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Ash memories

Here are memories of Ash and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Ash or a Ash photo.

Ash by Sandwich 1789-1848

St Nicholas Church c1955
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Ash is three miles west from Sandwich, a village lying 2 and a half miles south-westfrom Richborough Castle. The Church of St Nicholas has an interesting interior with monuments and effigies. Zachariah Pettman of Littlebourne married Sarah Jordan of Woodnesborough at Ash on 31 October 1789. They bore 8 children at Ash between 1790 and 1798. They were Edward, Sarah, Sophia, John, William, Thomas, James and Zachariah. Zachaiah Pettman senior died and was buried in Ash in 1819 leaving his wife Sarah a widow On 31 January 1826 it is possible that she is the widow Sarah Pettman who marries William Mummery (widower), a shoemaker of Woodnesborough, with witnesses John Bramford(signed) and Elizabeth Elgar. William's former wife was Mary Justing and his son William was also a shoemaker who lived in Upper Deal. His son Francis was a shoemaker in Margate A few years later persons "John Mummery and Abraham Mummery & Mrs Mummery of Manston" who could have be relations of William were occupying property at Ash and are mentioned in spinster Eleanor... Read more

Memories of Kent

Great Times

I lived with mum and dad, Len and Anita, younger sister Linda and baby brother Anthony in what was then Forstall Farm, Westmarsh from 1956 to 1962. Dad had a very small smallholding and a poultry farm next to what was then known as the Rose Inn. I went to school in Sandwich and worked for Stickles when I left, it was a five and a half day week then and all for 3 10. 00 (3.50). Those were the best times of my life. I used to go fishing, shooting, rafting on the main stream, and us lads used to have soapbox carts which the dog used to drag along, I loved walking across the field to Pluck's Gutter with my dog Rex. Rex used to love swimming and very often came home with fishing hooks still with line attached hooked into his body. I'm sure that there were very many angry anglers. Next door was Wilmshurst's the village shop which was also the post office and bakery, next was... Read more

Bligh Family

I have recently lost my uncle David James Bligh and I am trying to find some details with regard to his paternal family. I understand that his Grandfather William Frederick Bligh and his mother Elizabeth Rosey lived in Upper Stourmouth in the 1940s. David's father was James (Jim) Robert Bligh who died in North Africa during the Second World War on 26 April 1943 aged 24 yrs. If there are any descendants or anyone that knows or knew of the family I would be grateful for any information.

Toll Money

The Barbican And Bridge 1894
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Sandwich Town relied on its toll money taken on the bridge, which was used purely for the town's benefit alone and it became wealthy over the years because of it.  During the 1960s I think it was, Sandwich came under the jurisdiction of Dover and was asked to hand over the money in its coffers at the turnover.
The Town Councillors decided that this was not to be and put it to the townspeople what they wanted them to do with the money they had.  
Everyone got very excited, us kids wanted an ice-rink, or a swimming pool and our parents duly put these suggestions along with theirs.
As was to be expected we got neither - we got a new Town Hall.      

Sandwich Rope Walk

The Barbican And Bridge 1894
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I used to visit my great uncles & aunts in Sandwich as a child. They lived at The Butts in those days (long dead now though).  My grandmother would put me on the bus all alone at Upper Deal where we lived, (quite safe as the conductor used to look out for me), and my uncle would meet me at the Market Square in Sandwich.  (I can still recall the smell of the abattoir in the summer).  They had a dike at the bottom of their garden, which I used to be forbidden to go anywhere near - but they had fruit trees in the garden and the most wonderful flowerbeds that have given me a love of gardening ever since. To this day I love Sandwich - it is somehow ageless.

My Workplace in 1964

Guilford Hotel c1955
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Worked here in the cocktail bar summer of 1964. Served Ian Fleming's wife.

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