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Pembury
Pembury maps
Historic maps of Pembury and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Pembury maps
Pembury area books
Displaying 1 of 24 books about Pembury and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Pembury
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memories of Pembury.
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Pembury
I was born in Stockwell London, but I often visited 'Uncle Jack' who was the retired farm manager of Beagles Farm. He lived with his wife in Church Road opposite the stores. My parents, my sister and I visited regularly and when the grown ups wanted to chat, I was given money to buy sweets at Kings Stores. My ancestors came from this area, including Nimrod Bridger who was, unfortunately run down and killed in one of the first motoring accidents of the time. It was reported at length in the local newspaper dated 19th June 1906. Some other ancestors are buried in the graveyard, at the side of the local school, just up the hill from where the stores were. I have not been able to locate the actual graves. The main Hastings Road at that time ran through Pembury, and we used to travel there by coach and walk down to the Stores. I do recall many wonderful home cooked dinners and picking fruit for 'pudding'.
Kent memories
Cherry Picking
I have great memories of Matfield Green. My mum and dad would pack up all our kit, put it into a large van then we would be taken from Lewes in East Sussex to the cherry orchard in Matfield Green. The cherry orchard was on the Crittenden Road just up from the owner's house which was Mr Thomsett. We had great adventures there and I will never forget them, like swimming naked in Matfield Green pond which had a little island in the middle. My father passed away June just gone so I am going to go to Matfield Green to have another look at the orchard but I know the cherry trees have gone and it's just a field, but I will always remember Mr Charly King driving around the orchard to pick up our picked cherries. The families there were the Arnolds (us), the the Harrises, the Carters and lots more, but I cannot remember them all. There was also Paul the German, and I remember the milkman... Read more
Cottages
Does anybody remember the Hand and Sceptre cottages at the bottom of Rusthall Road?
The Balding Business in The Pantiles
I believe my Great Grandfather owned or ran a shop or shops in the Pantiles. I would be pleased for any photos or memories that anyone has. my email is alan@flower-studio.com
My Stay in The Kent & Sussex Hospital
I am married to David Greenland but my maiden name was Valerie Watson, I spent 14 weeks in the hospital in 1946 and also previously in 1943. I remember the beds being pushed into the corridors when the air raid sirens sounded. I was operated on by a Mr Simons for a mastoid of my left ear, if it wasn't for the discovery of Penicillin and the clever surgeon I wouldn't be here today! I was in ward 12 on the top floor, there was a large balcony at one end of the ward that had a sloping pathway to the ward below I suppose it was a fire escape. My father died in the hospital in 1957. I now live in Australia.
Telephone Exchange
Please someone anyone join in .There must be a telephone operator out ther somewhere I started as a telephonist in Tunbridge wells sept. 8 1948. ended up at relief exchange opposite bus depot until the 60,s My married name is Russell now divorced. I have many photos of us girls . We were a handfull we went on lots of outings . we hired a man to drive us. I have photos of us wearing first bikinis, I keep in touch via Jean Plass. They are my favourite years of my life Miss Wade was the supervisor. Oh boy could I tell some tales. PLEASE any one who remembers those days try to contact me or leave a message. We were also involved with the Royals. Daphne Hooker Married name Russell
Life at Southborough as an Evacuee in 1939
I was sent to Southborough from London in September 1939 and was billeted with a lovely couple, Mr and Mrs Brown who lived at Holden Corner. I was with another girl evacuee named Audrey and she and l just loved the chickens and fishing (with jam jars) in the pond. We went to the village school, bought Tizer and ice-cream from the shop, and I seem to remember going to the church there, too. Thanks to the Browns' kindness my memories of Southborough are most happy. Several of us used to try and make 'dens' in the bushes on the common on our way home from school. I well remember Audrey getting a letter from her mum saying that she had had to put their cat to sleep in case it got hurt by bombs and we both sat in bed and cried, me because I had 2 cats and I feared that they would suffer the same fate! Sadly when my home in Blackheath got bombed in September 1940,... Read more
