A Royal visit to Upnor

The below image appeared in 'The Sphere' on 28th July 1956 and shows leading boy Barrie Dimmock (pictured right), from Buckinghamshire, receiving an award from Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands during a visit he made to naval training vessel Arethusa in Lower Upnor.

Cadet Dimmock was presented with the Rob Roy Cup and also received a number of other prizes.

Prince Bernhard toured the Arethusa, addressed the ship’s company and awarded numerous prizes to the assembled cadets. He also inspected a guard of honour and the ship’s band.

Arethusa was built in 1911 (in Hamburg, Germany), and was originally called Peking. She was purchased by Shaftesbury Homes in 1932, re-named Arethusa, and moved to Upnor in July 1933, where she became a training school and children’s home. In 1974, as Peking, she was sold to the South Street Seaport Museum in New York City where she remained until 2016 - when the ship was moved back to Germany. Peking is now undergoing a £23 million restoration and is set to become the flagship of a new maritime museum in Hamburg.

Thomas Aveling Heritage Walk

Celebrating local heritage is something I enjoy doing - as you’ll see from the hundreds of posts I’ve written on this site since May 2010.

A community walk has been created by the Thomas Aveling Society to celebrate the pioneering Victorian engineer Thomas Aveling, who lived in Hoo as a boy, teenager and young man.

Thomas is often referred to as the ‘Father of the Traction Engine’. He’s known around the world for his Aveling & Porter Company of Rochester (based in Strood) - manufacturing iconic steam road rollers and traction engines.

Born in Cambridgeshire in 1824, Thomas moved to Hoo as a young boy, following the death of his father. He remained in Hoo throughout his teenage years and into adulthood - when he worked for local farmer Edward Lake (whose niece he would marry).

Thomas became internationally successful, but he sadly died prematurely in 1882, aged 57. He was buried outside St. Werburgh Church in Hoo.

As well as this new formalised local walk, the Thomas Aveling Society operates ‘The Mobile Thomas Aveling Museum’ (for schools and community groups) and ‘Thomas Aveling’s Annual Birthday Celebration’ in September (a beautiful celebration of local heritage).

If you’d like to download (and print out) a copy of the heritage walk, visit the Thomas Aveling Society website by clicking here.

  

VE Day 75

The Bank Holiday weekend of 8th/9th/10th May was set to include a huge nationwide celebration to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day - the end of the Second World War in Europe.

As a result of the Covid-19 lockdown - most celebrations have either been cancelled or postponed. Activities would have included street parties, exhibitions, parades and other community events.

The organisers of 'VE Day 75' hope to move some of the planned activities to the weekend of 15th/16th August (the 75th anniversary of VJ Day - Victory over Japan Day).

For more information and updates, visit the 'VE Day 75' website.

Many folk had intended to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day by organising street parties. Some have now decided to arrange 'stay at home street parties' instead.

If you organise a 'stay at home street party' on 8th May - send your pics to Village Voices Publishing for inclusion in a future community magazine. Get in touch by emailing: office@villagevoicespublishing.co.uk

During these odd and worrying lockdown times, I'm going through my local history collection and archive. 

A few years ago I bought 49 copies of a WW2 magazine called 'The War Illustrated'. I'm checking each magazine to see if I can find any items relating to the Hoo Peninsula and Medway Towns - for inclusion in my local history columns in the Village Voices Community Magazine and the Strood & Hoo Peninsula Times.

  

Birdsong

With most of us spending considerably more time at home (and in the garden) many people are enjoying the sound of birdsong - all day long!

The Covid-19 lockdown has resulted in fewer vehicles on roads, almost deserted skies and a cleaner, more peaceful, environment. Birdsong seems amplified by the reduction in other noise.

Birdsong is really relaxing - the perfect tonic in these worrying times. 

It's disappointing when people complain that 'birds are too noisy' or feel they're a nuisance because they might poo on a garden fence! 

The Hoo Peninsula is best known for having a vibrant bird life. 

Along with the wider Thames Estuary, the Hoo Peninsula is a vital migration hub for hundreds of thousands of wintering wildfowl and wading birds, as well as providing a summer breeding ground for migratory birds.

