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:
Medieval Pilgrimage in Surrey - a self-guided heritage walk incorporating St Martha's and St Catherine's, near Guildford
As part of the 'Journeys' theme for this year's Festival of Archaeology, Surrey Archaeological Society's Medieval Studies Forum have produced a self-guided heritage trail and leaflet which highlights the limited evidence for medieval pilgrimage within the county. This includes historical research on two ecclesiastical sites with limited evidence for pilgrimage taking place in medieval times, St Catherine's Chapel, Artington and the Church of St Martha-on-the-Hill near Guildford.
Join National Trust archaeologist James Brown and assistant archaeologist Harry Farmer on site at their Ankerwycke excavations this month for a guided walk around the site, sharing the most recent findings and insight as well as the wider story. The site is a hive of intrigue with both a Medieval nunnery, a Tudor mansion and possibly more sited within the investigation area.
The Medieval Studies Forum will be hosting a full study day devoted to pottery studies, looking at its historical, technical, social and economic aspects. The interesting programme covers a wide range of topics and will include a tribute to Steve Nelson, a member of the Society and the Forum who contributed a great deal to the study of Medieval Pottery.
The programme has been finalised and is attached (as well as copied below). The cost of the day is £12. Payment can be made through PayPal or by cheque, which can be sent to the Society at the address indicated.
The Medieval Studies Forum have arranged a special lecture by Professor Alexandra Sanmark (University of the Highlands and Islands) on 'Medieval Sites of Power and Assembly in the Thames Valley', which includes a look in detail at the sites of both Kingston and Runnymede.
After Prof Sanmark's lecture, the National Trust team will provide a short presentation and update on the Runnymede Explored project.
This talk will be held online, via Zoom.
Although welcome to all, the event is free for SyAS and MSF members, with a fee of £2 from non-members.
The MSF issued 17 newsletters which are available below:
Later medieval material culture glimpsed through legal records: bother in Rotherhithe
Book reviews
Although they have recently ceased, the Medieval Studies Forum regularly circulated newsletters which contained various articles on subjects related to the medieval history and archaeology of the county. The last five Newsletters plus separate Annexes to some of them have been made available below to download and read.
