August 2012 (issue 127) - The Sussex Archaeological Society
August 2012 (issue 127) - The Sussex Archaeological Society
August 2012 (issue 127) - The Sussex Archaeological Society
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N u m b e r 1 2 7 A u g u s t 2 0 1 2<br />
Tidemills Excavation Update<br />
Chiddingly Wood Rocks Walk<br />
Battle of Lewes Conference<br />
<strong>The</strong> Regency in <strong>Sussex</strong><br />
Probing the Willingdon Levels<br />
<strong>The</strong> ‘Near Lewes’ Hoard Appeal<br />
www.romansinsussex.co.uk <strong>Sussex</strong> Past & Present <strong>August</strong> <strong>2012</strong>
Membership Matters<br />
MEMBERSHIP<br />
OPENING LINES<br />
Opening Lines<br />
Lorna’s Notebook<br />
A round-up of all that’s new in the membership department<br />
Welcome to the <strong>August</strong> edition<br />
of <strong>Sussex</strong> Past & Present.<br />
<strong>Sussex</strong> <strong>Archaeological</strong><br />
Collections – opting out<br />
scheme<br />
Those of you who attended<br />
any of our members’ discussion<br />
sessions at the start of the year,<br />
or the more recent AGM, will<br />
be aware that we undertook a<br />
major survey of members on the<br />
<strong>issue</strong>s both of this Newsletter and<br />
<strong>Sussex</strong> <strong>Archaeological</strong> Collections.<br />
Although we were not able to get<br />
everyone’s views, we did send<br />
the survey out with renewed<br />
memberships to approximately 900<br />
of you, and had a very impressive<br />
39% response.<br />
As a result of your feedback, we<br />
have decided to make the following<br />
change to the current position with<br />
regard to the Collections. Please<br />
do read this carefully so you can<br />
make a decision.<br />
Currently, all members receive<br />
an annual copy of <strong>Sussex</strong><br />
<strong>Archaeological</strong> Collections, and this<br />
is covered by your subscription.<br />
However, we understand that<br />
not all members wish to receive<br />
this publication. <strong>The</strong> volume is<br />
expensive to post and is printed to<br />
order, so reducing the number of<br />
unrequired copies will be beneficial<br />
to members and to the <strong>Society</strong>.<br />
We are not proposing to stop<br />
printing the Collections, nor are we<br />
planning to introduce an additional<br />
charge for those who wish to<br />
continue receiving it. However,<br />
we are now offering members the<br />
chance to opt out of the publication<br />
if they wish. <strong>The</strong>re will be no<br />
reduction to your membership<br />
subscription if you do opt out but<br />
the savings in print and distribution<br />
costs will help the <strong>Society</strong>. You can<br />
of course choose to opt back in to<br />
receiving the Collections – it is not<br />
a one-time only choice – but as the<br />
publication is printed to order the<br />
cut-off date for your decision will<br />
be 1 October each year.<br />
I will assume that anyone who<br />
does not contact me wishes to<br />
continue with the status quo, and<br />
you will therefore be sent a copy of<br />
the volume when it is published at<br />
the end of the year. If you do opt out,<br />
you will receive no future editions<br />
until you request otherwise. To<br />
inform your decision, we are hoping<br />
to have a list of contents available<br />
on line (or from me in hard copy<br />
if you cannot access the internet)<br />
by July each year. We also hope<br />
to have the entire volume online<br />
at our website in pdf format after<br />
publication for you to download,<br />
and public libraries and the Records<br />
Offices in East and West <strong>Sussex</strong> as<br />
well as our own Barbican House<br />
library have copies for reference.<br />
Please note that the <strong>Sussex</strong> Past<br />
& Present newsletter is not included<br />
in this – we will continue to send<br />
the newsletter to all members three<br />
times a year.<br />
I hope that this system will work<br />
smoothly, but we will of course<br />
review it early next year and may<br />
make changes if necessary. If this<br />
is the case, we will feature them<br />
in the April 2013 newsletter. Your<br />
comments are of course welcome!<br />
Saturday 22 September:<br />
Piltdown conference<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are still places available for<br />
this conference, which promises to<br />
be a fascinating look at a notorious<br />
scientific fraud. Leading experts<br />
on the history of the site and the<br />
personalities involved in the hoax<br />
will speak alongside specialists<br />
in the fraudulent tools, human<br />
remains and fossils found at the<br />
site. For the first time the intriguing<br />
relationship of the <strong>Society</strong> itself<br />
to the prime suspect, Charles<br />
Dawson, will be explored and<br />
the case against new suspects<br />
presented. <strong>The</strong> conference will also<br />
provide a chance to consider and<br />
celebrate the true nature of the<br />
early stone age record in <strong>Sussex</strong><br />
from the internationally important<br />
site of Boxgrove to the unexplored<br />
potential of <strong>Sussex</strong> river valleys<br />
and rock shelters.<br />
If you have misplaced your<br />
booking form enclosed with the<br />
April newsletter, you can book<br />
online at http://sussexpast/<br />
payment-conferences or via the<br />
Noticeboard in the centre pages of<br />
this newsletter.<br />
Saturday 16 June:<br />
<strong>Society</strong> AGM<br />
For those of you unable to<br />
attend the AGM, copies of the draft<br />
Minutes of the meeting can be<br />
found in the members’ area of the<br />
website (if you need the password,<br />
please contact me). Printed copies<br />
can be sent on request.<br />
Lorna Gartside<br />
Membership Secretary<br />
For all membership enquiries<br />
and to apply, please contact<br />
MEMBERSHIP<br />
DEPARTMENT<br />
Bull House,<br />
92 High Street<br />
Lewes, <strong>Sussex</strong> BN7 1XH<br />
Tues-Fri 10.00am-3.00pm<br />
Answering machine<br />
outside these hours<br />
0<strong>127</strong>3 405737<br />
Email:<br />
members@sussexpast.co.uk<br />
SUSSEX<br />
Past &<br />
Present<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Sussex</strong> <strong>Archaeological</strong><br />
<strong>Society</strong> Newsletter<br />
N u m b e r 1 2 7<br />
A U G U S T 2 0 1 2<br />
Contents<br />
2 Membership Matters<br />
3 Opening Lines<br />
4 Tidemills Excavation<br />
5 Margary Grants<br />
6 Chiddingly Wood Rocks<br />
7 Prize Competitions<br />
8 Battle of Lewes Conference<br />
9 <strong>The</strong> Regency in <strong>Sussex</strong><br />
10 Willingdon Levels<br />
11 Willingdon Levels cont.<br />
12 Library & Bookshop<br />
13 <strong>The</strong> ‘Near Lewes’ Hoard<br />
14 Book Reviews<br />
15 Book Reviews<br />
16 Snippets<br />
Published by the <strong>Sussex</strong><br />
<strong>Archaeological</strong> <strong>Society</strong>, Bull<br />
House, Lewes, E <strong>Sussex</strong>, BN71XH<br />
Tel: 0<strong>127</strong>3 486260<br />
Fax: 0<strong>127</strong>3 486990<br />
Email: adminlewes@sussexpast.<br />
co.uk<br />
Editor: Wendy Muriel<br />
Email: spp@sussexpast.co.uk<br />
Research Editor: Luke Barber<br />
ISSN 1357-7417<br />
Cover: Dame Vera Lynn cutting the ribbon at<br />
the official re-launch of Michelham Priory.<br />
Photo: Wendy Muriel<br />
New Era for <strong>Society</strong><br />
Exciting developments at the Priory<br />
have just taken over as the new Chair of Council at the June AGM. This<br />
I is a great honour and responsibility. <strong>The</strong> one thing I am very aware of<br />
is the <strong>Society</strong>’s finances. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Society</strong> has a long way to go to achieve<br />
financial stability. My aim is to find ways of retaining and enhancing all<br />
our properties which provide the majority of our income. I believe the<br />
<strong>Society</strong> is well supported by members because of the properties. To lose<br />
any further properties is to downgrade the <strong>Society</strong>. <strong>The</strong> current aim is to<br />
enhance the experience to bring forward changes to encourage visitors<br />
to return and to attract new visitors.<br />
Last year saw the reopening of Anne of Cleves House following<br />
renovations to roofs, windows and elevations. This June saw the relaunch<br />
of Michelham Priory with an opening ceremony of cutting the<br />
ribbon by Dame Vera Lynn (front cover). This followed great activity<br />
during the last year to update the property exhibits together with bringing<br />
