The Wealden Iron Research Group’s 2025 Winter Meeting
will be held at Nutley War Memorial Hall, TN22 3NE,
on Saturday 25th January at 2.30pm.
The speaker will be Dr Andrew Richardson, director of Isle Heritage, who will speak on the Lossenham Project: Settlement and ironworking in the Rother Valley.
The Lossenham Project uncovers the history of the Rother valley, close to the Kent – East Sussex boarder. In the Middle Ages the Rother was an important navigable river flowing past Smallhythe and Appledore to the sea at Romney. Sea-going ships could sail inland as far as Newenden and barges could continue as far as Bodiam. This was a major trading route for the export of iron, timber and wool from the Weald.
From the late 13C, catastrophic storms affected the course of the Rother, eventually preventing larger vessels reaching the shipyards at Smallhythe. The river changed course to flow south of Oxney, now reaching the sea at Rye. Attempts to dredge the original channel and block off the new course opposite Lossenham at Knelle all ultimately failed.
Although much of the focus of the Project lies in finding the hitherto lost Carmelite friary at Lossenham (c. 1243-1538) evidence shows the area was settled in prehistory and is rich in iron sites with 166 known in Rother parish alone. At Lossenham Farm an Iron Age bloomery site has been found by the project and radiocarbon dated to between 364-175 BC.
Tea and cake will be served after the presentation – please obtain a token for this on entry, price £4.50.
Non-members welcome