Hendon and District Archaeological Society
Encyclopedia
Hendon and District Archaeological Society (HADAS) is an amateur archaeological society based in the London Borough of Barnet
, U.K., and is registered as a charity with the UK Charity Commission
(Registration number 269949).
and since has grown to over 200 members covering the whole of the London Borough of Barnet, and addressing all archaeological periods. Its two declared objectives are to undertake archaeological and historical research, and education for the public benefit, with particular reference to the London Borough of Barnet.
, Roman Hendon, medieval Chipping Barnet, and the Roman site of Sulloniacis
at Brockley Hill
, a centre of Roman pottery production.
With the introduction of the UK Government’s PPG 16
(Planning Policy Guidance 16: Archaeology and Planning) in 1990, the opportunities for amateur societies to undertake invasive archaeology, such as excavations, reduced greatly and so the Society has developed its use of non-invasive techniques such as ground resistivity analysis, and expanded its activities towards its other stated goal, that of education.
entitled “The Last Hendon Farm: The archaeology and history of Church End Farm” (ISBN 0 9503050). This book won a commendation at the British Archaeology Awards (BAA) in 2006 in the section for the Pitt-Rivers Award for the best project by a volunteer organisation. The latest course in this series is entitled “Looking at Finds – A Practical Course in Post-Excavation Studies”, and is tutored by Jacqui Pearce BA, FSA, MlfA, of the Museum of London Archaeological Service (MoLAS
). Under the UK Government's Equivalent or Lower Qualification regulations (ELQ) the cost of providing this course through Birkbeck College would have increased significantly and it is now provided independently by HADAS. In April 2011 HADAS and Jacqui Pearce were jointly awarded the Ralph Merrifield Award for London Archaeology for this course by LAMAS (London and Middlesex Archaeological Society).
Training excavations are performed for local schools, such as Hendon School and St. Mary’s CoE High School, Hendon, with the aim of introducing archaeological concepts and skills to young people. These excavations are operated in conjunction with the Widening Participation Initiative of University College London
, University of London (UCL), and take place either in the school’s own grounds or in those of the Church Farmhouse Museum
in Hendon, a facility which is now threatened with closure. Barnet Council has voted to withdraw funding from Church Farmhouse Museum, as well as Barnet Museum
, from April 2011. The Council’s cabinet met on Monday, 13 December 2010 and approved the budget for 2010/2011 which includes this proposal. There was a period of public consultation up to the 17th January 2011, followed by a final recommendation by the Cabinet in February, as a result of which the museum closed on March 31, 2011.
A programme of monthly lectures on archaeological topics is open to the public. Given by external subject-matter specialists, these take place at Avenue House
, Finchley, London.
HADAS also participates in the Council for British Archaeology
’s annual “Festival of British Archaeology”, designed to stimulate public interest in archaeology, usually providing an active demonstration for the public, such as in 2009 a demonstration of Roman cookery techniques and kitchenware. In 2010, the HADAS contribution to this festival was an excavation in the grounds of Church Farmhouse Museum, Hendon, and the survey and excavation of a second world war shelter and bunker complex in Sunny Hill Park, Hendon.
London Borough of Barnet
The London Borough of Barnet is a London borough in North London and forms part of Outer London. It has a population of 331,500 and covers . It borders Hertfordshire to the north and five other London boroughs: Harrow and Brent to the west, Camden and Haringey to the south-east and Enfield to the...
, U.K., and is registered as a charity with the UK Charity Commission
Charity Commission
The Charity Commission for England and Wales is the non-ministerial government department that regulates registered charities in England and Wales....
(Registration number 269949).
History
HADAS was founded in 1961 by Themistocles Constantinides to investigate the Saxon origins of HendonHendon
Hendon is a London suburb situated northwest of Charing Cross.-History:Hendon was historically a civil parish in the county of Middlesex. The manor is described in Domesday , but the name, 'Hendun' meaning 'at the highest hill', is earlier...
and since has grown to over 200 members covering the whole of the London Borough of Barnet, and addressing all archaeological periods. Its two declared objectives are to undertake archaeological and historical research, and education for the public benefit, with particular reference to the London Borough of Barnet.
