® Maidstone Museum
Begun as a biennial prize for the authors of doctoral theses on the archaeology or history of Kent in 2005 as part of the Kent Archaeological Society’s 150th anniversary celebrations and named in honour of the celebrated historian Edward Hasted, author of The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent, published in 1797, the KAS Publications Committee is delighted to record its prize winners. The first winner, in 2007, was Dr Celia Cordle for a thesis on hop-growing and marketing in the Weald of Kent. Subsequent winners include: Dr Toby Huitson (Hidden spaces, obscure purposes: The medieval ecclesiastical staircase, gallery and upper chamber in East Kent); Dr Alison Klevnäs (Whodunnit? Grave robbery in early medieval northern and western Europe); Dr Maureen Patricia Green (Hayle Mill. How a small papermaking company thrived in the nineteenth century using traditional techniques); and Dr Elizabeth Blanning (Landscape, settlement and materiality: aspects of rural life in Kent during the Roman period).
In 2022, the Publications Committee decided to change the format to a grant as a way of aiding such post-doctoral students who wished to publish their thesis on Kent’s history. Today, the annual £3,000 Hasted Fund (total money available) provides authors of successfully completed doctoral theses on the archaeology or history of Kent with grants towards the cost of publishing it in book format. The grant fund aims to reward students working on the archaeology and history of the County, and to promote the publication of books that advance scholarly knowledge of the county’s past (including districts which were originally part of the county and are now within the Medway unitary authority and the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham)
The grants are given for unfunded costs of publication, excluding research and travel costs.
The deadline for completed applications is 30 November each year and applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application as soon as is feasible. For an application form, please email: sheila.sweetinburgh@kentarchaeology.org.uk