the café facilities back into being run in house. <strong>The</strong> property now has a<br />
new Director in Janet Sinclair and Operations Manager John Mumbray<br />
together with other staff changes. <strong>The</strong> café under Catering Supervisor<br />
James Cocklin is already gaining a reputation for the place to visit. <strong>The</strong><br />
other exciting change has been the fitting of glass doors inside the Great<br />
Barn entrance doors. This allows daylight to enter whilst keeping out the<br />
elements. <strong>The</strong> changes have largely been paid for by the generosity of the<br />
Friends of Michelham Priory<br />
Michelham Priory has so much to offer with the house, gardens, café,<br />
re-sited children’s play area and the magnificent moat and gatehouse<br />
amongst other attractions. It should be one of the great attractions of<br />
<strong>Sussex</strong>. We are getting there!<br />
To enhance the experience at Anne of Cleves House plans are afoot<br />
this year to provide café facilities in the place of the flat. Works are also<br />
planned at the Priest House and Marlipins. We always have problems to<br />
overcome and the recent flooding of the mosaic pavements at Fishbourne<br />
Roman Palace is our current preoccupation. A great vote of thanks is due<br />
to the Friends groups at all the properties that are funding the exciting<br />
changes. I have confidence that the <strong>Society</strong> will flourish with attention to<br />
enhancing the experience for all our members and visitors.<br />
Being a surveyor my chief area of expertise is with the buildings, but<br />
I am aware of the contribution of the Collections, the Library and the<br />
education department all of which will receive as much attention during<br />
the next year. At the recent AGM four new Trustees were elected to the<br />
Council to add to our overall expertise and I extend a warm welcome to<br />
them as well as our new President Caroline Wells who I know will be a<br />
great asset in representing the <strong>Society</strong>. This year members’ forums have<br />
assisted your Council in redefining your expectations of the <strong>Society</strong> and<br />
more meetings are planned for this coming year. I would just like to end<br />
by saying I am open to suggestions or comments from our members!<br />
Richard Akhurst<br />
Chair of Council<br />
<strong>Sussex</strong> Past & Present <strong>August</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
www.sussexpast.co.uk www.romansinsussex.co.uk <strong>Sussex</strong> Past & Present <strong>August</strong> <strong>2012</strong>
Excavations<br />
TIDEMILLS 2011<br />
MARGARY GRANTS<br />
Research<br />
Tidemills Allotment Gardens<br />
“...according to the historic maps there’s nothing here!”<br />
<strong>The</strong> main 2011 work concentrated<br />
on the old allotments. All the<br />
historic maps, including the Tithe<br />
map (Fig. 1a) show this area as<br />
open ground within the village.<br />
<strong>The</strong> ‘busiest’ map (the 1 st edition<br />
OS of 1880) shows a small leanto<br />
structure in the SW corner and<br />
several paths crossing the area<br />
(Fig. 1b) but the 1937 map shows<br />
nothing again (Fig. 1c).<br />
Fig 1a. Tithe map<br />
Fig. 1b. 1880 1st edition OS map<br />
Fig 1c. 1937 OS map (North to top)<br />
To identify any WW2 features<br />
contemporary aerial photos were<br />
carefully inspected. With the<br />
exception of some possible bell<br />
tents on a USAAF photo of 1944<br />
little was again forthcoming. We<br />
thus thought this area would be<br />
quick to record…<br />
A surface inspection soon<br />
identified an earthwork in the centre<br />
Fig.2 Tony standing to attention in his ‘machine gun post’!<br />
of the area thought to be a small<br />
air-raid (Anderson) shelter and a<br />
curious wall in the middle of the<br />
cart access track. Upon excavation<br />
the earthwork proved not to be an<br />
air-raid shelter but a rectangular pit,<br />
lined with corrugated iron sheeting<br />
and with a neat cement floor (Fig.<br />
2). <strong>The</strong> floor had circular sockets<br />
around the edge for the upright<br />
revetting posts (rotted away) and<br />
there were wire tie-backs anchored<br />
under the surrounding bank that<br />
would have braced the tops of the<br />
posts. Complete with a wide shelf<br />
on its west side and a neat flight of<br />
tile and slate lined access steps it<br />
is a distinctive structure. A mortar<br />
pit was the obvious choice but one<br />
would not expect a cement floor<br />
as this would make the weapon<br />
jump upon firing so it may simply<br />
represent a ‘dummy’ machine gun<br />
post for practice attacks! We have<br />
yet to find a WW2 veteran who<br />
trained at the site – an interview<br />
that would be most enlightening!<br />
<strong>The</strong> largest surprise came from<br />
Photo: L Barber<br />
a small trench excavated to assess<br />
the refuse levels in the allotment<br />
soil. <strong>The</strong> trench hit an unexpected<br />
brick structure that turned out to<br />
be a heated horticultural building<br />
of some size (Fig. 4). Two methods<br />
of heating were in evidence – the<br />
earlier using manure packed around<br />
Fig 3. <strong>The</strong> wall in the cart access proved to be a<br />
structure for heating a cast-iron pot, once within<br />
a lean-to structure. Whether this was a military<br />
field kitchen or something used for preparing<br />
animal feed is uncertain. Careful study of all<br />
photographs shows a definite lean-to here but it<br />
never made it onto the maps. Photo: L Barber<br />
the central growing chamber. This<br />
had been replaced by a hot air flue<br />
system, though this never appears<br />
to have been used. A virtually exact<br />
match for the structure can be found<br />
in the pineapple pit, now restored<br />
at the ‘Lost Gardens of Heligan’.<br />
Pineapple growing was an esteemed<br />
goal of horticulturalists of the later<br />
18th and early 19th centuries.<br />
William Catt was well known for<br />
his horticultural prowess and the<br />
pineapple pit was almost certainly<br />
built by him prior to his extension<br />
of the village. <strong>The</strong> realisation that if<br />
he wished to benefit from the fruits<br />
of his endeavours he ought to grow<br />
his pineapples where he could keep<br />
an eye on them probably led to<br />
the abandonment of this structure<br />
in favour of new, much larger,<br />
greenhouses directly opposite the<br />
millhouse. <strong>The</strong> latter are firmly on<br />
all the maps!<br />
<strong>The</strong> Tidemills project is not only<br />
piecing together the story of this<br />
complex and highly unusual <strong>Sussex</strong><br />
village, it is throwing out wider <strong>issue</strong>s<br />
of late historical archaeology. It is<br />
Fig.4 William Catt’s pineapple pit?<br />
becoming quite clear that a large<br />
proportion of structures came and<br />
went between photographs and<br />
Margary Grants<br />
<strong>2012</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong> awards for this year are listed below. If you would like to contact any of the grant holders, please ask<br />
the Research Officer, Luke Barber, for information. His details are on the contact list in the centre pages<br />
of SP&P. <strong>The</strong> guidelines and application form for Margary Grants are available on our website or can be<br />
posted to you by Luke. <strong>The</strong> Research Committee awards the grants and monitors their progress. <strong>The</strong><br />
grants are carefully supervised and receipts are expected for all claims.<br />
• Worthing <strong>Archaeological</strong> <strong>Society</strong> - £880 awarded for C 14 dating of the Bronze Age site at<br />
Brindsbury College campus.<br />
• Pari White - £250 awarded towards the cost of colour reproduction in her publication of the<br />
stones used in the Fishbourne mosaics in Journal of Roman Studies.<br />
• Sue Harrington - £359 awarded towards post-excavation costs writing up the Selmeston<br />
Anglo-Saxon cemetery.<br />
• Rob Wallace (Culver <strong>Archaeological</strong> Project, Barcombe) - £1,200 awarded for the analysis<br />
of the Roman pottery assemblage.<br />
• David Worsell - £500 awarded to cover the cost of x-raying the metalwork from the Bishopstone<br />
Anglo-Saxon cemetery.<br />
Total awarded for <strong>2012</strong>: £3,189<br />
Photo: L Barber<br />
even closely dated map editions.<br />
So when the map says there’s<br />
nothing there…!<br />
Luke Barber<br />
Research Officer<br />
