2018 Ploughing Match and Gymkhana

If you appreciate rural living and want to get up close to experiencing many ways of ploughing (conventional, vintage, steam and horses), you won't want to miss the annual Gravesend and Rochester Agricultural Association Ploughing Match and Gymkhana.

It's well worth attending, whatever the weather!

This year's event will take place at Tudor Farm (Stoke Road, Upper Stoke, ME3 9SF). 

See you there!

Out in rural Hoo

It was good getting out and about this week - again exploring some of the more rural parts of Hoo.

With a spell of fairly nice sunny weather, and the prospect of some much needed exercise, I headed out to help with the delivery of the latest edition of Village Voices (the community magazine for Hoo and Chattenden) with Michael Pearce, who runs the magazine, and Kevin from The Chequers pub.

We delivered the magazine to Hoo’s more rural areas, including Dux Court Road, the Ratcliffe Highway, Roper’s Lane, Jacob’s Lane and the section of Stoke Road beyond the 'village envelope' - going as far as the last house in the parish, namely Polly Adams Cottage.

It was a lovely afternoon and it was good seeing everything looking so vibrant and interesting in the sunshine, albeit it was still very chilly.

I'm looking forward to the summer months!

  

A farthing’s worth of sweets please!

I mentioned the other day how nice it is being contacted by former, current and future residents! Often living locally, but sometimes living the on other side of the world - it’s fascinating reading the many stories and memories of people with connections to the Hoo Peninsula.

Last week I was contacted by Margaret Hill (nee Ross) who moved away from the area to County Durham in 1968. Margaret lived in Hoo as a girl and has fond memories of living in the area. I was really interested to learn of her connections to some well known local family names, including Miskin, Blackman, Pointer (or Poynter) and Flack.

Margaret told me she is directly related to the Cruttenden family. Her grandfather, William, was founder member of the Hoo Silver Band (pictured below). His wife, Kate, was an officer in the Salvation Army, based at their hall near Crawfords Cottages in Hoo (roughly where the Red Cross Hall is today). Apparently, William and Kate Cruttenden had 9 children.

Margaret got in touch after seeing the ‘Then and Now’ photo series I featured recently, looking at locations along Stoke Road, particularly the old photo of the now demolished Carpet Shop. When Margaret’s grandmother lived in Crawfords Cottages, the shop sold vegetables and sweets - and she has fond memories of crossing the road for a farthing’s worth of sweets.

'High Street', now called Stoke Road, looking west (with Crawfords Cottages to the right).

The same view today.

It was particularly funny to read Margaret’s story of a time when she got cross with her mother, packed a suitcase and, at just 4 years old, left home! She went as far as her aunt’s house, who lived in Abbots Court. Margaret lived along Main Road, near to St. Werburgh Crescent, so I suppose this is quite a distance for someone so young. But she says her mother always knew where to find her!

A view from Abbots Court Road.

Abbots Court, currently under renovation.

Thank you Margaret for getting in touch - I really enjoyed reading your memories of the area.

Would you like to share your stories, memories or old photos of the area? Just get in touch via the contact page.
  

The Hemony Grove pond

With new development having enlarged Hoo in more recent years, it’s good to see that some old village characteristics can be maintained and incorporated into the newer parts of the community, such as the pond on Hemony Grove.

This old pond, with its rustic surroundings, was originally a clay pit. It can be seen on maps as far back as 1870, and is now a really pleasant feature of The Pastures development along Stoke Road.

I found some old maps on a really good website called, funnily enough, Old Maps. It has maps of the area, which are free to view online.

Looking at some of these maps, I could see that the eastern side of Hoo (mainly along Stoke Road) once had clay, gravel and cement pits, a kiln, smithy and a brickworks too. The area around the pond, or ‘pit’ as it is still more commonly known, was surrounded by orchards, as it remained until the new development was started a few years ago. A few residents have told me about the fun had as kids ‘scrumping’ in those orchards!

The ‘pit’ may have lost its industrial use nowadays, but it gives a pleasant glimpse of life as it used to be and is a little gem for wildlife - and long may it remain.

Another little bit of education for me personally, I also discovered that Stoke Road was originally called the High Street, being re-named in about 1959.

Do you know about any other local features on the Hoo Peninsula? Get in touch via the contact page.
 

