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Archaeologia Cantiana -  Vol. 1  1858   page xliv

INAUGURAL MEETING of the Kent Archaeological Society

and the Bradford of modern times, producing the grey cloth which clothed the hardy yeomen of England, and the ironworks which supplied her traders with that most useful metal. All those who have travelled through the towns and villages of the Weald, will have observed traces of this in the old manors and farmhouses which abound in that part of the county of Kent, and indicate the time when the abundance of timber had created a peculiar style of architecture—quaint, graceful, and beautiful—the remnants of which are still objects of interesting study, and the features of which this Society no doubt will record. Upon the number of interesting old churches in Kent I need not dilate. Then, again, there is that branch of antiquity which has reference to traditions, to legal privileges, and to various rights and usages which can be most fitly studied in a district where one of them—the law of gavelkind—has existed from the times of the Saxons until the present day. This county also has a large number of corporate towns, and the records they possess will, no doubt, yield a large store of treasure to those who may undertake to unravel them. With respect to architectural antiquities, I need not dwell upon them, assembled as we are today in one of the most curious of those ancient buildings which abound in this county, and which, having been fortunately preserved through the chances of time, has now become the receptacle of the County Museum, itself being one of the greatest curiosities of that Museum. It cannot be said that our county has been heretofore neglectful of its antique relics. I believe that Lambarde's 'Peregrinations through Kent' is one of the oldest county histories extant, and it is still of great value. At a later date, Hasted's 'Kent written at the close of the last century, is the most full of matter, and one of the most valuable works of its class; and we have now one of our Members collecting materials for a still more elaborate and valuable county history. Upon Canterbury Cathedral we have several valuable works. Dart's history of that cathedral is a work of great research, and one of standard authority. In later days we have that ingenious treatise of Professor Willis on its architectural history; and still more recently the picturesque essays of one whom, although he has been but a sojourner among us, we all cherish and respect—Canon Stanley. These are only the records of one building in one town; but there are many other boroughs which have had

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