The Essex Society for Archaeology & History
- FORMERLY THE ESSEX ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY FOUNDED 1852
Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31st December 2022
The Essex Society for Archaeology & History
Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees and Corporate Information | 2 |
| Trustees’ Report | 3 |
| Trustees’ Responsibilities Statement | 7 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 7 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 8 |
| Balance Sheet | 9 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 10 |
| Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 25th June 2022 | 16 |
The Essex Society for Archaeology & History
Trustees and Corporate Information
Patron: Lord Petre, K.C.V.O., J.P., M.A. Vice-Presidents: D.G. Buckley, B.Sc., M.C.If.A., F.S.A. A. Corder-Birch, D.L., F.S.A. G.M.R. Davies, M.A., F.S.A., F.M.A. Dr. P.M. Leach, B.A., M.B.B.S. A.B. Phillips, B.E.M., B.A. H.M. Stuchfield, M.B.E., J.P., D.L., F.S.A., F.R.Hist.S. Dr. C.C. Thornton, B.A., Ph.D., F.S.A., F.R.Hist.S. Trustees: N.P. Wickenden, M.A., A.M.A., F.S.A. President H. Brooks, B.A., M.C.If.A., F.S.A. Secretary W.M. Abbott, M.A., F.I.A. Treasurer M. Atkinson, B.A., M.C.If.A. N. Brown, B.A., M.C.If.A., F.S.A., F.S.A.Scot. A. Corder-Birch, D.L., F.S.A. A. Crosby, B.A., M.Soc.Sc., F.S.A. Chairman E.I.A.G. K.L. Crowe, B.Ed., M.A., A.M.A. Dr. M.E. Curteis, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., A.M.A., F.R.N.S. G.M.R. Davies, M.A., F.S.A., F.M.A. T. O’Connor, B.Sc., M.Sc. P. Sainsbury, S.E.N. H.M. Stuchfield, M.B.E., J.P., D.L., F.S.A., F.R.Hist.S.† Curator: P. Wise, M.A., M.C.If.A., F.S.A. Independent Examiner: P. Evans, F.M.A.A.T. Registered Charity No.: 213218 Registered Office: 13 Greeenacres, Mile End, Colchester, Essex CO4 5DX Bankers: Barclays Bank PLC, Brentwood Blog: www.esah160.blogspot.co.uk Twitter: https//twitter.com/ESAH160 Website: www.esah1852.org.uk _Immediate Past President_ † Membership Secretary
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The Essex Society for Archaeology & History
Trustees’ Report
Structure Governance and management
The organisation is an unincorporated association, originally founded as the Essex Archaeological Society in 1852, changing its name to the Essex Society for Archaeology and History in 1985. It is governed by a constitution as revised and adopted at the 2015 A.G.M. It registered as a charity in 1962. Its objects as stated in the constitution are:
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to promote and encourage the study of archaeology and history in the historic county of Essex;
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in furtherance of the above, to publish the results of such studies in the Society’s journal, and to disseminate information on Essex archaeology and history through the appropriate media;
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to organise conferences, lectures and visits for the benefit of members and interested members of the public, and to educate the wider community and other bodies on matters of common interest and concern; and
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to provide library facilities for Society members and other members of the public.
The management of the Society is vested in a Council of Management who are the trustees of the Society. There are six trustees who are directly elected at the A.G.M., as are the President, Secretary and Treasurer, who are ex-officio members of Council. There are a number of members who serve the Society in various capacities and, as proposed by Council, further ex-officio members are elected onto Council at the A.G.M. The list of trustees is set out on page 1.
Council is aided in undertaking its responsibilities by various committees which report directly to Council, namely Publications and Research Committee, Library and Archives Committee and the Programme Committee. In addition it has special interest sections, named the Essex Industrial Archaeology Group and the Essex Place Names Project, both of which are financially supported. The society is continuing the activities previously associated with the Essex Archaeological and Historical Congress. In 2021 it has taken on the assets and liabilities of the Essex Journal . The trustees retain the direct responsibility for, and active supervision of, expenditure.
