Leysdown-On-Sea
Leysdown-On-Sea photos (7 available)
Leysdown-On-Sea maps (2 available)
Map of Kent
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
Personalised maps
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Leysdown-On-Sea books (12 available)
- 4 photos on Leysdown-On-Sea appear in 1 Frith books - View photos of Leysdown-On-Sea
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Leysdown-On-Sea and Kent
Leysdown-On-Sea memories
Read and share memories of Leysdown-On-Sea and Kent inspired by Frith photos
Bliss!
My Aunt Maggie lived at 1 Easton Road (Halfway down the High Street towards the beach, turn left at the newsagent into Easton Road). Sadly, it appears the road is no longer there according to maps. Surely the road featured in the photograph is called The Promenade?
I was born there in 1945, and mum and I spent our summer holidays at Aunt Maggie's bungalow. I have so many fond memories of Leysdown before it became commercialised. My last visit there was in 1959, and I haven't been back. The photo is just as I remember, especially the motorbike and sidecar.
Contributed by Roy Preston
Kent memories
Bliss!
My Aunt Maggie lived at 1 Easton Road (Halfway down the High Street towards the beach, turn left at the newsagent into Easton Road). Sadly, it appears the road is no longer there according to maps. Surely the road featured in the photograph is called The Promenade?
I was born there in 1945, and mum and I spent our summer holidays at Aunt Maggie's bungalow. I have so many fond memories of Leysdown before it became commercialised. My last visit there was in 1959, and I haven't been back. The photo is just as I remember, especially the motorbike and sidecar.
A memory of Leysdown-On-Sea contributed by Roy Preston
Eastchurch garage
My family owned the garage seen on the right of this photo and were living here when I was born. It went under the name of DH Beard and Son and my grandfather started the business in the 1930s. He also ran the local taxi company which included the school runs from around the island. There were many changes over the years until the business was sold in 1963. I have many happy childhood memories of holidays on the Isle of Sheppey!
Littlebrook, 1948-1950
We moved to Littlebrook late 1948. I got to like it here. My parents decided house not suitable so on market in spring. Liked going trainspotting to see Thanet Belle rush through. Had 2 friends, Sandy and Michael, both at King's Rochester. Cycled round area including Harty Ferry, Brogdale Road and all over Faversham. Liked the summer events e.g. cycle racing and motor cycle racing. Brightened up the summer as 'off swimming' due to illness. Father was a fusspot and almost spoilt the summer. Liked Hugh Curling's farm, seeing inside oast house, oh the fragrancy of hops! Those were the days the East End descended on Kent en masse. Years later, encountered Rex Neame (Shepherd Neame) and David Bensted (Bensted Brewery) ...read more here
A memory of Seasalter contributed by John Nurcombe
Extracts From Leysdown-On-Sea & Kent books
Leysdown is the most easterly village of the Isle of Sheppey. On the left is the Leysdown post
office with a post box outside, while on the right is a motor-cycle with a side-car, which was a very
common mode of transport at that time.
An extract from from"Around the Kent Coast".
Leysdown is a popular holiday resort on the Isle of Sheppey, reached by crossing the Kingsferry Bridge. Traders enjoyed brisk business here - they include the busy Choc Box, an amusement arcade, the Cabin Tea Rooms and a beachwear outlet. More than 40 years later, many visitors continue to pour in to stay at a resident caravan park offering karaoke and clubland singers on the entertainment bill.
An extract from from"Kent Revisited Photographic Memories".
The Warden Bay Caravan
Park also had chalets, which
we can just see at the top
right of the photograph.
Note the 5mph speed limit
sign just inside the narrow
gates. The Sheppey light
railway opened in 1901, and
ran between Queensborough
and Leydown; it closed in
1950, which upset many
locals and holidaymakers.
An extract from from"Around the Kent Coast".
The impressive facade of the Hotel Metropole, with the Ship Hotel next door, faced the end
of the Jetty to greet the thousands of holidaymakers
who travelled down on the paddle steamers. In the
foreground is a ‘guess your weight’ machine, where
you only paid if the proprietor guessed your weight
correctly. He could do this by cleverly adjusting
the weights to his advantage. Six houses to the left
was the lodging house of Mrs Sophia Booth, where
J M W Turner stayed between 1827 and 1851. From
here he painted watercolours of golden sunsets over the
sea to the west and the misty dawns to the east.
Between 1939 and 1945 the Hotel Metropole and
surrounding properties were demolished as part of
the town’s Fort Road Improvement Scheme. The area
as it was before demolition can be seen in the aerial
photograph on pages 8-9.
Three acres of rundown cafes, souvenir shops and a
wooden arcade were cleared, and a new dual-carriageway
swept down the hill offering a clear panoramic view of the
sands and bay.
An extract from from"Margate Town and City Memories".
The list of `Fashionables` taking rooms in the Cliftonville Hotel would be published weekly in the local newspaper, again emphasising the separation of the social classes.
An extract from from"Margate Town and City Memories".