Student of Hop Growing wins first ‘Hasted Prize’
A local history student Dr. Celia Cordle, author of a thesis on 250 years of hop growing in the Weald of Kent and hop marketing in Southwark, is the first winner of the Kent Archaeological Society’s new £3,000 Hasted Prize.
Dr. Cordle, launched during the society’s 150th anniversary celebrations, is the prize – named in honour of the celebrated 18th-century local historian Edward Hasted – aims to encourage scholars to choose Kent’s history as a subject for research, and to promote publications that advance knowledge of the county’s past. It will be awarded every two years for the best thesis on any aspect of the county’s archaeology or history.
Celia’s first acquaintance with hop growing came in 1970 when her parents, Frederick and Doris Squires, moved to Sandhurst in Kent, near the hop gardens of their new neighbours, John and Mollie Rummey.
Celia, who had left school at 16, worked in the Agricultural Research Council unit in large and the subsequent birth of a daughter in 1961. Family activities and work in the gardens meant that she was not engaged in hop growing work, and it was only when she became free of these commitments that Celia was able to devote time to academic study.
She joined a combined studies course at Kingston upon Thames Polytechnic (now Kingston University) and in 1994 was awarded a BA in the history of art, architecture and design, with an emphasis on photography.
Then followed study at the University of Leicester’s Centre for English Local History, where Celia joined other spouses of English migrants and Middle Eastern students on the Diploma course, said Celia, ‘and it opened up a new world for me.’
She was awarded an MA with distinction and then launched upon research for a Ph.D. at Leicester University in 1997, continuing an interest begun in her childhood. The late Edie Hardcastle of Sandhurst, an energetic personality with a passionate interest in hops, was an early influence.
Betsy Calnan of Cranbrook Museum introduced Celia to members of the Weald of Kent Protection Society. This led to more meetings with the Rummey family and with others including Peter Hall and Tony Harvey, both of whom have been interviewed for Celia’s research.
‘What I found was that many of the hops picked in Kent ended up in Southwark, and that this business had a close connection with the growth of the brewing industry in London,’ said Celia.
She was recently a speaker at a conference organised by the Centre for Kentish Studies in Maidstone, and at Reading University’s agricultural library. She has written a book on the history of hop marketing in Southwark during the 18th and 19th centuries. ‘Although the custom is much older, a significant part of the market as a result of changes in the hop trade is now defunct,’ she said.
‘I should like to say how delighted I am and how grateful I am to have been chosen as the first recipient of the Hasted Prize. I look upon it as a thank you to all the people who have helped me.’
‘Thanks also to the Kent Archaeological Society’s Library at Maidstone Museum, and to all those whose support and encouragement have helped to bring my research to a successful conclusion,’ said Celia.
The Hasted Prize was founded to celebrate the 150th birthday of the KAS; it is administered by the society’s Frittenden-based Vice-President, Dr. Shirley Baker. The presentation was made by Dr. Baker, at the library, in the presence of other members of the KAS, at the library’s first anniversary meeting on May 3rd.
The next Hasted Prize will be awarded in 2010, for a thesis on Kent’s archaeology or history completed in 2007 or 2008. Further details can be obtained from Dr. Baker, Rose Cottage, Bannister Hill, Borden, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8HX, Tel: 01795 471242, email: pingemo@aol.com