in Dorset. He writes:

“My father had a business in Russia and when it was well established he spent half the year in Russia and half in England where he brought up a family of three sons and two daughters. In 1904 he bought Westhorpe and this was our lovely home for many years, though we all went to boarding schools when old enough.

In 1914 the war started, my parents were in this country. My two brothers joined up and were both killed in action. I joined up much later, because I was much younger, and survived.

In 1917 the Bolsheviks (or Russian Communists) seized power in Russia. They nationalised all private property, including that belonging to foreigners, without compensation. Many British had to get out quickly leaving everything behind. They arrive in this
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country with nothing and were dependent on charity until they found new jobs. Those of us who were fortunate because we had property in this country help to organise this charity. My mother was very active in the General Council for the Assistance of the British Repatriated from Russia. All our property was nationalised in Russia without compensation.

My father died in 1925. We had grown up. My mother sold Wethorpe and went to live in a smaller house in Hampstead until she died.”
Maps from the Past

Liz Holliday reports on Maps from the Past

Alan Godfrey, a map-seller and publisher in Gateshead, has been producing reprints of Old Ordnance Survey maps for the past few years. The maps covering our part of London are now building into a useful and fascinating collection. The large scale (approximately 15inches to the mile) and excellent quality of the printing allow individual houses, gardens, farms field boundaries and lots of other features to be easily identified. Every sheet includes authoritative historical notes on the area covered by the map and most include extracts from a contemporary street directory, which lists names of residents, traders, shops and businesses.

Maps now available cover 10 parts of the borough – New Barnet (1896), North Finchley (1894), Friern Barnet and New Southgate (1898), Mid Finchley (1894), East Finchley (1894), Muswell Hill (1894), Golders Green (1894), Kenwood and Golders Green (1894), Cricklewood and Child’s Hill (1894) and Hampstead (1866). Each costs £1.20 and they are available from the following libraries: Hendon, Church End, Golders Green, Child’s Hill, East Finchley, Hampstead Garden Suburb, North Finchley and the Local History Collection at Egerton Gardens, Hendon.

For summer visitors, friends, relations and those interested in old London, the same libraries also have available The Tower and St Katherine’s Dock 1873 and 1894 which includes the Royal Mint, warehouses, wharfs and a “before and after” the building of Tower Bridge – all in incredible detail, scale 3 feet to 1 mile. There is also Westminster and Victoria 1869 which includes Buckingham Palace, St James’s Park, Victoria Station, Westminster Abbey, Horse Guards Parade, etc, at the scale of 15 inches to 1 mile. Price of these is also £1.20. Any members who cannot get to one of the libraries mentioned may order by post (£1.50 each map) …
The Vanishing Past Underfoot

Bill Firth Notes the Vanishing Past Underfoot

I suppose pavements are a facet of transport archaeology but, whatever they are, the replacement of the unique 80-year-old red paving stones woth a heringbone design in West Heath Avenue, Golders Green is worth recording.

Laid in 1906 when the street was built, the stones were badly damaged and, since replacements cannot be obtained, they are being replaced by plain red slabs – not all together to the liking of the residents. The new stones will be edged with the best of the old ones which will therefore not be lost altogether.

REMEMBER: Lecture season opens on Wednesday, October 7, with Medieval Parish Churches in Middlesex.
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Tunnel Visions

Contunuing interest in the mound in the grounds of St Joseph’s Convent, The Burroughs, Hendon, prompts Tunnel Visions.

The excavation Working Party has inspected the mount and agreed to measure and record it, and a short article in the Hendon Times on a tunnel reputedly leading from it has prompted a contribution from Len Warner, a long-time local resident.

Mr Warner recalls, before the last war, a bricked-up tunnel leading from a cellar in St Mary’s Church House. “On enquiries I was told that this was a passage which went under Greyhound Hill leading to The Greyhound and church itself. At the time I did my best to get someone interested in knocking the wall down, but nothing was done. Then the war came and that was that.

“But it would appear that this passage was indeed used by monks.”

Mr Warner also recalls an ice house, behind the technical college.

The mound has also been the subject of previous HADAS newsletter attention, in June 1978. That article quoted the memories of one of the nuns at the Convent. During her schooldays there she and her sister had explored the mound and seen two passages leading out of it, one heading in the direction of Hendon Parish Church. “We always thought it was a secret passage to the church, and we were told the other passage went to Brent Street.”

Mary O’Connell contributed her recollections as a St Joseph’s schoolgirl, about 1940. She remembered three steps down into a circular chamber with a smoothly vaulted brick roof about two metres high. There was a talk of tunnels, but she had found no trace of any blocked entrances. The convent groundsman had used the chamber as a wartime shelter, but periodic flooding made it unsafe and it had gradually been filled up, the area eventually being smoothed over and grassed.

HADAS surveyed the mound in 1978.
Two Archaeological Journals

Ted Sammes turns the pages of Two Archaeological Journals.

The latest issue of Hertfordhire Archaeology (Vol 9 1983-86) has devoted 65 pages to various phases of Roman archaeology in the county. The article on a New Plan of Verulanium by Rosalind Niblett draws in aerial surveys since 1975 which have shown traces of masonry buildings. There is a comprehensive gazetteer of the town. From Welwyn, Tony Rook has reported the Roman Villa site at Dicket Mead, Lockleys, a complex which includes the bathhouse under A1000.

Vol 20 of Post-Medieval Archaeology is devoted to a large report on the 1968-71 excavations at Oyster Street, Portsmouth, a site important because of its location on the waterfront of the medieval harbour. The pottery report is comprehensive and gives a good insight into the range of finds possible in the South of England. The whole work covers 225 pages and should be read by all with an interest in medieval and post-medieval archaeology.

November Newsletter: Editor is Jean Snelling Contributions to her, please, by October 20.

Newsletter 199: September, 1987 Sept. Editor: Deirdre .Barrie

MINIMART -FUND RAISING – MINIMART – FUND RAISING SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26 – PLEASE NOTE THIS DATE IN YOUR DIARY NOW:

PROGRAMME NEWS.

Fri-Sat-Sun Sep 11, 12 & 13 Weekend in Abergavenny with John Enderby. We have had, a couple of cancellations, so would very much like to fill these places if any members are interested. All-in price £76, which includes transport, food; accommodation guides, entrance fees and lecturer. Please phone Dorothy Newbury 01-203 0950.

Sat Sept 26 MINIMART 11.30 – 2.30 at St. Mary’s Church House, top of Greyhound Hill, Hendon NW4. Please see the enclosed leaf­let giving details of goods required and help needed, and names of stallholders. TO ALL MEMBERS: please help in some way. This is our one annual fund-raising project which is open to the public, and which over the years has become a social event as well.

Sat Oct 17 An extra outing has been added to our programme, organised by Mary O’Connell. This will be to Southside House, Wimbledon, for an afternoon visit. We will try to arrange a stop at an excavation on the way if possible. More details and application form will be included in the October Newsletter.

OUR. LECTURE SEASON STARTS ON WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7

Wed Oct 7 ‘Medieval Parish Churches in Middlesex’ Bridget Cherry

Wed Nov 4 ‘Late Celtic Art in Britain and Ireland’ Dr Graham Campbell

AN APPEAL FROM OUR MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY

I am sorry to report that on going through my records recently there are at least 80 members who have not renewed their subscrip­tion and are still receiving the interesting Newsletters each month.

Please send your subscription to my new address: Miss PJ, Fletcher, 31 Addison Way, London. NW11 6AL

Full member £5.00

Additional members same family £1.00 each

Senior Citizen £3.00

Additional members same family £1.00 each

Junior Members £3.00

Schools, Corporate members etc. £6.00

Cheques: Hendon & District Archaeological Society

OUTING TO ROYSTON – THERFIELD – STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET by JOYCE CORLET

On 15th August 38 members of HADAS made the visit to ‘Royston, Therfield Barrows and Stansted Mountfitchet organised by Peter Griffiths..

Our first stop ws at Royston, a small town at the crossing of Ermine Street and Old Icknield Way. Here the party was split into three to visit Royston Cave while the rest of the party explored Royston itself.

We were met at the entrance to the cave (cave being in the singular) by Mr. F. John Smith, a member of the Royston Historical Society.

We walked down a narrow, steep path cut out of the chalk which led down to a large bell-shaped structure about 28.ft deep and 17 ft across. Carved on every available space round the walls were religious figures and scenes very impressive. The carvings were all stick-like figures and scenes almost, as if they might have been carved by a talented child. The majority of the figures are saints marked by a cross as they are not easily identified. Three figures which have been identified are St Lawrence, who was roasted alive on a red-hot grid, St Katherine who was martyred upon a spiked wheel, and St Christopher with the child Jesus upon his shoulder.

The cave was discovered in 1742. No one knows exactly its significance but it has been suggested it was dug for the Order of the Knights Templar.

We were lucky we had a path to follow as, until fairly recently, the only means of access was being lowered by a rope from the roof or descending vertical ladders.

It is the only Grade One Listed ‘hole’ in Britain.

Royston also has an excellent little museum mostly composed of fairly recent history like the rules printed for railway passengers in 1851. Among them are such gems as ‘Never sit in an unusual place or posture’ and special trains and excursions should be avoided. More unsafe than ordinary or usual trains’. The last notice reads ‘Without danger, danger cannot be surmounted!

Our next stop was at Stansted tower brick windmill which is celebrating its two hundredth anniversary. It was built in 1787, continually used until 1910 (though for the last fifty years it was only used for grinding animal foods) and was restored in 1966. The more energetic of the party climbed to the top, conducted by Mrs. Honour of the Windmill Committee.

Our next stop was at ‘Mountfitchet Castle’, the only reconstructed Norman wooden motte and bailey castle built on its original site The original motte and bailey castle was built by a cousin of the Conqueror, on what is believed to have been the site of an early Iron Age Fort and then a Saxon and Viking settlement.

The reconstruction brings to life what life must have been in the 11th Century. Two of the spikes on the protecting walls were topped by heads cut off invaders as a warning to other attackers. Inside the walls are all the ingredients necessary to sustain village life even under siege: the kitchen, the dove-cotes, rabbit warren, a pond in which carp swam, the homes of the villagers, the church, weaving and dyeing house, the blacksmith, the two wells, and then the darker side of life the man left hanging on the gallows, and the prison.

In those days life expectancy was only around 40 years with causes of death being given as Viking raiders, being killed by wolves, wild boar or cholera.

Maybe it was a bit ‘twee’, but I am quite sure it would awaken an interest in history in many of the children in the School parties which regularly visit it. An excellent outing as usual. Thank you, Mrs. Newbury.

Marion Newbury joined the Society in 1972 at the age of 12 with the job of finds washing at the Burroughs Gardens dig. Although she left Hendon in 1978 to train as a physiotherapist, she has remained an active member and organised several day trips for us in recent years. She is leaving England in September to spend a year in New Zealand.

Hendon Aerodrome The ‘Hendon Times’ of 6 Aug mentioned that author David Oliver has been asked by the RAF to write a book about the history of Hendon Aerodrome from 1910 up to April 1987. Anyone who worked at or near the airfield or has information or photographs should contact him on 01-449 8607 or write to him at 36 Barnet Gate Lane, Arkley, Hertfordshire.

WESTHORPE – A RUSSIAN CONNECTION-(Continued) (See May and August Newsletters)

I have had a reply from Mr. Clarkson Webb in Surrey. He states that his grandfather, R .P. Elworthy, died in April. 1925. The house was then sold and his grandmother (presumably Helen M. Elworthy) moved to Ranulf Rd Hampstead. She died in 1948.

R.P. Elworthy had business in Russia and after the Revolu­tion both of them gave a lot of help to those who returned from Russia, without means or livelihood.

Mr. Clarkson Webb has never heard of the organisation which was at the top of the notepaper which sparked off this enquiry.

THAT PIPELINE

As the Brockley Hill dig gets under way, we offer a summary of points raised at the Symposium by Graham Sutton, representing the agents of the Lea Valley Water Company.

In the 1960s the company decided to combine with the Colne Valley Co and Rickmansworth and Uxbridge Co to lay the pipe which crosses our borough, in view of a projected rise in demand for domestic and industrial water. Only the first section of the pipe, from Iver to Denham, has so far been completed. It is now proposed to complete the 17 miles extra length, finishing at Arkley reser­voir. The cost of laying the main will be enormous and so will the compensation to landowners and other interested parties, which will need to be carefully assessed.

Mr. Sutton provided a 6-inch to 1-mile map of the area on which areas of archaeological interest already identified were shown in pink. The 4½-mile section from Arkley Reservoir to Heriots Wood is not likely to be laid before 1990 and the exact date will depend on demand for water, which has not so far increased as predicted.

When the 24″ diameter pipe is laid, a 60-foot wide working strip will be fenced and all topsoil stripped and stacked on one side. A. trench with a minimum width of 3 feet will then be excava­ted mechanically. The depth will vary between 6 ft 6 ins and 10 ft approximately and it is anticipated that this section would be com­pleted within 12 months. In sections of known archaeological interest, 100 yard sections of the trench would be left open for 24-48 hours when safety allowed. Backfilling would then take place as the main was laid and the topsoil would be relaid when the whole pipe had been laid and tested. A more detailed map of the Brockley Hill area was provided, and sections showing the exact position of the trench in the working strip.

Mr. Sutton pointed out that any delays in the process would increase the compensation element considerably so his clients would not allow progress to be seriously interrupted by archaeological research. Access to the site would be supervised and would be entirely at our own risk: a trench 10 feet deep, into which pipes weighing 9.3 metric tons are being lowered, must be approached with due caution. Nevertheless, the water company will be pleased to co-operate. All drains cut by the trench are accurately recorded end reconnected after the pipe has been laid and pipelaying opera­tives are skilled in the handling of any unearthed items of interest.

This extremely lucid account of the water company’s plan con­cluded with an offer to keep in touch and provide an update on progress during the next few years. Members who were present at the Symposium will agree that we were very fortunate in having Mr.Sutton as our channel of information.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR BERMONDSEY ABBEY DIG

Volunteers, please, for the Museum of London dig at Bermondsey Abbey, where part of the site has to be cleared for redevelopment by October 1st.- Experience welcome but not essential. Over-16s only, no upper limit: Any days you can spare would be useful. Work will probably go on during weekends as well in this urgent period. Nearest tube: London Bridge. Contact David Beard (site supervisor) and colleagues on 01-407 1989.

THE BURROUGHS DEVELOPMENT BRIAN WRIGLEY

In connection with this development, referred to in the last Newsletter, the Excavation Working Party recommended that we should seek to make at least a resistivity survey of the land adjoining Greyhound Hill, in the grounds of Sunnyfields School. Under the proposals part of this land, at present open grass, would become a car park. The Borough readily granted permission, and the survey is proceeding.

A team of Marjorie St Clair, Alan Simpson, Alan Lawson, George Sweetland, Victor Jones and Brian Wrigley have been taking turns in this exercise. Our initial wide-spaced grid (not yet quite com­plete) is beginning to show some patterns, in particular a wide curving band of higher resistances which seems to be beginning to show up as an elliptical shape. The shape, so far revealed, does not seem to accord with it being a buried track – it doesn’t look as if it’s going anywhere except back on itself! – And we are extending our grid to see what happens to it. We shall no doubt need to do more detailed grids over interesting parts, when we have finished the overall, widely spaced one.

A TUDOR BRICK WALL IN HENDON

HADAS member Mr. Kelly Haughton has been investigating the possibility of preserving an ancient wall in Brent Street, Hendon. He has written to the Borough Librarian, who has sent him the following information:

‘It seems that the stretch of wall to which you refer could well be part of the wall enclosing the former St Peter’s Ouvroir and before that Brent Lodge.

There appears to have been a house on this site since the mid-18th century; there are four surveys of the Manor and Parish of Hendon, in which the following are described on the site:

1754 Mr Michael Howard, a house and land at Braint Street. Mr. Philimore, tenant

1796 Mrs Hannah Coomes, a dwelling house with yard, barns, gardens,etc. at the corner of Butchers Lane (This is now Queens Road)

1800 The same.

1828 – Heriot Esq.,

At Brent Street Corner of Butchers Lane.

A brick dwelling house with outbuildings yards and gardens

Hitchen-Kemps “Notes on a Survey of Hendon in 1754” made in 1929 mentions “a house at the corner of Brent Street, now a church home called St Peters Ouvroir. The widening of Queens Road about 1925 necessitated cutting part of the garden off and additions and altera­tions have been made to the house:”

The house was sold in 1903 and was occupied by the St Peter’s Home and Sisterhood until its final sale and demolition in 1957. Heriot Road was named after Dr Heriot and his family who were the former occupiers of the property in the 19th century.

