Page 1

Lectures

The lecture on March 3rd was on coins in Archaeological Research, and our members heard a fascinating and very instructional survey on the subject. AS further lecture by Mr. G. Smookler on the Roman coinage of Britain would be welcome if we can persuade him to oblige. The final lecture this winter (APRIL 14th – NOT the usual first Tuesday of the month) will be of special interest to all members who are active researchers in the district. It will be by the recently appointed Borough of Barnet Archivist, Mrs Anthea Hiscock, who will tell about the sources available for research in the Borough. We are apt to forget that excavation, though the most spectacular, is not the only means of research open to us. The older members of the Society can do much valuable work in studying the literary records. For example, the documents in the Westminster Abbey archives relating to the Manor of Hendon have never been fully explored. Mrs Hiscock has already told us that she is much looking forward to the opportunity of meeting members of the Society, a sentiment we are sure members will appreciate.

OUTINGS. Summer 1970. All on Saturdays

March 21st. BRIGHTON Arrangements have already been notified but a note should be made that the coach will stop at Preston Manor on the way in, all the other places of special interest being within easy walking distance of each other. In addition to those already mentioned, you are reminded that the famous antique shops in the ‘Lanes’, the Aquarium and its adjoining museum of veteran cars are all close to the ‘Pavilion’. The Hove Museum is also worth a visit, if time permits.

April 25th. It was hoped to visit Ightham Mote, but we have not been able to obtain a special opening for a Saturday. Instead, we shall visit The Friars at Aylesford, and after lunch the battlemented Elizabethan and 18th century manor house of Boughton Monchelsea, four and a half miles south of Maidstone.

May 30th. On this date, it is hoped that we shall be able to visit SILCHESTER and READING Museum. Most of the discoveries of the Roman city of Silchester are housed at Reading Museum.

July 4th. Arrangements have not been finalised, but it is planned to visit Ragley Hall, 8 miles west of Stratford-upon-Avon. This is a stately mansion of the 17th century and 18th century with very fine furniture, pictures and porcelain. The grounds are exceptionally attractive.

September 19th. This again has not been finalised, but it is proposed to visit Burghley House near Stamford, Lincs, although the house is actually on Northants. This great mansion is the Elizabethan rival of Hatfield, full of splendid paintings and furniture. Those who wish to do some ‘homework’ on the places we are visiting are reminded that the Hendon Central Reference Library is particularly well equipped with topographical works from the Victoria County Histories to the familiar Ward Lock Guides.

AGM

The Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday May 5th. 8:15 p.m. Central Library NW4

Page 2

Saturday May 30th.

The Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute plans an open afternoon lecture/meeting on Conservation, as a contribution to European Conservation Year. Discussions will be initiated by prominent speakers specialising in some aspect of conservation – a wise ranging subject that takes in everything from preserving ancient monuments to controlling pollution in inland waters and oceans. It is hoped that in the ensuing discussion, ideas for positive local action will be put forward. It is unfortunate that the date of this meeting coincides with our visit to Silchester. Those who are unable to go on the outing and would like to attend the afternoon conference should let Miss Hill know so that she can inform the Institute regarding numbers.

Hendon Church Farm Museum

The exhibition on the Middlesex Regiment closes on March 22nd, and the following one on Hendon Records in the 18th century should be of particular interest. It runs from March 28th to April 26th.

Industrial Archaeology

We have mentioned in earlier newsletters the work that the members of the Society have been doing on the recording archhaeology monuments in Barnet. As a result of this, the Society has been asked to mount a small exhibit at one of their functions during the coming months. Offers of help in arranging this exhibit will be warmly welcomed, particularly from any member with skill in the art of lettering.

Historic Buildings

The Historic Buildings Preservation Committee of the London & Middlesex Archaeological Society (to which ours is affiliated) has asked for names of any of our members with wither a special knowledge of, or any informed interest in, historic buildings in this area. They are making a register of people spread throughout London and Middlesex, who can provide prompt advice about the historic or architectural quality or even just the present state of local buildings, should these be threatened by development schemes or in other ways. Would any members of the Society who are interested in the preservation of historic buildings, and who would like to know of this scheme please get in touch with Mrs. Grafton Green, who will be glad to give further information.

