Kent Societies
We are very fortunate to be a county brimming with incredible heritage groups. I am keen to spread the word about these groups and promote them throughout my editorial residency.
It would be impossible to include all the groups at once, but this will be a regular segment. Over the upcoming editions, I shall include all Kent-based heritage groups who contact me. If you wish to promote your group, email me at:
craig.campbell@kentarchaeology.org.uk
I hope this may open the door for many people to join local groups and discover fascinating people with similar interests.
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BEXLEY ARCHAEOLOGY GROUP
Bexley Archaeological Group was first set up in 1979 by a small group of dedicated students and has grown to the group they are today.
It is still run by a dedicated team that has Archaeology, History, and the wider community at its heart. They are an all-inclusive group that welcomes people of all ages and abilities.
BAG offer the chance to take part in excavations, geophysics, finds processing and other activities mostly during weekends. They have their own dig site in Bexley which is open to members at weekends, weather permitting.
BAG also hold monthly talks and run workshops during the year. Since its formation, the group has provided an opportunity for people in the community to get involved in Archaeology and History in the local area. You do not need any prior knowledge or experience, as they have a qualified field unit to guide you.
Contact: pr@bag.org.uk
Website: www.bag.org.uk
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DARTFORD HISTORICAL & ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY
The inaugural meeting of the Society was held on Monday 3rd October 1910 at Buck’s Rooms, High Street, Dartford. It was named the Dartford District Antiquarian Society and had a membership of twelve people. Its purpose was “to encourage the study of local antiquities and to examine and record as far as possible all evidence of historic and prehistoric remains of antiquarian interest within the district”.
In 1964, the Society was renamed the Dartford Historical and Antiquarian Society and in the same year published the first of its Newsletters. These are still published each year and include a varied selection of historical and archaeological research articles. The current Newsletter is available at Dartford Library.
The Society does not currently undertake fieldwork, which is left to the excellent Dartford District Archaeological Group. They do, however, undertake photographic and other historical surveys especially to preserve what is left of our town’s ancient buildings.
All that is required to become a member is an interest in the history of our locality. Included in the Annual Subscription are a winter programme of lectures and the Newsletter. A social outing using own transport to a local place of interest and coach outings are arranged for the summer months.
✉ historicaldartford@gmail.com
🔗 www.dartfordhistorical.org.uk
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THE FRIENDS OF CANTERBURY ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST
The principal aim of the Friends is to support the work of Canterbury Archaeological Trust (CAT) with their outreach and engagement work within the communities where CAT operates. As a registered charity, CAT works closely with schools, universities, care homes, hospices, dementia cafes, colleges, home educated children, museums, volunteers and community groups to deliver a wide range of outreach activities.
The aim of the community engagement is to educate, inform and inspire the public to appreciate their local and national heritage, to feel pride of place and a desire to conserve the past for future enjoyment. The Friends help achieve these goals through financial contributions and by volunteering their time and expertise to this cause.
Each year the Friends make grants totalling thousands of pounds to the Trust to support its projects and provides bursaries to staff to assist with professional development. The Friends gratefully acknowledge the generosity of the Donald Baron Fund in contributing to these bursaries.
The Friends organisation is a community of like-minded people who have a passion for heritage and archaeology. For this reason, they organise speakers to come and share their research and expertise as part of a regular lecture series.
Volunteering can take the form of excavation work, finds or environmental processing, supporting the delivery of engagement sessions or workshops, or developing resources for schools. Friends are also able to make use of the Trust’s library, which hosts a large amount of published and unpublished material.
✉ Friends@canterburytrust.co.uk
🔗 www.canterburytrust.co.uk/fcat
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HYTHE CIVIC SOCIETY
The Hythe Civic Society are a society of Hythe residents who share an interest in their community, its built environment and its open spaces.
The activities of the Society are supported by a number of enthusiastic volunteers and include informing on Hythe issues through quarterly newsletters, presenting a varied programme of talks, commenting on local planning applications, working with local organisations and Councils on projects, providing seasonal floral displays around the town and initiating research through their History Group.
At the end of World War II, Hythe faced a major rebuilding task. Some of the returning population formed the Hythe Citizens’ Union (HCU) in 1945 with the task of monitoring developments and building projects of importance, and ensuring that public spaces, trees, and historical landmarks were restored to a high standard.
In 1965, the HCU decided to change its name to Hythe Civic Society to bring it more into line with other amenity societies. Talks are well attended and Guided Town Walks have gone from strength to strength since they were started in 1974.
Over the years the population of Hythe has nearly doubled and HCS has been encouraged and enabled to broaden the range of its activities but are still vigorously pursuing the objectives set out by the Hythe Citizens’ Union in 1945.
✉ hythehistory@gmail.com
🔗 www.hythecivicsociety.org
🔗 www.hythecivicsociety.org/contact
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LYMINGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Lyminge Historical Society was formed in 1971 and is responsible for researching, recording, disseminating and publishing the history of Lyminge Parish and the surrounding area on behalf of the parishioners and residents.
The society welcomes visitors and publicises activities locally in the Lyminge Newsletter as well as using posters and the facilities offered by their sister organisations in the Elham Valley and Folkestone.