Roadworks (Kingsnorth Development) - Ropers Lane and Stoke Road, Hoo and Kingsnorth

Roadworks off the A228 (reference ZT9981893 and ZT9981894), including Ropers Lane and Stoke Road, towards Kingsnorth, seem to be progressing. Completion of the 're-alignment' work is expected in February 2011. Updates and further information can be obtained by clicking here.

History Walk (Stoke), Saturday 26 June 2010

On Saturday morning (26 June - my birthday) I took part in a history walk around Stoke (Lower, Middle and Upper). The event was organised by Alan Marshall and, accompanying him, was Paul from the Wildlife Trust. At the start of the walk, I was given a leaflet, which was called ‘Marshes, Muddies & Hogarth’s Buddies’.

Starting in Lower Stoke, Alan went through the history of the village, which included the history of Stoke School, the Windmill, The Ship Inn, Forge House and The Nag’s Head pub – with particular reference to when William Hogarth stayed the night in May 1732 with four friends. The account of their stay suggests they had a reasonably good time. The Hogarth group went on to Grain and later boarded a boat to Sheerness.

From Lower Stoke the walk continued to Middle Stoke, where we went down Burrows Lane towards the site of Middle Stoke Halt. On crossing the railway line, we passed the airfield, which was buzzing with microlight activity. The small airfield is home to Medway Airsports Club, whose website contains good aerial photographs of the area.

 

 

 

 

  

The views of Stoke Saltings were excellent and Alan talked about the history of the Muddies who, from the 1850’s to the 1920’s, tirelessly dug clay from the Saltings for cement production. This is a fascinating part of our local history, so I was especially keen to hear about this.

 

 

 

Paul, from the Wildlife Trust, talked about different types of wildlife in the area and, particularly interesting, was his reference to the ‘marsh frog’. This frog only exists in certain parts of the Hoo Peninsula, as well as in Dungeness. Whilst on the Saltings, Paul spoke about different edible plants and I then tasted a few!

 

On leaving the Saltings, we passed through a boatyard and along Creek Lane into Upper Stoke. We headed for the Church of St. Peter & St. Paul, where we were met by Church Warden, Ian Bett.

Ian handed out literature about the Church and, along with Alan, recounted aspects of its history. Although I have visited the Church many times, I had never been inside, so this was a real pleasure and I wasn’t disappointed. Whilst having a look around the Church, I came across a commemorative plaque with a list of local men killed during World War 1. I noticed that two of these men were ancestors of mine – William Stephen Watson and Harry Stratford (both nephews of my Great-Grandfather Herbert Watson).

Ian then led us up the narrow steps to the top of the Church tower. The views from the top stretched across Stoke and the surrounding landscape and River Medway. On our return back down, we had a look at the three bells, all of which vary in age.

Following our visit to the Church, the walk continued through Upper Stoke until we stopped at Court Lodge Farm (once occupied by Ian Bett). The house sits on the side of the road (on The Street). We then walked further along to look at a darkly coloured farmyard barn, which is said to be more than 300 years old.

The entire walk was fascinating and it was 3 hours well spent. My special thanks must go to Alan Marshall, whose knowledge and enthusiasm gave me a fantastic morning. Thanks also to Paul, from the Wildlife Trust, and to Ian Bett (Church Warden) at the Church of St. Peter & St. Paul in Upper Stoke.

Visit the website of the Church of St. Peter & St. Paul by clicking here, and visit the website of the Kent Wildlife Trust by clicking here.
 

Susannah Watson (nee Theobald) 1837 to 1925, Lower Stoke

I don't know when or where this rather interesting photograph was taken. I believe the older woman at the back is Susannah Watson (nee Theobald), who was my Great-Great-Grandmother. I believe the other people photographed are Susannah's daughter / daughter-in-law, but I am yet to work this out. Susannah lived in Stoke from the 1850's until her death on 23 November 1925. Her death certificate says that she died at "6 Gravel Pit, Stoke". A few days before Susannah's death, Queen Alexandra (Consort of Edward VII) died on 20 November 1925.

Jacobs Lane, Kingsnorth

Some spare time on Bank Holiday Monday and I decided to have a drive along Stoke Road, stopping at the junction with Jacobs Lane to look at the views out to Kingsnorth Power Station.  A gloomy old day, weather wise, but very nice to get out and about for some fresh air!  With these photographs, I seem to have a bit of a pylon thing going on . . .