Newsletter
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HADAS DIARY
Weekly, beginning Wednesday 1 October 2008, at Avenue House, 6.30 to 8.30pm, AFTER THE EXCAVATION – ARCHAEOLOGY FROM PROCESSING TO PUBLICATION – The joint HADAS/Birkbeck post-excavation course. See details below
The new lecture season begins next month with:
Tuesday 14 October 2008 Community Archaeology in Greater London: Outreach work and Excavations at Prescot Street, Lorna Richardson, outreach worker for L-P Archaeology.
Tuesday 11 November 2008 Bletchley Park: Enigma: how cracking the enemy codes led to the world’s first computer, by Hugh Davies.
Tuesday 13 January 2009 An exploration of the Western Desert of Egypt, by Nicole Douek.
Tuesday 10th February 2009 The building of the Underground, by Tony Earle.
All lectures start at 8.00pm and are held in the Drawing Room at Avenue House, 17 East End Road, Finchley, N3 3QE, with coffee/tea and biscuits served afterwards. Buses 82, 143, 326, 382 & 460 pass close by. Avenue House is about a ten to fifteen minute-walk from Finchley Central Station (Northern Line). According to a signpost at the station exit, Avenue House is 828 yards away. Do not go through the ticket barrier but turn away from it taking the exit over the bridge, opposite the barrier.
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FIELDWORK TEAM
The Fieldwork Team meets most Sunday mornings in The Garden Room at Avenue House, around 10.30 hrs till 13.30-ish. New and old members are welcome to come along, though it is perhaps best first to check the emails on HADAS discussion: hadas@hadas.org.uk, or ring Bill Bass 020 8449 5666, to confirm that members will be meeting that Sunday.
At the moment we are processing finds from this year’s Church Farmhouse Museum dig, at the same time gearing up to process the Roman pottery from Brockley Hill inherited from excavations long before HADAS was founded. The team is looking at the archives and reports from these excavations, including finds from 1937, 1947 and several from the 1950s. We now have the listings, card index and history of the archive we are working on. The work will involve re-bagging, re-boxing and re-labelling of finds to Museum of London standards. When assembled the archive is destined to be deposited at the LAARC,. where it will be made available to researchers. Source: Bill Bass, hadas@hadas.org.uk
AFTER THE EXCAVATION – ARCHAEOLOGY FROM PROCESSING TO PUBLICATION
Post-diploma course in Archaeology for Birkbeck FLL to be held at Avenue House, Finchley, from Wednesday 01/10/08 to 25/3/09
Excavation is only the beginning of the process of archaeological investigation. This course aims to provide tuition for non-professional archaeologists and local archaeological societies in post-excavation recording and analysis by re-examining unpublished excavations. In 2008–9 we will be looking at excavations carried out in 1972 by HADAS at Burroughs Gardens, Hendon. The whole range of post-excavation procedures from basic finds processing to publication and archive deposition will be covered. The course will include lectures by specialists in various fields, such as ceramics, clay pipes, glass, building materials and animal bones. Class members will be closely involved in the sorting, identification, recording and analysis of each category of finds. This is a major emphasis of the course, with a view to interpreting the significance of the various finds in relation to the site. Teaching sessions will be alternated with workshops throughout and, as work proceeds, group discussion will be an important means of formulating strategies for writing up the results of analysis. The ultimate outcome of the course will be publication under the joint authorship of class members, with tuition provided in the construction, writing and illustration of archaeological reports. Instruction will also be given on storage of the excavated materials and written records, in line with current archive standards.
Post-Diploma courses are intended primarily for students who have completed their Certificate or Diploma studies, but are also open to others who have or wish to acquire relevant archaeological skills. Coursework will be aimed principally at producing reports for publication. Students are encouraged to complete and submit a portfolio of work during the course for assessment. This forms an essential part of the learning process and of work leading to the final publication.