<strong>Sussex</strong> Past & Present <strong>August</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
www.sussexpast.co.uk www.romansinsussex.co.uk <strong>Sussex</strong> Past & Present <strong>August</strong> <strong>2012</strong>
Feature<br />
CHIDDINGLY ROCKS<br />
RESEARCH<br />
Research<br />
Chiddingly Wood Rocks<br />
Prehistoric occupation sites and a hermit’s hideaway<br />
report by Mike Allen, Andrew<br />
A Maxted and Richard Carter<br />
(SP&P 115, <strong>August</strong> 2008) drew<br />
attention to the potential of<br />
the High Weald for evidence of<br />
Mesolithic activity, and Richard<br />
Carter led a <strong>Society</strong> walk here in<br />
June 2010. This popular event was<br />
repeated twice, most recently in<br />
February <strong>2012</strong>. Chiddingly Wood<br />
Rocks are an outcrop of sandstone<br />
on the southern edge of the High<br />
Weald at West Hoathly, West<br />
<strong>Sussex</strong>, visited by kind permission<br />
of the landowner. <strong>The</strong> first site<br />
encountered was a rock shelter<br />
named Adulam’s Cave (perhaps<br />
from Cave of Adullam connected<br />
with biblical King David). <strong>The</strong> shelter<br />
was reputedly occupied by a hermit<br />
until early in the 20th century, and<br />
its chimney now houses a colony<br />
of bats. Although never excavated,<br />
flint tools were found there, and<br />
we noticed disturbance by animals<br />
and signs of recent fires under the<br />
rock shelter. Richard suggested the<br />
ledge outside was a possible site of<br />
prehistoric activity, while above the<br />
shelter the escarpment rocks form<br />
part of the defences of Philpotts<br />
Camp, a promontory hillfort.<br />
<strong>The</strong> work by Mike Allen and<br />
colleagues in 2007, auguring,<br />
environmental survey and test<br />
pitting proved the presence of in<br />
situ Mesolithic flint flakes. This<br />
was followed up in 2009 by an MA<br />
student of <strong>Sussex</strong> University, who<br />
excavated on the slope below the<br />
rocks to investigate stratigraphy<br />
and determine the sequence of<br />
activity or occupation. Diagnostic<br />
flint tools such as Horsham points<br />
and leaf shaped arrowheads<br />
indicate hunting practice from the<br />
late Mesolithic and Neolithic, and<br />
early Neolithic pottery suggests a<br />
more sedentary lifestyle and the<br />
transition to farming. Many later<br />
‘View of Great upon Little with the adjacent Sand Rocks in Chiddingly Wood in the parish of West<br />
Hoathly’. A watercolour by Samuel Hieronymous Grimm, 1780.<br />
Image: British Library<br />
period finds showed regular use of<br />
this area, but the excavation was<br />
inconclusive as few were in situ.<br />
<strong>The</strong> rocks create interesting<br />
formations, such as ‘Great upon<br />
Little’, where graffiti have been<br />
dated back to the 14th century; and<br />
the escarpment offers views of the<br />
valley below, which in the Mesolithic<br />
could have been a hunting lookout,<br />
with little tree growth at that time.<br />
This spot featured in an episode of<br />
the TV series on hunter-gatherer<br />
diet, by Ray Mears and Prof Gordon<br />
Hillman. From here we explored the<br />
rocks to find Norraine cave where<br />
some examples of ‘Celtic-style’<br />
patterns have been cut, probably<br />
modern. Proceeding through a<br />
wooded area the ditch and banks<br />
of Philpotts Camp became visible,<br />
dated to the Iron Age by excavation<br />
of the bank by C and E Curwen<br />
(though no further investigations<br />
were made). Walking back<br />
towards Adulam’s Cave Richard<br />
pointed out an enigmatic pattern of<br />
concentric rings cut on the surface<br />
of a vertical rock bordering the<br />
path. Similar patterns were found<br />
at Fontainebleau, near Paris, which<br />
may be prehistoric.<br />
<strong>The</strong> walk ended by a relatively<br />
recent hammer pond, where<br />
Richard speculated Mesolithic<br />
people may first have dammed<br />
the water to form a ‘transitional<br />
habitat’, attracting birds and<br />
animals and providing a source of<br />
water. <strong>The</strong>re is later evidence for its<br />
use in the Wealden iron industry.<br />
Part of this area can be accessed<br />
by public footpath along the edge<br />
of the hillfort, but most of the land is<br />
private. It was a wonderful walk and<br />
I’d like to thank Richard for sharing<br />
with us his deep knowledge and<br />
understanding of an area so rich in<br />
evidence of prehistoric occupation.<br />
Sarah Hanna<br />
Brighton History Database<br />
New research tool available on <strong>Society</strong> website<br />
As a by-product of the work currently being undertaken by Sue Berry to produce a new volume of the Victoria<br />
County History series, a searchable database: ‘Packham Index to Brighton and Hove in the <strong>Sussex</strong> Weekly<br />
Advertiser 1750 to1806’ is now available via the Library page (see Library News, page 12) of our website. This<br />
will be useful to those who have an interest in the history of Brighton.<br />
<strong>The</strong> database lists all the references to the twelve ancient parishes that are incorporated into the modern city of<br />
Brighton & Hove, which appeared in the surviving pages of the <strong>Sussex</strong> Weekly Advertiser during the period 1746<br />
through to 1806, when the Brighton Herald began publication. It is listed by date of publication, page number,<br />
followed by a brief summary of the content of the item, and this includes all personal names, occupations and<br />
addresses. Searchers will be able to locate the full content of the items by viewing the microfilms held at most<br />
large libraries in the county – the Brighton History Centre has a copying service.<br />
With one brief exception, the Advertiser was the only newspaper published in <strong>Sussex</strong> during the eighteenth<br />
century and whilst much of the early entries are in respect of advertisements placed by shop-keepers and<br />
notices of forthcoming auction sales, news reports appear with greater frequency from the beginning of the<br />
1770’s, particularly during the season. Apart from locating references to such topics as smuggling, national<br />
celebrations, the theatre and the great and the good, searchers will also be able to discover news of the Cyprian<br />
Corps, the impressed Punch & Judy man, the antics of the Green Man and some dreadful poetry with, perhaps,<br />
the exception of ‘On the Girl who walks the Steine without Petticoats’ which deserves greater exposure.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Peter Brandon <strong>Sussex</strong> History<br />
&<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Sussex</strong> Archaeology Prize Competitions<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Sussex</strong> <strong>Archaeological</strong> <strong>Society</strong> is to offer two annual prizes of £500 each for the essays judged<br />
best on the history and on the archaeology of <strong>Sussex</strong>. Essays may be submitted by individuals on any<br />
aspect of the local history or archaeology of <strong>Sussex</strong>. This may be a county-wide survey, an essay on a<br />
particular activity, method, community or group of people, and may feature all time periods up to the year<br />
2000. <strong>The</strong> history prize is named in honour of Dr Peter Brandon (1927-2011). <strong>The</strong> winning entries may also<br />
be published in <strong>Sussex</strong> <strong>Archaeological</strong> Collections, subject to the usual editorial procedures, including<br />
external refereeing. All those with an interest in the local history and archaeology of <strong>Sussex</strong> may enter<br />
and there is no discrimination as to age, and students may apply. But all candidates should be members<br />
of the <strong>Sussex</strong> <strong>Archaeological</strong> <strong>Society</strong>. <strong>The</strong> essays must be unpublished and not submitted to any other<br />
competition or journal at the same time; written in English; and be 5,000-8,000 words in length (including<br />
footnotes but excluding tables and diagrams).<br />
Further details on how to enter the competition may be obtained from the Research Officer, <strong>Sussex</strong><br />
<strong>Archaeological</strong> <strong>Society</strong> (e-mail<br />
research@sussexpast.co.uk), who will also be pleased to respond to any<br />
queries about the eligibility of subject matter. Full details are also to be found in the research section of the<br />
<strong>Society</strong> website. <strong>The</strong> deadline for receiving entries is 30 January in any year, beginning 30 January 2013.<br />
