The Maltings & Bottom of Bow Road area

Photo Courtesy of Dail Whiting

This photograph is believed to have been taken from a German aircraft at the beginning of the war.

It shows some buildings that no longer exist, which includes the old cottages behind the Telegraph pub, originally called Gautherns Cottages, or Gautherns Yard, after the late 18^th century owner Henry Gauthern. This name was later corrupted to The Gothens, also known as ‘gas house cottages’. These were pulled down in the early 1950s. The photograph also shows the Telegraph pub and the old stable adjacent, as well as The Maltings on the borders of Nettlestead.

Aerial Shots taken around 1985

 Photo Courtesy of Dail Whiting

A view of the west side of the village which includes St John the Baptist Church, Wateringbury Place at the bottom of Canon Lane, Bijou Nurseries on the Tonbridge Road, and the eastern end of Old Road. The photograph also includes the Upper Mill and pond towards the top right, and Allington Gardens just visible top left.

Photo Courtesy of Dail Whiting

This shot focuses more on the south east side of the village, and apart from the various estates off the Bow Road, it shows the area around the crossroads,  Wateringbury C of E Primary School, Wateringbury Station and the River Medway. The playing fields are in the foreground, and interestingly West Malling Airfield, now Kings Hill, can be seen at the top of the picture.

Wateringbury School Photo 1950

Photo Courtesy of Jean Williams

Wateringbury School photo in 1950

The girl second row from front and the first one on right is Sarah Jane Williams (may have been known as Jane Williams). Another school photo on this website shows Jane's sister 

Mair Williams.

Dail has kindly written putting some names to the photo:

Brenda Walker, back row first left.

The lady on the far right of the second row from the back is 

Head Teacher Miss Kellam-Smith.

The first girl on the left of the third row from the back is 

Thelma Clark, daughter of Mac Clark, the local barber.

Second row from the back and second from the right is Rodney Watson.

The first boy on the left of the front row is Brian Jones and interestingly I believe that the boy in the middle of the front row is Jimmy Sharpe, the father of Maria from Wigan who writes on your blog message board.

The Old Kings Head Hotel Wateringbury

Photo Courtesy of Jean Williams

This is the best photo I have ever seen of The 'Old' Kings Head Hotel when it stood on the corner of Tonbridge Road and Bow Road before it was knocked down and rebuilt further along Tonbridge Road.