Volume 4 : 1985 – 1989

NEWSLETTER NO. 169 March 1985.

PROGRAMME NOTES.

Tuesday, March 5th. Annual Constantinedes Memorial Lecture –

by Daphne Lorimer on the WEST HEATH EXCAVATION

Daphne will start her lecture with a resume of this Mesolithic site and its surroundings, telling how a HADAS Member, Alec Jeakins, first suspected its presence while walking on Hampstead Heath and how the excavation (Phase 1) developed in the next six years from 1976-1981. This is the nearest Mesolithic site to London which has so far been found and in 1977 HADAS entered it in the BBC Chronicle Contest reaching the final six. Daphne, who was site Supervisor during these six years will be showing slides, a display of photographs and a selection of the finds.

Her talk will be of great interest to all those who took part in the dig but also to those who have since joined the Society and to our many Members who do not participate in our dirt Archaeology activities.

The lecture is a tribute to our founder, the late Themistocles Constantinedes. His daughter, Miss Vivienne Constantinedes hopes to be present.

Tuesday April 2nd. England’s Heritage: An Aerial View. Christopher Stanley.

Tuesday May 14th. Annual General Meeting.

All the above at Central Library, The Burroughs, Hendon, N.W.4, Coffee 8.p.m. Lecture 3:30.p.m.

Saturday May 18th. Outing to Cambridge. Andrew Powell.

Friday June 21st/23rd. Weekend in South Cumbria. Isobel McPherson.

This is a beautiful area, seldom visited and rich in Archaeological interest. We hope to visit several prehistoric costal sites, a late Neolithic (megalithic) circle, a Bronze Age circle and three hill-sites of Pre-Roman occupation,, as well as the ruins of Furness Abbey and the extensive site at Heathwaite, which seems to have been settled first in Neolithic times, though most of the visible remains are now thought to be Early Mediaeval.

WRITING IN ROMAN BRITAIN – VINDOLANDA AND BATH …

Report on a lecture by Mark Hassell on 5th February.

The particular interest of the Vindolanda and Bath writings lies in the information they contain of ordinary people’s lives, the ordinary soldiers of the early second century in Vindolanda, and civilians of the fourth century in Bath. Roman Britain apparently lacked native authors and most Roman monumental inscriptions contain only formal information such as an individual’s status, age or career; but here in Vindolanda a soldier had written thanking for a parcel he had been sent, containing socks, two pairs of slippers and two pairs of underpants.

At least two earlier forts underlie the vici alongside the major Vindolanda fort, visible to-day near Hadrian’s Wall; the later occupation has happily sealed off these earlier forts, leaving their organic remains, in an exceptionally good state of preservation. Small pieces of wood thus preserved and excavated during the last fifteen years, have been found under close examination to be covered in fine ink writing in the old Roman cursive script. Some are letters such as the thank you for the socks and pants, or one about the 50 oysters sent to a convalescent by a friend. Others are lists of provisions, such as barley, wine, beer, fish sauce, etc; the words “per privatum” often appear on these lists, probably meaning “on private account” – are we reading here the Roman equivalent of NAAFI accounts?

Sentences such as “I write to you from winter quarters in Vindolanda” and mentions of names of people or places and dates help fill in information about this first hundred years of Roman occupation which is still a dark period in our knowledge. For example one letter referred to a visit by Marcellus a Govenor whose decorations for military valour in Britain are known from inscription elsewhere; Vindolanda must have seen heavy fighting at that time.

The richness of the Bath writings lies ‘in the details of the curses recently excavated from the hot spring. Curses were written on thin sheets of pewter, tin or lead, which were rolled up end cast into the sacred waters for the attention of the goddess Minerva. These curses also reflect the pattern of human life. For example the curse of the man who had lost his towel, and named a string of possible thieves ­perhaps they had been bathing with him when it was stolen; and a man who had lost his cloak cursed the thief up and down “whether he was a man or a woman, a slave or a free man”, the curse running on to wish various evils on him -.death, and no sleep and no children etc. until the cloak should be returned.

Other examples of informative writing included a scrap of a soldier’s diploma from which the whole document has been reconstructed by Dr. Roxan,(well-known to many HADAS Members) whom Mark Hassall named as the world authority on military diplomas.

The many such informative items detailed in the lecture help to put flesh on the skeleton of roman Britain, outlined by Archaeology, and Mark Hasall’s lively presentation gave us a vivid new picture of life at that time as seen through the eyes of the writers.

FOOTNOTE.

Members who never enjoyed one, or both, of Mark Hassall’s lectures may be interested in a short course at Oxford on The Roman Inscriptions of Britain, including lectures on the evidence from inscriptions for military organisation, for civil and civic life, religious belief and practice and one on the ‘curse tablets.’ Tutors: Dr. Graham. Webster and Dr. Roger Tomlin. This course runs from April 13th – 14th. Full residential fee £24.00. Details from The Archaeology/Local History Course Secretary, Oxford University, Department of External studies, Rewley House, 3-7,Wellington Square, Dxford. GXI 2JA.

Correspondence re “Pop Arch”

This is a happy ending.Last month we told the unfinished story – from a reader’s eye view – of the problems which were bedevilling the journal ‘Popular Archaeology.’ It hadn’t appeared since last August. we were keeping our fingers crossed that it would manage to publish its January issue, and it just made it – by a whisker. The Newsletter copy arrived from the Newsagent on January 31st.

Now we’ve had a letter from ‘Pop Arch’, which says:

“The February copy is now available, and I have Great pleasure in enclosing it. I must say how much I appreciated the comments (in your February Newsletter) regarding our magazine, and can only apologize for the omission of copies since September 1984… It is not just distribution problems which we had to contend with, but also printing and general production.I would appreciate it if you could make some mention in your next Newsletter to the effect that Popular Archaeology is alive and kicking.'”

That we’re delighted to do.

COMICS

Do you remember April Fool’s Day last year when we unveiled the plaque on Finchley Memorial Hospital to the memory of Grimaldi the clown? The vicar of the Clowns’ Church, Father Michael Shrewsbury, who was present at the unveiling writes:-

“The Sunday was drab and grey but wonderfully enlivened by the motley as once again the Clowns came to Church. On the 3rd of February some forty Clowns paid their annual visit to the Clowns’ Church, Holy Trinity, Dalston in Hackney, the headquarters of Clowns’ International and the St. Francis gallery of Clown pictures. Strictly, there were only one or two Clowns and the remainder Augustes.

The day began with the annual meeting of Clowns’ International followed by the scrimmage for corners in hall and gallery to don the motley; the greeting of old friends and the meeting of new. At 4.00pm began the great procession into Church – clouds of sweet incense, Cross, Candles, Preacher (Canon Sebastian Charles of Westminster Abbey) Clowns’ Chaplain and – of course the Clowns, one complete with huge snake!

During the Service tribute was paid to the great Grimaldi. The President of Clowns International, Ron Moody, laid a Chaplet in the Grimaldi corner while the Chaplain prayed, “God our Father, we remember before you the life of your servant known as Grimaldi the Clown, his artistry, skill and invention. Surely he helped You to touch the hearts of Your children and for this we give you thanks.” This is a Collect the Chaplain composed some years ago.

With trumpets and organ, Clowns, Clergy end congregation sang ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ at the end of the Service while processing into the hall, for a ceremonial cutting of the Clown cake end a rousing show.”

The Vicar asked if any HADAS Members would like to go to the service and kindly said he would keep a couple of seats. We gave Sheila Milligan a ring as we thought Spike (who unveiled the plaque) might like to go. He would have done, but alas, had a TV appointment at precisely that time.

A GOOD DINNER

NELL PENNY takes another dip into parish records.

Gazing into my crystal ball can I see HADAS in 1999 celebrating the bicentennial of a Hendon Vestry dinner on April 24th 1799 at The Greyhound Inn? This re-creation will not be an elaborate exotic feast such as we have had recently, but a hearty, homely English dinner. The menu will he copied from the bill presented by Mr. Rayham, The publican to whom the parish had let the Inn; to the “Gentleman and Overseers.” These are the items:-

£. S. D.

