Lee Priory 1903, Littlebourne
Lee Priory 1903, Littlebourne Ref: 49433
Memories of Lee Priory 1903, Littlebourne
Grandeur in Kent
In a corner of Kent known with justification as the Garden of England stood the magnificent building known as Lee Priory. It saddens me so much that it no longer exists. In my childhood a Colonel Belcher resided there with his family and in their generosity they allowed we local children to have access to their own children's library. A gesture that awakened in me a lifelong love of books.
I remember the wide expanse of park that fronted this beautiful house where deer could be seen grazing. I could only imagine at the time the lifestyle of the people who lived there. But such memories were inflamed by the literature of the time that illustrated so vividly a life so far beyond the reach of those of us from humble country origins.
I can only thank them for giving me a brief insight into a lifestyle I would never know, and in an age where now the standards they set are being swiftly eroded who can be blamed for... Read more
Littlebourne & local memories
Read and share memories of Littlebourne and Kent inspired by Frith photos.
Number 5 The Green
My mother Ruth Hadlow lived at number 5 (even though it was the first cottage - should be number 1) memories of visiting my grandad there until he moved in the late eighties. The house next door used to be the old police house, the Petmans lived there in the 60s, he kept eels and trout in his waterbutt, much to my amusment as a child. Used to steal my uncles fishing tackle from the shed at the rear of the cottage and catch trout or eels from the chalk stream behind. Remember Earnest the swan, the Harrops who lived in the big house on the green emigrated to Australia I think, Christopher and Richard Harrop, brothers I used to play with. Learnt to swim in the river near the oast house on the green. Shops, Mr Jacksons, Mr Johnstons, Cornstores, Hollaways,Reynolds the butcher.
Photo L56022 by The River on The Green
Ref: photograph L56022 of the river and the green, I am the little girl with the blonde ringlets standing facing away from the river and I remember having that photograph taken with my sister Sadie the girl with the dark hair ,who was 8 at the time and I was 6. It was taken in 1962.
My Great-Grandmother's Baptism
The date was actually March 1, 1857. No church is named on the copy of the Baptismal Certificate that I have. The certificate states that it is from Page 31 and is No. 243. Ada Maria, daughter of James (a laborer) and Mary Jane West, was baptised on 1 Mar 1857 by J. Woodcock, Vicar. The copy that I have was obtained by N. Howard M"Gocchen, Vicar of Littlebourne on 6 Jan 1886. I believe James had brothers - I have a picture of one named Stephen. There may have been a brother named Thomas; I'm not sure. In this set of 3 pictures, there are 2 copies of a woman. At the top on the back of the picture is the name Lottie West. On the bottom of the same picture it says Ada Marion West. Ada was later married to Thomas Chester Kean in Geneva, Ontario County, New York State, USA. I would very much like to know more about my great-grandmother and feel honored to have the... Read more
