Swanley History Group – January 2017 meeting
“Swanley Village is unique and is under threat from massive development” said Keith Whitmore, in the introduction to his presentation at the January meeting of Swanley History Group. Visually, areas of Swanley Village may seem little altered from a century ago. By using his extensive collection of family and other photographs and maps, Keith invited us to look closer at the buildings and those who lived in them.
Our photographic journey started at Highlands Hill, past Highlands Farm which stands on the site of a Saxon homestead. Several village houses, shown in the photographs, no longer exist. These include the original May Cottage, inhabited by a smock wearing Mr Mills, burnt down by a tinder from a passing traction engine, a row of Tudor cottages opposite Beechenlea Lane, Hop Kiln Cottages in Button Street, bombed in 1940 and ancient Gildenhill Farm. Former shops, ale houses and businesses featured. The Lamb was once two cottages and only served ale until the mid-twentieth century.
School photographs of children attending The National School from 1876 onwards and their teachers Misses Abel, Clement and Stanley (1920) showed rows of smocks in various state of repair. Absence was high as children were required to work at nearby farms and nurseries and the school was closed at various times through outbreaks of dangerous illnesses – including smallpox (1876) diphtheria (1898) and mumps, measles and scarlet fever.
St Paul’s Church and The Vicarage (formerly The Parsonage) were designed byEwan Christian and built in 1862. The prominent Eastwood family paid for additions such as the Tower and the organ. We admired the costumes shown in a photograph of an Edwardian tea party attended by many of Keith’s family in the grounds of The Vicarage and another of a ‘Gentlemen’s’ meeting on Alexandra Meadow (1910) .
Many of today’s large older properties were once two or more homes, lived in by high numbers of people. According to the 1881 census, Vancouver Cottage, (built in the 1600’s) housed 17 people including Keith’s ancestors the Atkins family. Irish railway workers lodged in Wood Street Cottages and no doubt frequented the ale house at number 5.
Our Annual General Meeting is on 7 February. There will also be a Musical Quiz - 7.15 for 7.30 pm start, at White Oak Indoor Bowls Centre, Garrolds Close, off Hilda May Avenue, Swanley, BR8 7BF. For further information – www.swanleyhistorygroup.weebly.com, or Email [email protected]
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser
“Swanley Village is unique and is under threat from massive development” said Keith Whitmore, in the introduction to his presentation at the January meeting of Swanley History Group. Visually, areas of Swanley Village may seem little altered from a century ago. By using his extensive collection of family and other photographs and maps, Keith invited us to look closer at the buildings and those who lived in them.
Our photographic journey started at Highlands Hill, past Highlands Farm which stands on the site of a Saxon homestead. Several village houses, shown in the photographs, no longer exist. These include the original May Cottage, inhabited by a smock wearing Mr Mills, burnt down by a tinder from a passing traction engine, a row of Tudor cottages opposite Beechenlea Lane, Hop Kiln Cottages in Button Street, bombed in 1940 and ancient Gildenhill Farm. Former shops, ale houses and businesses featured. The Lamb was once two cottages and only served ale until the mid-twentieth century.
School photographs of children attending The National School from 1876 onwards and their teachers Misses Abel, Clement and Stanley (1920) showed rows of smocks in various state of repair. Absence was high as children were required to work at nearby farms and nurseries and the school was closed at various times through outbreaks of dangerous illnesses – including smallpox (1876) diphtheria (1898) and mumps, measles and scarlet fever.
St Paul’s Church and The Vicarage (formerly The Parsonage) were designed byEwan Christian and built in 1862. The prominent Eastwood family paid for additions such as the Tower and the organ. We admired the costumes shown in a photograph of an Edwardian tea party attended by many of Keith’s family in the grounds of The Vicarage and another of a ‘Gentlemen’s’ meeting on Alexandra Meadow (1910) .
Many of today’s large older properties were once two or more homes, lived in by high numbers of people. According to the 1881 census, Vancouver Cottage, (built in the 1600’s) housed 17 people including Keith’s ancestors the Atkins family. Irish railway workers lodged in Wood Street Cottages and no doubt frequented the ale house at number 5.
Our Annual General Meeting is on 7 February. There will also be a Musical Quiz - 7.15 for 7.30 pm start, at White Oak Indoor Bowls Centre, Garrolds Close, off Hilda May Avenue, Swanley, BR8 7BF. For further information – www.swanleyhistorygroup.weebly.com, or Email [email protected]
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser