Minster-In-Thanet memories
Here are memories of Minster-In-Thanet and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Minster-In-Thanet or a Minster-In-Thanet photo.
Childhood in Minster
My two brothers, my sister and I were all born in Minster in what is now called Turner Cottage but was then "The Swifts". My granddad was a village postman and my best friend's granddad was also a postman and we used to race to school perched on the baskets on the front of their bikes! At Watchester Farm we fed the ducks and loved seeing the piglets with the sows. We bought fishing nets in the corner stores (now "Morton's Fork") and fished for newts and minnows in the streams and dykes at Watchester Farm. We begged the metal ties from the potato sacks from the greengrocer and caught cobwebs on them from the fences in St Mary's Road on the way to school. In summer we'd play outside all day long, either "down the rec", in the street or on the marshes. Mum knew we'd stay together and look out for each other and we always did. If we cut or grazed our knees we'd lick... Read more
Childhood
I was born at Peartree Cottage which was half way down the high street. For a young boy growing up the war was one big adventure. The fire station was opposite our house and they made me some really great wooden toys. As kids we would watch the aerial dog fights, not appreciating people were dying. We made canoes out of jettisoned petrol tanks and collected persex from plane canopies which could be carved into rings etc. After the war my father who had been a Royal Marine returned home and after many and varied 'recession' jobs became the village postman for part of Minster and all of Monkton. He was a village councillor and an ERDC councillor for Monkton and was awarded the Imperial Services Medal for his work. In those days everyone knew each other and my god father Mr Cheesman was the sub Post master. I went to the two village schools in turn and then on to St George's in Ramsgate. It was a really safe... Read more
The Newsagent in Minster High Street
I have only just seen this site for the first time and was very surprised to see the photograph of the newsagent's shop in the High Street. My mother's sister Elsie Atwell, nee Keen was married to the owner, Reg Atwell. When they were first married they lived in Ramsgate with a relative known to me as Aunty Nan. When their first and only child, a son called Clive was born he and I used to play together a lot in their house in Edith Road. My mother used to clean Elsie's house for many years, but sadly after a very bad argument one day, the sisters never spoke again. I do not remember what year they moved to Minster, but we were told of Reg's sudden death, followed by Elsie's when she was only about 50 years of age. Clive then carried on running the newsagents.
The Youth Club
There was a youth club held in a building across the carpark from Minster Primary School. I think this building was called the Leisure Centre, it also hosted Brownies and Guides. For a few pee we would spend hours playing Adam and the Ants records on a tiny ancient record player and jump around on the torn worn fake leather furniture and spend the rest of our money on shandy bass or crisps. Living on Monkton Road, we took the short cut to the youth club up the "bumpy way" skirting Spanton's fields to Molineux Road and the school.
I was really jealous of my older brother who went to cubs in an old stone building down near the Church. They built an assault course in the hall with ropes and crash mats and had a great time. Brownies was nothing by comparison!
Vintage
These memories really are 1944 to about 1953. The corner shop by the church was a favourite as they used to sell home made toffee when sweets were on ration. One character I can still see was Mr White the baker being taken home in his trap by his horse after a lunch time visit to the pub at the end of his day's deliveries. Once the war ended we used to have great Guy Fawkes bonfire nights in the garden at Peartree Cottage with lots of people from the village. We kids used to spend many hours playing on the marshes and at the old Richborough wartime railway complex with its water towers, and had miles of track to ride the old pump-action trucks on. The youth club by the school was a favourite meeting place for snooker, table tennis and music. As I got older I was able to join the Institute and play serious snooker, in fact I still have the cue and case I won there when I... Read more
The Mud Flood
Date Unconfirmed. After torrential rain, the topsoil off the fields at the top of Prospect Road slid down the hill to Monkton Road. Any houses which were not slightly above road level were flooded. Our house being a good foot above it, remained untouched but our neighbours in the farmhouse Eden Hall had mud under the doors and lost their carpets. It took a long time for the remains to be cleared. It was really quite a sight to behold.