Beef 19. 10

Pudens (in 1798 they had been Plumb Puddens.) 12. 0

Greans, Potaters and Melted Buter 3. 6

Horse Radish and Salt 3. 6

Bread and butter 3. 0

Ale 7. 3

Tob.(acco?) 8

Dressing (is this the cooking and serving charge?) 10. 0

Tea for 13 10. 0

Wine (about 10 bottles I think.) 15. 0

The business of “making a poor rate” was spread over a whole day with intervals for dinner and tea. On April 24th the vestry decided on a rate of 6d. in the pound. The money raised did not last the year; in November 1799 the leading parishioners had to declare another 6d rate. But this time they only allowed themselves tea at 10d a head, as they did every month when they met to pass the accounts of the overseers of the poor.

PROCESSING ROMAN BONES WITH IRE GREATER LONDON ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT by Helen Gordon.

Bones from 112 Roman skeletons ere in need of washing. Excavated last year in West Tenter Street, E.1 (Goodman Fields), they had lain in a cemetery to the east of the city wall since they had been buried there between the middle of the 2nd and the end of the 4th century AD. The graves were aligned – either parallel or at right angles – to the Roman road between Aidgote and Limehouse, leading towards the Shadwell Roman military tower.

In addition to these inhumations, the excavation revealed 13 in situ cremations (dated between. early 2nd and early 3rd century), some depositions, and the skeleton of a horse. The graves were not richly furnished (16 ceramic pots, 6 pairs of hobnailed shoes; 6 graves contained jewellery) and there were 6 “plaster” burials, the bodies being covered with calcium carbonate, possibly quicklime. A deep pit containing plaster, found nearby, was probably a “ritual pit” possibly associated with the plaster burial rites. Gravestones were conspicuous for their absence – probably re-used for building material; but two tombs were found, stone structures above ground level.

The condition of the skeletons varies enormously, some being represented by a few bone fragments only, while some are well preserved, with intact skulls and near- complete trunk and limbs. The bones are still in the cemetery earth, as excavated; they must be washed and packaged for expert examination for evidence (among other things) of disease or injury – we haven’t spotted any, though it is easy to see tooth wear or decay.

Four HADAS Members end one other are now taking part in this work on Monday day­times, in the GLAD premises at 42, Theobalds Road, near Gray’s Inn, under the kindly eye of Stephen Pierpoint and Bob Whythead; the latter will be reporting on the excavation at the Annual Conference of London Archaeologists nt the Museum of London on March 23rd

Though we are halfway through the skeletons, there is still need for more workers, regular or occasional – ring Jean Snelling, 346-3553. There is also an evening group (non-HADAS) working on Tuesdays.

COMMITTEE CORNER.

First Committee Meeting of 1985 was held on January 25th. Among matters discussed were the following:-

Our membership Secretary, Phyllis Fletcher, reported that Membership is holding up well this year. Tally to date for 1984-5 is 382 Members.

Each year the Society makes a donation to a worthy Archaeological cause. This year we decided to send £20 to the Hod Hill appeal, recently launched by the National Trust. Many Members will know this important Dorset Iron Age hillfort, later occupied by a Roman military garrison. In addition to being a scheduled ancient monument, Hod Hill has environmental claims. It is a Site of Special, Scientific Interest in on Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and includes a nature reserve. The Notional Trust has taught 67 acres of it; 50% of the cost has been met by grants, but the Trust is now appealing for the other half.

In November we reported that the Committee was discussing ways of celebrating our Silver Jubilee which falls in 1986. No detailed decisions have yet been taken, so we can’t at this stage tell you dates, places, etc: but you may like to know that discussion is centering on two possible functions. One, under some such title as ‘One Man’s Archaeology,’ is likely to be a public exhibition the other a buffet Christmas do at which the history of HADAS will play a prominent part.

A brief notice of the 1984 West Heath dig has been sent to the London Archaeologist for their annual Excavation Round-up.

HADAS will, as usual, mount a display and organise a bookstall at the Conference of London Archaeologists at the Museum of London on March 23rd.

The Committee passed a warm vote of thanks to Edgar Lewy who so willingly and at great expenditure of his own time duplicated the November, December and January issues of the Newsletter. Much thanks too to Christopher Newbury, without whose help the February issue and the up-to–date Members list would not have seen the light of day.

The Committee decided to write to the four MP’s whose constituencies cover our Borough – Sidney Chapman (Barnet), John Gorst (Hendon North), Margaret Thatcher (Finchley) and Peter Thomas (Hendon South) – drawing their attention again to the fact fact that the Bill for the abolition of the GLC makes no reference to the future of the Greater London Record Office and the associated History Library. This is a matter of the greatest concern to all those who have any interest at all in the history of the London area.

MORE ABOUT GLC ABOLITION.

As a footnote to the final item in Committee Corner, the current issue of the LAMAS Newsletter (issue 53, January, 1985) analyses the abolition Bill.

Under it the Government will take over GLC funding and management of the Museum of London. English heritage (the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England) will have responsibility for certain great houses – Kenwood, Marble Hill House and Rangers House and for most of the powers of the GLC historic Buildings Division. As regards Archaeology, LAMAS has this to say:

“Although no reference is made in the Bill to Archaeology, it is

understood from letters from ministers and from written answers to questions in the House that these responsibilities will include the funding of the existing London Archaeological Service; there is as yet no indication how, or from what source, this funding is to be provided.”

The LAMAS Newsletter makes another point which is of particular interest to HADAS:

provision (in the Bills) is made for any of the other GLC functions in areas of our Society’s interests, the hundreds of other historic buildings and sites it maintains, its grants to local museums and to the London Museum Service – except that they will devolve to the London Boroughs.. If this happens Local Societies, such as those affiliated to LAMAS, will have an even greater responsibility to campaign for the maintenance and protection of Historic Buildings and Museum collections in

their own Boroughs”

Obviously, there may be changes as the Bill goes through its stages in Parliament; and clearly the debates on the Bill are going to be of considerable interest to anyone connected with history and archaeology in London.

SITE-WATCHING.

Applications for planning permission have been made recently for the following sites, which might have some archaeological interest:

land at rear of No,6 Brockley Hill. Edgeware detached house

any trenches in this area would be worth watching, if planning permission is granted, for possible Roman evidence.

Queenswell School site surplus land adjoining blocks of sheltered

Lawrence Campe almshouses, Friern Barnet Lane flats, access road

parking.

Its proximity to the Friern Barnet Lane Almshouses, (some of the oldest buildings in the Borough, built c 1612) makes this a site of possible interest

Land at rear of ‘Moorings,’ fronting onto bungalow, access

Galley Lane, Arkley.

Some 300 yds from this site, which is almost on the northern boundary of LEB, medieval pottery has been found in some quantity

51. High Street. Chipping Barnet. rear extension &

storage building

This site has figured before on our “interesting sites” list: now there is an amended development plan. Any site in Barnet High Street is of interest for possible medieval evidence.

Two outline applications for additions to Edgware General Hospital are of interest: trenches dug so near to the line of Watling Street are always worth watching. The proposed buildings are:

a day surgery

a laboratory building with ancillary facilities, near the present North London blood Transfusion Centre.

Members noticing activity on any of the above sites arc asked to inform either John Enderby (203 2630) or Christine Arnott (455 2751.)

OF PEOPLE. VARIOUS.

SHEILA WOODWARD and TESSA SMITH spent a Sunday afternoon recently at Hill House, the large, basically 18c mansion in Elstree High Street which is now owned by a charitable trust. Stephen Castle of the British Museum had kindly put HADAS in touch with the Warden, who had reported finding pottery and building material in the garden which he thought might be Roman.