From garden birds to nightingales at Lodge Hill and herons at High Halstow - our local landscape provides rich pickings and a safe haven for many species. They enjoy hedgerows and gardens, farmland, waterways, wetlands, salt marshes, mudflats and woodlands.

Keep tweeting birds - and make everyone feel a little bit better.

  

Old Black House in Allhallows

This old photo was submitted a while back by Allhallows resident Colin Davis and shows the Old Black House in Allhallows.

Although no longer standing, the building was near to Avery House (also known as Avery Farm House) where the main entrance of Allhallows Leisure Park is now located.

During its life, the Old Black House was apparently rented as the second poor house (in Allhallows) when the first (the former post office near All Saints Church) was no longer able to cope.

If you have any information about the Old Black House, please get in touch with me by submitting your details in the contact box (right).
 

No litter picks in Hoo for a while!

The monthly Hoo Clean Up litter pick is on hold until further notice.

I formed the Hoo Clean Up back in 2012 to highlight the growing litter problem in the centre of Hoo. Sadly, the litter problem still exists.

These days the group is very much a positive social gathering for a small, but enthusiastic, bunch of residents.

   

Helping elderly and vulnerable residents

Please print out this poster (or note down the details on some paper) and pass the details to any elderly and vulnerable residents who live near you and who may not be online (as they may not be aware of this support).

Well done to the volunteers and staff at wHoo Cares for continuing to provide such vital support at such a worrying time.
 

Kingsnorth Air Station

The Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust installed a memorial at Kingsnorth Industrial Estate near Hoo on 6th October - in recognition of where a Royal Navy Airship Station (and later RAF) airfield once stood. 

The memorial was initiated and privately-funded by Kenneth Bannerman from the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust.

You can find out more about this memorial (and the work of the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust) by clicking here.

  

Take a tour of Gad’s Hill in Higham

Don’t miss visiting Gad’s Hill Place in Higham. The building was purchased by Charles Dickens in March 1856 and is now part of Gad’s Hill School.

Tours (with volunteer guides) will be at 1pm, 2.15pm and 3.30pm on 4th and 5th April, 2nd and 3rd May, 6th and 7th June, 11th and 12th July, 8th and 9th August, 12th and 13th September and 10th and 11th October.

Tickets (includes a delicious cream tea) are £9.50 for adults, £5 for children (aged seven to 12 - free for six and under), available by phoning 01474 337600 or by emailing: info@visitgravesend.co.uk

Charles Dickens lived at Gad’s Hill until his death in 1870, aged 58. 9th June 2020 will be the 150th anniversary of his death.

The Beacon of Beacon Hill

I recently went searching for the original ‘beacon’ of Beacon Hill on the Chattenden/Upnor border.

The beacon is a circular mound - with a diameter of around 30 metres. A WW2 pillbox was built on the 6.5 metre-high scheduled monument, but previously there would have been a fire basket or brazier (on a pole) on the top. The mound appears on maps as far back as 1570.

The mound is on private land, but you can walk near to it - just walk along public right of way RS116 at the end of Beacon Hill Lane.
 

Small discovery - big satisfaction!

Those who research their family history will understand the satisfaction given by the smallest discovery. 

I recently found the below photo in my collection (it was actually sent to me back in 2013). It is part of a much larger photo (a wedding photo) but my interest is what is shown in the background.

The image shows a small dwelling once occupied by my two-times great grandmother Susannah Watson. I believe she died there in 1925. 

The cottage was demolished (or fell down) many years ago - today it is a yard and garage next to Stoke Garage in Lower Stoke. I’ve always wondered what this house looked like, and now I know.

  

Good news for Aveling group

Following the group’s first public event last September (Thomas Aveling’s Birthday Celebration 2019), the Thomas Aveling Society rolls into 2020 with three positive developments to report.

Firstly, Hoo resident and talented artist Alan Page presented Michael Pearce with a fabulous painting showing an imagined scene featuring Thomas with one of his steam road rollers outside the Invicta Works in Strood.

