BAAS BULLETIN No. 95
Summer 2024
ISSN 1751 – 7060
Life Membership Awards
James Lyttleton Chair BAAS
At this year’s annual general meeting, the BAAS Committee awarded Life Membership to Ian Beckey, leading specialist in Bristol’s tobacco pipe industry, Tony Scrase, author of Wells, A Small City (2006) and Somerset Towns, Changing Fortunes 800-1800 (2005), and Mary and Dick Knight who founded the Castle Farm Folk Museum in Marshfield. Richard, who passed way last January, was also former chair of the Society. This award was in recognition of their outstanding and demonstrable contribution to the Society.
With this privilege, as Life Members they do not pay subscriptions going forward. They join the ranks of others who have been awarded Life Membership in previous years – Andrew Dorey, Gundula Dorey, Brian Orchard, John Hunt, Frances Neale, Elizabeth Hawkes, N. Thomas, Mike Ponsford and Bruce Williams.
BAAS Programme 2024 Keith Stenner, P:rogramme Secretary
6 July 2024 BAAS Guided Walk: Roman Caerwent
Guided walk by Dr Mark Lewis, Museum of Wales
A short introduction to the Roman regional capital city of Venta Silurum (c. 15 mins) will be given at the information panels at the byre in the car park before proceeding along the main Roman Road towards the parish church to view the Roman inscriptions, mosaic, sculpted stonework, and other items of interest there (c. 30 mins), via the Pound Lane Roman Shops (c. 10 minutes). There is a toilet and kitchen facility (which could be used by the group for refreshments) at the church. The group will then proceed to the Roman southern defences (the best-preserved Roman town walls in Britain) and to the south gate of the city (c. 30 mins). Access to the Roman southern defences and south gate can be either through the churchyard (over a stone stile) or via a lane by passing back through the lychgate onto the road. The group will then return to the main Roman road, passing the modern public toilets, crossing to the Romano-British Temple complex (c. 15 minutes) and Roman Forum-Basilica complex (c. 30 minutes). We will return to the car park via the Roman Courtyard Houses of the ruling class (c. 15 minutes).
Richard Knight former Chair of BAAS
Julie Bassett, Membership Secretary
One of the former Chairs of BARG, Richard Knight (Dick) passed away at the age of 92 on the 20th January 2024. Sadly, this was made more poignant as BAAS had already taken the decision to award BAAS Life Membership to Dick and his wife Mary at the March 2024 AGM. Dick was unaware of the pending Life Membership before he died; the award was made posthumously for Dick, but we are pleased that Mary accepted her award in person. Dick also founded his family stove business R W Knight & Son 50 years ago this year and was unable to enjoy the celebrations that would have been planned.
As far as we can tell from our old records it appears that Dick and Mary joined BARG in 1962. Dick became a co-opted member of the BARG committee in 1969. He was appointed Chair of BARG in 1978/79 and 1979/80 and then Vice Chair from 1980 until 1982. By this time BARG was struggling financially; the last BARG publication was an emergency issue as subscriptions didn’t cover the cost of publishing the Journals. It must have been very stressful for Dick to be chairing the society during this period. The financial issue was resolved by forming a new society (BAAS) out of the old BARG.
Dick was a keen amateur archaeologist and carried out excavations on his own land at his farm near Marshfield, Wiltshire. He also carried out excavation work with another BAAS member, Mike Ponsford. Dick created a museum at Castle Farm, his home and business premises, to display the finds from his excavation work. BAAS was certainly invited to visit the museum at least once; the museum was closed some years ago, but readers of this Bulletin will be interested to see the article published in the Western Daily Press in the early 2000’s. The article discusses the farm and its ancient buildings, the creation of the stove business and a visit by Tony Robinson and Prof. Mick Aston when filming “The History Hunters”.
Kings Weston Villa update
Kate Iles Secretary BAAS
BAAS had a very successful and sunny visit to Kings Weston Roman Villa in May.
As an outdoor site, the villa needs constant care and Kate Iles, the Curator for Archaeology, has asked whether BAAS members might be willing to give up an hour or two each month to help weed the Roman remains.
