Category Archives: Thanet archaeology

News items about Thanet archaeology

Link to the Past 2013

Education, Thanet archaeology, Uncategorised, What's going on?

Link to the Past was held at the Powell-Cotton Museum on Sunday the 10th of February. Bringing together many groups from Thanet and Kent who are involved in preserving and promoting the rich heritage of Thanet and the rest of Kent. Stands and displays that displayed the work of the groups, or each of the historic sites, were threaded through the amazing galleries of the museum.

Many people braved the threatened snow to find out how they can get involved in history, archaeology and genealogy; or visit and support some of the heritage attractions of the region.

Four fascinating talks were held over the day, on the role of Quex House in World War One, Kent’s underground sites, how a family love story was discovered in the National archives and the archaeology of the Quex Park Estate.

The Trust for Thanet Archaeology stand held our handling collection of artefacts representative of the long prehistory of Kent and of the Isle of Thanet. In another gallery we had our children’s activities with a collection of historic costumes, dig boxes and a chance to try out archaeological recording techniques on a skeleton.

It was a great privilege for the Trust to to have been able to work in partnership with Powell-Cotton Museum to facilitate Link to the Past, and help  showcase the great range and depth of Heritage and history in Thanet and Kent and bring this community together for the event.

Image of a selection of the stands at Link to the Past
A selection of the stands at Link to the Past

Artistic Thanet

Books and publications, Education, Uncategorised

We now have stock of this interesting book by Richard Lewis on Thanet’s artistic heritage.

By the way, the Paypal button works properly now!

Artistic Thanet Book

With 36 pages in six chapters with 29 black and white illustrations, Artistic Thanet tells how the extraordinary lives of British artists including the painters Rossetti, Sickert and Van Gogh, the writers Wilkie Collins and John Buchan, and Frank Richards, the creator of Billy Bunter, were linked to the Isle of Thanet and sometimes to each other.

 

Buy Artistic Thanet with PayPal now for £4.50 + £1.13 P+P, Secure online payment, no PayPal account needed for card payment.



 

Artistic Thanet can also ordered by post using the order form link here: Artistic Thanet Order form

A new Chairman for the Trust

Thanet archaeology, Uncategorised, What's going on?
Chairman's handover
Outgoing and incoming Chairmen

Mr Chris Gibbs, who has been Chair of the Council of Trustees of the Trust for eight years, stepped down from the post at the Annual General Meeting which was held at Broadstairs on the 19th of November.  Mr. Simon Perry, who has been a member of the Council of Trustees for five years, was elected as Chair at the meeting. The Trustees and guests welcomed Simon as the new Chair and on handing over, a presentation was made to Chris and he was warmly thanked for his long service in the role.

Directors update
Directors update

The meeting heard reports from the officers and Emma Boast, the Director of the Trust, gave a round up of the year’s commercial and educational activities and thanked the many volunteers who have assisted in delivering another year of important research and education in Thanet’s archaeology.

Following the meeting, Deputy Director Ges Moody, gave a presentation on a future strategy for The Trust. A key proposal was to actively develop a role for archaeology in Thanet’s growing Heritage community.Practical steps to encouraging interest in Thanet’s archaeological heritage would be the production of a locally focused book series, building on the success of the Trust’s Underground Thanet publication. Renewed emphasis on connecting people with their heritage through engagement with the Trusts collection of artefacts, which would include hands on activities and workshops, would also be a significant element of the future strategy.
A useful discussion and informal exchange of ideas followed with the participants, who included representatives of the Isle of Thanet archaeological society, volunteers and other active members of Thanet’s archaeological community.

Thanet’s Historic Coast Displayed

Education, Thanet archaeology, Uncategorised, What's going on?

Trust members were at Ramsgate Harbour for the day on Sunday October 28th October, taking part in the  Historic Coast at Ramsgate event, held for Kent’s Coastal Week. The weather proved to be surprisingly mild after the lashing wind and surprise hail storms of the day before.

Picture of our stall at Historic Coast Ramsgate
The Trust’s stall at the Historic Coast Ramsgate Event

The Trust’s display focused on the dynamic coastal change which has altered the shape of the Isle of Thanet over the centuries.  Finds of pottery and flint were on show on our stall, collected from the beach under Dumpton Gap where a settlement dating from the Late Iron Age and Roman period erodes with every fall of the chalk cliffs.

Reconstruction plans showed the sequence of change of the east Kent coast from the Mesolithic period, which has removed so much of the land mass that once stood at the confluence of the  Thames valley and the English Channel, where Thanet now stands.

The immense changes to the regions coastline proved to be a talking point for the steady flow of visitors to the Trust’s stand and those of the other local historical groups who were there on the day. The day went well despite the cold wind that got up later in the afternoon. It was an opportunity to renew friendships and make new contacts.

Its here! Underground Thanet arrived today

Books and publications, Thanet archaeology, Uncategorised
Underground Thanet book arrives
Underground Thanet book arrives

Our stock of the new publication Underground Thanet by Rod LeGear arrived today and they look great. The printers have done a wonderful job and the pictures and plans of all Thanet’s underground sites look really sharp.

All our pre-orders have been posted out and they should be with you very soon if you’ve ordered one.

Underground Thanet is available for £8.00 +£2.00 post and can be ordered now with secure online PayPal payment, no PayPal account needed.



To order by post use our mail order form which you can get from here: Order form

 

Underground Thanet Book

Thanet archaeology, Uncategorised

In July 2010 the Trust organised a talk on Underground Thanet by Rod LeGear, founder of the Kent Underground Research Group (KURG).

Those of you who came to this sold out event will be interested to hear that Rod has written a fine introduction to the underground heritage of the Isle of Thanet. Underground Thanet book cover image

Published by the Trust for Thanet Archaeology, the new book explores our rich heritage of caves, tunnels, quarries, mines and air raid shelters, as well as the important vistor attractions like the Shell Grotto at Margate and the Margate Caves. The book also explores Ramsgate’s air raid shelter complex and many other sites that make up Underground Thanet.

Underground Thanet is available to pre-order  from the Trust at a special offer price, with copies available from 18th June 2012

To pre-order a copy of the book use this link to download our order form:

Order form

Romans, Thanet and the Wantsum Channel

Thanet archaeology, Uncategorised, ,

The Trust’s Deputy director recently gave a presentation on the Isle of Thanet in the Roman period at the University of Kent. The presenation explored the settlement of the area in the Roman period and  the history of the Wantsum channel between Thanet and the mainland, which  was an important feature of the Roman landscape. The origin and history of the landscape of the Wantsum Channel is explored in the book, The Isle of Thanet from Prehistory to the Norman Conquest.

Front cover of The Isle of Thanet from Prehistory...
Click to order

The book has been said to offer ‘an appealing glimpse of a seldom visited part of Kent’ and is a very readable account of the long history of the area and its archaeological discoveries. The Isle of Thanet from Prehistory is available in bookshops, or order from the link on the book image.