Nostalgic memories of Ightham's local history
Share your own memories of Ightham 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 all 10 Memories
My nan (Amy) and granddad (Fred) ran the post office in Cobtree Cottage Ightham. As a young girl I started Ightham primary school in 1964 before changing to Borough Green primary school in the last 2 years. My uncle's name is on the memorial stone as John Morley though his full name was Fredrick John Morley, this was due to everybody knowing him as John and not to mix him up with my grandfather, ...see more
My Booth family were glaziers etc in Ightham from the early 1700s until mid 1800s. Would be interested if anyone has any photos, memorabilia of them for posting on this site. I am aware that the Mote Farm House has an inscription "Joseph Booth 1806" in an attic window - any stories of past occupants of this grade II listed building of interest to me and the NT.
Before my father passed away, he told me of a murder at the Mote House (Ightham Manor). Apparently, my great aunt Alice worked there as a housekeeper, when the murder of Caroline Mary Luard took place in 1908. She was found shot in the summerhouse - the case was never solved. Before my aunt died, she told my father that the murderer was the Major, (Caroline's husband). I dont know how accurate this is, but quite interesting don't you think?
We - my parents and their five sons - lived at Beaconsmount, a house formerly owned by the Maules and before them, the Staggs. We moved to Ivy Hatch (opposite the 68 bus stop at the Sevenoaks end of the village) in 1956 and left in 1975. All of us loved the village and its people and I made lots of friends.
The bus-stop itself was called Maule's Corner all through our time.
We used ...see more
Does anyone else remember Mrs Callow's wool shop? Situated in the High Street near the top of Station Road, it was ideally situated for primary school children to buy sweets after school. In my case this was only on a Thursday (Dad's payday). The strange thing was that the sweets weren't on display. You had to ask Mrs Callow for the sweet tray, whereupon she would reach under the counter and produce a large ...see more
My sisters Rita, Susan and me all attended Ightham Primary School, the headmaster was Mr Foster, he travelled every day from Maidstone by car, Mrs Kath Gordon, Miss Tomkins being the other teachers, Mrs Hussey replacing Miss Tomkins upon her retirement. We first lived in a very small bungalow near Burton's Button Factory, which at one time had been a chicken canning factory, mid-way along Fen (also spelt as ...see more
Hello. I have just found an old postcard of this image! It belonged to my late great aunt's husband. I'd love to hear your stories if you lived in this village around this time or have a relative who did!
Interesting to see this picture though I don't think that by the 1960s Ightham was ever this free of traffic except early in the morning. The building in the centre of the picture was a petrol station and provider of all sorts of bits and pieces. Was it run by Mr Arthur? My father would drive down there (with me in tow) to find whatever he needed to keep the lawnmower and other garden equipment going as well as ...see more
This memory is not mine, but that of my mother in law, Beatrice, nee Head. She grew up in the Girls Training Home in Boxley Road Maidstone until she was 14 when she had to go 'into service'. One of her first jobs was as a housemaid at Ightham Mote where she also looked after the two little boys belonging to the family. Unfortunately she no longer remembers the family name but says they were very kind. ...see more
This view was seen by me every day that I went to school at Judd School in Tonbridge. I caught the bus here. There were two bus routes through the village - Number 9 which ran from Maidstone to Sevenoaks and operated by Maidstone & District - and the number 122 which was operated by Southdown and ran from Gravesend to Brighton. Both buses arrived in the village on the hour. I lived at Cobtree Cottage at the ...see more