All entries must be emailed on or before the deadline date; a decision will be made by the beginning of May,<br />
and the announcement of the prizewinner(s) will be made at the AGM of the <strong>Society</strong>.<br />
It is the aim of the competition to stimulate research and writing on historical and archaeological topics<br />
in <strong>Sussex</strong>. In order to help the <strong>Society</strong> to continue to offer the prizes, we would also appeal to members<br />
to help by offering donations to the prize funds, either in memory of Peter Brandon, or to help in the<br />
production of further publications in history and archaeology. Again, please contact the Research Officer<br />
with any offers of assistance.<br />
<strong>Sussex</strong> Past & Present <strong>August</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
www.sussexpast.co.uk www.romansinsussex.co.uk <strong>Sussex</strong> Past & Present <strong>August</strong> <strong>2012</strong>
Feature<br />
CONFERENCE REPORT<br />
REGENCY SUSSEX<br />
Research Feature<br />
Battle of Lewes Conference<br />
<strong>The</strong> beginnings of parliamentary democracy explored<br />
Saturday 14th April was both<br />
a special and important day<br />
for the <strong>Society</strong>. <strong>The</strong> conference<br />
provided an opportunity to remind<br />
us all of the significance of the<br />
Battle of Lewes in our country’s<br />
history as we prepare for it’s 750th<br />
anniversary in 2014, especially the<br />
military and political dimensions.<br />
Tim Sutherland, wielding a battleaxe, described typical battlefield wounds.<br />
It was appropriate that the<br />
conference was held in the<br />
Assemby Room of the Town Hall<br />
in Lewes, a building whose cellary<br />
dates back to the early fourteenth<br />
century. <strong>The</strong> Assemby Room was<br />
packed to overflowing with eager<br />
and expectant delegates and it was<br />
impossible to find an empty chair.<br />
Each of the speakers was an<br />
expert in their individual field and it<br />
was a pleasure to gain an insight into<br />
their respective areas of research. It<br />
was soon clear that collectively the<br />
speakers had added a significant<br />
and up-to-date addition to both<br />
historical research and knowledge.<br />
As the Chair of English Heritage<br />
Baroness Andrews said in her<br />
introduction, the speakers at this<br />
unique conference are working “at<br />
the very frontiers of what is known”<br />
about this subject.<br />
In the morning Professor David<br />
Carpenter made a very welcome<br />
return to Lewes with a talk outlining<br />
not only what happened in the battle<br />
Photo: E Livesey<br />
but also the idealism that motivated<br />
many people to fight. He was<br />
followed by Drs Huw Ridgeway and<br />
Adrian Jobson who gave different<br />
perspectives on the historical and<br />
political background to the battle<br />
and by Dr John Maddicott, who<br />
raised questions about the role<br />
Simon de Montfort played in the<br />
development of parliament. In the<br />
afternoon, Dr Louise Wilkinson<br />
demonstrated that Simon’s wife<br />
Eleanor de Montfort was a political<br />
force in her own right, and Dr<br />
Andrew Spencer gave new insights<br />
into how our forebears in <strong>Sussex</strong><br />
responded to and drove the<br />
political turmoil around them. <strong>The</strong><br />
day was rounded off by battlefield<br />
archaeologist Tim Sutherland, who<br />
used the insights gained from his<br />
study of the mass graves at Towton<br />
to try to shed light on what happened<br />
to battlefield victims in Lewes. This<br />
was a conference where there was<br />
something for everyone.<br />
It was noticeable during the<br />
afternoon session that there was<br />
no mass exodus of delegates as<br />
can happen at some events and<br />
the room was still packed. I would<br />
like to take this opportunity to<br />
congratulate the organisers for<br />
a well organised and meaningful<br />
event. Anyone who missed it or who<br />
would like to hear any of the talks<br />
again can enjoy the conference on<br />
audio via the <strong>Sussex</strong> Past website<br />
http://sussexpast.co.uk/battleof-lewes-main/sas-conferenceapril-<strong>2012</strong><br />
or by accessing the<br />
Battle of Lewes Project via the<br />
homepage.<br />
Conference delegates also had<br />
an opportunity to enjoy one of four<br />
guided tours of the battlefield on<br />
the following morning, each led by<br />
guides with a different perspective<br />
on the site including landscape<br />
management, battle strategy and<br />
the general history of the area. For<br />
those who had been lucky enough<br />
to get a ticket for the extraordinary<br />
Battle of Lewes Experience in<br />
4D on the Saturday evening, a<br />
collaboration between <strong>Sussex</strong><br />
<strong>Archaeological</strong> <strong>Society</strong>, <strong>Sussex</strong><br />
Downs College and a very wide<br />
range of community organisations,<br />
this was truly a weekend to<br />
remember.<br />
Mike Chartier & Edwina Livesey<br />
David Carpenter’s book <strong>The</strong> Struggle for<br />
Mastery, John Maddicott’s book Simon<br />
de Montfort and Louise Wilkinson’s book<br />
Eleanor de Montfort are all currently for<br />
sale in the Barbican House bookshop.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Regency lasted just nine<br />
years, from 1811 when King<br />
George III was considered unable<br />
to rule and the Prince Regent ruled<br />
as proxy, until he became George<br />
IV in 1820. Historically, the Regency<br />
period now usually stretches from<br />
about 1800 until the end of the reign<br />
of William IV, in 1837. <strong>The</strong> period<br />
was one of great expansion and<br />
confidence followed by a recession<br />
which hit <strong>Sussex</strong> quite hard,<br />
beginning here in the late 1820s<br />
and lasting into the early 1840s.<br />
In <strong>Sussex</strong>, the first twenty years of<br />
prosperity was a time of significant<br />
changes to the landscape and<br />
economy. Investment flowed into<br />
coaching inns, houses, turnpikes,<br />
ports, canals and other enterprise.<br />
Most of the resorts we know<br />
today were established although<br />
only Brighton grew rapidly, aided<br />
by the large number of soldiers<br />
periodically stationed in and around<br />
the resort until 1815 due to the fear<br />
of invasion by the French. Local<br />
military intelligence emphasised<br />
the risk of the bay in which Brighton<br />
was located being the best place<br />
to land soldiers due to the shallow<br />
waters. <strong>The</strong> Prince of Wales was<br />
unconcerned and continued to<br />
extend and refashion the Pavilion<br />
and its grounds until the early<br />
1820s. <strong>The</strong> growth of other resorts<br />
such as Seaford and Hastings<br />
were also aided by soldiers being<br />
stationed there.<br />
After 1815, with peace abroad,<br />
a building boom began in <strong>Sussex</strong>.<br />
Many buildings were either refaced<br />
or newly built in a style which we<br />
often describe as Regency. One of<br />
the biggest projects in <strong>Sussex</strong> was<br />
Regency Square in Brighton (1818)<br />
which was developed by a Londoner<br />
to the designs of an architect called<br />
Mackie and not Amon Henry Wilds<br />
as is often published.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Regency in <strong>Sussex</strong><br />
A brief period that had a lasting influence<br />
Brighton was one of the fastest growing towns in England during the Regency and attracted<br />
investors and a workforce from many places in <strong>Sussex</strong>. This view looks down <strong>The</strong> Level in the early<br />
1820s before St Peter’s Church was built by Barry and Ireland’s Royal Gardens were developed.<br />
<strong>The</strong> resort changed so rapidly that visitors and guide books often remarked on new buildings, a<br />
great help to modern researchers! Careful study reveals Tamplins Brewery behind the big terrace to<br />
the left of <strong>The</strong> Level facing west. <strong>The</strong> Wilds built that, the terrace and the little villa to the left side of<br />
the terrace, now under what became Brighton Tech, latterly adapted into flats.Image: SAS collections<br />
New projects were also begun in<br />
Worthing where Amon Henry Wilds<br />
began a development of linked<br />
and detached villas called Park<br />
Crescent. <strong>The</strong> recession which<br />
started in the late 1820s made<br />
life difficult for both Thomas Read<br />
