Volume 7 : 2000 – 2004

Newsletter
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HADAS Diary

Tuesday 14th January 2003 The archaeology and anthropology of Australian rock art, by. Professor Robert Layton. Professor Layton worked in Australia from 1974-1981, five years as research anthropologist to The Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Studies in Canberra and two years with the Northern (Aboriginal) Land Council in Darwin as anthropologist responsible for land claims. He has been Professor of Anthropology at Durham University since 1991.

Tuesday 11th February 2003 Kitchen crocks to Sunday best — ceramics in the home form Henry VIII to Victoria, by Jacqui Pearce. Jacqui has been working as a ceramic specialist with Museum of London for 25 years, first with the Department of Urban Archaeology, and now with the Museum of London Specialist Services, as a senior specialist in medieval and later pottery. She also runs the Ted Sammes post-ex course (see above).

Tuesday 11th March 2003The Mackery Burials, by Simon West Lectures began 8.00pm at Avenue House, East End Road, Finchley Central.
Church End Farm 1961 to 1966 — excavation report By Don Cooper

The recording of the artefacts form this excavation is nearing completion by the students on the Ted Sammes post-excavation course run under the auspices of Birkbeck College by Jacqui Pearce of the Museum of London Specialist Services. The next phase will be the analysis and research prior to publication. Can I therefore make one final plea for information on the whereabouts of any documents and/or artefacts (tiles, budding material, glass, metal objects etc.) that might be from the 1961-66 excavations at Church End Farm, Hendon. Any information please can be sent to me by post to Don Cooper, 59 Potters Road, Barnet, Herts. EN5 5HS. Or give me a ring on 020 8440 4350.
Avenue House Estate under new management By June Porges

In 1918 the ink magnate Henry C Stephens (known as “Inky Stephens” left the Estate for the benefit of the people of Finchley. On November 2002, after three and a half years of hard negotiations. the management of the house and its historic landscape gardens was passed form Barnet Council to Avenue House Management (AHEM). This is a new non-profit making charity company which has a 125- year lease to run the estate for the benefit of the local community. The house has rooms to let for receptions, parties, conferences, wedding and other events as well as housing the offices of a number of local charitable organisations. The 10 acres of gardens contain many fine trees and shrubs (some of them envied by Kew Gardens!), a pond and waterfall, lawns and a children’s playground. In the space of a few weeks the new team and house staff have made a real impact on the appearance of the house and gardens. Users of the house can now enjoy freshly made tea and coffee and order excellent quality buffet meals. A great deal of maintenance work needs to be done. The trustees are eager for local people to become involved In helping to run the estate on a voluntary basis and to help with donations and fundraising, and to use the house for their own function. There will be Open House events for people to see what the house has to offer and what they may be able to offer to the house. HADAS has had a long connection to the house, our Library was kept in a small room upstairs for some time before the east end suffered a very big fire. Since then we have had the use of the Garden Room for the library and to do work on digs and research, we now have the use of a garage to house our finds and tools, and since 1995 we have held our lectures in the house. We have agreed to help with maintenance of the house by keeping the terrace outside the Garden Room swept and tidy. Do come and visit us there -¬usually there are some members in the room on Sunday and Wednesday mornings. Check with June Porges (020 8346 5078) before coming or Andrew Coulson (07803 470 475 text or message) if you are interested in using the library. Meantime do please support Avenue House with physical help, money and by recommending it to your friends for their parties.

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Victor Jones’ legacy

Victor, who was a Vice President of HADAS and died in February 2002, bequeathed the sum of £1000 to HADAS and expressed the wish that the money be used to start a fund for a Borough of Barnet Schools Archaeological Funds Loan Collection
Membership Details By Mary Rawitzer

If anyone has noticed that a recent newsletter was sent to a strange address and that the current newsletter still hasn’t got it right, please let the Membership Secretary know (see back page). It’s all her fault, or at least her computer’s. Some people may be unhappy that only one member is now named on the envelope for households with one or morefamily members. This was the result of a new broom “modernising” the membership list. However, it was a first attempt and she hopes to improve things in due course. Computers are so useful — and so frustrating. Please be patient.
Camden History Review-Vol 26 By Denis J Ross

I have been sent by Dr. F Peter Woodward of Camden History Society the above-mentioned annual Review which is a very impressive and well-produced 32 page publication. Of course, most of the articles it contains relate to matters outside HADAS strict territorial area but nevertheless there are some items which could be of interest to our members. For example, Dr. Woodford writes, that this issue contains a history of Golders Hill Park (by HADAS member Yvonne Melnick), some of which lies in Hampstead but most of which lies in the ancient manor of Hendon. Another Articlerelates to eating out in Primrose K10856-2002 which could appeal to the gourmets among us! Other Articles are interesting in their own right. The review can be obtained from Camden bookshops at 6.95 or by mail (add £1 for postage and packing) from CHS Publications, Flat 13, 13 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH – tel: 020 7388 9889.
Christmas Dinner

This years dinner was a local event held at the Meritage Centre, Hendon, and scene of a HADAS excavation in the 1970s. Beforehand we had a talk in the adjacent St Mary’s Church given by the Rev. Paul Taylor. The origins of the church are unclear but a documentary reference in Westminster Abbey and in the Domesday Book may point to a saxon foundation, perhaps a small wooden built structure. However, structural evidence and the font point to a mid 12th century date for the present church, apparently the font can be dated by the style of the interlocking arches carved on the font sides. The nave dates to the le century Early English style. The Hendon community was small in the medieval period then started to expand in the 16th & 17th centuries with wealthy people moving out from London. Galleries were inserted into the fairly small church to accommodate the newcomers. During the Jacobean era the manor was held by Welshpool, a prominent family at this time was the Herberts some of whom are buried in the church. A larger than life character was Theodore Williams who was vicar from 1812 to 1875. Amongst other things he had two spells in prison for dent (£1000s) and smashed a marble memorial statue in the graveyard because the family had not paid enough for it. William’s family had made money from slavery yet William Wilberforce lived in the parish. In 1915 the church was extensively rebuilt and expanded virtually doubling its size. Recently it has been refurbished being painted, decorated, new offices and a new organ – the last one was a terrible thing with pipes tuck away all over the place. After the talk, Reverend Taylor who is a dab hand at playing the new instrument gave us a tune before we left for dinner, thanks to him for the talk. Thanks to Dorothy for organising the evening, and to June, Eric, Mary & Doug for helping with the bookstall.
November Lecture — The Ups and downs of life in the British Palaeolithic Brian Wrigley — greatly assisted by Sheila Woodward

It came as quite a surprise to me and probably many others to find that a lecture about ‘Life in the British Palaeolithic’ concerned a period as long ago as 700,000 – 500,000 years BP, and a little later, a very large area of the earth’s surface (in terms of travel and settlement possibility). However, our knowledge has been increased by sites like Boxgrove and, more recently, High Lodge in East Anglia (where our lecturer had recently been In his work for the Leverhulme Trust who have given funds for study of “AHOB” — Ancient Human Occupation of Britain), and Westbury, Somerset. Whilst Boxgrove puts first hominid occupation of Britain at about 500,000 BP, Westbury and East Anglia now push it back to about 700,000 BP, much earlier than previous estimates derived from the Hoxnian period evidence from Swanscombe The Leverhulme Trust granted funds for study of ancient human occupation of Great Britain — not primarily for study of a few human bones found, but study of climatic evidence, and the nature of fauna and landscape. This brings into focus many finds long hidden away in museums of possible worked flints etc (including the “eoliths”) now being re-examined and re-assessed. The scientific methods being used include the Deep Sea Core method for very ancient dating, the Marine Oxygen Isotope Record which can be a record of ancient temperatures — giving warm/cool comparison from 700,000 on. Britain being on the edge of a continental landmass is the sort of area where migrations to and fro (of animal and hominids) may be caused by climatic changes e.g. from Gulf Stream changes. Remnants of the Interglacial c 130,000 show remains of elephants and rhinos etc but none of hominids, although for the 130,000 — 60,000 BP period there is some evidence in Northern Europe. In Britain about 22,000 BP, a cold period with some snow, there is evidence for dear, mammals and birds and possibly there may have been some hominids hunting them.

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The Site

The building site in East Barnet where the finds were made was situated at the southern end of the Prince of Wales Public House (No2 Church Hill Road, IQ 2719 9529). In the 19’h century, the area covered by the building site, was part of the estate of the mansion The Grange. Part of the mansion itself occupied the western portion of the building site and traces of the building were found there.
The Grange & Prince of Wales P.H.

Rear-Admiral Henry Warre, who called it Granada Cottage in honour of his victory over the French off the coast of Granada in South America in 1795′, built the Grange in 1800. From this name it may be supposed that it was not a particularly large mansion. The Grange estate was earmarked for re-development in the late 19d” century although much of this development only took place in the 1930s, which is when the mansion seems to have been demolished. Included in the Grange estate was The Prince of Wales itself. The pub is mentioned as a licensed beerhouse in 18782. On the Roque map of 1754 several building are shown in the vicinity of the site and one of them is certainly the pub or its predecessor. The pub was probably a private house and the main residence on the site at this time. East Barnet Village The mansion ‘The Clockhouse’ in East Barnet Village was mentioned in a rental document of 15063 by an older name Mendhams. Earlier still Katebrygge, an old name for the bridge over Pymmes Brook in East Barnet Village was mentioned in a will of 14064. The earliest reference to this area is in the Anglo-Saxon Charter Boundary S(iii)5 which outlines the boundary of Barnet in 1005. From this description it may be seen that both the building site and St Mary’s East Barnet (01140) lay along the eastern edge of Wakeling Moor. Wakeling Moor denotes the rising ground between East Barnet Valley and Whetstone (ie the Oakleigh Park area). This place name is possibly derived form the Anglo-Saxon Waeclinga tribe form St Albans who gave their name to Watling Street (Edgware Road) and to the old name for Kingsbury in St Albans, Waeclingaceaster. Circumstances Of The Finds The site was developed by the builders as a shop with flats above. The concrete capping and upper layers of soil and clay were already removed by the time the site was inspected for archaeological purposes. The builders reported that they had not found anything of any significance up to this point other than what they supposed to be -Victorian brickwork. This was in the form of small arches associated with drains near the pavement at the very front of the site (on the eastern edge). The archaeologist also noticed at this point the remnants of a brick foundation of a greenhouse and associated yard or outbuilding. There was also a short length of red brick wall running north-south mid way back on the front portion of the site which was probably associated with the east-west wall (wall R) at the back of the site (see plan previous page). A small hole was then dug by the builders near the front of the site out of which came a bottle neck (1780-1820). Due to a long delay waiting for pile drilling to be carried out, and then the sudden re-commencement of work following the pile drilling, the archaeologist missed seeing the bulk of the clay spoil from the foundation trenches being removed. It is estimated that two skips of clay were removed at this time. A bottle base of the mid 18th century was found in the aftermath of this work Due to heavy- rain, some clay then subsided from the garden of the Prince Of Wales and some mediaeval finds (South Herts Grey Ware) were made in that material. After the concrete had been laid in the trenches, the clay “islands” were dug out and moved to the area of the driveway. The archaeologist was able to pick over some of this material, and the bulk of the mediaeval finds (South Herts Grey Ware) were made at this time. It is not known exactly at what point the two Roman sherds were found, but they were found along with some of the mediaeval material and were not known to be Roman at the time. A small scale excavation was then carried out by the archaeologist at the rear of the site over several months in which the remaining finds were discovered.The possible Saxon sherd and the Coarse Border Ware and Hertfordshire Glazed ware sherds were found during this excavation along with some more South Hens Grey Ware. Four more Roman sherds were also found at this time. Wall P on the plan (previous page) was probably part of the mansion itself and was built of non-frogged yellow bricks. Wall Q was probably a 20th century garden wall built of frogged red bricks. The wall surrounding the blue cobble surface was probably also 20th century garden wall and was built of frogged bricks. Wall R and the associated wall at the front of the site were probably part of an out-building or house built in non- frogged red brick This out-building along with the mansion itself are shown on the Ordnance Survey map of 1896 [New Barnet; Godfrey Edition; Middlesex sheet 6.08]. 7 From A Char About Barnet And Its History’ S. H. Widdicombe. 2 From ‘East Barnet Village’ Gillian Gear and Diana Goodwin 3 Rental of lands and tenements, acquired by Abbot Ramrygge, 22 Hen. VII. Will of John Rolf, 7Hen IV (Studies In Manorial History byAda Elizabeth Leven. 5. see HADAS newsletter 309, January 1997 ‘Early Barnet And Its Boundaries’ by Pamela Taylor. Finds discussion Bill Bass The pottery assemblage is an interesting collection as little material of this type has been found in the East Barnet area before, although it vs as founded in the medieval period. Most of the ceramic is not to badly abraded and came from a level that would indicate it came from the site or fairly close by, but the material is unstratified so some caution is needed The Roman pottery comprises of at least six small body sherds, which adds to the small amount of sherds found in High Barnet and also the pottery found adjacent to the St Albans Road when the Bridgedown golf course was being constructed. A single flinty/sand (probable) Late Saxon body sherd was identified by the MoL, there may be more of this in the Barnet record as it’s difficult to tell this apart from Medieval pottery. The medieval pottery ranges from ‘thumbnail’ size to a sherd of 60mm x 55mm mostly body sherds, there’s one base sherd and two rim sherds. The MoL comments: “one of the sherds is from the rim of a South Hertfordshire greyware howl. Many of the pottery sherds brought in are made of the same pottery type, even though some of them look quite different. The reason for this difference is that there were many small pottery producers working at the same time, producing variations in the colour and tenure of the pottery. Much of this was made near Arkley. Most forms were bowls, jugs or jars”. Also found of medieval date was a sherd of Hens Glazed Ware and Coarse Borderware. A variety of post-medieval ceramics were found including — Stonewares, Black Basalt Ware (2 sherds form a small vase and a cylindrical teapot). Combed slipware sherds (previously known from Staffordshire) but later produced locally at Isleworth. A mixture of 85 le century Red Border Wares, sherds from several porringers (small bowl with handles). 12 sherds came from a Sunderland Coarse Ware Lead Glazed Bowl, 10 century. Other finds included a whetstone, an 18th century copper alloy shoe buckle and button, also various roof tile and building materials. Some finds are still being processed but the above dyes the general picture.
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Meeting with Kim Stabler of English Heritage By Bill Bass

This useful meeting was held at Avenue House at the end of October attended by some 15 members. Kim is the English Heritage Archaeological Advisor for North and West London.
History

Kim started off by describing some of the history leading up to the present planning arrangements in London. For many years sites were monitored by the Ancient Monuments Act presided over by the Department of Works, in 1969 this became the Department of the Environment and in 1979 the Scheduled Monuments Act was passed being looked after by the Inspector of Ancient Monuments. Problems with the development of the Rose Theatre and other sites in the late 1980s led to the publication of the Planning Policy Guidance Note 16 by the DoE in 1990 leading to the Greater London Archaeology Advisory Service (GLAAS) being established. The creation of PPG 16 also saw the founding of the many small archaeologic units, consultants and so forth that are familiar today, before PPG 16 most archaeology was in the hands of, and funded by, local councils and museums etc, now archaeological units mostly work on a commercial basis competing for work by competitive tendering.
PPG 16

PPG 16 has been working well over the last 10 years or so, it requires the early assessment of planning applications, and these can go through several stages according to the risk to archaeology. If sites are perceived to be at risk the stages can include: •Desktop Assessment — consulting the Sites & Monuments Record (SMR), maps, plans, geo technical observations (boreholes) and similar

Field Evaluation — limited trenches to test if any archaeology exists or has survived basements, truncation etc.

Mitigation Strategy — can developments be redesigned to avoid sensitive areas, can the archaeology be left in situ?

Watching Brief – archaeologists observe the digging by developers and contractors on site, recording archaeology as they go.

Full Excavation (preservation by record) — usually the last resort if developments cannot be redesigned.

GLAAS researches the planning application and advises on a course of action. If planning applications were found to affect archaeology then some form of ‘Condition’ based on the above stages would be placed on the application before it was to proceed, or the application could be refused. It is not easy to ‘schedule’ sites, this where sites are protected through legislation. Most applications if possible are dealt using the above planning procedure and agreements. In Barnet there are two scheduled areas — Brockley Hill, Edgware and the Steinburg Centre, Finchley (moated manor).
Facts & Figures

Last year (2001/2002) GLAAS scanned 93,000 planning applications. This comprises nearly one fifth of all applications in England. Of these 3000 were appraised. EH gave advice on 1000 applications to local governments, 212 evaluations were secured by placing a condition on planning consent. In Barnet there were 4800 planning applications of which 154 were advised on, leading to 29 being pursued for their archaeological potential, with 3 having significant excavations. Some 24 significant excavations took place as well as smaller investigations. Advice given to all local bodies is free of charge. Borough of Barnet Barnet apparently has one of the better planning departments in the London area, they receive the most planning applications behind Westminster and are keen to act on sensitive developments. In the Borough several priority areas have been marked out as having archaeological potential (Areas of Special Archaeological Significance), no less. These were drawn up between English Heritage, Barnet Council and HADAS, they include the sites of various Manors, medieval settlements, battlefields, Roman sites, prehistonc activity and so on These are different from ‘Conservation’ areas, which is another story. Planning applications are also made public and are sent to various bodies in the borough including HADAS. HADAS monitors the applications by one member who receives them, and then distributes them to three ‘area mangers’ – the eastern area including: Edgware, Mill Hill, Colindale, Hendon etc, the northern area: Chipping and East Barnet, Totteridge, Cockfosters etc, the central area: Finchley, Cricklewood etc. These managers look for developments in priority (or other) areas by consulting maps, the SMR and local knowledge. They report their findings to English Heritage and HADAS as appropriate.
Sites & Monuments Record

The Greater London SMR is maintained by English Heritage and has some 72,000 entries, it contains records of all manner of archaeological and historical sites. All archaeological fieldwork from watching briefs, surveys to full excavation should be entered on the SMR. This information is used to advise various commercial, research and local government bodies. Recently EH has been reorganising and updating the SMR to make it compatible with similar systems in other counties, they have also invested in a new database program and have improved their mapping system by integrating the SMR data on to a Geographical Information System (GIS). EH wants to encourage the use of the SMR by working more closely with academic bodies and research students, in fact a member of HADAS has been working on the GIS aspect of this with a view to aerial photography/mapping in Barnet. HADAS are also looking to update our ‘Gazetteer’ of work conducted in the Borough of Barnet, this will done through a number of sources, the SMR being the main one, so work by EH to make the SMR more accessible will be welcomed. Eventually the Gazetteer will be on a database for easy access by HADAS members, or the public. Thanks to Kim for coming along and explaining her work at GLAAS.

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GRAHAM WHITE HANGAR UPDATE

Early in December 1 was fortunate to join a guided RAF Museum staff tour of the partially completed Graham White Hangar, which has now bee moved from its original position on the former RAF Hendon East Camp site to a new location within the expanded boundaries of the RAF Museum. Whilst externally identical to the original, modem building regulations mean there are some differences. The external brick walls are completely new, and now consist of a main internal wall and external brick skin, the huge original timber roof joists have been refurbished and reused. The interior of the wooden roof, as in the original, is a single coat of white paint. Many of the original window frames have been reused, as have the railway tracks used as guides for the hangar doors. Even the original ground floor water closets and urinals have been carefully relocated! The internal two-storey offices have been shortened to allow for provision of a lift and second staircase, due to fire regulations, but original radiators and some wooden doors have again been reused from the original. Particular care was taken to recreate the effect of wooden shutter to recreate the original appearance of the concrete office ceilings. Paint samples were taken before demolition to ensure accurate reproduction of the original internal paint scheme – green windows and doors and whitewashed walls for the offices. English Heritage and other bodies have been particularly helpful throughout the rebuilding process of the listed building. Completion is expected at the end of December 2002, and the RAFM will be filling this new display space with a selection of contemporary El World War aircraft in January/February 2003 as the museum gears up for formal opening of the new landmark building and Graham White Hangar in November 2003 – the centenary of the first Wright Brothers powered flight.

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U3A (University of the Third Age) By Eric Morgan

U3A is a learning cooperative for older people which enables members to share many educational, creative and leisure activities. They are wondering if any HADAS members would be willing to run a class on an aspect of Local History. “Most of our classes are held weekly with some fortnightly, and there are some spaces available at present at the Middlesex University- (Hendon), Masoritin Hall (Edgware) and at Glebe Hall (Stanmore). All our Group Leaders give their services on a voluntary basis. Sometimes the courses are on-going but sometimes, if the Group Leader prefers,they can be for just one or two terms. When we start a new subject, we like to publicise it in advance in our Newsletter so we do plan well ahead. This would mean that any new subject planned at this time (deadline March 7th) would start in the Summer term which runs from 2811′ April to 25th July 2003”. If any members are interested please contact: North West London of the Third Age, 137 Hale Lane, Edgware, HAS 9QP Tel: 020 8906 8621

===THE SEVERN ESTUARY LEVELS RESEARCH COMMITTEE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING,===

My annual trip to visit an old college friend gave the opportunity to attend the following conference… Not just the Thames Estuary has archaeological surveys these days. Andy Simpson reports from…. Saturday 16th November 2002 NATIONAL MUSEUM AND GALLERY CATHAYS PARK CARDIFF
Colin Green Travel and Trade on the Severn Sea

The River Severn and its tributaries and estuaries has been a major trade route for thousands of years, with archaeological evidence of shipping activity from the Bronze Age, Romano British and medieval periods, such as the famous Newport ship uncovered in 2002 and discussed in detail later on in the conference. The River Severn is relatively shallow, making operation of deep-keeled vessels impractical. Flat- bottomed vessels were more appropriate. Similar were the Hanseatic League cogs of the twelfth to fourteenth centuries, also being flat bottomed; Trading with the Baltic and other parts of the continent were Severn ports such as Chepstow, Bridgewater, Lydney, and small creeks and harbours such as Magor Pill, which was important from the Iron age right through to the sixteenth century. During this century important centres included Chepstow, Newport and Cardiff and some 18 creeks, some now lost. There was much trade across the Bristol Channel with Bristol, cattle in particular, interrupted by such events as the Great Flood of 1607. Small vessels of only 30-40 tons traded as far as Portugal carrying out coal and returning with iron ore, salt and wine. One of the ports now lost is Llantwit Major, due to late sixteenth century storms blocking its inlet. Trade included shipping out limestone to be burnt as agricultural lime, a distance of up to 14 miles across to the North Somerset coast at ports such as Dunster and Minehead. Migrant workers were also carried to South Wales as labour for the industries of the industrial revolution, and coal exported from Glamorgan Docks. Bristol and Bridgewater were two of the inland ports on improved rivers. The Severn Sea had a vital role in communications, water travel being quicker and cheaper than road travel on the indifferent roads of the eighteenth century, only being eclipsed by the advent of the railways in the nineteenth century; the railways killed off the river trade in the upper reaches early, but it lasted longer in the lower reaches and estuary. Newport, Bristol and Chepstow were still linked by sailing barges in the 1930s, however, In the nineteenth century there were still links to Ireland and continental ports. The Severn Trow (sailing barge) may have evolved from the medieval cog. Smaller wherrys were also used. One Severn barge — the Spry — built in Chepstow in 1894 was rebuilt to sailing condition at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum. Elizabeth Walker of the National Museum of Wales then spoke on the island of Burry Holmes excavation project. This tidal island lies off the Gower Peninsula, and features much Mesolithic and later archaeolo•. Originally an inland hill, rising sea levels mean that it is up to I lkrn away from the prehistoric coastline. It has been uninhabited since the seventeenth century — used as a temporary base by shell fishermen since. Medieval monastic site there founded U95, plus a fourteenth century hall and Iron Age promontory fort — a lot in a small area! However, coastal erosion is now truncating some of the archaeology. One 5.6m diameter VA roundhouse has been found, with postholes in clay-lined pits and evidence of two phases of activity. A Bronze Age barrow within the fort was dug over two half days in 1925, finding a bronze pin and the cremation of an adult female and young child. Early activity is represented by Mesolithic Archaeology lying above windblown sand, itself lying above glacial deposits, and some evidence of Palaeolithic activity. Environmental sampling includes sediment columns — no pollen present, but charred hazelnuts etc did survive, hazelnuts being a valuable source of protein. The Mesolithic layers were 100% wet sieved, with poor organic preservation, even of bone. One human ulna was found in a cave, dated to 8240 — 7600 cal BC. Stone tools are the most predominant evidence of Mesolithic activity, including microliths of quartzite and flint. Scrapers found are mostly single ended and often re-worked. Some show impact fractures, e.g. having hit bone. There is no structural evidence for this period. Next up was Martin Locock, discussing ‘Medieval encroachment and enclosure at Cabot Park, Avonmouth Rockingham Farm, Moorend Farm, `Yeomans’ and others’. This paper covered fieldwork for the period 1994 — 2002. Rockingham Farm featured a pre-Norman boundary bank and pasture that had been enclosed by the time of the 1770 estate map. There is a large defined platform. Excavation revealed a residual Roman brooch and shield stud. The enclosure ditches were frequently re-cut: thee was an early structure buried by the bank up cast. The one house on the site was rebuilt several times, its stone now mostly removed for use elsewhere, having been abandoned c.18$0 after the site had been occupied since c. 1200.Pottery from Portugal suggested widespread medieval trade. Moorend Farm mowed site featured two building clusters. The now derelict building stands on a site occupied since the twelfth century with a long sequence of building and rebuilding. A residual Iron Age bead was a continental import. More recent finds included an eighteenth century ‘slave bead’ made in Bristol to trade for slaves in Africa. Madder Farm. now demolished, was a complex seventeenth century building: a quern stone had been used to cap a well. These various moated sites date mostly from the twelfth century and represent high status encroachment with building platforms and stone buildings on what was theoretically common land. Sixteenth century encroachment was at a lower social level, e.g. cottages with ponds. (To be continued in the next Newsletter)

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Other Societies’ Events by Eric Morgan

Tuesday 7th Jan, 7.30pm Primrose Hill Community Association, Community Centre, 29 Hopkinson’s Place (off Fitzroy Rd) NW1.Transport (The canal & railways which shaped the area, and the traffic which now threatens to destroy it).Admission £4.00 will include wine or soft drinks.

