Past Newsletters

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Church End, Hendon, dig

First news item this month comes from the Society’s current dig at Church End, Hendon. Even after only three weekends’ work the site begins to look interesting.

So far five trenches have been opened. From three of them – each time unfortunately in a disturbed level and therefore unstratified – have come four of the curious flat, grey-green bricks, smooth on one side, which turned up last year at Burroughs Gardens. The Burroughs Gardens bricks were identified by Guildhall Museum as of medieval date, about 13/14th century. Some small body-sherds of black-faced, shell-tempered ware, again similar to that found at Burroughs Gardens, and contemporary with the bricks, have also been found.

A number of clay pipes are among the finds. They seem on the whole rather older than the pipes at Burroughs Gardens, and they too come from disturbed levels and range in date from early 1600s to the end of the last century.

In the two trenches opened closest to Church End itself, the footings are already clearly visible of a house that stood on the site before the shops that were recently demolished (these latter were built before 1895). Three properties are constantly mentioned in 18th century documents as standing on the site. One is the Parish Clerk’s House by the gate of St. Mary’s on the north-west edge of the site. The present Clerk’s House, which has not been demolished, was built in the 1930s, almost certainly on the same spot as its various predecessors. In the 18th century there was behind the Clerk’s House a brewhouse and pigsty.

One of the other two brick-built properties, which are first mentioned in the field book accompanying James Crow’s 1754 map, stood at the corner of Church End and Church Terrace. The other was mid way along between Church Terrace and the Clerk’s House. This second building, from a 1796 description, sounds quite sizeable: “A dwelling house, with a yard and woodhouse with two cottages behind it and a stable in two parts, formerly a brewhouse.” The brewhouse-turned-stable may well be the old brewhouse that stood, 40 years earlier, behind the Clerk’s House. It is the footings of this second house which may now be showing in our trenches.

Last month’s newsletter mentioned the hut obtained by Dorothy Newbury. Now, through yet another member, Mr. E. H. Jack, we have a second. Warm thanks are due not only to them but also to Jeremy Clynes who made all the arrangements for collection with Mr. Jack, and to Raymond Lowe who adapted the shed to fit our needs. Both sheds have been re-floored.

Helpers – both diggers and pot-washers – are vitally needed on the site every Saturday afternoon (except July 14th when there is an outing) and every Sunday morning and afternoon: 2-6 p.m. on Saturdays, 10-1 and 2.30-6.00 on Sundays. Please come if you possibly can and it will help greatly if you let Mrs. Dorothy Newbury know before hand if you are coming.

Outings

Saturday July 14th – Wealden and Downland Museum (Application Form with this newsletter)

Saturday September 15th – Blenheim and Woodstock.

IMPORTANT NOTICE – An extra outing – Last month’s newsletter mentioned the Woodchester Roman pavement (near Stroud, Glos.), which is opened to the public once every 10 years. This being the tenth year, several members have asked if an outing could be arranged to the pavement. A tentative date – Saturday August 11th – is suggested. At least 30 members would be required to come to make the trip economic. Indeed it would be possible to combine Woodchester with a visit to another Roman site much in the news now – Cirencester, where excavation recently has produced altars. Sculpture of the Genii Cucllati and a large early 4th century town house with a bath suite.

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As well as a visit to a dig, which it is hoped could be arranged, there would be time to see Corinium Museum which has a very fine Roman collection. This would make it a long trip – probably leaving Hendon about 8.30 a.m. and not returning until the same time in the evening.

If you would be interested in coming, therefore, please let Jeremy Clynes know as soon as you read this (or drop him a note). Arrangements such as booking the coach, etc. must be finalised in the next few days, so if Jeremy has not had sufficient response in the next week, the trip will not be arranged.

New Vice-Presidents

The Society has been honoured recently by the acceptance by two eminent residents of the Borough of invitations to become Vice-Presidents of HADAS, and we are doubly fortunate as they are closely in sympathy with our interests. Members who attended the Reception for Mrs. Freedman will remember that one of our guests was the Rt. Rev. Alan Rogers, Bishop of Edmonton, who lives in Friern Barnet and is interested in the Borough’s history and associations. To our great pleasure, the Bishop later agreed to become a Vice-President.

More recently, Mr. Andrew Saunders, M.A., F.S.A, who was appointed in 1972 as the Department of the Environment’s Chief Inspector of Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings, kindly accepted a similar invitation. He lives in New Barnet, so also has close links with our Borough.

As a footnote, the Newsletter noted with interest last Sunday, that after a Confirmation service at St. Mary’s Hendon, Bishop Rogers strolled across the road and spent quite a time studying the Church End site. Never before have HADAS diggers been watched by the splendour of episcopal purple.

The World of the Vikings

This is the title of a special exhibition of over 500 items of Viking archaeology from collections in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. This, the largest collection of Viking material ever shown in Britain, can be seen at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, from May to September. Open: 10.00-18.00 Monday to Saturday, and 14.30-18.00 Sundays. Admission 259 – children 15p. There are special connoisseurs evenings on Thursdays 17.30-22.00 (50p). An illustrated catalogue is available (50p). The exhibition will later be transferred to Kiel, Berlin, Vienna and New York.

Subscription

The Hon. Treasurer, Richard Deacon, will be very pleased to receive subscriptions from members who have not yet renewed their membership for 1973/4. He is also appealing for your surplus Green Shield or Pink Stamps in order that the Society can buy additional equipment – much needed now that the Burroughs dig is under way.

The Blue Plaques of Barnet

The Society’s Occasional Paper, “The Blue Plaques of Barnet” has been very well received. Have you obtained your copy yet? They are obtainable at 34p each (post paid) from Richard Deacon.

Street Names of Barnet

At the end of this newsletter is a paper on the Street Names of Barnet. Philippa Bernard will be glad to have any additional information on the street names of Barnet, whether in connection with the Battle of Barnet or not.

Stone Horse Troughs

Members are asked if they have any knowledge of any stone horse troughs still in existence in the Borough, apart from those at Nether Street (Ballards Lane) and Meadway; one is now in private hands, having stood formerly at Whetstone. Perhaps members may know of others that have been removed and of their subsequent history. Information please to Phillipa Bernard.

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Roman Corner

Three items dealing with Roman Britain have recently been published:

1. Current Research into Romano-British Coarse pottery, CBA report No. 10

This 166 page report is edited by Alex Deakins, M.A., F.S.A., whose dig at Eccles we visited last summer. It prints 13 papers, plus a summing up by Graham Webster. The papers were given at the CBA conference held at Oxford in March 1972. Twelve contributors, all experts in their own fields have made this a most up to date work dealing with current lines of research. The emphasis is on everyday pottery, where it was produced and its distribution. The following are some of the topics dealt with: pottery from military sites, Dorset black burnished ware, The marketing and distribution of mortaria (a paper by K. F. Hartley is of special interest because of its Brockley Hill connections). R. A. H. Farrar deals with the sources of black burnished ware, and this includes a good section on pottery production methods. The pottery industries of the New Forest and Oxford areas are dealt with in two papers. Imitation Samian wars are dealt with and there is a paper of experimental Roman kilns which members may like to compare with the Highgate experiments. The report has 11 pages of bibliography and there are 7 pages of good photographs. All concerned are to be congratulated on the speed with which it has been processed. (Available from the Council for British Archaeology, £4 (£3 before June 30th).

2. Town and Country, Verulamium and the Roman Chilterns – Keith Branigan published by Spur Books, £2.95.

This book is designed for the informed reader, and it is good to have all the Chiltern sites under one cover. Brockley Hill gets a mention for its production of Mortaria. The book is illustrated with many diagrams and photographs, the latter regrettably being rather muddy. Its index could have been expanded with advantage. The book however is a very good introduction to the subject, especially in conjunction with the author’s report on the Latimer villa.

3. Brockley Hill, The Potter Doinus.

The 1972 volume of the Archaeological Journal carries a 21 page report from Stephen Castle of a kiln of the potter Doinus excavated in 1971. This potter is traceable by his stamped mortaria and he concludes that Doinus was active in the area from 70-110 AD. There is a distribution map of his stamped mortaria covering the Roman province. This article should be read by all who are interested in Sulloniacae.

The Tamworth-Lichfield outing

A report by Ann Trewick.

The sleepy littler town of Tamworth gives hardly any indication of its previous importance. It first appeared in history ads the capital city of Offa, King of Mercia, who ruled from 757 AD to 796 AD. Little has been discovered yet of the eighth century palace and town, later destroyed by the Danes. But excavation has confirmed the presence of the “King’s Ditch”, a defensive earthwork with a ditch 45’ wide, constructed on Offa’s orders, and most exciting, a Saxon water mill, horizontal in type, which has been dated to the 8th century by the C14 method. The town has had many ups and downs in times of unrest, and overlooking it all since the 11th century has been the Castle. Nowadays, within the shell keep can be seen part of a 16th century manor house, slightly converted and extended in the 17th century. There is a fascinating museum within the curtain wall of the keep. It also houses a haunted staircase, and I must admit it turned extremely chilly on descending the staircase! We were shown round the Castle by Mr. Ken Sheridan, the deputy curator. He also showed us slides of the recent excavations. This visit proved so interesting that we were late back to the coach, so it was decided that Lichfield should be our next port of call.

The two towns are close to each other, one dominated by the castle and the other by the church. The present cathedral is the third on the site. Its architecture is mainly Early English with evidence of the transition to Decorated, giving it great grace and beauty. It is dedicated to St. Chad, first Bishop of Mercia, from 669 AD to his death in 672. We were given a very comprehensive talk by the Cathedral Chaplain.

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Our last visit was to Wall, almost certainly a Roman posting station on Watling Street. There is a very fine bath-house and present excavations hope to reveal something of the “Manzio” or hostel which were a feature of the larger posting stations. The museum, though very small, had some extremely interesting and varied exhibits. We all had a most enjoyable day and our thanks should go to Eric Grant for arranging our visit.

Street Names in Barnet

In the square mile or so of new roads centring on New Barnet station, the discriminating student of street names can discern a whole pageant of English history. Was it perhaps some bookish clerk in a council office at the turn of the century who read an account of the Battle of Barnet, fought between the houses of York and Lancaster on Easter Sunder 1471, and used his imagination to commemorate those who took part? If so he was something of a scholar, for he managed to include not only the commanders of both sides, but many of their lieutenants, their families and even those in later years who told the story.

The Battle of Barnet was the culmination of the long and bloody conflict between the white rose of York and the red rose of Lancaster. The struggle for the throne of England had begun some fifty years earlier with the death of Henry V, of the house of Lancaster, and the accession of his son, also Henry, at the age of nine months. During his minority, and his later periods of moody introspection or even insanity, the country was governed by a group of quarrelsome nobles, chief among whom was Richard, Duke of York and his friend the wealthy and powerful Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, known to later generations ad Warwick the Kingmaker. When the long drawn out Wars of the Roses began with the first Battle of St. Albans in 1455, the whole of England was caught up in a turmoil of bloodshed and destruction. Richard of York was killed at the Battle of Wakefield and his position as head of the Yorkist faction was taken by his son Edward.

After further fighting, Warwick deposed Henry VI with his ruthless Queen, Margaret of Anjou, and placed his protégé on the throne as Edward IV. Handsome and popular, Edward’s reign was always precarious. The Lancastrians under the active leadership of the queen during the frequent illnesses of her unhappy husband, persevered with their claim. When Warwick, dismayed by Edward’s secret marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, turned about and gave his support to Margaret, marrying his daughter to her son, it could only be a matter of time before war broke out again.

On a foggy Easter Sunday, April 14th 1471, the two sides faced each other on what is today Hadley Green. After a hard pressed fight and much confusion in the fog, Edward of York won the field. Warwick himself was killed and no baron ever again wielded such power in England, or made and unmade kings. Three kings were present at the Battle; Henry VI, the past king, dragged there captive to see the fight; Edward IV, the son of York, reclaiming his lost crown; and his younger brother, the Duke of Gloucester, later Richard III, who fell at Bosworth in another bitter fight.

