Some significant redevelopment took place around the town between 1936 and 1938, including the building of the new fire-station behind the oast house of the then closed Delegarde farm. The farmhouse was demolished, but the oast-house remained and was requisitioned as the control centre for Westerham’s Air Raid Precautions activities. This tranquil view taken in ...
Reference: WH0718
…The Committee were unanimous in their support of Nurse Wilson and it was agreed that the Chairman, Miss Hannah Bartlett would write to Dr Cotton. This cannot have gone well as the following month the Committee resolved – notwithstanding objection from the Chairman – to formally withdraw the letter along with a written apology to ...
Reference: WH0742
The mansion of Dunsdale was reputed to have become the dower-house of Valence and was tenanted to Bank Director Francis John Johnston from the time of purchase by Norman Watney (of the brewery family) in 1890, to the time of Francis’ death in 1911, aged 80 years. 1911 was a notable year, being also the year ...
Reference: WH0745
Unlike those billeted in the various church halls, schools and municipal buildings that had been converted into V.A.D hospitals throughout the county, convalescing soldiers at Dunsdale would find the gardens a quiet and idyllic environment ideal for recuperation of mind, body and soul…
Reference: WH0748
Known officially as Kent 38, Westerham, Dunsdale was registered in 1911. On mobilisation the large empty house, then the property of the family of the late Norman Watney, was converted into a Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.) Red Cross hospital with fifty beds. By October 14th 1914 everything was ready for the forty-eight injured Belgian soldiers who ...
Reference: WH0997
The mansion of ‘Dunsdale’ on the estate of the late Norman Watney had been converted into a hospital of fifty beds in 1914. The first consignment of wounded men were 48 Belgian soldiers some of whom are shown here. Dunsdale Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.) hospital was managed by the British Red Cross Society. The nursing staff ...
Reference: WH0746
Fire Brigade with the new Merryweather Fire Engine on Farley Common in 1929 The firemen are: On the tender L-R Bill Allen, Alf Allen, Alf Nicholas, Fred Dunn, Fred Nicholas On the ground L-R Bill Henley, Arthur Galloway, Fred Paige, Major Hicks, George Avis, Bert Wood, Charlie Sharp. The driver is George Burgess. Local garage owner Charlie Sharp ...
Reference: WH0956
Hookers Almanack was the brainchild of Charles Hooker, printer and stationer. The first edition was produced in 1864, funded by those who advertised their trade or business within the directory, it offered a veritable who’s who of the district, listing all churches, meeting places and schools, and Companies such as the South Eastern and Chatham ...
Reference: WH0976
…also listed were the postal services, the Clubs and Societies and their officials…
Reference: WH0984
…Private Residents of the town and Commercial and Retail trades…
Reference: WH0985
…more retailers and trades…
Reference: WH0986
…the final retailers and trades, and the start of advertisements which funded the production of the Almanack. Also included in each edition was the ‘Epitome of Events’ for the year just completed, which was the only form of local news in brief until 1882 when Hooker launched the ‘Westerham Herald’ as a monthly newspaper. What a ...
Reference: WH0987
From the obituary for John Townsend, February 1917 “…He commenced his walk in life when a young man, coming to Westerham and taking charge of the stud of the late Mr Kitchin, at Dunsdale. Always extremely fond of animals he found a work congenial to his nature. With a natural aptitude for the management of horses, ...
Reference: WH0963
Looking every bit a horse drawn group of ‘Jolly Boys’ wait for the off outside the Warde Arms circa 1885. No doubt there was a barrel of bright beer stowed away on board somewhere for the journey. John Townsend’s cartage business included open and closed carriages, the most famous in living memory being ‘The Pride of ...
Reference: WH0960
The Home Guard were officially known as ‘Local Defense Volunteers’ (LDV) and was formed in 1940 in response to Anthony Eden’s broadcast request for ‘…large numbers of men in Great Britain who are British subjects between the ages of seventeen and sixty-five to come forward now and offer their service in order to make assurance ...
Reference: WH0731