1066-1600
A conference organised by the Castle Studies Group to be held at the Society of Antiquaries will honour Derek Renn FSA, author of Norman Castles in Britain (1969/1973), and launch a Festschrift, Castles: History, Archaeology, Landscape and Architecture, edited by Neil Guy FSA. Speakers include Oliver Creighton FSA, Bob Higham FSA, Brian Kerr FSA, Neil Ludlow FSA and Pamela Marshall FSA.
A fourth season of excavation at Bookham Courte, a medieval manor house near the centre of Great Bookham. Of the four new trenches, one was an extension of trench 7 in 2016. All the trenches contained medieval pottery suggesting the site went back to the 11th century. The remains of flint and mortar walls were found, but the archaeology showed that there had been various buildings or structures in the area over a long period.
Many members of the Society will have participated in or visited the excavations at Woking Palace which took place between 2009 and 2015 and some will have visited the new permanent exhibition about the Palace and its surrounding deer-park at The Lightbox in Woking. The final stage of the HLF project has the production of a full report on these investigations at the Palace, which will provide much of interest to both archaeologists and those interested in the history of the medieval manor and its transformation into a Tudor palace. This will be followed later in 2018 by a shorter booklet aimed at the general public.
For anyone now wishing to purchase a copy the details are as follows:
Many members of the Society will have participated in or visited the excavations at Woking Palace which took place between 2009 and 2015 and some will have visited the new permanent exhibition about the Palace and its surrounding deer-park at The Lightbox in Woking. The final stage of the HLF project has the production of a full report on these investigations at the Palace, which will provide much of interest to both archaeologists and those interested in the history of the medieval manor and its transformation into a Tudor palace. This will be followed later in 2018 by a shorter booklet aimed at the general public.
For anyone now wishing to purchase a copy the details are as follows:
This winter’s study day will take place in the historic market town of Farnham at the Museum's Garden Gallery, followed by a walk through town and up to the castle in the afternoon.
We take a close look at the lives of the great medieval kings and their times and try and discover if they were good, bad or just plain sad!
Cost £5 per child. Contact: David Brooks, Bourne Hall Museum, Spring Street, Ewell, Surrey, KT17 1UF. Tel 020 8394 1734.
A Gentleman Usher from Henry VIII’s Palace of Nonsuch pays a visit to the village looking for workers. He needs a gong (shit) farmer, a food taster, a spit boy, a groom of the stool, and a wool dyer. If you really want to get ahead, become an executioner! Come along and see if you fancy a change of job and a short life!
Cost £5 per child. Contact: David Brooks, Bourne Hall Museum, Spring Street, Ewell, Surrey, KT17 1UF. Tel 020 8394 1734.
Submitted by roseh on
In 2016 a large magnetic anomaly was investigated during the Charlwood excavations and the linear feature partially revealed was tentatively interpreted as a charcoal burning clamp (Bull 457). Charcoal retrieved from this feature was subsequently sent for radiocarbon dating which has resulted in a date between AD1455-1645.
Some limited local history research into Charlwood during these dates has allowed this feature to be provisionally set in context.
A Serjeant-at-Arms from the Tower of London visits Ewell to tell you how you become a Knight. Sent away from home at the age of 7 to the castle of a wealthy Lord, you will begin your training as a Page learning combat skills and horsemanship until you are 14. Between then and 21 you become a squire, capable of engaging in battle and if you fight bravely you may be made a Knight.
Our visitor will bring weapons for you to master and teach you how to defend and attack a castle.