The wall facing Brent Street certainly seems to be the same as that shown on our maps round the property since 1754 indeed, at the time planning application was made in building St Peters Court, the minutes of the Building and Town Planning Committee of. 21 October 1957, page 545, item no 32, state:

“The Borough Engineer and Surveyor … informed the Committee that, in accordance with their previous decision, the Mill Hill and Hendon Historical Society had been consulted but did not consider that the Council could justifiably be asked to secure the preservation of the existing building on the grounds of architectural interest or known historical associations. They add, however, that the wall which bounds the property in Brent Street contains Tudor bricks and is of great interest to those who recognise its antiquity. The Borough Engineer and Surveyor advised the Committee that the present prospective developers intended to retain the wall although part of it would be set back and result to a reduced height of 3 ft and 6 inches.’

Should you wish to see any of the original maps on which the property is shown, they are available for consultation at the Local History Library, by appointment only with the Archivists. Telephone 01-202 5625 extension 55.

Mr. Haughton adds, ‘Alas, the beautiful dark red Tudor bricks are crumbling but very, very slowly, thank goodness.’

HADAS OCCASIONAL PAPERS

Victorian Jubilee 1987 marks the hundredth anniversary of the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. –

Our booklet Victorian Jubilees published in 1977 has at once a relevance. It deals with events in the Borough of Barnet in the years 1887 and 1897. Its 48 pages are today a great bargain at a. selling price of 50p plus 25p postage: There is something on most parts of the present Borough by various members, the whole edited by Edward Sammes.

ANOTHER BOUQUET FOR ‘PINNING DOWN THE PAST -FINDS FROM A HENDON DIG PRICE £1.50 + 25p Postage

The summer number of the ‘London Archaeologist carries in its book reviews one by Patricia Clarke of ‘Pinning Down the Past’

‘This handy little booklet has a title which rather disguises the interest of its contents. A quick riffle through its pages reveals a. number of short articles, illustrated by drawings, dealing with some of the more noteworthy finds from a dig at the site of the former parish clerk’s cottage near the Church of St Mary, Hendon. It was carried out in 1973-74 by Hendon & District archaeological Society.

… What could so easily have been fitted deadeningly into an account of one or two pages has here been extended over many pages in a pleasing and enlightening way. In describing the finds, Mr. Sammes tells us not only what each is, but how or where it originated, how it was used, and whether it was commonplace or unusual – in effect, putting each into its full setting much as do the better museum displays. If you are not an expert; you will learn great deal from these articles. They surely represent considerable research by the author…. I like this book. It is interestingly conceived, and its style is so light and digestible that one can take the whole book at virtually one gulp. The non-expert like myself will come away with knowledge and understanding considerably enlarged.’

Both the above are available by post from J. Slatter, 5 Sentinel Square, Hendon, NW4 2EN

SITE-WATCHING

Sites of possible archaeological interest that I would ask members living in the locality to watch, taken from recent Planning Applications:

Central Division

164 East End Road, N2 Tesco’s site,, junction of Circular Road and Colney Hatch. Lane, N12

Western Division

Plot 60, Priory Gardens, Hale Lane, Edgware

Brockley Cottage, Pipers Green Lane, Edgware

Northern Division

26 Barnet Gate Lane, Arkley

48 Strafford Road; Barnet

1412-1420 High Road, N20

Old Brewery Site, Gt. North Road, Barnet

Rear of 36-38 Kings Rd. Barnet

Hadley Memorial Club, Hadley Highstone

Land at rear of St Stephen’s Church, Bells Hill, Barnet

42 Union Street, Barnet

Please contact me on 203..26349 anything of interest is noticed.

GRAHAME-WHITE HANGER – Bill Firth

The Borough planners have issued a draft planning brief for acceptance as a basis for consultation with the Property Services Agency (PSA), the Ministry of Defence and other interested bodies. This envisages retention and preservation of the listed buildings including the officer’s mess, which is at present only recommended for listing.

The East Camp site where these buildings are situated is considered suitable for commercial, educational/institutional or leisure/recreational use.

Acceptance of the brief by the Town Planning and Research Committee as well as the other committees which have an interest in the development of the site would be a big step forward in the preservation of the historical buildings.

We also understand that the PSA has put the site in the hands of agents for sale, subject to whatever planning constraints are put it.- If this is so, it is also good news since it means that any

Buyer is aware of the restrictions before buying. In the meantime, no maintenance is being done on the hangar, which in this summer’s weather must be deteriorating further.

Overall there is hope for the future of these buildings, but no room for complacency yet.

EXHIBITIONS AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM AND THE MUSEUM OF LONDON

TED SAMMES

I never cease to be pleased and amazed at the wealth of exhibi­tions in London.

Ceramic Art of the Italian Renaissance This free exhibition at the British Museum shows the fine painted pottery of the 15/16th century from Italy. There are 276 exhibits – one would be hard-pressed to find such a show elsewhere. While much of the exhibition comes from its own collection’s, there is material from ten other sources. I was interested to find six pieces from Reitlinger Collec­tion in Maidenhead on show.

The exhibition is well spaced, and the cases allow both the front and rear of plates etc to be seen. These carry not only designs but dating information. There is also one case devoted to the details of producing a tin glaze plate. This is well worth a study, especially if one realises that mistakes in painting cannot be corrected.

This exhibition is open until September 20 and is free. For the deeply interested, there is an illustrated book at £10.

Palaeolithic – Also at the British Museum is a small exhibition from the Boxgrove, Nr. Chichester dig of the Institute of Archaeology. It displays fossilised bones and flints. Also there is a modern hand-axe which took 10 minutes to make. Perhaps we are not the only throw-away age. The exhibition also contains a tribute to Sir Mortimer and Tessa Verney Wheeler who devoted 10 years to getting the Institute set up. This little exhibition is part of the 50 years celebration of the Institute.

Museum of London I was lucky to see the exhibition ‘Londoners the Way We Were’ before it closed on August 2. Mostly devoted to pictures, both drawn and painted, it gave a very wide cross-section of London life.

I was amazed to see a potter making sugar moulds at Childs Hill, Hendon in a picture painted by John Thomas Smith (1766-1833). Would someone like to follow this up as a research project to find where this pottery was? Under the title ‘Londoners’ there is a very fully illustrated book by D.V. Celina Fox, Keeper of Paintings, Prints and Drawings at the Museum.

Marking-Time–This exhibition is open until October 4 (remember the Museum of London does NOT OPEN ON MONDAYS) weekdays 10 am – 6pm, – Sundays 2

This exhibition aims to explore the photograph as an historical document, (a feature of which HADAS has been well aware over the years). It presents both amateur and professional work and suggests that such photography is accessible today to any camera user. A section that specially caught my eye was that devoted to the evolution of the simple camera. This starts with the original Kodak’ ‘Brownie’ in 1901 and ends up with today’s disc camera. So nice to see ordinary cameras instead of the expensive ones on show. I particularly noted the Kodak ‘Hawkette’ in brown mottled bakelite, made about 1930.

PRESS CUTTINGS L.SAGUES

HADAS members who followed the Roman road to Chichester some years ago with Raymond Lowe and visited the villa at Fishbourne on the way must have been delighted with the story of Mrs Lorna Chatfield, now aged 61, who made the first discovery on the site and kept it secret for 49 years. As a child Mrs Chatfield lived in one of the houses which hem in the famous, palatial house and gardens, none of which were visible in 1938. She was learning at school about the Romans, and told her sister and a friend that they were going to dig for Roman remains. They dug by the garden wall with a plasterer’s trowel, and at a depth of one foot found three shallow stone steps and an area of black and white mosaic. Their delight and excitement was tempered by the disapproval of the farmer next door, under whose paddock the mosaic obviously extended. He told them to keep quiet; he wasn’t going to have any archae­ologists nosing about on his land.

Now the land has been sold and Mrs Chatfield has already shown the exact place where she made her discovery. A large area of mosaic has been exposed. As David Rudkin, directing the excavation, says: ‘it is an incredible story … The chances must have been about a million to one:’

The Independent of July 20 carried a long, persuasive article on the plight of medieval wall-paintings in the country churches. David Keys explains, ‘The wall-paintings and the churches that house them are not the specific responsibility of English Heritage … nor are they viewed as a great priority by the Church Commis­sioners or the General Synod. For most hard-pressed Parish

Churches, the priority for fund-raising is to ensure that the fabric of the church – the stonework and the roof – is repaired’. Meanwhile paintings are flaking off and plaster disintegrating. £37,000 a year is all that can be spared for restoration work for the entire country and the only course for training conservators, at the Courtauld Institute, is likely to close for lack of funds by the end of next year.

David Keys has drawn our attention to a worthy cause. His article, and the superb photographs of Otley and of Hardham Churches (by Suresh Karadia) make one want to rush forth and organise a pressure group. Save England’s Heritage is spending money and time on restoring the fabric, of nineteenth century follies. Surely they or some equally public-spirited body, could spare a thought for these ghostly fragile splendours.

COURSE FOR TOURIST GUIDES

HADAS Members who recall Mary O’Connell’s fascinating Clerkenwell walks will be interested to learn that she is one of the tutors on a Clerkenwell/Islington Guiding for Tourists Course (Anthony Weaver is the other Tutor). The course begins on October 7 and is on Wednes­days 6:30-830, plus 4 Saturday mornings TBA, 10 am – 1 pm, £35.20 per term. There will be written and practical exams which could qualify for a Clerkenwell/Islington Guides Badge – however the 2-term course is open to non-guides and the examination is not compulsory.

Dept of Extra-Mural Studies, City University, Northampton Sq. EC1

01-253 4399 ex 3268

DAY AND EVENING CLASSES 1987-88.

The Living mast – A Practical Guide to Archaeology G. Williams,

The Institute, Central Square, Hampstead Garden Suburb (01-455 9951) A one-term course on Mondays 7.15-9.15 £20.50 (Senior Citizens, students, half price), enrolment Mon-Fri 9-4.45 from 7.9.87, evenings Mon-Thurs 6-8.30 from 16.9.87

WEA, The Library Golders Green Starting 29.9.87, Tuesdays 8-10 pm Archaeology of Ancient Egypt. David Seaton BA. Two terms, £40 (retired/unwaged £30),

The City University, Northampton Square, London EC1V ORB runs numerous courses on archaeology and local history.- the prospectus contains two-pages of archaeological courses alone (in small print!). Tel 01-253 4599. Most of these courses begin in October or 1988.

NEWSLETTER 198 AUGUST 1987 by Reva Brown

PROGRAMME

SATURDAY, 15 AUGUST: Outing to Royston, Therfield Barrows and Stansted Mount Fitchet with Peter

Griffiths. Itinerary and application form enclosed. If, you would like to join this outing, please return form to Dorothy Newbury, with cheque, as soon as possible. We have not been able to fill the usual 53-seater coaches this year and if we know early enough, we can order a smaller coach.

FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, 11, 12, 13. SEPTEMBER:

Abergavenny weekend with John Enderby. Still 2 places left, if any latecomers want to go. For members who have booked, a request for the balance of the payment is enclosed.

WEDNESDAY, 7 OCTOBER: Our lecture season opens with Medieval Parish churches in Middlesex.

APOLOGIES FOR THE LATE ARRIVAL OF THE JULY NEWSLETTER

Dorothy posted these at lunchtime on Tuesday, 30th June, but many members had not received them by 8 or 9 July. She learned that they were not franked until 2 July and she is taking it up with the Post Office.

VISIT TO WINCHESTER, DANEBURY AND ANDOVER E John Hoosen.

The principal objective of the HADAS trip of 11 July was Danebury hillfort, excavated by Professor Barry Cunliffe over sixteen seasons from 1969.

Before reaching Danebury, however, we made a stop in Winchester where we were conducted around the current excavations at the Brooks, close by the Cathedral Green. Miranda, an enthusiastic member of the excavation team, explained the current situation of the dig which was showing a range of phases from the Roman to the late Medieval, all contained in a depth of about one metre.

The Medieval, for which much documentary evidence from the 12th century onwards exists, included a large house and workshops of one John Newman, a fuller. The remains of a slate-based shrinking tank could be seen and samples from an area of possible fuller’s earth have been sent recently for analysis:

The size of this building was dwarfed by the one next to it where excavation was only just beginning. It had belonged to Jon D’Tyting, a wool merchant who had been the wealthiest man in Winchester.

Over the site, Roman, Saxon and Medieval pits and brick and stone-lined wells as well as many other features were being excavated. The last occupation of the site appears to have been given over to Victorian pleasures as evidenced by 18 pubs in the 19th century. Excavation is scheduled to continue until July 1988 and can be viewed seven days a week.

Our next stop was Danebury Hillfort where our guide was Max Dacre of the Andover Archaeological Society who had an intimate knowledge of the site, having dug there for many seasons. His lucid explanation commenced with the geology of the area and how it was favourable for the production of wheat and barley which could have been the reason for the construction of the hillfort. Next, he covered in detail the development of the defences of the hillfort from its initial univallate stage at around 600 BC, through various phases until it reached its peak in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC, by which time outer ramparts had been constructed, the south-west gate blocked and the east entrance strengthened with horn works and heavy gates requiring massive oak posts with a diameter of about one metre. Many hoards of sling stones, which can be lethally accurate at a range of 50 metres or more, had been found.

Excavation of the interior had revealed evidence of round houses, constructed in the rampart quarry ditch, rectangular huts, metalled roads, corn storage pits and granaries. It has been postulated that Danebury could have been a defended market-town. Part of the interior was left unexcavated in order that it would be available for future archaeologists and the excavated areas have been back-filled and can be identified by the regeneration of nettles;

Our picnic lunch was taken at the highest interior point where evidence of buildings but no artefacts were found during the excavation— Prof Cunliffe has suggested that this could be a temple site comparable with that excavated at Heathrow, of a non-material religion.

The end of Danebury Hillfort has not yet been established but it probably coincided with the coming of the Romans. It is known that it was used for rural fairs until the 17th. Century (a continuation of the prehistoric market town use?) and as rabbit warrens.

On leaving Danebury, Max Dacre insisted that we should next visit Bury Hill Hillfort as it was comparable with Danebury in many ways. A very short climb brought us to the interior, now under crops and never excavated. The similarity with Danebury at first eluded us but a short walk along the ramparts revealed a steep rampart and ditch similar to those at Danebury and probably constructed at the same time,.

Our final visit was to the Museum of the Iron Age in Andover. This was only opened in September last year and benefits from the Modern concepts of display with exhibits extremely well set out under good lighting conditions and with concise descriptions. It is principally concerned with Danebury and contains many of the finds and an impressive full-sized reconstruction of a section of the ramparts. It was not difficult to spend the two hours allocated to the visit viewing this impressive presentation.

The visits had been masterminded by Dorothy Newbury aided and abetted by her daughter Marion, with the excellence now associated with them. Consequently, it was disappointing that only 32 members participated, leaving 20 seats on the coach unfilled. This could, however, in part be attributable to certain very late postal deliveries of the final itinerary for the day.

NEWS FROM THE BOROUGH ARCHIVISTS

The outstanding donation during the last quarter was several boxloads of abstracts of title from a Golders Green solicitor. These proved to cover most of the areas of 1930s development within the Borough and have already proved useful to Jeremy Frankel in his researches on Edgware.

There are two interesting and beautiful new local sheets in the Alan Godfrey reprints of the 25″ 0S maps. They are for Hampstead, in both the 1866 and 1894 editions, and as they include West Heath, should be of particular interest to HADAS members. Copies are available through the libraries of both Barnet and Camden.

Dr Peter Bigmore of the Middlesex Poly School of Geography and Dr Taylor are co-operating on a long-term research project into the continuity of field systems and larger administrative units in Dark Age Middlesex. They would be delighted to hear from any member who has relevant knowledge or interest.

THE PADDOCK; THE BURROUGHS,NW4

Everyone who knows; Hendon Town Hall and The Burroughs will also know the pleasant patch of green at the corner of the Burroughs and Church End. When Miss Henge sold Church End Farm, she expressed a wish that the Paddock, which was part of it, should be left open and undeveloped for 900 years. At present, it is surrounded by the remains of iron railings, repaired with open chestnut palings. Not surprisingly, the Polytechnic, the occupiers of this area, wish to put up a replacement boundary fence. Their first application for permission was for a Close-boarded softwood paling fence, 1.5 metres high. HADAS were not the only ones to object to this, which would have cut the Paddock from view for the passerby and it was withdrawn. Then the Poly applied for a ‘palisade’ softwood fence, of the same height. It was not clear how big the gaps would be between the palings of the palisade and we reiterated our objections. (We also said we thought the area should be open space with access to the public.)

The Council Planning Sub-Committee have now refused permission for a palisade fence, adding an indication that application for an open metal fence would be more favourably received. At the same meeting (15 July), the Planning Sub-Committee had before them an application for the proposed development of land behind the Burroughs (i.e. in the angle formed by The Burroughs and Watford Way) which includes a quantity of new housing, with a new access road, feeding into The Burroughs. Consideration of this was deferred to a future meeting, to give the Committee an opportunity to view and consider the area.

. .

AN ICE HOUSE IN HENDON? Ted Sammes

Many members will have been alerted to the plans put forward, in November 1986, by Barnet Council to develop houses in front of the land ‘locked up’ in the triangle of The Burroughs, Greyhound Hill and Watford Way. Your Committee has been taking a long look at these proposals and their archaeological implications. Part of the grounds of St Joseph’s will be taken if the development goes ahead.