Course content • minimum standards of recording and analysis leading to publication • finds processing, including washing, marking, storage and basic recording of bulk and registered finds • the recording and analysis of finds and environmental remains, by means of hands-on experience, accompanied by lectures and supervised by specialists: • glass • clay tobacco pipes • pottery (Roman to post-medieval) • ceramic building materials • animal bones • half-day sessions in the London Archaeological Archive and Research Centre, studying and recording finds • illustration and photography • research into various artefact types (highlighting important sources to inform further work) • analysing and interpreting data using a computerised database • the use of tables, histograms, pie charts and other graphic presentations of data • the writing and presentation of archaeological reports • editing, publishing conventions, the use of references and bibliographies • Study skills. In the course of the two terms, class members will be instructed and helped in the following: • current standards of archive storage • basic finds processing • handling and identifying different common types of excavated finds (pottery, building material, animal bone, clay pipes, glass) • methods of recording, analysing and interpreting data • the use and interrogation of computerised databases • cultivating research skills • the basics of archaeological finds illustration • accepted forms of referencing and the use of written sources • planning the final publication and the coursework involved in doing so • the development of writing skills aimed at archaeological publication
The course is taught by Jacqui Pearce, BA, FSA, MIFA, Starting Wed 1 Oct 2008, 6.30pm-8.30pm, 22 meetings. The fee is £300 (£150). Course code: FFAR015S5ACB 30 CATS points at Level 5. Venue: Avenue House, 15-17 East End Road, N3 3QE. Places are limited so early enrolment is advised. To enrol by telephone (full fee only) or to ask about concessions ring 020 7631 6651, quoting the course code. To enrol online go to: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/study/ce2008/archaeology/index.html
For a copy of the Birkbeck Archaeology and Egyptology Mini Prospectus contact archaeology@fll.bbk.ac.uk or FLL Archaeology, 26 Russell Square, London WC1B 5DQ, 020 7631 6627.
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AN E-MAIL from ROBERT MICHEL
Graham, I have three trowels in my possession. The first is a trowel that I bought some years ago for HADAS digs and in July, after several years of inactivity, I couldn’t find it.
The next one is a larger, gardening-type tool (with a curved blade) given as a present in 1981 by a friend, to assist in the practical aspects of my archaeology/history degree that I was about to start. It has a pretty pink ribbon affixed through a hole in the wooden handle.
I acquired the third trowel at a sale before the HADAS Christmas meal at the Meritage Centre, I think. It is a sturdy specimen with the regulation rounded tip, much favoured by archaeologists. It has a label attached to it by a length of red twine, the label having the following inscription:
“GEORGE INGRAM’S TROWEL – it has seen many a HADAS dig. George died in November 1992 aged 92. We miss him on our outings”. [I believe that Tessa Smith is responsible for these touching words, but I stand to be corrected].
On 12th July I made a brief appearance at the Church Farm Museum dig. As I’d mislaid my trowel, I took the late Mr Ingram’s (after removing the label) and it assisted in the excavation of a field drain, which traversed the trench.
Mr Ingram’s trowel continues to grace HADAS digs, which I hope amuses him.
I could only have met George on a few occasions but I well remember his engaging conversation. He had recently undertaken a survey of nonconformist chapels in the borough of Barnet and had a passion for windmills which he readily shared with others. — Ed.
MR R.F. ALLEN Stephen Brunning
It is with great sadness that we report the death of one of our long-standing members, Mr R. F. Allen of Hampstead, at the age of 93. Mr Allen joined HADAS in, or maybe even before, 1976, the first year of excavations at West Heath and continued to support the Society, though latterly he had been less active.
We would like to publish an obituary in a future Newsletter. If you would like to send memories of Mr Allen, please contact me.
THE CITY’S HERITAGE (no longer in the City)
City of London Guide Lecturers Association, 25th Anniversary Exhibition.
The theme of this exhibition will be a display of ‘City Heritage’ objects that once graced the City of London but, for whatever reason, are no longer there.
