Ivy Hatch Court

A Memory of Ivy Hatch.

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 Watney in India (now Pakistan) with the Queens Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) during WW1.
Horace died in October 1937 on his way to work at Ivy Hatch Court.

John Gabbitass