Let is now return to the streets of New Barnet and retell the story more simply. The two sides present at the Battle were the houses of YORK and LANCASTER, led by KING EDWARD and the Earl of WARWICK. With Edward was his brother Richard, the last PLANTAGANET king, who was killed at BOSWORTH, by Henry TUDOR, son of the Earl of RICHMOND. Edward was married to Elizabeth WOODVILLE, incurring Warwick’s wrath, and took to the battle the captive king HENRY, married to MARGARET of Anjou.

According to Shakespeare (Henry IV part III), the Duke of SOMERSET was present at Barnet, but no mention is made of him in the contemporary accounts. He also includes on the Lancastrian side Lord CLIFFORD, and on the Yorkist, the Duke of NORFOLK. The story of the Battle of Barnet was vividly recounted by BULWER LYTTON in his novel “The last of the Barons”.

Apart from the roads already noted above, local residents of Barnet may well find more indications of the great battle which took place more than 500 years ago. More recently a new office block near the station was named KINGMAKER HOUSE, evidence of Barnet’s awareness of the significant place it holds in English history.

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The 12th Annual General Meeting

This took place on May 15 at St. Mary’s Church House under the Chairmanship of Vice-President Mr. Eric Wookey, with 56 members attending.

It seems likely that this will be our last meeting at Church House. Councillor Brian Jarman, presenting his Annual Report, mentioned that we hope to return again to the re-built Central Library when lectures start once more next Autumn.

Mr. Jarman also reported the Society’s highest-ever membership – 174. He emphasised that our most urgent need, if the Society is to go from strength to strength, is permanent accommodation where we can store or tools, finds from excavations, archives, etc., and work on our various projects. Mr. Edward Sammes, who read the Research Committee’s report, also emphasised this need. And made a special plea for volunteers to form a group of diggers prepared to work regularly over a sustained period on excavations such as the current one at Church End, Hendon.

The Hon. Treasurer’s report showed a considerable improvement in the Society’s financial position at the close of the 1972/3 financial year, as compared with the previous one, despite rising costs and an increase in the number of the Society’s projects and therefore expenditure.

Members may like to have a note of the 1973-4 Officers and Committee:

Chairman: – Councillor E. A. Jarman

Vice-Chairman: – Mr. Edward Sammes

Hon. Secretary: – Mrs. Brigid Grafton Green

Hon. Treasurer: – Mr. Richard Deacon

Committee: – Mrs. Christine Arnott

– Mr. Jeremy Clynes

– Mr. G. M. T. Corlet

– Mr. John de F. Enderby

– Miss Celia Gould

– Mr. Eric Grant

– Miss Elizabeth Holliday

– Mrs. Daphne Lorimer

– Mrs. Dorothy Newbury

– Mrs. Nell Penny

– Miss Ann Trewick

– Mrs. Freda Wilkinson

– Mr. Eric Wookey
Dig at Church End, Hendon

As forecast in the last Newsletter, the dig in the cleared area beside the Clerk’s House, just south of St. Mary’s Parish Church, began during the spring Bank Holiday Weekend. The grid was laid out by our survey, Barry Martin, and a site hut (found by Mrs. Dorothy Newbury) was erected by Percy Reboul and John Heathfield. After a busy Saturday during the many odd jobs which precede a dig (such as moving to walls to the hut and checking them, painting trench pegs and re-numbering them) five trenches were marked out within the grid. Digging began in earnest on Sunday May 27th.

It’s too early yet to report any interesting finds, but digging will go on every weekend (weather permitting) from now until 31 October:

on Saturday (except when there is a Society outing) from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

on Sundays from 10.00 to 6.00 (with a break for lunch).

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The Committee hopes that all members who possibly can and will help with the dig. If you have not volunteered yet, please do it now — either for active digging or, if you prefer quieter pursuits, for pot-washing, sorting, etc. Offers of help can be made to Mrs. Dorothy Newbury who hopes to organise a steady stream of diggers.

Dates your the Diary

The Society’s outings this summer will be:

Saturday June 16th. Tamworth and Lichfield, which breaks new ground for us and will be of both Roman and Medieval interest. Organiser is Eric Grant – full details on a separate form enclosed with this newsletter.

Saturday 14th July. Wealden and Downland Museum, Singleton, Sussex.

Saturday September 15th. Blenheim and Woodstock.

May outing to Colchester

Harry Lawrence provides this report of the Society’s first outing in 1973:

I had always wanted to see Colchester, and of the Society’s outing on 19 May gave me the opportunity — and an excellent one — of exploring “England’s first recorded town”.

After some seven hours of exciting sight seeing my mind was a welter of temples, castles, keeps, towers, walls, gateways, abbeys, priories and churches. Two highlights stand out: first was the guided tour of the Castle Keep, and the Assistant Curator’s most lucid explanation of its history — and the town’s — from the earliest days to the present.

The second was the “criss-cross walkabout”, led by Mr L. C. Drinkell (of the “Friends of Colchester Museum’s and Art Galleries”), during which we visited St. Botolph’s Priory with its impressive West front and columns of brick, the knapped flint of St. John’s Abbey Gate, the Roman Balkerne Gate and, most interesting of all, the Dutch Quarter. I must not forget Jumbo, the only weather-elephant (as distinct from a weathercock) I’ve ever come across.

Tea revived our endurance and flagging feet, and a 6 mile drive through picturesque country lanes rested the eyes. I began to feel I would be able — just about — to take in the details of one more gatehouse. Imagine my awed surprise, on reaching Layer Marney, to find that what at first looked like a rather drab square tower in the middle of a range of Tudor buildings was in fact the rear of the most wonderful twin octagonal towered Gate I have ever seen or expect to see.

During an hour’s guided tour of the Tower House and adjacent Tudor brick church of St. Mary the Virgin we heard of the succession of families (some illustrious, some not) who had lived here and nurtured this gem of the Tudor bricklayer’s art. Funny to think how little a Tudor bricklayer earned — and that a modern bricklayer can get £100-£140 a week for work no one is likely to view with awe in 450 years time.

Having “discovered” Colchester I now look forward to at least two further visits under my own steam and at leisure — one to explore the town, a second to see the exhibits in the Castle.

The Society’s thanks are due to Ann and Colin Evans for making the Colchester outing a great success. They were responsible for it from the first suggestion of the idea right through to the thank-you letters written after the event — and the whole operation was most efficiently planned and performed. This was the first outing that they organised for HADAS — and we hope they will do many others.

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New Members

By the way we’ve been told that a Society outing can be something of an ordeal for new members. Those who have been in HADAS for some time may have forgotten how unnerving it is to face a coach load of strange people who all seem to know each other and none of whom know you. Next time you notice someone looking lost – or lonely, or nervous – on a HADAS outing, it would be a kindness to chat to them and help them feel at home.

At this point the newsletter would like to offer its own warm welcome to the following, who have joined the Society in the last two months:

Mrs. Ann Baker, Hendon; Mrs. B. Bennett, Hendon; Miss Glenys Davies, Golders Green; Mrs. Jane Gooch, Hendon; Mr. John Heathfield, East Barnet; Mr. Peter Hewitt, Totteridge; Mr. George Ingram, Hendon; Mr. E. H. Jack, Hendon; Miss Dorothy Jeremy, Hendon; Mr. Martin Kirby, Edgware; Mrs. D. A. Mendelstam, Hendon; Mr. & Mrs. G. H. Musgrove, Finchley; Miss J. A. Partridge, Hendon; Miss Alison Reboul, Hendon; Mr. Paul West, West Hendon; Mr. K. Wilins, Whetstone.

Hedgerow in Lyttleton Playing Fields

– a note by G. H. Musgrove.

On May 10th, Brigid Grafton Green and I walked along the old hedgerow mentioned in the My Newsletter. My attention had originally been drawn to this feature by the striking field pattern shown in this area by the O.S. 6 inch edition of 1894-96.

Dealing with the dating of hedges by botanical methods, W. G. Hoskins (Fieldwork in Local History writes of a similar field pattern; “Such a continuous line, not crossed by other hedges but used by them as a terminus ad quem, is itself evidence of great antiquity.” A portion of the continuous curving hedge shown on the 1894 map, if transferred to the modern 6 inch map, coincides exactly with the hedge-line shown on the latter, centred at TQ 262 888. As demonstrated by S. J. Madge (The Medieval Records of Harringay alias Hornsey), this long curving hedge represented the north-west boundary of the Bishop of London’s Great Park.

Although the Bishops of London have possessed land in Finchley and Hornsey from pre-Conquest times (and, as suggested by Dr. Madge, perhaps even before 604 AD) there is no record of the enclosure of the Bishop’s private Park. The earliest reference to a deer park at “Haringeye” was in 1241, during a temporary vacancy in the see, when the King made a gift of 10 live deer to the Earl of Pembroke (26 Henry III, Nov 15, Windsor).

The remnant of the boundary hedge at Lyttleton Playing Fields now consists of nearly 100 yards of established trees and bushes, broken only by a modern pathway from the Kingsley Way entrance. These grow from a low bank, which in places has traces of ditches on both sides of the hedge. At the southern end there is a pronounced hollow. (Modern landscaping? The infilling of an old pond?)

Between the northern limit of the existing hedge and the Mutton Brook on the day of our visit the mown grass appeared more vigorous than that on either side of the projected line. On the southern bank of the Brook, there is a fairly dense thicket, through which a pronounced ditch runs to the stream. In Watery Wood, on the northern bank, a number of isolated mature trees appear to continue the curved line of the boundary.

The (1841) field names are significant. “Watery Wood speaks for itself. “Summer Lands” (that part of the Playing Fields which lay outside the Great Park) indicates wetness during most of the year. We also have a field called “The Park”. The muddy clay of the area may have determined the limit of the Bishop’s Park at this, its lowest point.

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Other traces of the Park boundary may yet be identified (the back gardens of Kingsley Way and Grey Close in the Suburb?), but nowhere other than at 262 888 can we expect to find a similar hedgerow. Building development and roads have seen to that. It would therefore be of great interest if a botanically-minded member of HADAS could make a survey of this hedge. There may be just about enough of it left to suggest a date.

POSTSCRIPT – As the London Borough of Barnet are planning to build a new library on what was Summer Lands, HADAS is taking steps to advise them of the significance of this historic feature.

Dating – an unexpected problem

From time to time, the Society receives some curi9uos enquiries. On the whole they are, as you might expect from an archaeological society, of the earth, earthy. Recently, however, a problem with an almost ethereal quality cropped up.

It came in a letter from an author in Reigate, who is preparing a book on the ghosts of London. “I am told,” he wrote to our Hon. Sec., “that there have been reports of a ghost of a nun seen in the Lawrence Street vicinity, near the entrance to St. Joseph’s College. Some accounts refer to a sound of singing. I wonder if you can throw any light on this? A date, perhaps?.”

Our Hon. Sec., – who feels a trifle more at home dating a Roman pot than a spirit – was non-plussed; but Mr. Wookey, presiding at the A.G.M., gallantly leapt into the breach. He asked all present at the meeting to produce some more facts about this ghost.

One member promptly came up with what may be the answer 0 that there is no nun, but instead the ghost of poor Nan Clark, who left her name behind in Nan Clark’s Lane, Mill Hill. She was a serving maid who was foully murdered in the Lane; and she is said to walk there on Midsummer Night.

Should any newsletter reader be able to pad these facts out further (particularly with the desired date of Nan Clark’s demise(; or should anyone be able to offer another contender for this ghostly title, the author in Reigate will doubtless be highly delighted.

Woodchester Roman Pavement, Gloucestershire

This year the pavement, which is only uncovered about every 10 years, will be open to view from July 10th – August 27th, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily including Sunday. It is situated just off the A46 road between the M4 and M5 (grid ref: SO 839 031). Admission 15p.

