Letters to the Editor

Issue 127Editorial

11 May

Wicker-Fan

I am a long-time fan and researcher of the movie The Wicker Man, which was shot in 1972. It turns out one of the scenes in the movie, a few quick shots of the phallic topiary, was shot at Hush House Manor, Hush Heath Estate, Five Oak Ln, in Tonbridge. Here are some pics.

(These scenes are found as Sgt Howie rides a trap to Lord Summerisle’s castle...)

At that time, it was owned by the actor David Hemmings. He was asked to play Sgt Howie but turned it down. I’d love to know if any evidence of the shoot still exists. Does anyone have any pics they have taken, or home movies or souvenirs of the shoot such as production documents or anything else, or just stories?

Many thanks.

Cheers,

John Lippincott

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Reply from the Editor:

Thank you John, how interesting. This is not a million miles from where I live, and I had no idea. I am a big fan of the Wicker Man, through my love of 1970s movies, appreciation for Christopher Lee and slight obsession for the late prehistoric traditions which inspired much of the film’s aesthetic. I hope our membership might have some connections to the shoot. If you do, please email me at:

craig.campbell@kentarchaeology.org.uk

and I shall pass on your communication.

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Archaeologia Cantiana Set

I have a full set of Arch Cant from volume 1 to the last printed issue, including the scarce index volume 52 (1940). All are complete, though some of the earlier ones are a bit dilapidated.

I would be happy to donate this as a complete set to a member. The only snag is that he or she would have to collect them from me in Essex, about an hour north of the Dartford crossing.

Best wishes,

Michael Leach

We have a run of bound copies of Archaeologia Cantiana from 1858 to 2014. Do you think any of your members would be interested in owning these? I have not found a bookshop that is interested. We would be happy to donate them to a good home.

Best regards,

Adrienne Bamping

Amateur Archaeology

At the November Fieldwork Conference, I was unprepared to learn of the enormous number of planning applications in Thanet. The first two Speakers gave details of new urban/light industrial development, mainly in the Westwood and Ramsgate areas. Each planning consent often requires a small group of professional archaeologists to be on site.

I feel there is still a case to be made for the amateur archaeologist, and the example I’m going to use is from the archives of the Isle of Thanet Archaeological Society (which also featured in the last lecture of the day). In 1999 we obtained permission from Quex Estates to fieldwalk on the arable farmland at Woodchurch. The remit was to investigate the area adjacent to the site of the medieval church, and the results were written up in a Society booklet and in Bygone Kent, vol.22 no.11.

By extending the fieldwalking a hundred yards or so downslope, there was a different set of results (see D.Perkins, Arch.Cant. 2000 p.389). Surface finds show it to be a Roman site, and a desktop study by C. Tucker (unpublished) proposes it could have been a small military fort and signalling station. So, in this age of Developer-funded archaeology, I put forward the case for the continuation of ‘interest-led’ research by amateur archaeologists while there are still open landscapes to explore.

DH White BA,Dip.Arch. (Chairman IOTAS 1999-2002)

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Reply from the Editor:

I absolutely agree that our archaeological groups and societies have a significant part to play in ensuring the ongoing protection of endangered heritage across the county and beyond. Detailed survey, volunteer excavation and desk-based research are all extremely beneficial in recording and highlighting the heritage assets at risk. Particularly, as you mention, in light of the vast quantity of development proposed. This said, there is a careful negotiation to be made between where “interest led” studies and the work of professional archaeological units meet. I think open communication between both groups, and potential partnership work (access and insurance permitting etc.), would be a great step forward.

Reply from the Editor:

We get a few offers for donations of Archaeologia Cantiana collections each year. Sadly, we do not have the space to store any more than we already hold. If you are interested in accepting these sets of the historic journal, then please contact:

membership@kentarchaeology.org.uk

and we will pass on your details to Michael or Adrienne.

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Battle of Medway Memorial Stone

If my memory is correct, it was the Kent Archaeological Society who worked with the late Nigel Hicolson of Sissinghurst Castle to erect a memorial stone (and information board), some decades ago, on the Medway riverside just downstream from Burham Church.

I visited yesterday: Nigel would be saddened and appalled.

The inscription on the Memorial stone has decayed and is hardly legible: the adjacent (plastic?) information board has faded seriously, is unreadable, and most unsightly.

I thus write to ask if the Kent Archaeological Society would be able to make an appeal for a restoration fund and arrange with Kent County Council, who I believe now own the memorial, for restoration work to be done.

Sincerely,

Alan Sanders

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Reply from the Editor:

Hi Alan, apologies for the delay in highlighting this issue. It is extremely disheartening to hear about the deterioration and neglect of this memorial stone. Sadly, I am certain it is not alone in the rather sad looking underappreciated information points across the county. I understand it must be challenging to keep on top of the maintenance of potentially hundreds of memorials and information boards, but I hope that we can highlight this issue and assist in improvement of this, and other heritage-based information points in Kent. I shall raise the Battle of Medway Memorial Stone and your recommendations with our Trustees before the AGM and will keep you updated on the discussions.