Village Voices is out now!

The February / March edition of Village Voices, the community newsletter for Hoo and Chattenden, is out now!

Packed with community information, this edition reports on the opening of the newly re-furbished Co-Op in Hoo and there's a useful item about the forthcoming 2011 Census.

Copies of Village Voices are usually available at the Post Office in Hoo (15 Main Road, Hoo, Rochester, Kent, ME3 9AA).
 

High Halstow Hikers (March Walk), Sunday 13 March 2011

The next High Halstow Hikers walk will take place on Sunday 13 March.

Meeting at High Halstow Village Hall (The Street, High Halstow), the group will set-off for Stoke at 10am. Covering a distance of around 6 miles, there might also be an opportunity to explore some of Stoke Saltings (depending on what the weather is like).

This walk is being led by Alan Marshall, who I joined last summer for a really interesting walk around Lower, Middle and Upper Stoke - learning lots of fascinating things about our local history and environment.

For more information about the High Halstow Hikers, email Mitchell Dowsett here.
 

Quiz Night by Lonestar Linedancing (Hoo), Saturday 26 February 2011

A Quiz Night, hosted by Lonestar Linedancing, will be held on Saturday 26 February - with proceeds going to the refurbishment of Hoo Village Hall.

Starting at 8pm, anyone wishing to attend should arrive for 7.30pm and take drinks and nibbles along, as there won't be a public bar! Tickets are £5 per person, with a limit of 6 people (maximum) per team. Raffle donations are very welcome.

The event will be held at Hoo Village Hall (Pottery Road, Hoo, Rochester, Kent, ME3 9BS).

To book tickets, or for more information, contact Val Plummer on 01634 256279 or Teresa Gissing on 01634 251475.
 

Isle of Grain, WW2 Anti-Tank Obstacles

The foreshore at the Isle of Grain is a great place to explore, regardless of what the weather is like! A few days ago I went to Grain for a walk, and decided to take a look at the WW2 anti-tank obstacles north-west of the main beach.

Given its location along the Thames Estuary, the Isle of Grain has a long history as a strategic defensive position.

The concrete anti-tank obstacles (pictured below) were constructed c1940 to protect the area's coastal defences, in anticipation of German invasion.

Three types of obstacle were used to form the defensive line: cubes, pimples (a flat-topped pyramid often referred to as 'dragon's teeth') and caltrops.

Caltrops are a rare type of asymmetric concrete obstacle which can be seen piled against the seawall at the southern end of the foreshore (pictured below). Although there are many anti-tank obstacles across the country, those on the Isle of Grain are of special interest - visually striking because of the different and unusual forms of obstacle which together, at nearly 600m in length, form an impressive defence.

Because of their special interest, these defences were given Grade II listed status in 2009.

Anyone wishing to explore the Isle of Grain foreshore should look at Medway Council’s Tranquil Treks booklet (Walk 1 - Grain). Click here to view this guide.
  

The Beacon (March) Parish Magazine of Hoo St. Werburgh - Out Now!

The latest edition of the Hoo St. Werburgh Parish Magazine is now available, containing details of local events and other interesting features. Although delivered to some areas of the village, copies can be purchased from local shops, including: Choicemeats at 1 Fourwents Road and the Newsagent at 35 Knights Road.

For further information, contact the Editor (Mrs Muriel Bewsey) on 01634 252129.
 

Spring Concert (Hoo), Saturday 5 March 2011

Hoo St. Werburgh Parish Church present a Spring Concert on Saturday 5 March at 7.30pm.

The concert features international soprano Christine Hubbard and classical tenor Kenneth McCarthy, whose varied programme will include songs from the classics, shows and proms.

To book tickets, or for more information, contact Stuart on 01634 251705.­ Proceeds from this event will go to the Church restoration fund.

Charity Fun Day (Hoo), Saturday 5 March 2011

A Charity Fun Day will be held on Saturday 5 March at Hoo Village Institute (pictured below).

The event, which kicks-off at noon, is being organised to help raise much-needed cash for the purchase of essential equipment for George Goodsell, who lives in the village and has cerebral palsy.

There will be games for children, stalls, duck racing and much more fun - all taking place at the Hoo Village Institute, 25 Main Road, Hoo, Rochester, Kent, ME3 9AA.

At 3pm a special Legends Soccer Match will kick-off, featuring Brian Wolfe, Dave Kerr, Bob Wyles, Ken Burrett, Mick Dodd and others. And from 8.30pm there’ll be dancing to The Backbeats, featuring Brian Goodsell.

Contact Hoo Village Institute on 01634 250836 for more information.

 

Hoo St. Werburgh on film!

I was recently told about a website featuring locally made documentary films about Hoo St. Werburgh.

The site, run by Gazelle Films, captures local village life from days gone by. There are 10 local films to watch, including a multi-part documentary about the history of the village, a film about the Hundred of Hoo Railway and other shorter films that show different scenes from the area.

Visit the Gazelle Films site by clicking here. Look out for the menu on the right of the screen, displaying the names of all films listed.
 

Volunteer at Grain Coastal Park

I've mentioned previously the excellent work being carried out by the Kent Wildlife Trust at Grain Beach - or Grain Coastal Park as it is now becoming known.

With members of the community giving up their spare time to help out, the Trust is busy clearing paths and scrub, erecting fences and new signs, weeding, litter-picking and generally improving the overall environment.

I went along to the latest monthly volunteer day last Sunday. I was given the task of clearing overgrown paths that had long since been covered over. Whilst I wouldn't think of myself as 'green fingered' or experienced in this sort of work, I had a really great time. I was given instructions on what to do and it was a good way of using up unspent energy and to get some fresh air.

I was only able to help out in the afternoon on Sunday, but next month I'll try to make sure I can be there the whole day.

With the backing of Grain Parish Council and Medway Council, the Kent Wildlife Trust is meeting at Grain Coastal Park every month to continue their work. The next opportunity to lend a hand is on Sunday 6 March, from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm (meeting at the beach car park). There are further sessions being organised on 3 April, 1 May, 5 June and 3 July.

For more information, contact Paul Pearce (Kent Wildlife Trust) on 01622 662012 or send an email here.
 

Planning for the future of the Hoo Peninsula

On Monday evening I went along to the Hundred of Hoo School to take part in a meeting organised by Medway Council about their planning strategy for the Hoo Peninsula.

Known in ‘local government speak’ as the Local Development Framework, this sets out planning strategy in Medway for the period up until 2028.

There was a good spread of people from across the Peninsula present, to first hear a presentation on the planning strategy and then discuss in smaller groups some of the issues raised, in particular how the development framework will affect the Peninsula.

Discussion topics included: sustaining village life; connecting to the natural, rural and historic landscape; employment opportunities; village planning, and managing the impact of the Lodge Hill development.

More information about the Local Development Framework can be found by clicking here. Catherine Smith (Rural Strategy Manager) can be contacted by email here, by phone on 01634 331358 or in writing to Catherine Smith (Rural Strategy Manager), Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TR.
 

High Halstow Hikers (February Walk), Sunday 13 February 2011

The High Halstow Hikers will be heading away from the Hoo Peninsula for this month’s walk.

Meeting on Sunday 13 February at 10am, the walk will begin at the main car park of Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve. This is on the right-hand side of the A228 if travelling towards Cuxton from Strood, and after the roundabout above the junction with the M2 (location map).

The walk is expected to be quite muddy in places so, if you are going along, make sure you wear suitable clothing and footwear.

More information about this walk can be obtained from Mitchell Dowsett by emailing here.

Details of future monthly walks organised by the High Halstow Hikers will appear on this site.

 

Farmers’ Market (Lower Stoke), Saturday 12 February 2011

There will be a Farmers' Market at Stoke Village Hall (Mallard Way, Lower Stoke, Rochester, Kent, ME3 9ST) on Saturday 12 February, from 10am until 2pm. Pop along for local produce and much much more!
 

Have your say on Planning for the Hoo Peninsula

A meeting is taking place on Monday 7 February to discuss planning issues affecting the Hoo Peninsula. It is part of Medway Council’s consultation over a new ‘Local Development Framework’ which will set out the area’s planning strategy until 2028.

Originally scheduled for November, but postponed because of the snow, this re-arranged meeting will include a presentation and discussion about issues such as local services, rural employment and countryside management.

The meeting starts at 7pm at the Hundred of Hoo School (Main Road, Hoo, Rochester, Kent, ME3 9HH).

If you’d like to go along, you can confirm your attendance by emailing Catherine Smith at Medway Council by clicking here or by calling 01634 331358.
 

Volunteer at Grain Coastal Park

The Kent Wildlife Trust is working hard to protect local wildlife by preserving and protecting our environment.

Paul Pearce, who co-ordinates Kent Wildlife Trust activity on the Hoo Peninsula, is looking for volunteers to help improve Grain’s Coastal Park – as part of a project the Trust is doing with Grain Parish Council and Medway Council.

Over coming months there will be many opportunities to get involved and help improve this ancient monument and local wildlife site.

If you’ve got a few spare hours on your hands for some building, fencing, scrub clearance, tree planting, path clearance, installing new signs – or even just a bit of weeding or litter picking – you may like to join one of the volunteer days being held on the first Sunday of each month. No experience is necessary and gloves and tools will be provided – as will hot drinks and biscuits!

The next opportunity to lend a hand is on Sunday 6 February, between 10am and 1pm or 2pm and 4pm (meeting at the beach car park). There are subsequent sessions being organised on 6 March, 3 April, 1 May and 5 June.

For more information, contact Paul Pearce on 01622 662012 or send an email here.
 

Book Research

I’ve been contacted this week by a lady living in Australia, called Margaret Somers. Margaret, who lives near Brisbane, is researching her Hoo Peninsula family history - for a new book that she is hoping to publish.

Margaret’s keen to hear from anyone with connections to the following family names in Cliffe: Smith, Spencer, Goodyer, Harrington, Mills, Parvin and Richards. Her Smith family ancestors settled in Cliffe before 1842.

Margaret is also researching family links in south London, particularly Greenwich and Deptford, where she has a connection to people with the following family names: Allen, Eadle, Gould, Rowe and Warner.

I’m distantly linked to Margaret, through my Great-Great-Grandmother Emma Spencer (nee Smith), who was born in Cliffe, but lived most of her life in Upper Stoke. Margaret is connected to Emma through her father John. The photograph below is thought to be of Emma.

Contact Margaret Somers by clicking here.
  

New Power Station at Damhead Creek

ScottishPower this week received government consent to construct a new 1000MW gas-fired power station next to their existing Damhead Creek site, near Hoo (pictured below, courtesy of BBC Kent).

ScottishPower has said that the new £500m Damhead Creek 2 power station, which will be one of the most efficient in the world, could generate enough energy to power almost 1.5m homes. The plant will be built ‘carbon capture ready’ so that, eventually, CO2 emissions from the site could be stored under the North Sea.

In March 2009, ScottishPower said the plans for the new Damhead Creek site would inject an estimated £27m into the Medway economy and would support 1,000 construction jobs (over three years), with 50 skilled jobs created following commencement of operations.

Click here to find out more about ScottishPower.
 

A visit by HM Queen Elizabeth in 1955

Yesterday’s announcement about plans for a new gas-fired power station at Damhead Creek reminded me of a booklet I was shown recently about another of the Peninsula’s energy industries. The booklet was printed in April 1955 to commemorate a visit by HM Queen and Duke of Edinburgh to BP’s Oil Refinery on the Isle of Grain.

The booklet was shown to me by a lifelong resident of the Hoo Peninsula, who worked at the refinery for most of his life. It describes the workings of an oil refinery and explains why a new refinery was needed at the time, how the Isle of Grain site was chosen and the engineering process for reclaiming marshland (known locally as ‘Fleets’). The refinery processed its first crude oil in February 1953, following the decision six years earlier to site the refinery at Grain due to the need for deep water access.

 

Get In Touch!

Since launching this site last May, I have been contacted by many people with a connection to the Hoo Peninsula – people living here now, those with family links to the area and others with an interest in exploring our special landscape.

Lots of people have happily shared knowledge about local history and sent copies of old photographs, whilst others have emailed their Hoo Peninsula family history enquiries, provided information about community events, or given suggestions for good local walks.

Please keep getting in touch, via the Contact page, or by sending an email here.
 

E.ON Public Exhibitions

I went to Lower Stoke last week to take at look at the E.ON public exhibition about their pipeline proposals on the Hoo Peninsula. This exhibition, along with one held in Hoo the day before, was part of E.ON’s consultation into proposals for a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) pipeline. The pipeline could run from Kingsnorth to St. Mary’s Marshes and out into the North Sea, if a new cleaner-coal power station were built after the existing Kingsnorth Power Station closes in 2015.

As well as talking through issues and concerns regarding the impact on the landscape and disruption to residents, I was particularly interested to hear about the work to survey the seabed from St. Mary’s Marshes, out into the North Sea and up towards the North Norfolk coast. I knew there must be quite a few shipwrecks in that area, but didn’t expect such a huge number dotted around the maps on display.

If anyone would like more information about the recent exhibitions, contact E.ON on 0800 019 8315 or by email here.

To find out more about Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) click here and here.
 

Rook Spectacular at RSPB Northward Hill (High Halstow), Saturday 22 January 2011

Join a guided walk at RSPB Northward Hill, with a Reserve Warden, to the Heronry viewpoint to watch the stunning sight of thousands of rooks coming in from the marshes and returning to their roost site. There is also a chance of seeing Woodcock and the Long-Eared Owl.

Meeting at the Main Car Park at Bromhey Farm (Cooling) at 1.30pm, the event is expected to finish around 4.30pm.

Book in advance by phoning 01634 222480, or email here. Ticket prices are £4 (for non members) and £2 (for members).
 

E.ON Public Exhibitions – Pipeline proposals on the Hoo Peninsula

Residents on the Hoo Peninsula recently received a newsletter from E.ON. This gave details of their consultation into proposals for a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) pipeline. The pipeline could run from Kingsnorth to St. Mary’s Marshes, then out into the North Sea, if a new cleaner-coal power station were built after the existing Kingsnorth Power Station closes in 2015.

There are two public exhibitions in the coming week:

Tuesday 18 January - from 10am until 4pm at Hoo Village Institute, 25 Main Road, Hoo, Rochester, Kent, ME3 9AA.

Wednesday 19 January – from 2pm until 8pm at Stoke Village Hall, Mallard Way, Lower Stoke, Rochester, Kent, ME3 9ST.
  

Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre - expanded photo library now online!

Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre (MALSC) has increased the number of photographs viewable online. The site now boasts 2,000 images of the area, along with an easy-to-use search function.

Many photographs of the Hoo Peninsula have been added to the MALSC website, including the small selection below.

The Church of St. Peter & St. Paul (Upper Stoke)

Shearmans General Stores (Allhallows)



The Horseshoe & Castle Pub (Cooling)



Railway Station / Crossing (Isle of Grain)



School (High Halstow)



Post Office (Hoo)



The Bell Inn (St. Mary Hoo)

To view the full collection of Medway photographs click here. When you arrive at the photograph search page, just type the name of the location you want to search.

It’s good to see so many photographs online and accessible to all. The staff and volunteers at MALSC have obviously been busy and their efforts are very much appreciated.

Note: All of the photographs on this post appear by kind permission of the Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre.

An artistic view from Upper Stoke

I recently bought this old postcard (series no 5396), entitled ‘On the Medway’, showing the Church of St. Peter & St. Paul in Upper Stoke. It was produced by Siegmund Hildesheimer & Co. Ltd, of London and Manchester, although it says it was produced in Bavaria.

With a strong family connection to Upper Stoke, this postcard is one of my favourite images of the area. I can't identify the name of who painted the picture or when that was, but is shows three small children walking through the churchyard with a dog running behind, boats on the River Medway, birds flying overhead and a traditional house behind the church.

Siegmund Hildesheimer & Co. Ltd were active between 1830 and 1920 and originally published books, but later moved on to producing Christmas cards, advertising cards, comics, art reproductions and real photo portraits.

 

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.

Watson or Edwards?

Many family mysteries are best left unsolved, but when the mystery relates to people long since gone, there really shouldn’t be a danger of causing anyone upset. This particular mystery starts some 177 years ago, so I think I’m safe.

Last week I met-up with Mick Edwards (pictured below), who has lived in Hoo all his life. We spent a couple of hours drinking coffee at TAGGS in Hoo village centre, talking about our shared Great-Great-Great-Grandmother Elizabeth Edwards (nee Watson).

Elizabeth Watson married John Edwards in September 1833, when she was 19 years of age. Only months before the marriage, she gave birth in Allhallows to a son, John, who was given the surname Watson - her maiden name. I am a direct descendant of John Watson. Following their wedding, Elizabeth and John Edwards had other children, including a Charles Edwards (John Watson’s brother). Mick is a descendant of Charles.

Both Mick and I have spent many hours trawling through historic records to find out why John Watson was named Watson instead of Edwards, especially when there is plenty of evidence to suggest he was the son of John Edwards.

Does it matter whether I’m really a Watson or an Edwards? Of course not, but it’s quite strange to think of myself as Tony Edwards, if not for an ‘accident’ of birth in 1833.

Without the fantastic resources available at the Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre, none of this would have been known to us.

 

Bat and Trap – full results of the Peninsula League 2010

My father recently found his old bat and ball (pictured below) which I remember using when playing Bat and Trap at his pub near Canterbury. With this bat we triumphed in a local league championship in the early 1990s – a victory which to us beat any Ashes glory!

Digging out these items from my Dad’s house reminded me about the Peninsula Bat and Trap League, which I mentioned on this site last October, publishing details of the League Finals Night on 3 October 2010.

Before Christmas I received more information from Danny Gibson, who co-ordinates the Peninsula Bat and Trap League. He sent the End of Season Tables, which includes information about all local league teams – click on the images below to enlarge.

End of Season Tables (Sixes):

End of Season Tables (Trebles):

The 2011 season will start in April/May and finishes at the end of September. Games are usually held on a Wednesday evening, commencing at 8pm. Any pub wishing to submit a team should contact Danny Gibson on 01634 290079 or 07988 769604. Or Danny can be emailed here.