In Newsletter 88 for June 1978, a full discussion of a mound within the grounds is given, with the suggestion that it probably hides an ice house. Examination of the area on Sunday, 12 July, by a party consisting of Alison Balfour-Lynn, Victor Jones, Paddy Musgrove, Ted Sammes and Brian Wrigley did nothing to dispel this idea. The mound is longer than it is wide and is therefore possibly a long, horizontal ice house rather than one of the vertical ice houses which were common in the 17th to 18th centuries. It was decided to try to survey and perhaps excavate the mound if permission can be obtained.

SATURDAY 26: September

MINIMART at St Mary’s Church House,Hendon

Please ring Dorothy Newbury (203-0950) or Christine Arnot (455-2751)

if you have any goods available – good clothing, toiletries, unwanted gifts,

bric-a-brac,toys etc.

THE PREHISTORIC SOCIETY SUMMER CONFERENCE by Enid Hill

Bala, a small town close to Lake Bala in North Wales, proved an attractive centre for the Prehistoric Society’s Study Tour of North Wales. The week there was spent visiting a great variety of sites – Iron Age; hillforts; Bronze Age ring cairns, a Neolithic axe factory, a Palaeolithic cave site, prehistoric tombs of various kinds megalithic, passage and chambered – plus a so-called Druids stone circle. Every minute of the day was happily occupied and we were lucky with the weather – dull at first but hot and sunny later.

So we all struggled.to the top of the various Hillforts, anything from 1000 to 1500 feet and to add to the ordeal, we sometimes did two a day with the agony of descending, only to go up again later. The views from the top were magnificent, looking over the hills of North Wales often to the sea. I enjoyed two sites especially – Tre’r Ceiri, South Canarvon is probably the best preserved of all the hillforts of southern Britain Inhabited over several centuries, starting with about 20 round houses with surrounding stone wall, still retaining the original parapet and rampart walk in some places. Later, 150 roughly rectangular houses replaced the large round houses and alterations were made to the walls. The other fort was Bryn y Castell near Ffestiniog where Peter Crew, whom many HADAS members will remember from the HADAS weekend in North Wales, showed us his complete excavation-(1979-1965) of a very small stone-walled fort; providing evidence of an industrial settlement specialising in the production of iron from local bog iron ore. A wide range of metallurgical debris was found, representing cycles of iron-working, including smelting, bloom smithing and artefact smithing.

Much to our relief, we had a lowland day in Anglesey and spent the time visiting several tombs. Two megalithic tombs were beautifully situated on the estate of Plas Newydd overlooking the Menai Strait. Another, Bryn Celli, was a polygonal chambered tomb with a long, straight passage leading to it from the edge of the cairn. In the centre was a ritual pit and a decorated stone. Finally; we saw Barclodied y Gawres perched on a headland on the west coast – a passage grave with a cruciform chamber and an important series of decorated stones. Some ritual performance had once taken place as a fire had been lit and then a quantity of stew had been poured over it and the fire quenched by covering it with pebbles and limpet shells. The stew mixture seems unpleasant – ell, whiting, frog, grass snake, mouse, shrew and hare but presumably it was used for ritual only as the central area was not used for burial – only the side chamber.

One other day was memorable as we climbed up the east, end of Penmaenmawr mountain outside Conway to a moorland area where are found the outcrops which provided Group VII axes, and walking across the moor, we found cairns of various kinds, and the so-called Druids circle. This was impressive- thirty granite monoliths are set within a bank except at the south-west where there is a gap. In the centre was found the capstone of a cist which contained a food vessel with the cremation of a 10-12 year old child.

The week was a good one; it was well organised and we had excellent lecturers and specialist speakers.

COURSES AND CONFERENCES

THE. BRITISH. ASSOCIATION FOR LOCAL HISTORY is holding a Day Conference on Saturday 19 September. Applications (including a 110mm x 220mm stamped; self-envelope) should be sent to: The Programme Secretary, The British Association, for Local History, Shopwyke Hall, Chichester, West Sussex P020 6BQ – Costs: Members of BALH without lunch £8.00 with lunch £10.00

Non-members £10.50 £12.50

ASPECTS OF ANGLO SAXON ENGLAND: A day course at the Tower of London on September 26th .Cost: £7.50 (to include admission to the Tower, SAE to the Early Studies Group, 8 Westfield Road.

THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON:

Certificate in Field Archeology. A new syllabus and course structure has been approved: The Certificate will be awarded after years 1 & 3 have been successfully completed, with a further (fourth) year of study required to obtain the new DIPLOMA IN FIELD ARCHAEOLOGY. For further details, contact: A J Legge, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology, Department of Extra-Mural Studies, University of London, 26 Russell Square, London WC1 5DQ

BROCKLEY HILL

All set for August Bank Holiday and September.

As reported in the last newsletter, we plan to start opening trial trenches at Brockley Hill, along the line of the proposed Water Pipe Line, on August Bank Holiday weekend, 29-31 August, and to continue through September on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9.30am to 6.00pm.

We shall also be carrying out resistivity surveys along the route of the Pipe line. We shall be digging in the field on the east side of Brockley Hill (Watling Street) just north of the small turning called Pipers Green Lane where cars can be parked.

If you are interested, please contact Gillian Braithwaite (445-9275) or Brian Wrigley (959-5982). Digging experience is useful but not essential; gardening skills do very well. A sketch map of the area and full details of how to reach the site will be available from Gillian or Brian. Lifts can be arranged. Please note this is the last newsletter notice before digging starts.

MEMBERS NEWS

We are glad to hear, via Nell who has been to see BRIDID GRAFTON GREEN in hospital, that Brigid is on the way to recovery and we wish her an easy and speedy convalescence.

VINCENT FOSTER, who was a valued committee member for some years, left for Canada over two years ago but has remained a member during that time. We thought it was a spirit of adventure that sent him out there. We now learn that it was True Love. He up and went and was married to a Canadian girl in September 1984. Belated congratulations, Vincent Many members will remember him at our first phase West Heath dig, and again, dressed as a First World War soldier, serving drinks at our 21st birthday party.

WESTTHORPE – A RUSSIAN CONNECTION Ted Sammes

Following the appeal in the May newsletter and Mary Gravatt’s note on the Elworthys, Alec Jeakins has made a contribution by forwarding the information to the University of Leeds. Richard Davies runs the Leeds Russian Archive which seems to be looking into past Russia in considerable depth.

I now have two progress reports on their collection. He informs me that there is still a descendant of the Council’s secretary, Helen M Elworthy, active today as Chairman of the British Creditors in Russia. The Leeds Russian Archive would also like any information that my friend, F H Harris, can give them.

VIKING MASS GRAVE A WINDFALL FOR ARCHAELOGY (The Guardian) Muriel Lam

The only known mass burial of its kind in the Viking world has presented archaeologist with evidence of human sacrifice, women camp followers and the last resting place of a great warrior prince. The Repton (Derbyshire) dig into the winter quarters of Great Army of the Danes, which pillaged England in the 9th century has been in progress since 1974 and is now producing spectacular discoveries.

The burial mound contained the remains of more than 250 bodies originally stacked around a single central body surrounded with jewellery and weapons. It was as if their bones had been laid out in tribute to a great man in the centre, who has not so far been identified. In what looked like a further tribute to the unknown leader, four young people seemed to have been sacrificed in a simultaneous burial. Bones from the mass burial show no signs of the terrible wounds of men killed in battle. English weather and diseases seem to have done for the Vikings. About 20% of the bodies were females and there were few children or old people. Dr Martin Biddle of Oxford University, one of three leaders of the dig, said that measurements suggested that the men had skulls similar to those of Danes today and the women had skulls of a present day English type. This suggested to him that the women were Saxon camp followers.

THE GREEKS IN SOUTHERN ITALY at the BRITISH MUSEUM Isobel McPherson

Liz Sagues’ articles in the ‘Ham and High’ are great disturbers of the imagination and spurs to action. Her article (10 July) describes the new permanent exhibition. The scope is ambitious its aim is “to outline the story of Greek life and influence in Southern Italy, from the first large-scale visits around 1500 to 1100BC, through the rise of the colonies from about 700 BC, to Rome’s gradual assumption of control in the 3rd century BC.”

Yet this is achieved largely by, the display, with maps and commentaries, of treasures long owned by the British Museum, over half of them from dusty storerooms. Liz stresses the importance of vase paintings for our under­standing of the times – “scenes of feasting, dancing, fighting, wooing spinning, washing, riding” – and especially the work of the Rehearshal Painter whose vases are a visual Dictionary of Greek Theatre.

“Next in line for such treatment,” Liz says, “are the ancient Cypriots and the Etruscans.” We can hardly wait:

Newsletter 197 July 1987 July Editor: June Porges

PROGRAMME

Saturday 11 July Outing To Danebury and Andover.

Calling first at Winchester to see the major new excavation there.

Itinerary and application form enclosed. This outing is early in the month, so please send applications as soon as possible.

Saturday 15 August Outing to Royston Area – Peter Griffiths

11 12 and 13 September Long weekend at Abergavenny with John Enderby. A couple of places still left if anyone wants to go.

Saturday 26 September Minimart

Ring Dorothy Newbury (203 0950) or Christine Arnott (455 2751) if you have goods available now and can’t hang on to them. If anyone has a spare room to store some boxes of goods priced and ready for the day, please ring Dorothy on 203 0950 as she is approaching overflow point.

Another reminder to members old and new. If you decide late that you would like to join an outing, please ring Dorothy (203 0950). We are not always full, and we sometimes have last minute cancellations.

Brockley Hill

As reported at the AGM, we have permission from the farmer, Mr. Shepherd, to dig exploratory trenches at Brockley Hill during the month of September. If there is sufficient support we propose to start on the Bank Holiday weekend August 29-31 and then continue on throughout September on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. If you can come and help at any time during that period please contact Brian Wrigley (959 5982) or Gillian Braithwaite (455 9273). Digging experience is useful but not essential. Strong muscle power will be particularly welcome at all times!

HELP Can anyone offer the use of a garage or secure storage space for barrows and other equipment close to Brockley Hill?

From the Membership Secretary:

A gentle reminder that there are still many subscriptions outstanding. If you have not yet paid yours I append below the rates, i.e.

Full Membership £5.00

Under 16s and over 60s £3.00

Additional members of the family £1.00

Corporate Members

(Schools and Societies) £6.00

Phyllis Fletcher, HADAS, c/o 78 Temple Fortune Hill, London NW11 7TT

OUTING TO DOVER – 20 JUNE 1987

Dover was at its clear and sunny best for us, with the French coast just discernible in mist. The castle overwhelms the visitor with choices and it is doubtful if any of us saw as much as we had hoped. The huge keep in its palace courtyard, the two lines of concentric walls and towers, the various gates, the subterranean fortifications, the Anglo Saxon/Victorian church, the Roman “lighthouse”, are all complex buildings in themselves. Additionally they have all been altered in the long history of occupation from Iron Age fort, Roman site, Saxon borough, royal fortress and palace from Norman to Stuart times, and garrison centre in the 13th and 19th centuries. Struggling to perceive at least some of this significance in the buildings, one is distracted by the huge and inviting green spaces of the hill-top and cliff-top enclosure and the enticing views of sea and town below. For Dover Castle, one visit is not enough.

Our second call was to the Roman Painted House. Mrs. Wendy Williams still excavating it after 17 years, accounted for it at first hand, from Mortimer Wheeler’s earlier prediction that a Roman maritime town lay there to be discovered. Continual excavation around the Painted House and rescue openings in old Dover are showing not only the extent of the Roman town but the great extent of the Painted House itself. It was founded in about 200 AD on the remains of an earlier building of about 150 and lay just outside the first fort of the Channel fleet, the Classis Britannica. It was demolished by the army about 270 to make room for and provide stone for the Saxon shore fort, a few rooms (now on view) being only partly broken down before being earthed up and built over, thus preserving their plastered and painted walls. Originally this was thought to be a town house, possibly of the Admiral of the Fleet. Now it is believed to have been a 5 star hotel for important travelers. Finds of walls and plaster fragments indicate that there were possibly about 30 rooms, expensively decorated throughout by wet-plaster frescoes, some with painted symbols representing Bacchus. The central heating system made it possible to warm rooms individually while running economically on brushwood. The building had its own piped water and was built of navy bricks (stamped CLBR); its outside walls were painted a bright red. It is hoped that the wall plaster in situ will eventually recover its original brightness, if means can be found to-leach the salt from the supporting walls.

After these two state buildings, we were refreshed to escape from the motorway to two small Kentish villages, hidden away through narrow lanes and copses. The little church at Barfrestone wears its astonishing carvings on the outside, the inside being rather more restored. Though the church may be earlier Norman, the decorations in Caen stone are attributed to about 1180. The Church guidebook sees them as the contemporary de Port heir’s celebration of his marriage to a wealthy Normandy heiress, employing Canterbury masons. The effect recalls Kilpeck but is more genteel. Further lanes led us to Eythorne whose church is overshadowed by Barfrestone but arouses curiosity about its construction. Here we attended more to the church hall where the vicar had organised a most generous home-made tea.We all appreciated Dorothy Newbury’s planning and preparation of this lovely day’s programme.

JEAN SNELLING

SITE WATCHING

Sites of possible archaeological interest that I would ask Members living in the locality to “watch”, taken from this month’s Planning Applications:

Central Division

The Manor House

80 East End Road, N3

Western Division

Land adjoining

235 Edgwarebury Lane, Edgware

Land ad joining

Orchard Drive, Edgware

34 & 40 Martland Drive, Edgware’

Land rear of The Burroughs, NW4 fronting Watford Way and Greyhound Hill

Northern Division

The Elizabeth Allen School Wood Street, Barnet

36 Wood Street, Barnet 116/118 High Street, Barnet

Land adjoining Stapylton Road, Barnet

Little Pipers Hadley Green Road, Barnet

74 Galley Lane. Arkley
146 Wood Street, Barnet

Please contact me on 203 2630 if anything of interest is noticed on the above sites.

JOHN ENDERBY

BARNET COLLEGE ACCESS COURSES TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Here is a chance for adults who have no “0” or “A” levels to gain access to a degree level course. From September two courses – Science or Social Science – will be run at Barnet College. People who complete them successfully will gain automatic admittance to degree courses at Middlesex Polytechnic the following year. Anyone interested should contact Sue Berryman, Barnet College (440 6321).

HOW TO ATTACK AN ETRUSCAN CITY

Warning Do not attempt this while the tourist crop is being taken in and try to avoid early May, when large flocks of migrating schoolchildren can be expected. They are charming young things, anxious to practice their English and will not only delay you but seriously impede your use of those excellent siege weapons between upper and forearm

Perugia, like all Etruscan cities, is perched upon a mini-mountain and approached by busy roads which corkscrew up to the summit. Do not drive up these; you will only have to drive down again. Park at the bottom, and spend some time reconnoitering the line of the Etruscan walls which are obviously unassailable, even where they are not topped by Roman and Mediaeval masonry. Study the main gates, especially the impressive Arco d’Augusto, restored in 40 AD. Reject these means of access and look for the secret keys to the citadel. There are three of these:

A The defences may be breached by any one of several linked stairways, notably Via Appia, a quick, direct route, though physically demanding. Regroup at one of the excellent cafés on Corso Vanucci. In case of forced retreat, the descent of Via Appia at speed is like scree-running on Gable. The views are impressive too.

B. On the east side of the city, a lift goes up through six stories of car park and market, landing the invader at Corso level, on a fine terrace with distant views of Assisi and Monte Subasio. An excellent approach route, if only there was the slightest chance of a place in the car park.

C. The recommended route. On the south (?) side of the city, just above a sports stadium, a series of escalators, housed in the rock and linked by short stairways, leads directly to the top, with the minimum of effort. Both the top, in Piazza Italia. and the bottom of this system are cunningly hidden and the present writer is by no means sure that they are on the south side, as one entrance was glimpsed close to Arco d’Augusto on the north of the city. Perhaps the defenders re-route it secretly by night.

Perugia is a glorious city, a prize worth winning, even at some cost. Those who are intent on tracking down the Etruscans must expect further delaying tactics when they reach the centre. The National Gallery of Umbria will tempt them in for half an hour and detain them for three. In every church and every square the Middle Ages and the Renaissance will distract them from their purpose. But if they have patience and will give the city the three or four days it deserves, the Etruscans will reveal themselves, keeping a certain distance, as always, but surprising the visitor with the range of their achievements and their capacity to survive.

The bronze griffin, high on the Palazzo dei Priori, is Etruscan all but his wings – and they are 13th Century. East of the Duomo a narrow arch and sloping, rocky shaft lead to an Etruscan well of prodigious depth and dimensions. To look down into the dark water is to renew one’s respect for this ancient, much vilified, people. Everywhere Etruscan walls survive. There are three splendid gates, the Arco d’Augusto (Arco Etrusco) Porta Marzia and Porta Trasimena and on the stepped streets one is walking where the earliest citizens trod. The Archaeological Museum is airy and spacious. The Iron Age Hall was closed against us, for some reason, but the Etrusco-Roman galleries were full of interest, especially the earliest, 6th century finds, and, of course, the famous Cippus with its lengthy inscription.