The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report have complied with their duty to have regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers or duties.
Inevitably the pandemic disrupted the normal work of the Society, however although physical meetings were not possible the Council continued to meet via Zoom. Similarly, the work of the Committees was carried out via email and zoom meetings. As ever Council is extremely grateful to all those who have given their time and energy to serve on these committees, as well as to those who have represented the Society on other bodies, particularly this year with all its disruptions.
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The Essex Society for Archaeology & History
Trustees’ Report
Review
At long last 2022 felt like a return to normality (despite a winter resurgence in both Covid and hacking coughs !) I say normality, but perhaps it is actually a new normality, and one in which I am seeing a new and unparalleled appetite for all things heritage.
Heritage Open Days (now spread over two weeks) is busier than ever. In 2022, a hundred tickets or so to get inside Jumbo, Colchester’s famous Victorian water tower, were snapped up inside an hour. A heritage group now has its lease and are making a major application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund to secure its structural stability and create a new tourist attraction for Colchester. Hylands House, in Chelmsford, now has a free open Sunday every month, and is training new tour guides of the house. Chelmsford Museum won a prestigious Visit England award for its Lottery funded new displays for the ways in which they tell the story of the city. It also won Essex Mum’s favourite museum of the year for the 4th year in a row.
That word ‘City’ – we now have three in Essex, who would have thought that ten years ago. Many congratulations to both Colchester and Southend. Despite inevitable early cynicism, city status really does create a new found sense of pride. I remember the buzz I got in Chelmsford in 2012 the first time seeing a bus with its destination reading ‘City Centre’. New blue plaques are being unveiled, it seems like everywhere, at an increasing rate.
The Society has had a busy year, with a near normal programme of visits put together and run by Jane Pearson.
March – Miss Willmott’s Garden at Great Warley (37 attendees)
April – Boxted Airfield Museum (21 attendees)
May – Rainham Hall (27 attendees)
July – Colchester Castle with Paul Sealey (6 attendees)
August – Woodham Walter church (21 attendees)
September – Warner Archive at Braintree (8 attendees)
October – Toy Museum and Castle at Stanstead Mountfitchet (9 attendees)
Jane reports that “Paul’s session at Colchester Castle was the highlight by far. It could have gone on for another couple of hours as we all agreed on the day. Paul had been asked to pick his favourite six exhibits at the museum and speak about them and he very cleverly picked objects that allowed him to cover a range of fascinating discussions to do with how archaeologists approach and understand their world. It was memorable and highly enjoyable”.
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The Essex Society for Archaeology & History
Trustees’ Report
The Industrial Heritage Fair was held on 1st October at Silver End, and was attended by a number of local societies. Numbers of visitors were not as high as previous pre-Covid years, but those who came had an enjoyable and free time, including a tour of Silver End itself.
Our last event was the Symposium, held in November at Christchurch in Chelmsford, the first we have managed to hold since before Covid struck. The event was attended by sixty people, paying a mere £10 each. The day comprised talks on the Taylor family of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star fame by Georgina Bailey, the Civil War Petitions Project by David Appleby (son of John Appleby who served E.S.A.H. as President), recent projects run by the E.R.O. by Martin Astell, the Bronze Age hoard from Havering by Sophia Adams, and excavations at Cressing by Andrew Greef. The £10 ticket also included a sandwich lunch and refreshments, so excellent value and a great way to keep in touch with archaeological and historical research in the county.