Emergency Dig

For Hemel Hempstead Excavation Society. Volunteers are needed from Tuesday 31st March to Sunday 19th April for the Royal Palace at Kings Langley, Herts. Apply to D. S. Neal Esq Ministry of Public Buildings and Works

The site is a quarter of a mile south of Kings Langley. It is an excellent opportunity to dig on a medieval site.

Subscriptions

April is upon us and once again you annual subscription is due. The ever increasing cost of postage, printing and stationery has caused us to increase the amount of the subscription for the first time since the Society was formed in 1961. It is now 15/- (10/- for those under 18). I am sure you will continue to support the Society and should be most grateful if you will send your subscription to the Hon Treasurer

Archive Notes

Archive Images

Archive Notes

Only substantial reference found to Hemel Hempstead Excavation Society is a page about , which mentions Kings Langley excavations.

See Also

Industrial archaeology in newsletters 001 and 002

External Links

Newsletter 002 January 1970

Newsletter

Our second Newsletter reaches you slightly later than weintended. Various complications, not least of them the ‘flu epidemic,have delayed it. First, here is news of

Forthcoming Meetings

8.15pm Central Library, The Burroughs, N.W.4

Feb 3rd Archaeology and the Camera – a Survey Our vice-Chairman, Edward Sammes,will show slides of field monuments visited and digs undertaken invarious parts of the country. He calls it “a quick run-through fromprehistory to the 19th Century.”

March 3rd. Coins in Archaeology. The first time thesociety has had a talk on this topic, which so often provides importantdating evidence. The lecturer will be coin expert G. Smookler.

April 14th. A talk by Mrs. Hiscock, Archivist to the London Borough of Barnet, on the Borough’s local history collections.This will provide an opportunity for members to meet our new Archivist,appointed last year to the Central Library. It will also give thosemembers interested in doing research in the Borough a chance to askquestions and get first-hand information about local sources.

Please note that this lecture will be held, at the library’srequest, on the second Tuesday of the month instead of our customaryfirst Tuesday.

Outings Summer 1970

Dates:- March 21st, April 25th, May 30th, July 4th, September 19th.

Places we shall visit:- Regency Pavilion, Brighton, The Vyne,Basingstone and Calleva Museum, Sichester, nr. Reading, Ignthem Mote ? and Lullingstone Castle, Ragley Hall, Alchester, Nr. Stratford upon Avon, Burghley House, Stamford. Loncs.

Reports

Since the last Newsletter we have heard lectures on Roman potterykilns at Brauhing (by Bernard Barr) and prehistoric water engineeringat Pezohora, on the Gulf of Corinth (by R.A. Tomlinson). We also saw a90-minute colour film, “Palaces of a Queen”, which took us round theart treasures and history of Windsor, Kensington Palace, Hampton Court,Buckingham Palace, Frogmore and Holyrood House.

Mr. Barr’s adaptation of Quadrant excavation (commonly used forBronze Age round Barrows) to an almost Ploughed out Roman pottery kilnwas both interesting and instructive. The horizonal-draught kiln foundat Baughing must, I think, be the most northerly of this rare typeknown in Britain. Digging at Braughing, a very varied site, continuesin 1970 and Mr. Barr indicated thate volunteers from our Society wouldbe welcome when he tackles a possible early Roman fort this comingsummer.

Mr. Tomlinson’s discussion of the complex of water raisingmachinery and storage tanks at the otherwise waterless temple of Heraat Perachora was an eye-opener on the unsuspected engineering skill of5/3rd century B.C. Greece. His excellent slides of sunny digging daysby the blue Aegean were a splendid tonic for a colde January Evening inN.W.4.

Notes from the Archivist

Palaeolithic finds from High Lodge

The proposed exhibition at the British Museum of Palaeolithic findsfrom High Lodge, mentioned in the last Newsletter, was abandoned; weunderstand it is now unlikely to take place. Apologies to members whomade a special trip to see it.