Sheila and Tessa walked the kitchen garden between the vegetables but could not find anything earlier than a possible fragment of 18c pottery. however, meeting the Warden provided a useful contact for the future.

TED SAMMES has sent us news recently received from one of our founder members, IDA WORBY, who served on the HADAS Committee from its earliest days. She is now living in Bedfordshire – where .she celebrated her 88th birthday last November ­with her nephew Kenny Hunter and his wife who, she says look after me well.’ Mrs. Worby keeps in touch with HADAS activities via the Newsletter and occasional chats with another Member of long standing. TRUDIE PULER, for years her neighbour in Sheaveshill Avenue.

And from Canterbury came a letter from LOUISE DE LAULAY, a HADAS Member (and benefactor) since 1973, when she and her husband lived in Edgware. “It was while I was living at Edgware,” she wrote,”that I became acquainted with Mill Hill and Hendon. I have some 35mm transparencies which I should sort out and offer to the HAAS records – showing many changes in the use of land, buildings town down, new building. I wonder if freight still arrives at Edgware British Rail Station? And the

aerodrome at Hendon,— once during World War II I flew from Hendon to Scotland for a USA flight via the Azores. Much of Burnt Oak still held aviation history, in both plant and street names. And the Theatre at Golders Green; Pavlova’s home, which I am told at last is used as a school of ballet…”

Of people. various

Mrs. de Launay accompanied her letter with some abstracts of wills from Cranbrook, Kent, on which she hags been working. Here is just to give you an idea of the comparative value of money and goods four or so centuries .ago. It is from the Will of Henry ‘aching, proved on June 27th,1596:

To my two sisters named Damaris Paching and Joy Paching my

house and situated in Milkhouse Street in Cranbrook
parish, when my sisters are

To Damaris Paching, my standing bedstead and all things

thereto and 2 pairs of sheets.

To Joy Paching, a pewter platter, .a dish, a saucer, a salt.

To the sons of my uncle. Thos llis, .namely Daniel Ellis & Henry Ellis, £6.6.8d each, to be levied on the house & land. in Milkhouse Street.

To Robt Hasond 5a.

To John Hermden, .5s.

To Rich. Akers, 5s.

To John Ridings my cloak and a pair of- sheets.

To the poor of Milkhouse, 5s.

My Exec. shall bestow the sum of £1 at my burial.

Exec: Morgan Boreman. Nicholas Hughes.& Wm. Potter.
AND OF FACES. ROMAN.

It was a real pleasure to open the 1984 voIume of Britannia (one. of the two journals published by the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies) and to find in it n paper by ex—HADAS Member, Gill. Braithwaite, who joined the Society. in 197’ and resigned in 1982 when her husband was posted to the British Embassy in Washington. She dug enthusiastically at West Heath for three seasons, and also studied at the Institute of Archaeology, obtaining a 1st class degree in 1982 before departing for the States.

Her Britannia paper (vol XV 1984, 99-131) is on Romano—British Face Pots and Head Pots, and was originally part of her BA dissertation. The distribution map which accompanies it shows that the finds of face pots closest to our area occur (Verulamium) and Enfield. They belong to a group which Mrs. Braithwaite describes as being in the ‘pinkish—buff sandy ware of the region (that is, the w that is so familiar at Brockley Hill, though we know. of no face pots from there). She dates the earliest pots in this group to AD 120–160: and says:

“The earliest examples … have eyebrows. merging into a plain rim, with a stabbed beard and two pierced spouts,.but the. commonest, and seemingly

later type, c. AD 150-220, no eyebrows, beards or spouts, but three
handles equi—spaced round a frilled or rouletted rim..::,It seems possible that these handles, attached to the rim, which are so. characteristic of British second-century face pots, may have evolved from ,earlier spouts. Sherds- of around 20.to 30 vessels, as :well as one complete face pot, have been found at Verulamium, inccluding seven or eight from a recently excavated bath—house. Other examples have been found at Enfield, Bancroft Villa, Welwyn Baldock, and an unprovenanced pot is in the Ashmolean.”

AND OF FACES, ROMAN

Face pots are decorated with the masklike features of a face (brows, nose, eyes, ears, mouth, sometimes beard) applied to the wall of the pot, usually occupying the top half between maximum girth and rim. Faces are found mainly on jars of cooking-pot type, which can be with or without handles, with plain or frilled rims, or with or without rouletting, cordoning or grooving. Head pots, on the other hand, are moulded more or loss in the shape of a head with naturalistically portrayed features.’ Gill Braithwaite suggests that the two forms derive from different traditions– the face pots from the masks of Celtic and Germanic art, the head pots from the classical world.. There are no known examples of head pots from our area, the nearest found being from Colchester.The paper does not cover face-neck flagons, which are of later date. An example of. a face-neck flagon was found by HADAS at Church Terrace, Hendon, in 1974 and was published by Ted Sammes in Trans. LAMAS Vol 28,1977,272-3. Mrs Braithwaite suggests that face-neck flagons would be ‘well worth a separate study of their own. We congratulate Gill warmly on a most interesting paper, which received a well-deserved CBA publication grant. We have been able to give you only a taste of it here – should you have the chance you will find it well worth reading in full.

THE COPTHALL PROPOSALS.

Among HADAS’s valued corporate Members is the Kill Hill Historical Society. John Collier, MHHS Hon. Secretary, has sent us a copy of a letter which he is currently circulating for the Longfield Area Residents Association, as he thinks HADAS Members, particularly in the Mill Hill and Hendon districts will be interested. He writes:

“When we lasts raised the matter of the proposed Copthall Sports Stadium most people whom we contacted were against .it.

The Barnet Council’s Planning Committee has now approved the proposition in spite of opposition both inside and outside the Council. After its recommendations have been passed to the full Council … the matter will then be .considered by the GLC.

· The next step would be a Ministerial Public Enquiry.

It is at this present stage that we think decisive action should be taken by those against the scheme.. If you agree

(a) that it is wanton intrusion on the Green Belt,

(b) it will degrade the area for miles around and

(c) it will create tremendous and dangerous traffic problems

· on our already overloaded roads, then we urge you to write immediately to:‑

Mr. George Nicholson

Chairman, Planning Committee Members Lobby,

Greater London Council, The County Hall,

London S.W.1 7PB.

expressing your opposition, giving your reasons for doing so and asking him to reject the scheme.”-

Further information, if required, can be obtained from Mr. Collier at ­47, Longfield Avenue, N.W.7. 2EH (203-2611).

Newsletter No 168: February 1985

WHAT’S ON IN HADAS

Tues Feb 5 ‘(not Feb 9, as misprinted in the January Newsletter) Writing in Roman Britain: Evidence from Vindolanda and Bath By Mark Hassall MA FSA

Mark Hassall is a lecturer at the Institute of Archaeology and is known:to many of our members. We particularly remember his entertaining and informative lecture in February, 1980, on the ::o an ‘Codex Spirensia’ – in other words, Roman red tape, a commodity which was as.evident then as it is now. This year he will talk to us about further evidence of Roman writing which has come to light at Vindolanda and Bath.

Tues March 5 Our annual Constantinides lecture, this time on the West Heath excavations of 1976-81

By Daphne Lorimer

Tues Apr 2 Aerial Photography Christopher Stanley

Tues May 14 Annual General Meeting

All the above will take place at Central Library, The Burroughs, Hendon NW 4. Coffee 8 pm, lecture 8.30.

Sat May 18 Outing to Cambridge led by Andrew Powell

Fri/Sun June 21/23 Weekend in south Cumbria ” “- Isobel McPherson

AND WHAT’S ON ELSEWHERE

Tues Feb 8-24. Last year oral historians had a festival of their own which was so successful that it is to be repeated this year for a full fortnight. Organised by the Exploring Living Memory Group at the Royal Festival Hall, it will include workshops, exhibits, stalls, discussions, films and videos. Groups from all over London who are interested in taping oral history and reminiscences are in­vited to attend. Contact Mona, Rodney or Gemma at 42 Queen Square, WC1 for further details – phone 831 8871.