Secondly, thanks to a donation of £200 from the Blakemore Foundation (owners of Hoo Spar), plus additional support by Village Voices Publishing, the ‘Mobile Thomas Aveling Museum’ will be launched later this month (January). The project is part of the group’s ‘Reaching Out Education Programme’ and will see an exhibition placed in schools and local groups for set periods.

Lastly, the Thomas Aveling Society recently lobbied Medway Council and housing developer Taylor Wimpey to assign Thomas Aveling themed names to roads on a new housing development along Stoke Road in Hoo (yet to start construction). Thomas worked for farmer Edward Lake (of Abbots Court) on the fields around Stoke Road (and Abbots Court) as a young man - possibly developing his early inventions and engineering ideas on the very fields now being developed. The Thomas Aveling Society has agreed for the following road names to be assigned: Thomas Aveling Road, Invicta Drive, Harvest Rise, Plough Close, Foundry Close, Blacksmith Lane and Edward Lake Drive.

The Thomas Aveling Society was formed in 2014 to promote and celebrate the life and legacy of pioneering engineer Thomas Aveling, who lived in Hoo as a boy and young man. He was buried in the churchyard at St. Werburgh Church following his death in 1882, aged 57.

  

Enjoying the great outdoors!

With an improvement in the weather - it has been good to get out and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.

I visited the Isle of Grain yesterday for a stroll around a section of woodland in Grain Coastal Park.

Grain Coastal Park is a great place to visit with many different types of walk offered - walks to suit all preferences.

The nearest public toilet is in Lower Stoke (Grain Road).

Enjoy!
 

Seven years of the Hoo Clean Up

When I formed the Hoo Clean Up community litter picking event back in January 2012 I didn't think it would still be regularly taking place seven years later.

A team of Hoo residents last month marked the seventh anniversary of the Hoo Clean Up at the group's first litter pick of 2019. The volunteers were joined by a group of enthusiastic beavers (and cubs and scouts) from 50th Medway Towns (Hoo) Scout Group (all pictured below).

The Hoo Clean Up wasn't formed to provide a litter picking service, or to highlight any failing in service by Medway Council (or its contractors). It was formed to highlight a growing problem of residents (of all ages) who needlessly drop litter.

I am pleased to say that I have attended all but two or three events since January 2012.

If you would like to take part - the volunteers in Hoo meet on the last Saturday of every month (except in April and December) at 9.30am, outside Hoo Library (Church Street, Hoo , ME3 9AL). The session is followed by free refreshments (sponsored by the Village Voices Community Magazine) back at Hoo Library.
 

Engineering Hitler’s Downfall

I took the below photo (and many others) back in 2011. It shows World War Two anti-tank obstacles (Dragon’s Teeth) near Grain beach.

The history of these defences (as well as one of my photos), along with other initiatives deployed during the Second World War, are featured in a book by Gwilym Roberts called Engineering Hitler’s Downfall. It was published late last year and includes a Forward by Admiral Lord West. 

You can purchase the book online (for £18.99) by clicking here.

If you'd like to take a look at my original post from February 2011, click here.
 

Military airfield recognition

During the many Armistice centenary commemorations last November, Lt. Col. Fred Beringer (retired) unveiled a plaque to mark where RAF Allhallows once stood. 

The plaque, pictured below, was created by the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust and is located outside Allhallows Village Hall - the airfield was nearby - on what is today neighbouring farmland. 

The airfield was active between 1916 and 1935.  Various fighter types from ‘No. 50 Squadron’ initially used the airfield, as a Home Defence landing ground during World War One.  By the late summer of 1918 ‘No. 143 Squadron’ had taken charge of the site, with Sopwith Camels remaining in service for this unit after the end of fighting, although Sopwith Snipes had begun to replace them during 1919.

The Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust is now planning to install a memorial in Hoo, at the site of what was RNAS Kingsnorth (RAF Kingsnorth), active between 1914 and 1921.
 

Merry Christmas!

I hope you have an enjoyable and relaxing Christmas.

If you'd like to see how wintry the Hoo Peninsula landscape looked back in 2010, click here for some photographs.
 

Decorating the front door

Here's a photo of a lovely looking Christmas wreath - now hanging on my front door.

I bought it from Homeleigh Garden Centre in Hoo (on the Ratcliffe Highway). I like the style - the birds seem to appreciate it as well. 

