Headcorn memories
Here are memories of Headcorn and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Headcorn or a Headcorn photo.
Arthur Smith Was 12 When This Picture Was Taken
My dad was born Headcorn in 1891, grew up in the village. He served in the First World War and, later, moved to other areas in the south. He ceased travelling after arriving in Bedfordshire with my mother, during the Second World War when I was born.
We visited Headcorn in 1958 and 1964 but did not meet any of his relations. He had a brother John, who had a barber's shop at 6 Rochester High Street, which was still listed in the phone book until 1992.
Although I'm not 100% sure, I think Dad's father's name was George Smith and his mother's name was Jane Collinson, which I found researching the Census records.
I would be very interested to know if there is anyone left in the village that remembers the Smith family.
{Rev} Henry Doyle Sewell
My great great grandfather was the Vicar or St. Peter and St. Paul. Please see http://www.robertsewell.ca/sewell.html#gen9 for further details. I suspect his remains were interred in the churchyard of St. Peter and St. Paul. Does anyone have any knowledge of this or perhaps a photo of a headstone?
Memories of Kent
Happy Days in Smarden
I spent three years living in and around Smarden, at the Chequers, The Bell and often visited The Flying Horse on my days off!
Fond memories of Frank and Jenny Stevens at The Chequers, and Laurie at The Bell.
Afternoons spent at the cricket ground, was it called the minnis or something similar?
I also worked at the peanut factory on the Headcorn road, this was my introduction to working life!
Flying Horse
My parents Bryan and Margaret Hills-Johnes had the Flying Horse pub for a couple of years after he left the Navy 1958-60, I was around 6 yrs at the time and used to play with the Tilleys and Blacks. The car park across the road was a vegi garden where fresh produce was included in Mum's food. Eating lunch at the pub was a novelty because of the stigma about the 'wife's' cooking! but it was soon very busy. I learnt to write and spell on the dart board's blackboard, I went to the kindy at Headcorn by local M&D bus every day on my own, the school was behind what is now the Post Office /store and I still have a knitted mat which we were required to make. We all emigrated to NZ in 1960 returning in 67 to Boughton Mon. I left to join the forces in 73 and spent my leave drinking and chasing the local girls in Smarden, oh bliss. Now I'm back in NZ... Read more
Family History
Hi, I am trying to find out a bit about my great-grandmother who used to live at the Flying Horse pub with her daughter Ruth Phillips about 1930/40. Ruth and her husband William Phillips are both buried in the church graveyard behind the pub. I visited a few years ago and that was when I found their graves. I didn't find my great-grandmother's grave. Her name was Henrietta Sheedy, nee Gladdish. I was hoping someone might have some information on either family and also when they lived at the pub. Hoping someone can help. Best Wishes Margaret
Hopping in Kent
Now I can't say 100% that it was Marden but it just sticks in my mind. Although I am only 31 now I went hopping a couple of times with my family who were originally from Silvertown. The last time I went was in the early to mid 1980s when everything was packing up. The things I remember about hopping was the huge cook house which had several fireplaces in along with a few old sofas and mattresses where we used to sit late into the night with everyone else who was staying in the huts. The huts were exactly that, just huts. I shared with my nan and grandad or my aunts or my dad sometimes or I would walk round the second row of huts and stay with one of my friend's family. They were made more homely with wallpaper and sideboards and kitchen tables that had been packed up in the car for that long jouney from London. In the morning the only place to shower and brush your... Read more
Hop Picking During The War
I hated hop picking. We started in 1938 to help pay for my sister's uniforms when she went to Ashford County School. At first my mother was slightly ashamed but soon entered ino the spirit and competition as to who could pick the most bushells. We had a half bin with the Worsleys having the other half. Mrs Worsley's father had been a police inspector in Tunbridge. The Worsleys were Scottish from thc 'Black Douglas' clan. (I learned much later my mother was from the Royal Stewart clan.) They supplied milk from theiir cows and coal. They also ran the fire station with their horse, which normally hauled the coal car, pulling the fire pump on its wooden wheels. Normally the horse had two speeds, stop or a slow amble, but once attached to the pump it would break into a gallop. The Worsleys were notoriously late starters so the milk was delivered in time for tea. I was let out early from hop picking to go home... Read more
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