Wednesday 8th Jan Stanmore & Harrow Historical Society, Wealdstone Babtist Church, High Rd Wealdstone Civil War in the Chilterns 1442 – 46, talk by Lawrence Evans,

Wed. 8th Jan 8.00pm Mill Hill Historical Society, The Harwood Hall, Union Church, The Broadway, NWT Myths & Legends of Britain and Ireland, talk by Richard Jones. 8 15pm

Thursday 9th Jan The London Canal Museum, 12-13 New Wharf Rd, King’s Cross. Barging into Britain, talk by David Hilling, Concessions £1.25,

Thursday 9th Jan 7.30pm Pinner Local History Society, Village Hall, Chapel Lane Car Park, Pinner.Stockers House, Rickmansworth & The Coal Posts, talk by Brian Mogan, 8.00pm, donation £1.00

Monday 13th Jan Barnet & District local History, Wyburn Room, Wesley Hall, Stapylton Rd, Barnet.Evacuation 1939, talk by Dr. Daphne Glick (of WA), 3.00pm (afternoon).

Wednesday 15 Jan London & Middlesex Archaeology Society, Interpretation Unit, Museum of London, 150 London Wall EC2.The People of Roman London, talk by Francis Grew (MOL) — Hugh Chapman Lecture, 6.30pm

Newsletter
Page 1

Season’s greetings to all members and their families and good wishes for a happy New Year
HADAS DIARY

Thursday 5 December Christmas Dinner at the Meritage Club (Age Concern), Hendon All places now booked but there may be some late cancellations. Contact Dorothy to check.

Tuesday 14 January 2003The archaeology and anthropology of Australian rock art.

Professor Robert Layton. Last year we did not have a January lec¬ture as our lecture season has now been stretched into May. However June Porges, our Programme Secretary, has been trying for some time to get a speaker on Australian archaeology and was lucky to have been put in touch with Professor Layton. As be is coming from Durham University he can only manage out of term time so she snapped him up for January! Professor Layton worked in Australia from 1974 to 1981: five years as research anthropologist fo The Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies in Canberra and two years with the Northern (Aboriginal) Land Council in Darwin as anthropologist responsible for land-claims. He has been Professor of Anthropology at Durham University since 1991 and his publications include: The Anthropology of Art 2nd edition, 1991 C.U.P. and Australian Rock Art: a new synthesis. 1992 C.U.P.
CAN YOU HELP CLEARING LEAVES ?

A number of local groups who use the premises at Avenue House are helping to clear the leaves from the pathways and drives in the grounds. HADAS has been asked to clear them from the Garden Room to the exit at The Avenue. Can you help? It would be much appreciated and could well prevent someone slipping and hurting themselves.
HADAS LIBRARY

Some members may not know that HADAS has a library of over 2000 books which are housed in the Garden Room at Avenue House. We would like to make these more accessible to members to borrow. If you would like to see them phone June Porges 020 8346 5078. Visits could be arranged before the lecture or on Wednesday afternoons or Sunday morn¬ings when we often have people at Avenue House working on finds and archives. We also hope to display a small selection of books at lectures for members to bor¬row.
LEGISLATION HELPS ARCHAEOLOGY

The new Treasure Act, which became law in 1996, has made reporting finds much easier for both the public and museum. So much so. that reports have increased from an average of 24 a year before the Act to 221 in the year 2000. A fine collection of Bronze Age gold torcs and bracelets found in Milton Keynes has been bought by the British Museum as has a collection of Iron Age broaches, necklaces and bracelets, described as “one of the most significant Iron Age finds in the last 50 years”. They were discovered by metal detector enthusiasts in Winchester.
POST BOXES

Sharp-eyed members will have seen the brief announcement in the press of the joint conservation policy of Royal Mail and English Heritage to protect all post boxes in situ. Boxes will only be moved if they are in a dangerous situation or replaced if they are damaged.Locally, The Press took up the case of the two boxes with the rare EviiiR cipher, both of which have been recorded for the post box survey. One is at the junction of Elliot Road and Hendon Way, Hendon, NW4 (TQ 230 882) and the other is in Great North Road, East Finchley, near Woodside Avenue (TQ 275 889). While the latter can be described as ‘local’ since it is in East Finchley, it is in the Barnet/Haringey and N2/N6 borders and is actually in Haringey. There are reports of three other EviiiR boxes that may be in Barnet but I have not yet checked them. One is inHeddon Court Parade, Cockfosters (which I think is just within Barnet) but the two others reported only as in N14 are more likely to be in Enfield. Is there anyone out there who can check any of this? The boxes with the EviiiR cypher which had already been installed when Edward VIII abdicated were not replaced but those which were about to be put into position had their doors melted down and replaced new doors bearing the GviR cypher. I have not received any reports of post boxes for some time – the survey seems to have come to a standstill. I hope to analyse the results and report soon but we are still short of sites in High Barnet.
FINCHLEY REMEMBERED

This new book edited and published by The Finchley Society contains Finchley residents’ memories from the early 1900s, ranging from childhood and school to transport, shop¬keepers and war-time. There are 65 contributors and the book includes photos from the Society’s archives or on loan from members, line drawings by Mari I’Anson and Peter Marsh and maps of Finchley. Copies, price £8.95 (plus p&p: 76p for one copy, £2.60 for two copies) are available from David Smith, 17 Abbots Gardens. East Finchley, N2 OJG. Cheques with order, payable to The Finchley Society.

Page 2

OF MOUNTING BLOCKS AND MILESTONES

Letter to the Editor of HADAS Journal No. 1

Having come to Whetstone as a boy in 1929 and grown up there until the war took me away, I was very interested in the article (Vol.1, 2002) on what in my time was the post office, next to The Griffin, (I can still recall the Misses Gilmour). I had no idea of its antiquity. The article included a picture of the mounting block outside The Griffin and I am glad to see it still survives. A mounting block! Why did I not think of that long ago? Even as a boy I had my doubts about the local story that it was the whetstone on which the knights sharpened their swords before the Battle of Barnet. But I have had more thoughts since The Journal revived memories. Was the stone in fact really a whetsone and did it give its name to the tiny medieval hamlet? E. Ekwall, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names thinks so. Every settlement would have a whetstone of some sort, so there might have been something special about this one. Are there other suggested origins of the name? The notes accompanying a reproduced OS map of 1898 states that ‘western settlement’ is the most likely explanation’. But what was the settlement west of: Friern Barnet perhaps? And the stone itself: what kind of stone is it; where did it come from? Surely it was not local stone – not that size. Could it have been one of those stones brought down, far from their origins, by ice-age glaciers? If, as the author of The Journal article suggests, it was indeed a mounting block, it seems rather low; but perhaps the pavement around it has been built up? Or was it there to assist passengers getting down from a coach? Is there scope for an archaeologist here, to suggest some answers? And could someone find a lost stone? I remember a milestone (nine miles from London) which stood on the east side of the High Road, twenty yards or so from St. Margaret’s Avenue. It is shown on the 1898 OS map. It once abutted the wall of the grounds of the big house, demolished c.1936, and was then left in the middle of the wide new pavement. As I recall, it was made of what looked like grey granite, triangular, about four feet above the ground. I think it was removed during the panic of 1940 – although if German troops coming along the High Road needed the milestone to guide them, they really were lost! It is some twenty years since I was last in Whetstone, and, though an old man’s memory frequently fails him, I am sure that the stone was not in its place. Is it lost in a forgotten municipal dump? Is the finding of it a legitimate archaeological quest? Good luck in your projects. Donald F. Harris 15 Grangefields Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY3 9DD
Page 3

A SPECIAL EVENT AT CHURCH FARMHOUSE MUSEUM

Monday evening on 4 November – dark, damp but not actually raining and quiet. I arrived at Church Farmhouse Museum accompanied by two jittery dogs who had been bombarded by fireworks for nearly a week. As a Friend of the Museum I had been invited to attend a reception for members of HADAS to mark the presentation of a new display case to the museum in memory of Ted Sammes. I planned to leave the dogs sleeping in the car while I enjoyed the evening’s event but as I opened the car door a barrage of explosions began! It sounded like an action replay of the Battle of Tobruk! We ran for cover. While the dogs sheltered under Gerrard’s desk in the museum office, Friends and guests assembled in the kitchen. We were welcomed by Mary Ross on behalf of Cultural Services (previously known as Libraries, Arts and Museums!). Gerrard Roots, the Museum Curator well known to us all, then spoke. He thanked HADAS for their generosity providing the display case – something he had wanted for many years to enhance the kitchen which is so popular during school visits to the museum. He had enjoyed a long and happy association with both HADAS and Ted Sammes, who had been a frequent visitor. Gerrard particularly remembered working with Ted preparing the HADAS exhibition Pinning Down the Past and Ted’s ‘own’ exhibition One Man’s Archaeology. He recalled the two HADAS digs in the Museum garden during the 1990s and mentioned that an exhibition of significant finds from those digs is planned for 2003. Gerrard considers the association of fhe Museum and the Society particu¬larly important, partly for the generous loan of material to many exhibitions but mainly because the Museum has no significant archaeological finds in its col¬lection and relies on the work and expertise of the Society to show the long history of the local area. In reply our Chairman, Andrew Selkirk, recalled what a committed Hendonian Ted was and that a display case was a fitting tribute to Ted as he firmly believed in showing people what the Society was doing and that archaeology was for us all. Friends and HADAS members then joined in a toast to Ted’s memory and his many years of work for archaeology. Liz Holliday
MARCH OF THE GUARDS TO FINCHLEY

Members may have seen reproductions of William Hogarth’s famous painting of the King’s Guards in 1745. on their way from London to Finchley Common. At that time Finchley Common was a regular site for army training and manoeuvres and The Guards were preparing to fight Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite troops. The painting shows the army in a state of drunken debauchery and George II, for whom the painting was intended, was not impressed with the artist’s satire of his troops and refused to buy it. Hogarth then organised a lottery for the painting and it was won by the Coram Foundling Hospital, a charity for abandoned babies which Hogarth had helped to establish with his friend, Thomas Coram. The Foundling Hospital was financed by charitable contributions and was an important centre for cultural display in the 18th century. Handel gave fund-raising concerts in its chapel and left the hospital the rights to Messiah. For many years Hogarth’s painting was on display at the hospital with other works of art acquired by the Coram family. Although the site of the hospital in Lambs Conduit Fields was sold in 1926 the Coram Family Foundation for Children survived. However, Government guidelines have been issued recently to prevent charities owning valuable art and earlier this year Hogarth’s masterpiece was sold for £4 million pounds to the new Foundling Museum in London, which is open to groups of 20 or more, by appointment only. A future outing for HADAS perhaps?

Page 4

ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL RE-VISITED Sheila Woodward reports on the October lecture

The winter lecture season got off to a fine start with a lively talk by Dr. Ann Saunders, our President, about a group of funery monuments in St. Paul’s Cathedral. Dr. Saunders is contribut-ing a chapter on these monuments to the massive tome being prepared for publication in 2004 (the 1400th anniversary of the founding of the first St. Paul’s Cathedral on the site) and she has already produced a popular version entitled St. Paul’s: the Story of the Cathedral. Looking round St. Paul’s today, with its plethora of monuments, it is hard to believe that for over seventy years after its completion no monuments at all were permitted in the main body of the cathedral. The Dean and Chapter considered that they would mar the integrity of the architecture. By the late 18th century pressure to commemorate great national figures, including heros of the Napoleonic wars, caused a change of heart. The first monument to be authorised was to John Howard, the great prison and hospital reformer. The sculptor, John Bacon the elder, planned a two-figure monument to show Howard expressing his charity. However, a Committee of The Royal Academy (including Sir Joshua Reynolds) which had to approve all designs, decreed only one figure. So Howard stands in solitary splendour, clad in a Greek chiton, kicking away fetters, with a key in his right hand and a scroll of his “Plan for the Improvement of Prisons” in his left. Bacon was unhappy with it but be got his own way by carving the attractive relief at the base of the monument which shows Howard raising an elderly sick man to whom food is being brought, while a jailer reluctantly unlocks the door. The Committee’s insistence on a one-figure monument for Howard was doubtless influenced by its plans for a second monument to Dr. Johnson, who had just died. Reynolds did not wish the lone figure of his old friend to be overshadowed by a two-figured Howard monument. Bacon was again the sculptor, this time with less happy results. Johnson is depicted draped in a toga, leaning on a column, with his arms held awkwardly across his body, in a rather clumsy attempt at a classical pose. It is said that Italian visitors thought that Howard’s figure with its key must he St. Peter and that Johnson’s must therefore be St. Paul! Bacon also sculpted the third monument to be approved, to Sir William Jones, an eminent Calcutta judge. He too is shown in classical garb and it is only on the plinth relief that Bacon had a free hand, depicting Indian deities. The wars with France produced many heroes, resulting in many monuments and (unusually) government funding to pay for them. Thomas Banks produced a splendid monument to Richard Burges, a naval commander who died in 1797. His naked figure, with scarcely a wisp of drapery was said to have “brought a blush of shame to the cheek of modesty”! A draped figure of Victory hands him a sheathed sword and there is a beautifully ornate cannon and a realistic coil of rope. Another navel hero, Captain Robert Faulkner who attacked a French gunboat and was killed in the moment of victory, has a monument by Charles Rossi. It shows Faulkner dying in the arms of Neptune while a winged Victory holds up a laurel wreath. The inscription is worth reading: it tells much about the courage of the combatants and the public’s sympathy with the armed forces. Major-General Thomas Dundas saw action in the West Indies and his monument by Bacon the younger records the Parliamentary resolution that a monument be erected in St.Paul’s. A graceful group of figures includes Britannia holding a laurel wreath above a por¬trait bust of Dundas, while a magnificent lion lies at her feet. An even more striking monument is to Captain George Westcott, killed in a sea battle in 1805. He is shown dying in the arms of Victory and three reliefs on the plinth depict the battle at its height with French gunship exploding.As monuments proliferated the Government, worried about the vast expense, appointed its own Committee of National Monuments, popularly known as the Committee of Good Taste. Its members were gentlemen who had completed their Grand Tour but had no practical knowledge of the problems of sculp¬ture! However, under their auspices the sculptor John Harman produced his massive monument to Admiral Lord Howe, standing against the prow of his ship, accompanied by Britannia and the inevitable lion. Amid a welter of naval commemorations, Lt. General Sir Ralph Abercromby stands out as a military hero of the Egyptian campaign. Richard Westmacott depicted him in military uniform, falling from his horse as he dies. Of the naval heros Nelson must take pride of place. He is buried in St. Paul’s crypt in a sarcophagus originally intended for Cardinal Wolsey, and his monument by Flaxman is one of the finest. Nelson wears his peer’s robes which disguise his missing arm; his sightless eye is cleverly conveyed. Marine gods disport themselves around the plinth, Britannia explains Nelson’s exploits to two young boys and there is of course a British lion. Other heros of Trafalgar are Lord Collingwood, Nelson’s second-in-command, depicted (by Westmacott) in his funeral barge attended by Neptune and with tiny carved cupids forging instruments of war; Captain Geoge Duff (by Bacon junior) whose portrait medallion is flanked by a pensive Britannia and a mourning midshipman; and Captain John Cooke (by Westmacott) with a mourning female figure offset by two cupids “playing at war”. Finally, two more military heros. Sir John Moore was killed at Corunna early in the Peninsula Campaign. After some debate, the younger Bacon was commissioned and produced a dramat-ic scene with Victory lowering Sir John into a sarcophagus. Sir William Ponsonby died at Waterloo after his horse stumbled and he was killed by a French lancer. In his monument, which shows the influence of the Elgin Marbles, the naked hero leans against his horse while a winged figure holds out a wreath. During this period the Government paid for 37 monuments in all and intervened when St. Paul’s began to charge 2d or 3d per person to view them. Admission must be free! That no longer applies but I am sure that this lecture will inspire many of us to re-visit St. Paul’s to take “the monument trail”.
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OTHER SOCIETIES’ DECEMBER EVENTS Prepared by Eric Morgan

Tue. 3 Dec. 2.00pm Afternoon Arts at The Bull The Bull, 68 High Street, Barnet.Local History Talk by John Heathfield (A HADAS member)

Tuesday 3 Dec. 7.30pm Primrose Hill Community Assoc. Comm.Centre, 29 Hopkinson’s Place, (off Fitzroy Road) NW11 Parks and Open Spaces: two talks: Ann Muller on 20c. History of Regents Park and Past, Present and Future of Primrose Hill by Roger Cline (Camden History Society) Admission £4 to include wine/soft drinks

Wed. 4 Dec. 5.00pm British Archaeological Association Society of Antiquaries, Burlington House, Picadilly Regional Diversity in English Romanesque Architectural Sculpture by Dr. Kathleen Lane

Wed 4th Dec.8.00pm Islington Archaeology and History Society Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, N.1 Highgate Dissenters by Dr. John Thompson

Thur. 5 Dec. 6.00pm The London Canal Museum 12-13 New Wharf Road, Kings Cross, N.1 to 7.30pm Christmas Shopping Evening with mince pies and wine. £1.25 (cone.)

Thurs. 5th Dec 7.30pm Boating and Barging in the 1950s Talk by Tom Foxon

Tue. 10 Dec. 8.00pm Amateur Geological Society The Parlour, St. Margaret’s Church, Victoria Avenue,Finchley, N3 Jurassic Sharks by Dr. Charlie Underwood (Birkbeck College)

Wed. 11 Dec. 8.15pm Mill Hill Historical Society Harwood Hall, Union Church, The Broadway, Mill Hill Instruments for a Victorian Musician by Richard York (includes performance)

Wed. 11 Dec. 8.00pm Hornsey Historical Society Union Church Hall, corner of Ferme Park Road and Weston Park, N8 Victorian Christmas Cards by Peter Street

Thur. 12 Dec. 7.30pm Camden History Society Burgh House, New End Square, NW3 Photographing Camden by Adrian Flood (Camden Local Studies and Archives)

Thur. 12th Dec 8.15pm Hampstead Scientific Society The Crypt Room, St. John’s Church, Church Row, NW3 Learning From Nature by Professor Jacquie McGlade (U. C. L.)

Fri. 13 Dec. 8.00pm Enfield Archaeological Society Jubilee Hall, junction of Chaseside and Parsonage Lane, Enfield Animal Bones and Archaeological Sites by Nicholas Bareson

Sat. 14 Dec. 10.15am Amateur Geological Society St. Mary’s Hall, Hendon Lane, Finchley, N3 to 3.30pm Mineral and Fossil Bazaar (rocks, crystals, gemstones and jewellery)Refreshments. Admission 50p

Tue. 17 Dec. 8.00pm Barnet National Trust Association St. Mary Magdalen Hall, Atheneum Road,Whetstone, N20 Seasons in the Garden at Fenton House by Head Gardener Danny Snapes

Wed. 18 Dec. 6.15pm London & Middlesex Archaeological Society Museum of London, 150 London Wall,EC2 Estuarine English: the Ubiquitous Lighters of Erith by Giles Dawkes

From Monday 9 to Saturday 21 December 9.30am to 7.00pm (Sunday 11.00am to 4.00pm) Barnet Borough Arts Council Chipping Barnet Library, Stapylton Road, Barnet Paintings by Local Artists and What’s On in Local Societies (including HADAS)

Newsletter
Page 1

HADAS DIARY

Lectures start at 8pm in the Drawing Room (ground floor) of Avenue I-louse, East End Road, Finchley, N3, and are followed by question time and coffee. We close promptly at 10pm

Tuesday 12th NovemberLecture by Simon Parfitt on ‘The Ups and Downs of Life in the British Palaeolithic’. Simon Parfitt, who last visited HADAS in March 1996 to bring the Boxgrove Palaeolithic site to life, will offer a broader view in this lecture.

Thursday 5th December Christmas Dinner at the Meritage Club (now Age Concern), Hendon, combined with a visit to St Mary’s Norman church next door, where the Vicar, the Rev Paul Taylor, will give us a talk and tour. You will also be able to see the memorial to Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles (1781-1826), the founder of Singapore and, for the last year of his life, a Mill Hill resident, who was buried in St Mary’s churchyard.

Several members did not receive details and application form with the October Newsletter. If you require one, please Contact Dorothy Newbury. As no coach is required this year, there is no limit on numbers.
HANSHAWE DRIVE – THE (TEMPORARY) FINALE Andy Simpson

The second season of work at Hanshawe Drive (see Newsletter 379, October 2002), looking for further evidence of the Romans in Burnt Oak, has concluded with the backfilling of the trench on Sunday 29th September. We had reached a maximum depth at the western end of 1.4 metres and were still in heavily disturbed clay and demolition rubble from the earlier Wesleyan Hall. Auguring failed to indicate any end to the disturbance, just more clay, so the excavation was terminated, sections drawn and photographs taken. The high readings shown by the earlier resistivity survey are probably due to some of the (very) large lumps of concrete and masonry that we excavated. There was no indication of any activity earlier than the twentieth century in this central part of the site, so evidence complementary to the Thirlby Road Roman pits still eludes us!
LAMAS 37th Local History Conference:

Buying & Selling in Metropolitan London Eric Morgan has compiled his usual extensive list of fascinating meetings – see back page – but has asked for particular attention to be drawn to this 37th Local History Conference of the London & Middlesex Archaeological Society from 10am to 5pm on Saturday November 16th in the Museum of London Lecture Theatre. Lectures range from Shops & Trading Buildings in London 1200-1700 to a comparative study of Harvey Nichols and Harrods. Retail Trade in Medieval Pinner & Harrow may be particularly relevant to HADAS. £4 for HADAS members, including afternoon tea.

