The Mothers’ Union was founded by Mary Sumner in 1876. Herself a mother of three children, it was the birth of her daughters first child that drove Mary to found the organisation to support women of all classes in their role as mothers, in affiliation with the teachings of the Anglican Church. In 1896 the ...
Reference: WH0317
The Mothers’ Union held an annual service at Saint Mary’s Church each year, where they would ask for God’s blessing on their Union. It was not uncommon for the Lord Bishop of Rochester to attend and preach the Sermon.
Reference: WH0315
As with all church-affiliated bodies at that time, the Mothers’ Union took great pains to remain ‘apolitical’ in their activities, but in times of war, religion and politics can get pretty close, as shown with this publicity flyer for 1916…
Reference: WH0316
This is an example of keeping all facets of an industry local – the beer bottle labels were printed by Hooker Bros. at the ‘Herald Steam Printing Works’ in the High Street.
Reference: WH0241
Begun in 1872, Westerham Horticultural Society was popular amongst the community who would look forward to the annual summer exhibition each year. It was for many years hosted by the Warde family in Surrey Park at the bottom of Goodley Stock, west of Squerryes Court, where big marquees would be erected to house the displays. ...
Reference: WH0441
Seen here in a close-up from the last photograph, Dr. John Ronaldson Russell took the position of Chief Medical Officer and Lucy M. Watney was appointed Commandant as Blanche Warde, initially appointed Commandant, had to stand down due to other commitments.
Reference: WH1029
Of the three nurses standing together, the one in the centre is Blanche Theresa Warde.
Reference: WH1030
In the early 1920s, before J. S. Charlton (Sevenoaks) opened their corn stores and gardening shop where ‘Nisa’ is in 2018, gardeners would go to Mr. Hollingworth for their seeds, and no doubt some advice and wisdom, as he was a knowledgable man who would often lecture at the Horticultural Society on fertilisers, pesticides and ...
Reference: WH0439
The inside pages offer a huge breadth of vegetable seeds including specialist varieties now the stuff of myth and legend.
Reference: WH0440
In 1923 Margaret Busk paid for electric lighting to be installed in St. Mary’s Church in memory of her brother John Laird Busk who had died the previous year. This would have involved a considerable sum of money at that time.
Reference: WH0935
Geoff Hoath “…when I was very small they used to have a horse-drawn tender that was kept in the old fire station in Post Office yard, and the horses were kept down at the market field. My grandfather was superintendent of the brigade and grandmother had one of the fire-bells. If anyone came saying there ...
Reference: WH0942
At the dawn of the 20th Century the hand-written letter was King! The first commercially available typewriters were produced by Remington in the 1870s but were prohibitively expensive so were only found in large businesses. It is widely considered that the introduction of the typewriter opened-up the working world to women. Typing classes became popular in ...
Reference: WH0974
The Gospel Hall was the pitch-roofed building next to the lamp post on the left of the High Street, beyond the horse and cart. It is not known why it ceased to be used as a place of non-conformist worship, but by about 1928 it was gone. This may have coincided with an expansion of ...
Reference: WH1073
The Horticultural Society took themselves very seriously in 1909, and stated that “…the judges will not award prizes to such productions as may not be deemed worthy”. Prizes were always cash and at that time of Five Shillings and upwards.
Reference: WH0442
It was to Tonbridge Technical Institute that Kent Education Committee steered Hosey School headmaster ‘Dick’ Forsey when teaching staff in the School requested to start a programme of evening classes in the mid 1920s to provide further education for the senior boys. These proved very popular and were soon opened to the younger boys as ...
Reference: 0046
Here follows a series of 5 invoices to John Hooker from Ernest Blackton at the Wolfe Garage for repairs, supply of motorcycle parts and purchase of a motorcycle in the mid-1920s
Reference: WH0043
Edward VII died on Friday 6th May 1910 at Buckingham Palace in London. He was succeeded by George V who was proclaimed king around the country in the following week. The proclamation in Windsor took place on May 11th. In Westerham the proclamation took place beside the Queen Victoria Jubilee fountain on The Green on Tuesday May ...
Reference: WH0977