The Society made a grant for dendrochronology of St. Mary’s Church in Broomfield. Thanks to Neil Wiffen for the following:
“Broomfield St. Mary’s P.C.C. applied for a grant to pay for a dendrochronology survey of the spire while the woodpecker-damaged wooden shingles were being replaced. This was taking place as part of a larger body of conservation work being undertaken on the tower. To date, there was very little understanding the age of the spire, the tower being early 12th century. The Royal Commission on Historic Monuments (R.C.H.M.) thought the spire was of 15th century origin, so this would provide an excellent opportunity to support this project in discovering more. Dr. Martin Bridges of the Oxford Dendrochronology Laboratory, who I’m sure will be known to many members of the Society, very kindly agreed to undertake the work which was carried out on a very hot day in July. Ten oak samples were taken, of which three were matched. The likely felling date range is 1464-96 which can be modified a little, with felling probably occurring in the earlier part of the range, and construction most likely to date to the 1470s or 1480s. Work on recording the spire is on-going with David Andrews preparing drawings and in due course a fuller report will appear in the pages of the Transactions . Broomfield P.C.C. would like to extend their thanks to the Society for the grant that enabled the survey to be undertaken, to Dr. Bridges for undertaking it, to David Andrews and Elphin and Brenda Watkin for their assistance and on-going input”.
We also helped with a grant towards restoring and interpreting the bells and belfry at West Hanningfield. Ann Usher and David Gibson have kindly provided the following:
“We have recently completed an eight year project to repair and strengthen our unique 14th century wooden bell tower and bell frame and to restore our four rare medieval Miles Graye III bells (1676) to be able to ring them full circle after 130 years of being able only to chime them. As we began research in preparation for this work, it soon became clear from the number of experts who came to look at it that we had a bell tower and bell frame of national archaeological and historical importance. Given the
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The Essex Society for Archaeology & History
Trustees’ Report
number of experts and skilled craftsmen involved in the project along with the hard work of the ‘church team’ we decided that we should make a permanent record of the work being undertaken. This has now been achieved in the form of a booklet (available at the back of the church for a donation) and a professional video which E.S.A.H. kindly helped to fund. Originally it was going to be a 4-5 minute video but we had so much material and such a big story to tell that the final cut is more likely to be around 12 minutes long. When completed, we can give you the link to view it. Finding the funding for the video project proved much harder than we had anticipated which is why your contribution was so important to us. Many thanks again for supporting us.”
Membership of the Society is excellent value for money. Not only does it give one the programme of events and visits, but of course the annual Transactions , and more recently the Essex Journal , and Newsletter. In addition, every now and then, members receive free of charge a publication in our Occasional Papers series, including last year a 300 page book about the Timber-Framed Buildings of Colchester . This is one of the greatest achievements of Dave Stenning, for so many years one of the County’s timber framed specialists, now sadly (for us) moved away to Shropshire, and also published in recognition of the late Richard Shackle’s work in recording buildings in Colchester. I would like to thank our editors, Paul Gilman (T ransactions ), Steve Pollington ( Essex Journal ) and Victoria Rathmill (Newsletter) for their hard work in producing these throughout the year.
Another free publication sent to members was Discovering Essex Wind and Water Mills , produced by members of the Essex Industrial Archaeology Group.
At the end of 2022 the Society had 337 (2021: 315) fully paid individual members, of whom 67 (2021: 65) are family members and 32 (2021: 24) are associates. It also has 73 (2021: 69) paying institutional members. In addition to these 410 (2021: 384) paying members we reciprocate publications with 30 (2021: 32) other institutions and distribute our publications to 11 (2021: 12) other institutions.
The Society’s extensive Library continues to be held in the Albert Sloman Library at the University of Essex, to which we extend our gratitude. The A.G.M. of the Society was held there in 2022 and members attending were able to view items such as the original Chapman & Andre map of Essex (1777) and Philip Morant’s History of Colchester (1848) before listening to a talk by David Grocott about his Ph.D. research. I mentioned last year that the Essex Place Names Project, a database of parish historical research, masterminded by James Kemble, and originally hosted by the University, was due to be moved across to our own website, and this has now happened.
The Essex Industrial Archaeological Group (E.I.A.G.), spearheaded by Tony Crosby, has managed to continue to meet on Zoom throughout the year. Reports and newsletters are available on our website.
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The Essex Society for Archaeology & History
Trustees’ Report
At the last A.G.M., the Society’s ten year Strategy was adopted. This sets out the Society’s key activities and looks at how we are (or are not) adapting to a new digital and inclusive world, and how we might adapt still further in the years to come. Our Council and Committees (Library, Programme and Publications & Research) are now looking at which actions to prioritise in the next few years.
