In Other News…
Sing when you’re winning
MOLA Coasts in Mind have continued their incredible project with a memory singing walk around Oare and Faversham Creeks and afternoon workshops with the Upping Shanty group. The team explored forgotten barges and the wharves that once serviced thriving 19th and 20th century industry, enjoying the wonders of the natural landscape as they did so.
Coasts in Mind is a Museum of London Archaeology project made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and #NationalLottery players.
Swords play
Volunteer and former student ambassador for the society, Alexander Read, recently completed his dissertation project creating a replica of an Early Medieval sword from Sarre, part of the Kent Archaeological Society collection. He used photographs of the sword (KAS 828) and examples of pommels also in our collection to form his complete replica. Alexander received a high 1st class award for his dissertation and has very kindly donated the sword to the society to form part of its education and outreach collection.
You can read more about the project conception and completion in this edition of the magazine.
Some Vacancies
Kent County Council currently have two job vacancies within their Heritage Team.
Part-Time Community Archaeologist:
Through engaging activities, educational programs, and community involvement, the Whose Hoo project aims to highlight the hidden treasures of the Hoo Peninsula, creating a stronger bond between people and their local environment. This is an exciting 3-year project that promises to reveal the wonders of this often-overlooked landscape while safeguarding its heritage and natural beauty for future generations to cherish and enjoy.
Full-Time Treasure Finds Liaison Assistant:
A dedicated and enthusiastic individual is sought to join the Heritage Conservation group to help record and protect the rich and varied historic environment of Kent. Your primary responsibility will be to assist the Finds Liaison Officer (FLO) in managing the process of treasure reporting under the Treasure Act 1996.
See www.jobsearch.kent.gov.uk/ for details
Palace intrigue
Works will shortly begin at Charing Archbishops Palace thanks to funding from Historic England, helping The Spitalfields Trust to repair the Medieval buildings. A £300,000 grant from Historic England has supported urgent structural repairs to the Grade I listed 14th- century barn, originally built as the palace’s Great Hall. The Palace was a favourite residence of more than 50 Archbishops of Canterbury, offering a handy stopover point between Canterbury and Lambeth Palace in London. In 1520, Henry VIII stayed here with his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, and a large entourage as they travelled to France for the famous Field of the Cloth of Gold meeting with Francis I. Charing Palace has been on the Heritage at Risk Register for many years, but is now being brought back to life by The Spitalfields Trust.
Do the Bartmann
The Museum of London Archaeology have launched #Bartmanngoesglobal project. Bartmann Goes Global is a collaborative research project between the UK and Germany, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).
Bartmann jugs are easily recognisable with distinctive bearded faces, bulbous shape, and medallions. They were produced in large quantities in the Rhineland, Germany, between 1500-1750. Many were exported, mainly to England, the Netherlands and across northern Europe. You can learn more about the project on the Museum of London Archaeology website: www.bartmanngoesglobal.org/about-us/about-project where you can also submit information on your own Bartmann Jugs.
Crossing rivers and connecting communities
The team from the Lower Thames Crossing project, alongside Shorne Woods Archaeological Group and Gravesham Borough Council have been busy with a weekend of community heritage archaeology.
The groups were excavating on Windmill Hill in Gravesend. The dig was revealing buildings and the community engagement was a huge success. More to come on this project in the future.
Visit www.shornewoodsarchaeology.co.uk/ for details on how to get involved with the groups.
Puzzling stuff
A team from the Museum of London Archaeology have finished piecing together thousands of painted fragments to reveal frescoes that once decorated the walls of an affluent Roman villa discovered in Southwark.
Painted with classical motifs of fruits, flowers, and animals, the frescoes also show native plants like mistletoe, suggesting artists blended local imagery with traditional designs, creating bespoke artwork for the wealthy suburbs of Roman London as the newly founded city was growing. Archaeologists from MOLA suggest it could be a hotel for wealthy travellers or the home of a high-status family.
If you’d like to read more about piecing together London’s Roman past, check out a BBC article here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y5w1ldz8do
Maid of Stone
The new Local History gallery is soon to be opened at Maidstone Museums. The gallery will be renamed ‘The Oldham Gallery: Exploring Maidstone’s Past and Present’, in honour of Mr. Paul Oldham, a champion of the museum, an influential Maidstone figure for his political and charitable work and a former KAS president. The reimagined gallery will display 30% more objects including an enigmatic seal depicting a woman standing on a rock.
Dated from 1567, 18 years after Maidstone achieved Town Charter status in 1549, could this seal with a “Maid” on the “Stone” provide the answer to the origin of the town’s name? Our curator Andy working alongside the Maidstone Museum team and former student ambassador Alexander Read tested the seal with a portable Xray Fluorescence to better understand its composition and collection care needs. The Oldham gallery will be opening on 19th July.
Dr Judie English (1947-2025)
It is with great sadness that we must report the death of Dr Judie English following long-term health problems. Judie was an active field archaeologist in our neighbouring counties of Sussex and Surrey and published extensively on her findings. Judie also taught archaeology courses for the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE) at the University of Sussex. She was a long-standing Trustee of the Council for British Archaeology South-East and was for many years the editor of its newsletters. She was also a Vice-President of the Surrey Archaeological Society. Judie will be much missed.