The panel, 50 ft square, is the floor of a large hall of a courtyard villa. Its centre theme (as at Brading IOW, and other villas) is of Orpheus. The outside border is a labyrinth or fret pattern with a double guilloche (intertwining bands) and 24 panels of geometric design.

The pavement lies to the south of the Old Church of St. Mary at Woodchester. Although much damaged by grave digging, it is still one of the finest in the country. The villa was excavated by Lysons in 1793,when64 rooms were found. Only the pavement is now visible.

(Contributed by Ted Sammes)

Diggers Required

Ann Trewick reports that volunteers are needed for the next few months for work at Baynard’s Castle on the complex of 15th century rubbish pits which are producing interesting material. The site is close to Blackfriars Bridge and next to the Mermaid Theatre.

Digging from 8.30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday. Guildhall Museum regrets no expenses can be paid. Apply to Peter Marsden at the Baynard’s Castle office.

Book Box

The book box is available for members during the summer: if you want to borrow, give Phillipa Bernard a ring.

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Star news item this month is the Reception-cum-Lecture which the Society is planning for the Mayor and Mayoress of Barnet, Alderman and Mrs. J. L. Freedman, on Saturday 31st March in the Cavalier suite of the Prince Albert, Golders Green Road, NW11.

We hope that many members will be able to take part in his function of, which will be important – indeed, unique – in the annals of our Society. you will find enclosed a separate letter giving all details. Please help to thank the Mayoress for her continued support of HADAS by coming along on March 31st.

Old Curiosity Shop

There is another way in which the committee would greatly appreciate members’ help with the plans for March 31st. This is to assist the fund-of raising effort which Christine Arnott and a small group of members hope to stage during the evening. We asked Christina for a brief note for the newsletter about her plans, and here it is:

“We want to create a stall, which we shall call “Old Curiosity Shop”, on which will be a number of small items for sale, second-hand but in good condition, which will have some link with archaeology or history.

Will all members search in attics and cupboards for small potential buys which could go on to such a stall? We don’t mind how widely you interpret the phrase “having some link with archaeology or local history” – in fact, the wider the better. Just to start you thinking, have you any of the following that you would be prepared to donate to the stall: small pieces of jewellery, holiday mementoes, archaeological finds (annotated, where possible, in true academic tradition, with details of provenance), any documents pertaining to local history, postcards, photographs, prints, small pictures? Pottery, china, glass, silver, shells, geological specimens – all might be of interest in this connection.

We shall be glad to receive, or hear of, any items and if they are not suitable, will immediately return them. What we want is a wide range and a large number of objects on which to draw, so as to make an attractive and interesting looking stall.

Help us to get to the society’s new financial year — which starts day after the Reception — off to a good start with this fund-raising effort.”

Members who have anything to offer Mrs. Arnott should ring or write to her. Or, if you prefer, please take objects to the February lecture, where Daphne Lorimer will be happy to receive them.

Dates for your diary

Sunday Feb 11

Work re-starts, after a break of some months, on the tombstone survey in St. Mary’s Churchyard, Hendon. Volunteers for that afternoon, or for any succeeding Sunday afternoon until further notice, will receive a warm welcome from Ted Sammes, who is in charge of the operation. No need to say you are coming – just turn up. No previous experience necessary, either, so this is a golden opportunity for new members who have not previously helped with any of the Society’s projects.

Tuesday Feb 20

Next HADAS lecture will be by R. J. Mercer, on his dig last summer at Carn Brae, Redruth, Cornwall. This was a total excavation of a Neolithic settlement site – a lean-to structure built against a massive stone wall which still surrounds the whole Neolithic settlement area. A stone hut circle of Iron Age date was also excavated, as was a rampart gateway. Prehistorian members should be in their element.

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Tuesday March 20

Dennis Hazelgrove on the Fulham Potteries.

Tuesday April 10

Dr. Wallis of the British Museum Map Room.

Last month’s experiment of starting Society evenings at 8.00 p.m. with half an hour’s coffee and chat seemed to be enjoyed by all, and we propose to make it permanent – so come along to the hall at 8 p.m.

This seems to be an appropriate moment to thank some of those who make Lecture evenings a success – Carol and Elaine Norbury, who produced coffee and biscuits so efficiently last month, and have kindly offered to go on doing so; our projectionist, Raymond Lowe, who does this sometimes tricky job (not every lecturer’s slides are in ideal condition for putting through a projector) and unflappable calm; and the members who each month mount the small exhibits which contribute to the interest of the evening. Since October, Ted Sammes, Jeremy Clynes, Raymond Lowe and Alec Jeakins have helped in this way.

Other events

There are also some non-HADAS events which may be of interest to you:

February 17-March 25:

Exhibition at Church Farm House Museum on “The relief of the poor in the 18th and 19th centuries, based on original records from the Local History Collections of the London Borough of Barnet.

Thursday Feb 22

At Burgh House, New End Square, NW3, at 8 p.m., the North West London branch of the Historical Association sponsors a lecture on the unexpected topic of “Pawnbroking through the ages: a response to a Social Need”. Visitors will be welcome.

Wednesday Feb 28

At Burnt Oak Library, Watling Avenue, at 8.15 p.m., C. M. Dixon speaks on “Views of Greece” and will, among other things, discuss ancient monuments and Byzantine architecture.

Saturday March 3

In the Old Lecture Theatre, London School of Economics, Houghton Street, WC2 at 2.15 p.m., the A.G.M. of RESCUE. In addition to the business of the meeting, there will be short reports and films on four Rescue projects.

Portrait Survey

Nell Penny sends this progress report on the work of her group:

“A few months ago, I volunteered to organise the work of ten members of the Society who had offered to cover the London Borough of Barnet as part of the National Portrait Survey.

Tentatively, we decided to start by approaching churches and schools. From the work of 4 of the volunteers and my own investigations, we have found out that churches do have portraits and are very willing to have them surveyed. Indeed, one church replied with such enthusiasm about its portraits that the two researchers concerned felt almost overwhelmed by the flood!

The Borough Education Officer very kindly arranged to publicise the survey in his newsletter which goes out to all schools; and the Headmaster of a Barnet school immediately got in touch with us to tell us of three portraits in his possession.

Enquiries about the finer points of recording, which come through to me from time to time from other volunteers, suggest that they are beavering away quietly; one of them must have come across a few miniatures, since she suddenly needed a stock of the special small stickers which are put onto the backs of miniatures after recording. (Every portrait recorded has a sticker fixed to the back, so that in future years, no one will cover the same ground.

For my own part, idle chatter with a friend resulted in an introduction to her mother who has several portraits. These will keep me busy for some time, largely because my knowledge of portrait media is so limited.

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Two small family portraits in my own house reminded me of the saying that the cobblers children are always the worst shod – so off I went to the National Portrait Gallery, where on Wednesdays and Fridays between 2.30-4.30 the Keeper on duty will discuss the provenance of portraits brought in by members of the public for inspection. No appointments need to be made, and there is no charge for this service. The Keeper will not give any valuation, but he will tell you all he can about the portrait. Mine were firmly dated between 1830-1840; I was told they were of provincial rather than London origin and that the sitters were probably professional people such as doctors or lawyers.

If you would like to join the detective club (as the Portrait Survey Group is turning out to be), please ring me. No time limit has been imposed on us, and we have plenty of room for more workers.”

Brockley Hill Weekend

This newsletter goes to press just as the first of these weekends has finished.

It was well attended. Some 15 members turned up for each of the four sessions except Sunday morning, when the rival pressure of getting the roast beef of old England onto the Sunday dinner table proved too much for some and the numbers halved.

The Teahouse, kindly lent by John Enderby, was ideal for pottery processing. There was plenty of room to unpack chests of pottery, enough tables for laying out material. Water for pot washing and even civilised facilities for elevenses and tea. More important, there was sufficient space to allow work to be divided up so that small groups could concentrate on special jobs without getting in each other’s way.

After preliminary sorting and pot-washing (something we had not been able to do properly before, because coarse pot takes so long to dry out after washing that it is impractical to handle it in a single evening session), we did some more advanced sorting into rims, bases, handles, lids, body sherds, and then sub-divided into rim-types and base-types. Some people marked pottery and varnished the markings (none had previously been varnished, and some marks were very faint); others listed special groups, or by detective work tracked down, where possible, the precise provenance of unmarked sherds.

Once a washed, marked, varnished and listed group was complete, it was decided which vessels should be drawn and photographed. The final stage – still far from complete – is the making out of index cards giving full particulars of each pot or group of pots.

The early stage were finished rather more quickly than we had possibly hoped; and the fact that the final stages are going more slowly is no surprise. Indexing, drawing and photography, properly done, inevitably take time. A good start has, however, now been made, and Ted Sammes’ index of Brockley Hill finds, which grew only slowly during the last year, has now made a dramatic leap forward. We hope that after some further similar weekends it will be possible for an enquirer to be given precise information about a Brockley Hill find from the 1937-54 digs by consulting the index, instead of having to unpack a whole case of pottery and later re-pack it.

All in all, a weekend well spent; and, it seemed, well enjoyed by those who took part. Thanks are due to all who made it possible: first and foremost, to John Enderby and the HGS Institute; to Jeremy Clynes, Ann Trewick and Brigid Grafton Green, who “laid out” the night before in order to get off to a flying start; and to all members who turned up and worked with a will. One helper even came all the way from Woking because she had a special interest in Brockley Hill. She has now decided to join HADAS as an “out of town” member.

Incidentally, we are desperately short of members with skill in drawing. Will anyone with a drawing ability and a yen to try his/her hand on Roman pot. Please get in touch with Brigid Grafton Green.

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January HADAS meeting

A well-attended meeting on Jan. 16 heard Hugh Chapman, of Guildhall Museum, give a lucid and interesting account of his last summer’s dig at Aldgate, where he found 6 phases of Roman occupation. The particular significance of this site is that it provides the earliest evidence so far found for military occupation in London. The first phase – dated soon after the conquest and prior to the Boudiccan uprising of AD 60 – produced a massive military ditch of fastigate type (with curving sides and a square-cut gulley along the bottom), from which, for good measure, came the bone handle of a well-known type of military sword.

Phase 2, above the ditch, was still pre-Flavian. A layer of burnt matter indicated the fires of the Boudiccan uprising, when Londinium was sacked. Previous evidence for military occupation in London comes from the Cripplegate Fort, found by Professor Grimes in his 1947 excavations, dated to c. end of 1st century A.D.

One link between Aldgate and Hendon was the discovery of a mortarium stamp of a Brockley Hill potter on characteristic sandy-buff Brockley Hill ware.

Literary Notes – contributed by Celia Gould

For your bookshelf : –

“Forts and Castles“ by Terence Wise – new, comprehensively illustrated book which traces the development of defence systems, and considers how, where and why they were built. Also features a gazetteer, giving details and locations of sites. From Almark Publishing, at £3.00 (hardback) or £2 (paperback).

Ancient History Book Club. Book Club Associates are about to launch this venture under the editorship of David Bennett. Early titles will include “Voices in Stone”, Ernst Doblhofer’s explanation of how ancient scripts were deciphered, “A guide to Prehistoric and Roman Monuments in Britain”, by Jacqetta Hawkes, and “Introducing Archaeology” by Magnus Magnusson, Other activities planned include conducted visits to ancient monuments and illustrated lectures by leading archaeologists.

Summer Schools

Ever though of spending part of your annual holiday at a summer school? If not, take it from an addict that the idea is worth considering. In addition to giving a chance to study some subject in depth, most summer schools are held in attractive surroundings in the country and conditions – food, bedrooms, etc. – are usually comfortable. The organisers realise that most students are partly on holiday, so generally allow ample time for recreation, with arranged visits/outings.

