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West Peckham memories

Here are memories of West Peckham and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of West Peckham or a West Peckham photo.

Childhood

My name is Gail Godden, formally Morris, my father was Tony (Anthony Morris), my mother Eugene (Jean Morris). My father and I were both born at No. 6 Church Row, West Peckham, we moved to No. 2 Church Row. West Peckham has a strong pull in my heart as my father named Morris was in fact a Glover, I have no history on this side of the family at all!

We were very involved with cricket on the green and the Swan pub, I was only small so it is difficult to recall! We shared a lot of time with the landlord's boys, Jean Conker and recall special times with Alan and Doug!

I have photos of the area and would love to share them with interested parties.

My Auntie (Daphne Erwick) lived in a house that was at the back of the pub until it burnt down, not sure when!

I laid my dad to rest (Tony Morris) at St Dunstan's in 1997.
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Memories of Kent

Orphanage

My grandfather George Edward Knight was born in 1932, he was put in an orphanage somewhere in or around Hadlow, he also went to a school for boys, at age 13 he had an apprentership with a J Wood as a painter. After this he went to war. Any infomation would be great as he has dementia and the memories are getting worse. His nickname was (Ian).

Fred And Dorcas

My Great Grandparents were Fred & Dorcas Beeching, and both died in 1915, they lived in Dunks Green, and two of their sons Sydney and William were killed in the Great War, their names appear on the memorial stone in Plaxtol i think.
Does anyone have memories of Dunks Green from any years.
Brian

Growing up in Dunks Green

My dad Henry Burton became Post Master at Dunks Green in the early 1950s. I had a wonderful childhood there. It was so quiet in the evenings that we played skipping with a long rope that was tied to the bus stop and stretched right across the road. We played rounders 'up the land'. My best friend was Doreen Crawley and at harvest time we rode on the back of her brother Bill's tractor up and down the field while he collected the sacks of corn from the combine. When the trailer was full they were taken to the barn. We roamed the woods, the fields and the nut plantations quite freely, nobody minded because we never caused any damage. In the spring we would pick posies of primroses and bluebells for our mothers. We knew, by name, everybody in the village and when I got married everyone came to wave me off. My dad sold the shop and Post Office in the 1970s when he retired.

Sturdey Family Tree

Nut Tree Hall 1901
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William Sturdey, Christened 3 Dec 1797 at Eynsford. 1851 Census:- Aged 53, Agricultural Labourer, Nut Tree Hall, Plaxtol Village. 1861 Census:- Aged 67 (s/b 63??), Farm Bailiff at Nut Tree Hall. Death Reg'd 3rd Qtr 1877 at Malling Regn District, aged 80 yrs. William Sturdey married Sarah Farrant (dob 1798,) 12 Oct 1819 at Wrotham Parish Church, Kent. 1851 Census:- Aged 52, Agricultural Labourer, born Fawkham, Kent. 1861 Census:- Aged 63, born Plaxtol, Kent. Death registered 2nd Qtr, 1870 at Malling Regn. District. Aged 72.
William Sturdey Son (second child) of Daniel and Mary Sturdey, nephew of Elizabeth Sturdey (died c.1794).
William and Sarah had four children, (1) Elizabeth - 1851 Census:- Aged 23, born Plaxtol c 1828. Living with parents, mantua (ie Mantle) maker.
(2) William Sturdey - 1851 Census:- Aged 18, born Plaxtol c 1833, living with parents, farm labourer.
(3) James Sturdey - 1851 Census:- Aged 15, born Plaxtol c 1836, farm labourer.
(4) Ann Sturdey -... Read more

The Forge Restaurant

Happy youthful days at the Forge Restaurant, in Kent. Happiest days of my life....more later....lovely place. Living in a 16th. Century converted Smithy was a blast. Stay tuned...also looking for any of the "guys," who worked there with Alastair and Jack...

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