Promenade And Public Telescope c1950, Gravesend
Promenade And Public Telescope c1950, Gravesend Ref: G47007
Memories of Promenade And Public Telescope c1950, Gravesend
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Gravesend & local memories
Read and share memories of Gravesend and Kent inspired by Frith photos.
The Tilbury Ferry
As the daughter of a Tilbury docker who married a girl from Gravesend, the ferry between Tilbury and Gravesend forms one of my earliest and strongest childhood memories. Every Saturday my sister and I would make the journey with my mum across the Thames to visit her mother (my Nanna Smith). I can still recall the pontoon, how the level changed with the tide and my fear of the murky water that lurked below. Those little ferries called Edith, Elizabeth and Mary that bobbed between Tilbury and Gravesend formed part of my psyche and I have fallen overboard hundreds and hundreds of times in my dreams. My mum's explanation that the varnished wooden slatted seats that we sat on were actually life rafts, didn't give me comfort. Mostly we travelled on the upper deck but if it was raining we would go downstairs and look our of the misty portholes and the 'humm' of the engines would make me nauseous. ... Read more
National Sea Training College at Gravesend
I spent the academic year 1987/88 in Kent training to become a Careers Adviser on a post-graduate course run by Kent College for the Careers Service.
During my course I had to visit businesses, universities, schools and colleges all around the county (and beyond) but the visit that sticks in my memory more than any other is the day I visited the National Sea Training College at Gravesend.
Along with a handful of other students I spent a well organised day in Gravesend carefully taking notes from the instructors in Seamanship, Engineering and Catering. We watched Physical Education drills and inspected the premises and interviewed some of the college's young students. However, what we were really looking forward to was the final activity offered on our one day inspection - this was to be a practical experience of going out on the water in one of the college boats.
However, it was late afternoon and we were mystified to be told by the Seamanship... Read more
My Happy Time Living in Gravesend
I first came to Gravesend with an advance party to re-open Milton Barracks in 1947. During my time there I met a Gravesend Girl and we were married at Milton Church in 1948. I was posted from Milton Barracks to the School of Artillery where I remained until my Demob in 1949. We lived with my Wife's mother in one bedroom for 7yrs. We got a House when my wife was expecting our second child - this was at Truro road no 112. We stayed in Gravesend until 1964 when I moved back to Yorkshire with my Job. Although we still visit Gravesend, I miss the town very much. We left behind a lot of friends but the town has changed so much (and not for the better). If anyone would care to contact me regarding my time at Milton Barracks please do so via facebook or vurdunlowe@tiscali.co.uk ... Read more
Milton Barracks at Gravesend
Our advance party arrived at Milton Barracks around June (could be wrong) to re-open the Barracks to commence training. As I remember, being the advance party the Cooks didn't consider we were worth feeding so we were rationed. In order to get a good meal we went around town looking for chippies etc. When we got more used to the town the pubs came next, then the good old Prom. During my happy stay at the Barracks I was promoted! It didn't last long, I was busted and posted to the School of Artillary near Stonehenge. My happiest days I remember even now are of Gravesend, I married a Gravesend Gril and returned to live there for around 25 years. Sadly the old Gravesend I knew has gone but I still have my memories... Like New Year's Eve, all the boats cocka-dooddle-doing, everyone with the windows flung open wishing all who passed by Happy New Year. My wife and I still visit her sister at Hollybush Road but the way things have changed, we would not... Read more
St Mary''s School Parrock Road Gravesend
St Mary's Boys returned from Ugbrook, Devon the estate of Lord Clifford to Gravesend when the war ended in 1945 and I was resident there until 1954. Although called a school it was in reality an orphanage. Most of the boys, like me, were illegitimate. They would call us love children today. The institution numbering about two hundred boys at any one time and apart from Father Baker and a house master it was run by an order of nuns. I left in 1954 Now someone else on this site mentioned that Tony Blanchfield who lives in Cooktown, Queensland, Australia was trying to make contact with anyone who knew him in those far off days. Tony and me were good friends. Tony was an explorer and when returning to London, England would stay at our home. Then he disappeared. After about thirty years we reached the conclusion that he was dead. Apparently Paul Orszantski on this site mentioned that he knew Tony and that... Read more
Long Time Ago
I was at St Mary's I think from 1950 to 1956, my sister went the school for girls in Brighton. While we were not orphans we only had Mother, and I remember well that for the first year we did not see her, bloody awful time for sure, no social services or counselling then. I remember well the large steel shed at the left of the school for playing in prior to meals and on rainy days and the dorms, the refectory. I did a lot of work for Father Baker the resident priest, washing his car, gardening, helping with the bees. It was a scary place for sure in the first year, with no parents and all the work you were expected to do. It would be nice to hear from some others who stayed there during this time. Tony Kelly
I Lived Opposite When Fort House Was Bombed
I remember seeing the house before and after the bomb struck. The front of the house was demolished leaving just the front of the ground and first floor hanging there. At the time I lived opposite and the upper floors of our home collapsed as well.