In front of this, the invader must finally admit defeat. The letters are familiar, the right to left system no obstacle, but no one as yet has been able to decipher Etruscan script. The Cippus gives its message to deaf ears. It is time to go down to the plain where the people who first built the city were buried. Out on the Foligno road, perilously near the railway, is the family tomb of the Volumnii. At ground level, a modern building houses a crowded collection of urns from the large neighbouring cemeteries. On some, reclining portraits meet the intruder with a startled gaze originally intended for the gods. Their treasures are bundled into glass cases: painted bowls, mirrors, armour, back-scratchers, figurines, and a monstrous kottabos over six feet high.

At the bottom of a long shaft lies the tomb of a remarkable family, a late 2nd century EC construction, an underground copy of a Roman house with atrium. tablinum and two wings. In the tablinum Aruns Volumnius, the founder, and his daughter Velia reside. He reclines on a couch, supported by winged figures; Velia is seated, a comfortable, matronly figure. Among the other family shrines one is particularly interesting. Publius Volumnius, the last of the line, was buried here in the first century AD. By that time, Rome had long ago destroyed the Etruscan power, suppressed its language and blackened its history, but this man was still true to his origins. The Volumnii were not defeated: they prospered under Rome and kept their secrets. We are not likely to come closer to them than this.

J I MCPHERSON

HENDON AERODROME

The latest news is that the future of the site, not just the Grahame-White Hangar is being studied by the Property Services Agency (PSA) of the Department of the Environment assisted by consultants. The consultants’ report should be available by early summer (which, despite the adverse meteorological evidence, presumably means fairly soon) after which decisions about the site can be made.

The PSA has informed us that the “consultants are working very closely indeed with the Barnet Planning Department in finding alternative uses for Hendon itself and those uses will take into account the circumstances of the listed buildings.”

This is good news in so far as we know that the Borough Planners support the retention of these buildings.

BILL FIRTH

HOW TO RUN YOUR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY SUCCESSFULLY!

This is the title of the second Congress of Independent Archaeologists, organised by Andrew Selkirk, which is to be held this year in Selwyn College, Cambridge, on September 18th/19th 1987.

Subjects will include:

How to deal with your professionals

· To dig or not to dig

· How to get results published

· Adult education how useful is it?

· Museums and public archaeology; opium for the masses?

There will also be a workshop on computers in archaeology. Residential cost will be £39, non-residential £10. Apply to CIA, 9 Nassington Road, London NW3 2TX (435 7517).

BOOK NEWS

The results of the British Archaeological Book of the Year award were announced in November — the winning book was Bryony and John Coles’ Sweet Track to Glastonbury.

This was chosen from a shortlist of thirteen books – you may be interested to know these in case you have birthday book tokens to spend:

Sweet Track to Glastonbury by Bryony and John Coles (Thames and Hudson)

Tomb of the Eagles, by John Hedges (John Murray)

The Roman Port of London, by Gustav Milne (Batsford)

The History of the Countryside, by Oliver Rackman (Dent)

The European Iron Age, by John Collis (Batsford)

Invitation to Archaeology, by Philip Rahtz (Blackwell)

Symbols of Excellence, by Grahame Clark (Cambridge UP)

Symbols of Power at the Time of Stonehenge by David Clarke, Trevor Vowie and Andrew Foxton (HMSO, 1985)

Exploration of a Drowned Landscape: The Archaeology and History of the Scilly isles, by Charles Thomas (Batsford)

The Special Foundations of Prehistoric Britain by Richard Bradley

(Longman)

Images of Lust: Sexual Carvings on Mediaeval Churches, by Anthony Weir and James Jerman (Batsford)

The Prehistory of Metallurgy in the British Isles by R F Tylecote

(Institute of Metals)

The Iron Industry of the Weald by Henry Cleere and David Crossley

(Leicester UP)

It is interesting to note that four of the authors shortlisted have lectured to HADAS in recent years — congratulations to Dorothy on picking winners John Hedges’ Tomb of the Eagles and Gustav Milne’s The Roman Port of London are both in our Library with inscriptions by the authors, and another recent addition to our stock is Desmond Collins’ Palaeolithic Europe: a Theoretical and Systematic Study, which we acquired while visiting him at his home in Somerset last year during the Exeter weekend.

This book, which Desmond published under his own imprint “Clayhanger Books” is a fascinating in-depth study of Palaeolithic man in Europe which Desmond says in the Preface “is not an introductory text but should be of use to any serious student interested in either early man or Pleistocene chronology, or human evolution, or several other tangential disciplines, and especially it is designed for anyone who wants to examine the underlying theory or principles of this kind of research.” A copy is available in the Library or for purchase. New members might like to know that HADAS has a library of about 800 publications. A few of these are displayed at the monthly meetings for members to borrow. The Library is located at Avenue House in East End Road, Finchley, and can be visited by arrangement with June Porges (346 5078).

Text Box: — 7 –LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

FROM JEAN SNELLING:

Kite Flying

Thank you for a very interesting Newsletter, full of meat. The Sutton Hoo team used not only kites but at least one metal detector ­which is said to have located army shrapnel mainly. I think we should take steps to see whether cooperation with owners of metal detectors is possible. If the water pipeline is begun, they will surely be active there in any case, and it would be a nuisance to have them operating in secret. I don’t know if the same would apply to Stapylton Road if the dig develops there, but should think it very probably would.

I think we should aim to have a computer (for; all future digs) and a word processor with printer. I don’t know how feasible it is to share, e.g. with another voluntary society based in Finchley or Hendon, but wonder if it would be. (I suppose the gramophone society can use the Library’s computer). Finchley Society? Bird watchers and nature reserve people? etc.

FROM JENNIE LEE COBBAN:

I read with interest your reference to metal detector owners and their relationship with archaeologists (“Kite Flying”) in the April Newsletter. As a new society member, an archaeology graduate and an owner of such a machine, I thought you may be interested to hear my views, as I can appreciate the situation from both sides of the fence.

I think the first point to make clear is that most metal detector owners are genuine history enthusiasts who adhere to a strict, universal code of practice, which I enclose from the magazine “Treasure Hunting” (a dreadfully provocative name which I wish they would alter!):

Code of Conduct for Responsible
Metal Detector Users

1. Do not trespass. Ask permission before venturing on to any private land.

2. Respect the Country Code. Do not leave gates open when crossing fields, and do not damage crops or frighten animals.

3. Do not leave a mess. It is perfectly simple to extract a coin or other small objects buried a few inches under the ground without digging a great hole. Use a sharpened trowel or knife to cut a neat circle or triangle (do not remove the plug of earth entirely from the ground); extract the object, replace the soil and grass carefully and even you will have difficulty finding the spot again.

4. Help to keep Britain tidy – and help yourself. Bottle tops, silver paper and tin cans are the last things you should throw away. You could well be digging them up again next year. Do yourself and the community a favour by taking the rusty iron and junk you find to the nearest litter bin.

5. If you discover any live ammunition or any lethal object such as an unexploded bomb or mine, do not touch it. Mark the site carefully and report the find to the locally police.

6. Report all unusual historical finds to the landowner.

7. Familiarise yourself with the law related to archaeological sites. Remember it is illegal for anyone to use a metal detector on a scheduled ancient monument unless permission has been obtained from the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for

England. Also acquaint yourself with the practice of Treasure Trove.

1. Remember that when you are out with your metal detector, you are an ambassador for our hobby. Do nothing that may give it a bad name.

(“Treasure Hunting”, April 1987)

As you can see, no responsible metal detector owner would dream of wandering about digging a scheduled site. Unfortunately, however, there are the so-called “cowboys” of the hobby who have been known to detect stealthily by night on sites where excavations are actually in progress. The activities of these people are abhorred by archaeologist and responsible metal detectorist alike, and until they are stopped (by heavier penalties?), I see little likelihood of the two sides forming an amicable working relationship.

Personally, of course. I would very much like to see more co-operation between archaeology and metal detecting, and in a way am trying to combine the two approaches in my persona/ studies.

At the moment I am attempting to pull together all the archaeological evidence for, the medieval Order of Knights Templars in Britain. This is a tough task, as interest in the order seems minimal, and few preceptories (regional Templar headquarters) have been fully excavated. Even the actual sites of some are in question. Therefore, as well as the orthodox forms of archaeological research, I have spoken to the Editor of Treasure Hunting” (hate that name!) who has agreed to inform her readers of my project and, hopefully, enlist their help by letting me know of any Templar artifacts found by metal detectorists around the country and thus help me pinpoint areas of Templar activity.

Metal detecting could also, of course, help me pinpoint certain sites which are theoretical at the moment. So why don’t I use the machine there?

Because I am afraid of compromising my reputation as a bona fide archaeologist by drawing attention to the fact that I even own a machine, although I wish to use it merely to find archaeological evidence rather than “treasure”. You see the problem?

To conclude, I could just like to say that metal detectors detect to a maximum depth of 10 inches. Many excavations I took part in used JCBs to remove at least the top five feet of earth! Also, my husband, plus detector, will be available for use on HADAS spoil heaps (when convenient to both sides) to recover for our excavations any small metal objects missed, and if any member wishes to examine the machine, he or she is very welcome.

VISITING EGYPT

Seeing Egypt is probably the dream of everyone interested in archaeology ­most of us first encounter it at primary school and for many this is the first time they hear of archaeology. Whatever it is, we feel we must go there some day. Several members of HADAS have been to Egypt recently and although all inevitably covered much of the same ground, did it in slightly different ways and we thought those who are still at the dreaming and planning stage might be interested to hear of their experiences:

Sheila Woodward:

A Nile cruise proved an ideal way of touring Egypt. The Nile is still, as it always has been, the life-line of Egypt, and it is the sole source of water in Upper Egypt where rain is almost unknown. Both ancient sites and modern towns and villages are therefore clustered along its banks and easily accessible to the river traveller.

We flew to Cairo and immediately boarded the Swan’s boat “Nile Star”, our home-base for the next 2 weeks. That is one of the great advantages of a cruise no hassle of packing and unpacking as one moves from place to place. The ship was modern and air-conditioned, the accommodation compact but comfortable, and the Nubian staff charming and incredibly efficient.

The ship remained moored for the first 24 hours, enabling us to see something of modern Cairo and visit the Pyramids at Gizeh. Then we began our leisurely 600 mile journey up-river, stopping each night so that we missed nothing of the passing scenery and slept undisturbed by the throb of the engine. Our days were a pleasant mixture of strenuous site visiting and relaxing on deck as we watched the riverside scene. Rural life in Egypt must have changed little in 5,000 years (though it is beginning to change, and quickly). Women still come down to the Nile from their mud brick houses to draw water in clay pots, and to wash their clothes and their cooking pans and themselves in the river. Tiny children haul on the leading ropes of water buffalo twice their size. Father rides home from the fields on his donkey or drives the poor beast almost submerged under its load of alfalfa. And the scenes of fishing and wild-fowling in the reeds might have been taken from a New Kingdom painting. Shore visits brought us in closer contact with country life: a walk through a field of water melons or sugar cane, or between heaps of grain waiting to be winnowed in the time-honoured fashion of tossing to let the breeze blow away the chaff. Or one could take a starlight stroll along a country road, the silence only broken by a chorus of frogs. The bird watchers on board ship were kept busy spotting each new species: egrets, heron, pied kingfisher, little green bee-eater, and the ‘Amazing purple gallinule.

Travelling by river gave us the opportunity to visit a great variety of sites in addition to the pyramid complexes at Gizeh and Saggara we saw the pyramid at Meydun with its magnificent corbel-roofed burial chamber. We visited the Middle Kingdom tombs at Beni Hassan with their enchanting reliefs depicting scenes of everyday life. It was a stiff climb to reach them but the view of the Nile valley was unforgettable. We visited the evocative site of El Amarna, Akhenaten’s capital, and saw some of the recent excavations and we explored Abydos, ancient Egypt’s most sacred site. Of course we saw all the great tombs and temples around Luxor where we were moored for three days, and we also saw an interesting series of Ptolomeic temples at Dendera, Esna. Edfu and Kota limbo. From Aswan where we stayed for two days we flew to Abu Simbel and had a magnificent aerial view of the temples as we came in to land. It made the achievement of moving them to their present site, well above the waters of Lake Nasser, seem even more staggering than one had realised.

We began our tour by visiting the greatest monuments of the Old Kingdom, the Pyramids at Gizeh, so it was appropriate to end it at Abu Simbel with two of the greatest monuments of the New Kingdom. However, there was a post­script. From Aswan we flew back to Cairo for two days sightseeing, including the great National Museum, before we flew home.

Elizabeth Sanderson:

After watching mile upon mile of sand unfold beneath the aircraft the pyramids came into view looming large and regular on the edge of the desert. Even from 300ft they looked huge. My first trip to Egypt was a short appetiser in which we visited the pyramids, firstly in the evening for the Son et Lumiere, then at 6am the next morning we just had to see them again, but time was short. We were at the Cairo museum for 9am for two hours before returning home. At least I had fulfilled one promise to myself: to see the treasures of Tutankamen’s tomb in Cairo (I had been unable to see it in London). The trip also made me absolutely determined to see more of Egypt, and so three friends and I decided to go.

We had memories of being rushed from site to site by a guide who treated us like recalcitrant sheep so our aim was to ‘do our own thing’, as far as possible. It soon became clear from the agent’s expression that the modern Thomas Cook is not used to intrepid travellers proposing to book their own transport both to and within Egypt. We therefore took the easy option and booked a Bales tour which provided the greatest degree of freedom. We decided against the Nile cruise because we thought not only would it restrict our freedom for a week, but also we would see more local colour from the bank. Flights to and within the country were booked as were the hotels, but what we did when were deposited at the hotels was left entirely to us. Two of our party had been to Egypt before, and we felt confident that we could manage without guides.

We arrived in Cairo on Easter Saturday and were greeted at the hotel by a pen of the most delightful Easter bunnies! There were evil rumours afterwards about rabbit dishes, but I didn’t see any! We did, however, consume the most enormous chocolate Easter Egg the following day which one of us had brought from the UK!

During our initial three days in Cairo we visited the Pyramids, Cairo Museum the Bazaar, the Citadel, Memphis and Saqqara. On the fourth day we flew via Luxor (where we had a wonderful aerial view of Hatshepsut’s Temple) to Aswan. Our hotel, the Old Cataract, was the height of colonial splendour. One of the most dramatic moments of the trip for me came when my roommate opened the thick curtains, then the windows, then the shutters to reveal the Nile and various islands below our balcony. From Aswan we visited Abu Simbel very early one morning, Philae, the High Dam, a granite quarry and lazed on a felucca on the Nile.We took a coach back to Luxor so that we could stop off at Kom Ombo (those ghastly mummified crocodiles!). Esna and Edfu. The situation of Kom Ombo is idyllic and Erna and Edfu are both impressive for their size and preservation. The coach trip was very worthwhile to see in addition to the sites the villages and people on the way: women in black watering water buffalo houses painted to show the owner’s pilgrimage on the Haj to Mecca, Bedouin encampments, herds of camels being driven on foot and in the back of small trucks to unthinkable fates.

The hotel at Luxor, as in Cairo of the Movenpick group, was excellent. It was situated on the east bank of the Nile from where we could watch the sun setting behind the Valleys of the Kings and Queens. We visited the tombs, of course, which were most impressive as was the architecture of Deir el Bahri. By now we were used to – even blasé about – masses of wall paintings and reliefs and Deir el Bahri was perhaps a little disappointing except for the relief of the foreign dignitaries Hatshepsut met including the misshapen Queen of Punt. On the contrary Deir el Medinah, which we had to ourselves was evocative of how the men working on the great tombs of the kings lived. Another highlight for me was the Ramesseum which had fired my imagination when as a teenager I had read Shelley’s Ozymandias. Again there being only the four of us there, we were able to absorb the atmosphere of the place while reminding ourselves of the poem which had very thoughtfully been provided in the guidebook.

Karnak on the east bank is more grand and immense than you can imagine. The Son et Lumiere was impressive, but a little spoiled by the hoards of people vying for a front place. On our last day in Luxor we went to Abydos and Denderah, the latter being particularly well preserved and interesting.

Back in Cairo we saw the old Coptic area and did last minute shopping. Unfortunately (?) we ran out of time without experiencing the promised camel ride – next time?

The dreaded ‘gyppie tummy’ only really caught one of us, and for some reason 1 was perfectly fit the whole holiday (I put it down to years of immunity to bacteria as a result of my own cooking!).

In retrospect I still think the unaccompanied tour suited us the best we were able to linger as long as we liked, usually on our own, at the sites. Taxis were always at hand and for four of us the cost was not, in our view, unreasonable. If you are considering an Egyptian holiday do take the plunge – it’s well worth it.