Page 2

THE HAZY DAYS OF SUMMER: HADAS’S AUGUST OUTING – in three parts

We start with Piddington Roman Villa, take in a race around Northampton, attempting to take it all in, and end with the calm of the medieval, and later, at Canons Ashby
PIDDINGTON ROMAN VILLA Bill Bass

Piddington lies 6 miles south of Northampton, near the village of Hackleton and we arrived on a glorious summer’s day. Since the site is not accessible by coach we had a pleasant 15-minute walk down a farm track, passing acres of cornfields, to reach the excavation. On the way we observed a church with an unusual tower and brick-built aisles. The party was met by joint Site Directors, Roy and Liz Friendship-Taylor, who have been digging here for 23 years, as part of the Upper Nene Valley Archaeological Society. The villa was first discovered by quarrymen digging for limestone in the 1780s. They found a fine mosaic, but unfortunately little of it survived this early dig. The Upper Nene group started digging here in 1979 “just for a few weeks”. Little did they know that they would still be excavating over two decades later – with, it must be said, the help and enthusiasm of the local farmer. In August the dig is open for 3 weeks so the site was a busy scene with tents, finds processing and excavation underway. The main villa house has now been excavated and back-filled. Interestingly, it clearly developed from an Iron Age settlement, first as a simple rectangular structure which then acquired a verandah, wings, bath-houses, etc, through several phases. Two well-preserved cellar rooms were found, too, the walls reaching up to two splayed window openings. During the 4th century the building fell into ruin, but was then “squatted”, converted into several family units and, eventually, became a location for Saxon burials. Unusually, the names of two successive owners of the villa may be known: stamps on tiles have been interpreted as Tiberius Claudius Severus and Tiberius Claudius Verus. The current excavations centre on two areas to the east of the villa, one of which contained a separate bath-house, possibly for the estate workers, a workshop, a well and a stone-covered drain. The other area near to the villa entrance was assumed to be a stable or outhouse, but digging is now revealing stone foundations and post-pads for several walls and rooms. The latest idea is that this may be an even earlier villa building, but much more work remains to be done. Running through both areas could be seen the remains of the villa boundary wall, which would have surrounded the whole complex. And this new section is not the end of the surprises. Some earlier finds, bronze cavalry fittings, imported pottery, etc, had pointed to a Roman military presence on the site, but without a real context. Current work is looking at the exciting theory that a field directly adjacent contained a fort or camp. Aerial photography, resistivity and excavation of ditches and boundaries are being used to test this theory, giving possibly a further twenty-year campaign for the Upper Nene Archaeological Society. In the summer heat our guides had to compete against a combine harvester going about its work in a nearby field and later a fly-past by a Gypsy Moth and then a Chipmunk Trainer which peeled off and did a ‘circuit’ of the excavations for our admiration. Our thanks to Roy and Liz for their time and care. Further reading: Current Archaeology 146 (1966).
NORTHAMPTON By Barry Reilly

On the outskirts of Northampton our coach paused for a view of the Queen Eleanor Cross, one of the three remaining crosses in England erected by King Edward I to mark the resting places of his wife’s funeral cortege. In Northampton itself we had two hours free time for lunch and sightseeing The Guildhall, built in 1864, is Northampton’s most prestigious building. Usually described as a gem of Victorian Gothic architecture, its interior is a wealth of colour and decoration – allegedly: we were deterred from going inside, unnecessarily as it happens, by the sight of a wedding party at the entrance. Definitely closed and inaccessible was All Saints Church. The original church was largely destroyed in the Great Fire of Northampton in 1675. Five years later it was rebuilt with the help of 1000 tons of timber contributed by Charles II, which explains why his statue adorns the portico parapet. Anyone disappointed at being unable to see inside the church can find a number of photographs on the church’s website: www.allsaintschurchnorthampton.co.uk. An interesting footnote: the poet John Clare was admitted to a Northampton lunatic asylum in 1841 where he remained until his death in 1864, but he had considerable freedom and it was his habit to sit under the portico, sometimes exchanging his verses with passers-by for chewing tobacco. Northampton’s oldest standing building is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Round Church, built by Simon de Senlis, first Earl of Northampton, as thanksgiving for his safe return from the Crusades. It is one of only nine round churches built in England in the Middle Ages; the design was based on the church of the same name in Jerusalem. It originally consisted of a round nave and a straight chancel, but between the 12th and 14th centuries two northern aisles and a southern aisle plus the tower and spire were added. After falling into disrepair down the centuries, it was restored by George Gilbert Scott and reopened in 1864, much as we see it today. In the porch of the south door is a curiosity: a carved stone sundial showing not the time of day, but the times of services. The porch leads into The Round, the most important architectural feature, which is supported by eight massive circular Norman pillars. The rest of the church has many interesting features, too numerous to mention here, representative of its long architectural history. Another interesting footnote: a stone bench used to run round the circumference of the church; in Norman times most of the congregation stood or knelt, but children and the elderly sat on the bench. This is one explanation for the saying: The weakest go to the wall”. The final notable Northampton landmark which some of us managed to visit was the Central Museum and Gallery. Northampton is, of course, known for its centuries-old tradition of shoe making and the Museum houses the world’s largest boot and shoe collection. However, like All Saints, this too was closed (for refurbishment) the day HADAS came to town. But there was much else to enjoy, including displays of leathercraft, oriental and British ceramics and 15th-18th century Italian painting. Of special interest were the rooms devoted to local history and archaeology; the ‘Hamtun’ gallery traces the early history of the area with impressive archaeological finds from the Iron Age, the Roman town of Duston and the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Hamtun, the precursor of Northampton.
CANONS ASHBY: THE LAST STOP OF THE DAY Jean Bayne’s Report

An enchanting medieval manor house was our last Northamptonshire visit of the day. Canons Ashby takes its name from an Augustinian Priory built on the site between 1147 and 1151. None of the original priory, save the church tower, remains and the present house was built on the site of ‘Wylkyns farme’ after the dissolution of the monasteries in the latter half of the 16th century. The Dryden family owned, created and reshaped the place over 4 centuries. its character as a living, evolving house, is reflected in changing patterns of building and organization. Although spacious, the house does not have a grand, formal atmosphere. Its scale suggests a large family home and it is easy to imagine a bustling household, albeit austere rather than extravagant, maintaining the Puritan traditions of its owners. Indeed, until 1938 there was only one cold water tap in the house and no telephone or electricity until 1947. Much of the food was provided from the estate itself: venison, rabbits, mutton and more. The kitchen was modernised in Victorian times replacing the open fire and spit. The Victorian range, still on view, was in use until World War II. Close by was the Winter Parlour, originally the family dining room, but designated the Upper Servants’ Dining Room in 1710. The most striking feature of this room, and perhaps of the whole house, was the walnut panelling, decorated with the crests and coats of arms of local families. This was commissioned in the 1590s, and only re-discovered in the 1980s under layers of paint. A ‘new’ family dining room, on the other side of the house, was remodelled in 1710 by inserting sash windows, lowering the floor, resetting the door and decorating the walls with fine oak panelling and Corinthian pilasters. The effect was intended to be both fashionable and elegant. A Grand Hall with leather buckets, horseshoes, replicas and pictures of weapons and armoury, in¬tended to be an impressive entree to the house, had become a family billiard room by the 19th century. The staircase, with its grand newel posts and intricate carving was an early 17th century attempt to provide a grand route to the upstairs drawing room – the magnificent centrepiece of the house. There a fireplace and overmantel, intricately carved and ornately decorated, dominate the room. In 1632 a plasterwork ceiling was added, featuring thistles, pomegranates and Red Indian princesses! One room is named after the 16th Century poet, Edmund Spenser, who was related by marriage to the Dryden owners (and the poet John Dryden was a cousin). Upstairs, the main bedroom displays fine furnishings, among them a settee with vivid 18th century embroidered covers and a 19th century four-poster bed that re-uses seven splendid 16th century panels. Outside are lovely gardens, restored by the National Trust from near dereliction and planted with, among other delights, 16th century varieties of apples and pears. From the pleasant tea room in the former stable block a short walk brought us to the church, originally built by the Augustinians on the scale of a small cathedral. This has been extensively demolished and rebuilt to suit first Puritan then Anglican tastes. The most striking objects now are the funerary regalia of Robert Dryden (d. 1708): his banner, pennant, crested helmet, gauntlets, spurs, tabard, sword and shield still hang in the church. June Porges and Stewart Wild are thanked, yet again, for a fascinating and varied day out.
Page 3

BROMLEY MUSEUMS By Andy Simpson

I recently had occasion to visit the Bromley Museum to pick up some aircraft instruments they were kindly passing on to my employer, the RAF Museum. This involved a trip by rail to the outer reaches of Travel Card Zone 6, the nearest rail station being Orpington, 20 minutes out of London Bridge. It was well worth the trip, however; as some readers may know, the area has a strong Roman theme. Bromley Museum itself is situated a brisk 20 minute walk from Orpington station, along the modern Orpington High Street and up Church Hill to The Priory, sharing a pretty park-centre site with Orpington Library and open daily in the afternoon 1pm-5pm, and from 10am on Saturdays. The museum/library building itself is a stone and half-timbered medieval/post-medieval structure, formerly a manor of the Priory of Christ Church Canterbury, built in 1290. Admission to this Registered Museum is free.

The upstairs archaeology display includes prehistoric stone tools and a good assortment of Roman pottery from local sites, which has recently been studied by a student undertaking a thesis on the wear patterns in Samian ware – apparently mixing drinks left distinctive wear patterns in the base of the vessels! There is also a good selection of Saxon weapons and grave goods. The displays include items from the private collection of Victorian MP and banker Sir John Lubbock, 1st Lord Avebury, who introduced Bank Holidays. There is also a reconstructed 1930s dining room and a variety of temporary exhibitions. The Museum is linked with several local archaeological sites, including Crofton Roman Villa, adjacent to Orpington Railway Station and Crofton Halls, open Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, Easter to October, and staffed by the Kent Archaeological Rescue unit who excavated and restored the site. Admission is a paltry 80p! There is a sales desk, graphic displays and replica Roman objects, taped commentary and a short talk by an archaeologist. This classic example of a winged corridor villa was inhabited c. AD 140-400 and had some 20 rooms at its peak. Today, the remains of ten rooms can be viewed within a modern cover building., with opus signinuin (concrete) floors, tiled floors and a hypocaust all to be seen. Not far away is the Romano-British bath-house and Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Poverest Road, St Mary Cray, to which visits can be arranged through Bromley Museum (telephone 01689 873826 or e-mail bromleymuseum@bromley.gov.uk). This is also protected by a cover building and consists of three rooms; it may have belonged to a farmhouse complex, or small settlement, close to the River Cray, there being a number of Roman sites on both sides of the river. Part of the hypocaust heating system, with its associated pilae, can still be seen. The building was excavated in 1970-75 by the then curator of Bromley Museum; further excavation by the Museum and Orpington & District Archaeological Society in 1993 indicated a construction date of about AD270 and found evidence of nearby metal¬working with discovery of crushed slag overlying a partly mortared floor. Occupation here also continued until around AD400. Finds from the bath-house and from the nearby Saxon cemetery are in Bromley Museum.
Page 4

Bibliography Missing from the October Newsletter: Roman Hendon – The Evidence

Andy Simpson has provided the following. Brief progress notes in HADAS Newsletters 331 (October 1998) and 332 (November 1998) Various HADAS Newsletters from No.1 October 1969

Roman Roads in & around the London Borough of Barnet Stephen Aleck (unpublished paper) June 1998

Town Trail 1: Hendon Barnet Library Service/HADAS June 1979

Church Farmhouse Bill Bass HADAS Journal Vol.1(pp11-20) 2001

The Buildings of Roman Britain Guy de la Bedoyere Batsford 1991

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Placenames (4th Edn) Eilert Ekwall OUP 1960

Roman Hendon HADAS 1971 An Investigation of Roman Road No.167 Brian Robertson Trans. LAMAS, 22, part 3 (pp 10-29)

1970 Roman Material Found at Grove House, Hendon in 1889 Brian Robertson Mid 24 (pp146-150)

1973 A Moulded Face-flagon Neck from Church Terrace, Hendon Edward Sammes Mid 28 (pp272-3)

1977 Pinning Down the Past – Finds from a Hendon Dig Edward Sammes HADAS 1986

A Place in Time Ed. Pamela Taylor 1989 Sulloniacis – A Dampener for Sun Worshippers?

Pamela Taylor HADAS Newsletter 333, p2 Dec1998 Parish Church of Hendon St Mary, Visitor’s Guide (no date)

A Roman Presence in the Borough of Barnet (Gazeteer of all known Roman rinds in the Borough) Helen Gordon HADAS Newsletters 102 & 103 Aug & Sept 1979

Hendon Church Farm House Excavation 1993, Interim Report HADAS June 1994 London Fieldwork & Publication Round-up London Archaeologist Annual Publication Various issues

Page 5

OTHER SOCIETIES’ EVENTS from Eric Morgan

Thursday 7th November 7.30pm. THE LONDON CANAL MUSEUM, 12-13 New Wharf Rd, Kings Cross, Nl. FURTHER SECRETS OF THE LEA VALLEY. Talk by Dr Jim Lewis (£1.25)

Wednesday 13th November 8.15pm. MILL HILL HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Harwood Hall, Union Church, Mill Hill Broadway, NW7. TOTTERIDGE TALES – RICH & POOR. Talk by John Heathfield (HADAS member)

Friday 15th November 8pm. ENFIELD ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, Jubilee Hall, junction Chase Side/Parsonage Lane, Enfield. THE PORT OF ROMAN LONDON. Talk by Bruce Watson

Friday 15th November 7pm. CITY OF LONDON ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, St Olave’s Parish Hall, Mark Lane, EC3. EAST LONDON ROMAN CEMETERY. David Bowsher (MoLAS)

Tuesday 19th November 2.30pm. EDMONTON HUNDRED HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Jubilee Hall, jn. Chase Side/Parsonage Lane, Enfield. DR JOHNSON’S LONDON. Natasha McEnroe

Tuesday 19th November 8pm. NATIONAL TRUST (BARNET ASSOCIATION) at St Mary Magdalene Hall, Atheaeum Rd, Whetstone, N20_ REFLECTIONS ON SERVING THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR ONE-THIRD OF ITS HISTORY. Talk by Tom Burr MBE

Wednesday 20th November 6 for 6.30pm. LAMAS at Interpretation Unit, Museum of London, 150 London Wall, EC2. ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE GOLDSMITHS’ COMPANY. David Beasley

Wednesday 20th November 8pm. WILLESDEN LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY at Willesden Suite, Library Centre, 95 High Rd, NW10. HIGH ROAD WILLESDEN. Talk by Committee members, slides Wednesday 20th November 8pm. ISLINGTON ARCHAEOLOGY & HISTORY SOCIETY. Islington Town Hall, Upper St, N1. ROMAN REMAINS AT LEFEVRE WALK, PARNELL ROAD. Talk by Robin Taylor-Wilson

Thursday 21st November 8pm.ENFEELD PRESERVATION SOCIETY. Jubilee Hall, jnct’n Chase Side/Parsonage Lane, Enfield. THE SPAINISH FLU IN EIVHELD 1918. Talk by Graham Dalling

Saturday 23rd November 1 lam to 4 pm. NORTH LONDON TRANSPORT SOCIETY, St Paul’s Centre, corner of Church St & Old Park Avenue, Enfield. NORTH LONDON TRANSPORT BAZAAR. Transport-related goods, photographs, books, videos, memorabilia, etc. Historic buses give free rides round local scenic area. light refreshments. Admission £1.50.

Thursday 28th November 8pm. THE FINCHLEY SOCIETY, Drawing Room, Avenue House, East End Rd, N3. TRADING STANDARDS AUTHORITY WORK & YOUR RIGHTS AS A CONSUMER. Talk by Catherine Townley

Tuesday 26th November 8pm_ FRIERN BARNET & DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY. Old Fire Station (next to Town Hall), Friern Barnet Lane, N12. CARING FOR FRIERN BARNET. Talk by Karl Ruge

Wednesday 27th November 8pm. BARNET & DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY. Wyburn Room, Wesley Hall, Stapylton Rd, Barnet. AGM.

Wednesday 27th November 7.30pm. FRIENDS OF BRUCE CASTLE, Bruce Castle Museum, Lordship Lane, Tottenham, N 17. MEDIAEVAL LONDON, LOST & FOUND. Talk by Bruce Watson

Sunday 1st December 10_30am_ HEATH & HAMPSTEAD SOCIETY, Burgh House, New End Square, NW3. ARTEFACTS OF THE HEATH. Walk led by Michael Welbank (donation £1)

Newsletter
Page 1

HADAS DIARY

Lectures start at 8pm in the Drawing Room (ground floor) of Avenue House, East End Road, Finchley , N3, and are followed by question time and coffee. We close promptly at 10pm.

Tuesday 8th October: Lecture by Dr Ann Saunders M.B.E. on ‘St. Paul’s Cathedral – our marble heritage’. HADAS will give a warm welcome to Dr Saunders, our previous President. Besides editing the journals of the Topographical Society and the Costume Society, Dr Saunders is well known as writer and lecturer on the history and architecture of London and her latest book is ‘St Paul’s: the Story of the Cathedral’.

Tuesday 12th November Lecture by Simon Parfitt on ‘The Ups and Downs of Life in the British Palaeolithic’. Simon Parfitt, who last visited HADAS in March 1996 to bring the Boxgrove Paleolithic site to life, will offer a broader view in this lecture.

Thursday 5th DecemberChristmas Dinner at the Meritage Club (now Age Concern), Hendon, combined with a visit to St. Mary’s Norman church next door, where the Vicar, the Rev. Paul Taylor, will give us a talk and tour. St. Mary’s is believed to have been built on the site of an earlier Saxon church. Earlier members will remember our Arabian Nights dinner which was held in the Meritage Club in the 1980s. Details and application form enclosed.
An invitation to meet Kim Stabler of English Heritage at the Salon Room, Avenue House on Thursday 31 October at 7.30pm.

Kim has recently taken over from Rob Whytehead as the Archaeology Advisor for North and West London. She advises on planning matters, development and the Sites & Monuments Record in our area and deals with local societies, archaeological contractors, developers and local authorities. This will be an opportunity for Kim to meet HADAS, discuss her role at English Heritage and for us to exchange views on the future of planning, development and the SMR in Barnet. Bill Bass.
STILL LOOKING….

We are continuing in our efforts to find the Romans at Burnt Oak. However, as of Sunday 8th September, the digging team at Hanshaw Drive had still not reached pre-1920s levels. They are now at a depth of some 1.3 metres at the western end of the five- metre long trench and are still in redeposited clay and building rubble from the 1920s Wesleyan Hall. This is very firmly compacted and difficult to dig through. We have until the end of September to reach the bottom, and at the time of writing Sunday work is continuing. Andy Simpson
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY

Mary Rawitzer has accepted the job of Membership Secretary. We wish her success and many new members. We would like to thank Judy Kaye, retiring membership secretary, for all her hard work.

Page 2

FUTURE OF THE U.S. BASE AT UPPER HEYFORD, ENGLAND by ELLEN HALE from USA TODAY

Just a decade ago, U.S. bombers thundered down the runway here in their mission to protect the free world. Eight F-1 1 1 sarmed with nuclear weapons, their pilots always nearby, stood ready round the clock. Today, the airstrip serves as a parking lot for 20,000 cars. Cattle graze on the fuel dumps, and the barracks house high-tech start-up companies. The yard-thick concrete hangars provide impregnable protection for medical records. Bomb stores hold a different sort of explosive: fireworks. The British government and historic preservationists want to turn this former U.S. air base — one of the largest and most critical frontline defenses against the Soviet Union — into the United Kingdom’s first monument to the Cold War. Preserving Upper Heyford as a symbol of 40 years of nuclear tension, officials say, is as essential as protecting battlegrounds and cathedrals. Opponents, who consider the base an unsightly gash on the otherwise bucolic Oxfordshire landscape, would like to see most of it razed and turned into a park. “Heritage doesn’t just involve medieval castles and standing stones,” argues David Went, inspector of ancient monuments for English Heritage, the government group responsible for selecting cultural sites for statutory protection. “These structures mark a point in time that shaped all of our lives, and it is rapidly passing out of memory.” English Heritage has just completed an inventory of the country’s Cold War sites, from bunkers and bomb shelters to bases. It has made Upper Heyford its top priority because of pending proposals to build houses on the site and allow other parts to revert to the original pastoral state. Hearings are being held. Officials could rule on the future of the base by year’s end. But by all accounts, it appears certain that at least a important, and possibly the first, nationally sanctioned Cold War memorial in the world. Bills pending in Congress would authorize the Interior Department to inventory Cold War sites in the USA, but there has been no organized effort to preserve monuments from that era, says Gary Powers Jr., son of U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers, who was shot down over the Soviet Union in 1962. In the USA, remnants from the Cold War have been preserved, but nothing on the scale of an entire base. Gary Powers runs an online Cold War museum and lobbies for preservation of Cold War sites. Created during World War I and then used by the Royal Air Force during World War 11, Upper Heyford was taken over by Americans in 1950 to serve as a frontline base for the U.S. Strategic Air Command. In an effort to recreate a slice of America in the heart of rural England, existing housing, deemed too small by American standards, was enlarged. A shopping mail, bowling alley, baseball diamonds, pizza parlors and donut shops were added to Americanize the base. Even today, U.S.-style fire hydrants and street signs pepper the 1,250-acre site, set among the rolling hills and farmland of rural England. At its peak in the 1970s and ’80s, 13,000 U.S. servicemembers were stationed at Upper Heyford. Three U-2 spy planes flew out of the base, patrolling the perimeter of the communist Warsaw Pact countries. About 75 F-111 tighter-bombers were housed here in 56 monolithic, concrete hardened shelters that give the rolling landscape an eerie sense of the secret world of the Cold War. “This was not a public war like other wars,” Went says. ‘There are no battlefields or burial grounds. You don’t even have grandpa’s memories. It was all locked away, and all you saw were the gates.” Since the U.S. Air Force left Upper Heyford in 1993, planners, developers and preservationists have debated what to do with the base. Local officials wanted to return it to its original “green” state. A consortium of builders, which runs the site, had hoped to build as many as 5,000 new homes. One local preservation group says it should be completely protected, including the 1.9-mile airstrip — the longest in Europe. ‘It’s prominent, it’s austere, and it’s an intrusion into what was once open countryside,” says Patrick Burke, planning policy manager for Cherwell District Council. The council, which wanted to see the site returned to parkland. has now grudgingly accepted that because of their historical significance, some parts of the base should be preserved. Ardent preservationists envision Upper Heyford as the prime Cold War monument in Europe complete with a museum, bomber planes in the hangars and tours for visitors and schoolchildren. The entire sweep of the base must be protected, they argue. to convey the nature of a war that never required a battlefield and was unlike any other in history. “It is the best existing example of Cold War landscape and architecture,” says Frank Dixon of the Oxford Trust for Contemporary History. The reason we all don’t speak Russian is that that base was there. It helps us understand that the peace we have today is a result of the Cold War.” Contributed by Stewart J Wild
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HADAS OUTING TO SUTTON HOO AND ORFORD JULY 2002

Many thanks to Tessa Smith and Sheila Woodard who arranged this very successful day.

SUTTON HOO by KAREN LEVY

Our destination,Sutton Hoo, located in East Suffolk, on the River Diben. It is noted for its Royal Anglo- Saxon burial ground, where in 1939 archaeologists uncovered one of the richest graves ever excavated in Europe. We disembarked our coach into some much welcomed sunshine and headed for a courtyard, surrounded by modern buildings housing the exhibition, cafe and shop. In the courtyard stood a half size replica of the warrior boat used in the burial. Our guide commenced our tour by taking us to a field, across which an Edwardian House stands.Here, in 1926, Edith Pretty and her family came to reside. After her husband’s demise she delved into spiritualism and this combined with encouragement from friends and family gave her the impetus to investigate the site located within the 400 acre estate. The area consists of 17 mounds believed to be of the Royal Dynasty of the Wuffings. During the 7th Century it appears that the area was also used to bury execution victims – those who would not convert to Christianity – as it was considered Pagan soil. A gallows was found close to their burial site. Most of the mounds have been pilfered by grave robbers. However, in 1939, when Basil Brown started to excavate the boat, although a robber’s hole had been dug (and a Tudor beer jar found – digging is thirsty work) the burial chamber had been left intact. The boat itself (measuring 90 foot long) only remained as an imprint due to the soil’s acidity levels. Although there was no trace of a body, they discovered an array of magnificent treasures – 263 in all: jewellery embellished with over 2,000 Indian garnets (which took several days to cut and polish), feasting dishes and a grand selection of armour befitting a Royal send off. They were taken to the British Museum for safe keeping due to the commencement of World War 11. Carbon dating suggests that the grave dates back to around 600AD and could belong to Raedwald. King of the East Angles who died around 625 AD.

ORFORD by KEN CARTER

Orford has human scale. It’s enchanting. Even the coach park appeals. Well-established greenery transforms the tarmac expanse into life-size parking bays. Time stands still. A board in Quai Street announces : Pair of Georgian style 4 bedroom cottages to be built by autumn 2002′ It’s mid-July. When will work start ? Orford used to thrive. It was a port on the river Or. It had quays… a market place… several dwelling streets… three churches… and a castle overlooking them all. King Stephen sanctioned the market in 1135. Henry II’s castle took 9 years to build ( 1165-1173 ). It countervailed Hugh Bigod’s stronghold at nearby Framlingham… and cost £ I ,400. The flint keep is circular, with three towers only – an innovative structure – intended to eliminate blind spots. We enter the castle by a wooden stepway to the first floor. Inside, two locals greet us with sounds that instruments of the time might have made. We explore the premises : a large open circular space on each floor… dark passages… dim side-rooms… a kitchen… three privies. At the top of one castle tower I spotted an early gothic fireplace – and imagined men huddling there… sheltering from winds off the North Sea. St Bartholemew’s has flint walls, early gothic windows, a square tower and a truncated chancel. Outside, I walked around the remaining mid C 17 ruins. Inside, Opera East was directing a lighting rehearsal for Janacek’s ‘Cunning Little Vixen’ . Each year, the sea thrusts sand towards the Ness – leaving Orford a little farther from the sea, as the ship sails. River-silt aggravates the port’s decline. Quai Street was once a creek… and Ford Cottage is land-locked. The Old Warehouse serves delicious home-made scones and jam, though. Time stands still here, too.