Recently a man digging his garden in Wellington, New Zealand, found a paperweight made from the lead roof of Temple Bar, demolished in 1878. The weight is initialled ‘HJ’, believed to be the initials of Horace Jones, designer of Tower Bridge.
Now in America is Rennie’s London Bridge, re-erected over the Colorado River; a Wren church at Fulton, Missouri; a Cheapside shop now in Michigan; while the bells of St Dunstan-in-the-East decorate a winery in the Napa Valley, California. Early settlers took many artefacts with them, including the font in which William Penn was baptised at All Hallows by the Tower. Many suburban London churches, built when London expanded in the 19th-century, contain the altars, reredoses, organs and panelling from Wren churches, demolished to build offices. More recently, an Estonian businessman purchased the remains of the Baltic Exchange, to be re-erected in the Estonian capital of Tallinn. Self-evidently many of these objects must be represented in images, often with a ‘before’ and ‘after’ photograph, but numerous smaller objects will return to their native City – at least for the duration of the exhibition. ‘The City’s Heritage (no longer in the City)’, the 25th Anniversary Exhibition of the City of London Guide Lecturers’ Association, is at the Guildhall Art Gallery, Guildhall Yard, EC2, 15 September to 12 November 2008.
SKELETONS: LONDON’S BURIED BONES
On loan from the Museum of London are just 26 skeletons from its vast collections, now displayed in an exhibition examining the bones of some of those who lived, died and were buried in this city over 16 centuries. The exhibition at the Wellcome Collection portrays London’s rich past and varied social geography – from affluent Chelsea to the Cross Bones cemetery in Southwark, believed to have originally been a graveyard for prostitutes. With the aid of forensic science each of the skeletons tells its own story, revealing the times in which they lived and the health hazards they faced – from syphilis to smallpox and rickets. Skeletons: London’s Buried Bones is at the Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, NW1 ( 020-7611 2222) until 28 Sept. Admission is free.
A Detailed Street Map of London five hundred years ago
is the latest title from the publishers Old House Books, to be published on 30 September 2008. With an introduction by Professor Caroline Barron of Royal Holloway College, University of London, this map will reveal the capital c.1520, as a garden city, with major streets, lanes, monasteries and churches, great houses, and public buildings, before the Dissolution, the Great Fire of 1666 and a population explosion swept so much away. Folded £9.99, rolled £12.99. For more information go to www.OldHouseBooks.co.uk
ELSYNG PALACE DIG Deirdre Barrie
As part of the recent National Archaeology Week, an open day was held for amateur archaeologists and members of the public at Forty Hall. A guide took groups round the nearby site of Elsyng Palace where, in a fenced enclosure, members of Enfield Archaeological Society and others were industriously excavating gravelly trenches, accompanied by a small lively dog (who was perhaps hoping for bones?). No doubt further details of the dig will eventually appear on the Society’s website.
Elsyng was a large royal palace used by Henry VIII during his royal progresses good hunting was to be had in nearby Enfield Chase. Little remains of the palace, which was demolished in the 17th century, and there is no picture of it except on a tapestry, but since excavations began in the 1960s, more details are gradually being added.
The much larger Elsyng is often confused with the manor house which once stood on the site of Pearson’s department store in Enfield town, and which is also popularly known as Enfield Palace. An impressive room composed of 16th century remnants: panelling, fireplace etc. still exists in a large private house in Enfield.
As at Eltham, the palace would have been on a moated site, with its main entrance across a drawbridge. “We peasants might have been allowed through the large gatehouse, but we would never have seen the privy apartments for the king and his household,” joked our guide. Local people would have been employed in the palace, which had to cater for large numbers of people.
There may have been a building on the site as early as the Norman Conquest, but in the 15th century the palace was extended by Sir Thomas Lovell, and it later came into the possession of Henry VIII. It was here that Edward VI and his sister Elizabeth heard of the death of their father. However, Elizabeth I later found Elsyng cold and old-fashioned, and favoured Theobalds.
