HAARG Hastings Area Archaeological Research Group  
Registered Charity No.294989
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NEWSLETTER - March 2005

Top of page LATE NEWS: Despatch of this newsletter has been further delayed by the news thtaour Treasurer and Field Officer, Mike Greenhalgh, is unwell and has had a few days in hospital

As their household removal to Bexhill is also imminent, members are asked not to write or telephone to the Laton Road addressuntil furthert notice.

Subscriptions are being handled by Kevin Cornwell who is being appointed Acting Treasurer - address will be on renewal slip if payment is due.

All other enquiries should be addressed to David Padgham or Lynn Russell.

Top of page CLUB HEADQUARTERS: the room we have used at All Saints Street for several years has just been vacated; the move was brought forward slightly and there was no time to write to all members, but it is believed that all those who attend regularly were contacted. From 23 March the Wednesday morning meetings are being held until further notice in the upstairs room (disabled lift available) at the Fishermen's Museum, Rock-a-Nore Road, from 10.30am to 12.00. We are still sharing space with the Old Hastings Preservation Society, and we are grateful to them and to the "Shipkeeper" of the Museum, and in particular to Dennis Collins for facilitating the move. Members attending will be asked to sign in with the attendant at the entrance desk, to comply with fire regulations. Admission to the Museum is free, but donations in the box at the door will be welcomed and we shall be making a collective donation at intervals from our funds for the use of the room; coffee will still be available and our collecting box will be more prominently proffered!

Top of page PERMANENT LOCAL HISTORY CENTRE: there are distinct hopes now that premises for a permanent local history centre can be secured in the Old Town within a year or so. The prime mover is the Old Hastings Preservation Society, which is at present trying to raise a large amount of capital from charitable and other sources, either by way of loans or as outright donations. HAARG and Hastings Local History Group are being invited to become minority stakeholders within the limits of their much smaller assets, but another potential source of fundªraising could be some philanthropic member who is in a position to make a capital grant or loan or even a legacy! Anyone who would like to discuss such a proposition is invited to talk in confidence to OHPS President (also HAARG's) - Anne Scott (Hastings 427718).

Top of page HAARG LIBRARY: There is limited space for shelving in an annexe to the new meeting room, where the more important volumes have been retained, but it was necessary to dispose of duplicates and those items which do not relate directly to HAARG's interests. Finds, equipment and filing cabinets have had to be transferred temporarily to the homes of the officers.

Top of pageCOMMITTEE MEETINGS will be held at 64 Tower Road West, at the kind invitation of Heather Grief. The next one is planned for Wed. 13 April and notices are enclosed for the committee with a map showing the location.

Top of page ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS WERE DUE IN JANUARY; our thanks to the large number of members who have renewed without reminder. For those who did not, a further renewal form is
enclosed which please return to the Treasurer as soon as possible. The rate is unchanged for a fourth year at £8 for ordinary membership, or £9 for one household or family where only one copy of each publication is required. For those who are retired, or full-time students, the individual rate is reduced to £7.

Top of page THE TREASURER, MIKE GREENHALGH: members were sorry to hear that Mike is unwell and in hospital; as they are likely to move to a new address shortly, members are asked not to contact the Laton Road address. Acting Treasurer is Kevin Cornwell, 3 Wychurst Gardens, Bexhill-on-Sea TN40 2EP (224405), and all other enquiries should be directed to David Padgham

Top of page THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING was held on a very cold snowy night on 23 February - our
thanks to all those who attended. All existing officers and committee were re-elected as set out
in the agenda circulated beforehand, no other nominations being received. Afterward there were
slides presented by Anne Scott and Mike Greenhalgh showing the conservation work in progress at Dickens Cottage, and the excavation which we carried out last August.

Top of page DOREEN MCLEAN: we record with regret the death on 13 March of Doreen Mclean, for many
years one of our more active members working alongside the late Zoe Vahey on local digs and in the Pett and Icklesham areas. Doreen's work in the Women's Land Army during and after WWII and a subsequent life in farming gave her a love for the landscape, and led her to being also an expert in wildlife and a keen botanist, and it was always a pleasure to have her company on country walks.

Top of page EXCAVATIONS AT GLOSSAMS PLACE, BECKLEY: as previously explained, there will be no
full-scale excavation this year pending the preparation of a definitive report, but there may be
limited investigations to resolve a few of the uncertainties. Members with some knowledge of the
site will be contacted if this does occur. Additionally it is hoped that conservation work on some
of the masonry can be carried out by members and students as a training course under Paul Reed's professional supervision; details will be circulated later.

Top of page THE FOOTLANDS PROJECT: John Stafford, who is the Forester in charge of many Forestry
Commission woods in the area, and Greg Chuter of the County Archaeologist's Department both of them members of HAARG - have invited HAARG to carry out a landscape survey of Footlands Wood near Vinehall, and Lynn Russell has been nominated to lead the recording. This is a major Romano-British iron-working site but also has evidence of Medieval and later industry. The long-term project involves surveying all details of the landscape and recording ore pits, furnace hearths etc. The final report will be published in HAARG Journal, with copies to the County Archaeologist's Department (where all features will be added to the Historic Environment Record) and to the Forestry Authority to assist in conservation of the area.
Members interested in taking part - mainly working at weekends - please contact Lynn Russell:
phone 01424 224405, or e-mail haarg@hotmail.co.uk. There may be limited excavations later
in the project, but this is primarily surveying and recording work rather than a dig.

Top of page HAARG HAS A NEW DEDICATED E©MAIL ADDRESS - as quoted in the preceding paragraph
- for contact through our Secretary Lynn Russell: haarg@hotmail.co.uk - members who would
like to communicate with her by e©mail are invited to add their own addresses to our database -
not forgetting to give their full name on the first occasion!

Top of page THE UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX CENTRE FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION is now using the new Hastings University Centre in Havelock Road, and a number of members have been attending a course in recent weeks. On Saturday 2 July, two half-day tutorials will be held there
by Geoff Mead: from 10.0am to 1.0pm on A taste of industrial archaeology and from 2.0pm to
5.0pm taste of local history. Fees are £5 for each, and enrolment is with the CCE at Falmer,
by phone 01273 873744, or by form through the post. Brochures are available, which also give
details of other local courses and those at the Falmer campus.

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