Deal, Kent

Deal Railway Station

I moved to Deal when I was 3. We lived in a house owned by the railway in the station approach. My father was linesman on the railway. I went to the parochial school on London Road. The Headmaster was Mr Scholl and my teacher, Mr Rose. My father's name was Ernest Turner and my mother's was Lily. Her maiden... [more]

Sandown Castle

My memory of Sandown Castle was that by the time we were children the sea had washed it away and all that was left were flat stones. You had to pass it to go along the sea trail to the golf course at the north end of Deal. Also that, if I am correct, it is the only castle that Henry... [more]

St Leonards Church, Deal

My parents had to walk from High Street, Deal to this church on the coldest and snowiest day recorded up to that time for my baptism in February 1947. My godparents were Hazle Rennie (nurse at Deal Hospital), Ena Wilkins (ballet dancer friend of Mother's who lived to be 100) and Bob Eliot (a friend from the Second World War days).... [more]

Spitfire

About 1943 - disabled Spitfire landed 30 yards from beach opposite Golden Hind cafe and just beyond hotel on right.  3 or 4 chaps stripped off, swam out and pulled pilot from aircraft.  I hope pilot survived but don't know if he did.  Does anyone know?

I was born in the shop on left hand side, White Fuller (Kent)

The shop on left hand side is White Fuller (Kent) Ltd, 68 High Street, Deal. My father, Cecil Prime, was the owner. Our mother, Phyllis, my brother John Prime and myself lived there. John and I were both born there he in 1948 and myself in 1947. We spent all our formative years here. I have been looking for photos of... [more]

Deal High Street - the other end!

I spent my youth with my family "above the shop" in Deal High Street.  My father, Morris Orchard, first worked in, then inherited, the family shoe shop, which had been in business since my great grandfather's time.  In those days it was F. H. Orchard and Son, Bespoke Bootmaker - we still had stationery lying around with his name on it,... [more]

Shelter

How could I forget these shelters (there were two of them)? We moved to North Deal in 1954 when I was 10. The shelter at the top of Farrier Street was nearest to me - a place to stand in a storm, I practised hitting hockey balls against the concrete steps, my beloved Granny used to sit on one side... [more]

Piddock and Smiths

My gt. grandfathers married sisters named Brothers. The three familes have been in and around Deal for centuries Gt. grandfather Maxwell was a Royal Marine, as was grandfather Piddock.  My father 'Phys' Pidddock was welterweight boxing champ RM in 1925. Smiths were in the fish trade. Ted Smith had the first Fish and Shop in Deal [North side of Alfred Square]... [more]

English Castles

Built in c1538-40, Deal was equipped with three tiers of platforms for mounting long-range guns for use against shipping, and with handgun embrasures for an all-round defence capability. It is thought that Deal might well have been designed by Henry himself, as the King took more than a passing fancy to the use of artillery.

Around the Kent Coast

The castle was built in 1539, and came under the control of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. In 1648 the castle was captured by Colonel Nathaniel Rich for Parliament. The white building to the rear of the castle has been demolished.

Kent Photographic Memories

Deal is an elegant town, and nowhere is this clearer than in this view, taken from the Pier pavilion looking back to the town. The grace of the pier is matched by the best dresses and suits of the promenaders.