Despite requests in the Newsletter, nobody has come forward to act as an understudy for our Treasurer, Bill Abbott. We also badly need to improve our social media offer, if we are to keep up to date with modern methods of communication and attract new younger members, although there are some hopeful ways forward emerging. However, if anyone would like to volunteer to help in either of these areas, please do talk to a Society Officer. I have been making pleas for more book reviewers and suggestions for books for review, and I am pleased to say we now have a number in hand. Our editors and committees are trying to ensure that the right book is reviewed for the right publication.
Other regular reports to Council include the Victoria County History, C.B.A. London and C.B.A. East, the Friends of Historic Essex, the Essex Record Office, and the Chelmer Valley Landscape Group.
On behalf of all members, I would like to thank the Society’s Officers, Trustees, Council, Committees and Representatives on other bodies for all their hard work and support during the year. The Society could not operate without people who are willingly prepared to give their time for free, in so many different ways. Only some of the people have been acknowledged personally in my report, but I am grateful for everyone who has contributed.
Lastly it is with enormous pleasure that I shall be proposing at the A.G.M. that our long standing Treasurer, Bill Abbott, is made a Vice-President of the Society. Bill has been our Honorary Treasurer since 2003 – a feat only matched by Henry Laver (1929-1949), and exceeded only by James Round (1868-1916). Bill has a masterly control over the Society’s finances, and in times when interest rates have been virtually zero, has ensured our deposits are best placed.
Finance
The principal financing activity of the society relates to the cost of producing and distributing the Transactions and its Index as well as Occasional Papers, the biannual Essex Journal and newsletters. We try wherever possible to get sponsorship grants for individual articles and in the main are for archaeological papers. Grants for Volume 11 of the Transactions amounted to £4,930 (Volume 10: £2,900) with the net cost, including distribution, of £2,514 (Volume 10; £4,980). The Timber-Framed Buildings of Colchester Occasional paper had received £3,150 in grants in 2021, with £8,300 also having been received in 2020. Production costs, excluding distribution to our members, were £13,879 so that the net contribution to funding this paper was £2,429 plus distribution costs.
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The Essex Society for Archaeology & History
Trustees’ Report
In 2022 the Society’s Funds decreased, excluding any change in investment values, by £10,629. The previous year there was an increase of £13,276, but this included the £12,010 received as a result of taking on the Essex Journal . It also included the £8,300 grants for the Timber-Framed Buildings of Colchester occasional paper. 2021 included exceptional expenditure of £9,000 related to our website development and in the opposite direction the grants we have given have increased by £3,000.
The Society has investible funds, some of which are earmarked as endowment funds where we can only utilise the income on such funds and some are restricted to cover future publications etc. The Society has taken the view that a significant percentage of these funds can be invested in equities (using unit trust funds specifically confined to charities) as it can absorb the volatility in such a strategy. After years of unrealised gains, and in line with the general fall in equity values, the year saw unrealised losses of £10,887. There was also £50,000 deposited on nine months notice with Shawbrook which has now been recalled and will be moved, subject to timing, to increase our existing holding in the M&G Charifund.
The notes to the accounts provide significant detail.
The Society greatly benefits from the input of many volunteers and the unrestricted general reserves of the Society are being maintained at a level which would ensure the capability of producing and distributing volumes of the Transactions , Occasional Papers and the Essex Journal for at least the next five years.
We have sufficient reserves to make occasional donations and grants to support heritage projects in Essex.
Nick Wickenden, President 29th April 2023
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The Essex Society for Archaeology & History
Trustees’ Responsibilities Statement
The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a receipts and payments account and a statement of assets and liabilities for each financial year that properly present the charity’s receipts and payments during the year and its assets and liabilities at the end of the year. In preparing these statements, the trustees are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
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Make judgements that are reasonable and prudent; and
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is
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inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which enable them to ensure that the receipts and payments account and statement of assets and liabilities comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Statement of the Independent Examiner
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commission.