Kemp of Kemp Town (Brighton) and<br />
for Wilds at Park Crescent but both<br />
miraculously avoided bankruptcy,<br />
although older studies of Kemp<br />
state that he was bankrupted.<br />
Prosperity helped to boost the<br />
expansion of Hastings, first with a<br />
mixture of modest squares and then<br />
the more ambitious Pelham Terrace<br />
development on land owned by the<br />
Pelham family of Stanmer.<br />
In most of the inland ancient<br />
market towns, such as Horsham,<br />
many houses were refaced as a<br />
consequence of their prosperity<br />
and new ones built. <strong>The</strong> impact on<br />
Lewes can be seen by looking down<br />
from the Castle at the back of the<br />
houses with their later eighteenth<br />
and early nineteenth facades.<br />
Chichester also has a rich heritage<br />
from the period and, as with many<br />
of our towns and villages, the<br />
challenge is to decide which new<br />
facades and buildings date from<br />
earlier times and which are from the<br />
flourishing Regency period.<br />
If readers are interested in<br />
learning how to recognise these<br />
features, see the Regency <strong>Society</strong><br />
website, listed in the Noticeboard<br />
section or contact Lorna Gartside,<br />
the Membership Secretary, and we<br />
can organise some walks to explore<br />
this topic further.<br />
Sue Berry<br />
<strong>Sussex</strong> Past & Present <strong>August</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
www.sussexpast.co.uk www.romansinsussex.co.uk <strong>Sussex</strong> Past & Present <strong>August</strong> <strong>2012</strong>
Excavations<br />
WILLINGDON LEVELS<br />
WILLINGDON LEVELS<br />
Excavations<br />
Probing the Willingdon Levels<br />
...and Shinewater from afar<br />
As a response to a development<br />
proposal for a superstore<br />
at Arkwright Road, Eastbourne<br />
a programme of archaeological<br />
investigation was required by<br />
the county council and borough<br />
council. <strong>The</strong> area is currently an<br />
industrial estate built in the early<br />
1980s on a raft of 1m of imported<br />
chalk and lies on the edge of the<br />
Willingdon Levels. Earlier significant<br />
discoveries of well preserved<br />
Neolithic to Roman waterlogged<br />
artefacts, structures, platforms<br />
and trackways and palaeoenvironmental<br />
evidence considered<br />
to be nationally important, have<br />
highlighted the archaeological and<br />
palaeo-environmental potential<br />
of the peat and alluvial deposits<br />
in this area. <strong>The</strong> presence of<br />
extensive waterlogged deposits<br />
are rare in south east England and<br />
the potential for pollen referencing<br />
not only local wetlands, but also<br />
the vegetation of the chalk which<br />
is essentially devoid of pollen was<br />
clearly important.<br />
Fig.1 Sleeved core cut open for sampling:<br />
Borehole B (250cm to ~ 190cm) showing<br />
the Willingdon Peat developing in the Lower<br />
Alluvium and with clear grey alluvial incursion.<br />
Photo: M Allen<br />
Previous palaeo-geographic<br />
research in the Willingdon Levels<br />
indicate a relatively uniform<br />
Holocene sedimentary sequence<br />
comprising, in summary, made<br />
ground over alluvium over a thin<br />
peaty and variably peat horizon<br />
over thick alluvial deposits (Fig. 1).<br />
Fig.3 Sediment profile based on the borehole data – the figure shows only the upper sequence to<br />
enable the profiling of the Willingdon Peat (shaded area is the altitude of the Willingdon Peat).<br />
Image: R Read<br />
Boreholes<br />
Fieldwork started on 4th May<br />
2011. Four boreholes were driven<br />
through the deposits using a<br />
tracked percussion borehole rig<br />
and team specially hired for the job<br />
(Fig. 2). Cores of the undisturbed<br />
sediment were retrieved in plastic<br />
sleeves to a depth of up to 6m.<br />
<strong>The</strong> cores were removed to AEA<br />
offices, cut open and the 6m<br />
sediment profiles described and<br />
subsampled. Beneath the chalk<br />
raft was over 1m of grey alluvium<br />
(Upper Alluvium) which sealed a<br />
complex of peats, fine silt inwash<br />
and humic silts (Willingdon Peats)<br />
which themselves had developed<br />
on at least 3m of further greyish<br />
blue to greenish blue silty clays<br />
(Lower Alluvium). This encapsulated<br />
the typical Willingdon Sequence<br />
with the peats relating to the Late<br />
Bronze Age and the Shinewater<br />
Platform (Fig. 3). A full suite of<br />
some 217 subsamples were taken<br />
for analysis and identification<br />
of pollen, diatoms, waterlogged<br />
plants and snails, radiocarbon<br />
dating and artefact recovery. Most<br />
of them (98 samples) focussed<br />
on the best sequence (borehole<br />
C). Assessment of these showed<br />
good preservation of all of these<br />
palaeo-environmental remains<br />
except snails and provided a basic<br />
palaeo-environmental framework<br />
as the basis for excavation.<br />
Fig.2 <strong>The</strong> tracked rig with percussion corer and<br />
professional crew.<br />
Photo: M Allen<br />
Geoarchaeological<br />
Excavation<br />
In early September 2011 a large<br />
6m x 6m test pit allowed us to<br />
examine the Willingdon Peat in<br />
detail and provided an opportunity<br />
for better archaeological recording,<br />
the acquisition of larger samples and<br />
the potential for finding preserved<br />
wood. Excavation exposed over<br />
2m of the Willingdon Sequence<br />
with the alluvium encasing a band<br />
almost 40cm thick of Willingdon<br />
Peat complex (Fig. 4). No timber<br />
remains or artefacts were found,<br />
but this provided one of the best<br />
profiles through the Willingdon<br />
Sequence depicting changes from<br />
marine conditions to freshwater<br />
marsh, later engulfed in tidal<br />
waters before being cut off by the<br />
sand and shingle bar that extended<br />
along the Crumbles. A large suite<br />
of samples were taken and are<br />
currently being analysed, including<br />
three radiocarbon datings. Analysis<br />
includes geoarchaeology (M Allen),<br />
pollen (R Scaife), waterlogged and<br />
charred plant remains (A Clapham),<br />
diatoms (N Cameron), formanifera<br />
(J Whittaker). <strong>The</strong> results will<br />
provide the best study of this<br />
sequence and would provide a<br />
‘platform’ for reviewing and<br />
interpreting development of the<br />
Holocene Willingdon Levels, and<br />
place the internationally important<br />
(but unpublished) Bronze Age<br />
archaeological site of Shinewater,<br />
about 1km away, into its landscape<br />
context. Already micro-charcoal in<br />
samples from the Willingdon Peat<br />
allude to this activity. <strong>The</strong> palaeoenvironmental<br />
reconstruction<br />
of the changing and developing<br />
Willingdon Levels will allow us<br />
to indicate the significance of<br />
this wetland landscape and its<br />
resources and opportunities for<br />
prehistoric communities.<br />
Fig.4 Test pit excavation: the sequence showing the Willingdon Peat sandwiched between the<br />
alluvial facies.<br />
Photo: M Allen<br />
Results<br />
Already important results have<br />
come to light. <strong>The</strong> Willingdon<br />
Levels were originally drained<br />
by a river debouching to the<br />
east of Eastbourne, prior to the<br />
formation of Langney Point and<br />
the Crumbles. <strong>The</strong> Lower Alluvium<br />
formed under estuarine conditions.<br />
Humic silts, silty clay inwash and<br />
peat (Willingdon Peat) formed as<br />
a result of regression and lowered<br />
relative sea-levels during the<br />
Bronze Age and Early Iron Age.<br />
Salt marsh and brackish conditions<br />
prevailed locally and freshwater fen<br />
carr developed. A silty inwash lens<br />
is similar to that at Shinewater prior<br />
to the construction of the Platform.<br />
<strong>The</strong> peat complex was sealed by the<br />
Upper Alluvium as a result of marine<br />
transgression. Present conditions<br />
and drainage were established<br />
following the development of the<br />
Crumbles shingle bar and Langney<br />
Point.<br />
Analysis of the Willingdon Peats<br />
has given a provisional identification<br />
of two very rare aquatic species<br />
by one of our leading archaeobotanists,<br />
Dr Alan Clapham. <strong>The</strong>ir<br />
discovery here in the Bronze<br />
Age peats is potentially the first<br />
archaeological record of both in<br />
the UK. <strong>The</strong>se identifications await<br />
confirmation but include Hampshire<br />
purslane (Ludwigia palustris); an<br />
insignificant looking but very rare<br />
