Rainham History - History of Rainham Kent, Old Photos and Life in Bygone Times
The Sheppey Crossing and Kingsferry Bridge History
Rainham School for Girls
RAINHAM SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
Dear Editor,
It was in 1932 that the children who were eleven years and over learned that we would be going to a new school, then being built in Orchard Street. So would all the children of the same age from Upchurch, Lower Halstow, Hartlip, Bredhurst, Hempstead and of course those from the C of E at the top of Station Road. I well remember the sadness that I felt as we who were being transferred to the ncw school were being shuffled around so that the classrooms we were leaving could be re-arranged for the new term after the hop-picking holiday. I was thirteen years old and had reached standard seven. It was the Solomon Road school that I attended from five years of age. I still remember the coloured beads on wooden frames that we learned to count on, small boards and chalk for writing and large varnished posters hung over the blackboard for reading instruction, starting with 'The cat sat on the mat', and progressing to 'The fish is on the dish'. The alphabet was learned phonetically. The teacher was Mrs Springate who wore a long black skirt. Up in standard three was a Miss Springate who also wore a long skirt which she whacked with a cane to maintain discipline.
Two of the staff from Solomon Road were moving on to the ncw school, Mrs Smith (known as Titch), and Miss Lott, teachcr of standards six and seven and X seven. X seven consisted of the few girls who had reached the end of the existing system but not yet attained the age of fourteen, and so could not leave. At some time our parents had received letters informing them and us as to which form we would be in on arrival at thc new school. Also a list of the uniform they hoped that we would bc wearing, navy gymslips, navy knickers and soft soled plimsolls. Thus we said goodbye to our old schools, many of us to spend the next three or four weeks in the hop fields to earn money for new shoes etc for the coming winter. At last came the start of everything new. I ~alked past the Otterham brickfields, through the allotments, past the old school, the length of the High Street, turned into Orchard Street and soon came to the gate of the new school. Buses were bringing in children from the villages, but I don't remember much confusion, somehow we found our form rooms. Mine was three A, the top form, Miss Austin being the mistress. Everything was so new and shiny, even the books. The first shock was that when the lesson ended we had to change rooms and teacher for the next one to begin. We had, of course, been used to one teacher and one room for all subjects. The next and greater shock was going into the gym hall and being told by a very short-skirted mistress to remove our gymslips and parade in our knickers. Girls did not show their knickers in those days! but we soon got used to it, though I never did manage to conquer the vaulting horse.
The next great discovery was the science laboratory. Imagine girls coming from homes with no gas or electricity suddenly being confronted with Bunsen burners on their desks in front of them. The domestic science rooms with what was then the latest cquipment. The art room with a special teacher, quite young, blonde and in our eyes very glamorous, Miss Jones. We soon settled down, and sadly I came to the end of my first and only year. I was fourteen and had to go out into the world of work. I considered that I was privileged to have had that final year of education at such a good school, and I am sure that girls from the villages must have gained a lot of experience that their tiny village schools were not able to supply. At eighty-two years I am still thankful to the school and staff for the wonderful year that I spent there. (My next two years in domestic service were not so happy, but that's another story.)
Joan Wiles (Mrs) (nee Baker)
Rainham Vicarage & Parsonage
Rainham Vicarage & Parsonage
I recently started to give talks again on the history and development of Rainham and part of my preparation was to endeavour to answer a question that used to be posed before 1962 as to why we had a Vicarage next door to the Parsonage. Having done a considerable amount of investigation I found that Mr Stuart Jelly had actually reported the reason in the Rainham Church magazine of July 1946, so I hope between us the definitive reason may again be reported.
Photo showing Rainham Parsonage towards bottom left of photo and site of old post office next door with flats being built
The Doomsday Book records that the manor of Renham was given by WiIliam the Conqueror to Robert de Crevequer and in 1137 he in due course gave the churches on his estates, and in Rainham's case 18 acres ofland, to the Canons of Leeds Abbey. The Canon or Abbot of Leeds built the Parsonage as the abode of the Vicar who was appointed by him to look after the spiritual needs of the people of Rainham, but in 1536 Henry VIII suppressed the monasteries and confiscated all the properties belonging to them, so the 18 acres with the church at Rainham became the property of the Crown. Unfortunately the Parsonage and the 18 acres of land were not returned to the Archbishop of Canterbury by Queen Mary in 1558 when the churches were conveyed and eventually \0 years later, Queen Elizabeth leased the area to Dorothy Stafford for £16 per annum for a term of30 years. Later the lease was granted to Captain Robert Moyle who died in 1659 and his grandson, John Moyle of Buckwell, carried it in marriage to Robert Bretton of Elms, near Dover. Robert Bretton died in 1708 and in due course disposed of it to Sir Edward Dering.