Graeco-Roman galleries

We hope they may have looked instead at the new Graeco-Romangalleries, opened a few months ago. There are worth a special visit.Largely arranged by designer of the Fishbourne museum, they run fromthe Bronze Age of Greece to the end of the Roman imperial era. Apartfrom the intrinsic interest of the objects, display methods andlighting are outstanding. See specially the frieze from the temple ofBassae, on display now for the first time since the war.

Church Farm Museum

Nearer home, the present exhibition at Church Farm Museum –paintings and drawing of the district in the 20th century – has much tointerest any local historian and any Hendon resident with a taste fornostalgia. It continues until February 15th.

Nonsuch

Nonsuch: An exhibition on this “lost” Tudor Palace is at the LondonMuseum till Arpil 19th. This is Henry VIII’s “pleasure dome betweenEwell and Epsom” which showed an astonished 16th century England thenew Renaissance techniques of gilded slate and plaster work. Memberswill recall enjoying a lecture about Nonsuch in the eary days of thisSociety. A short article appears in the Winter, 1969, issue of London Archaeologist.

Hendon’s Roman Burial Urn

Members may remember seeing, at a meeting some years ago, the late1st/early 2nd century cremation urn found in the garden of a house inSunny Gardens, N.W.4. The owner had kindly lent it to our Society forstudy. The urn has now been published in Trans. London & Middlesex Archaeological SocietyVol. 22. Pt.2 (1969). An offprint of this article has been deposited inthe Local History Collection at Central Library, Hendon, N.W.4.

Battle of Barnet

The quincentenary of this battle,climax of the Wars of the Roses, falls on April 14th 1971. Our Societyfelt the event ought not to go unnoticed, and so convened a meeting ofother local societies to discuss possible joint celebrations. A smallcommittee has now been formed, and various preliminary arrangements arein hand, including those for borrowing armour and weapons of theperiod, maps, insignia and documents to form the basis of anexhibition.

The Newsletter will report development from time to time, andlater members of our Society who wish to do so will have ampleopportunity to help both with the preperations for and the running ofthis event.

Industrial Archaeology

In November our Society was asked by the Greater London Industrial Archaeological Society to undertake the recording of the industrial monuments of the London Borough of Barnet, and we agreed to do so.

The object is to provide not only a record which will be housedat the Central Library, N.W.4., but a duplicate record to go into thenational industrial archaeological archives. Eleven members are alreadyworking on various projects, ranging from a group of four recording theMill Hill gasworks at Bittacy Hill before it goes out of production toa member who has undertaken a survey of the remains of old forges inthe Borough.

In so large an area there is work for any number of volunteers.It can be done as and when you are able to fit it in; and the varietyof subject is great, from old post-boxes (can anyone send details ofany Victorian post-boxes still in use in Barnet?) to a major projectsuch as recording the remaining (and fast vanishing) farm buildings ofnorth-west Middlesex. If you have any time to spare, and would like tohelp, your offer will be most warmly appreciated – please ring BrigidGrafton Green (number given).

Archive Notes

Archive Notes

In the Outings Summer 1970 section the name Ignthem Mote. It was difficult to read the page and not certain this is correct. Please take a look at and check.
Comments

Newsletter

Page 1

This is the first issue of a new venture which we hope in future to send members at about six-weekly intervals. In addition to giving news of the Society’s increasing activities both in field work and research, the newsletter will also provide details of lectures and outings. That is why we have not sent you a programme card this year – we hope you may find the newsletter, with its information about immediately forthcoming events, more helpful as a reminder.

Some of our lecturers make a long journey to Hendon and it is both disappointing to them and your officers if the lectures are not well attended. It was most gratifying to see some sixty seven members at our first lecture this season, so PLEASE do try and attend and bring your friends.

Forthcoming Meetings. The Central Library, The Boroughes, N.W.4

Nov. 4th. Lecture by Bernard Barr, “Unusual Romano/British Pottery Kilns at Much Hadham, Herts.”
Dec. 2nd. Film Show, “Palaces of A Queen”.
Jan. 6th. R.A. Tomlinson, M.A., University of Birmingham, on “Recent Excavations at Perachora”.