An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a’ true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below:
During my examination, no matter has come to my attention which
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a) gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act 2011 and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act, have not been met; or
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b) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Peter Evans (Fellow Member of the Association of Accounting Technicians)
● April 2023
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The Essex Society for Archaeology & History
Statement of Financial Activities
for the year ended 31st December 2022
| 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Incoming resources | ||
| Members subscriptions (note 2) | 13,817 | 14,960 |
| Publications: grants and sales (note 3) | 9,011 | 11,200 |
| Other income (note 4) | 2,208 | 13,463 |
| Income from investments | 4,629 | 4,345 |
| 1111 | 1111 | |
| Total incoming resources | 29,665 | 43,968 |
| aaaa | aaaa | |
| Resources used | ||
| Production costs:Transactions(note 3) | 22,721 | 10,318 |
| Production costs: Newsletters | 7,568 | 2,796 |
| Administration costs (note 5) | 5,791 | 16,112 |
| Other expenditure (note 6) | 4,213 | 1,466 |
| 1111 | 1111 | |
| Total resources used | 40,293 | 30,692 |
| aaaa | aaaa | |
| Net (outgoing)/incoming resources | (10,629) | 13,276 |
| (Losses)/gains on unrealised investments | (10,887) | 7,116 |
| 1111 | 1111 | |
| (Decrease)/increase in funds | (21,516) aaaa |
20,392 aaaa |
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The Essex Society for Archaeology & History
Balance Sheet
as at 31st December 2022
| 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|
| £ | £ |
| Library books100,000 | 100,000 |
| Investments (note 7)98,187 | 119,074 |
| 1111 | 1111 |
| Fixed assets 198,187 | 219,074 |
| aaaa | aaaa |
| Deposit and current accounts (note 8)71,860 | 74,768 |
| Other798 | 592 |
| 1111 | 1111 |
| Current assets 72,658 | 75,360 |
| aaaa | aaaa |
| Current liabilities(advance subscriptions)(125) | (304) |
| 1111 | 1111 |
| Total assets 270,720 | 294,130 |
| aaaa | aaaa |
| Unrestricted funds – general106,336 | 117,334 |
| Unrestricted funds – designated (note 9)— | 4,149 |
| Restricted funds (note 10)64,384 | 72,647 |
| Historic book collection100,000 | 100,000 |
| 1111 | 1111 |
| Fixed assets 270,720 aaaa |
294,130 aaaa |
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The Essex Society for Archaeology & History
Notes to the accounts
for the year ended 31st December 2022
1 General
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 Designated funds form part of the general funds but relate to funds which Council have designated as being for a specific purpose. The restricted funds reflect constraints imposed by the donors of the funds. The Historic Book Collection, which consists of books held by the University of Essex and documents loaned to the Essex Records Office, is classified as designated. The Collection is not available for sale, but has been given a value, believed to be prudent, of £100,000. Computers and new books purchased are written off on purchase. Investments are shown at market value and capital appreciation on these investments is shown after the net amount of incoming resources.