The Dering family, although residents for many generations at Pluckley, are recorded in the church records. The Derings eventually sold it to 'Squire' WaIters of Berengrove House, presumably in the latter part of the 19th century and then in subsequent years Mr Edwin Jelly and hi s son Stuart also became owners. Older residents will remember Dr Irby Webster living and having his surgery at the Parsonage, and it would seem that he must have been leasing the property although he was there for many years and was patron of various societies as well as reading the lesson regularly at the church. There have been a number of owners in recent years and the Parsonage is now the Fitness Club. The older part of the building is thought to be around 300 years and it is hoped that this may be preserved as so many of our older properties have been demolished.
Obviously the Vicar had no official residence after the dissolution of the monasteries in 1536, so in the early part of the next century the parishioners provided finance for a new Vicarage next door to the Parsonage which remained in use until 1962 when it was sold for the development of the Post Office sorting building and a new Vicarage was built in Broadview Avenue. The 17th century building was immediately adjacent to the path of the High Street and had an oriel window on the first floor from which movements in the High Street could be viewed. It has a large attractive garden with many well-established trees and fine lawns on which various village fetes were held. There was a coach house and stable on the eastern side, presumably used by the Vicar for his pony and trap by which he would visit parishioners. I understand that plans have been agreed for 43 flats to be erected on this site which may provide a modern necessity but Rainham lost part of its history when the Vicarage was demolished in 1962.
Freddie Cooper
Tesco Bowaters Ball (Water Tower)
Many people have asked what the big ball/tower is in the car park at Tescos on the A2 at Rainham. As you can see from the roundabout sign the site was previously occupied by Bowaters, a paper company that needed large quantities of water for their production. The roundabout was originally always known as "The Bowaters Roundabout" although often now is also called Tescos Roundabout.
MEMORIES OF THE FINAL YEARS OF COZENTON FARM, 1963 to 1966
MEMORIES OF THE FINAL YEARS OF COZENTON FARM, 1963 to 1966
LOCAL NATURE RESERVE STATUS FOR FOXBURROW WOOD
LOCAL NATURE RESERVE STATUS FOR FOXBURROW WOOD
Along with other residents backing on to Foxburrow Wood, I have recently received a letter from the Legal Department of Med way Council, announcing that at long last Foxburrow Wood has been declared a Local Nature Reserve in recognition of the significant nature conservation interests within its boundaries. Foxburrow Wood has records and maps going as far back as the early 17th century and has many ancient woodland indicators such as Herb Paris and Bluebells. Foxburrow is a remnant of a large ancient woodland stretching from the River Medway to Queen's Down Warren on the North Downs.
It was virtually devastated in October 1987 whcn Hurricane Herbert hit the south east of England. The Foxburrow Wood Restoration Group was formed by myself and other local residents to replant and restore the woodland to its former glory. The collaboration between Gillingham Borough Council and the Group was thought to be the first of its kind in the country. As many of you will know the Group assisted in planting 12,000 young trees involving local school children and 140 residents. Over the past 10 to 14 years we have had the pleasure of seeing the woodland blossom into the woodland we see today, with the return of much of the flora and fauna that were present before the devastation.
Unfortunately many of the residents who formed the restoration group have moved away and the few remaining have only been able to 'keep an eye' on the woodland and record the birds, plants, mammals, butterflies and insects as they have returned to the wood. In their letter, the Council asks us to enjoy and respect this small 'reservoir' of wildlife, ensuring all garden waste is either composted or taken to the tip and all dog mess is removed from the site. --On Tuesday 11 th June Peter Crawford (Med way Countryside Development Officer), Simon Bellinger (Ranger) and a small group of local residents walked around Foxburrow Wood noting the special fauna and flora within the wood and also formulating a management plan for the wood. It is the intention that a Woodland Management Committee will be introduced later in the year to include all the woodland sites within the Borough.
Anyone mterested in playing their part in the future of Foxburrow Wood will be invited to join this committee. Can I say what a particular pleasure it is to walk . around the woodland, knowing that 14 years ago a small group oflocal residents and school children planted the trees and helped with the restoration of the woodland. I would ask any of you who have some spare time to telephone the Council and indicate your interest m the health of Foxburrow Wood and the flora and fauna within it.
Carole Nixon
Foxburrow Wood Restoration Group
Rainham A Century Ago by Freddie Cooper (Part 1)
Rainham A Century Ago by Freddie Cooper
Action Forum, March 2001
I was studying the information on Rainham in my copy of the 1908 issue of Kelly's Directory and I realized how very useful these had been to me over the years and yet 1 am sure many residents do not know that copies for most years between 1890 and 1974 are available for inspection at the Gillingham reference library. Bagshaws containing similar information go back to 1870 and ceased around 1900. Kelly's were issued annually for neighbouring areas such as Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham, it's worth remembering that information about Rainham will be in the Sittingbourne and Milton District issue before 1929. They show an alphabetical index of all residents and their address at the time and also a list of roads showing addresses and the location of residents so it's quite easy to find information about anyone living in the towns at the time. Data about institutions and activities make the issue a fund of local knowledge.