London University Extra-mural Department announces these 1973 summer schools:

At Seale-Hayne agricultural college near Newton Abbot, July 28-Aug 11:

– Nautical Archaeology (Tutor Peter Marsden)

– Development of the Victorian Town (Bill Liddell, D. S. Bryant)

Westonbirty girls school near Tetbury, July 28 – Aug 11

– Archaeology – particularly Neoliothic/Bronze Age in the Cotswolds and Mendips (Dr. John Kent)

Wye College, Kent, Aug. 11-25

– Research into Family and Parish history (Miss E. A. Danbury)

– Industrial History on Kent (H. G. Frost)

Cambridge, courses in Archaeological field techniques. Students may sign on for one week or more. Course fee more reasonable than before – £9 per week, including bed and breakfast (but not full board).

Debden House, Loughton, Essex, July 23-29.

-Surface Archaeology

Highgate Wood (Roman Kiln site) non-residential course in fieldwork – dates to be announced later.

The last three courses provide approved practical work for those doing the Diploma or Certificate in Archaeology. Further details, if required, from the Hon. Sec.

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The Mayor’s Reception

We must thank members for responding so speedily and splendidly to the announcement of the Reception and Lecture in honour of Mayor and Mayoress on 31 March. With nearly a month ago, more than nine tenths of the tickets have already been sold. If by any chance you haven’t got yours as yet, please apply quickly, either to the Hon Secretary or the Hon Treasurer, or you may be too late. There is a limit to the capacity of the Hall, and when that limit is reached the Hon Secretary will open a waiting list, so that any last-minute cancellations can be filled from it.

As well as the Mayor and Mayoress, the Society will that evening entertain the Bishop of Edmonton (who lives in the Borough), the Rt. Rev. Alan Rogers, and Mrs. Rogers; and the Borough Librarian, Mr. S. J. Butcher and Mrs. Butcher.

Members are asked to bring their tickets with them as these will be exchanged at the door for name cards. No tickets will be on sale at the door. We look forward to seeing you on 31 March at 7.00p.m. at the Cavalier Suite , the Prince Albert, Golders Green Road.

Christine Arnott sends us this report on the Old Curiosity Shop which she is organising for March 31st: “interesting objects of all kinds are already coming in for the shop, but may I make a last plea for members to search again for still more items? Anything small — such as figurines, for foreign dolls, costume jewellery, brass or metal objects, as well as those mentioned in last our last newsletter, will all be welcome, provided they are in good condition. There’s always someone on the lookout for oddments.” Please telephone Christine Arnott of Daphne Lorimer and collection will be arranged. Articles can be brought to the Society’s next lecture (March 20th) and handed to Daphne Lorimer.

Forthcoming Events

Our Programme Secretary, Liz Holliday, gives these advance details of the programme:

Tuesday March 20th

An illustrated lecture by Dennis Hazelgrove on the Fulham potteries. This is an interim account of the excavations which took place last year under the auspices of the Archaeological Section of the Fulham and Hammersmith Historical Society. Processing of pottery finds has continued throughout the winter, and the talk will include much unpublished information. 8.00p.m. at St. Mary’s Church House.

Saturday/Sunday April 7/8th

Another weekend at Hampstead Garden Suburb Teahouse, Northway, NW11, working on of Brockley Hill Pottery. 10-1 and 2.30-5.30. Volunteers welcome.

Tuesday April 10th

Please note that this lecture takes place on the second, not the third Tuesday of the month. Dr Helen Wallis will be of a talk on “maps as an aid to historical research”. Dr Wallis is Superintendent of the British Museum map room, and this will be an illustrated lecture. 8 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church House.

Tuesday May 15th

The Annual General Meeting, coffee and biscuits at 8 p.m., then the business of the evening and finally a short programme of films. An excellent opportunity to meet and talk, to do come along.

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Summer Outings

Saturday, May 19th

A visit to Colchester to see the Roman parts of the city, including the Museum.

Saturday June 16th

A Medieval and Saxon day, visiting Tamworth and Lichfield Castle. The trip may include a call to the Wall Roman Museum.

Saturday July 14th

A visit to the recently opened at Wealden and Downland Museum At Singleton, near Chichester — an outstanding folk Museum of 35 acres in a glorious setting.

Saturday September 15th

Blenhiem Palace and Woodstock, near Oxford.

LAMAS

On Saturday 31 March the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society holds its tenth annual conference in the Livery Hall of Guildhall at 2.15 p.m. The programme includes talks on various archaeological projects in the London area, and an account of Rescue’s survey “The future of London’s past”, and displays of recent excavations and research. Tickets costing 50p include an excellent tea; please contact our Hon Secretary for details.

The last item of the conference — a half-hour talk by a Dr Waechter on his 1972 excavations at Swanscombe — is timed to start at 5.30. Our reception for the Mayor and Mayoress begins at 7.00p.m. so members attending both functions will have to make good time between Guildhall and Golders Green

Mr. J. W. H. Banham

Members will be saddened to learn of the death last month of Mr Jim Banham. Mr Banham had been a member of the Society almost since its inception, and together with his wife had been one of our most regular attendants at Society meetings.

Although his health prevented him taking part in more active pursuits, he never failed to visit any dig the Society was doing and took great interest in all our activities. As an official of the House of Commons, he kept careful watch on any mention of architectural matters in Parliamentary debates and saw that the Society was well briefed with cuttings and notes from Hansard and other sources.

Mr Banham had undertaken for some time the task of sending out the Society’s material in the form of the newsletter, special notices and other information. Unfailingly cheerful, he had addressed on our behalf thousands of envelopes and stuck on as many stamps. We were particularly pleased to have him with us at the Christmas party, as delightfully gay as he always seemed. We shall miss him very much indeed, and would offer Mrs. Banham our most sincere sympathy.

Roman Lamp

Ann Trewick sent us this note: Just recently a lamp was brought into the Society for identification. It was found some time ago by a Mr N. Ashdown near the Great North Way entrance to Copthall Playing Fields (TQ 230904). Guildhall Museum suggests that the lamp is of Eastern Mediterranean type, rather late in date 3rd or 4th century AD. It is extremely coarse pottery and very heavy. There is an attractive design on top, possibly of leaves, and a slight ring base beneath. It is definitely not of British manufacture. British lamps are rare and much more crude in design. It is interesting to note that three lamp-holders were found at Brockley Hill; possibly at least one of them was manufactured there.

The Society will always be pleased to help in identifying objects found in the district. Please contact the Hon Secretary in the first instance, giving as much detail as possible concerning the location and circumstances of the find.

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More on Milestones

Following Ted Sammes notes on milestones in newsletter 22, you may be interested to know that, like Ted, the Council for British Archaeology is troubled by the rapid disappearance of these interesting relics from our roads — particularly now with measurement in kilometres in the offing.

CBA has therefore drawn up a Milestone Code of Practice, for the use of archaeologists, which goes like this:

1. Stones or posts marking mileages on highways, being important indications of historic development, should be retained on their original sites wherever possible.

2. Age or materials used do not afford a criterion for selection; all types of posts are of equal importance.

3. If a post has been moved because of highway widening, it should be reset at the same distance point but father back from the centre of the road.

4. If a diversion or bypass is built affecting the main highway at a milestone point, the post should be retained on the original alignment.

5. In cases of extensive redevelopment at the side of the road and affecting the position of a milepost, the milepost should be retained and included in the new design.

6. If, however, there is a compelling reason to remove our milepost (risk of vandalism, complete redevelopment obliterating the highway), it should be offered to a local museum or other location for safe custody, but not destroyed.

7. All ancient mileposts should be surveyed and written up and photographic records made; scheduling under the Ancient Monuments Acts should be sought.

8. Future substitution of kilometres or other linear measurements for miles will not be a valid reason to remove mileposts.

Bookbox

It has been decided that the Society should start to form its own library for the use of members. In the initial stages the “Library” will consist simply of a bookbox containing books, pamphlets, and other publications which may be borrowed by members and read at home. A start has already been made in assembling the nucleus of the collection, which will consist mainly of books and journals concerning archaeology, history (particularly local history), special interests such as pottery, coin collecting, geology, etc., and transactions of other societies.

The first books have already been donated by members, and a small exhibition of this material will be on display at the next lecture on 20 March. The Society is unable to purchase more than a very small number of books and must rely on the generosity of members to build up a collection. All members of therefore asked to donate books of their own which they may no longer require, to obtain inexpensive copies from second-hand bookshops (in good condition, please) or to send small sums to the treasurer for the express purpose of expanding the library. Books will be available for loan at Society meetings or by arrangement with the Society Librarian.

The Society is now anxious to find a member who will act as Librarian. He or she will be responsible for the efficient running of the Library, with the support of the Research Committee.

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He will take charge of the bookbox itself (at present a medium sized suitcase), bring it to meetings of the Society and deal with acquisitions, borrowing facilities, simple indexing, etc. If the idea is successful and the library increases in size, alternative arrangements may have to be made. In the meantime the Secretary would welcome offers of help and of books. The newsletter will publish each month a list of new acquisitions and a note regarding library facilities.

Books received to date:

Sir Mortimer Wheeler – Archaeology from the Earth

Gordon Childe -What happened in History

G. C. Vaillant – The Aztecs of Mexico

Liam de Paor – Archaeology, an illustrated introduction

Eileen Power – Medieval people

Graham Clark & Stuart Piggot – Prehistoric Societies

Glyn Daniel – The Megalith builders of Western Europe

Sonia Cole – The Neolithic Revolution

Jack Gould – Discovering the Birmingham Road

W. E. Le Gros Clark – History of Primates

A. S. Romer – Man and vertebrates Vol II

Seaby – British Copper Coins

Seaby – Standard Catalogue of British coins 1970

Some transactions of the London & Middlesex Archaeological Society

Report on Brockley Hill Excavations, 1947

Preliminary excavations at Verulamium 1930

Some journals of the British Archaeological Association

Some reports of the Council for British Archaeology

Roman Britain in 1971 (Reprint of Britannia Vol III 1972)

Ancient Monuments, Vol I, Northern England
February Lecture

Daphne Lorimer provides this report of the Society’s February lecture.

“On Tuesday 20 February, the Society had the great privilege of Mr R. J. Mercer describe his excavations at Carn Brae, near Redruth, Cornwall. After a brief survey of the development of the Neolithic in Southern Britain, Mr Mercer went on to describe the history of investigations at Carn Brae from those of William Barbour, 1720-1760, to the present day. Carn Brae was thought at first to consist simply of an Iron Age hill-fort but vast quantities of flint instruments and pottery subsequently thought to be Neolithic had been found. Excavations this year on the rampart gateway of the hill-fort proved the site to have been built but never occupied – the response to a threat which never materialised. Away from the hill-fort, a system of Neolithic fields – a rudimentary form of agriculture – was a new and interesting discovery. The Neolithic settlement itself proved to consist of rudimentary wattle lean-to structures within a massive stone wall. Settlement sites of the Neolithic era are rare and are sited in areas of poor soil by today’s standard, but all that the primitive stone tools were capable of working. The lecture was illustrated by many magnificent slides. It was a fascinating and instructive evening.”

New Members

The Newsletter wishes to extend a warm welcome to the following new members from all over the Borough and beyond it, who have joined the Society in the last 3 months: Mrs Alison, Finchley; Miss Rosalind Berwald, Stanmore; Miss Stella Colwell, Hendon; Mr & Mrs Croll, Fortis Green; Miss Rosalind Elliston, Garden Suburb; Miss Hilary Fawcett, Cricklewood; Miss Yolande Fermaud, Finchley; Miss Farncesca Flessati, Finchley; Miss Mary Garside, North Finchley; Miss Joan Gaynair, Hampstead; Mrs Jennifer Harding, Finchley; Miss J. Innes, Cricklewood; Miss Mary Macalaster, Woking; Miss Merle Mindel, Golders Green; Miss Jean Nairn, Temple Fortune; Miss Helen O’Brien, Bushey; Miss Nancy Sato, Hendon; Miss M. L. Searle, Finchley; Miss J. A. Weeks, Highgate; and Mr A. C. Willmore, Colindale.

