No. 622 January 2023 Edited by Jim Nelhams
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We regret the delay in producing and despatching this newsletter, which is not helped by the disruption to the postal service. Apologies particularly to those who receive their copy through the post.
HADAS Diary -Forthcoming Lectures and Events
Tuesday 10th January 2023. Unfortunately, Tim Williams has needed to withdraw at short notice from our January lecture for medical reasons. Details of the replacement lecture are not yet known but will be circulated as soon as available and will appear on our website.
Tuesday 14th February 2023. The Dorothy Newbury Memorial Lecture: Signe Hoffos
Subject to be confirmed
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Stephen Brunning
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We regret to report the sudden death on 7th December of Stephen Brunning on a visit to a garden centre. In addition to filling the role of Membership Secretary for a number of years, Steve also arranged lectures and lecturers for our meetings at Avenue House (and on Zoom) and looked after our mailing lists. A fuller appreciation will follow in a later edition. Steve was also a member of our Finds Group, The picture above shows him studying some finds.
Jackie Brooks
We also note the death of Jackie Brookes, Beverley Perkins has sent the following note: –
Many of you will remember Jackie, who sadly died on 1st December after a short illness. She and I were good friends and close neighbours for over 40 years and it was Jackie who introduced me to HADAS after she joined in 1990. We rarely failed to attend the talks, coach trips and annual visits together. After Dorothy decided that it was time she retired, Jackie took on the organisation of the annual outings for several years which, as Jim and Jo will attest, is no easy task. We kept in touch after Dave and I moved to Devon and looked forward to her visits, when we would enjoy taking her out to explore local National Trust, English Heritage and other places of interest. Sadly, Covid put an end to that. We will miss her very much.
Beverley Perkins and David Bromley
HADAS festive afternoon tea. Don Cooper
HADAS festive afternoon tea took place on Sunday, 4th December 2022 at Avenue House in the Saloon, the first HADAS social event since lockdown. Present were 26 members and their guests. Avenue House catering laid four festively decorated tables with crackers etc. There were soft drinks to start followed by tea and coffee (for those that do!). There were four types of finger sandwiches, followed by scones, cream and jam, after which we had Christmassy pastries. A cash bar was open for those who wanted something more alcoholic.
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The entertainment was provided by three challenging table quizzes, two provided by Sue Willetts and one from Jim Nelhams. Our thanks to them both. There was also a successful raffle which raised £126 for the HADAS funds. Thanks to all who provided prizes.
As has become a custom Liz provided two lovely Christmas cakes, of which people took away slices as they were already replete. Everybody had a great time, and our thanks go to the organisers and the staff at Avenue House and Andy Simpson for the photos.
The Rhondda Tunnel Jim Nelhams
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From the mid 1930s and through the war, my maternal Grandmother lived with her family in a small mining village named Blaengwynfi at the head of the Avon (Afan) valley in West Glamorgan. Two of my uncles were born there and Grandfather worked on the railways as a signalman. Grandfather signed up for WW2 and was posted to one of the Railway Regiments in the Royal Engineers. He was in France before Dunkirk involved in keeping the railways running in Northern France.
Blaengwynfi station, closed in 1968, was originally on the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway, which later became part of the Great Western Railway. The line was built to move coal and minerals to the Swansea Docks. To maximise the traffic, a tunnel was built from the Rhondda Valley to Blaengwynfi. This tunnel was 3,443 yards long, just short of two miles. With no rail traffic, the tunnel was also closed in 1968 and the western entrance was filled in.
In 2014, 17 people founded the Rhondda Tunnel Society with the aim of siting a stone portal as near as possible to the end of the tunnel which had been buried. With social media, enthusiasm grew rapidly and the Society developed a plan to re-open the tunnel in its entirety as a walkway and cycle way, a project costed at over 7 million pounds. Work has been going on for some time.
A report on a safety inspection noted that 95% of the tunnel was still in its original condition of 1890. Further that the built-in drainage system was still working and protecting the tunnel.