Archaeological activities
The society has been active in many excavations and other fieldwork in the Borough of Barnet and surrounding areas, the results of which are published in the Society’s Journal and newsletters, or published in books such as “A Place in Time – The London Borough of Barnet up to c.1500” (ISBN 0 9503050 6 5). The first excavation in 1961 was at the ruins of Church End Farm, near the parish church of Hendon St. Mary’s. Further excavations have included the West Heath Mesolithic camp site at HampsteadHampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, Roman Hendon, medieval Chipping Barnet, and the Roman site of Sulloniacis
Sulloniacis
Sulloniacis is an Ancient Roman place-name which is known only from an entry in Iter II of the Antonine Itinerary. The itinerary places Sulloniacis nine Roman miles from St Albans and 12 miles from London...
at Brockley Hill
Brockley Hill
Brockley Hill, Stanmore, on the outskirts of North London, England, rises to above sea level. The road leading over it is also named Brockley Hill. The area is associated with the archaeological site called Sulloniacis...
, a centre of Roman pottery production.
With the introduction of the UK Government’s PPG 16
PPG 16
Planning Policy Guidance 16: Archaeology and Planning commonly abbreviated as PPG 16, was a document produced by the British Government to advise local planning authorities on the treatment of archaeology within the planning process...
(Planning Policy Guidance 16: Archaeology and Planning) in 1990, the opportunities for amateur societies to undertake invasive archaeology, such as excavations, reduced greatly and so the Society has developed its use of non-invasive techniques such as ground resistivity analysis, and expanded its activities towards its other stated goal, that of education.
Educational activities
A training programme was created in 2003 in association with Birkbeck College, University of London, in the area of post-excavation analysis. The first instance of this was run under the title “Post-Excavation: Analysis of materials from the Ted Sammes archive”, and resulted in a book published in 2006 in association with Birkbeck College and the Museum of LondonMuseum of London
The Museum of London documents the history of London from the Prehistoric to the present day. The museum is located close to the Barbican Centre, as part of the striking Barbican complex of buildings created in the 1960s and 70s as an innovative approach to re-development within a bomb damaged...
entitled “The Last Hendon Farm: The archaeology and history of Church End Farm” (ISBN 0 9503050). This book won a commendation at the British Archaeology Awards (BAA) in 2006 in the section for the Pitt-Rivers Award for the best project by a volunteer organisation. The latest course in this series is entitled “Looking at Finds – A Practical Course in Post-Excavation Studies”, and is tutored by Jacqui Pearce BA, FSA, MlfA, of the Museum of London Archaeological Service (MoLAS
Molas
Molas is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
). Under the UK Government's Equivalent or Lower Qualification regulations (ELQ) the cost of providing this course through Birkbeck College would have increased significantly and it is now provided independently by HADAS. In April 2011 HADAS and Jacqui Pearce were jointly awarded the Ralph Merrifield Award for London Archaeology for this course by LAMAS (London and Middlesex Archaeological Society).
Training excavations are performed for local schools, such as Hendon School and St. Mary’s CoE High School, Hendon, with the aim of introducing archaeological concepts and skills to young people. These excavations are operated in conjunction with the Widening Participation Initiative of University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, University of London (UCL), and take place either in the school’s own grounds or in those of the Church Farmhouse Museum
Church Farmhouse Museum
Church Farmhouse Museum is a Grade II* listed 17th century farmhouse in Hendon, in the London Borough of Barnet. The building is the oldest surviving dwelling in Hendon....
in Hendon, a facility which is now threatened with closure. Barnet Council has voted to withdraw funding from Church Farmhouse Museum, as well as Barnet Museum
Barnet Museum
Barnet Museum was opened in March 1938 to house the collection of the Barnet and District Local History Society.Its building is an early Georgian house in the heart of High Barnet...
, from April 2011. The Council’s cabinet met on Monday, 13 December 2010 and approved the budget for 2010/2011 which includes this proposal. There was a period of public consultation up to the 17th January 2011, followed by a final recommendation by the Cabinet in February, as a result of which the museum closed on March 31, 2011.
A programme of monthly lectures on archaeological topics is open to the public. Given by external subject-matter specialists, these take place at Avenue House
Avenue House
Avenue House is a large Victorian house situated on East End Road in Finchley in the London Borough of Barnet.Built in 1859 on land formerly known as Temple Croft Field, it was acquired in 1874 by ink magnate Henry Charles Stephens who enlarged and improved the house and grounds with advice from...
, Finchley, London.
HADAS also participates in the Council for British Archaeology
Council for British Archaeology
Established in 1944, the is an educational charity working throughout the UK to involve people in archaeology and to promote the appreciation and care of the historic environment for the benefit of present and future generations...
’s annual “Festival of British Archaeology”, designed to stimulate public interest in archaeology, usually providing an active demonstration for the public, such as in 2009 a demonstration of Roman cookery techniques and kitchenware. In 2010, the HADAS contribution to this festival was an excavation in the grounds of Church Farmhouse Museum, Hendon, and the survey and excavation of a second world war shelter and bunker complex in Sunny Hill Park, Hendon.