For those that prefer not to weed but would be happy to help in other ways, there are also opportunities to volunteer on regular open days.
If you are interested, please contact Kate directly at [email protected]
Festival of Archaeology
Festival news, Kate Iles, Secretary BAAS
There are a number of events happening throughout July for this year’s Festival of Archaeology including:
Bristol’s Brilliant Archaeology 2024 on Sat 13 July, 11am to 4pm
Join museum archaeologists and a whole host of local societies, re-enactors, field archaeologists and heritage organisations to celebrate Bristol’s Brilliant Archaeology at Blaise Museum.
Throughout the day, there’ll be demonstrations and stalls in the museum and on the lawns outside. Henbury Church, Blaise Castle and Blaise Community Gardens will also be open for the occasion.
There’s plenty for mini archaeologists to do too with mini excavations, weaving, pot-making, face painting, archery and more.
As usual, BAAS will be running a stall at the event and are looking for BAAS members to help. You don’t have to volunteer all day but any help would be appreciated. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact James Lyttleton at [email protected]
Bristol Library’s Special Collections Sunday: Festival of Archaeology edition, Sunday 21 July, 2pm to 4pm
July’s edition of Special Collections Sunday is part of the Festival of Archaeology and is curated by Kate Iles, Curator of Archaeology for Bristol Culture.
Bristol is full of amazing archaeology and you don’t need to pick up a trowel to find out about it. Information held at Bristol Reference Library can help you explore the archaeology of the city without getting covered in mud.
Explore archaeological highlights from the library’s very special collections which include antiquarian accounts, county histories, society journals, topographical prints, maps, aerial images, society journals and much more.
This event takes place in the Bristol Room, Central Library, drop in anytime between 2-4pm.
Kings Weston Roman Villa, 24 to 26 July, 11am to 3pm.
Kings Weston Roman Villa is also open for some family fun for the first week of the school holidays. It’s open from 11am to 3pm from the 24 to 26 July when there will be on an exciting range of holiday activities on offer including dressing up, craft, trails and more.
For more information on all of these events, visit the Blaise Museum What’s On webpages –
https://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/blaise-museum/whats-on/
About the Festival of Archaeology
The Council of British Archaeology’s Festival of Archaeology is the UK’s biggest annual celebration of archaeology. It incorporates hundreds of live and virtual events delivered by community groups, heritage organisations, universities, commercial units, and more across the UK.
For more information and a list of all events happening, visit https://www.archaeologyuk.org/festival.html
BAAS Committee 2023-2024
CHAIRMAN: James Lyttleton
SECRETARY: Kate Iles
MEMBERSHIP: Julie Bassett
TREASURER: Steve Hastings
PROGRAMME SECRETARY: Keith Stenner
WEBSITE CO-ORDINATOR: Paula Gardiner
EDITORS (BAA): Bruce Williams and Bev Knott (assistant editor)
PROJECTS OFFICER: Donal Lucey
BULLETIN EDITOR: James Lyttleton
COMMITTEE MEMBER: Mike Gwyther
COMMITTEE MEMBER: Bob Jones
CO-OPTED: Gundula Dorey, Peter Insole
Do keep an eye on the website and social media for event reviews and updates. If you have forgotten the Members’ password, please contact Julie Bassett at [email protected]. If you are not receiving email communications, but would like to, could you also contact Julie Bassett and give her your email address.
Bulletin 96 is scheduled for September. If you would like to write anything for it or wish to highlight a subject you think should be in there, please contact bulletin editor James Lyttleton on [email protected]
BAAS CONTACT POINTS
BAAS Website: www.bristolandavonarchaeology.org.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/BristolAvonArch
Facebook: www.facebook.com/baarchsoc
If you have any queries about BAAS events or activities, please contact the following:
Kate Iles (Hon. Secretary) [email protected]
Keith Stenner (Hon. Programme Secretary) 01275 541512 [email protected]
Paula Gardiner (Website Co-ordinator) 0117 9213608 [email protected]