The wreath I purchased last Christmas (below) was very similar and was also a big hit with the birds.

Let the festivities begin.
 

Let there be light

I visited a number of local communities during the Armistice Centenary weekend earlier this month - to see the commemorations to mark the end of the First World War.

I ended my touring on the evening of Sunday 11th November at the site of the old Grain Fort, on the Isle of Grain, where St. James (Isle of Grain) Parish Council had organised the lighting of a special beacon, in conjunction with St. James Church and Kent Fire & Rescue Service (Grain).

The event was well attended by villagers, and was part of the nationwide 'Beacons of Light' tribute/commemoration.

The above image is poor quality, but I only had my phone camera available. To give you a better idea about what the Beacon actually looked like - here's a clearer image of one.

The Beacons symbolised the 'light of hope' that emerged from the darkness of four years of dreadful war.
 

Armistice Centenary

Today I am remembering my ancestors William Stephen Watson (killed in 1917 aged 21) and Harry Stratford (killed in 1917 aged 24) from Lower Stoke and St. Mary Hoo on the Hoo Peninsula.

William and Harry (who were cousins) were my great grandfather's nephews - making them my first cousins twice removed (or something very similar).

I will never forget my visit in 2011 to Northern France.

I will remember them.
 

WW1: Remembering each and every one

I’ve written before about my local ancestors William Watson (from Stoke) and Harry Stratford (from St. Mary Hoo), who were killed during the First World War.

Next month will be the centenary of the end of the First World War (Armistice). You’ve probably already heard about many activities, events and commemorations taking place across the country.

The Royal British Legion, in partnership with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, has developed something called Every One Remembered, a project to individually commemorate over one million Commonwealth service men and women who were killed during the First World War. The losses were felt in almost every town and village in the UK and throughout what was then the British Empire.

Every One Remembered is an opportunity for you to be part of a great collective act of Remembrance.

I believe the project is only accessible online, so if you’re not online you’ll need to enlist the help of a friend or family member. Then visit the dedicated website where you can choose to commemorate someone you know - a relative or person on your local war memorial - or commemorate someone randomly selected for you. There is also an optional opportunity for you to make a donation to support the Royal British Legion’s work with the Armed Forces community.

I’ve added an entry for my ancestor William Stephen Watson. He lived in Lower Stoke on the Hoo Peninsula. It only took a few minutes to complete the entry. I couldn’t add a photo of William as I don’t have one. I only have a brief description of him on his military record - I sadly don’t know what he looked like.

If you’d like to share photos and stories about any local ancestors who fought in the First World War please get in touch using the contact panel on the right.
 

Community gardening event in Hoo

I'll be joining other volunteers from Hoo this Saturday at the Hoo Clean Up annual community gardening event, albeit I will mainly help with litter picking (as much as I like to visit gardens, I'm not really a gardener).

The event is once again being supported by the quarterly Strood & Hoo Peninsula Times and the monthly Village Voices Community Magazine so there'll be plenty of cakes and refreshments throughout.

If you decide to pop along - take some plants if you have any that you'd like to donate and some tools.

See you there!
 

Happy birthday Thomas Aveling

As co-founder of the Thomas Aveling Society (Hoo), I'd like to post the following birthday greeting.

You can stay in touch with the Thomas Aveling Society (Hoo) by visiting the group's website here (where you'll find social media links).

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!

Is it farewell to The White Horse?

Perhaps it was only a matter of time before a proposal came forward to demolish The White Horse pub in Upper Stoke, but I’m still rather sad about the prospect.

A planning application was submitted to Medway Council (the local planning authority) on 8th June to demolish this old building and replace it with a number of dwellings. The summary advises the following:

“MC/18/1736 - Outline planning application with all matters reserved for the demolition of existing public house and outbuilding and construction of three detached four-bed houses with integral single garage and a pair of garages linked detached four-bed houses with associated parking and landscaping - White Horse Public House, The Street, Stoke, Rochester, ME3 9RT”.

I’ve mentioned The White Horse a few times on this website (click here, here and here for a few examples) explaining my links with the place.