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First, may the Newsletter which all its readers a happy and fortunate 1973? And, as an afterthought, may it suggest a New Year resolution for members? Please resolve to help this year as actively as you can on one of the Society’s projects – for instance, helpers will be most welcome for the following: –

To working weekends on Brockley Hill pottery at the Teahouse, Hampstead Garden suburb.

Tombstone Survey in St. Mary’s Churchyard, Hendon.

Portrait survey, which continues throughout the Borough has a long-term study.

For further details of these projects, see the last page of this newsletter.

Things to come

Our Programme Secretary, Liz Holliday, reports that for the remainder of this winter, as an experiment, meetings will begin at 8.00p.m. instead of a 8.15 as hitherto. The first half-hour will give members an opportunity to meet, talk and study any small exhibits which may be on show. During this time, coffee and biscuits will be served, at a price of 5p; the Committee are most grateful to Carol Norbury for offering to organise these refreshments. The lecture will start at 8.30.

The following is the lecture programme for the next four months: –

January 16th. Excavations at Aldgate, 1972, and Early History of Roman London.

The lecturer will be Hugh Chapman, Assistant Curator at Guildhall Museum. We shall get the latest information straight from the horse’s mouth, as Mr Chapman was engaged last year on important excavations which throw a new and significant light on the foundation and early history of Roman Londinium.

20 February. R. J. Mercer of the British Museum on prehistoric excavations at Carnbrae, Redruth, Cornwall.

March 20. Dennis Hazelgrove, on the Fulham Potteries.

April 10. Dr. Wallis, on th British Museum Map Room. Please note that this lecture will take place on the second, not the third Tuesday of the month to avoid Holy Week.

Other dates to note

From 6 January to 11 February an exhibition, “The Craft of the Potter,” at Church Farm House Museum. This is organised by the Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute, Pottery Department, but at the last moment HADAS were asked to mount a small introductory exhibit on the history of pottery making. There was no time to collect new exhibits, so we have had that to some material from the Roman Hendon exhibition. Jeremy Clynes kindly organised this, and thanks are due also to five other helpers – Christine Arnott, Freda Wilkinson, Philippa Bernard, Raymond Lowe and Ted Sammes.

Saturday March 31st. 2.15-6.00: 10th Conference of London Archaeologists at Guildhall. Further details is a subsequent Newsletter.

Things Past

Daphne Lorimer has sent this report: on 21 November Mr James Lee fascinated a disappointingly small audience with an account of his work at the GLC. It is their mammoth task to record every historic building within their boundaries, to protect threatened a buildings and to persuade the Department of the Environment to issue protection orders where necessary. It is also the function of the GLC contract division to restore and maintain historic buildings within into your seat.

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Mr Lee explained on the mechanics of scheduled buildings and showed numbers of fascinating slides from the Department’s archives. Included were pictures of East Finchley’s Hawthorndene, a unique fire-proofed building which has recently been saved from demolition, Peacock’ farm and Southwark Borough High Street, whose plan is medieval and whose architecture is Georgian.

It is reassuring to know that authority is not always blind to beauty and to the relics of the past.

Local History Conference

Like our own November lecture, the annual Local History Conference, sponsored at Guildhall by the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society, was also much concerned with the conservation of historic buildings. John Earl, another officer of the GLC, spoke on “The urgent need to know more”, and there followed a talk by a member of the Enfield Archaeological Society on the use of plaques to mark historic buildings. This was of special interest to HADAS, in view of our forthcoming booklet on the Blue Plaques of Barnet. Finally, the Reference Librarian of Kensington, Miss Ensing, spoke on the kind of facilities that a good public library could offer to local historians. Twenty local societies provided interesting exhibits of maps, photographs and publications.

Christmas Party

And a short report on the Society’s Christmas Party, held on December 15th at 166 Station Road, NW4: this was far better attended than a similar party held in 1971. Over 50 members came, and perhaps the most satisfying aspect was that every age group and interest in the Society was represented, from11 year old Paul Beevor (who joined, by special dispensation, on the Burroughs Gardens excavation last summer, where he proved himself a redoubtable digger) to those members of more senior years who have supported the Society through its 12 years in existence.

We came out on the right side financially too – not that we want to make a large profit on this particular function, the object of which is to provide a friendly and seasonable get-together for members. A loss, however, would have taken some of the gilt off the gingerbread, so the Hon. Treasurer is happy with an extra £4.60 in the kitty.

Thanks to all those who pulled together so well to make this a really pleasant evening – the ladies who produced a delicious buffet, the various people who organised competitions and background music, and our “decorators” whose creative imagination turned 166 Station Road into an attractive candle-lit “snug” with decorations both Christmassy and archaeological, including a splendid impressionist view of Stonehenge on one wall.

Blue Plaques

A word from our Hon. Treasurer: he thanks most warmly those members whose speedy and generous response to the appeal for guarantors for “The Blue Plaques of Barnet” in the November Newsletter has left him almost able to pay the printer’s bill when it comes.

He is still a few pounds short, so if there are still one or two other members prepared to help, he will be happy to hear from you.

Old Well in Nether Street, Finchley

A few months ago, Mr. E. Levy, of the Nether Co-ownership Housing Society Ltd., informed the Society of an old well found in the grounds of a recently-built block of flats at Norman Court, 395 Nether Street, Finchley, and asked us along to inspect it.

The measure depth of the well was 3.53 metres, with water taking up 3 metres of this, with a further unknown depth of mud and rubble.

The mouth of the well is of interesting construction, as it is dome-shaped, the narrowest diameter at the mouth being 55 cm. This widens to 145 cm at a depth of 66 cm from the rim. This dome is constructed of narrow yellow bricks, but it was difficult to ascertain if the well below the water surface was built of brick or stone. The appearance was further confused by the later insertion of a ground drain into the side of the well, and the inside showed signs of dementing (? cementing) over in some parts.

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It is of course difficult to date wells. A large Victorian house occupied the land before the flats were built, so the well may have been associated with that house. The style of brickwork, however, suggests that it is older, and in fact the main body of the well below the dome could be any age. The well, after recording, has now been covered over prior to landscaping the grounds. (Notes contributed by Eric Grant)

Conservation Course

Last November Rescue – of whose work for British Archaeology all members will have heard – announced that it would sponsor a weekend course on the conservation of archaeological finds. This was to be held on Dec 9/10 in the laboratories of the Institute of Archaeology in Gordon Square, and applications for places were invited.

HADAS put forward the name of its principle conservation offices, Ted Sammes who, having directed the Burroughs Gardens dig last summer, has been wrestling ever since with the practical conservation problems which follow a dig. There were 45 applications for 12 places, so it says much for Ted’s archaeological experience (he says he had virtually to tell the organisers his life story from birth) that it earned him one of the coveted places.

He reports that the course was practical, interesting and informative. There was a long session on adhesives, of which he specially valued the advice on the unsticking of badly restored pottery. Some time was spent restoring bronzes from submerged vessels, and in discussing such problems as the conservation of waterlogged boats. He would have liked more time spent on the treatment of coins and of iron objects. He is hopeful, most of all, that the contacts which he made on the course will be useful to HADAS in the future.

Full marks to Rescue for organising such a much-needed course – we understand that they hope to run others in the future. It seems an appropriate moment to remind you that Rescue needs every member it can get, and that subscription to Rescue (minimum £1, students 50p) is a blow struck in the battle to save Britain’s archaeological past from destruction. Subscriptions should be sent to the Secretary of Rescue.

An unusual Pillar box in Golders Green

In Golders Green Road, near its junction with Armitage Road, stands a rather unusual pillar box. It is one of the rare boxes which bear no cipher or legend of any kind and which are accordingly known as “anonymous” pillar boxes. These “anonymous” boxes were made by Andrew Handyside of Derby and cast in his Britannia Foundry. The box in Golders Green Road is one with a high posting slot and dates from the period 1879-1883. They were not erected over a longer period because it was found that the posting slot was at too high a level, and a modified variety with a lower slot replaced them.

Both types were criticised because of their anonymity, it being pointed out that the public were not certain that the boxes were in fact the property of the Post Office, and were thus hesitant to use them. The Secretary of the Post Office admitted that the omission of the Royal cipher was a mistake and in 1887 the manufacture of all such pillar boxers was ceased. Since that date all post boxes have borne the Royal cipher. Some of the “anonymous” boxes, however, still remain in active service to the present day, and have been the subject of controversy. One critic in 1927, asking that they should be destroyed, added: “It is a pity to prepare for the Bolshevists. If ever they came, they ought to be left to clear away the Royal signs for themselves”. (Contributed by William Morris)

Tailpiece – in case readers don’t know, a North London museum has one of the best postal history collections in the country – Bruce Castle, in Lordship Lane, Tottenham. It is well worth visiting for many reasons, being the official museum of the Middlesex Regiment, as well as an important late Elizabethan manor house in its own right. The London and Middlesex Archaeological Society, to which our Society is affiliated, is organising a visit to Bruce Castle on February 24th. Of any members would like further details of this event, please ring Brigid Grafton Green.

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Current Projects

Here are more facts about those projects we suggested earlier that you might incorporate into your New Year resolutions:

Brockley Hill Pottery Weekends

Jan 27/8, Feb ¾ at the Teahouse, top of Northway, NW11 almost beside H.G.S Institute. Work will start each day at 10 a.m., lunch break 1.00-2.30, close shop 5.30. Elevenses and tea will be available. Helpers with transport problems should ring the Hon. Sec., who will try to arrange lifts.

Portrait Survey

Recording portraits in schools, churches, hospitals, offices, etc, in the Borough of Barnet, as part of a nationwide survey. This project can be done in your own time, and over a period. New volunteers will be welcome and should get in touch with Nell Penny. Mrs. Penny would also like to hear from any member who knows of portraits wither in public or private hands in the Borough which should be recorded.

Tombstone Survey, St. Mary’s Hendon

Work on this has gone on for two years. All graves up to 1900 east of the Church have been recorded, with a few exceptions; half the lower churchyard has been completed. It has now been decided to make a total survey, including tombstones dated between 1900 and today.

A further extension of the work is being undertaken by Mr. G. M. T. Corlet, who is copying the parish burial registers, which provide a fairly continuous record from 1653 on. HADAS is most grateful to the Vicar, the Rev. John Borrill, for his immediate and kindly co=operation when we sought permission for Mr. Corlet’s work.

At the moment, Ted Sammes, who is directing the survey, is planning the next phase of the campaign. Work will re-start on Sunday Feb. 11, and will go on every Sunday thereafter until further notice, weather permitting, from 2.30-5.00 p.m. Volunteers for this interesting work are very welcome.

HADAS Dig

This will probably be at Church End, Hendon, where the area south of St, Mary’s is scheduled for council development. Members will have noticed that demolition is already well advanced.

The Society made a street survey of the area some months back, and the Borough Planning Office took an excellent set of photographs. We also obtained permission to excavate to certain points as soon as demolition permitted and we now await the Council’s go-ahead.

Meantime, if any members have prints, postcards, press cuttings or photographs of any buildings or scenes within the area bounded on the north by the Church, Church Terrace and Church Walk, and in the east by Sunny Gardens Road, on the south by Church Road and in the west by Church End, the Research Committee would be grateful for a chance to see them. If you have such material, would you please let the Hon. Sec. know?

Newsletter contributions

This newsletter contains more contributions than usual from members – which is as it should be. We’d like to see the Newsletter a forum for members’ knowledge and ides. If YOU have a report, some notes or other information that might fit into the Newsletter, please send it along to the Hon. Sec. You can get a good idea of the sort of thing from the contributions in this issue by Eric Grant and William Morris.