Memories of Kent
Minster
My father, Reginald Miller, took me to Minster where my grandfather and great grandfather came from. I now live in Sydney, Australia but am coming over to England in September 08. Can anyone tell me about the Miller family in Minster? (I believe my father and his brother Bernard were billetted with their grandparents in the First World War). Please reply to bette02002@yahoo.com.au.
Looking For Memories of Watchester Farm in Minster
Does anyone out there have any memories of Watchester Farm in Minster (Isle of Thanet) that they might share with me please? I am a keen amateur genealogist and have found a mention of Watchester Farm House during my researches and I would love to hear from anyone who might remember the place. Does it even still exist, I wonder?
Ebbsfleet Mamouth History
Ebbsfleet is now home to the Ebbsfleet international train station, but most people will not know of its history. An excavation at Ebbsfleet revealed mammouth fossils and a Stone Age site where found under the car park at Ebbsfleet international train station. The site was uncovered by landscape workers on Ebbsfleet, northwest Channel Tunnel Rail Link car park.
Great Times
I lived with mum and dad, Len and Anita, younger sister Linda and baby brother Anthony in what was then Forstall Farm, Westmarsh from 1956 to 1962. Dad had a very small smallholding and a poultry farm next to what was then known as the Rose Inn. I went to school in Sandwich and worked for Stickles when I left, it was a five and a half day week then and all for 3 10. 00 (3.50). Those were the best times of my life. I used to go fishing, shooting, rafting on the main stream, and us lads used to have soapbox carts which the dog used to drag along, I loved walking across the field to Pluck's Gutter with my dog Rex. Rex used to love swimming and very often came home with fishing hooks still with line attached hooked into his body. I'm sure that there were very many angry anglers. Next door was Wilmshurst's the village shop which was also the post office and bakery, next was... Read more
Bligh Family
I have recently lost my uncle David James Bligh and I am trying to find some details with regard to his paternal family. I understand that his Grandfather William Frederick Bligh and his mother Elizabeth Rosey lived in Upper Stourmouth in the 1940s. David's father was James (Jim) Robert Bligh who died in North Africa during the Second World War on 26 April 1943 aged 24 yrs. If there are any descendants or anyone that knows or knew of the family I would be grateful for any information.
Memorybank total
We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.
You've shared 28,875 memories of 5,951 towns & villages across the UK - keep them coming!
Find Memories
Simply search for your favourite places to read others' memories and share your own.
Tips & Ideas
Not sure what to write?
It's easy - just think of an important place in your life and ask yourself:
How does it feature in your personal history?
What are your best memories of this place?
How has it changed over the years?
How does it feel, seeing these old photos of your favourite place?
Do you remember stories about the local community, its history and people?
Start now!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the orange "Add your Memory" icon to begin.
Places this week
Here are some of the places you've shared memories of this week:
- Dovercourt, Essex
- Croydon, Surrey
- Parkgate, Merseyside
- Kings Sutton, Oxfordshire
- Ewell, Surrey
- Llansamlet, West Glamorgan
- Easington Colliery, County Durham
- Sedlescombe, East Sussex
- Maesgeirchen, Gwynedd
- Langley Park, County Durham
- Beeston Castle, Cheshire
- High Halden, Kent
- Rhydyfelin, Mid Glamorgan
- Dan Y Parc, Powys
- Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire
- Rochdale, Lancashire
- Fleetwood, Lancashire
- Severn Beach, Avon
- Eccles, Lancashire
- Bexley, Kent
- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
Your memories
To jump straight to the memories you have added already to the Community, click here
I Remember When...
This stunning compilation highlights some of the best stories selected from the thousands contributed here on the
Frith website. The result is an absorbing chronicle of British life from the Second World War to the mid 1960s.
A colourful treasure trove of memories, "I Remember When" is an
irresistible mix of personal stories and recollections that affectionately reveal the detail of everyday life in Britain.