Work is ongoing, including building a new extension where the tunnel entrance had been filled, making the new tunnel over two miles long. There is one pedestrian tunnel in the World (in North America) which is longer than the planned tunnel but it is only open for six months each year. While that one is closed, the Rhondda Tunnel will be the longest in the World.
Although major contributions of funds have been received, and more are still sought, members of the public can join the Society for an annual payment of £10 giving them access to information before it is made public. The Society’s website also has merchandise available for sale. See www.rhonddatunnelsociety.co.uk for more information about the group and their work.
Changes for our new King Jim Nelhams
Currency
Bank notes will be replaced as the old ones wear out. This will take longer than before because the plastic notes last longer than their paper predecessors. Bank governor Andrew Bailey said: “I am very proud that the Bank is releasing the design of our new banknotes which will carry a portrait of King Charles III.
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“This is a significant moment, as the King is only the second monarch to feature on our banknotes.
“People will be able to use these new notes as they start to enter circulation in 2024.”
Fifty pence coins featuring the image of King Charles III have come into circulation from December, with 4.9 million coins being distributed across 9,452 Post Office branches nationwide. Following tradition, King Charles will face from Right to Left, the opposite way to his mother.
Stamps
No date is available for the issue of new stamps. Existing stamps and currency remain valid.
Postboxes
In line with past practice, following the death of a monarch all existing post boxes will remain unchanged. Post boxes already in production or being prepared for installation, will also retain the insignia of Queen Elizabeth II. Once these have been installed, new post-boxes will feature the cypher of King Charles III.
Other Societies’ Events Eric Morgan
Not all societies have yet returned to pre-Covid status. Please do check with them before planning to attend any of the events listed.
Wednesday 11th January, 8p.m. Hornsey Historical Society. Talk on zoom. How to read the English Country Church: Normans to Tudors. by Nicholas Henderson. Please e-mail hornseyhistoricalchairman@gmail.com. For link also visit www.hornseyhistorical.org.uk.
Friday 13th January, 7p.m. Enfield Archaeological Society.Talk on zoom, Romano-British Torcs in Southern Britain by Michael Marshall (MOLA). For link please visit www.enfarchsoc.org.uk.
Tuesday 17th January, 8p.m. Ruislip, Northwood and Eastcote Local History Society.Talk should be on zoom by Fabian Hiscock . Industrial Transport before the Railway-the effects of the Turnpike Road. For details please see www.RNELHS.org.uk.
Friday 20th January, 7.30p.m. Wembley History Society.English Martyrs’ Hall, Chalkhill Road (top of Blackbird Hill) HA9 9EW (adjacent to Church) Shackleton’s Antarctic Expedition, 1914-17.Talk by Geoff Shelley (FRGS) With words and pictures of the expedition’s photographer, Dr. Frank Hurley, re-creating the original lantern slide lecture that he gave following the safe return of the crew of the Endurance from the South Atlantic. Visitors £3. Refreshments in interval.
Wednesday 1st February, 6p.m. Gresham College. Anglo-Saxon Pagan Gods. Talk by Ronald Hutton. Ticket required. Register at www.gresham.ac.uk view on-line Please see Anglo-Saxon Pagan Gods | Gresham College. Free.With a pantheon of deities that include Woden, Thunor, Tiw and Frig. Its temples were wooden structures that leave scant traces in the landscape, but evidence can be found for their beliefs in cemeteries like Sutton Hoo, looking at evidence and literature such as Beowulf and history written by Christian scholar Bede.
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Wednesday 8th February, 2.30p.m. Mill Hill Historical Society, Trinity Church, 100, The Broadway, NW7 3TB. The Changing Face of Social Disadvantage of Young People in London. Talk by Tim Sledge. Please check www.millhill-hs.org.uk.
Wednesday 8th February, 8p.m. Hornsey Historical Society. Talk on zoom by Kirsten Forrest. Dolly Shepherd: The First Female Balloonist from Alexandra Palace. Please see Wed. 11th Jan. for details of link.
