Following Sir Winston’s death on January 24 1965, his chauffeur for over forty years, Mr Jenner appeared in the January 29 Evening Standard in an article titled ‘All of Us’ ‘Under that bluff manner, there was the greatest kindness and sympathy for people’ said Mr Jenner ‘I like to remember Sir Winston not for the great things ...
Reference: WH0271
These and ration books were obtained from the labour exchange beside Sam Harding’s Cafe where Westerham Garage now stands. Don Adams “…you couldn’t go out without your identity card, I’d be stopped three times between Westerham and Crockham Hill where I worked on the farm. It just built and built, there were tanks all the way ...
Reference: WH0715
Rationing began on January 8 1940, with the first items of food being bacon, ham, sugar and butter. In March 1940, meat was rationed, and by July that year, tea, margarine, cooking fat and cheese had also been included. March 1941 saw jam, marmalade, treacle and syrup rationed and in June of that year, distribution ...
Reference: WH0737
A 1903 advertisement for Benjamin Horton, the local coal and timber merchant. Horton’s coal office still survives on the old station site at the edge of London Road, currently housing a barber’s shop (2019).
Reference: WH0111
A typical example of electricity generators around in the 1920s they were diesel powered and the plant would have a noisy place to work. From the outset there was a degree of disco-ordination between the electricity supply companies, some delivering power at 115 volts while others were delivering 220 volts. This was a nightmare for ...
Reference: WH0936
The Royal British Legion The Royal British Legion was formed on May 15 1921 to bring together four national organisations of ex-servicemen that had established themselves after the 1914-1918 war. These were the Comrades of the Great War, the National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers, the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers and the Officers’ ...
Reference: WH0667
The whole country was in mourning that week in May 1910 with the news of the death of a favourite King, Edward VII, and Westerham was no exception. It is worthy of note that this was an era when the only news the town received was to be found in the local newspaper, The Westerham ...
Reference: WH0662
One of two beerhouses in town, these had a restricted license only allowing the sale of ale and porter as alcoholic beverages, as against a full-license public house or hotel that could sell spirits alongside beer. It is not known whether the Crown beerhouse was tied to a brewery or was independent, and it is ...
Reference: WH0074
Site of Crown Beerhouse, closed in the 1930s. As the name implies, Beerhouses had a much reduced license compared to pubs and could only sell ales, stout and fruit cordials
Reference: 0056
This booking form dating from between the wars, gives some account of the facilities on offer to the traveller in a less regulated and more primitive era with no central heating and a charge for hot water, garaging and servants.
Reference: WH0106
Darenth mill was sited down the end of today’s Mill Street at the east-end of town. Unlike Elm View mill at the west-end, Darenth mill was of wooden construction, of which there are very few photographs in existence. This photograph shows that the wheel was of the ‘overshot’ variety which meant that the wheel could ...
Reference: WH1124
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
In the early years of his professional career Dr. Russell was house surgeon at Kings College Hospital under the late Dr. Watson-Cheyne and studied the administration of anaesthetics under Lord Lister. During WWI he took charge of the Dunsdale V.A.D. Hospital where he rendered splendid service. Dr. J.R. Russell Obituary 1944
Reference: 0034
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