We will be returning for a second year of test pitting this season at Albury Park to investigate the deserted medieval settlement which once stretched across the course of the former road which continued all the way to Shere. The original village of Albury was displaced in the early 19th century (to its current location to the west), and little now remains standing of the former cottages. However, with the help of geophysical survey, LiDAR and - of course - a large-scale series of test pits spread across the site, we are working to uncover and learn more about the original settlement!

A Meeting of the Forum has been arranged at which a series of talks will be presented by members of the Forum on a wide range of interesting topics.

The programme for the meeting is attached. The charge for the meeting is £5, payable on the door. All are welcome.

To help with practical arrangements including refreshments please e-mail medforum@hotmail.co.uk to register your intention to attend.

On Thursday 16 November at 18:00, the MSF will be hosting their annual lecture online via Zoom.

This year’s talk will be by Dr Gabor Thomas of the University of Reading, who will be speaking on ‘Anglo-Saxon monasteries of the Middle Thames: New Archaeological Perspectives from Cookham, Berkshire’. Dr Thomas has been leading excavations at Cookham, close to the parish church and the river which has been producing new insights into the Middle Saxon period.  

We will returning for one final week of test pitting this season at Albury Park in September, to investigate the deserted medieval settlement which once stretched across the course of the former road which continued all the way to Shere. The original village of Albury was displaced in the early 19th century (to its current location to the west), and little now remains standing of the former cottages.

On Saturday 25th February a Study Day will be held at Chertsey Museum which will consider various aspects of Chertsey Abbey, its estates and the impact it had on local communities. Speakers include members of the Forum, Robert Briggs and Dr David Taylor plus Dr Mark Forrest of the Victoria County History, Wiltshire and Glouscestershire and Dr Euan Roger of The National Archives.

A workshop has been arranged at St Andrew's Church, Cobham to provide practical guidance on spotting and recording graffiti as an initial step in developing a project to record graffiti in Surrey's churches and perhaps other buildings. In addition to the practical sessions there will be a talk and tour of the church by Dr David Taylor.

For details of the day and to register your interest please contact Anne Sassin via outreach@surreyarchaeology.org.uk

A Zoom lecture "Merton's Literary Canons - the place and use of books at Merton Priory' by Katie Hawks, currently undertaking PhD studies at the History Department , University of Wales Trinity St David will be followed by the AGM of the Medieval Studies Forum. 

All are welcome to attend the lecture, which will start at 7pm. This will be followed at approximately 8pm by the Annual General Meeting of the Medieval Studies Forum  - only those who are registered members of the Forum can vote at the AGM.

Register in advance for this meeting at: