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 ever changing face of Hoo

I caught up with long time local resident Arthur Vidgeon last week, chatting about his excellent local website - containing lots of old photos of Hoo, and his own family history research.

Arthur is happy for me to share his old photos here, and given that he lives at White House Farm, along Stoke Road, I thought I’d upload a selection of his photos of this road.

I’ve added updated versions of the same locations (well, roughly the same). I hope you like this ‘then and now’ comparison!

The first photo shows what was once Bevin’s Butcher Shop and, at a later point, Tetts Agricultural Merchants. Then there’s a photo of the same location today, with the houses known as Jennifer Court.

This photo shows Stoke Road (as I mentioned the other day, it was known as the High Street until it was re-named Stoke Road in 1959) looking towards the village square. And then there’s a photo of the same location taken a couple of days ago.

This next photo is of the junction with Church Street and Stoke Road in the village centre. And then the same location as it looks now.

The last photo in this little set shows what was The Carpet Shop, on Stoke Road. I’m told it was also a fish and ship shop at one point! Demolished in 2005, the second photo shows the location today.

Arthur’s website really is well worth a visit. There are lots of even older photos than those I picked out. Just click here to take look. You can also see a good selection of old local photos on display at Taggs Coffee Shop in Hoo village centre.

Many thanks to Arthur for letting me use his photos.

Do you have any old photos or postcards of places on the Hoo Peninsula? If you’d like to share them on this website, just get in touch via the contact page.
 

Then & Now – Methodist Chapel, Lower Stoke

I sometimes manage to find old postcards and photographs of the area. This one shows the United Methodist Church at Lower Stoke and was published by ‘I. J. Maylam'. Unfortunately, there isn’t a date anywhere on the item. If you know when it might have been taken, please get in touch.

Built in 1889, at a cost of £614, the building is today known as the Methodist Chapel and operates as part of the Medway Methodist Circuit.

On the outside of the building are ‘foundation stones’ that list the names of people who contributed to the cost of its construction. These local family names include Ayers, Plewis, Mugeridge, Coopper and Smith. As previously mentioned on this site, I have a connection to the Ayers family.

Then & Now - The White Horse, Upper Stoke

This week I’ve been looking at how the area has changed over the years, comparing recently taken photographs with a small collection of old postcards I’ve come across.

The last postcard shows the White Horse pub in Upper Stoke. The farmhouse belonging to Court Lodge Farm can be seen on the other side of the road, which is obscured by trees in a more recent photograph.

Do you have any old postcards or photographs of the area? Would you like to share them on this website? Please get in touch using the contact page.
 

Then & Now - High Road, Lower Stoke

Following other posts made this week, it's time to look at another old postcard of the local area. This time the postcard shows the High Road in Stoke - now known as the High Street.

Compare the old postcard to the recently taken photograph below - both were taken from just outside Mackay's Court Farm and point towards the centre of Lower Stoke.

More tomorrow!

Then & Now - Old Forge House, Lower Stoke

Further to the post I made yesterday, this old postcard shows Old Forge House in Lower Stoke, opposite the Nags Head pub. The exact location is where Cuckolds Green Road, Grain Road and Chapel Road meet.

The prominent wooden structure, to the left of the house, is the forge. The Ship Inn, which was sadly demolished in the 1950s, is partially visible next to the forge. Look closely and you can see a windmill in the background.

Compare the old postcard to the photograph I took recently of the same location.

More tomorrow!

Then & Now - Station Road, Middle Stoke

I recently bought some old postcards of the area and I will be sharing these on this website in coming days. To help compare how things have changed, I will also include recent photographs of the same locations.

Today, the postcard is of Station Road in Middle Stoke - now known as Grain Road. These photographs point towards Burrows Lane. Like many places on the Hoo Peninsula, Middle Stoke once had its own railway station, called Middle Stoke Halt. It opened in July 1906 and closed in December 1961.

More tomorrow!

Next Week - Then & Now Photo Series

A small collection of old postcards will feature on this website next week. They will include locations in Lower, Middle and Upper Stoke on the Hoo Peninsula. These postcards will be accompanied by recently taken photographs of the same locations, to compare how the area has changed.