Thur Feb 14 at 8 pm, Burgh House, New End Square, NW3.

The monthly lecture of the Hampstead Scientific Society will be on ‘New Developments in Radiocarbon Dating’ by Dr Robert Hedges of Oxford University. Visitors welcome, admission

Sat Feb 16. The next CBA Group conference will be on ‘The Impact of Metal: Gold, Bronze, Iron, with special reference to Southern Britain,’ at St John’s College, Cambridge. Speakers will include Professor Colin Renfrew, Professor John Coles and. Dr John Alexander. Tickets (£3 including coffee) from Mrs J Pullinger, 31 Rustat Road, Cambridge CB1 3QR, by Feb 9 (include a sae)

WHAT’S HAPPENED TO “ POPULAR ARCAHAEOLOGY”

“Popular archaeology” is/was (and it’s a measure of the of the problem we’re discussing that we don’t know which tense to use.) a lively monthly magazine which many HADAS members must know. It began publication in July 1979, under the prestigious editorship of Magnus Magnusson with Professor Barri Jones of Manchester University as associate editor.

From the outset it seemed to find a niche which no one else had quite filled. It was to the world of archaeological journals what Shire books are to book publishing using material simply and clearly written and brightly presented with many pictures, so that the uninitiated could understand and enjoy it; yet with enough hard fact, and the ability to find the unexpected story, so that even the insiders had to watch it in case some nugget of information slipped by. A good example of the kind of article no one would want to miss (be he never so academic) was Professor Martin Biddle’s exposition, in the July 1984 issue, of the positioning of the settlement of Anglo-Saxon London along the Strand in the 7th-9th centuries AD.

The magazine was obtainable either through local newsagents (that was how the Newsletter’s copy came) or on subscription. When the magazine stopped coming, we complained. The newsagent went into action, at first without result. Finally he came up with the fact that no issues had been published after August 1984.

The August issue had been perfectly normal, with all the usual features, including and expanding “Spoilheap” news paragraphs, letters, boor reviews and many longer articles on such subjects as Peruvian archaeology (its international flavor was one of the magazine’s attractions) on the use of statistics in archaeology and on the history of boats. Not a word, syllable or suggestion in that issue that the magazine was about to sink without trace like a Marie Celeste of the journalistic world.

We couldn’t believe it, so we rang the “Pop. Arch” office in Bath. What’s going on? we asked. There was a heavy pause. “Well,” said a slightly hesitant voice, There’s been a hiatus….” (that’s a familiar factor in the newspaper world).

“ Do you mean you haven’t completely stopped publication?” we asked. “Oh no,” the voice became more confident. “We haven’t published since August, it’s true, but we’re sure going to get the January issue out.”

Well, as this is written, it’s the third week in January and we haven’t seen any sign of “Pop Arch” yet. We’re keeping our fingers crossed – because without it that niche is going to look very empty.

THE HEROES OF REGENTS PARK. The HADAS January lecture is reported by JOHN CREIGHTON.

Despite snow and ice which hindered many-members from attending, ‘a small, cold, but cheery band turned up to listen to Dr Anne Satnders ­third talk on the history and development of the parish of Tyburn, which by the end of the lecture had emerged as the Regents Park we know today,for Dr Saunders the story had three heroes: John Fordyce, the Prince Regent and of course John Nash.

In 1760 on the accession of George III all the crown ‘estates, which included the parish of Tyburn,. were transferred from the King’s direct control to that of a government commission on woods, forests and land revenues; It was in 1788 that John Fordyce, a civil servant from Aberdeen, found himself on this board and realised what a potentially valuable site they had on their hands. London was expanding and only the fact that this land was crown property had prevented its development so far.

A competition was announced to design plans for it and for the creation of a road to link the site with Westminster; the prize being £1000. Unfortunately there were only three entries, all by the same man, John White, surveyor to the Duke of Portland who owned the estate directly to the south. His plans basically proposed a mere extension of the existing pattern of streets around it. Fordyce was unimpressed and categorically refused any development on the site, waiting for what he thought to be the right time and the right plan.

Next Dr Saunders turned to the Prince Regent who, with his tremendous creative flare, she thought he might well have become a film set designer had he been alive today.’ He watched Napoleon recreating and moulding Paris, and saw the development of Mary-le-bone Park as his opportunity to do the same for London. Through landscape gardener Humphrey Repton he found the man for the job – John Nash.

Nash’s early career had not been a great success: becoming bankrupt in London he went to Wales on all kinds of jobs from design­ing gaols to working on country houses. After, meeting the Prince and building Brighton Pavilion his standing rose and he was appointed as an architect on the woods, forests and land revenues commission.

Fordyce had died in 1809, but it was apparent that Nash, with his patron behind him, was the man for the job. An ‘in house’ competition was organised between the commission’s surveyors, Leverton and Chawner, and the architects Nash and Morgan. Nash’s scheme appeared: both the more pleasing and the most Profitable. He envisaged a combination of the crescents of Bath, the terraces of Edinburgh and the town houses of London, all surrounding a landscaped park scattered with over fifty villas.

His financial calculations showed that the laying out of the park would cost £12000 with the annual income from the leases to build the terraces and villas being £54000. The Treasury gave their assent, although stipulating a reduced number of 26 villas. In 1811 the first trees were planted. However there was trouble ahead: it was war time and with the possibility of Napoleon invading no one in their right mind wanted to invest in land. None of the leases would sell, the only exception being the land on which the Queen’s Head and Artichoke stood, which the tenant publican purchased. Another problem emerged about the projected canal whose water source promptly ran out.

In 1815 Waterloo brought the war to an end; but things did not look up until in 1818 another Scotsman, James Burton, took an interest, believing that there would soon be a property boom. He was right; by 1825 all the leases had been sold and were being developed and the park took off.

Nash’s plans were not fully realised as not all the prospective villas were built; that is probably just as well, for the Park would have been much more cluttered than it is. Terraces were never built to the north, instead it was decided to hand over a plot either to a zoological garden or to London University. Apparently general feeling was that lions were preferable to students any day, so the Zoological Society found its home.

Dr Saunders, finished the evening with some slides showing scenes from a particularly outlandish villa called St Dunstans, built for the Marquess of Hertford by James Burton’s son Decius. The building, alas, is no longer with us, however paintings show the garden to have been scattered with Roman antiquities and one of the interiors to have been modelled on an Arabian tent.

Alto ether a most enjoyable evening.

OBITUARY

All who were in at the start of the West Heath dig in 1976 will remember one of our most enthusiastic diggers of those days – ‘Pip’ Sanders – and will be sad to hear of her death.

Pip joined the Society in 1973, already an experienced amateur archaeologist who had worked for some years with the Southwark society. She took part in the Church Terrace dig and then West Heath, but a major operation in summer 1977 prevented further active work.

Although she remained a member, we heard little from her of recent years, and know that her health was declining. Last month Pip’s sister, Mrs Helen Church, wrote:

“My sister died in early December after a long illness and much suffering. The last eighteen months was spent in the Marie Curie Nursing Home in Hampstead where she was wonderfully looked after, with great care and love, by the entire staff.

She had been almost completely immobile for the last 13 months, with only the use of her right hand. Her brain was still alert though, and she still took a great interest in all her old hobbies. We used to read as much as possible of the Newsletter to her.

Would you pass the news to anyone who you think would be interested? Pip was cremated at Golders Green, and we had her ashes buried at the old parish church of St John in Hampstead. She had worked for the Medical Research Council at Hampstead and Mill Hill for forty years.”

All Pip’s friends will, we know, want to join in sending our sympathy to Mrs Church.