A copy of the events programme and how to attend can be found online via the website. The society newsletters were created to be read in paper form and one, Christmas 2013, was folded into a Christmas Greetings card. Many of the newsletters can be accessed online via the website.
The Family History & Research Group has regrettably ceased to exist. Historically the group aided each other in researching their genealogical studies and latterly carrying out research for displays in Lyminge Library as well as for articles in their publication, Lyminge a history.
To assist the society in their aims and purpose, they provide regular historical talks and also arrange trips for Society members and their partners to places of historical interest.
Lyminge Historical Society welcome non-members and visitors to their talks and when space allows, welcome non-members on their trips.
✉ lymingehistoricalsociety@gmail.com
🔗 www.lymingehistoricalsociety.co.uk
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NORTH WEST KENT FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY
The North West Kent Family History Society aims to promote and encourage education in the study of family history and genealogy in relation to national and local history.
The Society arranges programmes of lectures, visits and other activities, promotes the preservation of relevant documents and records, locates, transcribes, indexes them and, wherever possible, publishes the results and provides guidance in family history research and studies.
Membership is open to anyone, anywhere in the world and members receive the quarterly journal mailed directly.
Members can attend the monthly meetings held at each of the Society’s two branches (Dartford and Sevenoaks) and can purchase books and listen to a wide variety of talks. All members are welcome to attend any or all of the branch meetings at no extra cost and have access to the Members Only Area (M.O.A.) of the website, where exclusive content can be viewed and downloaded.
Members may submit a list of the surnames they are researching; a form for this purpose is included in the membership pack received after joining. The Society welcomes members to monthly branch meetings in person and online and also provides a series of weekly workshops and discussion groups, both online and in person at the Society library.
🔗 www.nwkfhs.org.uk
🔗 www.nwkfhs.org.uk/contact
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SNODLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Snodland Historical Society (SHS) was formed in 1997 and since 2000 its collections have been held at Snodland Millennium Museum. The Society concerns itself with the archaeology and history of the Civil Parish of Snodland and neighbouring civil parishes.
The Society’s website enables SHS to share some of its material. Much of the collection concerns former parishioners. A ‘Genealogy’ section attempts to list what is known of predecessors from earliest times to the 20th century, particularly drawing upon church registers, censuses, and similar material.
Volunteers have transcribed the Parish Council Minutes from 1894 to 1945 and aim to add further years. The parish church of All Saints is a repository of much of Snodland’s history and the memorials within the church and churchyard tell us much.
The objectives of the Society are to research, record, document and publish; to maintain a non-lending reference library for the use of members; to maintain an archive of collections of material and media; to hold regular meetings with lectures, social evenings and visits for members; to provide educational lectures and facilities for the public; to hold public exhibitions; and to sell the Society’s publications to members and the public.
✉ andrewashbee6@gmail.com
🔗 www.snodlandhistory.org.uk
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SHORNE WOODS ARCHAEOLOGY GROUP
The Shorne Woods Archaeology Group are a community of professional archaeologists and volunteers who have been working at Shorne Woods, Kent, for over 15 years. Initially the work concentrated on the site of the medieval manor known as Randall Manor. In more recent years, work has expanded to include other sites within Shorne Woods Country Park and the wider Kent area. At times the team have joined other Kentish archaeology groups, helping with their projects.
The group’s website aims to publicise the activities of the Shorne Woods Archaeology Group (SWAG) and any Kentish research by individuals within the Group. They also want to show how community archaeology is alive and working in Kent.
SWAG meet most weeks, on Thursday or Friday at 10am, at Shorne Woods Country Park Café, Brewers Road, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 3HX — but please get in contact if you want to come along, as they are often taken to different venues.
A comprehensive collection of previous projects and upcoming events can be found on the SWAG website.
✉ SWAGkent2023@gmail.com
🔗 www.shornewoodsarchaeology.co.uk
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SWANLEY HISTORY GROUP
Swanley History Group is a community organisation run by and for anyone interested in preserving the history and heritage of Swanley, Kent, and the surrounding area. Swanley History Group started in 2013 as a result of a West Kent local history project involving local young people. The film they produced is still available to view on YouTube by searching Swanley’s Hidden Histories.
🔗 www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zdu8BPQhzw
Community Librarian Jenny Carter was approached and asked why there was no local history society given Swanley’s history. She initiated meetings of local residents, from which a small number decided to set up a group to share and preserve the history of Swanley, and so Swanley History Group was born.
The group aim to collect and preserve photos, books, newspaper cuttings, postcards and other ephemera relating to the history of the area and its people, as well as documenting personal stories and memories.
Swanley History Group hold monthly meetings for the presentation and discussion of historical topics which relate to the area or are of general social history interest, often using outside speakers.
The group have developed a website and Facebook page. As well as keeping members informed of activities, they reach far and wide and receive lots of enquiries from former Swanley residents all over the world.
Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month. Everyone is welcome and there is no need to book.
7.00pm for a 7.30pm start at The Alexandra Suite, St. Mary’s Road, Swanley, BR8 7BU.
✉ swanleyhistorygroup@hotmail.co.uk
🔗 www.swanleyhistorygroup.weebly.com