It is interesting to note that the Domestic Offices and Outbuildings had electric lighting installed. Common with many of the big Estate Houses The Grange had its own electricity generating plant some eight to ten years before the town gained access to electric lighting. The schedule identifies that the Grange house and gardens was let ...
Reference: WH0979
The International Stores was a popular grocery shop in Westerham between the Wars and beyond into the early 1970s when the group was absorbed by British American Tobacco and many outlets closed. It was sited in the left-hand side of what is currently ‘Ruach Kitchens’ in Market Square. June Heath remembers local shopping “…apart from Woods ...
Reference: WH0981
This advert speaks for itself and appeared in the Westerham Herald all through 1917… Before the need to supplement the world of work in all disciplines, the few women who had worked within retail, had been confined to millinery and haberdashery – even drapery and hairdressing had been part of the man’s working world. Certainly ...
Reference: WH0982
This poster appeared in the Westerham Herald in 1917. It was the start of what would become the Women’s Land Army, and many women found they preferred to work closer to home, in the fields and on the farms rather than having to travel to factories, laundries, brickyards etc,. all of which had previously been ...
Reference: WH0983
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
Following the reception, Mr. and Mrs Streatfeild were driven away in a motor-landaulet delightfully bedecked with white ribbons to the carriage handles and wheels, en-route to Southampton where they would board the steamer to their honeymoon destination on the island of Madeira.
Reference: WH0664
From the Herald newspaper: ‘…it is worthy of mention that the handsome three-tier wedding cake was made by Mrs. Stratford, cook at Squerryes Court.’
Reference: WH0665
December 21 1916 Mr and Mrs Wolfe Aylward gave an ‘At Home’ at Quebec House to the wounded soldiers form Dunsdale V.A.D. Hospital. The programme included Mr. Stave, a Musical Euthopian Entertainer, Ena Wayne, a Comedienne from The London Palladium, Captain Kettle, a Society Mystifier and London’s popular chorus vocalist, Rose Ralston. 25 August 1917 ...
Reference: WH0666
The Horticultural Society was started in 1872. The fortieth Annual show, held in 1912 declared its exhibits ‘Open to professional gardeners’ but was careful to add the caveat ‘Confined to gardeners with not more than one assistant’ therefore keeping nurserymen away from the event
Reference: WH0673
English Flag Day is a day when money is collected in public places for a charity, in this case in 1916, for the Red Cross V.A.D. Hospital at Dunsdale which received no funding outside that of public donations.
Reference: WH0675
A huge crowd assembled on The Green to witness the unveiling of the Wolfe statue by Field Marshal Earl Roberts on a bitterly cold January day in 1911. In front of the dais the choir are assembled and on the dais itself, the Bishop of Rochester, Rev. Sydney Le Mesurier, vicar of Westerham and Rev. ...
Reference: WH0676
A ticket for entry to the twenty-seventh annual summer fete of the Chevening Habitation August 6th 1890 was the date of the fifth annual summer fete of the Chevening Habitation of the Primrose League. The parishes represented in the Habitation at that time were Westerham, Chevening, Brasted, Sundridge, Halstead, and Knockholt. The Primrose League was first ...
Reference: WH0677
It was agreed to proceed with the annual occasion of the Westerham Hill Horse Show on August 25th, on the basis that money made would be collected in aid of the British Red Cross. The show was held under favourable weather conditions, and proved a great success. At a meeting to follow held at the ...
Reference: WH0678
The procession marched to Squerryes cricket ground where tea was provided for the children. They were afterwards, along with all the other children of the town, presented with medals, commemorative of the day, by the Honourable Mrs. Warde, Lieutenant John Warde and Miss Warde.
Reference: WH0693
Peace Celebration Saturday July 19th 1919 The front banner proclaimed ‘This is the Town of Westerham’. The next banner simply said ‘These are the Men who manage the Town of Westerham.’ The following banner said ‘These are the Women who manage the Men who manage the Town of Westerham’ and the final banner said ‘These are the Children ...
Reference: WH0705
Peace Celebration Saturday July 19th 1919 Country-wide cities, towns and villages all celebrated peace on the same day in July 1919. In Westerham a victory procession moves round Green with the Town Band led by a Town Crier behind whom walked two young ladies in hooded cloaks carrying a banner that proclaimed ‘This is the Town ...
Reference: WH0706
Voluntary Aid Detachment nurses from the Red Cross in the front doorway of Dunsdale. The centre woman of the three standing is Blanche Warde.
Reference: WH0747
Maude Finch is ready for duty in this photograph taken in the back yard of ‘Belleview’ New Street, around 1915. The uniform typifies the period with mop-cap and starched detachable collar and cuffs and a long apron and underskirt. The house known as ‘Belleview’ is now called ‘Dolphin Corner’
Reference: WH0749
The year before he died, Francis Johnstone moved the family to Sidmouth in south Devon. Dunsdale was not re-let and the empty house and gardens naturally went into decline.
Reference: WH1010
Upon retirement as Director of the Watney Brewery Company, Norman Watney became a J.P. on the Sevenoaks bench and Deputy Lieutenant for Kent, positions he held until his death in the autumn of 1911.
Reference: WH1011
Carved from Caen stone, the design of the doorway appears as free-form vegetation strings carved in a delicate, balanced way which is not unattractive and complements the rugged stone of the tower itself.
Reference: WH1012
Dunsdale Dunsdale was often considered the ‘dower-house’ of Valence and had a chequered history of ownership and tenancy. Earliest references to an original mansion at Dunsdale appear in 1823 with the owner recorded as one John Humphrey, who had purchased Dunsdale along with 142 acres of farmland when the Hill Park estate was split up in ...
Reference: WH1014
Comparing this black and white photo-postcard with the earlier aquatint one it is evident that the topiary work on the arches has grown. What beautiful surroundings for the convalescing soldiers to experience after the horrors of the trenches in France.
Reference: WH1015