HOW RIPPLES FROM WEST HEATH SPREAD

The effects of West Heath Phase I continue to widen out like ripples on a pond. In November Nature published a report on the joint meeting in Oxford last autumn of the Botanical Society of the British Isles and the Association for Environmental Archaeology (Nature vol. 312, 8 Nov 1984, p103). The headline on the report was ‘Hampstead Heath clue to historical decline of elms’ and one of the high spots of the meeting was clearly Maureen Girling’s announcement of the discovery of wing cases from an interesting beetle in sediments just 10 cm below the elm decline at a site on Hampstead Heath, London. The beetle she identifies as Soolytus scolytus, the carrier of the fungus, Ceratocystis ulmi, that is the cause of Dutch elm disease.”

The report continues: “The proposal that the decline of elm 5000 years ago was the product of a disease is not in itself new … It has became increasingly attractive, even compulsive, as we have observed the recent effects of Dutch elm disease on elm populations. But healthy speculation foods tenon circumstantial evidence and here, at last, we seem to have it. If the beetle vector was here 5000 years ago, perhaps the disease was too. Was the sudden onset of the disease the result of early forestry? And how do we explain the concurrent decline in some other trees, such as lime? The answers are still not clear, and can never be entirely testable, but the new evidence will provide the necessary momentum for renewed vigour in an old debate. A few days later Radio 4’s Science Now programme also got into the act, no doubt picking up its information from Nature. It spread the news of Scolytus scolytus’s activities on Hampstead Heath further afield.

MORE ABOUT MICROFICHE

We have had some reaction from members who have views on the increasing use of microfiche – a subject which was aired in the last Newsletter. One phone call was terse and to the point. ‘If More microfiche means less of the monumental turgidity that now bogs down:
archaeological reports,’ it said, ‘for pete’s sake let’s have a lot more microfiche.’

PADDY MUSGROVE put it more elegantly. “Readers of the January Newsletter are asked ‘What do you think of microfiche?'” he wrote. “The printed text must obviously be sufficiently detailed to enable the reader to evaluate the evidence on which the excavator’s conclusions are based, but most readers would probably be content to learn, for example that a certain hoard contained 237 coins dated between this and that. The numismatist, of course, may wish to consult the Microfiche, but how often will this need occur? When it does, the academic will almost certainly have a microfiche reader readily avail­able. Others might well try having a word with a friendly local librarian.

The advantages of cutting down on long lists of similar artifacts and the like which -‘let’s be honest– not one reader in a hundred will ever study in detail, are clear. Savings in shelf-space, paper, energy and hard cash should lead to funds being available for more and improved reports on other sites.”

Paddy also suggested that we ask the Borough Librarian whether, in moments of crisis (which are likely to be pretty rare) HADAS members might take a fiche into their local library and ask to use the reading machine there. This seemed an excellent idea, so we had a word with Mr Ruddom.

He told us that all branch libraries in the Borough (there are some 21 or 22, we believe) have fiche-reading facilities, because the Libary catalogue itself is on fiche. Some of the smaller branches, however, have only one machine, on the main desk, for readers who want to consult the catalogue, so there might be problems in taking in fiche material that you wanted to pore over for some time. Larger libraries have several machines – Hendon has 7 in different parts of the library, Church End Finchley has 4 or 5.

In Mr. Ruddom’s opinion the libraries would want to help with this problem. He suggested the best procedure would be for a would-be fiche user to give the nearest largish library a ring, explain the difficulty and ask if there was any time when it would be convenient for the librarian to make a machine available. Every effort, he thought, would be made to provide the required reading facility.

NEWS FROM MEMBERS

Early in January GEORGE INGRAM’s granddaughter rang up to say that George had had a further eye operation in Edgware General Hospital. He had come through it well but would not know how successful the surgery had been until the eye recovered sufficiently for a new pair of spectacles to be fitted. A few days later George himself rang to say he was out of hospital and hoped fairly soon to go for a couple of weeks convalescence. “My bad eye has become, for the moment, my good eye,” he said, “but I’m not blind I can see enough to dial your
number, and I can read the HADAS members list if I hold it at the right angle and about four inches away …” HADAS sends George its very best wishes – and its hope that-when the new glasses come, the reading problems will move away.

Our Treasurer, VICTOR JONES, is becoming ‘peripatetic -‘the eternal traveller. He’s gone off again to southern India, this time accompanied by his daughter, for a trip lasting some 31/2 weeks. They plan to visit Delhi on the way back.

HOMO ERECTUS – NEW AND FULLER EVIDENCE FROM CHINA

AUBREY HODES, who has sent us several interesting despatches from his outpost in China, accompanied his last letter with some cuttings from the English language China Daily, describing the discovery of new evidence for Homo erectus.. There has been some reference to this most important find – which provides much fresh material about the evolution of man – in the British press, but we have not seen anything as full as the China Daily report, which is by Professor Lu Zun’er, the Director of the excavating team. We therefore make no apology for quoting liberally from it, and we thank the China Daily for its full and excellent coverage and Aubrey for his kindness in sending the cuttings.
Here are the details:

The unprecedented discovery of almost all the vital bones of Homo erectus, believed to give scientists important clues in their research on the species of man dating from 200,000 to one million years ago, was made in late September and early October at Jinniu Shan (gold Ox Hill) in Yinkou County, Liaoning Province.,

The Solitary hill, nearly 70 metres above sea level, is made of limestone, marble and other rock. In a 1974 survey of ancient relics scattered throughout the province fossils were found on six spots on the hill.

Archaeologists from the provincial relics bureau discovered a great number of fossils of mammals, a few stone tools, burned animal bones and carbon remains. The eight-member team (from the Archaeology Dept of Beijing University, under Lu Zun’er, vice-dean of the University Archaeology Dept) first focused their work on the cave on the southern slope. A kneecap was found on Sept 27. Soon the team discovered the bones of the heel, toes, a metatarsal (instep) bone, carpal (wrist) bones, metacarpals and phalanges (fingers and toes) in the cave.

The well-preserved fossilised head was found on October 2 stuck among breccia (stones cemented together). The head bones were picked out after three days. Meanwhile, parts of the spine, ribs, ulna (an arm bone) and hip were also uncovered.

Also unearthed were fossils of the thick-jawed deer, wild boar, brown bear, hyena, tiger, wolf, rhinoceros, macaque and rodents.

Evidence of the use of fire, such as burned clay, carbon and burned animal bones have led us to believe that the cave was the “ape-man’s” home.

Judging by the fossils of the thick-jawed deer and sabre-toothed tiger, which are more than 200,000 years old, the geological age of the site is the mid-Pleistocene epoch and the fossils of Homo erectus found there are as old as those of Peking Man, dating from 200,000- 600,000 years ago. However, the exact aged, is still to be decided through a Series of tests.

Fossils of Homo erectus have been found at more than eight places in China but they are mostly bones of the skull, lower jaw, a few teeth and other fragments.:

The discovery in Yinkou is a breakthrough because, except for the lower jaw, all the head bones were found and bones of the spine, ulna, ribs, hands and feet wore all found for the first time anywhere.

The fossils have aroused great attention among top Chinese archaeologists and anthropologists. They provide ‘rich and all-round material’ for research on Human evolution, and have been hailed as one of the most important archaeological finds in China in the last 50 years.

Because of the shortage of first-hand data, previous speculation about the upright posture and walking gait of Homo erectus was based on studies of fossils of apes, living apes and modern man.

The discovery of bones of the spine, ribs, hip, kneecap feet in Yinkou thus become the direct and most reliable material in this field of research. Bones of the hands and ulna, spine and hip are indispensable for research on early man’s ability to move the upper body and, to use his hands in working, especially in making tools.

The completeness of the head bones (including the whole skull, cheek bones and teeth) will provide more reliable data for reconstruct­ing the facial features of Homo erectus, for studying brain capacity and for looking into the relationship between tooth wear and age.

Professor Lu is of the opinion that more bones of Homo erectus may await discovery at Gold Ox Hill, in a cave near the foot of the slope.