Hans and June Porges:

We delayed our visit to Egypt for years because we could not decide whether to go on a Nile cruise or another way, but finally decided on Bales’ economy fifteen day tour, which involved flying to Cairo and staying there and in two other centres: Aswan and Luxor. This meant there was not too much packing and unpacking and, as we did not know the country, we appreciated having an efficient tour manager who organised our transportation and luggage (though mine did go missing for two hours at Aswan – but he did the worrying!) and who could be called upon in an emergency.

The tour included organised visits, accompanied by a local guide, to all the “musts” — the pyramids (where one of us did ride on a camel), Saqqara, the Valleys of the Kings, Queens and Nobles etc. but also gave us about five “free” days when we could take optional tours, lie by the pool (our hotels at Luxor and Aswan were both on the edge of the Nile), go shopping or make private visits to sites. We particularly enjoyed a second visit to the Temple at Luxor (where the stage was being erected for the famous Aida) one lunch time when we were virtually alone. Even the little men who beckon one to see the “risqué” wall paintings and then demand baksheesh were having their siesta. We also went alone to the Coptic Museum and district in Cairo and then attempted to return to the centre on the “Metro” which turned out to be non-existent after two stations end deposited us in a dubious area of Cairo to walk what seemed like miles back to the centre – a marvellous way of getting a flavour of Egyptian life!

Sheila and Elizabeth have graphically described the Nile and many of the sites so we will not add to those – just say that the joy and astonishment of standing in the sand in front of those monuments, so often seen in films and photographs, and seeing them in their own context, sends one into a state of shock never to be forgotten. Do go!

NEWS OF HADAS MEMBERS

Olive Banham one of our founder members, writes to say how she misses joining us on outings and lectures. We miss her too – she was one of our regulars. She says her general health is excellent but she has developed osteoporosis of the spine which prevents her walking far or fast. We send her our best wishes.

Philip Venning, known to many of us as a regular digger during the first few

years at West Heath, has recently married. We wish him every happiness.

Margaret Taylor. A marvellous achievement for a member of very long standing (1971). She has been elected President of the St Albans and Herts Architectural and Archaeological Society – a great honour as the Society, which was founded in 1845 and was largely run by a Council of clergymen, archdeacons, bishops and venerables, has never had a woman President before. She hopes the founders are not turning in their Victorian graves at the thought of a woman taking over. She recalls first taking up archaeology with Brigid Grafton Green at Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute in Desmond Collins’ first ever extra mural class, and also digging with us at St Marys, Hendon, before moving to St Albans. We are all waving the flag for her!

Brigid Grafton Green. We are sorry to hear that Brigid has had to go into hospital for an operation and will be out of action for some weeks. We all send our warmest wishes for a speedy recovery. Meantime if you need to contact her, Brigid says please ring Dorothy Newbury (203 0950) who will pass on any messages.

Newsletter 196: June 1987

THE HADAS AGM Report by BRIAN WRIGLEY

It was good to see Vice-President. Brigid Grafton Green, who has had to curtail her HADAS activities recently, once again in the Chair at the AGM on May 13th and welcoming the members who attended.

In his Annual Report the Chairman, Andrew Selkirk, referred to it as a year of the Changing of the Guard, with changes in the Committee, in Newsletter editing and. the ending of excavations at West Heath; he thanked all those whose efforts had carried on the Society’s many successful activities in this our 25th anniversary year, and he looked forward to another busy year of publication and excavation.

Victor Jones, Hon Treasurer, reported a healthy set of accounts and expressed thanks for the work of those, particularly, responsible for the Minimart’s success. A vote of thanks to the Honorary Auditor, Ronald Penny, was passed with acclaim.

Research and Group activities were only briefly reported formally, as they were mostly the subject of talks with slides after the formal part of the Meeting.

The Vice-Presidents confirmed in office are: Mrs Rosa Freedman MBE, Mrs Brigid Grafton Green, Miss D P Hill, Mr B A Jarman, Sir Maurice Laing, Mrs Daphne Lorimer MA, Mr E Sammes and Mr Andrew Saunders MA FSA.other Officers and Committee members elected are:

Chairman: Andrew Selkirk

Vice-Chairman: John Enderby

Hon Treasurer: Victor Jones

Hon Secretary: Brian Wrigley

Committee: Christine Arnott, Alison Balfour-Lynn, Gillian Braithwaite, Phyllis Fletcher, Liz Holliday, Margaret Maher, Robert Michel, Dorothy Newbury,

June Porges, Kim Russell, -Ted Sammes, Jean Snelling, Myfanwy Stewart

Those members who were not among the 35 or so who attended the AGM should count themselves unlucky. They missed a real Vintage HADAS perform­ance by Margaret Maher which is likely to go down in the Society’s annals. After the business part of the AGM she talked to her own slides on the lighter side of life at the West Heath dig and it was a wow! We had just a taste of it some time back, when she wrote a piece for the newsletter called “Animal Crackers at West Heath” at the end of the 1985 digging season: but this was an expansion, and the slides, plus Margaret’s delightfully throwaway style made it, a gem. One classic slide showed the mother of all toads sitting on someone’s hand; and in another a self-conscious squirrel shyly declined a trowel invitingly held out to him by Terry Keenan; who no doubt hoped to recruit extra labour for his trench. Another slide destined to become HADAS history was of Margaret (on the ground) and Victor Jones (on an upturned bucket) sitting side by side sewing wire-netting blankets to defeat digger rabbits.

Other HADAS speakers at the AGM who had to follow that sparkling performance faced a daunting task – but rose well to the occasion.

Gillian Braithwaite spoke to two briefs. The first concerned Brockley Hill and the probability that we shall be putting some trial trenches down there next September, on the line which the Water Board Pipeline may follow when/if it is cut in the early 1990s,

Secondly she deputised for Ted Sammes who was absent, discussing the LBB Planning Brief for developing land near The Burroughs, Hendon. This includes the grounds of St Joseph’s Convent, and there was speculation about the precise site of the round mound on which HADAS had done a preliminary investigation back in 1978. (Note: after the AGM we tracked down a report in the June 1978 Newsletter, which gave an 8-figure OS fix for the position of the mound and suggested that it might be the remains of either a Victorian ice-house or part of an 18c kiln, built of fire bricks from local clay for building either Hendon Grove or Norden Court).

Tessa Smith also deputised for Ted. She gave a round-up, with slides, of his work for our Silver Jubilee year. She showed the opening of the One Man’s Archaeology exhibition and mentioned Ted’s booklet on the Church Terrace dig, “Pinning Down the Past.”

Finally, Nell Penny wound up with a tour de force on what you can find in the Local History Collection. It encompassed, in about 5 minutes flat (alas, we were running out of time) census returns, parish registers, the great helpfulness of our two Borough Archivists and male chauvinist pigs!

PROGRAMME NEWS

Sat June 20 Outing to Dover Castle and Roman Painted House (application form .enclosed.)

Sat July 11 Outing to Danebury & Andover Museum (and, if possible, calling at Winchester to See a major new dig, started last March, in search of Roman Venta Belgarum)

Sat Aug 15 Outing to Royston area

Sept 11/12/13 Long weekend in Abergavenny with John Enderby. We need a few more for this outing. Please try and make up the numbers. To refresh your memory, the weekend will be spent in a large 19c house, now a residential college under the headship of John Newcombe (until recently second in command at the HGS Institute). We will be visiting a steelworks, an underground Pit Mining Museum, Cyfarthfa Castle, Clydach Gorge Iron Age hill-forts and Caerleon and Caerwent, where recent excavation has uncovered more of the Roman complex since our 1977 visit. Approx price, all inclusive, £75.

Sat Sept 26 Minimart. Ring ‘Christine Arnott (01 8455. 2751) or Dorothy Newbury (203. 0950) if you have goods available now and ‘can’t hang on to them’.

Another note to members, old and new: if you decide late that, you would like to join an outing, please ring Dorothy – we are not always full, and we do sometimes have late cancellations.

HADAS AS A STATISTIC

Our Society has recently become a statistic – by taking part in a survey run by the Council for British Archaeology. Object of the survey, carried out by questionnaire in 1985 – was to find out what part local and county societies played in archaeological adult education in Britain. In fact, it found out a lot more than that. The May issue of British Archaeo­logical News (CBA’s monthly Newsletter) gives the results.

The questionnaire was sent to some 480 societies, of which 40% (about 200) replied. Extrapolating from the answers, CBA has arrived at a total figure of 100,000 people in the country sufficiently interested in archaeology to become members of a society. It also reckons that not more than 1% are in any sense professional archaeologists.’

Those figures we feel, must give some of the professionals furiously to think; they have obviously made CBA itself think. Talking of the 99%, CBA comments: It would be idle to claim that these are all active field archaeologists they range from those members of research groups whose every working spare-time moment is committed to excavation or survey to the many local society members who dutifully attend lectures on a variety of archaeological and historical subjects and take part in excursions (with tea) to local buildings and monuments.

All are, nevertheless, sufficiently conscious of the objectives of archaeology and of the need to preserve the relics of our past to support their local society or museum by paying a subscription – small beer, perhaps, by comparison with the million-plus members of the National Trust or the RSPB’s half-million, but nevertheless an average of more than 150 voters in every Parliamentary constituency.

The Officers are conscious of the fact that the Council has done all too little for the overwhelming bulk of these individuals in the past. Armed with the information the survey has provided, however,

they will now be taking active steps to cater for their needs more effectively and to mobilize their support for the work of CBA.

Great stuff, my masters! Those last remarks are something that HADAS can welcome: We are all for a central body like CBA (with which we have always had most harmonious relations) catering effectively for our needs:

Taking the figures CBA has unearthed in more detail, we see that HADAS was founded at the beginning of the ‘bulge’ in’ archaeological societies 39 societies were formed in the 1960s (HADAS arrived in April, 1961), twice as many as in any previous decade; while 43 followed in the 1970s. There’s a distinct tapering off in the 1980s – only 15 formed up to 1986. Average membership figure is 222 individuals and 14 institutional members so HADAS is considerably higher than average in individuals (365 was the figure given for 1986-7 at the AGM), but lower in institutional or corporate (4 last year).

There are figures, too, for how many societies have categories of membership; for subscriptions, affiliations, youth sections, and divisions of societies into internal sections, publications and since this all began as an adult education exercise – for the links societies have with university and local adult education departments. Apropos publications, it is interesting that CBA comments here would appear to be substantial opportunities for the CBA or other agencies to assist local archaeological societies in generating published materials of different types. The lack of good quality audio-visual material produced on local/regional themes is of particular concern, especially for those working in schools and adult/community education.”

Altogether an interesting and potentially helpful survey. No doubt the HADAS Committee will be studying the full report carefully with a view to encouraging CBA in its efforts to provide back-up for local societies.

HADAS GRAPEVINE

DAPHNE LORIMER’s and MARGARET MAHER’s combined expertise will be put at HADAS’s disposal early this month. They are about to provide, for use at Burgh House (the Hampstead Museum in New End Square, NW3) a semi-perman­ent display of flints and photos to illustrate the earliest known chapter in Hampstead’s history Mesolithic man’s occupation of a campsite at West Heath, c. BC 7675. This is at the, request of Museum curator Christopher Wade, who wants as comprehensive a coverage as possible of Hampstead’s past from prehistory to today. A small showcase of flints “which we intend should be informative rather than purely decorative,” Daphne says and a clip-frame above for photographs and documentary material is envisaged.

It was sad – but heart-warming, too – to hear from ISABELLA JOLLY sad, because she announced in her letter that she and her husband were not renewing their subscriptions because they could no longer take part in our expeditions; heart-warming because she told us of the pleasure they have had from HADAS in the past. “It has given us such really wonderful days,” she writes. “We enjoyed the company of other members, always friendly and interesting’… we owe great gratitude to those who organised the outings, with all their work and planning-…”

TED SAMMES should be preening himself. He’s had a lovely puff for his booklet on the Church Terrace dig, “Pinning Down the Past”, in the current Newsletter of the Pinner Local History Society. ‘Instead of the normal rather dull and detailed record,’ says PLHS, “this book presents a number of separate vignettes, each on one of the artefacts found. These included a now famous spiral-headed Saxon pin, a forged groat of Henry V and wig curlers. There is a comprehensive one page history of chamber pots and a charming article on tea-bowls. Pieces of window glass give rise to a brief survey of methods of manufacture: the book is in fact a little gem and of interest to all historians. Furthermore, it is beautifully printed. But oh, how we wish we had thought of that title first:”

We noticed a nice tribute, too,to another HADAS member, CLODAGH PRITCHARD, in the latest 211-page Special Paper No 8 of LAMAS – The Roman Quay at St Magnus House, London. Speaking of the catalogue of artefacts; prepared by members of the Museum of London’s Dept. of Urban Archaeology, the report says “They were assisted … by a number of volunteers, includ­ing M Clements, Joan Merritt and Clodagh Pritchard. We should like to take this opportunity: to underline the Department’s particular debt to the last two, whose long hours of service to the Department over the past decade have made an outstanding and lasting contribution to London’s archaeology. West Heath diggers will know Clodagh well – she was a constant digger from the early .West Heath days, after joining HADAS in 1974.

HADAS sends Warm congratulations to long-time member IVOR LEVERTON (with his brother, CHRIS he joined back in 1971) on the occasion of his marriage. Many members will have met Ivor and his (then) intended, Mary Jolliffe, on outings last year. The Wedding on April 25 at St. Judes, Hampstead Garden Suburb, was a second marriage for both, she being a widow and he a widower. It gives both of them a large, extended family, as each has three sons. We hesitate to use the word unique (so often is it misused) but Ivor and Mary’s wedding must surely have had one unique feature. When the families left the vestry after signing the register, bride and groom were followed down the aisle by 6 sons and 6 daughters-in-law! And the ages of the grandchildren present at the ceremony ranged from babe-in-arms to early twenties. Although they now live in Southgate, just outside our Borough we hope that won’t stop them joining us on future occasions.

SITES TO WATCH

Sites of possible archaeological interest that I can identify from this month’s planning applications are:

WESTERN DIVISION

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital,

Brockley Hill, Stanmore access road from Brockley Hill

1 Pipes Green. Lane, Edgware

30 Brockley Avenue, Edgware

263 Edgwarebury Lane, Edgware

Land adj. Burroughs & Babington Rd NW4

NORTHERN DIVISION

Dingle Ridge, Barnet Rd, Arkley.

86 Union St, Barnet

1 Oaklands Arkley

Arkley Hall, Barnet Rd, Arkley

Please ring re on 203 2630 if you notice building or other activity on any of these sites

John Enderby

WHO LIVED WHERE IN HENDON NELL PENNY delves further into the 1821 Census Returns?

In 1821, when the third Census was taken Hendon was developing into an outer suburb of London – a relatively quiet, healthy area between two great-highways to the north and the northwest: the Great North Road through Barnet and Watling Street to St Albans and beyond.

It was, however, still a collection of hamlets along streets and lanes. The seven amateur enumerators counted about 450 people each: every enum­erator held a parish office and went to houses in the district in which he lived. This meant about 74 houses each in the south of the parish, and 60 each in the north. I think the enumerators who lived in the north of the parish walked or rode the longest distances: Mr Gurney, who lived at Coventry Farm (Mill Hill golf course today) counted himself and household and those living in Barnet Gate, Highwood Hill and that part of Mill Hill as far as Belmont, the home of Sir Charles Flower, Mr Geeves covered Church Lane, Dollice, Frith Manor Farm, Bittacy Hill, Drivers Hill, (now only footpath), Burton Hole, Milespit Hill, Dole Street (now a vestige of its former length) Sanders Lane and Page Street.

But nobody felt the necessity of numbering houses with which they were so familiar, so we do not know if the enumerators crossed and re-crossed roads in their perambulations. Only when we can identify the site of an exact house can we say where we are – or where they were. In Hendon South

Mr. Fleurriett, who counted people in Brent Street, Parson Street and Holders Hill, must have started at the south end of Brent Street because Dr Holgate’s villa was the fifth house he came to. This stood on the site of Christ Church, opposite Bell Lane. In the Burroughs we can identify the unnamed inn, where a victualler lived, as the White Bear because it was a few doors away from the workhouse.

In 1821 the enumeraters were told to list the occupations of the house­holders by (a) agriculture, (b) crafts or trades and (c) the useful ‘others.’ Along with labourers and washerwomen, a vicar. a.doctor, a surgeon and an idler came the gentry, as ‘others.’ Social analysts tell us that English people have a consuming interest in fine shades of social classifications, so it is interesting to try to identify the ‘nobs’ of 1821 and where they lived. This may be a delicate line of enquiry because we have to guess

whether the ladies and gentlemen were identified by the enumerators or by the persons who answered the questions. The OED says that “a person with no occupation’ was a gentleman in the mid-19c and a gentlewoman was a woman of ‘good birth and breeding.’ I think this must be qualified but with an income from property or investments. On that definition, 14.5% of Hendon residents in 1821 were gentry. In North End Road and Golder’s Green the proportion was as high as 30%; in the Hyde, Edgware Road, Childs Hill and the Slad only 11% qualified for the superior label.- In the north of the parish the desirable residences were strung along Bittacy Hill and, the Ridgeway, while few gentry lived in Deans lane, the Hale and Stoneyfields.

