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Addington

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Old map of Addington

Addington books (30 available)

Addington memories

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Kent memories

The Coronation

Borough Green, the Village c1955

In 1953 very few households had television. I remember going along to the Fourways cafe on Coronation Day with my parents so that we could watch the Coronation on the television. My sister was only 3 and I was 5. The cafe was run by Mr and Mrs King. My now step mother worked there as a cook. Years later the cafe became the Fourways Furnishings, though I forget the exact name. That was run by Cyril & Hazel Knight.
The fish & chip shop on the corner, run by the Swinburnes, sold the most delicious ice lollies with real ice cream inside which we would buy on our way to Brownies which was held at the Church Hall on ...read more here
A memory of Borough Green contributed by MARIAN Smith

Teacher Mr Charles Dodd

Snodland, Holmesdale School c1960

My grandad was a Mr Charles Robert Dodd who taught woodwork up till 1967 at the school from about 1948 till he died in 1967, can anyone remember him?
A memory of Snodland contributed by alexandria wilson

Where I lived in 1960

Snodland, the Station c1960

We moved into the flat above Snodland station on 9th January 1960 (my 8th birthday) and the extreme left upstairs window was the view from our lounge (or, rather - sitting room). I attended Brook Street CoE Primary school from then until 1963, when I moved to the "top school", known then as Snodland County Secondary School. The name change to Holmesdale was fairly soon after that as I recollect.

The lamps on Snodland station in 1960 were gas lit, with a pole to pull down the chain which in turn fired the gas onto the pilot light. Each lamp had to be lit individually - and took a fair time. My father was the Station Master, so I ...read more here
A memory of Snodland contributed by Geoff Whale

Ightham 1960s

Ightham, the Square c1960

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 ...read more here
A memory of Ightham contributed by Jonathan Green

Extracts From Addington & Kent books

Gillingham, Darland Banks c1960

In 1933, 70 acres of chalk downland were acquired by Chatham and Gillingham councils to create this beautiful open countryside nature reserve between the two towns. The local wildlife includes several species of orchids and butterflies. At the centre of this picture, we can see the horses of travellers whose mobile homes are among the trees.
An extract from from"Chatham and the Medway Towns Photographic Memories".

Rochester, the Red Lion, Star Hill Corner c1955

The bus advertises Fremlins’ ales outside the Red Lion, a Style & Winch house of flamboyant grandeur, but now no more, sad to say. There are now traffic lights and a great deal more traffic where this policeman stands on point duty at the junction of High Street with Corporation Street (left) and Star Hill (right).
An extract from from"Chatham and the Medway Towns Photographic Memories".

Chatham, Town Hall and Military Road c1955

The virtual absence of motor traffic suggests that this photograph may have been taken in 1956, during the Suez Crisis petrol rationing, which did not end until the following year. The restrained architecture of The Eagle Tavern contrasts with that of both the Town Hall and the Chatham Constitution Club on the right of this picture.
An extract from from"Chatham and the Medway Towns Photographic Memories".

Chatham, High Street c1955

This part of the High Street is very different today, with The Sun Hotel gone from its Medway Street corner site. The dome further down the street was on the old Empire Theatre, which could seat 2,500 people. It specialised in music hall-style entertainment before it closed during the 1960s.
An extract from from"Chatham and the Medway Towns Photographic Memories".

Chatham, Town Hall c1960

The town’s naval links are illustrated by the Unifit outfitters, which advertises naval and civilian tailoring. The adjoining shop, displaying the Spratts Scottie dog, was that of Charles Carvell, bird dealer.
An extract from from"Chatham and the Medway Towns Photographic Memories".