Industrial Archaeology

Interest in this subject grows almost daily. Earlier this year the Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society was formed. H.D.A.S. has now affiliated to it, and our members will be welcome at any of the G.L.I.A.S. functions.

Last month a survey of the industrial monuments of Greater London was published, in the form of an 8s,6d. gazetteer of the London boroughs. There are 8 entries under the Borough of Barnet, and the Research Committee has already started investigations into the possibility of the Society recording these eight. Members who would be interested in helping with this work are asked to get in touch with me. If you have any suggestions to make about industrial monuments in the Borough which should be recorded, please also let me know.

B.Grafton Green.

From the Archivist

The British Museum is staging an exhibition of finds from the prehistoric site of High Lodge, near Brandon, which will show the earliest prehistory of East Anglia. Opens on NOVEMBER 1st and continues until January 1970. Note this exhibition did not take place

Hendon Emigrant

The Rev. Denis Bayley’s book – “A Londoner in Rupert’s Land” – is now published. It deals with Thomas Bunn who emigrated to serve with the Hudson Bay Company in 1797. Both Thomas Bunn and the author are related to the NICHOLL and BAYLEY families of Hendon; and the Bunn family gave their name to Bunn’s Lane. ASK FOR IT AT YOUR NEAREST BOROUGH LIBRARY.

Excavation at Church End, Hendon, 1969

The two week ends spent digging trial trenches in the rear of Peacock’s yard and Mount Pleasant showed a different pattern of occupation compared wit the Paddock just across the road. Examination of the pottery so far suggests there was no occupation before the late 19th century. This means we do not need to carrry out a major excavation in this area. However as areas nearer the Church become vacant, they too, must be investigated before re-development. Thanks are due to all who helped to plan and carry out this dig.

E.SAMMES.

Page 2

From the Archivist cont…

Excavation of Westhorpe

The Manor House of Hendon, known as Hendon Place House, and later Tenterden Hall, was demolished in 1934 to make way for the present Cedars Close. The house was rebuilt in the early 18th Century, but there is little known about the original buildings and their position. Resistivity surveying and excavations at Westhorpe, Tenderden Grove, revealed a bed of gavel approximately 9 ins. below the surface. Resting on this were found sherds of 17th Century pottery and clay stems, together with an 18th century pipe bowl. At Westwyn, Tenterden Grove, remains of a brick wall were discovered 8ins. below the surface; whether or not this is part of the pre-18th century building is being investigated.

It is planned to carry out further resistivity surveying at Westwyn to trace the exact position of the wall, and at Westhorpe to investigate further the gravel feature:

WESTWYN. (TQ235789701) SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1st. 10AM
WESTHORPE (TQ23548962) SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2nd. 10AM

THIS WILL OF COURSE DEPEND ON THE WEATHER ON BOTH DAYS.

Rolf Hansen

Proposed excavations at Woodlands, Golders Green

Trollope and Colls, Ltd., the owners of 1, Woodlands, asked the Society to postpone the August excavations for ‘two or three months’. A definite date has now been requested, and when the final arrangements have been made, a notice will be sent to all members. In October, 1968, the remains of a medieval road were discovered during a week-end dig. It was decided to investigate the site more thoroughly, with a view to establishing a firm date for the road, and perhaps picking up traces of an earlier feature. Documentary research has been completed.

Rolf Hansen

Archive Notes

The images of this very first issue are attached below.
R.A.Tomlinson
http://isbndb.com/d/person/tomlinson_r_a.html (isbndb.com)
A Londoner in Rupert’s land: Thomas Bunn of the Hudson’s Bay Company by Denis Bayley
Publisher: Moore & Tillyer
ISBN: 0902106015
http://isbndb.com/d/book/a_londoner_in_ruperts_land.html (isbndb.com)
Multimap Links for Westwyn and Westhorpe grid references
Westwyn (TQ235789701) (multimap.com)
Westhorpe (TQ23548962) (multimap.com)

External Links

Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society (http://www.glias.org.uk/)

British Museum (http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/)