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Addington

Addington maps

Historic maps of Addington and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis.   View all Addington maps

Addington area books

Displaying 1 of 23 books about Addington and the local area.   View all books for this area

Memories of Addington

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Kent memories

Leybourne Grange Hospital

Does anyone have any memories of the Hospital Leybourne Grange in West Malling? I worked there from 1974 - 1976 as a pupil nurse and lived in the nurses home. I know the hospital closed years ago and is now a site for housing I believe. I would love to share your memories. Ann

The Haven Cafe

The Haven was built by my grandfather, Walter Butler, for his wife - Rosie. I'm trying to source photos and memories of the cafe for my dad, Ronald Butler. He has wonderful memories himself and grew up there. If you've anything to offer, please let me know!

Birling School.

The Headmistress of Birling School was Miss Bragger who lived in the schoolhouse a few steps from the porched door of the school.  Miss Bragger taught the 7-11 year mixed classes. Mrs Dyke had charge of the 5-7 year olds, she had the most deadly aim with small pieces of chalk which came your way if you misbehaved. Each year we danced around the Maypole in the grounds of Birling Manor where a fete was held, we also had a ceremony for Empire Day, 24th May.  I managed to be dressed up as Britannia on 2 occasions. We also had a service at the war memorial on November 11th each year, even in a snow storm we would be there. We always had to put a concert at Christmas. We held our Brownie meetings in a hut which was quite near the pub (was it the Bull?). I seem to remember the W.I. held jumble sales in the same place.
I remember the village shop cum Post Office with the... Read more

Trips to Wrotham

High Street c1955
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I was born in London in 1940. Our flat was demolished by the first flying bomb so my parents moved to West Kingsdown when I was three months old. From an early age I remember being taken quite regularly by my mother along the A20 hitching a ride to Wrotham. When arriving in Wrotham and after walking along the High Street we turned left down a hill and a short distance down on the right was a butcher. I believe his name was Mr. Hoppe. It was there that we bought meat, using our food coupons. Once again for our return journey we hitched a free ride from a sympathetic lorry driver. Much later and after the war we travelled by Greenline coach until pertol rationing was eased and Mr. Hoppe could drive his van to deliver meat to residents in West Kingsdown.

Doodlebugs And Rock And Roll

I was born in 1940 in Langley Maidstone, Lord Routes' house, a wing of which was given over during the Second World War as a maternity part for expectant mothers. We lived on the main road in Wrotham, opposite a pub called The Spring Tavern, it's no longer there now. We lived next door to a family called Skinner, the children's names all began with the initial J. There was John, Julie Judy, and we all played together, my sister Jean and I. We would go up to the Nod, a small hill opposite our houses and play there for hours. We used to go to a big barn on the corner, where an artist lived, and we used to sit for him, while he painted us. I remember the day called Operation Overlord, when all the planes flew overhead, wave after wave.

The Coronation

The Village c1955
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In 1953 very few households had television. I remember going along to the Fourways cafe on Coronation Day with my parents so that we could watch the Coronation on the television. My sister was only 3 and I was 5. The cafe was run by Mr and Mrs King. My now step mother worked there as a cook. Years later the cafe became the Fourways Furnishings, though I forget the exact name. That was run by Cyril & Hazel Knight.
The fish & chip shop on the corner, run by the Swinburnes, sold the most delicious ice lollies with real ice cream inside which we would buy on our way to Brownies which was held at the Church Hall on Quarry Hill.

Clare Park

I lived in Larkfield but have very fond memories of Clare Park Secondary School. I only went there up to 4th year as in July 1980 we emigrated to Australia. I can remember the cross country run in the middle of winter and trying to not slip on the ice. I can remember Mr Derfell as a teacher, and old Mrs Potters? gardening hut. And sneaking off to the chippy at lunch time to get hot chips instead of school dinners.

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