You can see Freddie Cooper talking about life in Rainham here
Rainham's population increased after the railway came in 1858, seven years before it was 1115 but by 1871 it had become 2082 living in 425 houses, 50 years later it was 4335. In 1908 Berengrave Lane had 5 houses, Century Road only 1 (Waiter Kinimins in Ethel Villa), Roberts Road (then Robert Street) had 2 (Frederick Charlesworth and John Puxtey). Even Maidstone Road (then Bredhurst Lane) had no properties south of where Herbert Road now stands. None of the roads were numbered in sequence as there were so many empty plots so each block as built was called Terrace, Villas or Cottages and each house was numbered within that block. Employment was largely agricultural, bricks and cement and the principal crops were fruit (mainly cherries), hops and wheat, there were a large number of market gardens. Lord Hothfield was Lord of the Manor and the Parish, previously known as Renham, which has been inhabited from ancient times as has become evident from remains found.
The Parish Council was the largest in this part of Kent being entitled to 13 members who met on the first Wednesday of each month. The Chairman was Dr F.W.H. Penfold and committees comprised Lighting and Watching (including Fire Brigade), Footpaths, Recreation Ground, Library and Reading Room and Finance.. Street Lighting was by gas and I remember Mr Holloway cycling round every evening and morning to rum on each light, he carried a stick with hook and was most expert in pulling down or pushing up the short arm just under the light almost without stopping. The Recreation Ground was presented by Lord Hothfield in 1887 to record the Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. In 1908 it had a prepared cycle track and cricket pitch with water laid on. It is of interest to note that it was open from 6am every day of the year.
Rainham was very proud of its Fire Brigade formed in 1901, a motor engine was purchased in 1921 mainly from public subscription, the 22 volunteers were called out by maroon. The Parish Free Library and reading room was established at the turn of the century in the ground floor of the Temperance Hotel, Station Road (next to Paynes just south of the station). The lending Library was only open from 7 to 9pm on Mondays.
The Council School (now Meredate) in Solomon Road was erected in 1906 for all ages at cost of £4,500 and was considered to be 'the perfect type of a modern scholastic establishment' with 250 places which could be expanded to 400. The National School (later C of E) at the top of Station Road had been built in 1846 and was enlarged in 1878 and 1884, to hold 600 (205 Boys, 190 Girls and 205 Infants) in 1908 549 scholars were attending. Some of my contemporaries will be interested to know that even in 1908 our Head teacher, Mr G.R. Bone, and the two Miss Campbells were already on the staff and the Girls' teachers included Miss Rickells. Nearly all female staff were unmarried and 1 believe that it was an act of 1941 which allowed married women to be appointed.
The Lower Rainham National School, built in 1876, accommodated 80 and it was full. Miss Bertha Atkins held a private school in a small hall in Church Path near the High Street. Sgt Jenner of Station Road was in charge of two constables, Thornas Fielder and William Smith, who would have been known personally to residents.
If you have any articles or suggestions, please contact me.
Parkwood Wards Homes Sales Brochures and Promo Leaflets 1960s
Ward Homes Sales Brochures and Promo Leaflets from the 1960s For Rainham Park Housing Estate - now know as Parkwood
These Parkwood homes brochures have been kindly scanned and provided by Craig Blum.
The photos show many of the designs of Ward Homes houses that can still be seen across Parkwood estate from Cherry Tree Road to Lonsdale Drive and around the roads off Long Catlis Drive. This was originally known as Rainham Park estate and was at one time the largest private housing estate in Europe which was built on ancient woodland outside Wigmore and Rainham Kent.
A PDF of the complete brochure can be viewed here.
The achievement of the huge scale of the development is even more significant when you consider that the entire area was developed by a single company, Ward Homes.
The Wards development was Rainham Park, started c.1960 at Kenilworth Drive , this house is corner of Windermere Drive/ Sandown Drive, c.1967. We moved to 103, Lonsdale Drive, July 1965 when it was new, happy days. Parkwood was just starting with Deanwood Drive, top of Lonsdale and south side of Tanker Hill developed by Property Estates Developments, eventually taken over by Sunley Estates
Subcategories
Historical tales Article Count: 3
Historical tales
Rainham Life Article Count: 10
Rainham Life
Local Events Article Count: 48
Local Events
Photos Article Count: 143
Photos
Action Forum Article Count: 234
Action Forum is a free monthly magazine that is distributed to the Rainham area covering Wigmore, Parkwood and Hempstead as well. This archive covers old copies of the magazine dating back to its initial publication in 1969 and give a fascinating glimpse into life in Rainham over the last 50 years.
Link to Article Index - Action Forum Index - Photos and Articles from 1969 onwards