plant which today is only found<br />
in Epping Forest and the New<br />
Forest, although it is previously<br />
known to have existed in <strong>Sussex</strong>.<br />
It is an aquatic or semi-aquatic<br />
perennial herb which grows in<br />
moist to wet to flooded areas. Not<br />
content with just one new find, the<br />
samples from Arkwright Road have<br />
probably yielded another UK first;<br />
water-purslane (Lythrum portula).<br />
A small, prostrate annual herb,<br />
it lives in marshes, moist ground<br />
and apparently is common next to<br />
trackways... though I doubt modern<br />
ecologists include hurdle trackways<br />
across the marsh, the like of which<br />
may have existed on Willingdon<br />
Levels in the Bronze Age.<br />
We intend to publish the full<br />
results in a national journal (Journal<br />
of Quaternary Science or <strong>The</strong><br />
Holocene) and a summary and<br />
its archaeological significance in<br />
<strong>Sussex</strong> <strong>Archaeological</strong> Collections.<br />
This work was funded by Morgan<br />
Davis Wherry (Eastbourne) Ltd.,<br />
and Dyer Group (Cheltenham) Ltd.<br />
Michael J. Allen<br />
Allen Environmental Archaeology<br />
10 <strong>Sussex</strong> Past & Present <strong>August</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
www.sussexpast.co.uk www.romansinsussex.co.uk <strong>Sussex</strong> Past & Present <strong>August</strong> <strong>2012</strong> 11
Library<br />
LIBRARY & BOOKSHOP<br />
NEAR LEWES HOARD<br />
Feature<br />
Library News<br />
Colour photocopying now available!<br />
In the December 2011 Newsletter we announced that library<br />
volunteer Gill Lindsay would be in the Library on the 2nd Saturday of<br />
each month to help any Members who needed assistance. As the<br />
take-up has been minimal, this will be discontinued after the second<br />
Saturday in July (14th July).<br />
I am aware that some Members are having problems finding the<br />
Library on the new <strong>Sussex</strong> Past website (www.sussexpast.co.uk).<br />
From the Home page, click on Research. Library is then listed on the<br />
left hand side. Other links, including the link to the online catalogue,<br />
are to be found on the Library page. We are still looking for a donor<br />
to support the catalogue, both now and in the future, please contact<br />
me or Tristan if you can help.<br />
We now have a new photocopier which makes colour copies as<br />
well as black & white. <strong>The</strong> charge will be 50p for A4 colour copies, £1<br />
for A3. Black and white remains the same, 10p for A4, 15p for A3.<br />
I list below some recent additions to the Library (all 2011):<br />
BROOKES, Stuart ed.<br />
CASTLEDEN, Rodney<br />
GREEN, Alan H J<br />
PENNINGTON, Janet<br />
STRINGER, Chris<br />
WITHERS, P<br />
Studies in Early Anglo-Saxon<br />
Art and Archaeology<br />
On Blatchington Hill: history of<br />
a downland village<br />
Cattle, Corn and Crawfish: 900 years<br />
of Chichester’s Market<br />
Chanctonbury Ring: the story of<br />
a <strong>Sussex</strong> landmark<br />
<strong>The</strong> Origin of Our Species<br />
Lions, Ships & Angels: the Galata guide<br />
to coin weights found in Britain<br />
We are grateful to the following for their donations to the Library:<br />
L Brunt (Friston Local History <strong>Society</strong>); G Crace; D Crook; J Funnell<br />
(BHAS); D Lambourne; Lewes District Council (South Downs Report<br />
1934).<br />
Esme Evans<br />
Hon. Librarian<br />
Bookshop<br />
<strong>The</strong> bookshop recently acquired<br />
some very decent second-hand<br />
archaeology and related books,<br />
and, instead of the usual offer of a<br />
new book/s at discounted prices, I<br />
thought to give an airing to a few of<br />
them. All are hardbacks with dust<br />
wrappers, in excellent condition.<br />
<strong>The</strong> list below gives author, title,<br />
publisher, date of edition, and shelf<br />
price to SAS members.<br />
Cunliffe, Barry, Hengistbury<br />
Head. Paul Elek, 1978. £5.50<br />
de la Bédoyère, Guy, Roman<br />
villas and the countryside, Batsford<br />
/ EH, 1993. £7.50<br />
Hingley, Richard, Rural settlement<br />
in Roman Britain, Seaby, 1989.<br />
£10.00<br />
Pearson, Michael P., Bronze Age<br />
Britain. Batsford / EH, 1993. £7.50<br />
Sharples, Niall M., Maiden Castle,<br />
Batsford / EH, 1991. £7.50<br />
Sharp, Mick, A land of gods and<br />
giants, Alan Sutton, 1989. £8.50<br />
Sharp, Mick & Peter Fowler,<br />
Images of prehistory, C.U.P., 1990.<br />
£10.00<br />
Short, Brian, England’s<br />
landscape: the South East, Collins<br />
/ EH, 2006. £15.00<br />
Postage: £2.00 for single book;<br />
£3.00 for two; £4.00 for three or<br />
more. Orders to castlebooks@<br />
sussexpast.co.uk, or phone 0<strong>127</strong>3<br />
486290, or call in to Barbican<br />
House.<br />
And now for something slightly<br />
different:<br />
Moated Site Research Group,<br />
Report 1 (1973) – 13 (1986), after<br />
which it became part of Medieval<br />
Settlement Research Group,<br />
Annual Report 1 (1986) – 14 (1999),<br />
16 (2001), & 18 (2003) – 23 (2008).<br />
In all, 34 reports – the lot: £25.00.<br />
(If you want these posted, let me<br />
know and I’ll investigate – but it will<br />
be quite a few pounds).<br />
John Bleach<br />
<strong>The</strong> ‘Near Lewes’ Hoard<br />
<strong>Society</strong> launches appeal to acquire treasures for Barbican House<br />
In last December’s edition of SP&P,<br />
I mentioned the exciting discovery<br />
of the ‘Near Lewes’ Middle Bronze<br />
Age hoard (c.1400-1250 BC). From<br />
the moment of discovery by metal<br />
detectorist David Lange, the hoard<br />
has fascinated archaeologists and<br />
the community at-large. Thanks to<br />
support from the <strong>Society</strong>, Research<br />
Officer Luke Barber, ESCC<br />
Archaeologists Greg Chuter and<br />
Casper Johnson and I were able to<br />
excavate the area surrounding the<br />
hoard, to better understand why<br />
such an incredible assemblage<br />
would be buried in the <strong>Sussex</strong><br />
landscape. Following its declaration<br />
as Treasure, it was displayed for a<br />
time at the British Museum as part<br />
of the first exhibit dedicated to the<br />
Portable Antiquities Scheme.<br />
When discovered, the hoard’s<br />
earthenware vessel was full of more<br />
than 50 objects, many of which had<br />
been skillfully made as items of<br />
adornment. Although some of the<br />
objects such as the bronze palstaves<br />
(a type of axehead) are well known<br />
types from Southern England<br />
during this period, other items are<br />
of great local importance such as<br />
the ‘<strong>Sussex</strong> Loop’ bracelets which<br />
are only found within the vicinity of<br />
Brighton. <strong>The</strong> integration of local or<br />
regionally-produced items with rare<br />
and exotic objects like amber beads<br />
from the Baltic, gold decorative<br />
discs normally confined to France<br />
and special ‘tutuli’ type mounts<br />
produced in Germany suggests that<br />
this hoard held special importance<br />
for the individuals associated with<br />
its burial. It may also help us to<br />
illuminate further prehistoric trade<br />
relationships between local people<br />
and those from the Continent.<br />
As evidenced within this find,<br />
Middle Bronze Age people seem<br />
to have worn a wide range of dress<br />
ornamentation, some produced<br />
locally and some from afar and it<br />
must have been a period of creativity<br />
and increased interaction between<br />
different peoples. <strong>The</strong> photograph<br />
above shows a sample of some<br />
of the more complete items in the<br />
assemblage. Often these pieces<br />
were purposefully broken before<br />
placing them in vessels, suggesting<br />
that they were not intended to be<br />
re-used after burial. In this hoard<br />
there are multiple versions of the<br />
same types, including four torcs,<br />
five ‘<strong>Sussex</strong> Loop’ bracelets, four<br />
gold discs, eight finger rings and<br />
a large assortment of other types<br />
of decorative mounts and pins.<br />
Bronze Age specialist Ben Roberts<br />
remarked, “In this sense, the ‘near<br />
Lewes’ hoard can be regarded as<br />
the most spectacular and overtly<br />
continental manifestation of a<br />
distinct region of Middle Bronze<br />
Age ‘ornament horizon’ hoards...”<br />
(PAS Specialist Report 2011T192,<br />
p13). <strong>The</strong> ‘Near Lewes’ hoard was<br />
also highlighted in the ITV series<br />
‘Britain’s Secret Treasures’ to<br />
coincide with the Festival of British<br />
Archaeology from 16 - 22 July. It<br />
has been noted as one of the<br />