Page 4

ROMAN HENDON -THE EVIDENCE — CONTINUED by ANDY SIMPSON

It should be noted also that the 1969 trial trenches by HADAS in the rear of Peacock’s Yard and Mount Pleasant, Church End found pottery indicating occupation no earlier than the late 19th century. Similarly. a HADAS excavation at 50 The Burroughs (TQ227 891) in 1986 found only post-medieval material, as did a dig by Percy Reboul in the garden of 14 Cedars Close in 1980 (TQ238 897). A watching brief on the site of the Hendon Bus Garage at the Burroughs in 1993 by MOLAS (TQ2290 8930) showed only natural clay overlain by 18th century makeup. HADAS site watching at the PDSA building at Church Terrace (TQ2298 8950) on the 5th November 1993 showed only modem concrete, soil and drain disturbance above natural clay in a 45cm wide trench at the rear of the building, with no finds. A more recent HADAS excavation south west of here in 1991/2 in land formerly part of St. Joseph’s Convent at the junction of The Burroughs and Watford Way (TQ2245 8915) found a single residual sherd of medieval Hertfordshire Grey ware, and much post-medieval material, in disturbed top layers, plus an undated ditch, but no Roman evidence. (See HADAS Newsletter 256, 1992) The Paddock/Church End sites lie one mile east of the A5/Watling Street, a known major Roman route from London to Verulamium (St. Albans) and the north which forms the western boundary of the present day Borough of Barnet, and south of the Roman road projected by the Viatores study group in 1964 as their route No.167, running south from Verulami um to London through Barnet Gate (where Roman coins, now lost, were found some years ago) and possibly Mill Hill and Hendon. Other nearby Roman finds including a third century coin at Moat Mount This route or, more likely, that of another road was recorded in section by HADAS a mile or so east at Copthall playing fields in 1967/8, (TQ2325 9140) when some 130 native and Roman sherds of mid – late first century pottery were found associated with the 21 foot wide cambered pebble road surface. Stephen Aleck suggests an early route of some sort from Church End Hendon to Red Hill, Burnt Oak roughly along the line now represented by Greyhound Hill, Aerodrome Road, Booth Road and Gervase Road, as shown by early maps and the alignment of a former footpath, linking two known sites with Roman occupation, though to prove any Roman connection would be difficult. Other Roman occupation in the vicinity includes the (now scheduled) first/second century pottery import and production site at Brockley Hill on Watling Street excavated at various times since 1937(succeeded by some late third-early fourth century, possibly agricultural, activity), pottery and tile scatters from nearby Edgwarebury, and the late third/early fourth century pit or ditch with barbarous radiate coin, pottery, building material and bone found in Thirlby Road, Burnt Oak by HADAS in 1971 (TQ2059 9080); one of these is probably the site of Sulloniacae as recorded in the Antonine Itinery. The seven Roman Lamps and defaced coins reported near Mill Hill in 1769, alleged Roman finds at a possible earthwork at Mote Mount, Mill Hill, a Roman gold coin at The Hyde, Colindale. odd pottery sherds at Hendon Isolation Hospital, Welsh Harp, The Hyde, both close to the Watling Street, and also more recently, to also add to those recorded by Helen Gordon in 1979, the two sherds and tile fragments found by HADAS at The Mitre Inn, at High Barnet in 1990 and a single sherd at 1263-1275 High Road, Whetstone on the line of the old Great North Road in 2001 hint at scattered outlying Roman occupation of some description. SUMMARY What is clear is that from half a dozen quite closely grouped sites in the centre of Hendon there are indications of first — fourth century occupation, possibly centred on the area now occupied by the church of St Mary, that seems to have included tile bonded and roofed masonry building(s), possibly with brick columns, (but no trace of wall plaster as yet, and only one, vague, mention of possible mosaic tesserae) and possible outlying early cremation cemetery(s) south and east of it — but, as yet, no recognised Roman inhumations or in —situ building remains. With the paucity of villas in the area and the dominating high ground position of the site! find myself thinking of a then remote ‘Romano-Celtic’ (cella and ambulatory) type temple, possibly on a site sacred in earlier times, perhaps with associated scatter of buildings that might have hosted occasional festivals or fairs — hence the pottery – or even a mausoleum, though I suppose an isolated tile kiln lying between the Brockley Hill and Highgate Kiln sites is another possibility. Ted Sarnmes also thought the site might have ritual/ religious connections, based on the pottery evidence — see above. The lack, so far, of ovens, iron tools, quemstones, animal bone, glassware, spindle-whorls and loom-weights might argue against it being a domestic or agricultural site. The phasing/dating of the finds needs more study — the cremation burials are likely to be of early date, but the pottery found includes both contemporary VRW and other wares and third/fourth century material, indicating either continuous occupation throughout the Roman period or perhaps Brockley-Hill style early and late bursts of activity with a possible lull in between during the unsettled third century. Masonry buildings did not become common in Roman Britain until the second century though timber framed buildings from the first century did feature tiled roofs. Only more finds can fill in the gaps! To quote the late Ted Sammes ‘This would seem to suggest that there must have been a building of some pretension in the area, and since the finds were concentrated in the area next to Church End, one wonders whether the Roman site may be under the modern road or under the church’. This is an interpretation still valid today, for an area that will repay careful study. Andy provides a very good bibliography to go with this article, but there is no space to print it here.

Page 5

Other Societies Events from Eric Morgan

Thursday 3rd October, 7.30pm . THE LONDON CANAL MUSEUM. 12-13 New Wharf Road, King’s Cross, Nl. THOMAS TELFORD. Talk by Anthony Burton ( author & T.V. presenter }. Concessions £1.25.

Thursday 3rd October, 8pm. PINNER LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY. Village Hall, Chapel Lane Car Park, Pinner. FIELD END REVISITED. The development of the old part of Eastcote. Talk by Dr. Colleen Cox & Ms. Karen Spink. £1.

Sunday 6th October, 10.30am. 7pm. NORTH LONDON TRANSPORT SOCIETY – UNCOMPLETED NORTHERN LINE EXTENSIONS. Extra walk & study tour led by Jim Blake. Meet at Finsbury Park Station. Must book in advance. Send S.A.E. to N.L.T.S., `Ravensbrook’ 8, The Rowans, London, N13 SAD

Sunday 6th October, 10.30am. HEATH & HAMPSTEAD SOCIETY. Burgh House, New End Square, NW3. GEOLOGY OF THE HEATH. Walk led by Ivor Fishman. Donation £1.

Wednesday 9th October, 8pm. BARNET & DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY. Wyburn Room, Wesley Hall, Stapylton Road, Barnet. A SAFARI IN THE CITY. Talk by Paul Taylor.

Wednesday 9th October, 8pm. EDMONTON HUNDRED HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Jubilee Hall, junction of Parsonage Lane/ Chase Side, Enfield. THE GUNPOWDER PLOT & THE ENFIELD CONNECTION. Talk by Robert Musgrove.

Thursday 17th October, 7.30pm. CAMDEN HISTORY SOCIETY. Hall of St Mary’s Somers Town Church, Eversholt Street , NW1 ( opposite the side of Euston Station ). STREETS OF ST. PANCRAS : SOMERS TOWN & RAILWAY LANDS. Talk by Streets Research Group.

Friday 18th October, 8pm. ENFIELD ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Jubilee Hall, junction Parsonage Lane/Chase Side, Enfield. THE ROLE OF SURVEYING & G.I.S. IN PROFESSIONAL ARCHAEOLOGY. Talk by Duncan Lees.

Friday 18th October, 7pm. CITY OF LONDON ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. St. Olave’s Parish Hall, Mark Lane, FX3. LONDON BEFORE LONDON. Talk by Jon Cotton ( Museum of London ).

Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th October, from noon. ENGLISH HERITAGE. Kenwood, Hampstead Lane, NW3. SPORTS & PASTIMES ( MEDIEVAL ). £3.50 adults, £2.50 concession. £1.75 child.

Tuesday 22nd October, 8pm. FRIERN BARNET & DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY. Old Fire Station ( next to Town Hall ) Friern Barnet Lane, N12. LOCAL HISTORY USING OLD MAPS. Talk by Hugh Petrie ( Barnet Borough historian ),

Saturday 26th October, 10am. EDMONTON HUNDRED HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Jubilee Hall, junction Parsonage Lane I Chase Side, Enfield. ALL DAY CONFERENCE.

Thursday 31st October, 8pm. THE FINCHLEY SOCIETY. Drawing Room, Avenue House, East End Road, N3. HOW THE NEW CABINET STSTEM IS WORKING & HOW THE FINCHLEY SOCIETY BEST BE INVOLVED. (Jean Scott memorial lecture ) Given by Leo Boland, Chief Executive, Barnet Borough.

Page 1

HADAS Diary

Tuesday October 8: The new lecture season opens with St Paul’s Cathedral our marble heritage by Dr Ann Saunders, past HADAS President.

Lectures start at 8pm in the Drawing Room (ground floor) of Avenue House, East End Road, Finchley, N3, and are followed by question time and coffee. We close promptly at 10pm.

Tuesday November 12: Simon Parfitt, who last visited HADAS in March 1996 to bring the Boxgrove Palaeolithic site to life, will offer a broader view in The Ups and Downs of Life in the British Palaeolithic.

December, date to follow: Christmas Party. A definite date has not yet been fixed, but possible ones are Thursday December 5 or Monday December 9. Details will follow in the next Newsletter. London prices have escalated enormously and most appropriate locations fora HADAS event are now obliged to employ security staff which adds to the cost. So we are going back to the practice in the early days of HADAS and planning a local dinner with an interesting visit nearby. We will visit St Mary’s Church, Hendon, where the vicar, the Rev Paul Taylor, will give us a talk on its history — a Norman church with possible Saxon foundations. Next door is the Meritage Club (Age Concern) built on the site of Ted Sammes’ excavations in the 1970s and where HADAS held its Christmas Arabian Night in the 1980s. Members will be able to show their Ireland weekend photos and those from other outings or activities, and the 1984 Channel 4 video Barnet Before Domesday may also be shown. A member has offered to run a quiz, and it has been suggested we have a couple of sales tables (minimart substitute) with books on one and cakes and Christmas goodies on the other.
Hanshaw Drive: the sequel

Following the excavation of our first trench at Hanshaw Drive in 2000 (HDWOO) adjacent to the house in Thirlby Road where the Roman pits were found in 1971, the digging team have now returned. The trench this time is 5×1 metres and cuts across a prominent mound at the centre of the site. So far, the stratigraphy this time round is pretty basic — turf, about 15cm of post-1965 topsoil, a thin layer of ash/ cinder, then a thick and very well packed 50cm or so of redeposited London clay mixed with demolition rubble from the former Wesleyan Meeting Hall (1928-1965). This contains such goodies as electrical wire, bathroom tiles and slabs of concrete. Below this we have just started to come down onto what will hopefully prove to be the original buried (and very sandy) ploughsoil, which has already yielded its first 18th century day pipe stem fragment. No sign of the Romans just yet, however. We are presently digging on Sundays 10am-4pm with a break for lunch. Would-be diggers please call me on 0208 200 6875 or Brian Wrigley on 020 8959 5968. Andy Simpson August 18 update: The buried soil was a false lead. We are 89cm below the turf level and still in very firm redeposited clay — we found a plastic shampoo bottle!

The Friary Park survey

The survey has been continuing here with some areas being resurveyed to provide a more consistent result. Latest results show an unusual intriguing feature, shaped as a long line with circular ends. It is difficult to speculate what this might be, but if it were a structure of some kind it would have been a substantial one. Research by Oliver Natelson of the Friern Barnet and District Local History Society shows a mansion had been built in Friary Park in the 16th century (the present house in the park is mid-Victorian). It stood west of Friern Barnet Lane and south of St James’s church, with which it was connected by an avenue in 1783, when the extensive grounds were bounded to the west by ponds and Blackett’s brook. “The house contained 17 hearths in 1664, when it was unoccupied. In 1797 the main east front of five bays with two wings was in an early 18th century style but the core of an older house survived with piecemeal addi¬tions, probably including a hall of c 1660.” (extract from Victoria County History of Middlesex). Whether the survey feature is connected with such a building or some earlier or later event remains to be seen, but the results are encouraging. The survey will con-tinue into September. Bill Bass For more information on this, see the HADAS website.
Page 2

Plan preserves Ted’s cottages

Barnet Council has published an additional chapter to its development plan entitled Cricklewood, West Hendon and Brent Cross Regeneration Area. Over the next ten years the area roughly bounded by Hendon Way, Park Road, Edgware Road and Crickle-wood Lane (240 hectares/592 acres) on both sides of the North Circular Road is scheduled for improvement. The Brent Cross area will become a new “town centre”; new and improved transport links will run between Hendon Central/Brent Cross tube and Brent Cross and Cricklewood and there will be a new train station behind the Virgin cinema complex on the Edgware Road. Areas of Special Archaeological Significance and nature conservation sites are included, while the Cricklewood railway workers’ cottages (Gratton Terrace, et al), which Ted Sammes fought so long to save, are protected within a conservation area. The public are invited to forward comments during the six-week consultation period ending on Monday October 7. For your copy of the proposals call the Strategic Planning Team at Barnet House, Whetstone, on 020 8359 4990, fax 020 8359 6054 or e-mail forward.planning@barnet.gov.uk Stewart Wild
Lottery cash for the Grange

There is good news for the Grange Museum of Commu-nity History, currently located at Neasden in our neigh-bouring borough Brent. A major grant from the Herit¬age Lottery Fund — almost £1 million — is well-nigh guaranteed, which will enable its collections, which document and celebrate Brent’s unique history and cul-tural diversity, to be far better and more accessibly displayed. The money will help fund the relocation of the museum from its present site, which has poor physical and disability access, restricted storage and display space and poor educational facilities, to new premises at Willesden Green Library Centre. The new central location includes an innovative proposal to develop an integrated children’s library, museum and Learning area and much-needed space for permanent displays, temporary exhibitions and im proved storage and conservation conditions. Basing the museum within the library complex will help to create a new cultural facility for Brent and assist in the develop ment of a range of educational activities and facilities. The award is one of 22 announced by the HLF for major projects as wide-ranging as the creation of a new national museum on the waterfront at Swansea, restor ing Hull’s largest urban park and the Stonehenge plan.

Sadly, all the poles have gone

Following last issue’s plea for information on the research on trolley bus poles and lamp standards in Woodhouse Road and Friern Barnet carried out in 1978, Bill Firth provides this update. I remember this work well. I started it in Golders Green when it became obvious that new street lighting standards were being put in. At the time there were trolley bus poles used as lamp standards from Childs Hill to Henleys Corner, which I recorded, but they were replaced soon after. Raymond Lowe took some photographs. I was unaware of any similar poles elsewhere in the borough but Brian Wibberley, the BLW of last month’s comments, took me up on this and recorded those in Woodhouse Road and Friern Barnet Road. There are none left now. Just to be sure! rode along the length of the two roads in early August. I do not know when they were replaced but I imagine not long after those in Golders Green. The Research Committee minutes of November 5 1976 recorded Mr Lowe as reporting: “Trolley bus poles now in use as lamp standards were converted by Edward Clack for the North Metropolitan Electricity Co., Hendon District.” At this time Mr Clack had retired and was living in Appleby, Cumbria. One other point: the poles originally supported a heavy weight of wires and were installed leaning away from the centre of the road so that when the wires were added the poles were pulled upright. When the poles were used as lamp standards they were not carrying the weight of the wires and they leant away from the road.
Eyes down, once again

Bill Firth’s Article (History Beneath our Feet) in the last Newsletter struck a chord with me, although it is quite some years since my late pa rents paid bills to Northmet. A few thoughts from deepest Surrey, where I have been looking at public utilities covers. In my parish there are six different styles of gutter rainwater gratings, made by 40 (yes, forty) different ironfounders, from Exeter to York. Main drainage reached here only in 1931. One draincover was cast in India, and others bear the names of local builders. But remember Sherlock Holmes, The Adventure of the Retired Colourman: “The house is older than the water-pipes”; an 18th-century cottage here has the draincover of a builder whose nearby yard opened only in 1927. Don’t overlook the railway station: mine has a Southern Railway water valve cover (1923-48) and had another from an engineering firm which was involved with the station building in 1885. This last has been lost, which brings me to my final point: record before “development”, resurfacing or traffic damage leads to the disappearance of evidence! Derek Reran
The Romans are delayed:

The continuation of Andy Simpson’s account of Roman Hendon has unfortunately been squeezed out of this Newsletter. Watch the next one…
Research on Shirehall Lane, Hendon

A paragraph in the MoLAS 2002 annual review briefly summarises the complicated constructional history of the building at 8 Shirehall Lane, Hendon, which formerly housed part of the Hasmonean Primary School. Andrew Westman of MoLAS (the Museum of London Archaeology Service), has kindly allowed HADAS to publish a much fuller summary of his report. In return, he hopes a HADS member may be able to help find out the name of an earlier researcher of the building’s history. Andrew Westman writes: I was able to spend one day (in February last year) in Hendon Archives and Local Studies Cen-tre, and was lucky enough to come across some notes on the building already col-lected by an earlier researcher. These were very useful to me, but unfortu¬nately neither I nor the archivists could identify the author. The notes included a list of photographs, but not copies of the photographs themselves, obviously taken before alterations to the house in the 1990s (such as inserting RSJs, breeze block walls, and eliminating the entrance passage and the stair flights on the ground floor). I’d like to know who did this research, in order to be able to thank them and acknowledge them properly in the archive if not the report, and it would also be useful to know the wherea¬bouts of the photographs or even obtain copies of them. I’d be most grateful for any light anyone in HADAS may be able to throw ,on these questions. If any member can help, please email Andrew at: andreww@molas.org.uk, or write to him or phone him at MoLAS.
Education on much altered footings

The Museum of London Archaeology Service was com-missioned by Rosenfelder Associates, architects, on be¬half of the Jewish Secondary School Movement, to ana¬lyse and record a standing building at 8 Shirehall Lane, Hendon, London NW4, part of the Hasmonean Primary School, at 8-10 Shirehall Lane. The building was statutorily listed as being of special architectural or historic interest, Grade 2, and the investigation, which took place in February 2001, and a subsequent report were required as a condition of plan-ning permission to demolish the building before redevelopment of this part of the school. The oldest structural remains, identified in the south-west part of the building, were timber posts and beams, probably of oak and the remnants of early timber framing, perhaps 17th century in date. These timbers may have belonged to a two- storey building constructed on this site (designated Building 1), to the west of which a set of two rooms was later added, one on the ground floor and the other on the first floor directly above. The new rooms, built of tim¬ber studs infilled with brick and including a chimney stack to one side of a hipped roof, can be dated broadly to the latter half of the 18th and the early years of the 19th centuries; documentary evi¬dence suggests that they may have existed by 1796, when Build¬ing 1 and a neighbouring build¬ing to the south (10 Shirehall Lane) were described as “two dwelling houses with coach- house, stable, out-offices, garden and a small pightle [or cultivated field]” . The first-floor room had a high ceiling with a decorated cornice and a pair of doors, the doorcases having en- gaged flat fluted columns and corner rosettes in a late 18th-century style. Most of the older, timber-framed part of Building 1 was then dismantled, retaining only the added set of rooms, and replaced by a new series of rooms, built on two floors fronting onto the street to the east and partly enclosing the retained set of rooms (a change sufficiently extensive to be designated Building 2). The new external walls were built largely of brick, with internal walls built of timber studs infilled with brick nogging, around two brick chimney stacks. A hipped roof was built over the new rooms, separate from that over the rooms retained from Building I and sur-rounded to front and sides by a brick parapet. The first- floor landing was rebuilt with a floor partly at a higher level than previously, causing one of the pair of doors in an existing first-floor room mentioned above to be sealed up; the higher level was presumably to accommodate the lower flights of the staircase, which by implication was therefore also rebuilt, or at least rearranged, at this time. The surviving timber banisters and handrail of this staircase were in a late 18th or early 19th-century style. The construction of Building 2 is documented possibly as early as 1828, when this building and its neighbour were described as “two substantial brick dwellings with stabling to each, yards and garden”, and certainly by 1840, when this site comprised a “dwell¬ing house, stabling, garden and forecourt”. According to documentary evidence a loggia in wrought and cast iron was erected against the street front, and this may have included balconies in front of full-length windows on the first floor. This loggia is documented in 1862, but may not have been an original part of Building 2 as a ground- floor window in the building was enlarged at some time to form a full-length window or glazed door, perhaps to suit the loggia. This building appeared to have been a private residence until 1922 when, according to documentary evidence, two doctors set up their practice in it. A wing was then added to Building 2, to the north, documented by 1935.This wing was constructed of concrete, brick and steel, and included a second staircase to the rear, windows with Crittall steel frames and, facing the street, a combined steel-framed door and window. Alterations were made elsewhere in similar materials, possibly at separate times: the rear and side walls of Building 2 were rebuilt; a passage from the first-floor stair landing and an adjacent room were opened up to form a single room; and probably at this time the fireplaces were blocked, the chimneys cut down and the roof coverings replaced. After 1960, the loggia was at least partly dismantled and replaced by a canted bay window on the ground floor. In about 1970 the building was taken over for use as part of an adjacent primary school. As recently as 1997, rooms were opened up to form large classrooms on the ground floor, with steel joists inserted for support in place of walls, the original staircase was removed from the ground floor, making a suitable hallway just inside a new entrance in the south wall linking the building with the rest of the school, and the first floor was vacated. The classrooms in the building were last used in 2000.
Destinations to dream of…

Inspired by the HADAS sortie to Ireland, or simply longing for a break from Britain? If either is the case, the British Museum Traveller has a wide range of escorted tours of a historical and archaeological nature. Members might like to consider the following tours which, at the time of writing, still had places available. Thebes and the Oases of the Western Desert September 29 16 days £1,990 (reduced from £2,350) The Imperial Cities of Morocco October 5 9 days £1,395 Discover Jordan October 5 9 days £1,395 Classical Turkey October 5 15 days £1,880 Beyond the Oxus: Bukhara and Samarkand October 11 10 days £1,699 Ancient Rome October 14 7 days £1,425 Discover Lebanon October 19 8 days £1,198 Egypt: The Story of the Nile October 21 14 days £1,895 (reduced from £2,150) Discover Egypt October 22 7 days £1,075 Journey through Cambodia November 2 15 days £2,395 Guatemala: Archaeology and Anthropology November 6 15 days £2,950 North and South Vietnam 15 November 16 days £2,695 For a brochure and further information, call 020 7436 7575 or visit www.britishmuseumtraveller.co.uk

Who’s now in charge, and what they’re doing

HADAS Hon. Secretary Denis Ross provides his quarterly report on committee activities The following items may be of interest to members arising from the AGM and the committee’s first meet¬ing in the society’s current year: The AGM took place on June 11 2002 and was attended by 39 members. It was chaired for the first time by the society’s new President, Harvey Sheldon. The following were elected as members of the commit¬tee: Officers: Chairman: Andrew Selkirk, Vice-Chairman: Brian Wrigley, Hon. Treasurer: Micky O’Flynn, Hon. Secretary: Denis Ross. Other members: Christian Allen, Bill Bass, Jackie Brookes, Don Cooper, Andrew Coulson, Catherine Da Costa, Judy Kaye, Eric Morgan, Dorothy Newbury, Peter Nicholson, Peter Pickering, Tim Wilkins. After the meeting, there were various presentations — organised by June Porges — relating to the society’s activities (reported in last Newsletter). The committee met on July 5 2002. The following items were among matters discussed: (a)The following appointments were made: Membership Secretary: Judy Kaye, although she has expressed a wish to be relieved of this office because of pressure of work. Co-Ordinators: Fieldwork: Brian Wrigley; Programme/ Newsletters: Dorothy Newbury; Events: Eric Morgan; Publicity: Tim Wilkins. (b)The Birkbeck course on the analysis of materials from the Sammes archives is running for the second year at Avenue House on Wednesdays from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, from September 25 2002 to March 26 2003. Enrolment forms can be obtained from me or from Birkbeck. (c)The society’s first Journal proved popular and successful. It is hoped to publish a second edition in the current year. (d)The society has purchased a new resistivity meter which is easy to use and effective. In particular, it is in use for the society’s current activities in Friary Park. (e)The society has always enjoyed a close rela-tionship with Church Farmhouse Museum in Hendon and has agreed to donate a display case to the Museum. It will indicate that the case is donated in memory of Ted Sammes. (f)The society’s website and email group con-tinue to expand. The society’s trip to Ireland took place from July 12 to 16 and was very successful — thanks to Jackie Brookes who organised it. A full report accompanies this issue of the Newsletter.

Page 3

On the learning curve: it’s that time of year again

Who has enough fingers to count the HADAS members who have followed the London University extra-mural diploma or certificate course in archaeology? But still there should be new takers for these serious yet very enjoyable courses, now run under the aegis of Birkbeck. Looking at the current pattern of study, things have changed hugely since this Newsletter editor did it (I shan’t admit when). Then, each diploma course ended in an exam rather than the course work/ one major essay scheme of today and the diploma and certificate were entirely separated. But the range of study is much the same, moving through the palaeolithic and mesolithic to the archaeology of western Asia and prehistoric Europe, with a range of choices for the final, fourth year of the diploma. Even the name of David Price-Williams still features among the lecturers. But enough nostalgia, to business. In 2002-2003 all year one to three courses will run at the Institute of Archaeology, with fourth year options there (the study of artefacts) or at Russell Square (Roman Britain) or at the Museum of London (physical data in archaeology). There are a whole series of other courses run by Birkbeck, too. For details of everything in the prospec¬tus, telephone 020 7631 6627/ 6631, fax 020 7631 6686 or email archaeology& ce.bbk.ac.uk Nearer home, there is a new series of lectures — Exploring Traditional and Alternate London — at Hamp-stead Garden Suburb Institute. Lecturer for the 32-week course, which starts on Monday September 23, is well-known London historian Robert Stephenson. He will chart the development of London from prehistory, through the Roman and subse-quent periods, to the present day. Sessions will deal with city-wide topics or focus on specific districts of the capital and their historical and architectural heritage. Time is devoted to London’s legends as well as to a number of alternative perspec¬tives of the city, including its sacred sites, energy centres, dowsing surveys, folklore, execution sites, ghosts and ancient customs. The course combines a series of slide-illustrated lectures with guided walks. For more information call the Institute at Central Square, NW11, on 020 8455 9951 or visit www.hgsi.ac.uk
Did you read about

According to the Sunday Times (August 11), archaeolo-gists are to search beneath the Kremlin for a trove of gold and silver treasure, same of which may have lain hidden for more than 500 years. Valuables ranging from coins and diamonds to ecclesiastical documents are believed to have been buried over the centuries by aristocrats and monks beneath Moscow’s famous landmark, a fortress dating from 1156. Most of the digging is expected to be around the Supreme Soviet, opposite President Putin’s office. It is on the site of a monastery demolished on Stalin’s orders in 1930. At the time, dozens of golden objects, including 17th-century chalices, were found. Renovations in the basement of the Patriarch’s Palace in 1963 uncovered 13th-century jewellery and a secret 15th-century arsenal. In 1994 about 3,500 gold and silver coins from the 16th and 17th centuries were found in the building housing the president’s offices. Tatyana Panova, the Kremlin museum’s head of archaeology, said that they hoped to find relics from the era of Ivan the Terrible, the first Russian tsar, who ruled from 1547 to 1584, and also from the reign of Catherine the Great (1762-1796). The grave of the “Amesbury Archer” is considered to be the most significant Bronze Age burial so far found in Britain. Some 100 items were buried with a man aged between 35 and 50. They included three copper knives, gold earrings, five pottery beakers and two sets of flint tools, and their richness implies the owner was a member of an aristocratic elite. The grave, three miles from Stonehenge, is thought to be contemporary with the erection of the first bluestones at the monument, around 4,300 years ago. A chess figure found in Albania suggests that the game was played in Europe 600 years earlier than previously thought. The ivory piece, dating from the 5th century, was discovered by archaeologists at Butrint, an ancient Mediterranean city. It is believed to be a king or queen, as its engrav-ings include a small cross, and is thought to have belonged to a wealthy owner because of ivory’s cost and rarity at that time. Members of the Institute of World Archaeology, affiliated to the University of East Anglia, found it in a Roman mansion. They claim it is Europe’s oldest known chesspiece. Chess originated in India in the 2nd or 3rd centu-ries BC but was not thought to have spread to Europe until the 11th century. Butrint is a World Heritage Site which the institute has been excavating since 1994. Temples, a theatre and a basilica have already been uncovered. “Howling eunuchs gave their all in Yorkshire” or “Roman cross-dressing eunuch found bejewelled in his grave” are hardly the expected headlines for ar-chaeological reports in The Times or the Daily Tel¬egraph. But that is exactly how the two papers titled their accounts of interpretation of the skeleton of a young man, wearing female jewellery, found close to the North Yorkshire Roman site of Cataractonium. He is believed to have been a priest of Cybele, followers who dressed in women’s clothes and cas¬trated themselves in honour of the goddess during a spring festival called the Day of Blood.
Other societies’ events

Stanmore & Harrow Local Historical Society Wednesday September 4, 8pm Talk: The History of Harrow School, by Rita Gibbs. Wealdstone Baptist Church, High Road, Wealdstone.

