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Underriver memories

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Memories of Kent

Hilden Manor

Hilden Manor c1960
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In 1971 I was a lad of 15 and had made friends with some people living behind the Hilden Manor. The owner wanted needed help to dig out a large pond in his back garden, so I volunteered with his two sons to hand dig this pond in the hot summer sunshine. We had not got very far when we hit concrete! We could not understand why concrete would be in a back garden of a relatively newly built house? It turned out to be the old swimming pool that belonged to Hilden Manor back in the old days, and after breaking through some of the large area of concrete, the finished article was really a show piece. This was in Stacey Road and I lived in Correnden Road just behind the Hilden Manor. I went on to have a part-time job in the manor, helping in the kitchen, peeling and chopping the veg for pocket money and looking on at those who could afford to dine there. Happy memories.... Read more

A memory of Hildenborough, shared by Stuart Nolan.

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Ivy Hatch Court

The House 1901
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These are the memories of my mother May born Ivy Hatch 1921.

The photo shows the gardens and rear elevation of Ivy Hatch Court. The house was owned by Colonel C.N.Watney and his wife Winifred from at least 1919 until approx 1945 when it was sold and converted into apartments/flats. There was a daughter Miss Patricia Watney and a son, name unknown.
Mrs Watney was a keen hunt supporter and rode to hounds with the West Kent Foxhounds
Colonel Watney is understood to have been a patron of St.Bartholomews Hospital, London
Household staff during the 1920s and '30s included:
Mr. Taylor - Butler
Mr Saunders - Chauffeur
Mr Ernie Cox - Head gardener (lived at The Lodge with wife and 2 children, Phillip and Doreen)
Mr Cunningham - 2nd gardener who lived with family at Crown House
Mr Horace Palmer - 3rd gardener who lived with wife and 5 children at Crown House
Mr William (Bill) Jenkins - Groom

My maternal grandfather Horace James Palmer, served with Colonel... Read more

A memory of Ivy Hatch

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Dads Birthplace

My father Fred Beeching, was born at Dovedale Cottage in 1926, sadly he has now passed away, but left us with many stories, he attended school in ightham, and my Grandparents also Fred Beeching and Rose Beeching are buried in St Peters Church yard.
It would be great if anyone has pictures or memories of Ivy Hatch, i have visited the Village twice, but now living in Germany.
Regards Brian

A memory of Ivy Hatch, shared by Brian Beeching.

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The Cottages on The Side Known as St Athreda

c1955
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I used to be in Oakbank School and my uncle lived in Seal. His cottage is on the right hand side of this photo.

A memory of Seal, shared by Lawrence Dodd.

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During WWII

I lived on Seal High Street (pretty well opposite the half timbered building & the horse trough in the photograph) from 1939 to 1951. My father was in the fire brigade. In those days you auditioned to become a choirboy. The Church music was very elaborate & mostly we enjoyed it - although we were discreetly naughty, especially during the vicar's deadly boring sermons. Wide knicker elastic & tiny black throat sweets provided excellent catapault material. We got paid - about 3/6 (17p) I week I think although most of got lost in 'fines'. Society weddings were very lucrative. Seal was a feudal kind of place with very wealthy people in big houses served by the 'village'.

Although the battle of Britain raged overhead nothing much got hit until the V1 (Doodlebug) & V2 rocket came along. The biggest danger was stray bullets from the fighting & an occasional strafing of the road.

There was very little petrol - even for the rich - and we... Read more

A memory of Seal, shared by Mike Turner.

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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.