Swanley History Group
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      • Houses of Parliament 16.3.15
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    • Great Aunt Frances by Keith Whitmore
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Swanley History Group – April 2016 meeting
 
Esme loves her maps – and members and visitors attending the April meeting of Swanley History Group enjoyed seeing them too at her photographic presentation featuring the Ruxley, Birchwood and White Oak areas of Swanley.
 
The earliest map shown was produced in 1586, during the reign of Elizabeth I. It was interesting to see the spelling of local areas – Rookesley, Byrchen Wood, and Dartfoorde for example.  Other maps followed, indicating the route of the toll road between London and Hythe, then a busy port, which traversed through open countryside, now our town of Swanley. Toll roads were a much safer option for travellers.  There were gates along the toll road where the tolls were collected.  The first toll gate was somewhere east of the village of Foots Cray at Ruxley and from 1741 there was a weighing machine for over-weight wagons nearby.  Tolls were exempt for The Royal Mail; soldiers with baggage going to the coast; vagrants being returned to their parishes of origin; movement of road repair materials and people going to church on Sundays.  Some milestones still exist and defacing one was a serious offence – a fine of 40 shillings or imprisonment of one month was the punishment.
 
Photographs of the area of Birchwood were of great interest.  Esme thought there might have been a gibbet there but has not found evidence to date.  Nearby Stonehill Green Farm and Hextable House both date from 1500’s.  The Hunt once assembled at The Bull, which over time also provided accommodation as coaching inn;  a meeting place; a sales venue;   training quarters for  pugilists and more recently nightclubs called Hickory’s and Deja Vu.  Does anyone remember going to disco nights there on Sundays back in the  1960’s?
 
The imposing buildings of White Oak Hospital produced much comment from our audience.  Built on a 49 acre site at Garrolds Heath and opened in 1903 by the Metropolitan Asylums Board, children with serious eye conditions causing blindness were treated and educated.  There were photographs of some of the thirty cottages, school buildings, staff accommodation and the laundry to admire.  All that remains today of this imposing institution is the boarded-up Woodlands and the wrought iron gates.
 
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 3 May when ‘The History of Parkwood’ will be presented by Esme Hodge - 7.15pm 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, telephone Terry on 07884493894 Or Email swanleyhistorygroup@hotmail.co.uk   
 
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser   

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  • Home
  • About us
  • Contact Swanley History Group
    • Contact Form
    • Data Protection Policy May 2018
  • Swanley War Memorial The First World War The Stories Behind The Names
    • REVIEWS Swanley War Memorial The First World War The Stories Behind The Names
  • Swanley War Memorial WW1 The names
  • WW2 NAMES ON SWANLEY WAR MEMORIAL
  • Events
    • February 2019 Group meeting Report
    • December 2018 Group Meeting Report
    • Remembrance Wood 24.11.18
    • Remembrance Day 11. 11. 2018
    • November 2018 Group Meeting Report
    • October 2018 Group Meeting Report
    • Bluetown Outing 4.10.18
    • September 2018 Group Meeting Report
    • August 2018 Group Meeting Report
    • July 2018 Group Meeting Report
    • June 2018 Group Meeting Report
    • May 2018 Group Meeting Report
    • April 2018 Group Meeting report
    • March 2018 Group Meeting Report
    • February 2018 Group Meeting Report
    • January 2018 Group Meeting Report
    • December 2017 Group Meeting Report
    • November 2017 Group Meeting Report
    • October 2017 Group meeting Report
    • September 2017 Group Meeting Report
    • Cobham Hall Outing 14.8.17
    • August 2017 Group Meeting Report
    • July 2017 Group Meeting
    • June 2017 Group Meeting
    • May 2017 Group Meeting Report
    • April 2017 Group Meeting Report
    • March 2017 Group Meeting Report
    • February 2017 Group Meeting
    • January 2017 Group Meeting Report
    • December 2016 Group Meeting Report
    • November 2016 Group Meeting Report
    • October 2016 Group Meeting Report
    • September 2016 Group Meeting Report
    • Parkwood Hall visit 25.8.16
    • August 2016 Group Meeting report
    • July 2016 Group meeting report
    • June 2016 Group Meeting
    • May 2016 Group meeting
    • April 2016 Group Meeting
    • March 2016 Group Meeting Report
    • February 2016 Group Meeting/AGM report
    • January 2016 Group Meeting Report
    • December 2015 Group Meeting
    • December 2015 Group Meeting photos
    • November 2015 Group Meeting Report
    • November 2015 Group Meeting Photos
    • October 2015 Group Meeting
    • September 2015 Group Meeting
    • August 2015 Group Meeting Report
    • July 2015 Group Meeting
    • June 2015 Group meeting
    • May 2015 Group Meeting Report
    • April 2015 Group meeting Report
    • March 2015 Group Meeting report
    • February 2015 Group Meeting/AGM
    • January 2015 Group Meeting report
    • December 2014 Group Meeting
    • November 2014 Group meeting >
      • Houses of Parliament 16.3.15
    • October 2014 Group Meeting report
    • September 2014 Group Meeting report
    • August 2014 Group Meeting report
    • August 2014 Group meeting Photographs
    • July 2014 Group Meeting report
    • July 2014 Group Meeting Photographs
    • June 2014 Group Meeting report
    • Swanley Park Spring Fair May 2014
    • Swanley Town Council AGM 9.4.14
    • May 2014 Group meeting report
    • April 2014 Group meeting report
    • Sevenoaks Local History Fair 22.3.14
    • Report on Sevenoaks History Fair 22.3.14
    • March 2014 Group Meeting report
    • March meeting 2014 Tony Miles WW1 Medals
    • February 2014 Group Meeting Report (AGM)
    • January 2014 Group Meeting Report
  • 2018 Committee
  • Memories
    • Swanley Cafe London Road
    • A City On A Hill
    • Coleby Cultivators Ltd
    • Fred Atkins Coaches and Hextable Memories Juliet Evans
    • Memories of Hextable and Swanley Village
    • Peggy Lambert's memories of life in White Oak Hospital
    • Edith Allchin's Trip to Swanley Village 1905 recorded by Keith Whitmore
    • Great Aunt Frances by Keith Whitmore
  • The Woodlands 'Murals'
  • Gallery One Swanley Views
  • Gallery Two Swanley Views
  • Gallery Three Crockenhill
  • Gallery Coach Trip to Houses of Parliament 16.3.15
  • Gallery Four Five Wents to Birchwood
  • Gallery Five Dartford Shops and Businesses
  • Gallery Six Swanley Working Mens Club
  • Gallery Seven Swanley Village
  • Gallery Eight Hextable
  • Gallery Nine Swanley War Memorial
  • Gallery Ten Parkwood Hall 25.8.16
  • Gallery Eleven More Swanley Views
  • Gallery Twelve Local views Swanley Village Hextable and Crockenhill
  • Gallery Thirteen Dartford and Wilmington Views
  • Gallery Fourteen SwanleyJunction Station
  • Gallery Fifteen Local Advertisments
  • From the SHG Archive
  • Web Links