My Holiday Home
My name is Judy. During the early 1950s I lived in the National Children's Home in Harpenden. Every year a lovely family used to have me for a holiday, I would so much like to find them. I remember they lived in Gravesend in the High Street, they had a little shop. Their name was Mitchel and they had one daughter, her name was Celia Mitchel, she would be about 68 years now. I would love to know if anyones knows them. Thank you.
Arthur Greenslade
Does anyone remember the great pianist Arthur Greenslade who lived on Stonebridge Hill, Northfleet? His mother was Hilda. They lived next door to the Day family, my mom's family. Arthur spent a lot of time out here in the States. I hope to hear from someone. All the best, Clive Jeffrey.
St Mary's, Gravesend
I think it was about 1970 /71 that I worked in a children's home in Gravesend, I am sure this was called St Mary's, it was a big old building run by nuns near Eco Square. Has anyone got any info on this home or photos? Iused to look after a boy, he was about 18 months old, his name was Rodney, he was African I think. I lived in the place. A girl named Julie used to work there too, the old building was well scarey as were the nuns. I remember the place was closing down and the children were being moved to smaller houses in Windmill Street, I think. I really would love to find Rodney.
Milton Barracks
I did my two years National Service with 75th HAA Regt.RA ,reporting for duty August 1950 after passing out from MONS OCS. Aldershot. Served with 288 Bty in a Troop commanded by Capt. Pinfold. I have lived in Canada for 54 years and quite recently renewed my interest in early AA gunlaying radar, recalling my days participating in Air Defence exercises and attending Practice Camps around the UK coastline. Logged onto this website hoping to find a photo of Milton Barracks as it was in the 1950's and would like to hear from anyone who has a photo. UBIQUE B.M.
Gravesend, Milton Mount College 1902
I was at Milton Mount College (then known as St Mary's School) from 1951 - 53. The Child Rescue Society sent me there from a convent (St Anne's) in Brighton, Kent.
In 1953, when I was 8, I was shipped out to Australia (child migrant) & spent the next 8 years in an orphanage (Clontarf Boys Town) in Western Australia.
http://micky-clontarf.blogspot.com/
I Was There
I was there - in 1962? I put this date because I wasn't quite sure of the true date, but I left in 1963. I have not got any pictures of my time there but I loved it. It was a very imposing building, I wonder if anyone has any more recent photos of it? If so, please contact me.
Paul.
St Mary's School
It is believed that this was a training college for Church of England vicars and then it was subsequently used as an orphanage run by the Catholic Rescue Society and staffed by the Sisters of Chariry, a French order of nuns. During the years of the Second World War the whole school was evacuated down to Devon and the building was left unoccupied. After the was the school returned and it was known as St Mary's School. In about 1953 the orphans were rehoused with foster parents in private homes and the building was demolished. The area is now a housing estate.
Milton Barracks
I arrived in Gravesend in mid 1947 as advance party to re-open "Milton Barracks".
Our first night out was a walk around King St to see what we could find.
It didn't take us long to find the pubs in Gravesend or to find the Prom. We spent a lot of time on the Prom watching the boats and the birds.
That's how I met a girl called Eileen Mockett. We were married in Milton Church on the 21 August 1948. I stayed in the town for 25 years before returning to Doncaster in Yorkshire. We still visit Gravesend but how it's changed. I'm not sure I like it now.. No Prom (as it used to be), No Ships? No cocker doddle doo on New Years Eve from the river. Sadly the Gravesend I remembered and loved is no more.
Vic Lowe EX Royal Artillery, Milton Barracks...
Happy Summers
I was born and bred in Gravesend. This photo brings back many memories of summer days down the prom! We always came here with my mum. She used to leave us and our cousins in the park behind the cafe whilst they went shopping in town. We used to have a lovely time. As I got older I used to know Fort Gardens like the back of my hand and especially the concrete steps that led up to the lookout that was probably the highest point along the promenade. It was always a safe place to be and it was always warm and sunny. There were always lots of families sitting on the grass having picnics and boats going by. Also, not far away behind the cafe was the swimming pool where we always spent our summer holidays. The gardens were always kept lovely and was very peaceful. There used to be a funfair on the land between the pool and the cafe even though I wasn't allowed to go... Read more
The Royal Daffodil
I can still remember waiting on this pier for the 'Royal Daffodil' or the 'Royal Sovereign' during the my childhood, for our day trip up the river. We would do this trip regularly whilst on holiday with my Grandparents in Northfleet. It was one of my favourite days out. Julia (Weekes)
My First Glimpse of Gravesend.
I arrived in Gravesend in 1958 on the back of my boyfriend's motorbike, we had travelled from Colchester in Essex. My father, who was in the army, had been posted to Gravesend so we all had to move. We crossed the river Thames on the Tilbury to Gravesend Ferry and so landed and rode off the ferry and up the High Street to find the house where my parents had moved into.