2 Members subscriptions
| 2 | Members subscriptions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||
| £ | £ | ||||
| E.S.A.H. | 10,557 | 10,882 | |||
| Essex Journal | 1,766 | 2,545 | |||
| Gift Aid | 1,494 | 1,533 | |||
| 1111 | 1111 | ||||
| 13,817 | 14,960 | ||||
| aaaa | aaaa | ||||
| 3 | Publications: grants and sales | ||||
| 2022 Analysis | Timber- | ||||
| Framed | Essex | ||||
| Mills TransBuildings of | Journal | ||||
| Booklet Vol. 11 Colchester | Index | Total | |||
| £ £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Income | |||||
| Grant income | 600 4,930 | 3,150 | — | 8,680 | |
| Publications: grants and sales | 331 — | — | — | 331 | |
| 1111 1111 | 1111 | 1111 | 1111 | ||
| 931 4,930 | 3,150 | — | 9,011 | ||
| aaaa aaaa | aaaa | aaaa | aaaa | ||
| Expenditure | |||||
| Printing | 1,398 5,322 | 13,732 | — | 20,452 | |
| Other including distribution | — 2,122 | 147 | — | 2,269 | |
| 1111 1111 | 1111 | 1111 | 1111 | ||
| 1,398 7,444 | 13,879 | — | 22,721 | ||
| aaaa aaaa | aaaa | aaaa | aaaa | ||
| Net (expenditure) (467) (2,514) aaaa aaaa |
(10,729) aaaa |
— aaaa |
(13,710) aaaa |
11
The Essex Society for Archaeology & History
Notes to the accounts
for the year ended 31st December 2022
| 3 | Publications: grants and sales(continued) | Publications: grants and sales(continued) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Analysis | Timber- | |||||
| Framed | Essex | |||||
| TransBuildings of | Journal | |||||
| Vol. | 11 | Colchester | Index | Total | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| Income | ||||||
| Grant income | 2,900 | 8,300 | — | 11,200 | ||
| 1111 | 1111 | 1111 | 1111 | |||
| 2,900 | 8,300 | — | 11,200 | |||
| aaaa | aaaa | aaaa | aaaa | |||
| Expenditure | ||||||
| Printing | 5,936 | — | — | 5,936 | ||
| Contractors | — | — | 2,438 | 2,438 | ||
| Other including distribution | 1,944 | — | — | 1,944 | ||
| 1111 | 1111 | 1111 | 1111 | |||
| 7,880 | — | 2,438 | 10,318 | |||
| aaaa | aaaa | aaaa | aaaa | |||
| Net (expenditure)/income | (4,980) 8,300 | (2,438) | 882 | |||
| aaaa | aaaa | aaaa | aaaa | |||
| 4 | Other income | |||||
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||
| £ | £ | |||||
| Cash Flow from visits and other events | 1,660 | 102 | ||||
| Donations | 44 | 1,041 | ||||
| Licensing fees and royalties | 168 | 72 | ||||
| Sale of library stock (including Trail) | 336 | 238 | ||||
| Transfer from_Essex Journal_ | — | 12,010 | ||||
| 1111 | 1111 | |||||
| 2,208 | 13,463 | |||||
| aaaa | aaaa | |||||
| Licensing royalties and proceeds from the sale | of library stock | have been | attributed | |||
| to the P.R.F. | ||||||
| 5 | Administration costs | |||||
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||
| £ | £ | |||||
| Dispatching mailings | 277 | 3,471 | ||||
| Editors’ honoraria | 1,400 | 1,200 | ||||
| Insurance | 75 | 75 | ||||
| Printing flyers, etc. | 2,312 | 353 | ||||
| Room hire | 403 | 258 | ||||
| Website | 1,324 | 10,755 | ||||
| 1111 | 1111 | |||||
| 5,791 aaaa |
16,112 aaaa |
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The Essex Society for Archaeology & History
Notes to the accounts
for the year ended 31st December 2022
| 6 | Other expenditure | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Digitisation project | — | 361 | |
| Donations (note 6a) | 3,406 | 500 | |
| E.I.A.G. expenditure | — | 50 | |
| Purchase of books | 527 | — | |
| Sundries –_Essex Journal_index launch | 120 | 396 | |
| Subscriptions paid | 160 | 159 | |
| 1111 | 1111 | ||
| 4,213 | 1,466 | ||
| aaaa | aaaa | ||
| 6a | Donations | ||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Dendrochronology Report – St. Mary’s, Broomfield750 | — | ||
| Dick Nunny Smith Preservation Trust | 50 | — | |
| Funding research on Epping Forest habitation | 717 | — | |
| Illustrations for Rochford paper | 639 | — | |
| Media work on West Hanningfield church belfry1,000 | — | ||
| Report on finds at Bradford Street, Braintree | — | 500 | |
| Support for David Grocott’s Ph.D. thesis | 250 | — | |
| 1111 | 1111 | ||
| 3,406 | 500 | ||
| aaaa | aaaa | ||
| 7 | Investments | ||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| COIF Fixed Income Fund (income units) | 18,319 | 31,992 | |
| COIF Investment Fund (income units) | 34,473 | 39,010 | |
| 1111 | 1111 | ||
| M&G Charifund | 45,395 | 48,072 | |
| 1111 | 1111 | ||
| 98,187 aaaa |
119,074 aaaa |
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The Essex Society for Archaeology & History
Notes to the accounts
for the year ended 31st December 2022
| 8 | Deposit and current accounts | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Advance payments | 638 | 432 | |
| Barclay Bank balances – current | 69,804 | 13,225 | |
| Barclay Bank balances – savings | 426 | 8,923 | |
| COIF deposits | 1,630 | 2,325 | |
| PayPal | 160 | 160 | |
| Shawbrook 100 day deposit | — | 50,295 | |
| 1111 | 1111 | ||
| 72,658 | 75,360 | ||
| aaaa | aaaa | ||
| 9 | Designated funds | ||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Essex Place Name Project | — aaaa |
4,149 aaaa |
This Fund was for a research project which collects and disseminates information on the history of local place and field names in Essex. It was funded by grants, which may be time limited, and donations. The fund was de-designated in 2022.
