Updates February

26-2-06
Patching update.

The results of the four day excavation is so far inconclusive, most of the material being uncovered is of the late 19th century to mid 20th century, and mostly house foundations and garden features.
There are two more days of excavations; if there is any material from early dates then it may turn up over theses two days. A interim report will be posted here later.

Binsted.

This year further work will be carried out on the kiln site; this will take place in late August for a two-week period.
Over the past year, research into the kiln that Con Ainsworth excavated in the 1960s, has been undertaken, and a lot of material has been unearthed.
From this material it may be possible to get the precise location of his kiln site, this is important as it will help us understand our later kiln site.We know it was under the willow tree, and north is shown on drawings, and an Aerial photo when blown up shows the excavation, so some survey work useing this photo will locate its precise location. Research has shown that the Littlehampton Archaeological and History Society now no longer, carried out some work on kiln sites within the area of Binsted, but the information is sketchy, this may well be how Con Ainsworth new about the site that he excavated.
More information is on Binsted web site.

Picture of Binsted kiln 1965-6 artist not known, found in arcives at Worthing museum.

http://binsted.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk

Field Unit.

February 2005. Field Unit update.

Welcome to this site, over the coming weeks more will be added to the content, it is hoped that in the not to distant future that our new main web site will be up and running, this will contain newsletters past and present, as well as site reports and a picture library, and a host of other items.Click Profile to take you to my other sites.

The purpose of this site is to keep you up to date with what is happening within the field unit, and for your feedback.
You need to look at the site each week, but don’t worry you will still receive emails from the field unit as well, so at all times you will be fully be kept informed of what is going on and where
Non - Members.

For non- members who visit this site, you are welcome, and if you are interested in becoming a member of the society and the field unit, then please email for more information. arch.research@ntlworld.com

Patching.

Over the next few weeks the field unit will be undertaking an excavation in Patching village, the site may contain an early medieval building, but over the period of years it has been built over many times, so there will be a lot of unravelling to understand the site.


Patching Hoard.

Patching is now famous for the hoard of gold coins found there a few years ago, the coins which are very impressive are on display in Worthing museum, the Society gave a donation to the museum, towards the cost of the display.
The period of the coins is, Roman to Early Medieval/Dark Age - 43 AD to 1065 AD.

The Church.

The Church of St. John the Divine, Patching, is Early English with some Perpendicular work, but was restored in C19

Horse Engine.

A horse gin is situated in a field E. of Patching churchyard. It is a good example of a widespread type of Victorian
water-raising equipment. The mid-C19 cast-iron gin was worked by a horse walking around a still visible circular path.
This gin worked a three throw pump through a depth of 150 ft.

Roman Corn Drying Kiln.

Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD Near Patching pond.
A corn drying kiln associated with other structures was excavated by Con Ainsworth in 1974. Some photographs were
taken and plans and sections drawn. Finds included a wide range of pottery sherds and a small bronze brooch in the
shape of a fish, all last known to be in the possession of Con Ainsworth..

Con Ainsworth.

This is only a brief list of finds within the area, what is of interest is that Con Ainsworth had done a lot of work in the area, but to date most of the information he collected is missing, so it would be good to locate this most interesting information.