*Note: the remains of Peking, Man were found some 57 years ago,

also in a cave-site, at Zhoukoudian, near Beijing, about 400 kilometres southwest of the Yinkou find site.

SITE-WATCHING

The following sites – which might be of some archaeological interest – have appeared on recent planning application lists:

Land at rear Brockley Hill,

No 3 Pipers Green Lane detached house

(any trenches cut in this area are worth watching

for possible Roman interest)

Hoppings timber yard, High Road, N20 warehouse, offices,

parking (outline)

(a site on an old road and near a road junction)

54 Ashley Lane, Hendon NW4 6 houses, access road, extension

of metalling of Ashley Lane

(Ashley Lane is another old road. George Cavendish, in his Life of Wolsey – pub. 1557 – describes the Cardinal staying overnight at Hendon Place with the Abbot of Westminster and then setting off for York with his train of servants, going along Ashley Lane, along the Ridgeway and up Highwood Hill.

Other cause for interest in the area is that the Roman road of which HADAS found part on its way across Copthall Fields might, had its suggested line been extended, have reached Ashley Lane near the place of this development).

St Mary’s Croft Fortune Lane, Elstree erection of conservatory

(trenches in the Elstree area are always worth looking at because of Roman connections)

Hadley Memorial Hall Hadley Highstone, demolition of non-listed

Barnet building & erection of new ‘hall

(another archaeologically sensitive area of the Borough because of its connections with the Battle of Barnet)

Any member who, when passing one of the above sites, notices signs of demolition or building work, is asked to let either John Enderby (203 2630) or Christine Arnott (455 2751) know.

Development has been approved by the Borough on two sites in which the Society is interested:

Old Fold Golf Club: car parking for 42 vehicles approved, following landscaping. This work will be close to one of the two medieval moats in our Borough and there is also the site of a possible Medieval fish-pond.

16 Grass Park, Finchley: an extension approved. This area is near the site of the medieval Grotes Farm (see Newsletter 163, p 5).

THE GOLDEN AGE OF ANGLO–SAXON ART by TED SAMMES

This exhibition opened at the British Museum on Nov 9 and will run until March 10 next. It covers the century between 966-1066 AD ‑ the last century of Anglo-Saxon England. The display is in the new wing, gallery entrance is £2; or senior citizens and some others £1.

In 966 King Edgar refounded the New Minster at Winchester and this forms the starting point for the exhibition.

Prominent amongst the exhibits is the gold and enamelled Alfred’s Jewel.’ This, like many other items, has a small cubical case to itself, and can be examined from all sides.

I think I was most impressed by the number and quality of the manuscripts. Despite their age, the colours are still clear. It is difficult to give examples, but the page from the Copenhagen Gospels and a map of the world, part of a collection of mathematical and astronomical texts, shows the level of non-liturgical learning at that period. Of interest too is an illustrated herbal made up of material of the llth-13th centuries. There are also part of a bell foundry mould and a comprehensive collection of coins.The book which accompanies the exhibition is a textbook in itself, profusely illustrated and costing £7.50

And if you are hooked on Anglo-Saxon Art, you may like to know that this will be the subject of one of the Madingley Hall residential study weekends recently announced by the Cambridge Extramural Board. It will be held from Sept 20-22, with Dr Isabel Henderson as lecturer, at fee of £45. -Further details from Madingley Hall, Madingley, Cambridge.

SUMMER STUDY TOURS

Incidentally, the Cambridge Board of Extra-Mural Studies has a very varied programme. Most of its one-day and residential courses are based at 16th c Madingley Hall, 4 miles outside Cambridge; but it also runs non-Madingley courses and this year has added some interesting Foreign Study Tours to its list:

The Archaeology of Brittany and Poitou – MAY 2 weeks

Roman Provence, early September, one week

The Greek Cities of Asia Minor September 2 weeks

Ancient China August 11 – Sept 1st

Brochures with further details obtainable from the Warden at Madingley.

NEW MEMBERSHIP LIST

Enclosed with this Newsletter you will find a new membership list, giving details of everyone who is a member at January 1, 1985. The list is circulated to all members every two years; in the intervening year, although a new membership list is prepared, it is sent only to those who specifically ask for it, and to new members.

It would be kind if you would check your own entry. Should there be any mistake please give Phyllis Fletcher, our Membership Secretary a ring and let her know. You’ve no idea how difficult it is to type absolutely correctly a list of several hundred names, addresses and phone numbers!

SOCIETY FOR LANDSCAPE STUDIES

This Society was formed in 1979 to bring together all who are interested in the evolution of the landscape, and to encourage a wider enthusiasm for landscape studies in general. It deals with all periods from the Geological to the present, but pays special attention to features produced or modified by man.

Membership costs £9 per annum (students under 25 and 0AP’s £5.50). For this you get the society’s journal, Landscape History and a Newsletter. The programme includes an Annual Lecture and a residential weekend conference.

‘Further details obtainable from the society’s secretary, A J R Wood, Sites & Monuments Record, County Architect’s Dept, County Hall, Beverley, Humberside, HU17 9BA.

NEWSLETTER No. 167 JANUARY 1985

Anno novo faustum felix tibi sit

HADAS DIARY

Tuesday 8th January 1985 John Nash, the Hero of Regents Park by Dr .Ann Saunders

We all recall the two memorable lectures by Dr. Saunders which have traced the history of Marylebone from 1530 ­when Oxford Street was the road to Oxford – to the Dissolution when Henry VIII took 550 acres north of the village of Marylebone for hunting (the area now called Regents Park). Later, when royal money ran out, trees were felled and the land let as small-holdings until the inception of Nash’s plan for a residential estate and public park.

Tuesday 9 February 1985 Writing in Roman Britain- Evidence from Vindolanda and Bath by Mark Hassall

Tuesday 5 March 1985 West Heath Excavation: Daphne Lorimer

Tuesday 2 April 1985 Aerial Photography Christopher Stanley

AN INVITATION, has come from our colleagues in the North-west London branch of the Historical Association. Their February lecture may, they feel, be of particular interest to HADAS members. On Thursday, 21 February Gareth Davies, Director of the Verulamium Museum, will be speaking to them about Roman St.Albans. The NW London branch meets at Westfield College, Kidderpore Avenue, NW3 at 8pm, and HADAS members are cordially invited to attend this meeting as guests.

ABSENT FRIENDS

One of the most pleasant things at this time of year is that we often have news of HADAS members who live further afield. One of our Vice-Presidents, DAISY HILL, who was secretary of the Society in the late 1960s, sent us a Christmas card from Derbyshire. She moved to Chesterfield some years ago and now reports that she has settled very happily there. “I do so enjoy reading the ‘Arc’ Newsletter”, she writes, “so I really feel I should send something for the postage.” She enclosed a donation of £5, which is most welcome both to the Editor and to the Hon. Treasurer:

Nice to have a card, too, and good wishes to the Society, from another member of long standing. RONALD BEVAN, who joined us in 1975, retired to Canterbury some little time ago and has kept up his subscription because he too enjoys the Newsletter.

AUBREY HODES, now a teacher at Hua Qiao University in China, must be our farthest-flung member. We had a card from him too, in an exotic envelope with 8 pictorial stamps showing everything from the Great Wall to a bunch of chrysanthemums, a lake village to a modern looking train on a viaduct, Aubrey sends best wishes to all the friends he has made in HADAS since he joined in 1979. You will remember that we had some news of him via JUNE PORGES in the November Newsletter, Now he adds some more – including what he had just eaten for an ordinary Chinese lunch: ” a whole crab each, then a stew of goat, noodles and cabbage, followed by satsumas. I’m enjoying the food:” He enclosed some interesting cuttings from the China Daily, an English language Chinese newspaper and we hope to have space to quote from them in a later Newsletter.