Membership list

Finally, the Committee feels members may like a full list of the Society’s membership for 1972/3 – so one is enclosed.

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STOP PRESS

See enclosed notice on “The Blue Plaques of Barnet”

Lecture Notes

A reminder

The next HADAS lecture, entitled “They Never Will be Missed” by Mr. James Lee pf the GLC on the problems of saving historic buildings, will take place on Tuesday 21st November at St. Mary’s Church Hall at 8.15 p.m.

Missing Links

Lecturers have now been booked for the meetings to be held in January and February 1973 and details are given below: –

16th January 1973 – Hugh Chapman, Assistant Curator at the Guildhall Museum, will speak of “Excavations at Aldgate – 1972” and the early history of Roman London.

20th February 1973 – R. J. Mercer of the British Museum will talk on excavations at Carn Brea, Cornwall.

Borough of Barnet Library Lectures

The following two lectures from the 1972/3 season may be of interest to members: –

Wedensday 15th November – “Tutankhamun’s Egypt” by James Hall, North Finchley Library, Ravensdale Road, N12 at 8.15 p.m. Mr Hall’s description of Tutankhamun’s tomb and other areas of Egypt provides an illuminating background to the current exhibition of the Treasures of Tutankhamun at the British Museum, now extended until 30th December.

Wednesday 7th February – “The castles of the Assassins by Robert Moss, Burnt Oak Library, Watling Avenue, Edgware, 8,15 p.m. Mr Moss was a member of the Alamut Valley expedition to Northern Persia when several notable castles were explored.

Baynards Castle – A Report

A good crown attended the first lecture of the 1972/3 season on 17th October, to be welcomed by our chairman, Mr. Brian Jarman, who then introduced Mr. Jeremy Haslam to speak on the recent excavations of Baynards Castle in the city of London. The lecture was augmented by a fine collection of coloured slides illustrating the points covered.

Mr. Haslam began with a brief outline of the history of the castle. Situated originally to the north of Thames Street in Norman times, on land subsequently utilised by the Black Friars, Baynards Castle was twice rebuilt on a site to the south of Thames Street in the 13th and 15th centuries. The 13th century building was rectangular with a stone courtyard, whilst corner towers and five smaller towers were added in the 15th century. Finally, it suffered severe damage in the Great Fire of 1666, after which fragments of stone were used in near-by dwellings until the site was entirely cleared at the beginning of the 19th century. Later, Victorian warehouses were built with extremely deep foundations which still cut straight across the whole site.

The remains of the castle, once the largest and most important non-ecclesiastical building in London, were rediscovered in a sewer trench in February, and Mr. Haslam described the subsequent excavations, which could only be carried out in between the Victorian warehouse foundations. A dock 25 to 30 feet wide existed to the west of the 13th century castle, and the western dock wall and mooring posts were found. This was filled in during the mid-15th century when the castle was extended and a wall built on the filling in the 16th century. As the castle was built on soft ground adjacent to the River Thames, which apparently consisted of a large percentage of horse manure, the foundations had to be very substantial. In fact the walls were built on elm piles 12 to 15 feet deep, overlaid with oak planks in rows of four. The building itself consisted either of well made chalk blocks or Kentish rag limestone, brought up river by barge. Alas Baynards Castle has now been completely destroyed by contractors building a new road across the site.

In answer to questions, Mr. Haslam stated that the largest collection of 15th and 16th century finds in the country were discovered in the dock area and a “robber trench” dig in connection with the dock wall, respectively. Amongst these were several thousand shoes. This material will probably go to the guildhall Museum. In conclusion, Mrs. Worby proposed a vote of thanks, and afterwards considerable interest was shown in the collection of finds on display from the Burroughs Gardens and Brockley Hill digs.

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Christmas Party

The HADAS Christmas Party will take place at 166 Station Road, Hendon, NW4 on Friday 15th December, as announced in the October Newsletter. Festivities commence at 7.30 p.m. and tickets costing 45p are available from the Hon Treasurer, Richard Deacon. These will also be on sale at the November lecture.

We are promised a gala evening with an abundance of seasonal fare and party games with an “archaeological flavour”! Please make this a definite date in your diary now, if you have not already done so.

P.S. If any member requires transport to and from the party, please contact the Hon. Sec. Mrs. Grafton Green who will make the necessary arrangements.

Project News – Cataloguing Brockley Hill Finds

In the October newsletter, mention was made of the plans to spend two full weekends in the New Year working on the early Brockley Hill finds. Details have now been finalised as follows: – Mr. John Enderby, Principal of the Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute (to whom the Society owes a large debt for his continuing help in these matters), is kindly allowing us the use of HGS Teahouse, near the Institute for the weekends of 27/28th January and 3/4th February. We shall be able to work there all day (with a break for lunch, or course!) on both Saturdays and Sundays starting at 10.00 a.m.

Will all members who are interested in this opportunity of doing some practical work on Roman pottery please note the dates in their diaries now, and give as much time as possible to helping during these weekends. Those with any knowledge of the subject will of course be particularly welcome, but please come along even if you consider yourself a beginner; there will be jobs for everyone.

The pottery from this site, as many of you know, is of considerable interest. The Brockley Hill potters. For some 60 years in the late 1st and early 2nd centuries AD, were main suppliers for certain vessels, particularly mortaria, to the whole province of Roman Britain. As well as material from this heyday of activity, the site also yields later Roman pottery up to the start of the 4th century.

Could all members who are likely to be able to help at these sessions – either full-time or part-time, please notify the Hon Sec; some idea of numbers will be very helpful in planning what is now to be done.

Current Exhibitions

We would like to draw your attention to two exhibitions of possible interest to members, which are now running:-

British Saltglazed Stoneware = A Seminar and Exhibition arranged by Morley College Ceramic Circle. The Seminar, at Morley College, will consist of lectures covering all aspects of British Saltglazed Stoneware and takes place on 18/19th November. The fee is £6.50, including lunch. The Exhibition, in Morley College Gallery, displays stoneware of British manufacturing centres, and documentary and archaeological evidence from London, running until 25th November. Admission free.

Local Maps and Views 17th to 19th century

Church Farm House Museum, Greyhound Hill, NW4 until 31st December, admission free. This exhibition, one of the activities planned for National Book Week 1972, comprises items drawn mainly from the Local History Collections of the Libraries Department. Maps of Middlesex and Hertfordshire, as well as local maps, show the growth of the area. Engravings, lithographs, and other illustrations of churches.

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Local History Conference

The London and Middlesex Archaeological Society are holding their 7th Local History Conference in the Livery Hall at the Guildhall, EC2 on Saturday 25th November. Mr. John Earl of the Historic Buildings Division of the Greater London Council will speak on “The urgent need to know more”. His talk will deal with the state of play in the field of conservation and he will be stressing the need to know our towns and localities better in order to care for them properly in the future. In addition there will be two short talks and exhibitions of publications, photographs and other materials of local societies, illustrating some of their recent work.

The doors will open at 1.30 p.m. and the main programme commences at 2.3o p.m. Admission, costing 35p (including tea) is by ticket only, available on application to the Hon Sec, Local History Committee, London and Middlesex Archaeological Society.

Milestones – Some Notes – a feature article by Ted Sammes

Markers to denote distances along roads were certainly established by Roman times. They were sited at distances of 1,000 Roman paces (1,620 yards or 1,400 metres). These milestones were not only guideposts or way-markers, they also extolled the Emperor. In 20 BC, Augustus was made Commissioner of Highways in the Rome area. He set up a gilded bronze milestone giving the principal centres of the Empire and their distances from Rome. During Trajan’s period, many new roads were built and others restored. By AD 200, the length of the description praising the Emperor vastly outweighed that of the mileage! A simple stone example can be seen in the British Museum from Llanfairfechan in Wales. Sixty three examples are known in Britain.

Modern milestones can be found on canals, railways and roads. More recently,. They have appeared in a new guise as one tenth kilometre posts on our motorways. A modern example of a road milestone, bullet scarred, stands incongruously in the Elizabethan courtyard at Maidstone Museum; it came originally from Kuala Lumpur.

Organised travel died out with the collapse of the Roman Empire and did not recover until 16th to 17th centuries brought a vast increase in trade. During the intervening period, travel was by pack-horse or mule. An Act of 1555 placed responsibility for road upkeep on the local Parish, removing it from he unsatisfactory hands of the Manor. This arrangement remained in force until the 19th century, when the County Courts Act of 1888 placed the responsibility for main roads with County Councils. In 1894, the Local Government Act transferred Paris authority to the new District Councils.

Turnpikes were apart from this system, being established at first as Trusts by Private Acts of Parliament. In 1773, the General Turnpike Act listed the powers of the Commissioners of Turnpikes, appointed for each County, thus placing the turnpikes under County Councils. One of the earliest turnpike roads was in Hertfordshire in 1663. With the introduction of these roads came mileposts and signposts to aid in charging.

The direction in which people travelled changed with the years; a fine set of milestones running from Hertfordshire to Buckinghamshire connecting with the Bath Road, is an example of this. The Mailcoach Act of 1784 required mileage marks to be placed on all letters carried. These distances were measured from London and were incorporated in the postmark. Such a system was inconvenient for cross country routes and was stopped in 1797, but re-introduced in 1801.

Barnet today has at least four routes of milestones:-

1. Along the Edgware Road (Roman Watling Street) – The Edgware-Kilburn Turnpike, 7 miles long, was opened in 1711, possibly at the instance of the Duke of Chandos, who built a house at Cannons a short distance north-east of Edgware. The present milestones are of cast iron, but there is one half-way up Brockley Hill, which is of stone. The site of the end of the turnpike is marked with a Blue Plaque.

2. Hampstead to Mill Hill – A rambling route from Hampstead to Mill Hill. These milestones are similar to the one at Brockley Hill, being of stone and rectangular in section. They cover a distance of 11 miles. Their presence was noted by Collinson in 1752 when he described them as newly erected. He mentioned the 10th stone opposite the sheep wash on Mill Hill Ridgeway.

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3. Finchley Road – Regents Park Road-Finchley Road was a turnpike road, cut across country as late as 1826. It is marked with iron stones which show distances to Regents Park, not London.

4. Birmingham-Holyhead Road- This existed as a route before the 19th century, but was surveyed by Telford in 1810. The Archway route was cut to bypass Highgate in 1813 and is again being widened at the present time. Telford also removed kinks at the Kitts End. A granite milestone can be seen between Whetstone and Barnet.

There was no single point of London from which mileages were measured, but often the traditional stagecoach terminal pints were used. These were Whitechapel, Hick’s Hall (originally in St. Johns Street), Shoreditch Church, Tyburn Turnpike, Hyde Park Corner and the south end of London and Westminster Bridges. Regents Park, Charing Cros, Cheapside and St. Pauls have also been used. Today, Charing Cross is the most usually accepted point.

With the metrication of road distances and the provision of large illuminated signs to aid the motorist travelling at speed, such relics of the past are becoming redundant. Let us, however, try to keep as many in place as possible as a reminder of quieter days.

Welcome

A warm welcome is extended to those members who have only recently joined the Society:- Mrs. Joan Bird – Garden Suburb; Mr. Brian Favell – North Finchley; Mrs. Goring – Garden Suburb; Mr. J. K. Haughton – Hendon; Mrs. K. Howey – Childs Hill; Mrs. Ruby Jobson – Garden Suburb; Miss Mary Kelsey – Garden Suburb; Mr. R. W. Martin – Dollis Hill; Mrs. J. Pearce – Totteridge; Miss Anned Randall – Colindale; Mr. And Mrs. Frank Spiegelhalter – East Barnet; Miss Else Weavers – Mill Hill; Mrs. B. M. Wells – Friern Barnet. Under 18: Paul Beevor – Hendon; Judith Bird – Garden Suburb; Valerie Master – Golders Green.

We hope you will all find something to enjoy among our many and varied activities.

