1961, Ightham
1961, Ightham Ref: I4036
Memories of 1961, Ightham
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Ightham & local memories
Read and share memories of Ightham and Kent inspired by Frith photos.
Ivy Hatcha Free Childhood 50 Years Ago
We - my parents and their five sons - lived at Beaconsmount, a house formerly owned by the Maules and before them, the Staggs. We moved to Ivy Hatch (opposite the 68 bus stop at the Sevenoaks end of the village) in 1956 and left in 1975. All of us loved the village and its people and I made lots of friends. The bus-stop itself was called Maule's Corner all through our time. We used to call the road beside our house "Sandy Lane" (because of all the sand from the footpath up to the top of the quarry that was left after heavy rain) but before we left, the Council (encouraged by Brigadier Bowra, a chap a bit like Captain Manwaring in Dad's Army) renamed it something else! We knew lots of families - I think Jonathan Green had an elder brother and a sister called Gillian and his mother was Mavis. On this same lane, the Engehams and Bremners lived on the left and to the right, the Farmers... Read more
I Have an Old Postcard of This Same Image!
Hello.
I have just found an old postcard of this image! It belonged to my late great aunt's husband. I'd love to hear your stories if you lived in this village around this time or have a relative who did!
Ightham 1960s
Interesting to see this picture though I don't think that by the 1960s Ightham was ever this free of traffic except early in the morning.
The building in the centre of the picture was a petrol station and provider of all sorts of bits and pieces. Was it run by Mr Arthur? My father would drive down there (with me in tow) to find whatever he needed to keep the lawnmower and other garden equipment going as well as getting a can of two stroke fuel. Possibly our mini is in the picture (but not if this was taken early in the morning).
Mrs Cox ran the newsagents, just out of picture to the left and there was still a butcher, and a general store in the village. And of course two pubs. I think only the two pubs survive today.
Murder Mystery
Before my father passed away, he told me of a murder at the Mote House (Ightham Manor). Apparently, my great aunt Alice worked there as a housekeeper, when the murder of Caroline Mary Luard took place in 1908. She was found shot in the summerhouse - the case was never solved. Before my aunt died, she told my father that the murderer was the Major, (Caroline's husband). I dont know how accurate this is, but quite interesting don't you think?
Mrs Callow's Wool Shop
Does anyone else remember Mrs Callow's wool shop? Situated in the High Street near the top of Station Road, it was ideally situated for primary school children to buy sweets after school. In my case this was only on a Thursday (Dad's payday). The strange thing was that the sweets weren't on display. You had to ask Mrs Callow for the sweet tray, whereupon she would reach under the counter and produce a large plastic tray filled with all kinds of one penny sweets like fruit salads and black jacks, sherbert fountains and flying saucers. I still wonder to this day whether she was allowed to sell them or was she rebelliously flaunting some bylaw forbidding her from selling them? After leaving the shop it was the ritual to collect conkers from Station Approach when they were available, taking them home to soak in vinegar or bake in the oven whilst Mum cooked dinner. I must have had many a sixer or sevener from those trees. My father worked at Wallers, later... Read more
Ightham Village
My sisters Rita, Susan and me all attended Ightham Primary School, the headmaster was Mr Foster, he travelled every day from Maidstone by car, Mrs Kath Gordon, Miss Tomkins being the other teachers, Mrs Hussey replacing Miss Tomkins upon her retirement. We first lived in a very small bungalow near Burton's Button Factory, which at one time had been a chicken canning factory, mid-way along Fen (also spelt as Phen) Pond Road. We then moved to a house near the church. There was a small market garden next to the Church. We remember Mr Billy Arthurs at the garage, Mr Goddard (who later emigrated to Australia) taking over upon Mr Arthurs' death. The garage was rented from Dr Ronald Walker who lived in the big house next door, his surgery was held in his house. He was very deaf and those in the waiting room could easily hear all that the patient was telling him. He was a keen... Read more
Housemaid at Ightham Mote
This memory is not mine, but that of my mother in law, Beatrice, nee Head. She grew up in the Girls Training Home in Boxley Road Maidstone until she was 14 when she had to go 'into service'. One of her first jobs was as a housemaid at Ightham Mote where she also looked after the two little boys belonging to the family. Unfortunately she no longer remembers the family name but says they were very kind. She remembers that the house was 'very big' and that she had to cross a wooden bridge to get to the house. I wonder if anyone else remembers working there in the early 1930s, or if anyone can remember the name of the family.
The Village Square
This view was seen by me every day that I went to school at Judd School in Tonbridge. I caught the bus here. There were two bus routes through the village - Number 9 which ran from Maidstone to Sevenoaks and operated by Maidstone & District - and the number 122 which was operated by Southdown and ran from Gravesend to Brighton. Both buses arrived in the village on the hour. I lived at Cobtree Cottage at the top of the village next to the Village Hall and the builders yard of F & G King who were related to me. I was in the church choir for many years and joined the RAF in 1951 following in the footsteps of my brother who was a pilot but was unfortunately killed in Malaya in 1952 and his name appears on the rear side of the memorial. A very happy childhood spent in this beautiful village. I now live in Canada and sincerely hope that the village will not change too... Read more
