December 2009 (issue 119) - 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 December
edition of Sussex Past &
Present.
Christmas Shopping
If you buy on-line it’s possible
to raise additional funds for the
Society with little effort and no
extra cost by doing your shopping
via www.easyfundraising.org.
uk. This website has established
links with many reputable retailers
who will make a small donation
to the good cause of your choice
if you register with them first.
Once you have registered, just
choose Sussex Archaeological
Society as your cause. There are
no additional costs to you and
you still buy directly from the
retailers’ own websites – the only
difference is that you reach your
chosen retailer’s site by logging
onto easyfundraising.org first.
Hundreds of well known retailers
participate, and every donation,
however small, will help us.
Annual Conference
The Society’s 2009 autumn
conference, on the theme ‘Change
in Rural Sussex: Medieval to
Modern’, was a great success,
with almost two hundred delegates
attending a wide and fascinating
variety of talks.
We are already planning next year’s
conference, the theme for which is
‘Sussex as a Frontier’. For centuries
our long coastline has attracted
invaders, some of whom then built
defences to prevent others following.
The county’s inhabitants also did
their best to prevent invasions;
some towns were fortified to deter
seaward attacks. The rich heritage
which has developed over the
centuries will be set in the context
of the investment in keeping out
invaders. More details to follow, but
do put the date in your new diaries
Saturday 11 September 2010.
Subscriptions Renewal
Many of you will be due to renew
your subscription at the start of the
year, and it would really help the
Society if you would check your
membership card now, and, if due
for renewal on 1 January, arrange
for payment straightaway. This
will save the cost of sending out
reminder notices in late January.
If you pay by direct debit no
further action is needed and you
will receive a letter notifying the
amount and date of collection. If
you wish to switch to this method,
(the most cost-effective for the
Society) you may download a copy
of the direct debit mandate from the
Membership section of our website
www.sussexpast.co.uk or I can
post a form to you on request. If you
are unwilling to pay by direct debit,
please choose from the following
methods:
• cheque, payable to “Sussex Past”
and sent to the address below
• on-line at www.sussexpast.co.uk
(select ‘membership’ followed by
‘subscription renewal’ and then
the appropriate category – see list
above)
• by credit card over the phone
(number as shown)
I am pleased to say we have made
no change to the subscription rates.
The amounts due are shown above
• simply check your subscription
type as shown on your membership
card to verify the amount you need
to pay. If the subs type shown on
your card is followed by +B or
+POST (or both), you need to add
the extra amount/s shown to the
applicable rate. If you want to make
changes to your subscription type,
or simply to check your renewal
details, do call me and I will be
pleased to help.
Subscription Type & Description
O Standard Individual £30
J Joint (2 adults at same address) £42
F1 Family (1 adult + children) £35
F2 Family (2 adults + children) £45
S Student £14
AFF Affiliated Society £30
+B Hardback copy of SAC +£5
+POST Overseas postage charge +£10
Castles Half-Day Conference
Saturday 22 May 2010
Finally, I’d like to draw your attention
to next year’s half-day conference
on Sussex castles. More details
are in the Noticeboard section,
and we expect this to be a popular
afternoon, so do book early.
May I wish you all a very happy and
prosperous 2010.
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 119
D ECEMBER 2009
Contents
2 Membership matters
3 Opening lines
4 Baroness Andrews visit
5 New Trustees
6 Society walks
7 Education awards
8 FLO Round-up
9 Cruciform Churches
10 Arlington Excavation
11 Michelham Nissen Hut
12 Library news
13 Letters
14 Book reviews
15 Book reviews
16 Snippets
Published by the Sussex
Archaeological Society, Bull
House, Lewes, E Sussex, BN71XH
Tel: 01273 486260
Fax: 01273 486990
Email: admin@sussexpast.co.uk
Editor: Wendy Muriel
Email: spp@sussexpast.co.uk
Research Editor: Luke Barber
Technical Support:
Penelope Parker
penelope@pparker.net
ISSN 1357-7417
Cover: HRH The Duke of Kent formally
opens Lewes Castle, November 3rd 2009.
Photo: Alex Leith
Budget Approved
Increase in visitor numbers crucial
Over the summer months the Trustees have concentrated on continuing
to monitor closely the Society’s financial position and to draft a
budget for 2010. The draft budget has now been provisionally approved
by Council and is in line with an earlier version sent to our Auditors. Some
minor changes are planned to save costs, but the Society’s future health
is greatly dependent on attracting an increasing number of visitors to our
properties. Therefore the Property Managers and staff are being asked
to review their planned events and general marketing for 2010 so as to
increase interest in our properties and reduce costs where possible.
The Autumn Conference on the subject of “Change in Rural Sussex:
Medieval to Modern” was one of the better attended Society conferences
of late with a very good selection of speakers. David Martin, in particular,
gave an informative talk on the demise of the open hall in domestic
architecture in the early 16th century. Rather than technological or
financial considerations, the new style of house, with a chamber inserted
over the hall, was brought about by a change in the attitudes of ‘peasant’
society and a willingness to break with long-held traditions.
At the time of writing we are looking forward to the official opening of
Lewes Castle and Barbican House on 3rd November by HRH The Duke
of Kent. This occasion will be well publicised with hopefully a high level of
media interest that will attract many more visitors to the Castle during the
winter months. It is encouraging that visitor numbers to Lewes Castle in
2009 have greatly exceeded those in the equivalent months in 2008.
John Manley, our CEO, is due to retire in 2010 after over 16 years’
service to the Society. The Trustees will be starting the process to recruit
a new CEO during November and December and it is planned to advertise
the post towards the end of January 2010. Details of the advertisement
will be posted on the Members website so any Member who knows of
potential suitable candidates for the post, please encourage them to
apply. The Trustees would like to have a large selection of applicants to
consider and interview for this very important appointment.
In closing I would like to thank all the staff who have worked hard in
what has been a difficult year for the Society, particularly the uncertainty
that always arises when cost saving becomes necessary. I would also
like to thank our Lewes staff and volunteers for their forbearance during
the disruption caused by the refurbishment works. Despite some recent
difficulties, the Council is also mindful of opportunities that the future
may bring. To that end, we are focusing our attention on the new South
Downs National Park, and the influx of visitors which may result. Some
of our properties are in the proposed Park, and most of the others quite
close to its boundaries. In short, I think the Park could be good news for
the Society, both in terms of visitor numbers to our properties and an
opportunity to research and promote the cultural heritage of the Park.
I would like to wish all our Members, Staff and Friends a very peaceful
Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Peter Sangster
Chairman of Council
2 Sussex Past & Present December 2009
www.sussexpast.co.uk www.romansinsussex.co.uk Sussex Past & Present December 2009 3