Hoo, the Village c1955
Memories of Hoo, the Village
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Hoo & local memories
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My happy days as a child when I was born in the village
I spent many happy years with my nanny and grandad, Rossa and Phillip Munn of Hill View Cottages, during the long summer school holidays. Over the years since they have both passed away I still drive though the village to look at my nan's house and think of the happy days we spent together, and long for those days to come back again. My mum Janetta Munn was also born at High Halstow, aged 72 now, and she has had many happy years there. To anyone that reads this and remembers our family, please email me at my email address. Thank you for reading this.
P.S Rest in peace, Nan and Grandad x love u and always will x
Jane
Shared on 14 January 2009
Cooling, the Gateway c1960
Ref: C466029
To the right of the photograph is a driveway into the interior of the original castle that was the entrance to Castle Farm operated by F.Elms & Sons and in particular my uncle Harry Elms.
He bought the Farm in about 1930 having moved down from Bexley/Eltham area where the family farmed an area from Sidcup to Dansen Park. My main memory was of being able to boast to my school classmates that we "owned a castle". A less pleasant memory of the late 50's early 60's was when a large imported labour force of women and children had been ferried in for pea picking. This was generally a pleasant midsummer treat promising a little extra cash for Mum being able to take the children along as well. The children often tended to wander off and play and the potential danger of the water in the moat was not appreciated. Sadly one of these children unfortunately drowned in the moat. I recall the incident because of the shock felt by my family when we learned of the news.
I have to admit that I know little of the history of the castle and have always assumed that it was one of the defensive castles protecting the Thames and Medway esturies built during Tudor times, perhaps someone more knowledgeable could enlighten me.
The nearby Cooling Church is renowned as being part of the inspiration for Dickens when he wrote "Great Expectations" with the graves he mentions in the story still visible as they were to CD when he used to walk around the marsh areas.
In 1960 the Castle was in a poor state of repair with only the gate house as illustrated in your photograph in any where near a complete state. The perimeter walls having been de-graded over time, but as a child it was still a real castle and it was ours! In truth it was then administered by the Church Commissioners and we paid a rent for the use of the farmyard.
At busy times we occasionally were drafted down from our Farm at Gravesend and I can recall as a 21 year-old driving one of our lorries through that gate to pick up produce ready for Borough Market and Covent Garden, feeling that I wished had been a little wider.
Our family sold up our interests in 1970 following the close deaths of both my uncle and his brother (my Step-father). My memories are mostly happy ones of the farm and of the people working there and the photograph has brought these back after 40 odd years.
Shared on 17 August 2006
I am looking for details of Florence Gammon, formally Dunk from Rye, Sussex. She was married to Herbert Gammon, also from Rye. The children were Arthur Eaton Gammon, 9 and Alice Gammon, 12. Her father was my great great grand uncle, Leaf Temple Dunk, 1834, from Rye.
Shared on 30 December 2006
I was born within walking distance of the Jezreels Tower which dominated the skyline & was always a source of fascination for growing children. As there was little traffic in those days we were allowed to play in the streets and wander at will. Whenever possible we would make our way up Canterbury Street to the ruins of the tower and dare each other to explore around it. I remember an old gentleman in a long sweeping coat and wide-brimmed hat who was regularly to be seen around Gillingham. He had the distinctive beard and long pigtail of hair hanging down his back - he was one of the last of the Jezreelite sect still living in the area. The boys used to make fun of him, but were all secretly a bit scared. It was a sad day in the 1960's when the tower was pulled down. I had moved away from the area by then & always knew I was coming home when the tower loomed into sight. I felt that Gillingham had lost something special when it had gone.
Shared on 19 April 2008
My short life in Gillingham, Kent
I was born in a naval nursing home called "Canada House" on the 18th November 1954. I was the first child and boy - I was spoilt. I went to school at Byron Road Infants school until I was 6 then we moved to Swalecliffe in Kent. I was 5 years old and both my mother and grandmother took me to play and have a picnic on the "Darland Banks". We walked from the "Jezerals" along the top road, and up to the "banks". I was very excited I seem to remember.
We belonged to Green Street Tabernacle Baptist Church, we attended Church regularly. I remember being a bridesmaid to my mother's friend Doreen. My paternal grandma lived in Richmond Road along with my aunt, and I spent lots of happy times there. My aunt taking me to the Strand to swim and to the pictures to see Bambi. In 1959 my Sister was born in Canada House, and one year later another sister arrived. In 1963 we moved to Swalecliffe in Kent.
Shared on 25 January 2007
