Eastry memories
Here are memories of Eastry and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Eastry or a Eastry photo.
Church Memories
The church also holds fond memories for me. As well as being born in Forge House some 60 years ago my family had lots of connections with the church. My sisters, brother and I were all in the choir - my brother being a cross bearer for a few years, I was the only one who became a bell ringer and loved it. My father was for many years the peoples warden and then went on to be the vicars warden until, ill health prevailed when he reluctantly had to retire from his duties. But the two things I am proudest of is, that my father made and donated the present oak choir stalls in memory of my sister who sadly died when I was 9 months old and 2 days after her 20th birthday. The 2nd, and probably the greatest memory to my father is the bell that was dedicated to him with an inscription. All in all many happy years and great memories... Read more
My Dad's Childhood
My Dad was a member of the church choir here when he was a child. Gerald Fuller is his name but he left the village around the age of 16. His parents continued to live in Eastry with their other children, Hazel, Brian and Chris. Dad immigrated to Melbourne, Australia were he met my mother and had my sister Amanda and I. Amanda and I were fortunate enough to visit Eastry in 1985 and the feeling of family and belonging was very overwhelming. I remember one night Nan(Nancy) took us to bingo in the town hall and a woman came and introduced herself to us.......aparently she was a second cousin. As far as I know I have alot of relatives in town but distance has stretched the ties and I'm not sure who they may be. I will return to Eastry one day and search them out!!! Until then I will hold on to my memories and save my pennies!!
Emma Fox(nee Fuller)
Place of Birth
From just about where the photograph was taken I was born. The house was called Forge House obviously because of the Forge which my father used as a shed to house chickens in and then used as a workshop for his carpentry. He was Foreman carpenter at Tilmanstone colliery. My brother and I were both born in the house which I believe now is being used as a care home. I was 16 when that photo was taken.
Elizabeth Andrews February 2007
Bickers The Newsagent
THis was the village newsagent. We lived to the right as you look at the photo, and traded as Premier Garage.
The Toll House
I am looking into my ancestry, and find relatives on the 1861 census living at the Toll House, Eastry, can any one tell me if it still stands today and are there any pictures of it?
Thank-you
Elspeth
'Tewkesbury C.1750'
We are just about to move hopefully into Tewkesbury, Mill Lane, Eastry, it sits in front of the Smock Mill up the lane directly opposite the newer houses. The house itself has a white picket fence around the front it is detached and painted cream with black surround to the front door and windowsills. There is a plaque on the front that says 'Tewkesbury c.1750'. Would anyone know any history on this property as we are intrigued to find out anything we can about it? We would be most grateful for any help on this matter. Many thanks indeed. Michelle.
1950s
I have three connections with Eastry - when I worked with Lamberts Laundries we served the Clarks of Eastry. I also visited the chapel as lay-preacher, and a forebear of my family was one time resident shoemaker at The Union.
In the days before washing machines we had numerous customers in Eastry and it was all day round. A recent short tour of the vaillage saddened me - no Baptist Chapel, many of the old established buisnesses gone and the pace of life has accelerated. The inhabitants still keep clean without Lamberts, and presumably shop at supermarkets - I wonder do they miss the chapel?
Herbert Piddock. h.piddock@btinternet.com
Clark And Butcher Families
Hi, I'm very interested in Carolle's Ladd family memories as mine are so similar. You see photograph No. 2 of the High Street; the buildings to the left are Clark & Son's shops and the old house between them where my mother, Mabel Clark, was born. (Actually I think this photo was taken a few years earlier - see the old fashioned pram outside Pittock's the butcher shop.) The smaller shop nearest the camera became Eastry Post Office about 1955. In 1955 I was 17, so I think Elizabeth Andrews will remember me and my younger brothers. We then lived down Woodnesborough Lane at Lane House. This was right opposite the Eastry Caves and I spent summer 1955 acting as tour guide.
In 1957 my Uncle, Phil Clark, retired from the grocery side of the business but remained Postmaster with Margatet Bullock as principal assistant. My parents then owned the grocery store and the family moved to live in the old... Read more
Ladd Family 1878
My grandfather Ernest Ladd, born Eastry 1878, is buried in the churchyard. Although as a child when visiting my grandmother we would tend the grave and put flowers on it, I only have a vague recollection of its location. My mother and father were married at the church in 1938 (at that time the family lived next to the Andrews family in the High Street), as were her brothers and sister. All Ernest Ladd's children were baptised there, as were 9 of his 10 grandchildren; 1 grandchild was married there and 2 great-grandchildren were baptised there in the 1960s (one coming from USA especially), and another 3 great-grandchildren were baptised there in 1980s.
Ernest Ladd came from a family of ten children and although our side of the family all live far from Eastry and most far from our home county of Kent, Eastry holds a very special place in our hearts.
Taking Sunday afternoon walks down Buttsole or Brook Street, playing up the gunpark. Picking bluebells in Betteshangar Woods;... Read more
Memories of Kent
Norris or Norrice Family in Finglesham Kent 1844-81
For over 36 years from 1844 to after 1881, Sarah Susannah Jell born in Ringwould about 1804 lived in Finglesham as the wife or widow of Thomas Norris, agricultural labourer. He was the son of John Norris & Sarah Berwick of Great Mongeham, brother of Mrs Eliza Tyler of Deal, and Miss Mary Norris of Great mongeham, brother-in-law of Mrs Ursula Marsh of Sholden.
Their son George Jarvis Norris was born in Northbourne around 1830, his wife was Jane Kemp who died in the village before 1891 (and was a relation of William & Sarah Kemp who in their 60's lived in the village in 1891). George worked as a blacksmith or agricultural labourer in Finglesham for over 40 years and all their children were born in the village. They were: Thomas Norris who became husband of Sarah Grayham in 1889 and was a farm labourer in the village... Read more
Family History
My family history reveals that the name of Piddock was once known in Knowlton and the family name linked with the Church. Piddocks were also to be found at Nortbourne in the 1500s - do such facts have interest for anyone?
Toll Money
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
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
Worked here in the cocktail bar summer of 1964. Served Ian Fleming's wife.
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