London Canal Museum Thursday September 5, 7.30pm Talk: Tide Mills of London, by David Plunket. 12-13 New Wharf Road, King’s Cross, Ni. Concessions £1.25.

North London Transport Society Saturday September 7, llam-4pm Transport Enthusiasts Bazaar. St Paul’s Centre, corner of Church Street/Old Park Avenue, Enfield. Admission £1.50. Free vintage bus rides to the Royal Forest Hotel, Chingford, via scenic Lea valley. Avenue House, East End Road, N3

Sunday September 8, 3pm-5pm Garden Party with entertain-ments and refreshments, proceeds to building fund. Amateur Geological Society

Tuesday September 10, 8pm Talk: The Evolution of Planets, by Kathy Willis. St Margaret’s United Reform Church, Victoria Avenue, N3. Barnet & District Local History Society

Wednesday September 11, 8pm Talk: Nicholls Farm Revisited, by Gillian Gear. Wesley Hall, Stapylton Road, Barnet. Hornsey Historical Society

Wednesday September 11, 8pm Talk: Westminster Abbey, by Bernard Baboulene. Union Church Hall, corner of Ferme Park Road/ Weston Park, N8. Pinner Local History Society

Thursday September 12, 8pm Talk: Middlesex History Sources (from 1700) at the Public Record Office, by Paul Carter. Village Hall, Chapel Lane Car Park, Pinner.

Friern Barnet & District Local History Society Sunday September 15, 2pm Friern Hospital Tour — see 150 years of local history. Led by 011ie Natelson. Meet at forecourt of New Southgate Station. £1.

Willesden Local History Society Wednesday September 18, 8pm Talk: Great Central and Metropolitan Railways in the Willesden Area, by Peter Rousselange. Library Centre, 95 High Road, NW10.

Edmonton Hundred Historical Society Wednesday September 18, 8pm Talk: The Three Barnets, by Gillian Gear, Jubilee Hall, junction of Parsonage Lane/Chase Side, Enfield. Enfield Archaeological SocietyF

Friday September 20, 8pm Talk: E.A. Bowles of Myddleton House, by Brian Hewitt. Jubilee Hall, Enfield (as above). NB: HADAS did a resistivity survey of the bowling green lawn at Myddleton House last October.

City of London Archaeological Society Friday September 21, 7pm Talk: Excavations at Plantation House, by Robin Nielson (MoLAS). St Olave’s Parish Hall, Mark Lane, EC3.

Friern Barnet & District Local History Society Tuesday September 24, 8pm Talk: Work of the London Civic Forum, by its director, Darryl Telles. Drawing Room, Avenue House, East End Road, N3,

The Finchley Society Tuesday September 24, 8pm Talk: Alexandra Palace, the History of North London’s Most Famous Building. Old Fire Station (next to Town Hall), Friern Barnet Lane, N12. Friern 13a met & District Local History Society

Sunday September 15, 2pm Friary Park Tour: a circular tour of the park and St James’ the Great Church. Meet outside the main entrance in Friern Barnet Lane. £1. NB: HADAS is currently doing a resistivity survey of the park.
Go through the closed doors

Once again the London Open House Weekend is approach-ing, the two days of the year when a variety of places throughout the capital usually closed to the public open their doors. One regular is the Mill Hill Observatory, and there will be conducted tours of Burgh House, Hampstead (in¬cluding the old wine cellars) at 3pm and 4pm on Sunday. This year’s dates are Saturday Sept 21, Sunday Sept 22. The list of participating properties is available from London Open House, PO Box 25361, NW5 1GY, (£1.50 by cheque or in postage stamps, plus an addressed A5 size envelope with 41p stamp) or look at it in local libraries. If you subscribe to the London Open House Bulletin (£13.50pa, send cheque or credit card details to London Open House (Unit Cl) 39-51 Highgate Road, London NW5 1RS, or email your details to send@londonopenhouse.org) you will be automatically mailed a copy of the yearly directory. Just about every London borough is joining in, but the website, www.londonopenhouse.org, tells you more.

Page 4

HADAS goes to Galway July 12-16 2002
Day 1 Of feuds and forts and friaries

Ireland at last! A HADAS visit to that enticing island has often been discussed. On July 12 2002 it became a reality thanks to Jackie Brookes’s energy, determination and patience. After a 7.30arn start from Hendon and the usual tedium of check-in at Heathrow our Aer Lingus Airbus 320 landed us safely at Shannon Airport soon after 1pm. We were met by Jim Higgins, the Galway Heritage Officer and our chief guide throughout our visit, and Sean Spellissy, local historian, who rapidly whisked us away by coach to visit our first round of sites. Our route took us through Co. Clare into Co. Galway and we were given an outline history of the area as we travelled. The feuding O’Rourkes and O’Connors and O’Neills, plus the invading Vikings, can be very confusing to the uninitiated, but here we were firmly in O’Brien country. Descended from Brian Boru, King of Munster and High King of Ireland in 1002, the O’Briens remained top dogs in the area until the 17th century. We kept encountering them for the rest of the day, Our first stop was Mooghaun Hillfort which we climbed in a misty drizzle. The current Irish Great Hillfort Project aims to identify, date and plot the distribution of these monuments. Already the known numbers of forts has been doubled and modern excavation is pushing their dating back (as in England) from iron age to late bronze age. They either continued in use or were reoccupied in the iron age and, interestingly, were often again occupied in the early Christian era. Mooghaun is an impressive fort built on a heavily wooded limestone hill commanding views over the Shannon estuary and the river Fergus. Its major defences were three concentric circles of bank and dish with drystone wall, making it a cashel (stone fort) rather than a rath or lis (earthen fort). The entrance across the outer rampart and ditch was strongly fortified. Within are but circles of varying dates, and the inner enclosure had been farmed cereals, cattle, sheep and pigs. The area covered by the fort was huge, but much was demolished in the 1850s when the railway was built. Mooghaun is famous for the late bronze age gold hoard found about one kilometre north of the fort. Some of the magnificent lunulae, torcs and ear-rings are on display in the National Museum in Dublin. Gold was panned in Munster from the early bronze age and was still being mined there in the early 19th century. Our next stop was at Quin Abbey or Friary. An Anglo-Norman castle built on the site in 1280 was destroyed in 1286; its portcullis and four drum towers (three remain) were incorporated into the later Franciscan friary. The Franciscans became popular in Ireland in the 14th and 15th centuries. Their abbeys were typified by their long naves, short transepts and chancel, slender towers and triple-stepped battlements. Quin Abbey is a substantial ruin and still displays many of those characteristics. It has a most attractive vaulted cloister with coupled columns, slightly marred by clumsy internal buttresses, added later, The domestic range of buildings has an upper floor intact where one can see the latrines (always a popular feature with English tourists!) and the dungpit beneath. Although the friary was suppressed in 1451 a few friars returned to Quin and the last one died and was buried there in 1820. A short drive brought us to Ennis, the county town of Clare, built on an island or islands in the river Fergus and chosen for the O’Brien capital in the early 13th century. It is a pleasant, bustling town but we had little time to explore it, our main attention being claimed by Ennis Friary (where we met local historian Mary Kearns). Another Franciscan foundation, endowed by the O’Briens and founded in 1242, it was suppressed in 1543 and the building subsequently used as an assize court and an Anglican church. One last friar was saved by a plea that only a madman would travel about in a friar’s habit, preaching openly! He continued to live at the friary, wearing his habit and saying private masses in his own room, until his death in 1617. Superficially, Ennis Friary is less pleasing than Quin, due mainly I think to the awkward additions to the tower, but it has fascinating content: lovely window tracery from which the famous blue glass has long since disappeared; a charming little medieval carving of St Francis showing the marks of the stigmata; and the extraordinary 15th century panels from the MacMahon tomb now incorporated in the 19th century Creagh tomb. They portray scenes from the life of Christ, the most striking being the Resurrection, where a skeleton-thin Christ pushes aside his tomb slab and steps vigorously forward surrounded by slumbering guards in full medieval armour. A rather unflattering female statue on the right is said to depict Marina O’Brien-MacMahon who commissioned the original tomb. Continuing towards Galway we saw evidence of Ireland’s exceptionally wet spring in “winter lakes” — stretches of water which would normally have disappeared by now with drying winds and sunshine. Our final stop was at Kilmacduagh, an ecclesiastical and monastic settlement founded in the 7th century. Amid church ruins dating from the 10th, 12th and 14th centuries is one of Ireland’s Round Towers, 34 metres high and retaining its conical cap. The purpose of these structures is still debated: bell towers to call the monks in from the fields; a look-out (there are windows near the top); a place of refuge, with its door 8 metres above the ground? Or may be just a status symbol? We can only guess. The towers were built between the 10th and early 13th centuries and are almost unknown outside Ireland: one or two are found in Scotland and there is one at Peel in the Isle of Man. And so finally to Galway city and our own comfortable accommodation in Conib Village — but no time to do more than dump our luggage before rushing to our belated (9.15pm) dinner in the restaurant on the University of Ireland campus. It was eaten to the deafening strains of the students’ disco — a strain indeed to some of us, though music to the ears of others. Declining Jim Higgins’ kind offer of a lecture at about 10pm, we wended our way along the delightful riverside footpath back to Corrib Village, unpacking and bed. I have seldom slept more soundly.
DAY 2: reporter Tessa Smith

Fairies and the queen After the previous night’s quaint ceremony of the change ing of the keys and the discovery of a leprechaun’s boots and shaving gear in one of the rooms, we were agog and ready for Saturday’s shenanigans. In spite of the fairies, the leprechauns and the picking up of the packed lunches, we were at last off to Carrowmore and the Cerde Fields. Our guide for the day was Martin Timoney, President of Sligo Field Club and editor of the archaeological magazine. He explained that the recent huge road building schemes and development of industrial and housing areas have resulted in more than 1,000 archaeological excavations every year. Our route ran south east of the Ox mountains, through ice-age-smoothed limestone hills, and on the horizon we saw Knocknasheen iron age hill fort, Carrowkeel passage tombs and cemetery, and hill forts topped by cairns. We were surrounded by tribal centres. We travelled through territory owned by the ancient O’Hara family towards Sligo, where mesolithic shellfish middens have been excavated and where, even today, an oyster festival takes place. We stopped briefly near the Cluny Gap, through which the Sligo to Dublin steam train used to run, and two very happy HADAS members discovered a three-foot gauge railway track, platform and signal parts still in situ after 40 years of disuse. Could this be a future bobble-hat fest for Bill and Andy? Carrowmore megalithic site is one of Europe’s major passage-tomb cemeteries. The peninsula is dominated by Mount Knockarea, its cairn-topped summit the legendary burial place of Queen Maeve. The cemetery itself, roughly a mile square, contains about 30 passage tombs, many more having been destroyed in the past. Although the tombs are quite small and simple they have recently been dated to around 4,000BC, 2,000 years earlier than previously thought. The supporting stones are on either side of a passage, topped by a wedge-shaped roof-stone, and are sometimes encircled by a ring of boulders. Finds include cremated human bone, pins made of antler, flint implements and pottery. Recently the local county council decided to make a rubbish dump on top of the gravel diggings in the area. Outraged, Martin Timoney headed a team which took the CC to the Supreme Court, which judged that the county council must consult with the people, and the proposed plan for a dump was abandoned. Martin was equally horrified to see horses churning up the soil next to the ancient monuments and urged us to write to DHUCAS(Irish Heritage) to complain. In complete contrast, our next stop was at Skreen churchyard where Mary Timoney showed us the extremely high quality carving on the box tombs she has been researching. One was especially fascinating, of a wealthy farmer, dressed in top hat, tails and cravat, ploughing with two horses. It was built in 1825 and carved by Frank Diamond, the first of five generations of monumental masons. Our last visit was to the Ceide Fields, County Mayo, where a neolithic community had settled on a hillside with dramatic views over the sea. They built miles of stone-walled holding pens, round wooden houses and tombs, the stone being brought from long distances away. It was though to be a peaceful community and certainly it was a beautiful place. However, 2,000 years ago peat moss grew and entirely sealed the site in a.spongey bog. Some areas have now been excavated and the methods used is intriguing. The bog is probed by long bamboo rods, all of equal length. When one touches a stone lying deep below the bog is it left there. Continuing in the way results in a series of rods the tops of which exactly mimic the stones below. Thus, the stones lying buried can be accurately recorded. That evening Jim Higgins gave us a humorous and speedy lecture on Irish prehistory, before we strolled back to the leprechauns, the fairies and bed.
DAY 3: reporter Graham Javes Carving out legends

burial mounds, previously unrecorded. Very exciting: an illustration of Ireland’s rich monumental heritage still waiting to be discovered. We fought our way through the nettle-filled fosse of a rath to reach the mound. A rath is a particular type of ring fort characterised by earthen walls. Typical finds include iron tools, weapons and personal ornaments but rarely any pottery. If a site is waterlogged traces of wattle and daub huts may be found. Sometimes national roads have clipped forts. A few ring forts are as early as the iron age but most date from the Christian period, sometimes remaining in use as late as the 16th or 17th century. Cattle would be brought into the ring fort. Evidence may be found of iron-working, slag, moulds, the usual range of early Christian work, carved wooden objects if the ground is waterlogged, and glass. Later, chieftains would have handed over ring forts for ecclesiastical uses, churches were sometimes built within them and later still they were used for the burial of unbaptised neonatal infants. There is a strong association between ring forts and fairy folk — the so-called fairy forts where the shee lives. We climbed a mound called Gronya’s Bed, where, so the story goes, an old man, eloping with a young girl, once slept. Of unknown use, this barrow was certainly man-made. The fosse regularly floods in winter, testified by the irises growing in it. If excavated we could find a burial in the mound and secondary burial in the fosse. Next stop was Clonfert. The township was destroyed during the 1595 rebellion, as were the monastery and nunnery. Until then Clonfert, whose name means liter¬ally “the bog island of the grave”, had been a city where as many as 3,000 students studied at the College of St Brendan; today it is barely a village. Christy Cunniffe is the driving force behind the current restoration of St Brendan’s cathedral, the west end of which, with its magnificent romanesque door, was unfortunately under wraps when we visited. Near the west door Christy parted the branches of a very dense bush to reveal a pagan stone. The site has a long history stretching from pagan times through Celtic Christian, catholic and now Church of Ireland. Much of the church is pre-romanesque; projections on the west end have features based on wood¬en churches. Clonfert was pillaged several times by the Danes and the church burnt. It was again burnt in 1179 and rebuilt, when the romanesque doorway could have been added. St Brendan, the founder saint, is reputedly buried here under a coffin-shaped slab. The devil in the form of a cat cast out of the church is reputed to have left the paw mark in a stone slab, again outside the west door, but this is thought to be counter- Reformation propaganda. The churchyard is the inner sanctum or vallum of a larger site. Last year archaeolo¬gists found a second vallum or enclosure at the east end of the church. There is an open-air offering place. We dived into a wood on the edge of the churchyard where Christy showed us a holy well. Like most wells, Under the guidance of Christy Cunniffe and Jim Higgins we set out in quite heavy rain. En-route we saw several fiadh fulachta (burnt mounds). These are believed to be bronze age cooking sites, where stones were heated in a fireplace, then placed in a trough of water to boil meat. An alternative use may have been tanning. We passed remains of several tower houses, monuments which, we were told, may be seen in most parishes. It was still drizzling when we reached our first site, which was also the coffee stop, the famous Turoe Stone. The most important of five monoliths, this massive gran-ite boulder is sculpted into the shape of a domed stone 168cm high, with the upper 78cm decorated with curvi-linear ornament. Compasses, which were known to iron age man, would have been used to mark out the swirls. In pagan-Celtic times the stone would have been coloured with different light and shade worked together — almost certainly a copy of something in metal. It was very probably a phallic stone used in fertility ritual. This granite boulder, which would have stood out in the surrounding limestone country, could have been brought from either the west or the east of Ireland. Its original site was close to the Rath of Feerwore ring fort, half a mile from its present location. In the 19th century it was moved by the landowner to its present site in the grounds of The Pet Farm, Turoe House, near Loughrea. There are two main theories: the first that it is derived from continental works of non-figurative sculptors, and the second, that currently accepted and based upon its decoration, that it is largely an insular stone. Various dates from the 2nd-1st century BC have been suggested and more recently the first century AD. One writer has seen it as a stylised human head, its step-pattern repre-senting a torque. Another, the clash and union of cultures – earth and sky cultures, neighbour and invader. The only agreement would seem to be the fallback of ritual object. Coffee was served here with the most delicious scones. A few members found a football for a kick- around in a goal mouth. Back on the coach, we passed the Volunteer Arch, c.1790, but its associated Lawrence House was demol-ished in the 1930s following earlier removal of the roof to avoid payment of rates. Many houses in Ireland suffered a similar fate. This part of county Galway has been O’Madden and O’Kelly country since the 17th century. In the 13th century there was Anglo-Norman settlement in the area, but many retreated during the Black Death, At Fynagh Farm, Loughrea, we were met by the farmer, a pleasant lady just back from her duties as lay preacher in the local church. She accompanied us as we walked across several fields, which our guide had never walked before, and we found apparent bronze or iron age this spring comes and goes at intervals. A dog is alleged to have drowned in this one, after which it dried up. Later the spring came out from the trunk of the chestnut tree that we saw, but it was defiled a second time when two boys, climbing the tree, urinated into the well and it dried up. Up to the 19th century people were still using holy wells and its waters were used to cure warts. You left a part of yourself: a tradition gone by the 1980s. Today the well is used by others, especially travellers, who have come in with a different tradition: we saw rags hung from branches, nails and coins hammered into the tree. The ruined bishop’s palace had been home to 23 bishops: it was last occupied by Sir Oswald Mosley. We continued on to the Shannon Hotel, Banagher, one of several bow-fronted mid to late 18th-century houses, where we had afternoon tea or Guinness in the hotel garden on what turned into a hot afternoon, our best day weather-wise. Anthony Trollope lived and wrote here and Charlotte Brontë honeymooned. On route again, we saw a Martello tower on the riverbank near the Shannon Bridge, built to fortify the Shannon at the time of the Napoleonic Wars. Continuing, we passed the Seven Sisters. This local landmark is a line of seven trees planted by one of the John Eyres to com-memorate his daughters, though in fact he had nine. At Loughrea we observed part of the original town moat as we hurried along Dolphin Street towards the friary. The moat had probably been a boundary and a sewer but today it carries a clear, fast-flowing stream. Richard de Burge founded the Carmelite Loughrea Friary about 1300. The building exterior is rather spoilt by heavy pointing. In the friary churchyard is a grave stone for a butcher, the tools of his trade, a knife and sharpening steel, carved in an oval. There is also a flat tombstone to a farmer, with harrow, coulter (for putting rims on wheels) and plough shear. By the skin of our teeth, we arrived back at the university just in time to sit down to dinner. Having been late on the previous two evenings we were under threat of a surcharge had we been late again. I should add that this in no way reflects on Jackie who was tearing her hair out to get us back on time! The after-dinner lecture, by Jim Higgins, was on early Christian churches. He showed slides of many churches that we hadn’t seen and some that we had. We learnt that there is no real romanesque architecture in Ireland but many churches with romanesque features, mostly add¬ing a window or door to an ancient church. Often churches occupied earlier, pagan sites. The monasteries intro¬duced the need to control time and built many pillar-type sundials. People often take the stones from churches but almost as often return them — either because they feel they have brought them bad luck or because they had only “borrowed” them to effect a cure!
DAY 4: reporter Barry Reilly The past in flower

The Burren plateau in County Clare, just 13 miles south of Galway city, is famous for its starkly beautiful lime¬stone landscapes, remarkable flora and rich archaeologi¬cal heritage. The words of the Cromwellian general, Edmund Ludlow, are well known in Ireland: It is a country where there is not enough water to drown a man, wood enough to hang one, nor earth to bury him… What is less known is that he went on to say of the people there: …and yet their cattle are very fat; for the grass growing in turfs of earth, of two or three foot square, that lie between the rocks, which are of limestone, is very sweet and nourishing. As we travelled south, our guide Dominic Monaghan explained more. “Burren” comes from the Irish for “stony place”. It consists of limestone pavements, divided by fissures into bare slabs of rock. The climate is very temperate with a high rainfall, providing an ideal envi¬ronment for the wide variety of plants which flourish in the crevices and in the thin but fertile soil which covers some areas of the rock. Our first destination, on the north western edge of the Burren, was the ruined Cistercian Abbey of Corcomroe. The Cistercians came to Ireland in 1142 and preferred isolated and underpopulated locations for their monas-teries. Nowhere is this more apparent than at Corcomroe. Known as “St Mary of the Fertile Rock”, it was founded at the end of the 12th century, probably by the King of Limerick, Donal Mor O’Brien. Built in the Hiberno-Romanesque style it is well preserved; the chancel retains its richly vaulted roof as well as a carved effigy of a bishop and one of the few effigies of an Irish chieftain to be found in the country, said to represent Conor O’Brien, grandson ofDonal, who was killed in a battle fought nearby in 1227. Part of the ruined cloister still stands, as well as what may be an infirmary or guest house and a fragment of the pointed arch gatehouse. By the 15th century it was too poor to sustain a full community of monks and the church was shortened by a roughly built wall. We moved from Corcomroe to our morning coffee stop at the attractive coastal village of Ballyvaughan. On the way, Dominic pointed out a solitary Galway hooker moored in the bay. This is the famous fishing boat of the area; its name, source of much amusement to American visitors, comes from theDutch hacker relating to hook and line fishing. No longer used as working boats, they can now be seen at various annual sea festivals in Galway. After a pleasant break in Ballyvaughan it was time to turn inland to visit one of the most famous monuments of the Burren. Poulnabrone is an impressive example of a neolithic portal tomb, a class of tomb characterised by a tripod design consisting of two tall portal stones and a lower backstone held in place by the weight of a massive capstone. Poulnabrone’s 12ft by 7ft capstone weighs 8 tonnes. In 1985 the eastern portal stone was found to be cracked and had to be replaced by a similar stone, but this provided an opportunity to excavate the burial chamber and surrounding cairn. The remains of at least 22 individuals were found with bone pendants, disc beads, quartz crystals, flint scrapers, a polished stone axe and a flint arrowhead buried in one of the thighbones. More than 60 sherds r:::” of pottery were also found. Radiocarbon results from the bones have dated the tomb from 3780 BC to 3560BC. The conclusion was that special tombs like Poulnabrone were for people of high status while others were buried in similar but less dramatic tombs. It is believed that the cairn was only a few feet high: the soaring capstone was meant to be seen. Our journey back to the coast took us through Lisdoonvarna, famous for its spa waters and annual matchmaking festival, on to the best known tourist spot in County Clare. The Cliffs of Moher are a five mile line of sheer cliffs rising at their highest to 650 ft. Formed of layers of siltstone, shale and sandstone, they are fa¬mously dramatic. Close to the highest point is O’Brien’s tower which gives an incredible view southwards along the cliffs. At least, that’s what it says here on the internet website. Unfortunately very high cliffs and very low clouds aren’t a good idea. We couldn’t see a thing. After a forlorn hour wandering up the cliff path listening to the waves hidden below and glumly surveying the various tourist sales opportunities we could wait no longer and it was time to return to Galway. Half an hour later as we sped down the coast road the sun was shining out to sea and, yes, looking back from the coach, there was the distant profile of the cliffs emerging from the lifting clouds. We consoled ourselves with a brief stop by the road-side, within sight of the Aran Islands, for a final look at the Burren and its remarkable plant life. It is the only place in Europe where Arctic, Alpine and Mediterranean plants flourish together. Botanists the world over come to study the flora at all times of year — the Burren is never out of bloom. Some in our party quickly spotted a few orchids although in May and early June they grow here by the acre. Also easily identified were bloody cranesbill and spring gentian. From here we took the coastal road along the south¬ern edge of Galway Bay, pausing only to take a brief look at Dunmory Castle just beyond Kinvara. The coach dropped us off for our final evening in Galway at O’Flaherty’s restaurant in the city centre. After a fine meal— Irish stew was the popular choice —we returned to the university having had a varied and fascinating day but grateful that we could have a lie-in the following morning.
DAY 5: reporter Andy Simpson Signals at green