most important recent discoveries<br />
in association with the Portable<br />
Antiquities Scheme.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Society</strong> is now seeking to<br />
acquire this incredible hoard and<br />
will be applying to a number of<br />
national grant awarding bodies for<br />
funding. As a condition of support<br />
for the purchase the grant bodies<br />
will require that a percentage of the<br />
cost is met through local fundraising.<br />
<strong>The</strong> cost of the hoard is estimated<br />
at £15,500, a value determined by<br />
the Treasure Valuation Committee.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Society</strong> not only needs to raise<br />
funds towards the purchase but<br />
also for conservation and exhibition<br />
costs.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Society</strong> is therefore asking<br />
Members to support the purchase<br />
of this collection and would be<br />
grateful for donations, small and<br />
large, to the acquisition fund so<br />
that we may display this wonderful<br />
collection at Barbican House<br />
Museum. Please contact Emma<br />
O’Connor, Museums Officer and<br />
Stephanie Smith, Finds Liaison<br />
Officer for further information.<br />
Stephanie Smith &<br />
Emma O’Connor<br />
12 <strong>Sussex</strong> Past & Present <strong>August</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
www.sussexpast.co.uk www.romansinsussex.co.uk <strong>Sussex</strong> Past & Present <strong>August</strong> <strong>2012</strong> 13
Books<br />
BOOK REVIEWS<br />
BOOK REVIEWS<br />
Books<br />
Worthing<br />
Under Attack:<br />
Eye Witness History<br />
of Worthing during<br />
the 1930s and 40s<br />
THIS book comes from the<br />
culmination of two projects funded<br />
by the Heritage Lottery Fund - the<br />
Time for History Project sponsored<br />
by Guild Care, and the on-going<br />
research project All Our Yesterdays<br />
based at West <strong>Sussex</strong> Record<br />
Office. <strong>The</strong> first project led to the<br />
publication of Through the Hard<br />
Times and the Good in 2009, and<br />
this book includes further extracts<br />
from oral history interviews and<br />
benefits from the second project<br />
involving the indexing by volunteers<br />
of periodicals and newspapers held<br />
at Worthing Library, in particular<br />
the Worthing Journal (1932-1940),<br />
which contained “hard-hitting and<br />
satirical columns” which bring the<br />
1930s to life.<br />
<strong>The</strong> cover immediately suggests<br />
the physical wartime attacks, being<br />
a painting of the December 1940<br />
bombing of the area around the<br />
Town Hall. However, the first part<br />
of the book deals with the 1930s,<br />
when the town was under attack<br />
from the twin threats of the Great<br />
Depression and political extremism.<br />
As much oral history relating to the<br />
Depression appeared in the previous<br />
volume, Chris concentrates on the<br />
writings of the columnists of the<br />
Worthing Journal. This had a largely<br />
middle-class readership, who<br />
would appreciate, for example, that<br />
a group of “itinerant cacophonists”<br />
(i.e. musicians) might be better<br />
engaged making up new roads.<br />
Worthing had a branch of the<br />
National Unemployed Workers<br />
Movement, which came into<br />
conflict with Worthing Council of<br />
Social Service (now Guild Care)<br />
over proposals for a social centre,<br />
and was then accused of being<br />
a communist influence. Those<br />
archaeologists from the Worthing<br />
area and beyond will be interested<br />
to read the comments by a member<br />
of the NUWM and chairman of the<br />
Worthing Trades Council - named<br />
Con Ainsworth!<br />
In the 1930s Worthing had one<br />
of the most active branches of<br />
the British Union of Fascists in the<br />
country. Visits by Oswald Mosley<br />
often led to rowdy disorder; there<br />
was a fascist councillor (nominally<br />
independent), Captain Charles<br />
Henry Bentinck Budd, on both<br />
Worthing Council and West <strong>Sussex</strong><br />
County Council. <strong>The</strong> BUF’s<br />
national advisor on agriculture,<br />
Jorian Jenks, was a farmer at<br />
Angmering, and in 1937 he was<br />
the movement’s prospective<br />
parliamentary candidate for the<br />
then Worthing and Horsham<br />
constituency. Jenks is particularly<br />
interesting as a proponent of<br />
organic and sustainable farming,<br />
and he was drawn to fascism<br />
by its policy of self-sufficiency.<br />
Interestingly, Jenks owned the land<br />
where Angmering Roman Villa was<br />
found, and gave permission to<br />
archaeologists to search for it.<br />
As we move into the war years<br />
there is information on evacuees<br />
(who were taken away again after<br />
May 1940 because of the risk<br />
of invasion), the Home Guard &<br />
Land Army, and the Canadians in<br />
Worthing – who as elsewhere were<br />
a mixed blessing, and many myths<br />
grew up about relations with local<br />
girls and fights in pubs. Worthing<br />
was of course bombed, though<br />
not to the same extent as, say,<br />
Eastbourne – mostly the targets<br />
were the railway line, the tanks in<br />
Victoria Park and the gasworks.<br />
One of the reports in the local press<br />
of a German bomber crash in which<br />
at least 8 people were killed never<br />
appeared in any official log.<br />
I feel the book tails off a little<br />
once the Worthing Journal<br />
closed in 1940, though it remains<br />
interesting. It is well illustrated,<br />
but unfortunately there is an error<br />
in the citation of the photographs<br />
from West <strong>Sussex</strong> County Library<br />
Service – the correct url is www.<br />
westsussexpastpictures.org.uk.<br />
This is the first of the series<br />
– West <strong>Sussex</strong> Heritage Booklet<br />
No 1. No 2 was also published in<br />
2011, Doctors, Dentists & Death:<br />
West <strong>Sussex</strong> Health Issues since<br />
the 19th century by Barrie Keech<br />
(ISBN 9780862605858).<br />
Esme Evans<br />
By Chris Hare, 2011.<br />
Worthing, Guild Care. ISBN 978-0-<br />
956317-11-7. 112 pages, £6.50.<br />
East <strong>Sussex</strong><br />
Church Monuments<br />
1530-1830<br />
SUSSEX Record <strong>Society</strong> volume 93<br />
is a catalogue of 1409 monuments<br />
in 144 East <strong>Sussex</strong> parish churches<br />
dating from the period 1530 to<br />
1830, compiled by Professor<br />
Nigel Llewellyn and a team of<br />
research assistants and volunteers.<br />
<strong>The</strong> volume includes colour<br />
photographs of 200 of the listed<br />
monuments. An accompanying<br />
database available through the<br />
<strong>Sussex</strong> Record <strong>Society</strong> website<br />
www.sussexrecordsociety.org<br />
provides high-resolution images of<br />
most of the monuments listed in the<br />
catalogue. Professor Llewellyn’s<br />
introduction explains the origins of<br />
the project and offers an overview<br />
of the geographical, demographic,<br />
social and economic contexts of<br />
the monuments.<br />
<strong>The</strong> volume and database<br />
represent a significant resource<br />
for anyone interested in funerary<br />
monuments. As Llewellyn points<br />
out, such monuments have<br />
been a neglected category. Few<br />
are considered to have enough<br />
architectural or sculptural merit to<br />
be of interest to historians of art<br />
and design and, until recently, they<br />
mainly attracted attention from<br />
genealogists and local historians.<br />
However, to some extent this<br />
neglect is already a thing of the<br />
past: over the last few years there<br />
have been a number of significant<br />
publications on medieval and early<br />
modern funerary monuments and<br />
their place within mortuary culture<br />
by Peter Sherlock, Nigel Saul and,<br />
indeed, by Llewellyn himself.<br />
<strong>The</strong> catalogue entries in<br />
this volume provide a physical<br />
description of each monument,<br />
a transcription of the inscription<br />
and some additional biographical<br />
and genealogical information.<br />
<strong>The</strong> descriptions and many<br />
of the inscriptions reduce the<br />
deceased’s life and death to<br />
series of emotionless facts. Yet<br />
over the period 1530 to 1830 the<br />
monuments themselves became<br />
increasingly emotive. A flamboyant<br />
example of this is the freestanding<br />
monument at Withyham to Thomas<br />
Sackville, son of Richard, Earl of<br />
Dorset, who died in 1675 aged 13,<br />
which includes life-sized effigies<br />