This distribution of gentlemen’s residences fits quite neatly into the physical topography of Hendon. New villas were built on the higher better drained slopes which, before the days of main sewers and piped water, would be healthier sites than the clay vales.

In the 1821 Census the enumerators were told to enter the sex and age of every inhabitant in 5 and then 10-year age groups. This must have been a delicate task nearly twenty years before the first official records of births. It has been said that people in their forties tended to render down their ages to a lower ten, while those over seventy had no scruples about claiming to be eighty. Zealous enumerators could have checked what they were told by Hendon-born folk by consulting the parish registers. With these reservations it is possible to find out something more about the people who lived in the gentlemen’s houses. Unfortunately it is only possible to guess at the relationship between the head of the house and the other inhabitants – Wife, sons, daughters et al – because the enumerators, were not told to find out about those-relationships.

Facts – and guesses.- about Individuals

Mrs Johnson, who lived at Ivy Cottage in North End (north meaning. relative to fashionable Hampstead) had 13 other souls under her roof. I guess that she was a lady of over 50, living with two other women and one man of the same age as herself; she may have had a married son or daughter with a child living with her. But I cannot tell if the other 7 people in the house were servants.

More or less across the road I think Mr. Aldridge lived in the Manor House, on the site of the modern Manor House Hospital. His must have been a much larger property for he paid £8 on a 6d rate, as against Mrs Johnson’s £2 though two-thirds of his rates were for land. Mr. Aldridge’s household comprised 4 men and 3 female dependents. Again I am guessing that he was a widower of 60 plus with 6 servants aged between 15 and 30.

The largest ratepayer for a house in North End was Mr. Collins Pryce, who was charged £3.57½p (£3.11.6d). There were 5 men and only one woman in his house.

In Parson Street the litigious Rev Theodore Williams was technically a vicar but not a gentleman. He was between 30-40 years old; maybe with a wife his own age. There were 4 children under 10 years and four other females – servants? Also in Parson Street Dr Walker MD had a large house with land. The house rates were £3 on a 6d rate, Dr Walker had a large household of 19 people with one servant living in the lodge cottage. Were there apprentice doctors among them – 6 males between 20-30.years

In the Mill Hill area of the parish the gentry’s houses were strung along Bittacy Hill and the Ridgeway. Captain Innes (late the Militia or the Regulars?) had a modest house with a modest household of 5. Captain Nicoll of the famous Hendon family housed 12 other people in an equally modest home. His household included young children. Perhaps he and his wife were between forty and fifty.

Mr. Anderson was named as Esquire – technically he would be entitled to have his coat of arms painted on his carriage if he had one, but Farmer Gurney dubbed all the gentlemen ‘Esquires” in his census book. Mr. Anderson was the head of a household of 6: 3 males, 3 females; a baby boy, a lad and himself, over 30 years, with a wife who might have been the same age. He also housed a woman who was over 60 – his or his wife’s mother? His house cost him £2.50p (2.10s) when a 6d rate was levied. He also paid rates on a large house where his father, Sir William Anderson, had lived and on two other houses.

Mr. Shute paid the same rates as Mr. Anderson for a house in the same district, as did Sir Charles Flower, a widower and ex-Lord Mayor of London, who lived at Belmont. House with four other men and 5 women, whose ages ranged from below 5 to between 30-40. One of the women was surely his daugh­ter, who had been his Lady Mayoress in 1808 when she was 18 years old.

At the end of the parish comprising Deans Lane and the Hale the gentlemen’s houses were, quite modest – there were 6 of them. Mr. Scott paid .75p (15s) rates on a house where he and his wife, aged between 50-60, lived with a young woman servant over 15 years of age – at least that is my assumption. Mr. Sharples, who paid £1.25p (£1.5s) in rates, had a houseful of 10 ranging from young children to an aged grandfather. The largest house in the Edgware road area was rated at £6.75p (£6.15s), but it housed two families. One family head was a farmer, the other a gentleman. Was he a retired farmer? Mr. Johnson was the only gentleman in Childs Hill. He paid 75p (15s) in rates for his modest house.

Women Ratepayers

Fifty years before agitation secured the passage through Parliament of the first Married Women’s Property Act, feminists may be interested to know how Many women were ratepayers in 1821. In Hendon South less than a quarter of the householders were ‘gentlewomen.’ Most of these ladies had modest houses in Brent Bridge area. One example, I think, was Mrs Wright, a widow about 55 years old, housing a son and a daughter below 30 years, or a daughter and a son-in-law, or a son and a daughter-in-law; and a woman servant over 30. These people lived in a house paying £1.00 on a 6d rate.

Mrs Barnes lived in a large house. Her 6d rate produced £4.50p (£4.10s) She may have been an eligible widow of between 30-40 years old, with 6 dependents. Mrs Hawkins -was an elderly gentlewoman of over 70 living alone, sandwiched between the shops in Brent Street. In the Mill Hill end of the parish only two of the 24 gentlefolk householders were women. Was the district too remote and too rural for ladies?

James Goodyer poses an interesting question, because he entered himself as a gentleman, although he was earning £40 a year as parish clerk, an Office he had held for more than quarter of a century. In 1811 he was an enumerator and a gentleman living in The Burroughs, and I am fairly sure that he ‘ran the show’ for the 1821 Census. In 1801 he lived in The Burroughs, but he was one of.6 persons, 2 male and 4 female, engaged in trade, etc. There were 50 “unoccupied” males living in his house. I am assuming that he had bought the school, if not the premises, from Mr. Batty, the previous school master, in 1798 when he paid the parish for renting part of the playground of the old charity school next to the workhouse. Burroughs House, built in the early 18c, is now owned by All Souls College Oxford and rented by Simmonds & Partners, surveyors.

As a footnote, none of the gentry, except Goodyer, served as parish officers or enumerators. These were agriculturists, most probably farmers. They listened to their instructions and made the pencil entries in their notebooks with varying degrees of legibility. But as far as I can judge, they were diligent and accurate in their work.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor,

After reading the request for views on the use of metal detectors I must answer that because these instruments are used for illegal purposes by treasure hunters, it is illogical for archaeologists, Whether amateur or professional, to deny themselves the use of this valuable aid. At rural sites where there is less likelihood of scrap metal to confuse the picture, positive readings must indicate the need for excavation. Once this is known, appropriate action can be taken – perhaps by siting the spoil heap over the major readings to protect the area until a full investigation can be made; or a local but carefully recorded trench could be dug. Perhaps, if the director has that sort of mentality, a few rusty nuts and bolts could be buried in the topsoil to confuse the criminal fraternity: Metal detectors are not evil in themselves, only the use to which they are put. .

You also speculate on the possible use of computers by HADAS. That they are an essential tool when large amounts of data need to be recorded and compared, as in pottery or bone studies, goes without saying, but I would suspect that the time has not yet come when the Society can make full use of this facility. However, with the addition of a printer it would certainly aid the presentation of the yearly accounts, update the membership lists, and as in the case of another organisation to which I belong produce addressed labels, easing the work of sending out the monthly magazine.

While writing, I thought members might be interested in the following. I have always felt that the study of folklore and archaeology have much in common since the former is an impression, however faint, of the life of past societies. Apart from the pleasure of dancing for its own sake and the fact that it keeps you fit, ready for the next season’s digs, membership of the Society for International Folk Dancing has meant that I can claim friend­ship with that most distinguished of folklorists, Mrs Lucille Armstrong. I was very pleased to see the appreciation of her last month, but could not help noticing that her modesty prevented her from pointing out that apart from all her other activities, she has adjudicated the folk dance and music competitions at the prestigious Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod for over 35 years.

Yours sincerely,

GEORGE SWEETLAND

More about Westhorpe

In the last Newsletter Ted Sammes unearthed an interesting and unexpect­ed connection, via an English servant, Elizabeth Harris, between the last Czar’s family and Westhorpe, an imposing mansion which stood until some 20 years ago in Tenterden Grove.

When Elizabeth Harris came back to England she was in touch, in 1924, with an organisation which helped British people who were being repatriated from Russia. The organisation with its secretary Helen Elworthy, had its headquarters at Westhorpe.

Now some other clues, concerning Helen Elworthy as well as Elizabeth Harris, have come to light, in this exotic story. They are provided by Mary Gravatt, a long-time HADAS member, many readers will know her particu­larly as the historian of the Baptist Chapel in Finchley Lane, which cele­brated its century last year with, among other things, a booklet by Mrs Gravatt.

The Elworthys lived in Westhorpe for many years,” she writes. They are in the 1905 directory and were resident there years prior to that. You also mention an Elizabeth Harris, who was in service with the Russian Royal Household up to the Revolution. Strangely enough – though it may be only coincidence the Elworthy’s gardener in 1924, and for many years, was a Mr. Harris. He and his family occupied the cottage alongside the stables ­both of which have been preserved. One of the Harris daughters is still living and has some photographs of Westhorpe. The Elworthys and the Hamiltons who followed them, used to invite younger children from the Baptist Church to have their summer treat in the paddock at Westhorpe The present occupant of the cottage has restored one of the Victorian greenhouses, with its heating system, and has also coaxed an old vine there into producing a good harvest of grapes. I recall going into Westhorpe, a spacious hall and wide stairway and a uniformed maid with spotless cap and apron still spring to memory! My husband’s grandfather, Walter Borrett, came down from Suffolk in the 1880s and was head gardener at Westhorpe for some years prior to the Harrises, but he did not occupy the cottage, which was obviously then the groom’s accommodation. There was stabling for 4 or 5 horses.”

FROM YOUR MAY EDITOR

I mis-dated last month’s Newsletter! My humble apologies! Please delete April and substitute MAY at once, to avoid confusion in your files.

Many thanks for the prompt response to my Kite Flying article. I hope for a few more letters on the subject before gathering up the points which have been made. ISOBEL MCPHERSON

HADAS HARDY PERENNIALS

Hedges and HADAS. Two subjects in which HADAS has long been interested have cropped up this month. One is hedges, and the dating thereof:

The April British Archaeological News reviewed a booklet, Hedges in our Countryside, published by the Oxfordshire branch of the Council for the ”Protection of Rural England”. So we got a copy: It’s by Don Porter and Alan Spicer (price £1.50, plus 50p post from CPRE, 4 Hobart Place, SW1).

It describes Charlbury Hedge Survey which, as an exercise in land­scape history, compared field patterns and boundaries today with those shown on the 1859 map of Charlbury parish. Researchers also seized the chance of doing a species count of sample lengths of hedgerow, and some of the most interesting tables are those on the frequency of species in Charlbury hedges.

There is also an excellent map showing the mean number of hedge species per 30m section, ranging from sections which contain from 9-10 species down to those with less than 3. There are 3 sections, in different parts of the parish, which average 9-10 species (i.e. a postulated age of 900-1000 years). One of them has a beautiful right-angled corner – verily, a corner of a Saxon field that is forever England?

HADAS, as many members will recall, has in the past found and dated (on the Max Hooper species formula) two ancient hedges in our area; one is a hedge across Lyttelton Playing Fields in Hampstead Garden Suburb, thought to be the lingering remains of the boundary hedge of the Bishop of London’s Saxon estate; the other is the hedge on Hadley golf course behind which, on the morning of April 14 1471, the Earl of Oxford deployed his troops in support of Warwick the Kingmaker before the Battle of Barnet of course, they are the two we happen to have found: there may be others, as yet undiscovered. Any member seen any nice hedges lately?

Footnote: we understand that, even as we go to press, Michael Joseph has published a book, Hedgerows, Their History and Wild Life, by Richard and Nina Muir, which casts doubt on the whole subject of hedge-dating by species. We can’t tell you any more about that at the moment, because the book is so new we haven’t yet managed to get a copy.

Air Shots.

The other hardy perennial concerns the aviation industry – not surprisingly, when you think that the whole business more or less began in a field near Hendon. It’s no wonder HADAS campaigns for the preservation of such shreds of Grahame White’s pioneering as still remain. In the April Newsletter Bill Firth outlined the present tricky position regarding one of the historic hangars.

A week or two ago the Borough’s Town Planning & Research Committee asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to list as of special Architectural or Historic Interest the Officers Mess of RAF Hendon, which had moved out about six weeks before. In this instance it was the Historic part of the label that was the more important.

The building, ‘mock-Tudored’ in black and white; dates from 1917. The RAF Museum has a photo of it in which it is described as ‘The London Aerodrome Hotel;’ and it also appears in the Grahame White Company’s ‘Birthplace of Aerial Power,’ Produced in the 1920s.

If the Mess is listed, LBB Planning Department says that it will join the Grahame White hangar of 1911 (listed Feb 1979), the former central tower and factory (listed Jan 1987), the entrance gates to the Grahame White Aviation Co.(listed Feb .1979 and now re-sited in front of the RAF Museum) and the pair of aircraft hangars (listed Jan 1987) which have been incorporated into the RAF Museum. The Borough of Barnet is certainly to be congratulated on doing its utmost to save all it can of aviation history at Hendon. One of its -harming officers, Philip Wilson, did an excellent broadcast on the subject on Radio London on May 8.-

We get the feeling that quite a lot of people outside Hendon are interested. Was it just chance that The Times devoted a recent “On This Day” column to a reprint of an article by a Special Correspondent on May 13, 1911, which described a display at Hendon of the possible future use of aero-planes for military purposes?

On this day Mr. Grahame White and others dropped “bombs”, consisting of sandbags, some weighing as much as 100 lbs, on an area marked out on the ground as the deck of ship- from 200ft, 500ft and.1000ft – the latter, ‘with fair accuracy;” but The Times adds, “the truth is that experiments of the above nature are in their infancy.” Alas, the experiments left infancy behind pretty fast. Could anyone that day have dreamed how soon and how devastatingly – aerial bombardment would grow up?

The first ever aerial despatches were carried that day too – leaving Hendon in a Bleriot monoplane at 3.35 being received, noted and vouched for in Aldershot at 4.20 and returning to Hendon by 5.35: 64 miles in two hours, the return journey taking only half an hour “in spite of a mist.”

VISIT TO RAF BENTLEY PRIORY, STANMORE. A visit has been arranged for the afternoon of Sat July 18. Numbers limited, applications – first come, first served – giving names of participants and car registration number and enclosing a stamped addressed envelope for return of visit instructions to Bill Firth, 49 Woodstock Avenue, London NW11 9RG.

MORE ARCHAEOLOGY IN CLERKENWELL

As a follow-up to her second Clerkenwell walk (see report in last Newsletter), Mary O’Connell has sent details of digs now going on at the, near St James’s Church, Clerkenwell Green. The first began in January, and uncovered evidence for the kitchens of the medieval nunnery. Refuse from the floors included cooked animal and fish bones which may be pointers to the nuns’ diet.

Work is now in progress daily at the Sans Walk carpark site. Mike Hutchinson, who is in charge, suggests that HADAS members interested in seeing the dig should first ring the Museum of London (Dept of Greater London archaeology) to check when a visit would -be convenient.

There is also news of medieval remains which are to be preserved in the basements of two buildings in St Johns Sq, Clerkenwell. The buildings above are late 18c; but in the basements, hidden behind rendering and panel­ling, were found the remains of a much older building, dating to 14c, which once lay within the precincts of the Priory of St John of Jerusalem.

These, say English Heritage, include “a line of substantial walling, part of which is of interesting chequer board construction with alternating blocks of greensand and chalk, a doorway with chamfered jambs, a partially blocked window and evidence of a water supply system.” All would have been demolished during rebuilding, but will now, by negotiation, be preserved in situ.

TRIBUTE TO AVIATOR

The’Borough’of.Barnet has acquired another Blue Plaque. I think it’s our 29th, though I may be one or two out. It was unveiled, with consider­able ceremony, on May•19 by Michael.Spicer, the Minister for Aviation.

Do you remember Amy Johnson- (1903-1941)? It’S odds on. if you are

anywhere over 40, that you’do – and if younger, you will probably have heard

of het. She was the first woman to fly to Australia, taking 19½ days to

do it, in 1930. Now English Heritage has honoured her with a Blue Plaque

on the block of flats where she lived on the perimeter of our Borough.

The Borough boundary with Camden runs right through the handsome mock-Tudor half-timbered block; Vernon Court, which stands almost at the corner where Hendon Way breaks off from the Finchley ‘Road; English Heritage say that Amy’s flat was: on the Barnet side of the building: certainly: that’s, where the .Plaque is, in a. prominent position overlooking Hendon Way.

The whole occasion was fascinating. It was hosted by Lord Montague of :English Heritage, which has taken over, lock, stock and barrel, the res­ponsibilities of the GLC as regards Blue Plaques in London. This is the fifth plaque English Heritage has erected since GLC’s demise, and their _ future aim is a round dozen a year. The morning began with a reception at the RAF Museum, Hendon, which was like a trip back into an earlier world. Amy’s copilots, who had served with her in Air Transport. Auxiliary in the second war, had turned out in force to honour her – many gray-haired, some disabled, all lively. Some wore their navy-blue ATA uniforms and their ‘gongs’ – one vivacious lady, possibly in her sixties, had a row of 5 enormous medals which only just fitted on her diminutive chest.

