Essex Society for Archaeology and History council meeting

Today (31st January), the Council of the Essex Society for Archaeology and History held their annual meeting at Hollytrees Museum in Colchester. Trust senior archaeologist Howard Brooks is a member of the council and he attended the meeting. The Trust’s Council of Management is also represented, with chairman Nick Wickenden and members Andrew Phillips, Mark Davies and Nigel Cochrane being members of the council. The council discussed the past year and the year ahead, in terms of the Society’s activities and archaeology in Essex.

Howard writes: ‘… ESAH is the senior body of Essex archaeology, and its Council and various committees include a wide range of people with an impressive range of experience – from professional and amateur archaeologists, museum curators, historians, librarians, academics, and others with an interest in the archaeology of Essex. In the past, ESAH sponsored archaeological excavation in the county, but it now fulfils another, but equally important, role in publishing results of recent archaeological and historical projects in their annual journal and regular newsletter. None of its work is publicly funded, and members’ subscriptions contribute towards the very important dissemination of archaeological and historical information to scholars and other interested people in this country and beyond. The extensive ESAH library is now housed at the University of Essex …’ .

The Essex Society for Archaeology and History (ESAH) was founded in Colchester in 1852. The Society’s aims are:
‘… * to bring together those who share a common interest in Essex’s past
* to publish new discoveries in the archaeology and history of the county and
* to support and encourage interest in these topics …’

ESAH organises a programme of lectures and visits for members and non-members, and also produces their newsletter and annual journal – the Transactions of the Essex Society for Archaeology and History. The Trust publishes notes on our archaeological projects in the journal every year.

The next ESAH event is a lecture at Chelmsford Museum on Saturday 7th February 2015 at 2.00pm. The lecture will be given by Laurie Page on the subject of palaeography, and it will include a hands-on session of deciphering old documents as well as tea and biscuits. (Advance booking for the lecture is required.) The full programme of ESAH events in 2015 is posted online at www.esah160.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/essex-society-for-archaeology-and.html .

Visit the ESAH web-site at www.essex.ac.uk/history/esah/ and their blog at http://esah160.blogspot.co.uk .

The image shows the ESAH crest.

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