10 Restricted funds
| 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|
| £ | £ |
| Essex Mills Fund1,998 | 2,465 |
| _Essex Journal_index2,556 | 2,556 |
| Mediaeval Merchant 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Pleshey project39 | 39 |
| Publications and Research Fund (“P.R.F.”)58,791 | 58,287 |
| Timber-Framed Buildings of Colchester — | 8,300 |
| 1111 | 1111 |
| 64,384 aaaa |
72,647 aaaa |
Essex Mills Fund
Seeded by the residual amount from the monies received on taking over the Essex Mills Trust enhanced by sales of related publications and available for mills related projects.
Essex Journal index
Pre-funding for an Index for the Essex Journal acquired on assumption of the responsibility for that publication.
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The Essex Society for Archaeology & History
Notes to the accounts
for the year ended 31st December 2022
10 Restricted funds (continued)
Mediaeval Merchant
Pre-funding for an Occasional Paper.
Pleshey Project
The Society is in receipt of grants to fund writing up Bassett’s excavation work at Pleshey in the 1970s. Eventually this work will be published as an Occasional Paper.
Publication and Research Fund (“P.R.F.”)
The P.R.F. exists to support the publications and research of the Society. Specific subscriptions to this fund have been received on the basis that they would form an endowment fund generating income which would support the purpose of the fund This inalienable element of the fund amounts to £32,465. Subsequent attributions to the fund have not been so constrained.
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The Essex Society for Archaeology & History
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held in the Special Collections Room at the Albert Sloman Library, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex CO4 3SQ and via Zoom video conferencing platform on Saturday, 25th June 2022 at 2.30p.m.
In the Chair: Nick Wickenden (President)
Trustees: Bill Abbott (Treasurer), Adrian Corder-Birch (Vice-President), Mark Curteis and Mark Davies. Associate members of Council: Jane Pearson (Programme Secretary and Librarian) and Philip Wise (Curator)
also David Grocott (speaker), Kathy Walsh (University Librarian) and four other members of the Society.
Via Zoom conferencing platform: Mark Atkinson (Trustee), Paul Gilman (Hon. Editor), Paul Sainsbury (Trustee), Martin Stuchfield (Vice-President and Hon. Membership Secretary), Chris Thornton (Vice-President) and four other members of the Society.
1. Opening remarks
The President welcomed members to the University of Essex Library and thanked Kathy Walsh the librarian for attending. The meeting was also being broadcast online. The A.G.M. would be followed by a talk from David Grocott on his use of E.S.A.H.’s library for research. The President commented on the shortage of material and reviewers for book reviews in the Society’s publications. He noted the death of Jenny Ward, a former President, as well as other notable members Ernest Black, Vic Gray and Chris Manning-Press during the year. An article from volume 10 of the Transactions (by Andrew Ford on the Peasants Revolt) had won an award from the British Association for Local History and will be republished in the B.A.L.H. news. The President also noted that Colchester is now a city, joining Chelmsford and Southend-on-Sea.