All too soon it was our last morning in Ireland, with a flurry of packing and loading of the coach before head¬ing down to Galway city — founded by Anglo-Norman settlers in the 13th century, medieval city state, one time third port after London and Bristol, capital of the west of Ireland and the fastest growing city in Europe —to meet Jim Higgins once more for a walking tour of the city for those that wished. I was one of those who opted to do my own thing, give the “bobble hat” an airing and investigate the transport facilities of Galway, ancient and modern. There is much to interest the transport enthusiast. The Bus Eireann singledeck coaches are very modern, but you can still take a scenic open top ride around the city of Galway on a proper half-cab Leyland Titan bus, driven on occasion by one of our coach drivers! The railways are equally interesting. As Bill and I found out during a photographic foray on the Monday evening, the 1840s built Galway station of Irish Rail is a wonderfully evocative place, with signal box, a forest of semaphore signals, two road engine shed, working turn-table, water tower and water crane, occasionally visited by visiting steam specials, all with the beautiful backdrop of bay and mountains. The usual service is every couple of hours eastwards to Dublin hauled by 1990s-built die-sels. There is also some freight traffic serving the docks on Galway Bay. Naturally, I made a return visit on Monday morning for more piccies! Those who went on the tour visited St Nicholas of Myra Collegiate Church, built by the Anglo-Normans in 1320 and dedicated to the patron saint of all travellers. According to local tradition, Christopher Columbus heard mass here before sailing off to America. Nearby is the house of Nora Barnacle, wife of writer James Joyce, now a Joyce museum. Scattered around the city centre are examples of merchants’ houses. After checking out the large and well-appointed tour-ist information centre near the station, I then went on to do a little shopping, stopping off in the modern Eyre Square shopping centre to view the two restored “Shoe-makers” and “Penrices” drum towers. These, survivors of an original 14 towers on the walls built from 1270, connect a 60-metre length of preserved city curtain wall which features Galway’s only antiques and collectibles market. Eyre Square itself, lying at the centre of the town in front of the railway station, is pleasantly laid out as a tree-lined park, and features a plaque to the memory of assassinated US President John F. Kennedy, who was made a freeman of the city shortly before his death in 1963. Also to be seen is Lynch’s Castle, the finest surviv-ing town castle in Ireland, of 15th-16th century date with decorative features found only in southern Spain. Reno-vated in the 19th century, it is now a bank. Down by the River Corrib in Galway city is the Spanish Arch bastion, a 1594 built twin-arched extension to the city defences intended to protect the quays at a time when trade with Spain was vital to the city. Adjacent to it is the small Galway City Museum, operated by Galway City Council Heritage Office, which houses archaeologi¬cal and social history material and several relics of Gal¬way’s horse trams. It is open daily during the summer and well worth the two Euros admission charge. The Galway and Salthill Tramway operated a single route from October 1 1879, and was only ever horse operated. It linked the city of Galway with the resort of Salthill on the shore of Galway Bay and was one of the last horse tramways in Britain. The trams had ceased run-ning by May 12 1918. Some relics survive in the museum — there is a single tip-over reversible seat, hinged bulk¬head panel, ticket and original company share certificate, plus a splendid selection of railway photos and paper¬work, The museum’s social history collection includes ma-terial from The Claddagh, a fishing village formerly located on the west bank of the Corrib Estuary which existed as an outpost of Irish dress, language and culture until its traditional thatched cottages were replaced by a housing estate in 1934. Its customs included the election of a king who was commodore of the 300-strong fishing fleet; his “hooker” boat had a white sail, while those of his subjects were brown. The women all wore shawls and customarily wore the Claddagh ring, of distinctive two hands clasping a crowned heart design and used as a sign of betrothal or marriage, depending on how worn. After various members had indulged in the duty free shops at Shannon airport, the return tea-time flight to Heathrow—on the same Aer Lingus Airbus that we flew out on — was smooth as ever, with wonderful views of Buckingham Palace, Green Park, the Albert Hall and Kew Gardens on the final approach, though we did have to wait rather a long time for our luggage! Then it was back on a coach to Hendon. The end of a wonderful few days. Thanks, Jackie!

Sadly, no HADAS member was awake enough during one of the evening lectures to claim the prize of a copy of Jim Higgins’ splendid book “Irish Mermaids” for correctly identifying the site of one of his slides, reports Deirdre Barrie. Afterwards, Deirdre wrote and asked how to buy a copy, to which Jim responded by sending her two, one of which is now in the HADAS LIBRARY. The illustration right (by Michael Lerillunt)(not on internet version) of the late 15th/early 16th century carving from the screen-wall at Kilcooly, Co. Tipperary, is one of the few mermaids Jim has located outside the main concentration in Galway. They were all, he explains, a potent symbolic warning to Christians against being seduced and destroyed by lust and sexual indiscretion, and also a reminder against the sins of vanity, pride and lust. The book, which has detailed descriptions of 10 mermaids and lots of illustrations and background information, is unfortunately not available here, and Jim has very few copies left. He is however planing a revised, enlarged edition, so if you’re interested, contact him via e-mail, or write to him care of City Hall, College Road
Page 5

HENDON & DISTRICT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

OUTING TO PIDDINGTON, NORTHAMPTON & CANONS ASHBY with June Porges and Stewart Wild

SATURDAY 17 AUGUST 2002This promises to be a pleasant day out north of London, with something for everybody. We have visited Piddington before, in August 1990. Sensible footwear (and perhaps an umbrella!) is essential. B.00am Coach leaves Quadrant, Hendon (opposite DSS) 8.10am Coach leaves St Mary’s Church, Finchley (top of Hendon Lane) 8.25am Coach leaves Golders Green (side entrance to Underground) We will make our first stop in Newport Pagnell for tea/coffee and biscuits at The Swan Revived. This lovely old coaching inn dates from 1540. We continue to Piddington where we will meet local archaeologists Roy and Liz Friendship-Taylor who will explain to us their more than twenty years of excavations at the site of a vast Romano-British villa and bathhouse uncovered on local farmland (see Current Archaeology # 117 and 146). It is anticipated that digging will be in progress during our visit. Access is along a half-mile footpath between fields so suitable footwear is essential. There is the possibility of transport for those who might find the walk strenuous. We shall see the Eleanor Cross at Hardingstone before arriving in Northampton, where the market square is one of the largest in Britain. Apart from the busy market, there is plenty to see and do in this charming county town: several handsome buildings, the Guildhall, the excellent local museum and art gallery, All Saints Church (fine 17th-century), and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, dating from 1100 and one of only four round churches in Britain. We shall have around two hours free time here; you can either bring a packed lunch or take advantage of local pubs and restaurants. Continue to Canons Ashby (National Trust), a wonderful Elizabethan manor house that has survived more or less unaltered since around 1710. Hear of the history of the Dryden family and see furniture and wall paintings and Jacobean plasterwork of the highest quality. Explore the gardens and the surprisingly grand village church – all that remains of the Augustinian priory from which the house takes its name. Before leaving there will be time for refreshments (not included) on the terrace or in the pleasant National Trust tearoom. COST: £18.50 per person. Includes coach, morning tea/coffee, entrance fees and gratuities. National Trust members please bring your valid membership card.

Newsletter
Page 1

HADAS AUTUMN DIARY

Saturday 17 August OUTING with June Porges and Stewart Wild visiting the excavation at PIDDINGTON ROMAN VILLA, then to Northampton town centre.BOOKING FORM ENCLOSED Afternoon at CANONS ASHBY, an Elizabethan manor house, unaltered since 1710, with formal gardens and orchard, and a church which is all that remains of an Augustinian priory on the site.

Tuesday 8 October LECTURE at Avenue House Dr Ann Saunders, past HADAS President: ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL – Our Marble Tribute If you are a fan of London, this one is a must!

Tues. 12 November LECTURE: The Ups and Downs of Life in the British Palaeolithic Our speaker, Simon Parfitt, last visited HADAS in March 1996 to bring the Boxgrove Palaeolithic site to life.

December: HADAS XMAS DINNER
HADAS Fieldwork by Bill Bass

The survey at Friary Park continues with more members getting used to the new resistivity meter. The results are showing several features but whether they are geological or archaeological is hard to know at present, the images need to be processed further. The results are usually posted on the internet by Christian, sometimes with photos of the team in action. Useful information was received by the appeal in the last Newsletter regarding parch-marks in the park in the 1970s. Work has now restarted at Hanshawe Drive in Burnt Oak with the plotting out of several new trenches over the most likely features detected by a previous resistivity survey. The site is now sheltered housing and before that a Wesleyan Hall stood on the area. Roman pits were found in the adjacent Thirleby Road and we’re really after more evidence of the Roman settlement/building. Actual excavation will take place from late July to September, lets hope the weather is better than last time (some hope!). All members welcome to participate, please make contact with digging team – see back page.
Roman amphitheatre open to the public

London’s Lord Mayor, Alderman Michael Oliver, attended a reception at the Guildhall Art Gallery in July, marking the opening to the public of London’s Roman amphitheatre for the first time in almost 2000 years. He praised the way it has been displayed, at the same time noting the Roman gladiators, chariot and horses also attending the reception. The gathering appreciated his quip about the Ancient Britons having shaved all their body hair except their heads and upper lips, saying that he seemed to have got it wrong (a brave reference to a receding hairline!) The Amphitheatre is accessed via Guildhall Art Gallery, on the east side of Guildhall Yard. It is open between 10am and 5pm, Monday to Saturday, and noon to 4pm on Sundays. The admission charge to the Gallery covers entrance to the Amphitheatre, and is £2.50 for adults, £1 concessions, children under 16 free. All day on Fridays – no admission charge, also free after 3.30pm on other days. Last admissions 30 minutes before closing time.
HELPING TO RUN THE SOCIETY…

The present Membership Secretary, Judy Kaye, wishes to retire because of pressure of her full-time job and the Society is looking for a replacement. This is an honorary post, and good secretarial skills and reasonable computer literacy are necessary. Working in conjunction with the Hon Treasurer on annual renewals, the Membership Secretary is the first point of contact for new members. In addition, the Society is looking for someone to take over from June Porges the organisation of the Society’s lecture programme which she has run for several years. There are six lectures a year to organise. This requires a dash of imagination – linking themes – judging what is topical. Having contacts on the archaeological scene is also useful but, of course, the Committee will give any practical support needed. Any member who would like to be considered for either of these jobs should contact the Secretary, Denis Ross.
AFTER THE AGM BY JUNE PORGES

The formal business of the meeting having been despatched as quickly and efficiently as is usual with HADAS we were given a quick overview of the recent activities of the Society by seven speakers. Andrew Coulson kicked off with an entertaining description of the stream walking which has started at the northernmost part of the Upper Dellis Brook. Slides were shown illustrating the rugged terrain being tackled (Andrew warned that precautions must be taken against thorns, deep water, rat disease and nettles – the last named could indicate the possibility of occupation). After only a few walks a whole tray of artefacts has been found and were on display. These can now be analysed by Jacqui Pierce and her team of students. Jacqui told us about the joint HADAS and Birkbeck classes where they are producing a report on Ted Sammes Church End and Church Farmhouse digs. Don Cooper, one of the class participants, told us about their work which includes the compilation of a manual on the identification of finds. It was interesting to see more trays of finds from Ted’s digs. The subject of analysis was then taken up by Peter Nicholson who has been learning a system of classification of form and fabric of ceramic building materials in order to analyse the Brockley Hill field walking material. Andy Simpson then spoke about the limited dig at Hanshawe Drive, which is close to Watling Street on the way to Brockley Hill. It is hoped to return there in better weather (more slides of difficult working conditions!). Quick communication is needed between participants in all these activities. HADAS is now benefiting from the use of a Group Email system (Hadas.org.uk) to keep in touch with each other. The HADAS website (www.hadas.org.uk) gives information about the Society, its activities and how to join. These were described to us by new Committee Member Catharine da Costa. Finally, Bill Bass showed slides and spoke about several other activities, including the use of the new resistivity meter at Friary Park. (PS First results of this can now be seen on the web site). This was a very lively summary of activities and it was interesting to see how interlinked they all are. Leaders of all the groups would be delighted to have more members involved. Many thanks to everybody who took part.

Page 2

ROMAN HENDON Andy Simpson

Part I,

in newsletter 276, discussed Roman Hendon – the evidence. – Just to refresh your memories, this is a draft document by Andy Simpson and Stephen Aleck for eventual publication in the annual HADAS journal. They would like input from the membership by way of comments, ‘pet theories’ and additions. Please write to Andy Simpson, Flat 36, Scottwell Driver, off Crossway, Colindale, London NW9 60B with your contributions.

PART II

Roman coins were also found some distance away south-east of the church at 51 King’s Close, Hendon TQ240 892- (Probus, 276 282AD) and also, somewhat closer, north east of the church in Sunny Gardens a coin of Hadrian (117-138 AD) at TQ2310 1896. In 1966, a Highgate Wood Type Roman pottery cremation jar of the late first-early second century, containing charcoal and the ashes of an adolescent, was found east of the church at 111 Sunny Gardens Road (TQ2298 8998) – perhaps indicating a cemetery beyond the eastern boundary of the Roman occupation. The urn is now held by Church Farmhouse Museum. However, a watching brief on building work for extension of the Garden Hospital at 45-60 Sunny Gardens Road in October 1992 found only topsoil and London clay (HADAS Newsletter 261, December 1992). Similarly, an evaluation by Thames Valley Archaeological Services at 15-17 Sunningfields Road, Hendon in September 1995 (TQ2296 8972) found no features or finds of archaeological significance (Other cremation burials of similar date were found in 1953 at Pipers Green Lane, near the foot of Brockley Hill) Earliest recorded Roman material is that from the former Grove House on the Burroughs. In 1889, at a point 730ft w-s-w of the church and 300ft north of Grove House, during the digging of a gravel pit Grove House’s then occupant, Dr. Henry Hicks, found bone fragments, flanged roofing tile, brick, millstones, a complete 19cm high ring necked single- handled flagon of second century date and other fragments of mortaria food mixing bowls,water jugs and other pottery including ‘broken cinerary urns’ all scattered about a foot below the surface in a well defined longitudinal excavation’. The approximate OS ref is TQ 2270 8940. Whether this was in a Roman pit, or even a burial, is not now clear. Some of this material survives in the Barnet local history collection and includes a fragment of flanged roofing tile and, most interestingly, a section of circular brick of the type used to build small diameter columns, which would be faced with moulded cement and painted plaster. The surviving material is considered to be of late first or second century date. Grove House itself, a large eighteenth century building, was demolished in 1934, but a public park called The Grove survives at the rear of the Fire Station and University. This could be a useful location for excavation one day, although the findspot itself is under the extensively landscaped university playing field. In May 1995, the South East London Archaeological Unit undertook a watching brief at the Hendon Campus of Middlesex University which showed that extensive terracing had removed any possible archaeological evidence, and no dating evidence was recovered from the single feature exposed – a broad hollow. Excavations by HADAS at the other end of the Burroughs, south-west of the church at 31-34 Burroughs Gardens, Hendon (TQ2265 8909) in 1972, however, found no Roman material, but plenty of 12th-14th Century pottery, perhaps suggesting a limit to the western edge of the Roman occupation. To be continued in the September newsletter
COMBAT OF THE GLADIATORS

Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 August, 2002, 12noon and 3pm. Join the masses and cheer on rival teams of gladiators as they battle it out for supremacy on the site of London’s original Roman amphitheatre in the Guildhall yard close to the Museum of London. Skilled fighters from all corners of the Roman Empire will demonstrate various types of combat using a wide range of weaponry from swords and shields to tridents and nets. Tickets £6 (E4 concessions) call 020 7814 5777. Book early and take your seat in the Guildhall, as demand will be high. This weekend is one of a series of special events celebrating the Museum of London’s 25th anniversary.

Page 3

WELWYN ROMAN BATHS

Our first visit was to the Welwyn Roman Baths, part of the Dicket Mead villa, a third century complex of villa, baths and farm buildings. The villa itself had its own bathhouse. The one viewed here, a little distance from the main building, as for the use of the estate workers. It occupied the south¬eastern end of a parallel pair of long structures part of which, it is thought, were buildings used for agricultural storage. The bathhouse not only provided a place for cleansing oneself but a meeting house where one could talk with fellow workers, relax or play board games. All this was done at a leisurely pace before eating the evening meal. The excavation gave a clear picture of the whole process of ‘taking a bath’. Starting from the entrance into the cold room (the frigidarium) one disrobed, put on wooden sandals, proceeded to the warm room (the tepidarium) was oiled then moved on to the caldarium, very hot and steamy, and these by means of a scraping down with a strigil and a plunge into a bath of hot water the sweat and dirt from the days work was removed. The process was completed by a dip in the cold bath to cool down and close the pores of the skin, then one emerged clean and relaxed. The important section of this building was the hypocaust or under-floor heating system. The stoke hole situated at the farthest end from the cold room contained a lead boiler encased in concrete from which hot water circulated through lead pipes. A fire fuelled by wood in an under-floor chamber heated not only the water but provided hot air under the floors and up into the walls through rectangular clay pipes thus raising the temperature in the hot room to about 40 C. Such heat necessitated the use of wooden soled sandals. The furnace had to be cleaned out from time to time to remove an accumulation of wood ash, a not too pleasant task which fell to the lot of boys who could get through the low entrance. The discovery of the baths was due to a find by a keen local archaeologist Tony Rook who spotted parts of Roman tiles on the banks of the river Mimram in 1960. This led to the founding of the Welwyn Archaeological Society. Tony Rook gave a talk on the history of Hertfordshire to HADAS in February 1997, see Newsletter 313.
STOKE BRUERNE CANAL MUSEUM BY Jean Bayne

As England scored their first goal against Denmark – sadly not a propitious omen for the future! – the coach turned into the stretch of the Grand Union Canal at Stoke Bruerne. It was a delightful setting: the lock at one end, framed by clusters of cottages, the Boat Inn on the far side and the Canal Museum itself on the near side. At the other end, the towpath curved away towards the Blisworth Tunnel, overlooked by hills dotted with summer-shorn sheep. And the sun did shine! The Museum itself is housed on three floors in a restored corn mill, (originally powered by steam) and had opened in 1963, It had ‘growed like Topsy’ through the collecting interest of a former lock keeper and public interest in his artefacts. A motley but wide ranging collection of canal objects mostly in very good condition and well looked after, were displayed in separate categories and groups but the accompanying information varied from large densely written sheets to a few captions. I have selected some nuggets of information which appealed to me personally. Early in the 18th Century, and before, various limited schemes had been attempted to make rivers more accessible for transport. But it was the beginning of industrialisation which was the driving force for canal building, spanning two periods, 1760-1785 and later in the 18th century till around 1835. Prosperous businesses, the development of new engineering techniques, the availability of cheap manual labour and the imperatives for the bulk delivery of goods and raw materials, underpinned by the confidence of the new entrepreneurial class, led to the initial spate of canal construction. First the land had to be surveyed on horseback and maps plotted, then it was costed and, finally, it had to be argued for through Parliament. Not all those begun were successful: many were disasters and stopped far short of planned completion, either because the money ran out or the engineering failed. Tunneling in particular was hazardous and methods often devised as the work proceeded. The Grand Junction Canal, as it was then called, linked the Midlands and the Thames at London, and work began at Stoke Bruerne in 1793. The first tunnel at Blisworth failed in 1797. Toll roads, and later plateways, were built over the hill so that canal business could continue. It wasn’t until 1805 that the second one opened and it has been dogged by water problems ever since, leading to a complete relining in the 1980s. It is the longest continual bore tunnel open for navigation on the canal system and is one and three quarter miles long with its deepest point some 120 feet below ground. In the early days of horse drawn canal boats, they had to be ‘legged’ through the tunnels as the horses were led over land. This meant that men had to lie on the boats, sometimes on planks, and move them by pushing with their legs against the roof of the tunnel. Or they might be poled through. Registered leggers, issued with brass arm¬bands, displayed in the museum, were employed by the canal company and there was a leggers’ but at Stoke Bruerne, near the Boat Inn. These were hazardous activities as sometimes men were crushed or drowned. With the introduction of steam tugs in 1871, fatalities continued as people were often suffocated by the smoke and extra vents had to be built into tunnels: seven vents in the case of the Blisworth Tunnel. The museum showed old photos of boats entering tunnels, surrounded by smoke, and a long curved brush for cleaning soot from tunnel roofs. Some 70¬80 narrow boats a day, both local and through traffic, would go through at Stoke Bruerne and they were also weighed for tolls. The Boat Weighing machine can be seen near to the lock. Tolls were based on the distance travelled, nature and weight of the cargo and the clerk would have a ledger with the weight of the boat listed so that it could he deducted to find the cargo weight. Although steam tugs remained in service till the 1930s, motor boats were being built much earlier in the 20th century. Their cabins had to be narrower and shorter but higher to allow for the propeller. Stoke Bruerne became a wealthy place in its hey day as delays occurred because of the locks and the tunnel. Provisions for horses, families and boats were all provided there and trade was very brisk. But life on the canal was very hard. Shopping was done on the move, for example, milk cans were handed over from another boat, washing was done on the canal bank – when possible, babies were chained to the chimney on the roof to play, and children put to work as early as possible. If the canal iced over in winter, boat people could not work. The style of the boat people is expressed in the distinctive Roses and Castles decorations on the narrow boats and red and blue kettles, pots and pans and plates are displayed in the museum. These were painted by the individual boat people themselves or made for them at boat docks. I particularly liked the two- spouted teapot, designed to ensure that both mum and dad got the first cup from the pot at the same time! Black-leaded stoves, brass rails, ornaments and crochet hangings can all be seen in the replica of the cabin of a working boat in the museum. They did not escape the moral tentacles of Victorian society however! In 1877, George Smith organised the registration and inspection of boats for the spiritual, moral and educational welfare of the boat people. He was particularly keen to promote school attendance but, if he achieved this it was not recorded! The occasional schooling opportunity was rare, though the museum does have one photo of a class held on a boat. By 1900, the Salvation Army was active on the canals to reinforce missionary work. Physical needs were also catered for in a haphazard fashion. At Stoke Bruerne, Sister Mary, the daughter of the last shop keeper, ministered to the health needs of the boat people at her surgery for many years. The isolation of the canal boat people was interrupted in the second world war with the arrival of women workers when the Grand Union Canal was used to carry war materials. Seen initially as ‘novelties’, they soon made their mark and became accepted as genuine workers. But long before the second world war, the canals were in decline. The coming of the railways, and in particular the London to. Birmingham line in 1838. gradually cut short the prosperity of the canal system. Road lorries intensified the competition in the 20th century. Interestingly, canal companies had tried to introduce passenger services as early as 1767. They had three classes and served refreshments but took eight hours to go from Manchester to Runcorn, a distance of 28 miles? Even as late as 1839, ‘fast boats were still operating on the Lancaster Canal but by 1850, very few were left anywhere and passenger traffic became restricted to outings. The demise of the working narrow boat became evident in the 1950s and 60s and long distance freight carrying finally finished in 1970. The museum is a fascinating monument to the memory of a group of workers with their own culture and way of life, touching the wider society only as they docked. ‘Born on a boat,die on a boat”: servants of the Grand Junction Canal company were even taken to the graveyard by canal! However, the canal has now been revitalised by becoming a source of wildlife and nature conservation, boating, angling, hiking and tourism. Towpath walking from London to Birmingham was established in 1993. And tourism has brought a new and welcome prosperity back to Stoke Bruerne.
DEREK BATTEN’S RINGWORK CASTLE BY Micky Watkins

Next, HADAS member Derek Batten guided us to his very own ringwork castle, a scheduled ancient monument. Set on a hill the castle is surrounded by a deep moat and is surprisingly large. Derek persuaded Time Team to clear the site and start excavating in 2000, the resulting programme was screened in January 2001. The dig revealed signs from the Iron Age and from the Roman and medieval periods. Derek is now using the arena to produce Shakespeare plays with a local company. A short walk down the road took us to Derek’s friend, John Hieney, where the latter is excavating the remains of the Alderton Old Manor House in his garden.
GRAFTON REGIS

At Grafton Regis we were met by Mistress Merry clad in colourful Elizabethan costume. She guided us to the church and round the little village, ending with an excellent tea in the village hall. The history of the village is painted on the walls of the hall and its royal connection started in 1464 when Edward IV was hunting in the area and espied Elizabeth Woodville (Wydeville) of Grafton Manor. Edward fell in love and, though it was most unusual for royalty to make a love match, the couple were secretly married at the nearby Hermitage. They became the parents of the Princes in the Tower and their daughter married Henry VII. Their grandson, Henry VIII stayed many times at Grafton Manor to enjoy the hunting. Henry VIII enlarged the manor house and gave the title Regis to the village. The manor was destroyed during the civil war when the Parliamentary forces laid siege to it during the struggle for the Midlands. After the Restoration the manor lands reverted to the Crown and Charles II gave them to his son by his mistress Barbara Villiers – Henry Fitzroy, first Duke of Grafton. In the church there are many memorials to the Fitzroys, most of whom seemed to have died in the colonies. After tea the more intrepid members set out across the field to see the remains of the Hermitage. It was a surprisingly large building which must have housed many monks, but it has been only partially excavated. Today, Grafton Regis has only a hundred inhabitants,but they have a great community spirit and a fine tradition of cake baking! Our thanks to Derek Batten for showing us his castle and the manor excavation and for organising a very interesting and enjoyable afternoon for us.

