From the Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long - Wateringbury Seniors Club

 A Letter from The Queen Mother

From the Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long, Kindly donated by her Niece, Irene Bedding

From the Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long - Wateringbury Seniors Club - Wateringbury Club Fair - 1981

 

From the Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long, Kindly donated by her Niece, Irene Bedding

From the Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long

Wateringbury Seniors Club

Long Service Award

17th April 1980

From the Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long, Kindly donated by her Niece, Irene Bedding

From the Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long - Wateringbury Seniors Club - Christmas Party 1960

 

From the Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long, Kindly donated by her Niece, Irene Bedding

From the Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long - Vicar John Henderson says farewell after 15 years in the village - August 1978

Vicar John Henderson says farewell after 15 years in the village - August 1978

 

From the Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long, Kindly donated by her Niece, Irene Bedding

From the Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long - Rev Henderson with Wateringbury Seniors Club Members - August 1978

 

From the Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long, Kindly donated by her Niece, Irene Bedding

From the Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long - Kent Messenger July 15th 1977

 

Kent Messenger July 15th 1977

From the Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long, Kindly donated by her Niece, Irene Bedding

From the Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long

Wateringbury Seniors Club Members on their way to lunch at Wateringbury Working Mens Club.

Date unknown but many of the faces are as I remembered them in the late 1960's early 1970's

Mr and Mrs Bennett

Mr B Pyke                            George Walters

                        Billy Sharp                              Wally Stiff

                                             Mrs Goodwin        Mrs Shepherd     Mrs Couchman

Mrs Mills                                     Mr Wood

                  Mrs Crayford                    Mrs Spain

Mrs E Latter (My Mums Aunt)                        Mrs Rogers

Mrs Fisher            Mrs Cole

Mr A Cole

(All names are as written by Helen Long)

From the Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long, Kindly donated by her Niece, Irene Bedding

From the Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long, Kindly donated by her Niece, Irene Bedding

 Wateringbury Seniors Club December 1st 1960

Names as written on the reverse of the photo

Courtesy of Irene Bedding

From the Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long, Kindly donated by her Niece, Irene Bedding

The first Entry From The Wateringbury Seniors Club Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long.

The Wateringbury Seniors Club 1965 

Kindly donated by her Niece, Irene Bedding.

From the Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long, Kindly donated by her Niece, Irene Bedding

 The Mayor of Maidstone's visit to Wateringbury School in 1926

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From the Scrapbook Collection of Helen Long, Kindly donated by her Niece, Irene Bedding

The Scrapbook of Helen Long

We have been very lucky to have received the following message from Irene Bedding.

This was her message:-

My name is Irene Bedding. I live in Hildenborough but will be moving to Bexhill on 16 December.

My aunt, Helen Long, was the live-in caretaker of Wateringbury School when it was sited on Red Hill.

She was very much involved in the “seniors’ club” and I have a scrap book with lots of photographs of her and the seniors who enjoyed the activities provided by the club.

I really don’t want to take the book with me and, feel sure that someone in Wateringbury would find it interesting and, maybe, find some grandmothers on its pages.

I would, therefore, be pleased if you or someone involved in Wateringbury history could let me know if I can deliver it to you or them.

I spent many a happy holiday with Aunt Helen and that wonderful school. I lived in a high rise flat in London and, therefore, the freedom of the “countryside” and the company of my cousin, John, was heaven to me.  Very happy memories.

Regards,

Irene Bedding

Over the next few weeks I will scan as many of the photos and cuttings from Helens Scrapbook that I can and share them on this website. 

Thanks again to Irene for allowing us to share these memories.

Hop Picking Token from W.N Vinson

We received the following from Jonathan King.

These tokens were paid for hops picked and exchanged for real money when the hop pickers finished their time and went home. It was a good way to stop the husbands of the pickers spending the earnings in the local pubs.

Thanks Jonathan

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I have found a 1d WN Vinson Wateringbury while metal detecting in Dover Kent . After some research on the net I cam across your very interesting site that gave me plenty of information regarding my find. Thank you kind regards Jonathan .

'Orpines' 1926 rear view - Courtesy of Dail Whiting

 Thanks once again to Dail Whiting for the following article:

Gauthern's Cottages - Wateringbury - By Dail Whiting

Thanks to Dail Whiting for this article 

Albion Dray at Whitbread Phoenix Brewery, Wateringbury, Kent

An Albion Dray at  Whitbread Phoenix Brewery, Wateringbury, Kent.
The building in the background may be my home in the 1950's

Matchbox Top of The Duke Without a Head Pub

 From a box of matches that would have been a free item that people would have collected and still do. 

'Mr Wateringbury' - Charles Benfield 1923 - 1999

 A cutting form the local Kent Messenger marking the death of Charles Benfield 

Stable Cottage - Phoenix Brewery

Thanks to Dail Whiting for the following words and photos.

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Attached are a few photos of Stable Cottage, once situated on the north side of the old Phoenix Brewery yard.

They were taken not long before they were demolished, and though they are not particularly good photos, the are at least a record.

Most were taken from the footpath which leads from Leney Road to The Brucks. Just one was taken from my neighbour's garden.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get a picture of the south side, as the whole of the brewery yard was gated and locked.

The first photo showing a large white door was at the west end of the building. This was the old stables.

I have also attached two maps to identify Stable Cottage location.

The colour tithe map was compiled in 1839, and the OS map in 1896.

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Steam Train at Wateringbury Station in the 1960's

 

Photo Courtesy of Dail Whiting

A Steam Train arriving at Wateringbury station in the 1960's

The Station Master and passengers wait on the platform.

Can you name any of them?

Canon Reginald Herbert Soar Wateringbury 1961/62

 

Recently being asked for a photo of Canon Soar, I found this in my family album. 

It was taken by my father of my brother Brian's Christening at St John the Baptist Church Wateringbury circa 1961/62

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The below article courtesy of Dail Whiting

Article courtesy of Dail Whiting

Upper Mill Pond - Wateringbury Kent

I wonder if anyone could identify the man in the photo, 

not sure of the date it was taken.

Postcards Hop Pickers in Wateringbury

 Two Postcards showing the Hop Pickers and their Huts that were located on the riverbank in front of the rail station at Wateringbury

Warden Mill House Wateringbury

 

North Side of Wateringbury Crossroads

 Another article which once again we thank Dail Whiting for:-

Article Courtesy of Dail Whiting    

A photograph posted previously shows the cyclist in the area of the village that Dail refers to:- 

Cyclists outside the Queens Head c 1910

Lydia Brooker

Another great post from Dail Whiting. Thank you again Dail.

Words and Photographs Courtesy of Dail Whiting

Richard Dawes - Artist Photographer

 Another great post from Dail Whiting. Thanks again Dail.

Words and Photo Courtesy of Dail Whiting

Beerhouses in Pizien Well

 We thank Dail Whiting for another contribution from her next book as follows.

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Following on from my last article, 'The Pizien Well Name' I thought some of your readers might be interested in another extract from my next book relating to this fascinating part of the village. I am extremely grateful to Martin Cronk who kindly lent the wonderful photo's of his ancestors from his private family album. 

Click on the page to Enlarge the view 

Thanks again to Martin Cronk for the photos from his private family album 

and Dail Whiting for the article from her next book

The Pizien Well Name

Dail Whiting kindly sends an extract from her next book.

Thank you Dail and good luck with the book which we look forward to seeing.