It was the kind of occasion where, when someone said to you “I was surprised to know Hendon had closed – it’s not all that long ago I landed here,” she didn’t mean that she happened to come to Hendon recently. She meant literally that a friend had wanted a lift from the Isle of Wight, so she packed him into her private plane and flew him up.

Amy Johnson died in 1941 when her plane came down in the Thames estuary, no one knows why. A tall, emaciated ex-Fleet Air Arm pilot, now suffering from arthritis, gave me his version. “When you go up you see, you’ve got to come down,” he explained. “It’s as simple as that. And when you’ve no radio contact – and we hadn’t – and there’s a lot of low cloud, you’re in a fix. You come through the cloud and you see you can’t land ­maybe its all water, – so you have to go back up through the cloud and then try again. I reckon that’s what Amy did – till the petrol ran out and she ditched.”

She was only 33 – but they must have been 38 good years. EGG

I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER

Recently a life-long Barnet resident, BILLIE OLNEY, asked our advice about some reminiscenses she had written of Barnet in the twenties. She’s not a HADAS member, but she had seen our booklet, Those Were the Days. She also sent her typescript to the Barnet Press, who have been publishing it since then in weekly installments. Billie kept the copyright, and has kindly agreed to our using a chapter about her childhood in Mays Lane, which runs from the foot of Barnet Hill towards Totteridge.

From the Old Red Lion at Underhill along Mays Lane to a little group of cottages at Duck Island must be a mile and a half or even longer. On the, right side, starting from the pub, it was all fields as far as Manor Road. But the other side teemed with rural life.

Near the pub there were a few dark old cottages, and one even darker shop. This was lit by a lamp, and sold a rare collection of poor goods on a dismal and not very clean counter. I was forbidden to go into it, but childlike would occasionally venture in with my ha’penny with which I would buy a screw of paper, containing broken bits of sweets, but with a magic prize somewhere – usually a ruby ring or a tin frog you could click in your fingers.

The Potteries came next. These were originally real potteries; with small dwellings for the workers. They were very run down even then, like the people who lived in them. Another forbidden spot for me. A very nice bungalow came after good style for that time, and here lived the family Webb, who were rag and bone merchants. They became quite wealthy, and it is not so many years ago that the house was burnt down and the one survivor, “Young Tom” was still seen roaming Barnet, until his death a, few months ago. He was a toothless simple man, always happy, and never seen without his old flat cap.

The ‘old’ council houses came next and they are still there. A small farm was squeezed in-between them and the ‘new’ council houses, long terraces of six each, very small and stark looking, but with large front and back gardens. We proudly set up home in no. 42. Our house was at the end of a terrace, and had 4 or 5 steep stone steps from the front gate, which my mother whitewashed every week, and on which we were dared to make a single footprint for at least a day. It’s no wonder I became a good jumper.

Further down the lane there was another small farm set back, and the entrance to the sewage farm. This ran right along the backs of our gardens, and the smell could be awful at times, likewise the rats would get into the chicken runs.

The family was strictly divided when it came to animals, Dad and me l00% for, Mother and my sister Eve 100% against. My Dad won on this point, and he bred wire-haired terriers, which were gorgeous. I had a black cat called Tinkle, also at various times a tortoise, a cock, a hare, rabbits and always one of the puppies for a while.

Our Mick was a super ratter, but daft in other ways. Always she would wait patiently for the first strawberry to ripen, and eat it. Always, before her pups were born in her kennel at the bottom of the garden, she would nick one of my Mother’s hats to sleep on. Dad used to build a large netting run round the kennel so the pups could run about, and Mother just about had the courage to go in to feed them.

One awful day, at dinner time, my Dad and I were arriving home from work and school respectively, and there was a great commotion at the bottom of the garden, With Mum and several neighbours. There, half in and half out of the wire, trying to get the pups, was a huge rat; and there with my Dad’s air rifle, stood Mother pumping pellets into it like a plum pudding. Dad quietly took the rifle and shot the rat through the head.After such a heroic ordeal Mum took a bit of calming.

She was great with baby chicks though, and would bring them indoors all wet and limp, and pop them into a blanket-lined box which she put above the gas stove on the plate rack. In no time a box full of fluffy yellow chicks was ready to go back to the hen when all the eggs were hatched.

Progressing along the lane, the houses ended at Manor Road. There was one bakers shop across the road and a couple of houses. Then at the bottom of Manor Road was Cox’s dairy- I loved it. The walls, were covered in cream and green tiles with pictures on them. The milk or cream was — ladled out into your jug from large containers. It was always cool and smelt deliciously fresh and milky.

Cox’s fields were on the other side, and from the time I could walk we would go on a regular Sunday walk across these fields ‘Watch that cow Mum’ right into Totteridge Lane, then back along the Line Path. It took a couple of hours on a Sunday evening, and positively no such thing as a bus to help us along either.

Yet further along the Lane on the right was the isolation Hospital. 60years ago it was strictly for patients suffering from infectious diseases. Fortunately I never had to go into it, ‘but there were serious epidemics of diphtheria and scarlet fever in those days. I have often read about, the straw mattresses that had to be burnt, and the ghastly isolation in which patients were kept.

As the road became less made up, finally petering out altogether, we came to Duck Island. This consisted of about 6 very small cottage and a ditch. I have never been able to find the origin of the name. My paternal grandparents went to live there after the First World War. It was an afternoon out to walk the Lane to see my Grandmother Emma. She was Grandfather’s second wife; and there were 3 sons and, one daughter all living around them. They were not very affectionate grandparents ; and I can remember being taken to visit Grandma and sitting in her little front room being scared rigid at the sight of her two polished gallstones on the mantelpiece, listening with huge ears to the account of the operation.

My Grandfather, Jabez Daniel Olney, was a real character in Barnet. He was a fierce little man, a landscape gardener for the town. The Jesus Charity Almshouses and other gardens around are his work. He was a member of the council and a strong socialist. He was also a Salvationist.

He had two soapboxes in Barnet. On the corner of Moxon Street, on Sat­urday nights, he helped to save the souls of sinners; and on other nights he stood at Bath Place, wearing the socialist hat and laying down the law. In his obituary it stated that Mr. Olney frequently had have police pro­tection at Bath Place, when the crowd got a bit out of hand.

He had a fire engine named after him when he was in his 70s, so he had the phone put in the cottage, and a well-polished helmet beside it, in case he was called out. He fought hard for the town, made himself a proper nuisance on the council but will certainly still be remembered.

SNUFF AND CLOWNS

Main display now at Church Farm House Museum is “A Pinch of Snuff” – an exhibition based on a local private collection of snuff-boxes and other snuff memorabilia. Snuff-Taking (which has always seemed a rather dirty habit, though perhaps not so dirty as smoking has now become) started soon after Raleigh -introduced tobacco to England, and its popularity increased steadily through the 17c/18c.

Drop into Church Farm House Museum between now and August 2, and you can learn a lot about it. Have a look, too, at a smaller display (open only until June 21) called Behind a Painted Smile. This is all about clowns – a species particularly close to HADAS hearts ever since that zany day in April, 1984, when Spike Milligan unveiled a HADAS-inspired blue plaque to the great Grimaldi on Finchley Memorial Hospital and two working clowns – Mr Woo and Barney – charmed us all with their antics.

BURNHAM/TAPLOW/DORNEY It is-regretted that the report cis the outing on May 16th has not arrived in time for inclusion in the Newsletter. Ted had organised an excellent itinerary for us, and we were lucky enough to have a dry and sunny day. Instead of rushing from place to place we had a leisurely time, in fact we reached our rendezvous with Ted too early, probably due to it being cup final day and traffic was minimal. Burnham Abbey was a haven of peace and tranquility. We were met by Sister Jane Mary, and Don and Dorothy Millar, archaeological friends of Ted, both so obviously dedicated to the place, who took us round explaining where the original structure had been, where it had been altered, and where the original had been restored. Founded in 1266, surrendered at the Dissolution in 1539, it had many owners for the next 370 years, then in 1914 it was bought by a devout Anglican gentleman who restored a large part of it It was re-consecrated in 1915, and Eucharist was celebrated for the first time since the Dissolution. Once again the Abbey housed a community of Anglican Nuns led by Mother Millicent from Newton Abbot. By a strange coincidence she had a connection with Hendon. Before moving to Burnham she had taken on the running of St Ursula’s Retreat House in Hendon but this did not prove satisfactory and was inadequate as the community grew so they moved to Burnham. From the Abbey we travelled down winding country lanes and walked beneath the beeches to see the enormous Hartley Court Moat. The site was explained to us by Don and Dorothy who produced an excellent drawing of the area. Then on to Taplow Saxon Burial Mound – certainly a most impressive sight, where Ted told us all about its excavation, with photographs of the ‘dig’ in progress and of the magnificent finds(now in The B.M.). From there to Dorney Court, an unspoilt, if decay­ing, Tudor Manor House, built in 1440 and the home of the Palmer family for the last 400 years. Mr Peregrine Palmer greeted us, and as we were the only visitors (the house is not officially open on Saturdays), he gave us an almost free run of the place. Two guides were laid on but there were no restricting ropes to keep us at bay and we could examine everything closely and wander back if we had missed anything. The name, Dorney, is the ancient word for Island of Bees, and Dorney is still famous for its honey. We had tea there, followed by a quiet ride home (the cup final was playing extra time) – – a most enjoyable day.

NEWSLETTER 195 May 1987 Edited by Isobel McPherson

PROGRAMME

Wednesday May 13th Annual General Meeting 8.00pm for 8.30pm at Hendon Library, The Burroughs, NW4. Followed by member’s slides and talks on the year’s activities with Hadas: (offers of slides, please, to Dorothy Newbury on 203 0950).

Saturday May 16th Outing to Burnham Abbey, Hartley Court Moat, Taplow Saxon Burial Mound, Dorney Court and Church. Application form enclosed.

Saturday June 20th Outing to Dover Roman Painted House.

Saturday July 11th Outing to Danebury and Andover

Saturday August 15th Outing to Royston

September 11th, 12th, 13th Long weekend in Abergavenny. Applications by May 12th please.

Saturday September 26th MINIMART. If you are sorting out winter clothes ready for the summer, please remember the Minimart. We have some storage space. Ring Dorothy – or
Christine Arnott on 455 2751 – if you have any to spare.

OUTINGS PROCEDURE

For the benefit of new members we should explain that application forms are enclosed with the newsletter at the beginning of the relevant month and you are advised to send them in as early as possible as it is first come, first served. Applications are not acknowledged, but if you want to confirm, please ring Dorothy Newbury on 203 0950.

CELLS AND WELLS – ANOTHER CLERKENWELL WALK Stewart J Wild

On Saturday 4th April, forsaking the Grand National and the Calcutta Cup, a group of nearly 40 HADAS stalwarts assembled with their brollies at Farringdon Station. Despite the damp, Mary O’Connell’s enthusiasm and professionalism as guide once again ensured an enjoyable afternoon, this time taking in some of Clerkenwell’s less obvious attractions.

We headed north up Turnmill Street, once a bawdy dock area on the bank of the River Fleet, and admired the last few remaining Georgian houses in Britton Street. Crossing Clerkenwell Green, a focal point in Tudor village days, we realised how much there is of historical interest in this up-and-coming area. At Kingsway, Princeton College in Sans Walk, built An 1893 as the Hugh Myddleton School, Mary brought to life the site’s earlier role as the Clerkenwell House of Correction, a cruel prison more than once the target of penal reformers and scene of social unrest.

All that remains of it nowadays is an underground warren of cells and storehouses; we were fortunate to be conducted through part of this damp and crumbling labyrinth, not normally open to visitors and last used over 40 years ago as shelters during the Blitz.

Continuing north, through streets bearing the names of Clerkenwell’s prominent citizens, we skirted the Metropolitan Water Board’s HQ in Rosebery Avenue. This would probably make a fine visit in itself for it is the site of the New River Head, the massive undertaking dating 1613 in which Hugh Myddleton, a rich goldsmith and entrepreneur, constructed a 27-mile channel, the New River, to supply fresh water from rural Hertfordshire to the growing City.

And finally to Sadler’s Wells, the theatre with 1499 seats and no boxes. Theresa Beattie, Chief Administrator of the theatre’s Community and Education Project, gave us a detailed and entertaining account of the Theatre’s fascinating and at times precarious past, beginning in the 12th century when there were apparently quite a number of medicinal wells in the area.

In 1683, one Richard Sadler, highway Surveyor and evidently entrepreneur supreme, opened. a small “musick salon,” in his own house to cater for the crowds who came to take the water from the well he had discovered in his garden. Business continued for some years with musicians, jugglers, tumblers, performing animals, and all manner of popular entertainment while the audience ate, drank, and were merry. The next 200 years saw many owners, much rebuilding, variety shows, “Aquatic Theatre” involving restaged naval battles in a huge tank on stage, three decades of mainly Shakespearian drama, periods as a skating rink and boxing arena, and finally closure in disrepair in 1878.

After rebuilding in 1879, a Mrs Bateman mixed Shakespeare with burlesque and increasingly popular music-hall, and Marie Lloyd and Harry Champion were among stars at the turn of the century. Then after a period as an early cinema, it closed once again in 1915. The present theatre dates from 1931, a monument to the energy and dedication of Lilian Baylis who raised funds with the support of Dame Ninette de Valois. The Theatre is the birthplace of the Royal Ballet and the Sadler’s Wells Opera Company, and nowadays offers a wide range of theatre, opera and ballet from all over the world.

We then enjoyed a fascinating guided tour ‘behind the scenes’, rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms, wardrobe and the stage itself all coming under our scrutiny .We learnt about the ‘bastard prompt’ and heard of plans to enlarge the relatively small stage area. Finally the highlight for some was a glimpse into what looked like a drain that had been uncovered at the rear of the stalls. Thomas Richard Sadler may have died long ago, but his well is still there and so, after many ups-and downs, is the theatre that bears his name.

THE NANKING CARGO AND THE CHINA TRADE Ted Sammes

April 1st, a likely date, but the evening found members all eager to hear what David Lewis, Secretary of the City of London Archaeological Society and a member of the Morley College Ceramic circle had to tell us about the cargo of the Geldermalsen, a Dutch East-India Company ship. This ship was built in 1747 and traded with Canton and Japan. In 1752 it loaded with cargo and was heading for Batavia on its way to Amsterdam when it went off course and disaster struck. Some of its cargo arrived in Amsterdam 233 years late! The wreck was located by chance and the cargo which remained 20-20 carat gold and a large quantity of pottery was salvaged, but not in an archaeological manner.

David Lewis took us through the intricacies of the 18th century trade explaining that a ship could be away for two years and even then, on its return the company might not receive exactly what had been ordered. Because shipping lists were made out in duplicate copies of the cargo list of this ship still exist, specifying 203 cases of porcelain. This would have been made inland in China at Jing Dezhen and shipped by river to Canton (now Kwangchow). The salvaged cargo had been auctioned in Amsterdam. Amongst the slides shown of the various types of pottery were milk bowls, a flat cup with a spout, spittoons to vomit pots.

Regrettably there were few slides of the cargo in the wreck. Indeed if one refers to the editorial of the C.B A. Newsletter of June 1986 one reads that they feel that this recovery was yet another example of international wreck looting, since no heed was given to anything except the gold and the china. This was further emphasised in the March and April 1987 issues of the news. The latter carries a photo of some of the china, cups saucers and plates. I am sure that David Lewis would endorse this comment.

A DRAUGHTSMAN’S DELIGHT Ted Sammes

This exhibition of drawings by Herbert Norman contained a host of drawings mostly of local interest within the Borough. It was held at Church Farm House Museum from March 28th – April 26th.

Each drawing was an individual delight of fine detail. Herbert Norman has presented over 70 local drawings to augment the Local History Collection of the Borough, so perhaps there will be another opportunity to see these drawings of houses and landscapes. Pen and Ink drawing is his hobby, he comes from a firm of organ builders, Hill, Norman and Beard, and was elected an honorary member of the Royal College of Organists in 1980.

HATS OFF TO SOME BACKROOM GIRLS Brigid Grafton-Green

Last October we mentioned that some further indexes for the Newsletter were nearing completion – two, in fact, each covering two years, for Jan 1981-Dec 1982 and Jan 1983-Dec 1984.

Both are now, ready for use, having been drawn up, typed, checked, cross-checked, corrected and photo-copied (until you do it yourself you can’t imagine how many odd jobs arise with this sort of project). Copies have been dispatched to those members who ordered in advance (the two parts; plus postage, cost £1.04); they have also gone to the Record Offices which file our Newsletters. A couple of spares are still available, so if you wanted these indexes but forgot to say so, ring me on 455 9040 fast.