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TV APPEARANCE FOR HADAS MEMBER

Derek Batten is once more scheduled to appear on TV, this time in a BBC2 Timewatch programme featuring Custer’s Last Stand. The exact date is not known but the programme will be on a Friday at 9.00 pm at some time during the next eight weeks or so. Derek will not be playing the role of the flamboyant but doomed General, but will be talking about this seminal event in America’s history. He has made eight visits to the site of the battle at the Little Big Horn River, and he has been the only non-American involved in the extensive Battlefield Archaeological work carried out there. It was in this capacity that he was contacted by the BBC, although he ended up as historical advisor to this episode of Timewatch. A few long-standing members may recall that Derek spoke some years ago at an AGM about the work with which he has been involved in America and of course, over the years, Derek has taken the time to share his enviable archaeological experiences in the US though the HADAS newsletter (setting a good example to y’all!). Derek also, together with John Hieney, gave the most up-to-the-minute, technologically speaking, presentation HADAS had ever received when they came in January 2001 to talk about the dig at the Norman Ringwork Castle at Alderton. The digitally-displayed slide projection was from John’s laptop computer and, at the click of a key, outline graphics or text appeared to enhance the map or photo shown. See newsletter 359 for Andy Simpson’s report on this talk

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ATTACK AT AVENUE HOUSE

The 25-year old victim, an unnamed tree, was cut down in its prime in a mysterious night-time raid on the Bothy early in July. Another unsolved crime was committed at the Bothy in May when a shed was ransacked. And a couple of years ago the rosebeds outside the Garden Room were poisoned and the earth had to be carted away … but that was an accident, not vandalism. Council workmen used a rather-too-strong weedkiller!
HISTORY BENEATH OUR FEET by Bill Firth

A lot of archaeology involves digging but my attention has been drawn recently to the large amount of local history, although not perhaps archaeology, beneath us but not buried, which lies in the street furniture in our pavements. I am no expert, but just walking up Golders Green Road has demonstrated how little I know about some of our local history. There is a wealth of different covers for access to what lies beneath and some of them are remarkably old. Some of the more obvious covers are those for the telephone cables. The oldest seem to be labelled Post Office Telephones or Telegraphs. These seem to be used randomly and cannot be ascribed to the particular service named. Then there are some in which Post Office has been replaced by GPO and more recently by BT or just the BT logo. There is a wealth of water covers ranging from small valve covers, often only marked W, and the more modern meter covers, to sewer covers, fire hydrants and the drains in the gutter. Fire hydrants all seem to be of a similar type, obviously useful for identification in an emergency, but vary in detail. I have seen unmarked ones, some labelled HUDC (Hendon Urban District Council) and others MWB (Metropolitan Water Board). Hendon became an Urban District in 1895, the MWB did not take over water supply from the West Middlesex Waterworks Company until 1902. The HUDC covers are presumably older than the MWB ones. At least in the side streets, where they have not had so much traffic wear, many of the drain covers in the gutter also carry the legend HUDC. Hendon became a borough in 1932, so fifty these are at least seventy years old. In newer areas are there some marked HBC?? There are also historic electricity and gas covers. On many covers over the electricity cables beneath, the words Electricity Supply can be made out, some are getting badly worn now. The Hendon Electricity Supply Company was registered in June 1907 to supply electricity purchased from the North Metropolitan Electric Power Supply Company (who remembers the Northmet?) so some of these covers may be over ninety years old. There are also a few gas valve covers remaining labelled GLCC (Gas Light and Coke Company) which could be as old. This is not all. Take a look at the local history under your feet. If anyone sees an interesting cover elsewhere in the borough I would be interested to hear of it. Tel: 020 8455 7164 or Billfirth@cs.com If any members have taken photographs of interesting street furniture, both Bill Firth and the HADAS newshounds would welcome sight of your efforts. In 1978, a HADAS member (BLW) recorded and sketched trolley bus poles and lamp standards in Woodhouse Road and Friern Barnet Road – there can’t be many, if any, left by now. Perhaps Bill Firth, or a transport buff could provide an update?

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LORD MAYOR CLOCKS IN

Another of Alderman Michael Oliver’s, literally, hundreds of engagements during his year of Office was to re-open the Clock Museum in the Guildhall Library. The new layout maximises the available space attractively to tell the story of the Clockmakers of London whose innovations over the centuries are evident in the modern-day high quality Swiss watch. Around six hundred pieces from the collection are on show at any one time, and the Museum will be displaying a ‘rolling’ exhibition of works by 21st century ‘artist craftsmen’ watch and clockmakers. The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, who gained their Charter from Charles I in 1631, founded their Library in 1813 to house their ancient manuscripts. These formed the basis for many later standard reference hooks used by British clockmakers. The collection grew to include other documents such as clockmakers’ workbooks, clocks, watches and marine timekeepers. The Museum is especially proud to show John Harrison’s 5th marine timekeeper. Harrison won the £20,000 prize offered by Queen Anne for building an instrument that could accurately find longitude. One unusual item is the early 19th century gas-powered clock. The library was admitted to the Guildhall Library in 1925 to allow public access so, if you are in the area, it is well worth an hour or two of your time. The Clock Museum is open 9.30am to 4.45pm, Monday to Friday only, at the Guildhall Library, Aldermanbury, London EC2P 2EJ. Access for disabled visitors. Library tel: 020 7332 1868.
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===GREATER LONDON ARCHAEOLOGY QUARTERLY REVIEW, MARCH-MAY 2002 Bill Bass has extracted items relating to the Borough of Barnet===

Several sites from The Borough of Barnet are mentioned in this edition. A watching brief was conducted at the BELLE VUE CINEMA, Station Road, Edgware by Pre- construct Archaeology (PCA). No archaeological deposits were found due in part to the construction of the former cinema. Only modern make-up material was observed, which overlay the natural gravel.

Two evaluation trenches were excavated at 13-15 Moxon Street and 18-20 Tapster Street, Barnet by MoLAS following geotechnical observations. No archaeological remains were encountered.

MoLAS also carried out work at BIBSWORTH MANOR, 80 East End Road, Finchley. A magnetometer/resistivity survey was conducted within the scheduled ancient monument of Bibsworth Manor to test for the location of two medieval moats associated with the manor, or for other significant remains. The results were inconclusive. However, part of the outer moat and bank were located in four transects of auger holes drilled across the western part of the site, within the footprint of a proposed school. The auger holes were drilled outside the scheduled ancient monument, which covers the house platform and the inner moat of the former manor. Waterlain deposits indicative of the primary fill of the moat were recorded in the auger holes sunk in the eastern part of the proposed building footprint. This suggests that the majority of the moat is likely to lie within the scheduled ancient monument area. These deposits lay between 1.5 & 3.0m below current ground level and were thickest in the northern most auger transect. Bank deposits were found to the west of the moat and evidence of a pre-moat surface was detected.

Another site reported was 1263-1275 HIGH RD, WHETSTONE dug by Thames Valley Archaeological Service (TVAS) with the assistance of HADAS members. The excavation of land beneath demolished 19th century shops fronting the High Rd uncovered mainly post-Medieval deposits and structures. The entire site was under a layer of modern demolition debris. A large single ditch and a buried soil were the ‘earliest (Medieval) features, although Medieval material appeared residually in later features. Even then, it is possible that the ditch was not finally backfilled until the 18th century. Structural elements included wall footings, several wells and soakaways. Very fragmentary remains may belong to the 17th & 18th centuries, but the majority of the structural elements were 19th century and later. The west of the site had been quarried and backfilled in the 19th century and much of the eastern end was destroyed by the cellars of the buildings. What does survive seems to relate mainly to minor outbuildings and garden features in the rear of the street frontage buildings.

CBA MID-ANGLIA NEWSLETTER Reports of Pre-construct Archaeology (PCA) in Barnet ASHMOLE SCHOOL, Southgate, Jan-Feb 2001. Natural brownish orange clay, with frequent pebbles, sealed by natural deposits was observed at 72.79m OD. Natural clay was sealed by brickearth deposits, which in turn was overlain by modern plough and subsoils.

72 HIGH ST, BARNET AND CORNER OF TAPSTER STREET November 2001 Natural light greyish, reddish, yellow gravely sand was observed. In the north of the excavated area a late 16th/early 17th century demolition layer was seen overlying the natural gravel in section. The layer was mid yellowish brown silty clay with roof tile, green-glazed pottery, clay tobacco pipe and pebbly inclusions, this layer was 0.4m thick. The 16th and 17th century deposits were mostly truncated by an 18th century brick building and its vaulted cellars. The base of the cellar was 2m below ground level. The 18th century building had been repaired with yellow stock bricks and internal partition walls appear to have been built in the 19th century within the cellar.
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OUT AND ABOUT with Eric Morgan’s monthly selection of alternatives to TV…
AUGUST

Thurs. 1st London Canal Museum, 12-13 New Wharf Road, Kings Cross, Nl. 7.30pm – 9pm Historical guided towpath walk from the museum to Camden.

Sat. 3rd & Trent Park Country Steam Show. Trent Park, Cockfosters Rd., Sun. 4th Enfield, featuring traction engines and vintage vehicles.

Sun. 4th Heath and Hampstead Society, Burgh House, New End Sq. NW3. 2.30pm Meet at The Dairy at Kenwood for a walk led by Andrew Ginner. £.1 donation requested.

Fri. 9th Hampstead Museum are organising a walk led by the curator featuring 1lam – 1pm Constables Hampstead, fee £3, meet at Hampstead Tube Stn by 11am.

Tues. 13th 8pm Amateur Geological Society meeting at The Parlour, St. Margaret’s United Reformed Church, Victoria Ave. N3. Volcanoes of the Bay of Naples. Talk by Dr. Tony Hall.

Fri. 16th COLAS meeting at St. Olaves Parish Hall, Mark Lane EC3 for a talk by Dr. Penelope Wallis on English Medieval Manuscripts.

Sat. 17th & Sun. 18th Friern Barnet Show at Friary Park Friern Barnet Lane N12. Friern Barnet Local Historical Society plan to have a stand here with details of the HADAS resistivity survey.

Wed. 21st Friends of The Earth. Meet at the Information Hut in Highgate Wood, Muswell Hill Road N6 for a guided walk.

Wed. 21st Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery, Dissenters Chapel, Kensal Green Cemetery, Ladbroke Grove, W10. Preservation of the Dead – talk by Andrea Britton about embalming. £3 donation requested. Refreshments available (if the talk hasn’t put you off!).

Sat. 24th & Sun. 25th Lord Mansfield’s- TeaParty. A high society tea party of 1773 with music dancing and latest London scandals – event organised by English Heritage members. English Heritage at Kenwood Hampstead Lane NW3. free admission £4 adult, £3.50 concession, £2.50 child.
SEPTEMBER

Sun. 1st Angel Canal Festival, set in and around Regents Canal and City Road Basin with lots of stalls and boat trips round the basin and though the tunnel to the Canal Museum.

Newsletter
Page 1

HADAS DIARY

Tuesday June 11th- ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING followed by members’ news of HADAS activities (8pm prompt in the drawing room, ground floor, of Avenue House, East End Road, Finchley N3)

Saturday June 15th OUTING to the Roman bathhouse Welwyn, Stoke Bruerne Alderton and Grafton Regis. With Micky Watkins

Friday July 12th to Tuesday July 16th Long weekend to Ireland, Galway. This is now full (43 members). If anyone would like to be put on the waiting list in case there are cancellations please ring Jackie Brookes on 020 8349 2253. Will members already on the list please let Jackie know if they are vegetarians or require any special diet.

Saturday July 20th OUTING to Sutton Hoc Orford. With Tessa Smith and Sheila Woodward (details and application form enclosed)

Saturday August 17th Outing. With June Porges and Stewart Wild. (details to follow)

Tuesday October 9th – Start of Lecture Season

Page 2

Sutton Hoo by Tessa Smith

Why not visit the British Museum to view the exhibition” When we visit Sutton Hoo in July we will be able to see some of the treasures in the new exhibition centre on loan from the British Museum. The rest of this collection has just been refurbished at the British Museum and is well worth a visit in preparation for the July outing. By a happy coincidence, in an adjacent gallery, the Roman tombstones which were the subject of our February lecture by Francis Grew, are also on show. By combining your own trip to the British Museum with the HADAS outing to Sutton Hoo, you could see the entire treasure from the most richly furnished burial chamber ever discovered on British soil.
Bronze Age Cup Discovered in Kent

An amateur treasure hunter found a beautifully embossed gold goblet dating from 1700 to 1500BC, reported to be of outstanding and international importance, one of the earliest treasures found in England and roughly contemporary with Stone Henge. The find has revealed the burial site of a Bronze Age chieftain. The site at Ringlemere Farm, Woodnesborough, near Sandwich, is now being excavated by English Heritage. The cup is currently at the British Museum An inquest will be held to decide the cup’s status under the Treasure Trove Act. (Evening Standard 4 April 2002)

Page 3

LAMAS 39th Annual Conference of London Archaeologists Peter Pickering

This year the HADAS stall reappeared at this well-attended conference, and had a particularly profitable time with book sales, launching its new annual journal on an unsuspecting public. The conference was, as ever, ably chaired our President, Harvey Sheldon, who was particularly appreciative of all the speakers finishing on time! The Ralph Merrifield prize was awarded by LAMAS to the Museum of London in recognition of its achievements with the London Archaeological Archive and Resource Centre, and the afternoon session of the conference was devoted to the Centre and its work, including a talk by Brian Connell on the mediaeval bones from Spitalfields market and one by Jacqui Pearce, the tutor of our Ted Sammes course, on the publishing of London’s Tudor and Stuart pottery. This session demonstrated the potential for original research and discoveries presented by the enormous quantity of material in the archive; no need to dig out there in the cold and wet! The morning session was taken up by five illustrated talks about recent excavations in the London area. Two were angled towards that fashionable subject, landscape archaeology: one was on the multi-period landscapes disclosed in an open-area excavation in Staines on a site for a new prison, and the other the Thames floodplain landscapes disclosed by excavations on the line of the A13. Excavations at Park Lane, Croydon were the subject of another talk; 43 early Saxon inhumations were found, including three infant burials; the only cremation burial was of a horse, parallels for which are known elsewhere, usually (though not here) associated with a human burial. Among the grave goods were four swords, nine spearheads/ferrules, eleven shield bosses, brooches, beads, buckles and domestic items such as knives, tweezers, bucket fittings, keys, and mineralised textiles preserved on metalwork. The other two talks described MoLAS excavations in the Gresham Street area of the City of London. One was that at Blossom’s Inn, 30 Gresham Street, City of London which was covered in a recent Time Team Special and included three spectacular Roman finds (a gilded left forearm of a bronze statue, part of a civic or public monument that had been hacked off, perhaps from a statue of the disgraced Emperor Nero; dumped wall plaster painted with an architectural scene with figures including a head, possibly of Bacchus; two sets of lifting mechanisms for raising water from wells) and one from a much later period — a thirteenth century ritual Jewish bath, or Mikveh, built of Greensand Ashlar stonework and pre-dating the expulsion of the Jews by Edward I in 1290. This was an extremely good conference; perhaps next year there will be something from the more northerly parts of Middlesex to talk about!

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British Archaeological Biennial Awards

Entries are invited from almost everyone involved in archaeology, from schoolchildren to bulldozer operators. The aim is to provide a showcase for the best of British archaeology. Nothing is excluded if it embraces the material remains of human past. Prizes so far have been awarded include for a book on the Neanderthals, a study of the archaeology of Shakespeare’s theatre, of WWII pillboxes, and for spotting a series of ancient timber bridges. Entries close on June 30, details from Richard Brewer of the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff (02920 573247) (The Times 6 May 2002)
Dissertation Prize for Best Thesis by an Extramural Student

A new prize has been launched by Current Archaeology and the Royal Archaeological Institute. This year’s winner is Martin Cook, of Birkbeck College, London, who wrote about Romano-British drinking glasses and their apparent temporary replacement by cheaper pottery and pewter vessels in the 3rd century AD. The glassmakers fought back with a range of cheaper and lower quality wares and recaptured some of their lost market. Some things don’t change. (The Times 6 May 2002)
Vandalism at Olympics site

A lake for a rowing and canoeing centre for the 2004 Olympics is being created on the plains between Marathon and the sea; where, in 490 BC, Militiades led the Athenians to victory against the Persians. The new centre will include coach parks, grandstands, restaurants and a four-storey tower at the finishing line. A mile away stands the 333ft high mound where, Athens buried and honoured its 192 dead. The decision to build such a huge new complex on such an historic site has led historians and archaeologists around the world to accuse the Greek Government of burying its history and to damage the country’s claim for the return of the Elgin marbles. (Daily Telegraph 27 April 2002) Lela, for Voluntary Scheme to Record Archaeological Objects Found by Public
The Portable Antiquities Scheme

The Portable Antiquities Schemehas received funding from the Lottery Fund (HLF). The Portable Antiquities Scheme is a voluntary scheme and is run by Resource for the recording of archaeological objects found by members of the public. It was established to promote the recording of chance archaeological discoveries and to broaden public awareness of the importance of such finds for understanding our past. Since 1997 the scheme’s Finds Liaison Officers have recorded many thousands of objects; many of which might otherwise have gone unrecorded.

In May 2000 Resource submitted a bid for a £4 million project to extend the Portable Antiquities Scheme to all parts of England and Wales. Now the bid has been successful the Heritage Lottery Fund will contribute £2,493,000 towards funding the scheme over a period of three years from April 2003. This is to be matched by £1,500,000 from a unique partnership of 63 national and local museums, archaeological bodies and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. There is a Portable Antiquities Steering Group which is chaired by Resource and comprises representatives from a range of relevant organisations, including the Association of Government Archaeological Officers, the British Museum, the Council of British Archaeology and English Heritage. Currently working in the scheme are 14 people: a Co-ordinator, an Outreach Officer and 12 Finds Liaison Officers, who between them cover about half of England and all of Wales. The intention now is to create a further 31 posts with a nation-wide remit. Besides 24 new Finds Liaison Officer posts, the scheme will also have provision for Education, ICT, Administration and Finds Advisor posts. Since the scheme was established over 100,000 objects have been recorded with its Finds Liaison Officers. Some of these objects have been of national and international importance, but all have contributed to our understanding of the past. Many discoveries have also helped identify new archaeological sites and assisted in building a picture of the archaeological landscape in areas covered by the scheme. The data recorded by the scheme is passed on to the Sites and Monuments Records, for academic and public benefit, and is also published on the scheme’s website http-//www.finds.org.uk. You can join the Resourcenews email list at http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/resourcenews.html
Etruscan ‘Pompeii’ Uncovered in Tuscany

The ruins of an unknown Etruscan city, dating back nearly 3,000 years, have been discovered in Tuscany, the largest find of its kind. The site has been named Accessa after the lake on whose shores it has been found. The 2,700 year old city, near Massa Marittima in southern Tuscany, was covered in woodland and had not been disturbed by subsequent settlers and could “hold the key” to Etruscan mysteries. Giovannangelo Camporeale, Professor of Etruscology, is in charge of the excavations. (Daily Telegraph 4 April 2002)
Villa of the Papyri

An international campaign has been launched to save the contents of the only library known to have survived intact from the ancient world. A villa on the Bay of Naples, near Herculaneum, which probably belonged to Lucius Calpurnius Pisa, father-in-law of Julius Caesar, only partly excavated, has so far yielded some 1,800 rolls of papyrus, but there may be many more Proper scientific study and decipherment did not begin until the 1970ties by an international team under the late Professor Marcello Gigante of the University of Naples. Hundreds of lost works of Greek philosophy and some Roman poets were read for the first time. Items so far recovered include a contemporary copy of Lucretius’s On the Nature of Things, which suggests that the Villa may yield contemporary copies of Virgil’s Aeneid, or copies of Horace, or even of Catullus. The author most commonly represented was Philodemus, an Epicurean philosopher attached to Piso’s household, who certainly taught Virgil and possibly Horace also. Fresh excavations in the 1990s revealed further lower storeys, but money ran out and the site is now waterlogged and choked with volcanic mud and ash. The campaigners include amongst others the professors of Greek from the universities of Bristol, Harvard, London and Oxford. (Daily Telegraph 26 March 2002)

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Post Boxes by Bill Firth

In the last two months some 90 boxes have been recorded thanks to Andrew Tucker, Steve Bunning and Eric Morgan of HADAS, and Derek Warden and Sylvia van Gilder of the Finchley Society. Derek has been particularly active in recording 55 boxes in the Finchley area and Eric has recorded 27 boxes in Hendon and the surrounding area In the March Newsletter I noted some of the more interesting boxes in the Borough but I forgot to mention boxes with no cypher_ There are a number of these, particularly in Finchley. The following is a selection:

Long Lane/Trinity Road N2

Ballards Lane/Etchingham Park Road N3

123 Nether Street, north of Alexandra Grove N12

Sunningsfield Road/Nursery Walk NW4

Golders Green Road/The Riding NW 11

There are earlier reports of boxes of particular interest of which it would be nice to have details: Boxes without cypher

Durham Road/Lincoln Road N2

Glenthorne Road/Holly Park Road N11

EviiiR boxes

Heddon Court Parade, East Barnet

Wagon Road, Hadley Wood

Somewhere on the Great North Road, East Finchley

Two in N14 (Sorry about the vagueness of the last two sites but that is all the information I have) Wall boxes

Barnet Road – facing Barnet Gate Lane (on a brick pillar)

Barnet Road – near Quinta Drive

East End Road – by the Convent of the Good Shepherd N2

There have been no recordings of boxes outside the London postal area, perhaps the people of Barnet do not write letters.
Page 6

RAF Museum, Hendon by Andy Simpson

A new multimillion pound project will increase the size of the Museum by a third with the opening of a new landmark hangar. The Heritage Lottery Fund have contributed £4.7 million to the project. The new building will house a new ‘Milestones of Flight’ exhibition, and will contain some of the most significant aircraft from the development of aviation with particular reference to the part played by the RAF_ The new building will be open in December 2003 to coincide with the international celebrations to mark the Centennial of Powered Flight

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OTHER SOCIETIES EVENTS by Eric Morgan

Monday 3rd June 10.30am Finchley Society. Walk to survey Dollis and Mutton Brooks. Eight sections to explore with two groups starting from each meeting point. Meet at either Totteridge Lane, N20; Fursby Avenue, N3; Waverley Grove, N3 where road goes over Dollis Brook; or at Falloden Way, NW11 at junction Addison Way/Oakwood Road. Ends at 12noon at Scout camping ground, Frith Lane at hilltop between Lovers Walk, Railway Bridge. Refreshments till 2pm. Bring picnic.This is part of Environment Week which runs lst-9th June. HADAS is currently involved with river walking along the Dollis Brook and tributaries.

Monday 3rd June 11 am-4.30pm Kingsbury and Welsh Harp open day. Range of venues and activities. Meet at Welsh Harp open space or at St. Andrew’s Church, Church Lane, NW9 (Wembley Historical Society will have a stand there).

Wednesday 12th June 8pm Barnet and District Local History Society. Wyburn Room, Wesley Hall. Stapylton Road, Barnet, City gardens. Talk by Sandra Lea

Wednesday 12th June 8pm Hornsey Historical Society. Union Church Hall, corner Ferme Park Road, Weston Park, N8. Parish boundaries of Hornsey. Malcolm Stokes (of HADAS)

Thursday 13th June 7.30pm Southgate Civic Trust, Walker’s Hall, The Green, Southgate N14. The Walkers of Southgate. Talk by Ruby Galili

Sunday 16th June 2pm Friern Barnet and District Local History Society. Meet forecourt Friern Barnet Town Hall, corner Friern Barnet Lane/Woodhouse Road, N11. Circular tour of Colney Hatch of 1-2 hours. Visiting St. John’s Church_ Led by Dr. Oliver Natelsen. £1.00 per adult

Wednesday 19th June 7.30pm Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery Dissenters Chapel, Kensal Green Cemetery, Ladbroke Grove, W10.. Funerals and funeral directing in London: a look at the last 100 years. Brian Parsons. £3.00

Thursday 20th June 7.30pm Camden History Society. Offices of Alan Baxter Associates. Cowcross St. EC1. St. Pancras Station and Hotel. Robert Thorne

Friday 21st June 7pm City of London Archaeological Society. St. Olave’s Hall, Mark Lane, EC3. Prehistoric landscapes at Heathrow. Ken Welsh

Friday 21st June 7.30pm Wembley History Society. St. Andrew’s Church Hall, Church Lane, Kingsbury NW9. Kenton and Northwick Park. Len Snow

Sunday 23rd June 12noon – 6pm East Finchley Festival. Cherry Tree Wood, off High Road, East Finchley, N12. (HADAS hope to have a display stand there)

Thursday 27th June 8pm The Finchley Society. Drawing Room, Avenue House, East End Road, N3 AGM followed by panel and questions

Saturday 29th June – Sunday 3Ord June 12 noon – 7pm East Barnet festival. Oak Hill Park, Church Hill Road, East Barnet. (HADAS hope to have a display stand there also)

Friday 5th July 6pm for 6,30pm British Museum. Discover Avebury. Talks by Aubrey Burl and Josh Pollard. Compered by Julian Cope. Tickets £ 10.00 (no concessions ?) Phone 020 7323 8566/8644 to reserve ticket, then send cheque or pay at door. (Discover Avebury tickets, British Museum Friends, British Museum, Great Russell St., London, WC 113 3DG). David Dinnage of the Biitish Museum is once again co-ordinating, email us if you have problems, and we will forward. [from web site]
Details of LAARC Open Days London Museum

Free events at Mortimer Wheeler House, 46 Eagle Wharf Rd, London, N1 7ED. Nearest Tube is Old St on the Northern Line, map available by calling 020756693 IT Opening hours: 10.30-3.30

Saturday June 1st Insiders Tours at 10.30, 11.45 and 2pm (please book via the Museum of London Booking Office (02078145777). ‘Treasures of the LAARC’ object display and handling session – drop-in 10.30am -3.30pm Saturday July 6th Insiders Tours at 10.30, 11.45 and 2pm (please book via the Museum of London Booking Office (02078145777).