Wednesday 15th February, 7.30p.m. Willesden Local History Society, St. Mary’s Church Hall, bottom of Neasden Lane, NW10 (round corner from Magistrates’ Court) The Willesden Trunk Murders. Talk by Dick Weindling (Camden Hist. Soc.). About two murders where the bodies were disposed of in Harlesden. May also be on zoom. If not a member , buy a ticket(£3). For details please check www.willesden-local-history.co.uk.
Thursday 16th February, 8p.m. Historical Association: Hampstead and N.W. London Branch. Saladin: The Conquest of Jerusalem and the Third Crusade.Talk by Prof. Jonathan Philips. Meet at Fellowship House, 136A, Willifiield Way, NW11 6YD( off Finchley Road, Temple Fortune. Hopefully also on zoom. Please e-mail Jeremy Berkoff (Chair) on jeremyberkoff@mac.com or tel. 07793 229521 for details of zoom link and how to pay (there may be a voluntary charge of £5). Refreshments afterwards.
Friday 17th February, 7.30p.m. Wembley History Society.For address please see Fri. 20th Jan. Woolwich Arsenal. Talk by Jeremy Foster.
Tuesday 21st February, 8p.m. Ruislip, Northwood and Eastcote Loc. Hist. Soc.Talk should be on zoom Brentham Garden Suburb by Sue Elliott and Alan Henderson. For details. please see Tues.17th Jan.
Wednesday 22nd February, 7.45p.m. Friern Barnet and District Local History Society, North Middx. Golf Club, The Manor House, Friern Barnet Lane, N20 ONL. The Mercenary River: The History of London’s Water. Talk by Nick Higham. Please visit www.friernbarnethistory.org.uk and click on programme or phone 020 8368 8314 for up-to-date details (David Berguer, Chair). Non-members £2. Bar available.
Thursday 23rd February, 6p.m. Gresham College. Stonehenge: A History. Talk by Mike Pitts.Ticket required. Register at www.gresham.ac.uk and view on-line. Please see Stonehenge: A History | Gresham College, Free. Describing an alternative narrative of ancient communities and presenting a Stonehenge re-imagined for modern Britain.
Thursday 23rd February, 7.30p.m. Finchley Society.Drawing Room, Avenue (Stephens’) House, 17, East End Road, N3 3QE. Barnet Green Spaces. Talk by Roger Chapman (HADAS Treasurer) For further details please visit www.finchleysociety.org.uk. Non-members £2 at the door. Refreshments in interval.
Saturday 25th February, 9.15a,m.-5p.m. Current Archaeology Live 2023. U.C.L. Institute of Education, Bedford Way, WC1.Joint with UCL Institute of Archaeology.Wide range of expert speakers sharing latest Archaeological finds and research. Annual C.A. Awards and Current World Archaeology photographic competition. Tickets on sale for £50. To book call 020 8819 5580 or visit www.currentpublishing.com/shop. Also Archaeology Fair with lots of stalls including booksellers, institutions and other Archaeological organisations and travel companies for archaeological travel incl. expert-led tours and heritage-themed holidays.
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Acknowledgements
With thanks to this month’s contributors: Don Cooper, Eric Morgan, Jim Nelhams, Beverley Perkins
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Hendon and District Archaeological Society
Registered Charity No 269949
Chairman Don Cooper, 59, Potters Road, Barnet, EN5 5HS
(020 8440 4350) e-mail: chairman@hadas.org.uk
Hon. Secretary Janet Mortimer, 34, Cloister Road, Childs Hill, London NW2 2NP
(07449 978121) e-mail: secretary@hadas.org.uk
Hon. Treasurer Roger Chapman, 50 Summerlee Ave, London N2 9QP
(07855 304488) e-mail: treasurer@hadas.org.uk
Membership Sec. Vacancy, e-mail: membership@hadas.org.uk
Web site: www.hadas.org.uk
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