Nostalgic memories of Eastry's local history

Share your own memories of Eastry and read what others have said

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.

Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.

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Displaying Memories 1 - 10 of 31 in total

I had a wonderful upbringing ‘up the hill’ from Buttshole pond… 1958 - 1966 I was raised in one of the seven cottages- mine was Lime Cottage. My matron was Mrs. Aunty Betty Harris- who had a daughter, Ann The Deputy Matron was Aunty Mary- a Scott and the sports master Uncle Bob and the Supervisor was Mr. Jeffrey Baker whom with Mrs. Baker had a son, Paul who also attended Sir Roger ...see more
This is very nostalgic! In the Autumn of 1955 I was on leave from the Far East,and helped my recently widowed sister and her young son settle into Lynch Cottage. She bought the house from the Hon Barbara Lucas and her third husband,Peter,an artist The lucases then took over the Bull Inn,where I spent much of my spare time,with,among others,Bob and Joan Stanford-Tuck,who were particularly kind to me.In 1959 my new wife and I ...see more
We moved to Eastry when I was 2...now 60 years ago ....We lived in the house on the Premiere Garage High Street which was over the road from the newsagents called Bickers. As kids we played in the wood of Boystown behind the garage. Premiere garage was a weird set-up. In the forecourt there were 2 petrol pumps.Behind then was a big building .The first part of the building was like a parts and accessories shop with a massive ...see more
There is a sense of history by walking along Church Street with its deep guttering, for the times when and where horses were the transport and along to the Church, the Palace Of Eastry, Eastry Court and then Eastry farm and the C. of E. Primary School. Opposite the school was Lovers' Lane and a pretty walk between beautiful trees down to more farmland and little streams and waterways. To the right is the vicarage ...see more
This road, as the word Brook Street most clearly implies, leads down from the Cross in the distance at the top of the hill down through this avenue of trees to the Lynch. On the left are some beautiful houses with lawns and beautiful trees surrounding them. On the right is a sheep meadow and a horse chestnut tree where we used to go and throw things at the conkers to get them down. These were prize conkers ...see more
This photo almost makes history come alive with the turning of the corner to make us wonder what lies there and the old houses in the foreground with the deep guttering. I guess that helped people avoid the water and waste from the horses, or in wet weather. It was easier to mount your horse from the top of that deep drop. Most of the houses used to be for old single ladies who looked very fierce in church to a 9 year old ...see more
There are plenty of brick walls along most country lanes and so I am having trouble placing this. It might be near to Selson Farm which is actually not too far from Hammill brickworks. The clay under the chalk was just right for a thriving brick-baking industry. Near to Selson Farm are some buildings with some windows blocked up with bricks. A few hundred years ago when they brought in the window tax ...see more
This new housing estate was built pre the broadcasting of the soap-series The Newcomers. That programme was a soapie but dealt with the theme of newcomers settling in and being accepted. Was it 'keep yourself to yourself' or mixing in? A bit of each. These people I imagine had proper cars (the latest Toyota) and proper office jobs. We carried on at the mushroom farm or picked hops or picked up and sorted out blighty ...see more
Again, we notice Eastry is set atop a hill and the Roman Road continues its way down and along to Sandwich. On the way are Dutch sounding place names such as Felderland Lane. The land is very flat and it wouldn't surprise if it was under the sea 2000 years ago. It is now sandy and fertile either for market gardening or for orchards. When the plum and cherry blossoms arrive for two weeks the sight ...see more
I'm guessing this is looking east from the Lower Street area over meadows and a cornfield with the Children's Homes to the right and the line of trees marking the brow of the hill of the Lynch. There was a pathway across that horizon. The word Lynch may even date back to old English before Anglo-Saxon times. On this chalky soil it can get very dry and the water goes down to the springs that emerge at the foot of ...see more