PROCESSING HELPERS WANTED

The October Newsletter published an SOS from the Greater London Archaeological unit asking for volunteers to help with their backlog of processing work – particularly finds from the excavation of a Roman cemetery at Tenter Street and from the Clerkenwell nunnery. Two experienced HADAS members Hwlen Gordon,and Jean Snelling, have offered to lend a hand, and they start work on the first Monday in January. They propose to spend from 10.15 – 4pm each Monday thereafter at 42 Theobalds Road, WC1, where the GLA unit is based. Their work will be mainly cleaning and marking bones from the Roman cemetery.

Offers of help from other HADAS members either occasionally or as regular Monday assignment – would be most welcome. If you would like to offer, please give Jean Snelling a ring on 346 3553.

FANS

HADAS member Myrtle Levy sends news of a course in an unexpected subject which she feels may be of interest to members. It consists of. 10 lectures by Anthony Sackville on Antique. European Fan, which will take-place on Wednesdays, starting on January 16, at 6.30 – 8.30pm, at the City University, Northampton Square, EC1.

Fans may sound a far cry from dirt archaeology, but Mrs Levy puts a powerful case, for their: value as documentary evidence.. “These folding paintings carried by aristocratic ladies are a perfect marriage of history and art!’ she says. “It’s staggering how much information you can glean from the detailed study of a fan.” The cult of the fan in ‘Europe (and this course confines itself to European fans) reached its peak in France.

‘

Lectures will be illustrated with slides which, says Mrs. Levy, “are really exquisite”

. .

Further details can be obtained from Barbara Zanditon, 253 4393 (ext. 3252), who will

also provide information about a similar daytime course on the subject at the Barbican

SITE-WATCHING

Proposed extensions to two buildings in historic areas of the Borough were included in recent planning application lists. They were ,

51 High Street, Chipping Barnet a 2-story rear extension & single story storage

building

Five Bells Public House. 165 East side and rear extensions, partly for new

End Road, East Finchley restaurant

If members happen to be passing these sites and see any building preparations, please

let either Christie Arnott (455,2751) or John Enderby (203 2630) know ‘as we might like to take sites

Committee Corner

The Committee met at the end of November. The following ‘matters, among many were discussed:

The membership Secretary reported that the number of members at the end Novemeber1, 1984 almost exactly equalled the figure at the same time last year: In fact we were one up in1984 with.367 instead of 366 members. This is interesting becausee both counts were taken after the names of all those who had not paid their ‘Annual sub. then 7 months overdue had been deleted.

It was noted that in the the last 18 months or so we had lost – for various reasons the majority of the excellent team of photographers who had once been available to photograph digs, buildings and events for the Society. The Committee resolved to try to rebuild its photographic team and any member interested in helping in this work is asked to let the Hon. Secretary (959 5982) know.

The Committee heard with regret that the Department of the Environment has refused to list various historic timber buildings of Grahame White’s original Hendon Aerodrome.

A report from the Excavation Working Party tabled at the meeting mentioned the Society’s interest in and preliminary investigation of a possible excavation site in Chipping Barnet.

It was agreed that HADAS should ask the Borough to oppose a request from a Hert­fordshire metal detecting society to operate on the archaeologically sensitive Elstree Open Space.

GOING TO SCHOOL IN EAST BARNET

The Barnet & District Local History Society has just produced No. 23 in its series of occasional bulletins on special subjects. This time it is five pages devoted to Education In East Barnet in the 19th century, by Gillian Gear – who with Diana Goodwin, published a pamphlet on the general history of East Barnet village some years’ ago. The leaflet summarises a longer study by the author, the material for which is available to researchers at Barnet Museum.

Extensive use is made of the 1851/61/71 Censuses. Among the events which followed the 1871 Education Act was the building of a new school in 1871-2. It’s interesting that the school was promptly inspected by that most famous of HMIs, Matthew Arnold, who reported in July 1872 “This district (he included New Barnet) contains 2400 inhabitants of whom 3/11ths are of the class whose children may be expected to attend elementary school. School accommodation ought to be provided for 417 children”.

The Bulletin is illustrated with a centre spread of three photographs, but alas these have reproduced poorly

CHRISTMAS PARTY 1984 Report by Queen Nefertari, wife of Ramasses II

‘An Arabian Night’ maybe – definitely ‘A Night to Remember’. Yes, HADAS has done it again.

Christmas started a little earlier this year for some 70 members who enjoy a good feast and dressing up to embellish the Eastern setting. Our thanks to Dorothy Newbury, her choice of venue, The Meritage Club next to St: Mary’s Church, Hendon proved ideal.

Admirably disguised with Ali Baba posters painted by Mary Spiegelhalter, who now resides in Devon – she and her husband were special guests. Other artistic adornments to add Eastern atmosphere were created by Brian and Rosemary Wibberley – a mass of red candles glowed romantically, and although we didn’t tarry till Midnight’s hour, no ghosts appeared from the hallowed ground beneath (hallowed, of course, because dug by HADAS).

A well equiped spacious kitchen for our team of tireless cooks, with a long-open hatch for another, team of equally tireless, slaves to sprint back and forth from, enticing us with such. Eastern Delights as Sanbusak, Dolmades., Moussaka, Munkaczina and Cacik to name but a few of the 16 or so exotic dishes to tax out taste-buds to the full. The quality was such that I’m sure Egon Ronay would gladly have pinned a few more stars on the walls. So our thanks too to the absent cooks who slaved over their stoves at home on our behalf.

John Enderby masquerading as a rather shady Arab played a dual role of Master of Ceremonies and Bacchus. One aided impeccable programme timing, the other guaranteed no one a desert thirst, after some .7 or 8 delicacies our gastronomical capacities were given a welcome respite whilst being delightfully entertained by two Belly Dancers – recording to John “Hot in from Riyadh” (which is Arabic for Stoke Newington). Perhaps I shouldn’t disillusion our men-folk, but the two blonde bomb-shells, Sheri and Chantal, are a mother and daughter act (don’t ask me which is which). Hardly surprising, they had three other engagements that night: Need I say more ?

A few dishes later we had more entertainment announced by Christine Arnott – a young man full of self aplomb, one James Haythorn (pronounced Haw) a pupil of St. Paul’s

School, who has quite obviously, a guaranteed future in the ‘World of Magic’. As our Chairman Brian Jarman commented in his ‘wind-up’ speech, certain TV celebrities (mentioning no names of course – well, not a lot) had better watch out. Appropriately, our esteemed treasurer Vic Jones, dressed as Lawrence of Arabia (or was it a Carmelite Friar?) was the selected victim who had a £1 note deviously burned. Vic was astute enough to sign away HADAS funds rather than his own. Fortunately, by some stroke of magic the HADAS £1 turned up unharmed in a sealed container untouched by magic hands, so happily We remain solvent.

An Eastern-dress parade rounded off a highly enjoyable evening. Much imagination and artistic ingenuity had produced a fascinating diversity of costumes, making a ‘winner’ difficult to choose. Helena Nash how ever won the day with a brilliant Egyptian cobra head -dress and gilded collar. The mens’ prize went to another of our special guests, also, would you believe it, specially up from Devon – our celebrated ‘previous’ West Heath Dig Director, Desmond Collins resplendent in embroidered attire plus fez.

Lastly, and very far from least, all our thanks go to the MASTERMIND who dreamed up and worked out the whole proceedings – who else but Brigid Grafton Green. Obviously brigid, THIS IS YOUR LIFE.

ALL ABOUT ROMAN POTTERY KILNS

An important publication for Roman kiln-studies is The Pottery Kilns of Roman Britain by Vivien G. Swan – No.5 in the Supplementary Series of the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments. It is finely produced and well-illustrated. It begins with a short history of Romano British kiln studies and goes on to the siting and distribution of kilns. Illustrations at this point include two multi-coloured maps of solid and drift geology; black and white maps showing kiln distribution (a) by century from 1st – 4th centuries; (b) by kiln type, according to the kind of floors (bar or solid), the shape and number of flues (single or double) and large-scale black and white maps of specific regions. (The East Midlands map includes Verulamium, Brockley Hill, Highgate Wood and London).