I love old buildings so it’ll be sad to see The White Horse disappear from the Upper Stoke streetscape.

I hope I win the National Lottery this evening!

Click here to be directed to the relevant section on Medway Council's planning portal.
  

Get to work on your archive

Nearly all of us have a box or two of old family photos tucked away in the loft, cellar or sideboard. These boxes usually provide a fascinating insight into family life - with a mix of old black and white images and colour photos with the odd Polaroid thrown in. 

But what happens to that treasured box of photos when we’re no longer around - do they get passed on to someone else in the family? Will they know who is actually pictured in all those personal memories?

Well, I’m encouraging everyone to dig out their old photos and have a ‘family day’ to sort through them and to make a note on the back of each photo of who is pictured (and to add any other useful details). 

Each box of photos is a great source of social history - your own personal history archive. Who knows where our photos will one day end up, but at least if someone has made a note on the back - whoever is looking at them will know who they are looking at.

  

Contact

Through the 'Get In Touch' section on this blog - I receive many requests for assistance with family history research, as well as others simply looking for more information about villages on the Hoo Peninsula. I always try responding as quickly as possible, but due to the nature of many of the requests - I can't always provide an immediate answer.

I will be including some of the requests (particularly those relating to family history research) in my monthly local history article in the Village Voices Community Magazine (delivered to 15,100 properties on the Hoo Peninsula, Frindsbury, Higham, and Wainscott). This will enable the widest possible exposure and hopefully help with some of the requests.

So, either through Village Voices or the contact section on this blog, please stay in touch.
 

Centenary of the Armistice

The centenary of the end of the First World War will be in November and many commemorations are being planned up and down the country. I’ll be including more details about these on this blog in the coming months.

In the meantime, a local list of events, projects and activities to commemorate the centenary is being compiled by the quarterly Strood & Hoo Peninsula Times and the monthly Village Voices Community Magazine. The full list will be published in these two publications later in the year.

If representatives of local groups would like to ensure that their activities to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice is recorded on the list, it is essential for them to get in touch by writing to Village Voices Publishing, PO Box 692, Rochester, Kent, ME1 9LN. Or information can be emailed by clicking here.

I will be regularly featuring items relating to the First World War in my local history column published in the monthly Village Voices Community Magazine. I'll also be sharing on this blog more research I have recently undertaken into the life of my ancestor William Watson (from the village of Lower Stoke), who was killed during the First World War. 

The Dutch Raid and more!

With the 350th anniversary of the 1667 Dutch Raid on the River Medway being commemorated in June, don’t miss monthly guided walks at Grain Coastal Park (and take a look at some of the damage caused to the village church by raiding Dutch seamen).

In the company of volunteer Michael Dale (a member of the Friends of Grain Coastal Park), pictured above, the walks offer the opportunity to get out and about in the fresh air and to learn more about our local history.

There's lots to explore at Grain Coastal Park - enjoy!

  

The loss of a great local character

Medway Council announced earlier today that Robin Burfoot (Rochester Town Crier) sadly passed away yesterday (22nd March).

Robin was a true gentleman – generously giving so much of his time and energy to helping many community groups and charities locally.

I was privileged to meet him on numerous occasions – both in Rochester (when he was at work entertaining tourists and locals) and when he frequently visited the Hoo Peninsula – particularly Hoo Village Fun Day in 2013 and at annual shows organised by High Halstow & District Gardening Club.

As an organiser of the Hoo Village Fun Day, I think our event would have felt very different without Robin’s input and involvement. He really ‘worked the crowd’ and made sure everyone, young and old, had an enjoyable time, especially during the fun Town Crier competition and Strongman contest.

Like many of those who met Robin over the years, I’ll never forget him or his sense of humour – he was a genuine and much loved local character.

I send my condolences to Robin’s family.

  

Share your local history!

Since starting my monthly local history column in the Village Voices Community Magazine earlier this year, I have been overwhelmed with people contacting me in response to my requests for sharing information about the area and old family photographs. As well as residents from the Hoo Peninsula, I have also been contacted by those who live further afield (but who have a connection to the area).

I will happily feature as many items as I can over the coming months, just keep getting in touch and be sure to include as many details (and photos) as you can when you do, as this helps greatly.