There were lakes to the west of the palace, probably for carp, but our guide suggested that they might have been a water garden feature, unique for the period. The site of a drainage channel to the east of the palace is still visible because of much greener vegetation. Excavations in the present lime-tree avenue have revealed a courtyard paved with used bricks.
Lambert Simnel pretended to be one of Edward IV’s sons (the “Princes in the Tower”). After his attempt to claim the throne failed, Henry VII found Simnel work in the kitchens of Elsyng. When Simnel grew older, he was promoted to falconer. During the 60s digs at Elsyng, when the skull of a female peregrine was found, the very fanciful were tempted to think that it might have been one of the royal birds in Simnel’s care.
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LONDON AND MIDDLESEX ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY Forty-third Local History Conference
LONDON RECORDED: by WORD, MAP and CAMERA
Saturday 15th November 2008: 10.00 am–5.00 pm City of London School for Girls, Barbican
London from Fitzstephen to John Stow: the Eye of the Beholder by Prof. Caroline Barron, Royal Holloway University of London
Fixing the Image: the Mapping of London to 1900 by Peter Barber, Head of Map Collections, British Library
To Make Nobler and More Humanely Enjoyable the Life of the Great City: the Work of the Survey of London, 1894-2008 by Colin Thom, Senior Historian, Survey of London, English Heritage
Life and Labour in the 1930s: London’s Forgotten Survey by Dr Cathy Ross, Museum of London
Recording London by Camera: the LAMAS Slide Collection at the Bishopsgate Institute by Stefan Dickers, Library Special Collections Manager, Bishopsgate Institute
The Conference will be introduced by Prof. Caroline Barron, President of LAMAS, who will also present the Annual Local History Publications Award. There will be displays of recent work and publications by Local History Societies.
Tickets (including afternoon tea): £10 (£7 members of LAMAS) available from: Local History Conference, 24 Orchard Close, Ruislip, Middx. HA4 7LS enclosing cheque (payable to LAMAS) and stamped s.a.e. or: annhignell@waitrose.com
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Eric’s Monthly Round-Up of What’s On. Eric Morgan
Wednesday, 3 September, 8.00pm, Stanmore & Harrow Historical Society, Wealdstone Baptist Church Hall, High St. Wealdstone, The History & Work of Kew Gardens, by JLS. Keesing, visitors £1.
Thursday, 4 September, 10.30am, Mill Hill Library, Hartley Avenue, NW7, British Film Posters: an Illustrated History. Talk.
Thursday, 4 September, 6.00pm, Docklands History Group, Museum in Docklands, No 1 Warehouse, West India Quay, Hertsmere Rd. E14. Pitcher’s Dockyard 1789-1865, by Ken McGoverin. Donation £2.
Thurs, 4 Sept, 7.30pm, London Canal Museum, 12-13 New Wharf Rd, N1, Middle Thames Trade in the 18th & 19th Centuries, by Tony Ellis, River Thames Society.
Thurs, 4 Sept, 8.00pm, Pinner Local History Society, Village Hall, Chapel Lane Car Park, Pinner, From Cogs to Crotchets: the Story of Mechanical Musical Instruments, by Arthur WJG. Ord-Hume. £1.
Sat-Sun, 6-7 September, 12.00-6.00pm Enfield Town Show, Town Park, Cecil Rd, Enfield, stalls include Enfield Society, Enfield Archeol. Society & Enfield Museum.
Sunday, 7 September 11.00-5.00pm, Angel Canal Festival, Regent’s Canal, City Road Basin, N1 (nr. LAARC) rally, boat trips, stalls, inc. Islington Arch. & Hist. Soc.
