Swanley History Group June meeting Media Report
63 members and visitors attended SHG's June meeting when our Committee member and Treasurer Esme Hodge presented Part 3 of Swanley Then and Now comparing modern views of the local area with those captured in historical maps,newspapers, photos and postcards. She took us on a journey from Kettlewell hospital through Swanley past the War memorial and down Swanley Lane, formerly known as Birchwood Street when it was just a narrow track, and on to the border with Hextable at the Five Wents crossroads.
Along the way we learnt that in 1907 835,183 pieces of laundry travelled the 18 miles from St Barts Hospital in London to be washed and ironed at the Laundry at Kettlewell each year. They were carried by horse and cart with the driver and horse staying overnight and returning next day with the clean laundry. In 1930 330 local women and girls, some as young as 14 ,were employed with the eldest and most experienced entrusted with the task of ironing the intricate headwear and aprons worn by the Nurses. These jobs were sought after and passed down through families as they were thought well paid in comparison to working in the fields or having to leave home to go into Service.
Kettlewell hospital was destroyed by fire in 1969 but the Laundry was still functioning in 1987 when 4 million pieces of Laundry were being dealt with annually. It was demolished in 2008 to make way for the Squirrels Close housing development.
We heard that the Swanley War Memorial was moved from the site of it's unveiling in 1922 to make room for the extension to ASDA in July 1980 and that Joseph Gedge named as the first officer to die in WW1 is still remembered by the Royal Navy today with the presentation of the Gedge medal to the Lieutenant scoring the highest mark in the exams at the first attempt.
Esme showed us pictures of Alfred Hewett's Basketworks , Woodgers and Pipe Nursery and read 19th century newspaper reports of drunken behaviour and petty theft amongst the clientele of The Woodman pub, now Shaad restaurant. There were other reviews of the hostelry as a welcoming place full of Kentish atmosphere and furnishings - an early Trip Advisor review!
Looking at the modern photos of old scenes showed that the clues to our past are still all around us. Perhaps we need to look more closely at our surroundings as we walk and drive around. Look out for sections of old walls and buildings, house names and plaques high up on the sides of buildings, Victorian street furniture such as railings, posts etc and question how and why streets got their names. Edgar Close for example was named after Edgar Hewett son of the Basketworks family who went on to serve for many years as Clerk to the Council.
Does anyone know who Hilda May was, now immortalised in Hilda May Avenue? One of our members has often wondered and would love to solve the puzzle.
Ann Hollands Group Secretary
63 members and visitors attended SHG's June meeting when our Committee member and Treasurer Esme Hodge presented Part 3 of Swanley Then and Now comparing modern views of the local area with those captured in historical maps,newspapers, photos and postcards. She took us on a journey from Kettlewell hospital through Swanley past the War memorial and down Swanley Lane, formerly known as Birchwood Street when it was just a narrow track, and on to the border with Hextable at the Five Wents crossroads.
Along the way we learnt that in 1907 835,183 pieces of laundry travelled the 18 miles from St Barts Hospital in London to be washed and ironed at the Laundry at Kettlewell each year. They were carried by horse and cart with the driver and horse staying overnight and returning next day with the clean laundry. In 1930 330 local women and girls, some as young as 14 ,were employed with the eldest and most experienced entrusted with the task of ironing the intricate headwear and aprons worn by the Nurses. These jobs were sought after and passed down through families as they were thought well paid in comparison to working in the fields or having to leave home to go into Service.
Kettlewell hospital was destroyed by fire in 1969 but the Laundry was still functioning in 1987 when 4 million pieces of Laundry were being dealt with annually. It was demolished in 2008 to make way for the Squirrels Close housing development.
We heard that the Swanley War Memorial was moved from the site of it's unveiling in 1922 to make room for the extension to ASDA in July 1980 and that Joseph Gedge named as the first officer to die in WW1 is still remembered by the Royal Navy today with the presentation of the Gedge medal to the Lieutenant scoring the highest mark in the exams at the first attempt.
Esme showed us pictures of Alfred Hewett's Basketworks , Woodgers and Pipe Nursery and read 19th century newspaper reports of drunken behaviour and petty theft amongst the clientele of The Woodman pub, now Shaad restaurant. There were other reviews of the hostelry as a welcoming place full of Kentish atmosphere and furnishings - an early Trip Advisor review!
Looking at the modern photos of old scenes showed that the clues to our past are still all around us. Perhaps we need to look more closely at our surroundings as we walk and drive around. Look out for sections of old walls and buildings, house names and plaques high up on the sides of buildings, Victorian street furniture such as railings, posts etc and question how and why streets got their names. Edgar Close for example was named after Edgar Hewett son of the Basketworks family who went on to serve for many years as Clerk to the Council.
Does anyone know who Hilda May was, now immortalised in Hilda May Avenue? One of our members has often wondered and would love to solve the puzzle.
Ann Hollands Group Secretary