It really is fascinating to learn so much about other people’s family history and discovering even more about our fascinating area (especially when old photographs are supplied).

To get in touch, either use the contact panel (right) or send an email to the Village Voices Community Magazine by clicking here.

  

Remembering William Watson

Back in November 2011 I visited Arras in northern France to see the grave of a relative who was killed in action during the First World War.

A resident of the small settlement of Stoke here on the Hoo Peninsula, William Stephen Watson was my great grandfather’s nephew. He was only 21 when he was killed, on 17th February 1917 during the Battle of Miraumont.

With the passing of this centenary, I hope I will get the opportunity to visit Arras again in the near future.

Click here to view the full account of my 2011 visit to Arras.

  

Remembering Hazel

I found out this week about the passing of long-time Hoo Peninsula resident Hazel Stockbridge.

Back in 2010 I met Hazel several times at his home in High Halstow to discuss local history, particularly his own background, family and connections to the local community. 

Our discussions were recorded as part of my on-going film projcet to collect memories and stories about life on the Hoo Peninsula.

I send my condolences to Hazel's family.

  

Digging up the Past

Ahead of gravel extraction from ‘Kingsnorth Quarry’ near Hoo, recent investigations by a team from the Museum of London Archaeology, carried out between September and October 2016, on behalf of Tarmac, found evidence of multiple periods of occupation.

Archaeologists working on site, after the topsoil was stripped.

Much of what was discovered appears to relate to features illustrated on 19th century maps, such as former field boundaries and the remains of orchards, although predictably the majority of the archaeological features were in close proximity to existing buildings or those shown on historic maps, including rubbish pits from the 18th to the early 20th centuries.

However, some pits contained fragments of medieval pottery – testifying to the continuous and lengthy occupation of the area.

Many pits contained Roman or prehistoric pottery, suggesting that the area may have been more densely populated in the past, but due to the effects of ploughing over several hundred years, only the base of these older features survive.

The only direct evidence for human occupation was recovery of partially disarticulated human bones mixed up in the lower fill of a pit, pictured below.  It is uncertain whether these remains represent one of more individuals or whether they were deposited as part of a deliberate, but unusual, burial ritual.

Human bones in probable Roman pit.

The remains were sealed under a layer of debris from a collapsed wattle-and-daub building.  An adjacent pit also had a layer of wattle-and-daub debris containing Roman pottery.  It is possible to speculate that these findings may represent the residents of a Roman settlement that might have succumbed to a violent and untimely end, although further analysis is needed by osteoarchaeologists to determine the age and gender of the remains and possibly the cause and nature of their demise.

Probable Roman field ditch (marked in yellow).

The Roman pottery recovered from the pits consisted of ‘Samian’ pottery, pictured below, a fine red tableware imported from Roman Gaul.  This distinctive pottery suggests some of the Roman features may date from the 1st to 2nd century AD.

Roman pottery from Gaul with maker’s stamp on base.

Other findings discovered included prehistoric pottery, suggesting occupation in the area may stretch back into the Iron Age or Bronze Age periods.

Information and images appear courtesy of Museum of London Archaeology, Andy Richmond of Phoenix Consulting Archaeology Ltd and David Brown of Tarmac.

  

Historic barge in Hoo

The most well-known of the iconic sailing barges to have sailed along the River Thames arrived at Hoo Marina in early September, for winter storage, as she marks the end of her 110th year.

90ft-long sailing barge Cambria was built at the F. T. Everard and Sons Limited boatyard at Greenhithe in 1906 and is famous for being the last British registered vessel to carry cargo under sail alone – the final cargo being 100 tonnes of cattle cake in 1970 when she was owned by the folksinger and bargeman Bob Roberts.

Since being restored in 2007, thanks to £1.4 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Cambria has been able to provide life-changing experiences for hundreds of young people in association with the Sea Change Sail Trust as well as being hired out for private charters.  Cambria has also been active in the annual programme of traditional barge match races.

You can find out more about Cambria by visiting the Cambria Trust’s website here or take a look at the groups more up-to-date Facebook page here.

Photograph appears courtesy of Rob Powell at the Cambria Trust.