2. Apologies for absence
Apologies for absence were received from Howard Brooks, Tony Crosby, Ken Crowe, Lucy Jack and Michael Leach
3. To approve the minutes of the A.G.M. held on 26th June 2021
The minutes of the 2021 A.G.M., as published in the Annual Report and Accounts, were approved as a correct record.
4. Matters arising
There were no matters arising
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The Essex Society for Archaeology & History
5. President’s Report for 2021 A written report in the Report and Accounts had previously been circulated to all members. The President highlighted that E.S.A.H. has a good programme of events thanks to Jane Pearson and a first-class website thanks to Martin Stuchfield. The index for Essex Journal was being completed by Neil Wiffen. Martin Stuchfield had worked hard to ensure that subscriptions were up-to-date. The Society has three strong publications with three editors working on Transactions , Essex Journal and the digital newsletter – Paul Gilman, Steve Pollington and Victoria Rathmill were thanked. The extensive library continues to be hosted by the University; the latter had also hosted the Place Names Project but this is now available on the Society’s website. E.S.A.H. had subscribed as an institutional member of L.A.M.A.S. The Industrial Archaeology Group continues to be strong and has developed a strategy alongside E.S.A.H.’s main strategy to be addressed later in the meeting. The President thanked everyone on Council for their continuing hard work on behalf of the Society.
6. To approve the 2021 Annual Report and Accounts The Annual Report and Accounts for 2021 had been previously circulated to all members and upon the proposal of Mark Davies, seconded by Neil Wiffen, were unanimously approved.
7. Election of Independent Examiner Peter Evans had indicated that he was willing to continue and was re-elected unanimously.
8. Election of President, Secretary and Treasurer for 2022-2023 Nick Wickenden, Howard Brooks and Bill Abbott had indicated that they were willing to stand for the positions of President, Secretary and Treasurer respectively were unanimously re-elected. They would be ex-officio members of Council.
9. Election of Vice-Presidents for 2022-2023 The current Vice-Presidents, Dave Buckley, Adrian Corder-Birch, Mark Davies, Michael Leach, Andrew Phillips, Martin Stuchfield and Chris Thornton had all indicated that they were willing to continue. Their election was proposed by the President, seconded by Jane Pearson and carried unanimously.
10. Election of Additional Trustees for 2022-2023 The Constitution requires six members to be elected to the Executive Council. Mark Atkinson, Adrian Corder-Birch and Paul Sainsbury, having completed a three-year term, were willing to be re-elected for a further three-year term, in accordance with clause D2 of the constitution. All were unanimously re-elected. Richard Havis had decided to stand down due to other commitments. Teresa O’Connor, a historic environment consultant at Essex County Council, had agreed to stand and was duly elected.
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The Essex Society for Archaeology & History
11. Approval of the Ten Year Strategy A copy of the strategy developed by Council but led by Nigel Brown had been previously circulated to members with the digital newsletter. The President reported that responses had stressed the importance of continuing to publish the Transactions, Essex Journal and occasional papers as hard copies. He noted that the Society had no intention of changing this, publications being core to the Society’s activities. The Strategy also highlighted the importance of the library and the programme of events, including the annual symposium. It is proposed to hold a joint Morant lecture and lunch with the E.R.O. The grant programme has been reinvigorated and several payments made to applicants as listed in the Trustees’ Report. Links to local societies, museums and other relevant networks would be developed and issues of diversity and gender balance addressed. Martin Stuchfield read a comment by Christopher Thompson suggesting the strategy be revised in respect of planning policy. The President noted that this strategy is a working document and these comments would be reviewed and considered by the Executive Council. It was agreed to adopt the E.S.A.H. strategy and E.I.A.G. strategy that would published on the Society’s website.
12. Any other business .
There was no further business and the meeting closed at 3.10p.m.
The formal business was followed by a talk by David Grocott, who had used the Society’s library extensively for his research for many papers including – Medievalism and the radical imagination.
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