Sun. 7 Sept. 2.00pm, Kenwood House, Constable Talk & Tour, to celebrate his life, visiting locations where he lived and worked. Pre-book 020 8348 1286
Mon, 8 Sept, 3.00pm, Barnet & District LHS. Church House, Wood St, Barnet, Come into the Garden: an Historical Look at Gardens & Gardeners in the Borough of Barnet, by Yasmin Webb.
Tues 9th Sept. 2.00pm, Harrow Museum, Headstone Manor, Pinner View, North Harrow, Bricks & Skeletons: Ruins of a 1632 Brick Church & the Future of Bentley Priory, by Dr Frederick Hicks. £3.
Tues 9th Sept. 8.00 pm, Amateur Geological Society The Parlour, St Margaret’s Church, Victoria Ave, N3, A Mammoth in the High Street: the Hidden Geological Sites of Essex & East London, by Gerald Lucy.
Wed. 10 Sept. 7.45 for 8.00pm, Hornsey Historical Society, Union Church, Ferme Park Rd, N8, Lotus Cars and Hornsey, by Dr Mark Lawrence. £1.
Sat. 13 Sept. Enfield Society, Heritage Walk of Enfield Lock. Meet Enfield Lock station, 2.30pm, finish Government Row. Free, tickets in advance from Enfield libraries.
Mon. 15 Sept. 8.15pm, Ruislip, Northwood & Eastcote LHS. St Martin’s Church Hall, Eastcote Rd, Ruislip, Kew Palace: bringing Britain’s Small Royal Residence back to Life, by Lee Prosser, £2.
Wed. 17 Sept, 7.30pm, Willesden LHS, Scout House, High Rd, NW10, Metropolitan Electric Locomotives and the People Associated with them, by Terry Lomas.
Wed. 17 Sept, 8pm, Edmonton Hund. Hist. Soc. Jubilee Hall, Parsonage Lane, EN1, John Walker of Arnos Grove 1766-1824: an Enlightened Gentleman, Ruby Galili.
Thurs. 18 Sept, 7.30pm, Camden Hist. Society, Burgh House, New End Sq. NW3, Folklore of Camden & Elsewhere in London, by Antony Clayton.
Fri. 19 Sept. 7pm, COLAS, St Katharine Cree Church Hall, Leadenhall St, Channel Tunnel Rail Link Investigations in the Lea Valley, by Andy Crockett, £2.
Fri. 19 Sept. 8pm, Enfield Archaeological Society, Jubilee Hall, Here be Dragons, a History of Fear in the Landscape, by Tim Harper on Christianising pagan sites. £1.
Sat-Sun, 20-21 Sept. is LONDON OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND with free access to more than 600 buildings. Details at www.openhouse.org.uk Local events include: Wembley History Society, Old St Andrews Church, Church Lane, Kingsbury, NW9, open Sat. only, 11am-3.30pm. Sat & Sun. 12-4.00pm, Myddleton House, free admission, charge to Gardens.
Tues.23 Sept. 2.00pm Harrow Museum, Edwardian London, by Colin Oakes, £3.
Mon. 22 – Sun 28 Sept. Barnet Boro’ Arts Council, The Spires, High St, Barnet, Paintings & What’s On (incl. HADAS), special display on festivals.
Wed. 24 Sept. 8.00pm, Friern Barnet & District LHS. St John’s Church Hall, Friern Barnet Lane, The Hampstead Garden Suburb Story, by Rosemary Roome, £2.
Wed. 24 Sept. 10.00 – 5.00pm, Camden Local Studies & Archives, Holborn Library, Theobalds Rd, Open Day. See behind the scenes, with demonstrations of conservation. Talk: Little Italy, by Tudor Allen, Senior Archivist, at 3pm. An exhibition on the Italian Quarter centred around Clerkenwell Rd, continuing until 27 Sept. Talk on Sources for Family History by Richard Knight. See www.camden.gov.uk/localstudies or 020 7974 6342
Thurs. 25 Sept. 8.00pm, Finchley Society, Avenue House, Christ’s College, by David Smith, £2.