of the child (looking, it has to be<br />
said, remarkably well) and his griefstricken<br />
parents.<br />
Danae Tankard<br />
By Nigel Llewellyn, 2011.<br />
<strong>Sussex</strong> Record <strong>Society</strong>, volume<br />
93. ISBN 978-0-854450-75-6.<br />
Hardback, 450 pages, £29.50.<br />
Making Lewes<br />
History Model -<br />
the model makers<br />
remember<br />
IF ever you are thinking about<br />
making a large model of a town<br />
you love, then you should read this<br />
book first. <strong>The</strong> author, along with<br />
John Houghton, was a prime mover<br />
in the construction of the model<br />
of Lewes, which is on display in<br />
Barbican House Museum, and this<br />
small book describes the processes<br />
which went towards its creation.<br />
As always with major projects,<br />
financing was a consideration, but<br />
the initial estimate was considerably<br />
reduced, in part by the generosity of<br />
local merchants, organisations and<br />
professionals who either dispensed<br />
with charges completely, or else<br />
offered considerable reductions.<br />
A number of decisions had to<br />
be made including: the scale,<br />
the location, the area of the town<br />
to be modelled and the period of<br />
history to be depicted. <strong>The</strong> period<br />
of the 1870s was decided upon<br />
– largely because of the existence<br />
of detailed OS maps, drawings and<br />
photographs with which to work. I<br />
liked that it was decided that the<br />
time chosen was late spring in the<br />
1870s with a light south-westerly<br />
breeze. <strong>The</strong> model makers needed<br />
to know such detail ‘in order to<br />
determine such things as painted<br />
shadows, flags flying from buildings<br />
and even washing hanging on a<br />
back garden line.’<br />
It seems as though the whole of<br />
Lewes pitched in to make the model.<br />
<strong>The</strong> workforce came from all ages<br />
and sections of society – including<br />
the prison. It was, however, agreed<br />
that the prisoners would not work<br />
on a building with which they might<br />
have a professional connection<br />
after their release.<br />
All the hard work paid off and the<br />
Arts Minister of the time, Richard<br />
Luce, opened the model in 1986.<br />
Last year it was given a complete<br />
overhaul and is now once more<br />
available for you to see in Barbican<br />
House. Do read this book then<br />
come to see for yourself.<br />
Maria Gardiner<br />
By James Franks, 2011.<br />
Pomegranate Press. ISBN 978-1-<br />
907242-26-7. Paperback, 50 pages,<br />
£4.95.<br />
14 <strong>Sussex</strong> Past & Present <strong>August</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
www.sussexpast.co.uk www.romansinsussex.co.uk <strong>Sussex</strong> Past & Present <strong>August</strong> <strong>2012</strong> 15
Snippets<br />
Heritage Open Days<br />
THIS year’s Heritage Open Days will<br />
take place on the 6th-9th September<br />
and details of all events are available<br />
on the English Heritage website at<br />
www.heritageopendays.org.uk/<br />
directory. All the properties taking<br />
part in Heritage Open Days are of<br />
architectural, cultural, historic or<br />
social interest.<br />
Heritage Open Days is not just<br />
about opening buildings. Guided<br />
tours and all kinds of activities to<br />
bring local history and culture to<br />
life are also organised. Admission<br />
to properties and participation<br />
in activities are free during the<br />
Heritage Open Days opening<br />
period. Properties that normally<br />
open free of charge either open an<br />
additional part of the property or<br />
arrange a special activity.<br />
Marlipins Museum is organising a<br />
family quiz and treasure trail around<br />
Shoreham that will begin and end<br />
at the museum. It will be based on<br />
local knowledge and history and<br />
there are prizes to be won!<br />
New Online Database<br />
of Kent Wills<br />
WHEN antiquarian and historian<br />
Leland Lewis Duncan of the Kent<br />
<strong>Archaeological</strong> <strong>Society</strong> died in<br />
1923 his lifetime’s work, including<br />
handwritten lists and transcriptions<br />
of Wills of Kent residents and<br />
landowners who lived in medieval<br />
and Tudor times, was deposited in<br />
the society’s library at Maidstone<br />
Museum.<br />
For 80 years local and family<br />
historians could inspect this<br />
invaluable resource only by<br />
visiting the library. Now, a team of<br />
volunteers ‐ Margaret Broomfield,<br />
Dawn Weeks, Zena Bamping and<br />
Pat Tritton – is completing the task<br />
of transcribing Duncan’s records<br />
for the society’s website, from<br />
which they can be downloaded free<br />
of charge.<br />
Duncan’s records were written<br />
in 61 exercise books and bound<br />
quarto books, most of which<br />
survive. <strong>The</strong>ir 2,188 entries were<br />
originally indexed by parish by the<br />
Vicar of East Peckham in 1934.<br />
<strong>The</strong> records are now on a<br />
database which has two indexes.<br />
One enables the surnames of<br />
testators to found and is convenient<br />
for family historians. <strong>The</strong> other, for<br />
the benefit of local historians, lists<br />
the areas, parishes or dioceses in<br />
which the testators lived or owned<br />
land. <strong>The</strong> areas include boroughs<br />
which were once part of Kent but<br />
are now within Greater London.<br />
Links alongside the entries allow<br />
any of the Wills that have been<br />
transcribed to be viewed ‘with<br />
one click’. To access the Wills visit<br />
the Research section at www.<br />
kentarchaeology.org.uk<br />
Access to Information<br />
WHILST we are increasingly using<br />
our website for making information<br />
available to members, we remain<br />
aware that not everyone uses the<br />
internet. If there is any information<br />
online that you cannot access,<br />
please do contact the Membership<br />
Secretary to ask for a printed copy.<br />
Battle of Lewes<br />
Embroidery<br />
CONTRARY to what was reported<br />
in the previous <strong>issue</strong> of SP&P, the<br />
Battle of Lewes Embroidery has<br />
not relocated to Anne of Cleves<br />
House for the summer months this<br />
year. <strong>The</strong>refore, if you wish to view<br />
the progress of this community<br />
project please go to the Temporary<br />
Exhibitions Gallery at Barbican<br />
House Museum.<br />
Access to Information<br />
South Downs Series<br />
THE first book in this exciting new<br />
series, published by the <strong>Sussex</strong><br />
<strong>Archaeological</strong> <strong>Society</strong>, is now on<br />
sale at £8.99. <strong>The</strong> Archaeology of<br />
the South Downs National Park: an<br />
Introduction is by John Manley, an<br />
expert writing for a wide general<br />
public. It features a wealth of<br />
colour illustrations, diagrams etc.<br />
- much practical information, but<br />
also a memorable evocation of<br />
‘pastness’. Volumes on ‘Wildlife’<br />
and ‘Landscape/Geology’ are at an<br />
advanced stage of preparation.<br />
More information in the next <strong>issue</strong>!<br />
Next Issue<br />
THE <strong>Sussex</strong> Past & Present<br />
newsletter is published three times a<br />
year, in April, <strong>August</strong> and December.<br />
<strong>The</strong> next <strong>issue</strong> will be published in<br />
December <strong>2012</strong>. Copy deadline is<br />
12 October. Letters and ‘snippets’<br />
are welcome; longer items should<br />
be kept to a maximum of 500 words<br />
unless prior arrangements have<br />
been made with the editor, Wendy<br />
Muriel, at spp@sussexpast.co.uk,<br />
or Luke Barber on 0<strong>127</strong>3 405733.<br />
Please note that we require images<br />
with most contributions, preferably<br />
in high quality colour format. To<br />
submit digitally, please use MS Word<br />
(preferably 97-2003 format) for text<br />
and send images in JPEG or TIF<br />
formats, at a minimum resolution<br />
of 600dpi. Correspondence and<br />
details of events should be sent to<br />
Wendy Muriel, Editor, <strong>Sussex</strong> Past &<br />
Present, Bull House, 92 High Street,<br />
Lewes, East <strong>Sussex</strong>, BN7 1XH, or<br />
emailed to the above address.<br />
Rates for insertions into the<br />
newsletter, which goes out to over<br />
2000 members, start at £100 (plus<br />
minimum handling charge of £20).<br />
Contact Lorna Gartside on 0<strong>127</strong>3<br />
405737 for details.<br />
16<br />
<strong>Sussex</strong> Past & Present <strong>August</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
www.sussexpast.co.uk