‘Waterfront and Riverbank’ object display and handling session – drop-in 10.30am -3.30pm Saturday July 20th – Sunday July 21st National Archaeology Weekend A variety of activities including finds washing and ‘The Dig, more details in the Museum of London’s National Archaeology Weekend leaflet.

Saturday August 3rd Insiders Tours at 10.30am, 11.45am and 2pm (please book via the Museum of London Booking Office (02078145777).

‘Working Romans’ object display and handling session – drop-in 10.30am-3.30pm Saturday September 11th Insiders Tours at 10.30am, I 1.45am and 2pm (please book via the Museum of London Booking Office (02078145777).

`The Great Fire of London’ object display and handling session – drop-in 10.30am-3.30pm

Newsletter
Page 1

HADAS DIARY

Outings Friday-Sunday 12th-14th July, GALWAY WEEKEND, Now full. Contact Jackie Brookes, in case of a cancellation.

Saturday 20 July, SUTTON HOO and WOODBRIDGE, with Tessa Smith and Sheila Woodward.

Saturday 17 August, PIDDINGTON ROMAN VILLA & EXCAVATION, NORTHAMPTON and CANONS ASHBY with June Porges and Stewart Wild.

Lectures The new lecture season begins on Tuesday 8 October, with ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL by Dr Ann Saunders, MBE, immediate past president of HADAS.

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RECENT FIELDWORK by Bill Bass
Friary Park

HADAS has started work here, mainly plotting out base lines and a grid for the resistivity survey. The first target is a curved bank or causeway earthwork, close to the Friern Barnet Lane side of the park. This appears to be a slightly boggy area and may explain the nature of the earthwork. The survey is to investigate the Friary aspect of the park. Was there a medieval settlement here of some kind? On Sunday 9th June we managed to survey a 20x20m square with our new resistivity meter — its first time in action. The early results show a (not unexpected) high resistivity over the bank, which appears to be made up of gravel, but also further possible features elsewhere. The work will continue through most of June.
Wheathampstead Cremation

A remarkable burial has been discovered near Wheathampstead, Herts. The spot. in a shallow valley near to the River Lea, was initially unearthed by metal detectors and subsequently reported to the authorities. The site of at least two cremations was then partly excavated by Simon West of the St Albans Museum Service. One burial in a timber cist, was a cremation placed in a glass jug, this was accompanied by an array of finds including bronze lamp holders (for a floating wick), 5-6 bronze bowls, three sets of Samian vessels from the Rhineland, strainers and paterae (flat bowls). The vessels seem to indicate a ritual feasting as part of the funeral proceedings. Other finds would have included textiles and clothing that have not survived. Iron objects when x-rayed showed 27 arrowheads, a barrel lock and casket fittings. Another find from elsewhere on the site was a human figurine, possibly a Roman goddess. A pipeline had been excavated previously in the area by the Hefts Archaeological Trust. That dig produced coin-moulds and similar finds which makes this an important site a high status villa or possibly even a palace, the area is rich in villas and temples around St Albans. The burial is dated to 80-100 AD and is similar to a late Iron-Age burial at Folly Lane in St Albans, also a rich cremation laid out in a timber hut. A Roman temple was later built over the top. An area of 100m x 200m has been geophysically surveyed around the burial in Wheathampstead with many features being identified, further work is planned for this year.
Enfield

The Enfield Archaeological Society continue their back-garden dig of a possible farm near a Roman posting station on the A10. They are currently excavating ditches. property boundaries, occupation layers/cobbled floors, etc. Finds include much pottery and coins.

Page 3

Stream walking in the Dollis Brook ex parte Emma Freeman

Recently three members walked along the bed of the north fork of the Dollis Brook, from Hendon Wood Lane to its source, to gain experience for a more ambitious river-walking programme. Lessons were learnt and two intriguing sites were found. EF, C Da C, AC
A Roman Temple in Greenwich Park? — May Lecture by Harvey Sheldon. Graham Javes

President of HADAS, Harvey Sheldon gave his lecture on investigations which have taken place over the past century or so into a Roman site in Greenwich Park. The site stands on the Blackheath pebble bed, at a height of 43 ft above OD at the eastern edge of Greenwich Park. Humphrey of Gloucester enclosed the park in the 1430s. Duke Humphrey built a house by the river with a watchtower behind it. His nephew turned it into a palace. It later became a royal park. Edward VI died at Greenwich, the Stuarts did much building: James I walled it and began the Queen’s House. When Time Team dug here in 1999 they were only the latest to excavate this site. In the 18th century a group of barrows, thought to be pagan Anglo-Saxon, was excavated: there is a link here with Ted Sammes’ Archaeology in Southeast England. Jones and Webster dug in 1902. other excavators followed in the 1920s, and 1970s. Jones and Webster paid no attention to stratification but produced many drawings of their finds. These included Samian bowls, flagons, a range of pots from the first and second centuries; plus some late Roman pots, a rare ivory plaque from a stool or seat, and a range of coins from Nero to the 4th century. The excavations were left open afterwards and enclosed by railings. Tesserae weathered badly and as a compromise surviving tesserae were cemented in. In the late 1970s a number of elms on the site died of Dutch elm disease and the question arose as to what to do on the mound. Philip Walker, the assistant inspector, decided to inspect the damage done by the tree roots. Non-destructive investigation was tried. Harvey was one of the excavators, who found very severe erosion. Two robbed-out walls were found. The 17th century elms had done huge damage. In addition, there had been damage by Jones and Webster, and unnamed 1920s successors. It was decided that no more trees should be planted. When Time Team were looking for a London site, Hedley Swain suggested Greenwich: the Museum of London and Birkbeck College would support a 3-day dig. The excavation in 1999 found dwarf walls for beams on top, with a ditch around — the site bigger than just the mound. Two sandstone inscription tablets were found, as was a tile stamp in two parts, inscribed PPBR (Procurators of the Province of Britannia in Londinium). This then could be a London building out here in Greenwich Park. In Jones and Webster’s time there were three theories for the site: a pay station (on account of the large number of coins found) a sort of villa, or a temple (on account of the religious finds). Our excavations strengthen the temple idea: a classical temple like the Harlow temple, with central cella and podium ambulatory. Harlow was a Romano-celtic temple where native religion was practised in a Roman building. Harvey suggested to Time Team that the temple had an apsidal end. There are many complexities that we don’t understand. Temples on hilltops are not uncommon — associated with Roman army sites, as for example at Maidenbury. The Roman army spent its time on manoeuvres: cavalry, swimming rivers and exercises in attacking enemies from uphill. The site is the first high ground from London. A large 13-14 acre fort is a possibility, the high ground of the Greenwich plateau used for military training. Time team surveyors thought they had found a new route for Watling Street going straight through the site but Harvey remains committed to the traditional route, which skirts round the park.
Launch of the HADAS Journal. by Andrew Selkirk

Our proposed dinner to launch the HADAS Journal has had to he cancelled — unwittingly we scheduled it for the Jubilee weekend, when everyone was away. This was to have been held at the site of our excavations at High Street Whetstone, which is now appropriately a Pizza Express restaurant. They have done it up very nicely and made the roof space into a dining area, where you can dine amidst the medieval roof beams: while it is possible in summer to sit out at the back, right over the site of the excavation. If anyone would like to revive the idea, and have a get-together later in the summer where we can all have a pizza and toast the excavators, perhaps you could let Tim Wilkins know on 020 8445 2401
Andrew Selkirk writes:

I wonder if I could add a brief comment and an appeal to the note on the British Archaeological Awards in the June Newsletter. As you know, I was one of the founders of the Awards, many years ago, and have always been closely associated with the Pitt Rivers Award for local archaeological societies, of which HADAS was one of the winners in the very first awards in 1977. Subsequently I have been chairman of the Book Award for 16 years — the penalty for having invented that particular award, but I have now handed it over to David Gaimster, and have instead become chairman of the Sponsorship Award for the best sponsorship of archaeology. I believe this is a terribly important award — archaeology needs sponsorship — and I want to make this year’s awards the biggest and best so far. I would be very grateful if members of HADAS could help me in this, and tip me the wink if they have any ideas for good examples of sponsorship of archaeology. This can be quite informal — just ring us on 020 7435 7517, or email me at Andrew@archaeology.co.uk — or write to the usual address. Incidentally there are now around a dozen awards — details of this year’s awards can be found on my website at www.archaeology.co.uk The Bronze Age gold cup discovered in Kent is on the front cover of the latest Current Archaeology — in glorious colour. Sutton Hoo will be the main feature of the next Current Archaeology, edited by Neil Faulkner, who has written a superb article on recent work there — this should be out before the HADAS visit.
Page 4

The Grahame White hangar by Andy Simpson

Members living in the Hendon-Colindale area may have noticed that, over the past few weeks, dismantling work has finally commenced on the Grahame White hangar building on the former RAF Hendon East Camp site. This building has been derelict for many years. The RAF camp itself finally closed in 1988 and there have been various plans for use of the site. The Grahame White hangar is to be moved a few hundred yards, to the newly-expanded RAF Museum, where it will be reassembled, close to where the £4.7 million lottery- funded landmark building hangar is now taking shape. This new hangar is to be opened in December 2003. With piling complete, the new brickwork for the Grahame White building is already under construction, and it should be structurally complete on its new site by the new year. Plans for the new displays within have yet to be finalised, and I will keep members informed of developments.
Deliberations of the All-Party Parliamentary Archaeology Group by Peter Pickering

The All-Party Parliamentary Archaeology Group (with 129 members from both houses) has, it tells us, been buried under a mound of replies calling for action to safeguard Britain’s heritage. An overwhelming number of archaeologists and heritage professionals have voiced grave concerns about the future of Britain’s past in their submissions on the state of the country’s archaeology. The preservation and management of sites under threat from development, and from agriculture; the lack of a government strategy for protecting them; the lack of resources for recording portable antiquities; the inadequacies of PPG16, and the undervaluing of the important part played by amateur archaeologists, are among the concerns shared by the archaeological community. More than 250 individuals and organisations —ranging from national bodies and university departments to local societies (including HADAS) — have submitted detailed accounts of the problems faced by professionals and amateurs involved in archaeology. The secretary of the Group, Lord Redesdale said: ‘The response has been fantastic. We are really impressed with the standard of the replies and also pleased that so many parliamentarians are showing an interest in the cause. There is huge public interest in archaeology right now. I am confident that we really can change the way archaeology is handled in the UK. Our heritage needs protecting, and people in archaeology need government support in order to do that.’The Group now plans to use this evidence as the basis for a series of meetings at which senior figures from representative bodies will be asked to respond to questions arising from these submissions, and to produce a report in the autumn. The Group invites anyone interested to attend in an observer capacity. (Committee rooms are entered via the St Stephen’s Entrance. Please allow a few minutes for security checks on arrival.) Four select committee hearings, chaired by Professor Lord (Colin) Renfrew, are scheduled for June and July. They will be held in a House of Lords Committee Room at 10.00-12 noon, on the following dates:

18 June. State advisers on archaeology.

25 June. Non-governmental organisations and museums.

4 July. The voluntary, universities and educational sectors, and the Heritage Lottery Fund. 11 July. Government departments DCMS, DTLR and DEFRA.

A public meeting on the debate, scheduled for 6 July at the Society of Antiquaries, has been postponed until the autumn.
Page 5

Public Houses in Barnet Borough by Gerrard Roots

(Church Farmhouse Museum. Greyhound Hill, Hendon, NW4 020 8203 0130) Church Farm’s summer exhibition traces the diverse history of drinking houses in our Borough — from coaching inns at High Barnet to hay pubs in Hendon — through photographs, pub equipment and ephemera. There is even a reconstruction 1960s public bar – unfortunately with no beer for sale! The exhibition continues until 1 September. Open: Monday — Thursday 10-12.30, 1.30-5. Saturday 10-1, 2-5.30. Sunday 2-5.30. Admission Free.`Urban Landscape and Development in Hertfordshire to 1800′ is the title of a conference of the Hertfordshire Association for Local History, to he held at Madingley Hall, Cambridge, 21-23 February 2003. HADAS member Dr Pamela Taylor will give a paper on ‘Boundaries, margins and the delineation of the urban: the case of medieval Barnet from the 11th century to 1850’. Other speakers are: Dr Tom Williamson, Clive Partridge, David Dean, Tom Doig, Bridget Howlett, Dr Mark Bailey, and Dr Terry Slater. Details of this and many other residential courses are contained in the new courses brochure obtainable from Madingley Hall, M 01954 280399, or on the website at www.cont-ed.cam.uk
News of Members by Graham Javes

This month we say goodbye to Jennie Cobban, who leaves Barnet to return to her native Whalley, near Clitheroe in Lancashire. Jennie dug with HADAS on many sites, particularly at Barnet and Hadley. She was a member of the HADAS committee for some years. As a member of this society and of the Barnet & District Local History Society, of which she was a committee member, Jennie represented archaeology in Chipping and East Barnet and in Hadley. She frequently spoke to the local press, writing many letters to the editor. She was vociferous over the demolition of the grade II listed Mitre stables, and subsequently had various dealings with Barnet Council and English Heritage. Members may remember her article in this newsletter about the Witch’s Cottage, which once stood in the grounds of the now defunct folk museum in Park Road, New Barnet. Her book: Geoffrey de Mandeville and London’s Camelot, Ghosts, Mysteries and the Occult in Barnet, reflects her other great interest: witchcraft. No, Jennie isn’t a witch! We wish her well in her new life. She will be greatly missed in local archaeology.
Does anyone remember?

HADAS Newsletter No 69, November 1976, reported: ‘It is hoped to survey, as a training exercise, an area in Friary Park which showed, during the very dry weather, curious and regular patterns on the ground surface’. We should very much like to know where these markings arc. We would like to hear from anyone who remembers anything about this, or other fieldwork, in Friary Park. Please contact Graham Javes or Bill Bass.
Page 6

ROMAN HENDON — ANOTHER PIECE OF THE JIGSAW
REPORT ON DRAINAGE EXCAVATION AT MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY’S HENDON CAMPUS, AND SOME THOUGHTS ON ‘ROMAN HENDON’ by Stephen Aleck and Andy Simpson

This article is by way of a draft for a fuller version to be submitted for the second issue of the HADAS Journal, discussing site watching at the University and the accumulated evidence for Roman Hendon. In the meantime, comments, pet theories, and additions are most welcome. Please write to Andy Simpson, Flat 36, Scottwell Drive, off Crossway, Colindale, London, NW9 6QB. Site History The university, formerly Hendon College of Technology and later Middlesex Polytechnic, is in the centre of historic Hendon and close to the former Grove House. The site, presently known as The Paddock, is a small, fairly flat, fenced field, immediately east of the main university campus buildings, which was formerly one of the fields of Church End Farm, and is now bounded on the south by the Burroughs, and to the cast by Church End. When in the 1750s Greyhound Hill was known as Hall Lane, the site was known as Hall Field. Now a park, part of the university grounds, it was still used as cow pasture in 1964 and in the 1950s for pigs. The Georgian farm with its barn dated 1750 and ruined older building bombed in the 1939-45 war, which lay immediately north of The Paddock, was demolished in the 1960s to provide extra space for the College. It is shown on a map of 1756 as John Coles’ Farm. Roman finds are concentrated on this area of Hendon, with first to fourth century pottery and building material from HADAS digs at Church End Farm, Church Terrace, and Church Farm House, and in the nineteenth century in the grounds of Grove House. HADAS previously excavated some trial trenches in The Paddock in 1964, but found no Roman material, only evidence of geological strata, reaching thick blue clay at a depth of seven feet, and an eighteenth century shoe in the clay.

The Works In August/September 1998 a new foul sewer was constructed, heading roughly east through the University site, through The Paddock, connecting into the existing main sewer under Church End. HADAS did not become aware of the trench running through the lower university buildings until it was virtually completed, since the work could not be seen from the public highway. By early September 1998 trenching work had reached The Paddock. The depth of the drain trench was approximately three metres. The sewer in Church End is apparently six metres deep. There is a manhole in The Paddock, close to the Church End fence, where the depth increases to six metres. The track of the drain through The Paddock was initially partially cleared of topsoil for a depth of about 200mm, over a width of some six metres. The removed topsoil was stockpiled nearby for later reuse. Because the ground is poor the method of digging involved shoring the trench with steel sheets immediately it was dug, with little opportunity to inspect sections therefore. Access HADAS member Stephen Aleck obtained permission from the University and contractor to conduct a watching brief, and he made visits throughout September 1998, (plus one by several HADAS ‘Digging Team’ members) to check topsoil and flower beds for finds – on that occasion, only post medieval material was noted.

Geology The Geological Survey map shows Dollis Hill glacial sand/gravel over London clay. The topsoil is sandy loam averaging 300mm in depth, but deeper in places. The subsoil is basically gravel, with flint nodules and large inclusions of boulder clay. This complies with the geological description, contrary to the contractor’s belief that it is made-up ground. Thick blue clay was recorded in the 1964 excavation.

Finds Stephen Aleck recovered finds on two visits, on the 2″ and 11th September 1998. Nothing was noted in the sub soil, either in the trench or in the spoil heaps. From the topsoil, both in situ and spoil heaps, were recovered fragments of post-medieval red brick, typically coarse red fabric peg-tiles and other tiles, wine bottle glass (jive piece of base) modern stoneware, two sherds of porcelain, and several sherds of mostly coarse red earthenware (PMR) which included two sherds of better quality ‘Manganese’ glazed ware; also, most notably, a large piece of 33mm thick, sandy red fabric Roman brick (ERIC), 10cm long, with part of one face intact. Material from the surface of a rose bed in the middle of the field, collected on the 2nd September included a 35mm long rim sherd of first/second century Verulamium Region White Ware (VRW) from the flowerbed surface, together with four sherds of modern stoneware, a half base sherd of a modern yellow glazed earthenware jar, plus two other sherds, a severely abraded rim sherd of orange-brown coarse fabric with small gritty inclusions, 45mm long with traces of burning or soot blackening along the rim, of seventeenth- eighteenth century date, the other of similar date from a coarse red London type earthenware greenish-brown internally glazed tripod pitcher sherd with grey reduced core and base tripod scar. Interestingly, there is a sherd of very similar glaze and fabric from topsoil elsewhere on the site, which could be from the same, or a similar, vessel. Curiously, there was no clay pipe and no ‘Willow Pattern’!

Discussion There is a growing corpus of recorded Roman material — coins, burials, pottery and building material — centred around the plateau on which stands the thirteenth century St Mary’s parish church on the high ground (a hilltop 87m abo e O.D, the highest point in Hendon). It is on the glacial sands and boulder clay that supports this histori core of Hendon and the surrounding fertile, undulating and once well-wooded area. The Hendon placename (Handone in the Domesday book) is derived from the Old English ‘At The High Down’. It is also suggested that the ancient name Sunny Hill (the name of the local park) may have been connected with pagan worship, perhaps of the sun. In addition to the Roman tile and pottery recovered from The Paddock in 1998 and recorded above, similar material is now recorded from Church End Farm, Church Farmhouse Museum opposite, and Church Terrace close to The Paddock and on the opposite side of the church to the other two sites. Slightly further away is the Roman cremation burial at Sunny Gardens Road. All are discussed in the following section.
ROMAN HENDON THE EVIDENCE

The HADAS excavations at Church End Farm (TQ 2280 8940), now covered by Middlesex University, in 1961-66 recorded, along with some thirteenth century pottery and much 17th century material, a residual fragment of second-third century bowl from a layer of disturbed rubble, plus one possible piece of Roman tile. Further post-excavation work by HADAS members and Jacqui Pearce of Birkbeck College, University of London on the finds from this site in 2001-2002 recorded two additional sherds of Roman pottery, one being a piece of fourth century Alice Holt type. See HADAS Newsletter 373, April 2002. Thanks also to Jacqui Pearce for her personal comment on this and The Paddock pottery. The 1973-74 HADAS excavations at Church Terrace — the area of the present Meritage Club (TQ2289 8953) found at the north western edge of the site, closest to Church End, a small concentration of some two dozen sherds of late third or early fourth century Roman ceramics. This included the well known moulded coarse redware face-flagon neck, possibly of local manufacture, and other pottery and three pieces of building material (CBM) — two being broken Tegulae tile (TEG) and one brick (BRIC). The pottery consisted of coarse red ware, two sherds of imitation Saurian, colour coated (possibly Nene Valley) and grey wares. Sammes makes the interesting point that also found were fragments possibly from the wide-mouthed section of a multiple vase; these and face-flagons have associations with religious beliefs, commenting ‘it is very tempting to take these two finds together and suggest that there was a ritual site at Hendon’. No Roman structures were identified. Also found was Saxon material, including nearly 400 grams of eighth-ninth century coarse grass tempered pottery in a ditch adjacent to the parish church of St. Mary, running parallel to Greyhound Hill. Like the ditch found at the rear of Church Farmhouse Museum in the 1990s, this remained open into the medieval period. There was also the well known, and rare, copper alloy pin with double spiral head. St Mary’s (TQ2287 8956) may be of Saxon origin — a priest is mentioned in the Domesday Book entry for Hendon (thereby suggesting the existence of a church), the parish being recorded in a charter (possibly forged) as being in the possession of Westminster Abbey by AD 959. Also found were probable Saxon burials and two fragments of a twelfth-thirteenth century Purbeck marble grave slab matching the date of the existing earliest church fabric. (The church was first built around 1080; it also has a twelfth century stone font, and foundations of a twelfth century chancel were possibly found 1929-31) The three seasons of HADAS excavations in the 1990s to the rear of the present seventeenth century Church Farmhouse Museum at 83-85m O.D. (TQ2283 8958) — See report by Bill Bass in HADAS Journal Volume 1, 2002, recorded nine sherds of residual and abraded Roman pottery, and also several pieces of Roman tile from Saxon/medieval ditch fills. These included three mid first-mid second century Verulamium Region White Ware (VRW) sherds matching the Paddock sherd and pieces of brick/bonding tile, with a preponderance of BRIC and two relatively small pieces of TEG roofing tile, one of them flanged. [To be continued next month]

Page 7

Erosion washes away Orkney’s heritage

We are pleased to note that Julie Gibson, one of our Orkney guides in 2000, is now county archaeologist for Orkney. The Times interviewed her for a feature article on the damage and threat resulting from coastal erosion and climate change, to some of the important heritage sites. Already ‘sections of Bronze Age sites have been sucked into the sea, skeletons have been washed out of Iron Age burial chambers and part of a Viking grave ship, uncovered on the island of Sanday during a storm in 1991, has disappeared without trace’. Skara Brae too is under threat. The 1926 sea wall is crumbling and a new wall is needed. Archaeologists are considering the implications of moving the entire settlement to a new site, before the sea breaks round the back and turns it into an island. Meanwhile The Orkney Archaeological Trust, whose chairman is Daphne Lorimer, is urging the government to provide substantially increased funding. [Source: The Times, Feb 18 2002, p 11; with thanks to Audree Price-Davies.] This May, Chipping Barnet MP Sir Sydney Chapman saw his National Heritage Bill receive the royal assent. The main provision of this Bill is to transfer responsibility for marine archaeology from the Department of Culture Media and Sport to English Heritage. Presumably Scottish Heritage acquired responsibility at the same time for Scotland. [Source: Barnet & Potters Bar Times, May 23, 2002, p 23] From our member in the Orkneys, by Daphne Lorimer:

The Orkney Archaeological Trust (OAT) is in partnership with Orkney College in the development of a one- year Masters Course in Archaeological Practice. Orkney College is the lead college in this course which is also taught by staff from The Highlands and Islands University partners Shetland College, North Highlands College and the International Centre for Islands Technology of Heriott Watt University, Orkney. It is an exciting course and Orkney is an exciting place to study. It starts in February 2003 and OAT has provided a number of bursaries to cover fees. For further information, apply to: Jane Downes, Orkney College, East Road, Kirkwall, KW15 1LX . IP, 01856 569000