Then comes a chapter on techniques of kiln building and operation; another on the features associated with kiln-sites (pits for levigating clay, platforms for mixing it, workshops, kick-wheels, pivot stones for wheels, etc.) There is a particularly interesting chapter on the transition of kiln structures and techniques from the late Iron Age to the later 1st Century AD, followed by excellent isometric drawings, starting with Belgic kilns from the Nene valley and the Upchurch marshes and going through to 4c. Oxfordshire kilns.

There are chapters on pottery manufacture in the Conquest period: on the major regional industries; on non-speciallist regional kiln-types and where kiln studies should go in the future. Appendix A provides an 18-page list of kiln sites, county by county and a back-pocket in the volume carries 6 sheets of microfiche gazetteer giving further details of each site.

Appendix B gives recommendations for preservation of kiln sites. Many HADAS members, particularly those in the Roman Group, will be interested in some quotes from it, for instance: “Very few kiln sites remain unploughed. Even fewer have extant earthworks, such as waster heaps, and many factories must have been cleared up and levelled immediately after they ceased operation. Most uneroded or undisturbed kiln sites survive in old woodland or marginal scrub land. It is therefore particularly desirable that those remaining should be protected from damage such as afforestation, ploughing or non-archaeological digging. Areas ‘designated for conservation, moreover, should comprise not merely the actual kilns but also their immediate surroundings, where auxiliary features may occur. There is indeed a need to locate precisely some of the kiln structures listed, and to define the exact limits of many of the factories by geophysical methods,”

Vivien Swan provides a short list of kiln sites which are ‘apparently unploughed

and substantially undisturbed’ . None of those sites are in Middlesex. Then she lists sites which are under cultivation or otherwise damaged but which ‘are worthy of protection from further erosion’. There are two entries for Middlesex in that list and they are:

HENDON (1) Hilltop Cafe, Brockley Hill (earliest known site in major special‑

ist industry).

(2) Brockley Hill, Field 410, S of pond (one of few undeveloped sites in major kiln complex.)

A glossary, bibliography and index complete the volume which costs £12.50 – not high at today’s prices for so comprehensive a production, Obtainable from HMSO, 49 High Holborn, WC1V 6HB.

LATEST FROM LAMAS

The second joint publication of the two London county societies – the London and Middlesex A.S. and the Surrey A.S. – has just appeared. It is distributed to LAMAS members (and there are many in HADAS) as part of their subscription and of course there is a copy in the HADAS library. It is Excavations in Staines 1975-767 the Friends’ Burial Ground Site by K R., Crouch and S. A. Shanks.

This 135-page report takes the site at the Quaker Burial Ground in Staines through its history from the Mesolithic to the 19 century. When the Council bought the site, no longer in use by the Society of Friends, in 1960, the burials (78 graves dated between 1849-1944) were removed to a communal grave at Jordans, the Quaker centre in Bucks.

Near the start of the report is a summary of the phases excavated on the site. Phase I is prehistoric, and runs from Mesolithic to Late Bronze Age. Iron Age evidence is missing, owing to a rise in the water table and flooding during that period. The Meso­lithic presence is slight and consists of flints. In fact prehistoric features are rare. There is one ‘possible’ Neolithic storage pit and three ‘presumed’ Bronze Age postholes. The finds are what gives substance to possible prehistoric occupation: 188 worked flints of which 115 show retouch and a further 16 show signs of use.

“The Mesolithic forms” says the report “probably include three small blade cores and 4 or 5 microliths.” The Neolithic is represented by a leaf arrowhead, scrapers and awls and is followed by some EBA types e.g. polished-edged knives and two barbed and tanged arrowheads. A near-complete skeleton of an adult Bronze Age cow was found.

The site really comes into its own with the Roman levels, starting with a pre­Flavian ditch and bank. The first building is in the Flavian-Hadrianic phase, timber-framed with beam-slot foundations, and demolished c.AD130. That is followed by a larger timber building with painted walls. There is evidence of some kind of continual use of the site – even if only for rubbish pits – throughout Roman times up to the 5th century, except for one 50-year hiatus in the mid-3rd century, when layers of flood debris and silt seal the earlier levels.

Later phases include. a Saxon gully system, an early Medieval stone building, 12th -14th century pit groups and after a gap of nearly three centuries, 19th century rubbish pits and the foundations of the first Meeting House, built in 1843 and demolished in 1930s.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MICROFICHE?

The two books reviewed above both have microfiche insertions, containing detailed (and no doubt very interesting) material, such as a gazetteer of kiln sites, a catalogue of flints and a. catalogue of pottery fabrics and vessels,.

Even among archaeological academics, to whom such facilities may by easily available, opinions are sharply divided on the subject and tempers run high when it is discussed. You either like or hate microfiche.

If the fiche material is truly additional to what would have appeared anyway – that is, if there has been no adulteration of what would have been the normal printed text ­then it seems reasonable enough to add the bonus of Microfiche for those able to use it.

The moment it begins to replace what would previously been in ordinary print however, it creates an unfair world in which the general reader becomes a second class citizen.

Do HADAS members have views on this controversial subject? It seems likely to crop up more rather than less, as publishing costs rise. If you have any comments the Newsletter would be interested to hear from you.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY

More books have been kindly donated to the Society by Mrs.Starr and others. If you would like to visit the library at Avenue House please telephone JUNE PORGES 346 5078 (evenings).

EMERY, W. B. Archaic Egypt 1361

CAMP, L. S. & CAMP, C. C. de Life & Death of a Pharaoh: Tutankamen 1970

WHITE, J.E.M. Ancient Egypt: its Culture & History 1970

GARDINER,A. Egypt of the Pharaohs 1966

EDWARDS, I. E.S. The Pyramids of Egypt 1961

MORTET, P. Eternal Egypt 1964

DONADONI, S. Egyptian Museum, Cairo 1370

NYLANDER, C. The Deep WelL archaeology & the Life of the Past 1969

BASS, G. F. Archaeology under Water 1966

WOOLLEY, C. L. The Sumerians 1965

RIDLEY, M. Treasures of China 1973

HALLO, W. W. & SIMPSON, W. K. The Ancient near East: a History 1971

LUCE, J. V. The End of Atlantis: New Light on an Old Legend 1970

HERM, G. The Phoenicians: the Purple Empire of the Ancient World 1975

WUNDERLICH, H.G. The Secret of Crete 1976

COTTRELL, L. The Bull of Minos 1955

MICHEL, J. The View over Atlantis 1969

WELLARD, J. The Search for the Etruscans 1973

BRITISH MUSEUM A General Introductory Guide to the Egyptian Collections

in the British Museum 1964

CHURCH FARM HOUSE MUSEUM, Greyhound Hill, Hendon, NW4 4JR

“Towards Tomorrow”- Children and Young People in and out of School” An exhibition of photographs by Henry Grant

15th December 1984 – 10th February 1985 (Closed 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th 31st Dec.

and 1st January)

NEW SETS OF POSTCARDS AVAILABLE FROM BARNET LIBRARIES

SET 19: Dollis Brook _5:views 1904-1912

SET 20- Railway Stations 5 views – Edgware Station, c.1900: New Barnet Station c.1900: East Finchley Station c.1925: Finchley Station c.1906 (2 cards)

Sets available from all libraries in the Borough, price 40p per set. (Single copies from Church Farm House Museum),

COURSES AT OXFORD

18th – 20th January 1985 Dissolution & Resurrection: the re-use of Monastic Buildings Full Residential: £38 Non Residential with meals: £25.50 Non Residential/No meals: £14

16th – 17th February 1985 Artist & Patron in Roman Britain Full Residential with meals £23 Non Residential £17 Non Residential/No meals £9.50 Details ete. from Archaeology/Local History Course Secretary, Oxford University Dept. for External Studies, 3-7 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA as soon as possible.