People

Characters of Westerham (10)
The basement in Hooker's steam printing works at the corner of Stratton Terrace in the late 1800s. Charles Hooker has his suit jacket on, standing on the right. His son, Charles jnr. stands in his apron on the right of the press in the centre of the photograph. Hooker's Almanack was his first publication in 1864, a veritable who's who of residents, trades and businesses, to be followed by the introduction of the Westerham Herald newspaper in 1882.
Churches and religion (31)
The earliest church in Westerham is St. Mary's the origins of which it is believed were founded in the XIIIth Century. It was enlarged in the XIVth Century and again in the XVth Century when the north and south Aisles were added. Other places of worship were the Congregational Church dating from 1839 and the Gospel Chapel, beside the laundry in the High St. which was opened around 1880 and finally closed its doors around 1928. The last place of worship to be built at the bottom of Hosey Hill was the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church which opened it doors in 1955.
Churchill and Chartwell (49)
Churchill's private secretary Grace Hamblin remembered Chartwell as a child "...I knew Chartwell from early childhood as I had friends living on the estate. When the former owner Major Campbell Colquhoun was there, I attended his daughters Sunday School. When the Colquhouns went away and the house stood empty, the gardens were our playground and there wasn’t any piece of it we didn’t explore and get to know. I remember very well the local excitement here when it was rumoured that Churchill was to buy the place..."
Clubs and societies (20)
Like most communities of any size, Westerham has had its fair share of clubs, societies, institutions and associations over the years. One of the earliest appears to be Westerham Literary Institution started in 1853. The Horticultural Society was formed in 1871, the Westerham Industrial Association in 1880, the Westerham Gardeners’ & Amateurs Mutual Improvement Society in 1889, the Mens Club in 1894 and the Fanciers’ Association in 1912.
Education and schools (82)
Hosey school was opened in 1829, originally as a mixed school, until one specifically for girls and infants was built and opened in 1861 on the London Road next to the site of the Crown Hotel, opposite the railway station. Both are still unmistakable today as Victorian ragstone schoolhouses, with gothic-arched windows, though neither is a school any more. Seen here at St. Mary's School in London Road are Miss Say on the left and the headmistress Miss Rhoda Cutbush on the right.
Entertainment (56)
Entertainment began in earnest with the opening of the Public Hall opposite the laundry in the High Street in 1866. Here musical evenings, magic lantern shows, concerts and magic shows would take place. The opening of the Women's Institute provided the first dramatic productions in 1919, to be closely followed by Westerham Amateur Dramatic Society (WADS) in 1920.
Health and welfare (12)
In 1941 the Red Cross and St. John Ambulance took over the big house at Combe Bank rent-free from the 'Society of Holy Child Jesus' for 'the duration of hostilities' as a RAF convalescent hospital. They also took over a big house near Swanley which became the Parkwood Auxiliary Hospital and Convalescent Home for convalescent servicemen, especially from the army. Seen here are Combe Bank Auxiliary Hospital nurses from the Red Cross with Dr. Hay who acted as their Medical Officer.
Political Movements (2)
This is the only political meeting poster to have come to light so far (Jan 2018). There appears to be no exclusion of women at the meeting, so the most likely date is 1911-12, following the formation of the Conservative and Unionist Women's Franchise Association in 1910. This was a women's suffrage organisation open to members of the Conservative and Unionist Party.
Sports and Recreation (55)
Most Westerham men 'cut their sporting teeth' as boys at Hosey School where cricket and football were both enthusiastically played. Between the mid-1920s to the mid-1940s Westerham had three 'professional' football teams, being Westerham Town, Westerham Wednesday and the Black Eagle Football Club.
Women’s Organisations (45)
From the Mothers Union to the Women's Institute, from plays and pageants to a library for all. On 3rd July 1914 a non-militant Women’s Suffrage meeting was held on the Green where an address was given by Muriel Matters of the Women's Freedom League...

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