NINETY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT, 1945

Transcription

1 THE LEICESTERSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY NINETY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT, 1945 IN presenting this Annual Report your Committee feel justified in considering that a useful year's work has been accomplished. It is true that, once again, the more public functions have most regrettably suffered from the prevailing conditions. Nevertheless, your Committee have been active in the task of preparing for the better times now to be expected with the advent of peace. A great deal of work has been accomplished in this connection, the fruits of which it is hoped, will become apparent during the coming year. In the course of the summer an excursion was arranged to Cossington and Rothley, where Mr. Albert Herbert, F.S.A., addressed members on the history of the churches. Afterwards members enjoyed the generous hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Houston, who very kindly provided tea at their house. Mr. Houston's celebrated collection of furniture and objets d'art are too well known to require description and members were still further delighted by his playing to them on his fine organ. Your Committee feel that Mr. Brand and Mrs. Skillington are to be congratulated upon the organization of so successful an excursion. During the autumn a General Meeting was held at which a most interesting address on Queer Superstitions and Expressive Odditi'es in Words, Phrase and Idiom was delivered by Mr. F. W. Bennett, formerly Curator of Anne Hathaway's Cottage, Shottery, Stratfordon-Avon. This meeting was very well attended and the appreciation of members was shown by the numerous questions addressed to the lecturer. Once more an excellent part of Transactions has been published and is now in the. hands of members. The contents include an illustrated paper by Dr. Hoskins on The Deserted Villages of Leicestershire, and a lengthy paper on Beaumanor, its Lords and their Connexions by Mr. S. H. Skillington, F.S.A. This last will be particularly welcome to members not only for the scholarship and erudition which always characterize Mr. Skillington' s

2 JV. LEICESTERSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY contributions, but because it indicates that he is once more resuming his activities. Another contribution consists of notes relating to Croxton Abbey, contributed by Mr. Albert Herbert, F.S.A. These notes are based upon an unique and important survey made by Sir Alfred Clapham, F.S.A., to which the Society is exceedingly fortunate to have had access. The part also includes the Index to Volume XXII. During the year your Committee have devoted a good deal of attention to the question of Breedon-on-the-Hill and its church. Steps have been taken which it is hoped may lead to the protection of the latter and the proper examination of the Iron Age remains on the hill. In this matter a great deal of support and assistance has been received from the Council for British Archaeology. It will be remembered that the Society is the nucleus of the Regional group of the Council. Your Committee feel that they must record, with the utmost appreciation, this Society's continued indebtedness to our chairman, Sir Robert Martin, whose invaluable help so largely contributes to its success. During the year the following new members were elected:"'- February- C. N. Hadfield, Esq., 14 Friar Lane, Leicester H. G. Williams, Esq., 14 Friar Lane, Leicester April- G. 0. Walker, Esq., 132 Leicester Road, Blaby May- Mrs. Albert Herbert, The Tower House, Rothley July- Wm. Bentley, Esq., 46 Lutterworth Road, Leicester M. C. Miller, Esq., Smeeton Westerby, Leicester Institute of Archaeology, University of London October- F. N. Milburn, Esq., P.A.S.I., Town Planning Department, Town Hall, Leicester ~ Mrs. B. E. Ellis, Peckleton Rise, Desford.~ 1 J. W. Wardby, Esq., Littlethorpe House, Narborough Dr. N. I. Spriggs, 16 Meadowcourt Road, Leicester H. Thwaite, Esq., Lloyds Bank Ltd., Granby Street, Leicester

3 REPORT v. The Society lost the following members by death during the year:- J. R. Giro.son, Esq., 438 London Road, Leicester Ald. Charles Squire, Barrington Road, Leicester W. W. Thornley, Esq., Bowling Green Street, Leicester By the death of Alderman Squire the Society has lost an old and keen member. He was well known to members and was an exceedingly regular attendant at committee meetings where his sage and helpful counsel was of great assistance. Mr. W. W. Thomley, too, was widely known and a regular attendant at meetings. As the printer of the Society's Transactions and other publications he was closely in touch with the late Mr. Farnham and other notable contributors. His high sense of craftsmanship and painstaking care in interpreting their directions were in no small measure responsible for the technical excellence of the Society's printed matter issued during the last twenty years or so. The Society may confidently expect that these high traditions will be fully maintained by Mr. Arthur Thornley who now directs the business. The Hon. Librarian's Report The Society's Library has been maintained in good order during No specially notable books have been added to the library during the year, either by purchase or by gift; but one or two more series have been completed. A few more members have made use of the library during the past year, but it would be a good thing if members would consult it more frequently, as there is much readable matter of general archaeological interest as well as books of pure reference. One story is worth putting on record. A member took out a book. Applications were made for its return. Finally the member died. His library was sold. A non-member who bought this particular book found in it a card from the Librarian asking for its return, and wrote to ask) it was wanted, as he did not like losing books himself. Finally the book returned to the library after ten years' absence at a cost of half-a-crown to the Society.

