The Oast was purchased in 1970 for use as a Community Centre by RWCA (Rainham and Wigmore Community Association) and work took much of the 1970s to prepare it to a suitable state to open. It's celebrating 40 years as a Community Centre and hosting a Beer Festival to both raise funds and celebraet the date.
These photos are from the early 1980s showing the progress in the conversion and the sketches of the planned designs
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Photo:Peter Matthews
In the 1970s it was a corner shop owned by Vic & Florrie Morris
Lydia Post remembers that Mr and Mrs Wells had this grocery shop in the 1950s...there were little grocery shops everywhere.. Just a few houses up Station Rd where the Chinese take away is was Mr Chandlers grocery shop...and opposite..what was later the post office just below railway crossing that was a hardwear store..There were always pots, pans, baskets etc hanging from beams in the ceiling...they sold all.manner of things. I could tell alot about Rainham...moved here in 1937 aged 5 and have seen SO many changes
A couple of doors down from Henry street in Station Road..was a barber shop...a Mr .Pearce. Us children would go on a Saturday morning or in school holiday for a trim...He had a waiting room in which there was a machine on the wall (no not what you think) we would all stand in a circle and hold hands..one of us would put a coin in the machine and we all got an electric shock !!!wouldnt be allowed these days...I think it was designed for men not for kids...It was a horrible feeling but you daren't refuse to join in or else you would be called chicken
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These shots of Rainham High Street show how it has changed over the years.
This photo was taken around 1940 showing what is now Barclays Bank in the foreground to the right. To the left is The Cricketers pub. Rainham Shopping centre was built in the late 1970s on the woodland area with access created by demolition of the row of houses and blacksmith shop. The Cricketers pub has been rebuilt in this picture so it's further from the A2.
This one of same location was taken around 1950, you can see the fence round the war memorial after the bench. The Coronation clock is missing so the photo was prior to 1953.
In roughly the same location in 2018 this photo shows Barclays without the two shops at the end of the building.
The photo below was taken in 2001 showing Barclays Bank and The Cricketers pub
The photo below was taken in 2004
The same shot from Rainham Church tower in 2012 - this time more leaves on the trees obscuring Barclays Bank
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This photo was shared by Daisy May
This was the Herbert Road Street Party in June 1953 for Elizabeth R 1953 Coronation
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This video was shot around Rainham station in 2016 and shows the railway line leading into distance of Gillingham and the Oast community centre adjacent to the tracks
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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