Now all that remains is for me to put on permanent record HADAS’s heartfelt thanks to the members who made the project possible: first and foremost, to Jean Neal, and expert indexer, without whose work the thing would never have got off the ground at all; then to Deirdre Barrie, who typed the indexes and managed to find a word processor on which to do it; then to Nell Penny, for checking the typing with me through two afternoons; and once again to Deirdre, who put them back on the processor, correcting any errors that had crept in.

Last, but certainly not least, thanks to Dorothy Newbury, who rolled off 527 sheets of photocopying, paged them all up and delivered them in beautiful neat groups ready for dispatch. What on earth would we do without our back room girls?

ACROSS THE WINE DARK SEA Sheila Woodward

The Bronze Age in the Mediterranean was the theme of this year’s Spring of Conference the Prehistoric Society. It’ embraced such well-known civilisations as Minoan Crete and Mycenean Greece and great Iberian Copper Age settlement of Los Millares as well as the less flamboyant Bronze Age cultures of Italy and Cyprus and the Balearics. As several speakers commented, “explanation” seemed to be the keyword of the conference. Little new material was presented, although recent excavation had been undertaken in various parts of the area under discussion. The main concern was with re-interpretation of old material. Why did complex and hierarchical societies emerge in certain areas while others provide evidence of contrivance of simple unstratified societies? Successive speakers put forward their own models for possible explanations.

Professor Branigan suggested that Minoan palaces were first build as depositories for agricultural surpluses, from which redistribution could be made in lean years and/or to poor areas: an early form of social security. Such a system requires a highly organised society, from which an elite would emerge, and the palaces would then be used to secure their social status.

Dr Halstead looked at the economic north-south divide in prehistoric Greece (is there nothing new under the sun?) at environmental versus cultural and economic versus social factors. He suggested that the introduction of polyculture (the diversification of crops to spread the economic risk) and in particular the cultivation of the vine and olive, may have created the capacity for the emergence of an elite. Climatic factors such as drought could favour over-production in good years and large-scale storage, giving scope for the accumulation of wealth by elite groups.

Professor Cadogan considered the New Palace period in Crete following destruction of the old palaces (“probably by humans” – I note that the volcanic theory is “out”). A single administrative area centred on Knossos seems to have replaced the old multi-centres and large country houses began to appear. Professor Cadogan saw a link between urbanisation and the need to control copper, supplies, but he could offer no explanation for the slower development and absence of palaces in copper-rich Cyprus. For progress in study of the remarkable phenomena of palaces, tight definitions and a sceptical mind are essential”, he proclaimed.

Dr Dickinson looked at the development of Mycenaean civilisation in mainland Greece, mostly at Early Bronze Age sites which were in themselves surprisingly unattractive. Up, to the Middle Bronze Age the sites were unfortified, with no ceremonial centres and unspecialised mixed economies. He warned against overestimating the early culture, dazzled by the- shaft graves and the influence of Homer! Dr Sestiere considered the Mycenaean influence in Italy. Although contact between Greece and Italy in the Late Bronze Age can be readily explained by the attraction of the ores of Central Italy which were then being exploited, it is less easy to explain earlier Mycenaean contacts with South Italy.

Concentrating on the Central Mediterranean, Dr Whitehouse emphasised the absence of complexity in the earlier Bronze Age cultures of Italy. She saw significance in the slower development of metallurgy, while exploitation of land resources by the practice of transhumance and the use of woodland for pig-rearing was perhaps less conducive than polyculture to control by an elite. Dr Barker quoted Carlo Levi’s “Christ stopped at Eboli and asked whether Levi’s view of south Italy with its “traditional peasant culture rooted in the timeless struggle to survive in an unforgiving landscape’ has relevance for the prehistoric societies there: He found a range of simple subsistence systems in Bronze Age Italy offering an economic stability but little stimulus for trade. Moving to North Italy, Dr Barfield found an organised but simple social structure in the Bronze Age with little evidence of social stratification. It showed closer links with Central Europe than with the Mediterranean.

Consideration, of the West Mediterranean began with a paper by Dr Chapman on the Gates Project in Southeast pain which he is currently undertaking with several Spanish colleagues, this seeks to re-examine the emergence of the Loss Millarian and El Agaric cultures of southeast Spain. Explanations for their emergence with their sophisticated organisation have included the pressure of population expansion in an arid region, external threats and the need for defence, and increased competition for metals. More data is needed, and a surface survey and environmental study will be followed by new excavation with soil sampling, flotation etc. Dr Mathers considered the links between Copper Age Los Millares and Bronze Age El Argar and concluded that the evolutionary progression from one to the other was less straightforward than has been assumed. He emphasised the different farming problems in the highland and lowland areas and concluded that development at Los Millares had rapidly reached its plateau.

Dr Stos-Gale described a new technique, lead isotype analysis, for relating metal to its ore-source. This is producing most interesting information on the trade in and production of lead, silver and copper based alloys in the Bronze Age Mediterranean. For example it has proved that Cypriot copper, mainly in the form of ox hide ingots, was indeed being traded widely in the Mediterranean. Surprisingly, copper ox hide ingots found in Sardinia, itself a main producer of copper ore at that time, have proved to be of Cypriot origin.

The final two speakers, Dr Lethwaite and Mr Stoddart, presented discussion papers on the general theme of the conference. Provocative questions were asked. Why must the development of complex societies be “explained”?
Should we not rather query the continuance of simple societies which suppress all natural tendencies to change and expand? How can archaeologists differentiate between a chief’s residence and a community centre for storage etc? Cycles of change can be identified archaeologically but the inferences drawn may be totally wrong, taking no account of, for example, extraordinary individuals or “historic events”. A lively discussion ensued, leaving the impression that the Bronze Age Mediterranean can provide enough material for many another such conference.

SITE WATCHING John Enderby

The following sites, the subject of recent Planning Applications, could be of archaeological interest. Members are asked to keep an eye on any development and report anything ‘unusual’ to John Enderby on 203 2630.

Northern Division.

Woodlands Farm, Arkley Lane, Arkley.

Elm Farm, Galley Lane Arkley

19 Old Fold Lane, Hadley Highstone

Central Division.

175-185 Cricklewood Lane NW2

Tesco’s Site, J/0 North Circular Rd and Colney Hatch Lane, N12

Western Division.

The Coach House & Stable Block

Highwood Lodye, Highwood Hill NW7

Elstree Lawns, Barnet Lane, Elstree

Penniwells Farm, Edgwarebury Lane, Elstree

Milespit Lodge, Milespit Hill, NW7

COMING EVENTS

Dr Ann Saunders, a valued member of – and lecturer to – HADAS sends news of the forthcoming Regent’s Park Festival, May 7-10, mentioning its varied attractions: chamber music, literary readings, admission to buildings not normally open to the public, fashions, from 1811 to 1900, American Football, a Chinese Festival, lectures by Ann herself, President of St Marylebone Society, – the list of delights seems very tempting and the Festival deserves our support. The Society is reprinting its best-seller, the Diary of William Tayler, Footman, ed D Wise and A Saunders to coincide with the Festival. £2 till May 31st from Dr Saunders, 3 Meadway Gate NW11 7LA; thereafter £2.50.Our Friends, the Barnet and District Local History Society are recording in the churchyard of St Margaret’s Edgware on June 6th from 10am – 5pm. Ring Doreen Willcocks, 449 6153 if you want to join in.

KITE FLYING

Watching the BBC2 repeat of the 1984 season at Sutton Hoo, the editor made up her mind to try a little Kite-flying in this month’s Newsletter. It’s been tried before, of course: periodically we invite your views on certain issues and print, or quote from, the response. We never receive the expected deluge of bright ideas, arguments for and against. Yet there must be plenty of unexpressed opinions and we should be delighted to hear them. For one thing, it would lend variety to the Newsletter and, of course, it would help your Committee in making decisions.

About Kites, then, and other ingenious devices in- the service of archaeology. At Sutton Hoo, you will remember, they take aerial photographs of the site by sending the camera up on a kite. In the Valley of the Kings, balloons carry more sophisticated apparatus which plots the cavities of undiscovered tombs. In both areas, new techniques are being welcomed and tested. Perhaps, given a really hot summer….? But, coming closer to our own needs, should we review our present uncompromising attitude to metal detectors? Recently, in North Lincolnshire and South Humberside, a truce called between professional archaeologists and ‘treasure hunters’ was largely instrumental in revealing the settlements and artefacts of an extensive Early Saxon Kingdom. Have you any experience of these devices – or their owners? Could we profit by a degree of co-operation? Or do you feel that the old ways are best, that hurrying, the pace of archaeological discovery is, in a sense, robbing the future of its past? We should be glad to know.

Another matter: Lloyds Bank PLC has very generously awarded us £125 towards the purchase of a computer. Quite a large extra sum will be needed if we are to acquire one suitable for our needs and we must have clear ideas about putting it into use before we take any further steps. Have you any advice to give? Is there anyone out there who could train a small group of operators? Have you encountered pitfalls, we can avoid thanks to your warning?

Finally, we should welcome letters from our Junior Members now quite a large group. Because of the wide age-range, transport problems, looming examinations and other factors, it is difficult to organise activities for them. Perhap you – our Juniors, who are really the future of our society would welcome a meeting to discuss these matters, or perhaps, you would prefer not to be treated as Juniors and therefore special in some way. Why not write to the editor and make clear your point of view?

WESTHORPE – A RUSSIAN CONNECTION Ted Sammes

When, during August to November 1969, Ralph Hansen directed a dig in the grounds of Westhorpe, a large house in Tenterden Grove, Hendon, we gave no thought to the immediate past history of the-site (Grid Ref: TQ235 896). We hoped to locate the site of Hendon’s Manor House, but found very little; tobacco pipe stems, one bowl marked R.B. and some earlier Bellarmime sherds (see HADAS Newsletter No. 4, June 1970). This site is now Westhorpe Gardens. Imagine my surprise when a friend of mine, Mr. F. H Harris of Andover, rang up and asked what I knew about Westhorpe, Hendon. In going through the papers of a deceased cousin he had discovered that the cousin’s mother, Elizabeth Ann Harris, had been in service in the Russian Royal Household up to the Revolution. On her return to England, she had been in touch with the General Council for the Assistance of the British Repatriated from Russia. This Council operated from Westhorpe in 1924, the Secretary being Helen M Elworthy.

Elizabeth Harris was stated to have been present when the Czar Nicholas was arrested. She had been imprisoned for two and a half years. By 1924, she was claiming compensation via the Russian Claims Department, Cornwall House, Stamford Street SE1. There is no trace of the organisation in the Local History Collection at Hendon. I am wondering if anyone knows anything about it. TED SAMMES

POPULAR JOURNALS

ARCHAEOLOGY TODAY.

Popular Archaeology, which was launched in July 1979, has been re-vamped and is now being issued under the title ARCHAEOLOGY TODAY. From the three issues so far available, the journal seems to be retaining its world-wide approach.

BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONTHLY

This a new venture which seeks to promote the work of local societies and groups, saying it can offer free publication facilities. Members should in due course receive a free copy. If you are interested, the address is: British Archaeological Monthly, Bell House, 3A New Street, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 2DX. The subscription is £18.00 per annum.

A LIFETIME’S DEDICATION TO THE HISTORY OF DANCE

Members who were listening to Woman’s Hour on Tuesday March 31st will have heard our member Licille Armstrong talking about the Origin and Meaning of Figures and Steps in Folk -Dancing, a subject which she has studied with dedication for almost fifty five years. In 1933 when she and her husband owned a school in Barcelona – the first English, the first Comprehensive and the first Co-educational school in Spain – she was asked to interpret for Violet Alford who was attending the Dance Festival there. The interest then aroused has strengthened with the years. I went, pad in hand, to learn more from her. Incidentally, she has recently moved: her new address is 36. Stanford Road, Friern Barnet, telephone 368 1815. Lucille is 86 years old and, in spite of two recent hip operations, still teaches Spanish Dance three times a week at Swiss Cottage and at Barnet. (HADAS really should produce its own Dictionary of Biography)

Information, concise and beautifully marshalled, flowed from her and your poor editor, who has no shorthand, was soon out of her depth. She traced the dance and its social function from the days of the hunter-gatherers to the modern flamenco in such detail that it will need more space than this Newsletter can offer to present it all. If you cannot wait for the next instalment to learn more, let me recommend her book: The Window on Folk Dance, published by Springfield Books of Huddersfield. Our Society is blessed with a singularly rich store of knowledge among its members.

STONE ACE CANNIBALISM THEORY

Evidence of Stone Age burial rituals – possibly including cannibalism have been unearthed by archaeologists in a cave in Cheddar Gorge, Somerset.

Human bones with cut marks, discovered recently inside Gough’s Cave are being examined microscopically by scientists at the British Museum. These cut marks, inflicted with stone tools, are the first to be found on human bones in Britain. Other human bones were unearthed at Cheddar in 1927, but no cut marks were found on these remains. The cave was used seasonally, probably by a small group of family units who lived by hunting animals and gathering roots and berries. Scientists at the Natural History Museum are analysing the animal bones found alongside the human remains.

BROCKLEY HILL – PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE Report on Symposium 25th April 1987

Some forty members, together with friends from neighbouring Societies, were attracted indoors on a beautiful spring afternoon, for an important and interesting symposium masterminded by the HADAS Chairman, Andrew Selkirk, on the most, notable Roman site yet researched in its catchment area. The meeting heard that the. Lea Valley Water. Board had firm plans to lay .a 24″water pipe line stretching for 4½ miles east to west, to the south of the Roman Posting Station of Sulloniacae (Brockley hill) from Arkley Reservoir to Little Common. This is part of a major Scheme, 17 miles in length, to extract water from the Thames at Iber to meet the estimated requirements of North West London users. It was acknowledged that the proposals, whilst posing a threat to known archaeologically sensitive areas, at the same time presented an exciting opportunity for further discovery that should be embraced enthusiastically by the Society to whom such projects were, in the words of the Chairman, its lifeblood.

Stephen Castle of the British Museum, the Guest Speaker, then told how, at the tender age of 18 in 1968, he had been invited by Professor Grimes, now the HADAS President, to take up his trowel and attempt a. desperate emergency dig at Brockley Hill. He started only a few paces in front of a giant mechanical tipper depositing refuse on land owned by Joe Bygraves, the champion boxer, to the south of Wood Lane. The dump lay by the side of Roman Watling Street and cut across the ancient Hollow way trackway. Once the tipper had left a 15 ft. deposit of rubbish, (including Roman material from another site), all hope of investigation would have gone. Stephen Castles’ battle – David against the destructive diesel powered Goliath – was graphically recalled in the 95 slides with which he illustrated his talk. All the artefacts recovered dated from the First to Fourth Century A.D., apart from mediaeval and modern material from the upper levels. He believed that there were still some traces of Iron Age farms and Saxon villages to be discovered in an area that was likely to have a continuous history of occupation. Certainly as a primarily industrial site on which fourteen pottery and tile kilns had already been documented, there was the strong possibility that a more scientific sophisticated excavation than he had been able to mount, would yield exciting results. He suggested that HADAS should consider undertaking a long term investigation on undeveloped land where the proposed pipe line was due to cross Brockley Hill. Meanwhile any development in the vicinity should be closely watched.

The second Speaker, Graham Sutton, a Chartered Surveyor acting for the Water Company, gave a brief history of the pipe line proposals which dated from the 1960’s of which a three mile section had so far been laid from Iver to Denham. The next phase, which should have commenced in 1985, entailed a 60ft. working strip from which 6 – 9″ of top soil would be removed and retained for later reinstatement. Sections of 24″ pipe in 30ft. lengths would then be laid in a mechanically excavated 3ft. deep trench. There could well be considerable delay between the removal of the top soil and the trenching. 100 ft. sections of the trench would be left exposed for possibly forty eight hours for remedial work to disturbed land drains, etc. It was thought the pipe laying would commence at Arkley Reservoir and run west. However, it would not now begin before 1990 with little likelihood of the completion of the total project before the end of the century. It was hoped to publish a timetable about a year from now, bearing in mind that the project was still subject to possible cancellation. In regard to any archaeological action, this required the consent of private landlords rather than the Water Company at this stage. If the time came to excavate in advance of the path of the pipe line, the Company would have no objection to a shallow investigation as long as it was recognised that the pipe must be laid on a firm base. It should be possible to work ahead of the pipe layers who were highly skilled operatives. It was envisaged that the Section of concern to HADAS would take twelve months to complete as work could only be carried out between September and March to allow Boy Scouts and other activities to be continued during the summer.

Andrew Selkirk, after thanking all those who had contributed to the Symposium apologised to the third Speaker on the programme, Leslie Matthews, of the Manshead Archaeological Society (Dunstable), whom time had prevented from talking, and invited him to give a Lecture at a future meeting of HADAS. Finally the Chairman emphasised again his concern that a well-researched ‘dig’ should be mounted at Brockley Hill after along lapse of time. He felt that, in particular, the examination of top soil removed prior to the sinking of the pipe trench, or, indeed, any future development, could be rewarding in pinpointing areas of archaeological interest.

JOHN ENDERBY