Alkham, Kent

Grandfather

My paternal grandfather was born in West Hougham in 1864. His name was Harry Brigham Barton. His father was a wheelwright and lived it West Hougham. His name was Thomas Skinner Barton.

Fools gold and castles

I can look back to sunny days and my uncle helping us to collect fools gold at St Margaret at Cliff. Auntie Alice would pack up a picnic and we would take a ride in the car (I can't remember what type) and we would sit down on the beach, I think it was cobbles, I don't remember any sand. We would spend a couple of weeks of our school holidays with Alice and Jeff, it probably gave mum and dad a bit of peace and quiet. We would be taken to lots of local sites. There was a park and it had a river flowing through it, I think there were some ruins or old walls but I can't remember the name, it really was a very happy time. I would have been about 8, so I am guessing at 1978, could have been 79.

1945 to 1966

My grandparents, Jabez Smith and Kate his wife owned the post office in Coombe Valley Road, formerly Union Road, before and during the war. Their daughter Rose Moss (my Mother) ran it from the age of sixteen. They also owned and lived in The Bungalow just  a half a mile east of St Radiguns Abbey ruins. Apparently it is still there today.
We moved to a small shop in Douglas Road, Tower Hamlets in 1949. My Mother ran that shop until VAT was introduced, I think it was 1977.
I attended Astor School from 1956 to 1960.
I left school and worked at The Crypt Restaurant from 1960 until Bernie Inns took it over.
I then worked for Ted Perry at The Britannia Inn until I left to seek my fame and fortune, both turned out to be elusive butterflies.

I am writing a blog on my experiences in Dover from 1949 to 1961.
http://dovershark.blogspot.com/

Robert William Wells (Shop keeper)

I understand my grand father workedin,orpossibly owned a fishmongers and or grocers aroundabout 1900

can anyone confirm this please and where was it.

Was it his own shop or was he an employee

Does it still stand ,do any photos exist of it

Thankyou


John Wells