April 2008 (issue 114) - The Sussex Archaeological Society

Membership Matters
MEMBERSHIP
OPENING LINES
Opening Lines
Lorna’s Notebook
A round-up of all that’s new in the membership department
Welcome to the April edition of
Sussex Past and Present.
Autumn Conference 2008
The theme of this year’s conference,
taking place on September 13, is
People and Place: Landscape and
Identity Through Time, and it will
be a fascinating event with some
very prestigious speakers. Full
details are in the enclosed leaflet,
but I should draw your attention to
some differences from our usual
format. Please note that the venue
for this year’s conference is at the
University of Chichester, Bishop
Otter campus, to the north of
Chichester. The Society’s conferences
have frequently taken place
at the Chichester Lecture Theatre
at the University of Sussex near
Brighton, so I hope this does not
cause confusion!
The lack of lunch facilities in previous
years has been an issue for
some who attend our conference
each autumn, so I am pleased to
confirm that it will be possible for
you to buy lunch on site. We are
required to guarantee a minimum
number of lunches sold in order
to make this available, so I very
much hope that you will pre-book
a lunch (details on the enclosed
leaflet). Provided there are sufficient
advance bookings it should
be possible for some to buy lunch
on the day without having booked,
although there will be an additional
£1 charge for this. There will be no
other refreshment facilities on site,
and the campus is not centrally
located, so I would urge all those
planning to attend to book a lunch
at the same time as booking a place
for the conference.
On the day after the conference,
we are offering delegates the
chance to attend one of a choice
of associated fieldtrips, a new departure
and one which I hope will
prove popular. There is no charge
for these visits, but group numbers
have to be restricted, so we do ask
that if you are interested in attending,
you book as soon as possible.
Only those who have pre-booked
will be able to take part. Also new
this year is the option of attending
a conference dinner in Chichester
on the evening of the conference.
There is a charge for this, but numbers
will be limited by the size of the
venue and places must be booked
in advance. This will be an excellent
opportunity to meet some of
the speakers and other conference
delegates.
Society AGM
This year’s Annual General Meeting
takes place at Michelham Priory on
the morning of Saturday May 17.
Lunch will be available at a very
reasonable price if you wish and
you may like to wander around the
property in the afternoon, or attend
either of the two events that we
have planned. Although it is not
required to book to attend the AGM,
you do need to book in advance for
the events and for lunch – further
information and the booking form
is in the Noticeboard in the centre
of the newsletter.
The AGM papers are enclosed with
this newsletter. Last year’s full accounts
will be available through our
website, www.sussexpast.co.uk,
but if anyone would like a paper
copy of these and has not already
requested this, please let me know
and I will send them to you. If you
have already filled out a form, you
will automatically receive a hard
copy as soon as they are available.
Visiting our Properties
As the season for going out and
about comes round again, please
remember that if you plan to visit
any of our properties you must have
a valid membership card to show at
the admissions desk in order to gain
free entry. If you don’t you will be
asked to pay the normal admission
price, and this cannot subsequently
be refunded. Please do not get
cross with our admissions staff if
you have forgotten to check that
you have a current card with you
before setting off!
Back copies of SAC
If you are missing some of the
Sussex Archaeological Collections
(SAC), or have recently joined the
Society and would like to collect
some from previous years, you may
like to know that I have some spares
going back at least nine years (and
in some cases earlier). These are
not second-hand but remainders
from the print runs of the time, and
prices are very reasonable – usually
around £12 for paperback and £15
for hardback. Do give me a call if
you would like to check on what is
available.
Lorna Gartside
Membership Secretary
For all membership enquiries
and to apply, please contact:
MEMBERSHIP
DEPARTMENT
Barbican House,
169 High Street
Lewes, Sussex BN7 1YE
Tues-Fri 10.00am-3.00pm
Answering machine facility
outside these hours
01273 405737
Email:
members@sussexpast.co.uk
SUSSEX
Past &
Present
The Sussex Archaeological
Society Newsletter
NUMBER 114
APRIL 2008
Contents
2 Membership matters
3 Opening lines
4 Barbican House Centenary
6 Tithe Maps Project
7 SDNP & Ouse Valley
8 Fishbourne News
9 Lewes Properties
10 Archaeology Round-up
11 Library and History
12 Barcombe Roman Villa
15 Book reviews
16 Snippets
Published three times a year
by the Sussex Archaeological
Society, Bull House, Lewes,
East Sussex, BN7 1XH
Tel: 01273 486260
Fax: 01273 486990
Email: admin@sussexpast.co.uk
Editor: Sarah Hanna
Email: spp@sussexpast.co.uk
Technical Editors:
John Manley, Luke Barber
Technical Support:
Penelope Parker
ISSN 1357-7417
Cover: Scaffolding surrounds Bull House in
Lewes.
Photo: J Manley
Preserving the Past
Time to enjoy Properties and Events
Spring days invite us all out to visit gardens and interesting places:
Fishbourne Roman Palace’s Celtic Spring Festival is a good event to
open the season with learning opportunities for all the family. It is rivalled
only by Michelham Priory’s Garden Fair in April or Celtic Weekend in May.
With new beginnings in the air, may I on your behalf extend a warm welcome
to Christine Medlock, taking up the post of Director of Fishbourne Roman
Palace. I hope Christine will enjoy working for Sussex Archaeological
Society and leading the Fishbourne team with enthusiasm.
The Membership of the Sussex Archaeological Society is the backbone
of our continuity and support. You, the members, are the heart of
the Society and your diverse interests in aspects of the archaeology and
history of Sussex drive our care of documents and artefacts and ancient
buildings. Those of you who go the extra mile by volunteering to help
with the care of these, and explaining them to our public visitors, deserve
extra thanks and appreciation. Lorna Gartside, Membership Secretary,
has drawn up another programme full of interesting events, walks and
conferences for members and guests.
With the new season I hope we put behind us the lamentable episode
of theft at Fishbourne Roman Palace, where a number of items were
found to be missing in 2007 from the new Collections Discovery Centre.
Whoever was guilty of this dishonest act at least placed some items outside
Tesco’s at Chichester when the theft received publicity. The items
were spotted and returned. It is present and future generations who suffer
from such a theft. Every act of preservation by the Sussex Archaeological
Society is aimed at public benefit – to enable future generations and you
today to learn about the past. We also have to generate the funds to enable
this preservation and encourage new visitors to become interested,
but the underlying mission is public benefit.
Archaeologists too are determined to make their discoveries available
to the public. The Portable Antiquities Scheme has gone a long way to
redress the old “finders-keepers” mentality of metal detectorists, many of
whom now correctly work with the permission of landowners rather than
trespassing, and by notifying finds to the Finds Liaison Officers around
the UK. When I looked through a hand lens at a Gallo-Belgic E stater I
knew it was a most beautiful Iron Age gold coin with its find spot precisely
known. How sad to find a similar one for sale on Ebay in February, doubtless
stolen from its field (said to be in West Sussex), and sold for personal
gain, with the potential information that it represents about 1st century
BC activity now lost for ever.
To end on a happier note: we celebrate this year the centenary of the
Priest House, West Hoathly, being open as a museum, and congratulate
Antony Smith for his record, being the longest serving custodian of that
museum as well!
Caroline Wells
Chair
2 Sussex Past & Present April 2008
www.sussexpast.co.uk www.romansinsussex.co.uk Sussex Past & Present April 2008 3