Burroughs Gardens Dig (Grid Ref TQ22718905) – A final word

The 19772 dig ended on 15th October, and with the co-operation of a local contractor the site was back-filled and levelled the next day. Ted Sammes, as Site Director, wishes to thank all members who came and helped to make the enterprise a success. It has shown the existence of material which proves habitation in Hendon during the medieval period. This is a step forward in pour knowledge of the area and we can feel pleased with the results of our efforts.

Archaeological Weekend – A second appeal

Jeremy Clynes reports that he has received a disappointing response to the idea of a weekend trip to the Dorset/Wiltshire area next spring, as proposed in the October Newsletter. Sadly the project will have to be abandoned if no more members express interest. So once again, please contact Jeremy as soon as you can if you would like this venture to continue.

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Looking back at Summer Pursuits

Winchester outing. Despite heavy rain during the evening and night preceding the final outing of the season of that September, a party of 37 assembled for the expedition to Winchester. They were rewarded, for the clouds began to clear at the outset and the weather remained reasonable all day. The first stop was at Sparsholt Roman Villa, situated in the middle of a forestry plantation just outside Winchester. The approach was appropriately via a of Roman Road and we were conducted around the side by Mr David Johnston of the Extra-Mural Department of Southampton University. Evidence existed of occupation from the Iron Age to the mid-4th century A.D. At the most important phase there was a big house with a large courtyard, an aisled building and various out-buildings. There was also an interesting a sequence in the development of the Bath House and a beautiful mosaic floor has been uncovered, which we later saw in the City Museum at Winchester. Some more wall plaster, imitating mosaic was another interesting a find.

From of the villa we returned to Winchester, where we were free to explore until 2.30 p.m., when we met at the City Museum to see some of the evidence of Winchester’s long and eventful history. Mr. Cottrill, the curator, was kind enough to be available to answer questions. Next we proceeded to the cathedral to meet Canon Bussby, who introduced us to its history. We saw an exhibition of Saxon and Norman art in the Treasury, and the beautiful twelfth century Winchester Bible, kept in the library, itself the oldest bookroom in Europe, also dating from the twelfth century. The Canon told us something of the cathedrals administration, including the fact that when the gates of the Close are shut at night, the community has nothing further to do with England until the next morning. We finally repaired at to the Cadens Cafe in the High Street for tea before returning home.

Brent River Walk

The upper reaches of the year River Brent (or Dollis Brook) were explored on the sunny afternoon or Saturday 23 September by a regrettably small party, half of which was comprised of members of the Middlesex Society, under the leadership Mr Jeffrey Evans. Shortly after the start at Totteridge Lane, the Middlesex Hertfordshire boundary was located near the road named County Gate. From here the walkers followed the diminishing river westward to a point beyond Totteridge Vale Farm.

Nothing of note was found in the river gravels. Some pollution from tipped rubbish was noted at one point near a car park and it was thought that a complaint would be justified. On the return journey, the travellers were welcomed by the Trewicks in Western Way and refreshed to buy a delicious tea – a bonus highlight to a pleasant occasion. As mentioned in the previous newsletter, it is hoped that there will be a further walk to find the river’s source next spring.

Second Chance

Those members who missed the first of Mr Jeffrey Evans’ river walks by along the lower reaches of the River Brent, may be interested to know that he will be conducting a similar walk for the Middlesex Society on the Saturday 4 November meeting at the Brent Bridge, Hendon, NW4 at 2.30 p.m.

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Erratum

The Editor wishes to apologise to all bemused Anglo-Saxon scholars and to Mr Jeffrey Evans for incorrectly rendering “GRENDELES GATAN” as “Grendchen Gatan” when the transcribing the original handwritten draft of his feature article along by Brent which appeared in the September newsletter.

Looking Ahead to Winter Plans

Lectures

Arrangements for the 1972/3 Winter lectures have been delayed by various obstacles and at the time of writing several problems have yet to be resolved, reports the Programme Secretary. The date and time of lectures are as announced in the September newsletter, and you will find a map enclosed which shows the exact location of St. Mary’s Church Hall and gives details of bus and services in the area. Plans so far completed are as follows: –

17th October 1972 – Baynards Castle – a Lecture by Jeremy Haslam

The site of the castle, once a Royal Palace, was excavated this summer by the Guildhall Museum. Jeremy Haslam’s talk, which will be illustrated with slides and diagrams, is the first public lecture to be given on this important and interesting site.

21st November 1972 – “They’ll never be missed” – a lecture by James Lee

A member of the GLC’s Historic Buildings Division, Mr Lee will speak on the problems of saving historic buildings, with particular reference to the Borough of Barnet, illustrating his talk with selections from the GLC’s fine collection of slides of important and historic buildings.

20th March 1973 – The Fulham Pottery – a lecture by Dennis Haselgrove

The result of this summer’s excavations will be outlined by Mr Haselgrove and slides will be shown to illustrate his talk. Should any member wish to help the Fulham and Hammersmith Historical Society with the processing of finds (mainly on Sundays), Mr Haselgrove will be very pleased to hear from them.

17th April 1973 – A Maps Evening – with Dr, Helen Wallis

This talk by the Superintendent of the Map Room of the British Museum will cover maps as aides to historical research. Dr Wallis will talk with special local reference to the Borough of Barnet.

15h May 1973 – Annual General Meeting

Other Meetings

The arrangements for the meetings on 16th January and 20 February 1973 have not yet been finalised. One lecture will be on a prehistoric subject, however, and the other of interest to students of the Roman period. It is hoped to be able to give members full details in the next newsletter.

The Festive Season

Make a note in your diary now and tell your friends to – on Friday 15th December the Hendon and District Archaeological Society will be holding a Christmas Party at 166 Station Road, Hendon, NW4. Further details will appear in the November newsletter, but meanwhile if any member would like to donate raffle prizes, or offer assistance with the catering or other arrangements, the Treasurer (Richard Deacon) would be very pleased to hear from you.

Sadly the last social gathering was poorly attended, despite great efforts on the part of those who undertook the organisation, so make a firm resolution now to come along and enjoy yourselves on 15 December.

Projects

The Society has several research projects planned for the coming winter :-

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Portrait Survey

About a year ago, Hendon and District Archaeological Society was invited by the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society to participate in the Middlesex Portrait Survey with responsibility for the Borough of Barnet. From the outset, the idea appealed to the Committee as being both worthwhile and of interest to members. For various reasons, however, the start had to be postponed until now.

The idea behind the survey (which is part of a nationwide Portrait Survey, organised on a County basis) is to fill the gap which exists when a portrait can not be found in one of the larger galleries. There is at present no national record of portraits which can be consulted by historians, biographers, or those arranging exhibitions or illustrating books. Yet such portraits (for this purpose, the word covers representations in any medium, including sculpture) do exist. A team of 30 researchers in Kent, where the survey commenced, managed to find and record 1,400 portraits in two years, by combing schools, municipal offices, vestries, boardrooms, hospitals and territorial army headquarters. The facts about each portrait, when located, are recorded on a special form, which will ultimately provide an archive at the National Portrait Gallery.

Our team is not yet 30 string, but a start has been made with a group of a dozen keen members who are prepared to give this long-term project an hour here or an afternoon there. Some are working in pairs, while others are lone wolves. They plan at first to concentrate on schools and churches. We hop that the team may swell in numbers after you have read this – more volunteers will be very welcome! It is something you can do in your own time and at your own speed, and it should provide opportunities for getting into interesting corners of the Borough and meeting many different people. The project organiser is Mrs. Nell Penny. If you would like to join in, please contact her – she’ll be delighted to hear from you.

Tombstone Survey

Just as interesting and equally useful is Project No. 2 – our old friend the Tombstone Survey – which Ted Sammes will direct again this winter in St, Mary’s Churchyard, Hendon. This, as members will know, is another long-term project, which has been in progress during the last two winters. Mr. Sammes called a halt this spring to direct the Burroughs Gardens dig, but hopes top resume work at St. Mary’s some time in November – the exact date will be announced in the next Newsletter.

Already many hundreds of headstones have been recorded, but much still remains to be done and more volunteers are needed. Strange as it may sound, grubbing around among the St, Mary’s tombstones on a fine Sunday afternoon has a gentle fascination all its own – and is often very interesting. Do try it! Mr. Sammes will also be happy to hear from any member who would like to try their hand at assembling biographical information about some of the better-known worthies who are buried at St. Mary’s – another job which can prove most rewarding.

Cataloguing Brockley Hill finds

Our third project, plans for which are not yet complete, concerns another familiar friend – the finds from the early Brockley Hill digs. Arrangements are in had for spending two full weekends after Christmas on further sorting, cataloguing and indexing at the Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute. This will provide an excellent chance to handle, identify and get used to the feel of Roman pottery from the late 1st to the early 4th century. Further details will appear in subse1quent newsletters.

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Looking forward to next Spring – Archaeological Weekend

It has been proposed that the Society should organise a weekend trip for members, possibly staying at Salisbury, and visiting important archaeological sites on the Dorset/Wiltshire borders. Departure would be on a Friday night, returning home on Sunday evening. It is important to know how many would be interested in joining such a party before any definite plans are made or the likely cost estimated, so please register your name provisionally with Jeremy Clynes now if you would like to participate.

Subscriptions

As we are now half way through the financial year, please could all those who have not yet renewed their membership of the Society for 1972/3 let Richard Deacon have their subscriptions at an early date, to ensure that the current membership list remains up-to-date.

P,S, The Treasure would also be most grateful for any unwanted Green Shield or Pink stamps to augment the Society’s funds.

The Blue Plaques of Barnet

– A special article by Philippa Bernard, Editor of the Society’s forthcoming publication.

The Society will shortly be publishing the second of its occasional papers. The first was “The Chroniclers of the Battle of Barnet” and No. 2. is to be “The Blue Plaques of Barnet”. It is over 100 years since the first blue plaque in London was erected to the memory of Lord Byron on his former home in Holles Street. Since that time, many famous men and women, historic houses and place of interest have been commemorated in the form of the familiar blue circle.

In the Borough of Barnet, there are 21 Blue Plaques, some clearly evident and well-known to passers-by, others less easy to find, marking places unknown to the public. Many members of the Society have co-operated in the writing of this booklet. A considerable amount of hard work has gone into the research, with each plaque telling its story and much fascinating information has emerged. The Borough has been the home of many famous men and women: Anna Pavlova, Wllliam Wilberforce, Sir Stamford Raffles among them. Plaques also mark important historical locations such as the site of the old parish cage and the tollgate. What has become clear as work proceeded, is that there are many equally important spots within the Borough which are not dignified by plaques, and it is hoped that at some future date the Society might co-operate in establishing the situation of additional sites, so far unrecorded.

P.S. Watch for an announcement of the publication of “The Blue Plaques of Barnet” in the Newsletter.

British Museum Exhibition

An exhibition entitled “A Panorama of Drawing, 11,000 B.C. – 1942 A.D.” is to be mounted in the Prints and Drawings Gallery of the British Museum between 27th October 1972 and February 1973. Man’s achievement as a draughtsman will be illustrated, with the inclusion of material from several of the Museum’s Departments, in order to cover the period from prehistoric times to the present day.

Collector’s Item

Your attention is drawn to the notice enclosed with this newsletter advertising the forthcoming Borough of Barnet publication “Local Maps and Views 1600-1850” in a limited edition, which it is thought may be of particular interest to members.

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For your diary

River Walk: Mr. Jeffrey Evans will be leading the next in his series of walks northwards along the River Brent towards its source on Saturday 23rd September. Meet at Totteridge & Whetstone Underground Station at 2.30 p.m. A member has kindly offered to provide tea for intrepid explorers after the walk! FOOTNOTE – The final walk in the series has been provisionally scheduled to take place next spring.