4 VJ. THE LEICESTERSHIRE RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT To Balance in hand,, Subscriptions and Donations RECEIPTS,, Interest on 101 5s. 4d. Leicester 3 per cent. Stock less Tax,, Interest on 250 Leicester 4¾ per cent. Stock 1945 / 55 less Tax,, Interest on 150 3½ per cent. Conversion Stock 1961 less Tax,, Interest on 300 3½ per cent. War Loan gross... Interest on 400 3½ per cent. War Loan gross...,, Income Tax reclaimed, 1944/45...,, Sale of Transactions,, Repaymcnt- 250 Leicester 4¾ per cent. Stock

5 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY VII, for the Year ending 31st December, 1945 By Subscriptions : Archaeological Congress PAYMENTS Canterbury and York Society English Place Name Society British Record Society... Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings Council for the Preservation of Rural England Lincoln Record Society Council for British Archaeology,, Printing and Issuing of Transactions,, Printing and Stationery,, Rent,, Postages and Sundry Expenses,, Lecturers' Expenses and Lantern,, Fire Insurance,, Bank Interest and Charges,, Library Additions, Binding, etc.,, :Purchase of 400 3½ per cent. War Stock,, Balance at Bank

6 VIIJ, THE LEICESTERSHIRE FUNDS ACCOUNT To General Reserve Fund (Value 1,013 13s. Id.) ,, Excursion Secretary's Account SELWYN PARKINSON, F.C.A. Honorary Treasurer TRUSTEES OF THE LEICESTERSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY LIEUT.-COLONEL SIR ROBERT MARTIN, C.M.G., D.L. ALBERT HERBERT, ESQ., F.S.A. S. H. SKILLINGTON, EsQ., F.S.A.

7 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY IX, 31st December, 1945 By 101 5s. 4d. Leicester Corporation 3 per cent. Mortgage (Value 101),, 150 3½ per ce1:1t. Conversion Stock 1961 (Value 159),, 700 3½ per cent War Loan (Value 721),, Cash at Bank : Excursion Account Society's Account I have examined the Funds Account dated 31st December, 1945, and the Receipts and Payments Account for the year ending 31st December, 1945, and certify such Accounts to be in accordance with the Books and Vouchers of the Society. I have satisfied myself that the Scrip of the above Investments is in the possession of the Bank. ARTHUR W. DEATH, Jr. Chartered Accountant Honorary Auditor

8 x. THE LEICESTERSHIRE RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT To Balance in Bank,, Repayment 400 Leicester 4¾ per cent. Stock,, Interest on 1,750 3½ per cent. War Loan gross...,, Interest on 400 Leicester 4¾ per cent. Stock less Tax,, Interest on per cent. Defence Bonds gross,, Income Tax reclaimed HJ44/ FUNDS ACCOUNT To Present Balance (Value 2,233 5s. 9d.) 2, , TRUSTEES OF THE LEICESTERSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH FUND A. W. DEATH, JR. Esg. (Treasurer) HUGH G. GoopACRE, EsQ.,, ANTHONY HERBERT, Esg. A. H. LEAVESLEY, Esg. A. A. IRONSIDE, EsQ.

9 I I ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH FUND for the Year ending 31st December, 1945 By Purchase of 500 3½ per cent. War Stock,, Balance in hand Xl st December, By 1,750 3½ per cent. War Loan (Value 1,802) 1, ,, per cent. Defence Bonds (Value 325) , Cash at Bank , I have examined the Funds Account dated 31st December, 1945, and the Receipts and Payments Account for the year ending 31st December, 1945, and certify such Accounts to be in accordance with the Books and Vouchers of the Trustees of the Research Fund. I have satisfied myself that the Scrip of the above Investments is in the possession of the Bank. SELWYN PARKINSON Chartered Accountant Honorary Auditor