Our autumn-winter-spring meetings offers lectures and discussions on vernacular building recording topics. All are designed to be both entertaining and educational.

If you are not already a WBSG member, you will be welcome as a guest. The fee for guests is £5.

Unless stated otherwise, physical meetings are at Wivelsfield Church Hall, Church Lane, RH17 7RD. Church Lane is on the left off the A2112, north of the Baldocks Renault garage roundabout. The car park is on the left next to the church, and the hall is further up on the right.

10th October 2026 11:30 Physical Meeting at Wiveslfield Church Hall. Please arrive promptly as the 1st talk will start at 11:50.

Nathalie Cohen – National Trust excavations at Bodiam
As part of the commemoration of the 100^th anniversary of the National Trust’s ownership of Bodiam Castle in East Sussex in 2026, a three-year archaeological project to explore the landscape of the castle was initiated in 2024. The project, undertaken in partnership with Archaeology South-East and the Institute of Archaeology London, provided an opportunity to broaden the scope of our understanding and interpretation of the site; focusing on the castle parkland and the largely unexcavated Romano-British site lying to the south of the River Rother, and offered training in archaeological methods and techniques for volunteers. Nathalie Cohen worked from 1998 until 2006 at Museum of London Archaeology Service (now MOLA); as the Archivist for the unit, as a field archaeologist on excavations, and as a foreshore and built heritage specialist, on sites across Greater London, Kent, Buckinghamshire, Somerset, Devon and Surrey. She completed an MA in Maritime Archaeology in 2007 at UCL, led the Thames Discovery Programme from 2008 – 2018 and was the Head of Community Archaeology at MOLA. She has been working at the National Trust since 2011, as the regional Archaeologist for properties in Kent, Sussex and Greater London and is the Cathedral Archaeologist at Rochester.

Chris Reynolds – “George Crawley and Crowhurst Place; The work of an architect, artist or archaeologist?”
This talk looks at the history and context of the Grade I listed Crowhurst Place in Surrey; identifying the medieval development of the building and the alterations made by Crawley in the early 20^th century to consider the impact of his restoration.  

 

Monday 14th December 2026 7pm Zoom meeting

Andrea Kirkham - ‘Late C16th and C17th Decorative Wall Painting’ will be a talk on recent investigations in three buildings in Sussex and Kent.
Andrea Kirkham is a professional wall painting conservator and is writing an overview book on domestic wall paintings in England, 1560-1660.

 

There is no cost for WBSG members attending these talks.

The talks are open to the Public, at a cost of £5. Hot drinks and biscuits are provided at the physical meetings, but please bring a packed lunch

Guests at Physical meetings can pay at the door, for guests wanting to book for the Zoom talks please use the 'contact us' button at the top to request payment details.