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Preston

Preston maps

Historic maps of Preston and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis.   View all Preston maps

Preston area books

Displaying 1 of 24 books about Preston and the local area.   View all books for this area

Memories of Preston

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Kent memories

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.

The Happiest Days of my Life

My  maternal grandfather, Archie Greatorex, was the licensee of the Anchor Inn from 1957 until his death in September 1974. Most of my family holidays, until the age of 10, were spent with him. My parents used to pack my sister and I up and we would catch either the coach or train from London's Victoria to Canterbury, thence by number 13 bus to Wingham, where we would be deposited right outside the front door. How did my parents manage with two small children, large suitcases and, if it was Christmas, reams of presents as well?
If it was summer, Archie, and his partner, Mill, would have a week away somewhere while my parents, Fred and Vera, looked after the pub, then, upon Archie's return, we would have a week of days-out by 'bus. Most-visited places were Ramsgate, Margate, Canterbury and Whitstable. I particularly loved the model village at Ramsgate and the boat-trips on the River Stour in Canterbury.
Lovely memories of blue sky days spent playing in the garden... Read more

Family Connections

I understand my great grandfather worked in this forge. He was born Charles Holness around 1830 and married Ann Marsh in the 1850s. My father's mother Agnes Annie Holness was one of their children. She had an older sister Alice, brothers Fred and Bert and William Henry who died of smallpox in May 1902. He worked on boats at Fordwich. My father's father was Charles Albert Tucker who was a blacksmith in Jubilee Road, Littlebourne and later had his own forge and cottages (May 1913) at East Rangdon near Dover.

1901 Wickhambreux

Sarah Clayden Rudd nee Wacey and her daughters lived in Wickhambreux.  They were listed there at the time of the 1891 census as living 'the green' and in 1901 she and her daughters, Sarah and Rebecca, are living there and recorded as 'lodging house keeper'. Sarah the mother lived there until she died in 1916.

They are distant relatives of mine.

Wickham Court

My grandfather, Byron Kelsey, lived and farmed here. My father, Hugh Edwin Byron Kelsey, was born in this house.

Baird

The Willows 1903
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Apparently, The Willows was occupied in 1911 by Alexander Baird, a retired Bank Manager, his wife, Elizabeth, son Capt Henry Hume Chisholm Baird DSO and Capt Henry's wife. Alexander Baird was born in Alloa, Scotland, in 1841, the son of a shipowner. He and his family had lived previously at Robeston Hall, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, where four of his five children were born (1870 - 1879) and later in London before moving to Wickhambreaux. Alexander Baird and his wife (and other members of the Baird family) are buried in Wickhambreaux churchyard. They died in the 1920s. Does anyone have any more information about this family?

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