The dates for the Society’s 1972/3 Winter programme are as follows : –

Tuesday 17th October 1972 – Lecture
Tuesday 21st November 1972 – Lecture
December 1972 (date to be announced) – Social Function
Tuesday 16th January 1973 – Lecture
Tuesday 20th February 1973 – Lecture
Tuesday 20th March 1973 – Lecture
Tuesday 17th April 1973 – Lecture
Tuesday 15th May 1973 – A.G.M.

Details will be announced in later Newsletters. The venue for lectures will once again be St. Mary’s Church Hall, Church End, Hendon, NW4 as the Public Library is still closed for modrenisation, and the time remains unchanged at 8.15 p.m.

Burroughs Gardens Excavations – A progress report

The discovery of footings of a house pre-dating the houses recently demolished has caused us to continue our excavations in the area next to the bakery. More interesting still are the layers in this area producing rim, body and base sherds of Medieval pottery. Regrettably, no coins have so far been found in these layers, but the pottery has been tentatively dated by the Guildhall and London Museums as 12th to 13th century. This agrees well with a dating made by John Hurst when the sherds were found.

On Saturday 26th August, Roy Canham, Field Officer of the London Museum, visited the dig and a useful discussion took place; diggers were regrettably few on that occasion! The finding of this material is unusual in North London, the nearest documented site being at Northolt.

The Burroughs dig takes us back archaeologically towards our Saxon beginnings. The number if diggers has fallen off in recent weeks, due to the holiday season. A special effort is needed, therefore, for these last few weeks if we are going to be able to wring all the knowledge available from this interesting site. So wil anyone who can help, even for a couple of hours at a time, please come along to the Burroughs at the following times:

September 16/17
September 24 (no digging on Sept. 23 owing to river walk)
September 30 / October 1

Digging on Staurdays is from 2 to 6 p.m. and on Sunday all day, from 10.30 to 6, allowing time off for lunch between 1- 2.35. IF YOU POSSIBLY CAN, PLEASE HELP TO FINISH OFF YOUR DIG!

Wanted for dig

Donation or loan of stirrup pump for watering the trenches. If you think you can help, please contact Jeremy Clynes.

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Along the Brent – A special report from Jeffrey Evans on the River Walks he has led

These walks are along the banks of the River Brent upstream to its source near Arkley, so for the benefit of those members who were unable to come on the first two walks, here are a few points of local interest seen on the way so far. The River Brent flows for some 18 to 20 miles, mostly through Middlesex, before entering the Thames at Brentford – our old county town.

We started the first walk from Henleys Corner along part of Mutton Brook – which here forms the ancient parish boundary between Hendon and Finchley – passing the site of once famous watercress beds (now a swamp, but still remembered by a few very old inhabitants), alongside the remaining part of Hurst Wood on the Hendon side – known in the 18th century as Foxhole Wood – by Decoy Wood at the site of Decoy Farm, where the brook flows into the River Brent, sometimes here called Dollis Brook. Now walking upstream, we soon pass the high waterfall at Hendon Lane where the river was once dammed to form a long lake to enhance the view from the nearby Manor House (Tenterden Hall). Further on, it flows under the old red brick Waverley Bridge and so to Mill Hill East where our first walk finished.

The next walk was from Dollis Lane under the high arches of Dollis Viaduct where the walk becomes more wild and wooded with small backwaters and pools when passing the grounds of Nether Court and the Finchley Golf Course, on through the well-kept grounds of Woodside Park, where another feeder of the Brent joins it from Mill Hill to the west, then out into the open fields of the Totteridge and Whetstone valley, and finishing at Totteridge Lane, the whole distance being about 4 miles.

We hope to continue these walks at a later date along the final section through part of Hertfordshire around the north of Totteridge and back towards Mill Hill to trace the river’s source in the deep wooded valley by Hendon Wood Lane just below Barnet Gate. This is a site having legendary connections from very early times with Anglo-Saxon mythology, in the story of Beowolf and the slaying of Grendel, the man-eating monster of the woods and swamps, and was mentioned in a 10th century Saxon charter as “Grendchen gatan” (Grendel’s gates).

Exhibition

A neighbouring Society, the Stanmore, Edgware and Harrow Historical Society, has asked us to let members know about its forthcoming exhibition on the local history of Stanmore and Harrow. This will take place on Saturday. October 7, at St. John the Evangelist Church House, Stanmore, starting at 2 p.m. Church House is near the church, which many members may know because of its interesting historical associations. The present church, built in 1850, stands beside the older brick built church consecrated by Archbishop Laud in 1632 and not used after 1850. At his trial, Laud was accused of consecrating a “Masshouse” at Stanmore, and replied “No air. It is a parish church”. The exhibition will include the Moxom collection, found at Brockley Hill about 1905, which the Stanmore society is borrowing for the occasion from the London Borough of Barnet.

Out and About – Summer Outings ’72

July – Sailing Barges Museum

Forty members and friends supported the second of this season’s outings on Saturday 15th July. First stop was The Friars, a Carmelite Priory, at Aylesford. Time was allowed for a quick look round the tranquil surroundings, after which the party moved on to the nearby village of Eccles. There we walked to the site of a Roman villa, where the current season’s activities were explained by Mr. A. P. Detsicas, M.A., F.S.A., Occupation of the villa commenced in the period immediately after the Roman conquest and with subsequent rebuilding until 400 AD.

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We paused for tea at the Mad Hatter and afterwards visited the Dolphin Sailing Barge Museum in the cool of the evening. There we received an enthusiastic welcome and a feast of Thames Barge folklore was discussed. Whilst looking at the collection of Barge by-gones, we were told that there are now 35 similar barges in seaworthy condition.

August – Roman Dover

On Saturday 12th August a party of 33, including members of Camden Historical Society, amongst whom was the Secretary, Mr. G. D. Gregory, set off on a special outing additional to the regular summer programme to visit the important Roman excavations at Dover on show for a limited season in July and August. During the course of the work on the A20 York Street bypass road in 1970, extensive remains of the major 2nd century A.D. “Classis Britannica” fort, headquarterd of the Roman fleet in Britain, were discovered, just seven feet away from the site predicted by Sir Mortimer Wheeler as far back as 1929. This led to a major archaeological rescue digging operation by the Kentish CIB Archaeological Rescue Corps under the leadership of Mr B. J. Philp. Although saved for future generations by the raising of the new road level by up to six feet, the “Classis Britannica” fort has now been lost to view again. There was, however, a tour around an adjacent site where excavations are at present under way, conducted by a young helper from the Dover Archaeology Group. On this site, we saw evidence of settlement in Neolithic times from 4000 years ago to 2000 B.C., an Iron Age farm of around 500 B.C. and a later 3rd century A.D. Roman fort with impressive defensive walls and ditches. Above this were ditches and other evidence of a 4th century A.D. Saxon shore fort, destroyed by fire in 800 A.D. and signs of Medieval and later occupation. A final highlight was the now famous 2nd century A.D. Roman “Painted House”, with the walls of two large rooms completely covered by brilliantly coloured painted plaster, unparalleled in Roman Britain, or indeed outside Italy. Members of the party also took time to visit Dover Castle and explore the town. Despite some rather disappointing weather, the expedition was voted a great success by all who participated.

Strand Looping

John Cresswell of the London History Society conducted this exercise on the afternoon of Saturday 19th August. Members of the HADAS were invited. We were first given a little background history of the immediate area of Southwark adjacent to the early London Bridges and a presumed Roman road, possibly extending under Southwark Cathedral. Finding our way over the parapet and down to the river margin was the first adventure – it is a very long way down indeed! Wellington boots and old clothes were essential for nedgotiating the slippery and squelchy area left by the retreating tide. Soon everyone was scratching away at the area of their choice and many objects were unearthed. Some worked flints were found – these, by prior arrangement were given to John Cresswell. Jeremy Clynes took charge of the pieces of Samian pottery found by our members. Other finds included pottery sherds of Medieval and Tudor dating – further examples being nearer our own time. Many pieces of encrusted iron abound, such as nails, bolts and horse bits. It was a lovely, sunny afternoon with a brisk breeze and those of us who participated thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Food for thought – a collection of classes for the Autumn

Certificate in Field Archaeology

The course combines lectures and demonstrations of field work in a study of man in S.E. England, and forms part of a three year Certificate in Field Archaeology. The courses are :-

Course 1 – Field Archaeology and the Prehistory of S.E. England;
Course 2 – Field Archaeology and the Romano-British period in S.E England;
Course 3 – Field Archaeology and the post-Roman period in S. E. England
Course 1 may be taken at Barnet College, Wood Street, Barnet, Herts, commencing 27th September., 7.30 p.m. fee £3.00.

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Tutorial and Sessional Classes

The miscellaneous courses listed below are available locally:

Egyptology – A survey of the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms including architecture, paintings and sculpture, crafts, literature, religion and funerary customs, foreign relations. East Finchley Library, High Road, N2 (Finchley WEA branch), commencing 27th September at 8.00 p.m. fee £2.50.

The Romans in the West – an examination of the development of Roman civilisation in Gaul, Germany, Spain, Britain, and N. Africa. Golders Green Library, Golders Green Road, NW11 (Golders Green WEA branch) commencing 26th September, 8.00 p.m. fee £3.50.

History of Greek Civilisation – Societies and cultures of ancient Crete and Greece: prehistoric forerunners, piracy and slavery, class warfare, the Olympiad, city states and empires, Greeks and Celts and Alexander’s conquest of India. Edgware Library, Hale Lane, Edgware (Mill and Edgware WEA branch) commencing 25th September at 8.00 p.m. fee £2.50.

Civilisation and its origins – What is civilisation? A comparative study of the distinctive styles and achievements of man’s first civilisations in Egypt, the Near East, the Indus Valley and elsewhere. 36 The Grove, Southgate, N13 (Southgate WEA branch), commencing27th September. 10.00 a.m. fee £2.50.

Georgian London – New squares, parks, churches, West End and City, trade and criminal quarters, the Thames and villages, the London of Hogarth, Pope, Dr. Johnson, David Garrick and Robert Adam. Friern Barnet Library (Friern Barnet WEA branch) commencing 26th September 8.10 p.m. fee £2.50.

The following courses are advertised in the London Borough of Barnet booklet (Adult Educations News), available from Public Libraries, which describes how to obtain details of the classes and enrolment procedures.

Greek Civilisation – Copthall School, Page Street, NW7 commencing 21st September, 7.30. fee £3.00.

Egyptology – 144 Friern Barnet Lane, N20, commencing 28th September 10.30, fee £2.50.

Roman History – 82 Bedford Avenue, Barnet, commencing 29th September, 10.00 a.m. fee £2.50.

History of London – Mill Hill Library, Hartley Avenue, NW7, commencing 26th September, 7.45 p.m. fee £2.50.

Hendon WEA branch – A report and preview

The successful WEA classes in Roman Archaeology which began with the help of the Society two years ago is now starting its third year. Unfortunately no new students can be admitted. Earlier this year many members of the class, together with their tutor, Mrs. M. Roxan, and some members of her other classes made a very successful and interesting trip to Hadrian’s Wall. A class on Victorian England held in January was also well attended.

Of interest to members this year, starting on 5th October, is a new class on Art and Architecture of the Renaissance. Full details are given in the enclosed leaflet. Other classes of Archaeological and historical interest are being planned. For further information, write to the Secretary, WEA (Hendon), Mrs. P. S. Deacon.

Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute Classes

Particulars of the wide range of classes on subjects which may be of interest to members are shown on the separate sheet enclosed with this Newsletter.

Winter Weekends Abroad

Dr. John Alexander of the Department of Extra-Mural Studies at the University of London will be conducting two tours during 1972/3 as follows:

8th-10th December, 1972 – Museums of Vienna (cost approx £28)
9th-12th February 1973 – Museums of Copenhagen (cost approx £30)
Immediate application is advised. Booking forms are available from Dr. John Alexander, University of London, Department of Extra-Mural Studies, 7, Ridgmount Street, WC1E 7AD