‘Q’ class 0-4-4 tank-engine number 136 is about to leave Westerham pulling a ‘birdcage’ set of coaches. This peculiar term was used to describe coaches with the little top-light window that the guard would use with a periscope viewer to look at the state of signals ahead – not so easy for the engine crew ...
Reference: WH0131
Another “Jolly Boys” outing waits outside Hookers ‘Herald Steam Printing Works’ in a charabanc packed to the gunwales. The term “Jolly Boys” comes from the description given to a series of drinking vessels grouped together and joined by tubes. With a couple of barrels of ‘bright beer’ tucked away in the back, ’nuff said…
Reference: WH0155
The same location, probably the same time, but different charabanc and different guys. At a guess, this might have been a conglomeration of working men from the Brewery, the Men’s Club and the Printing Works…
Reference: WH0156
The 1920s were relatively hard times due to national recovery being slow after the First World War and annual holidays had not really become established for poorer workers, so a day’s outing to the seaside was a rare treat and all that some workers with large families could afford. “Jolly Boys” charabanc trips were usually ...
Reference: WH0157
A proud day for the Brigade On March 13 1929, members of the Parish Council journeyed to Messrs. Merryweathers’ works at Greenwich, to inspect the new motor fire engine, which was bought to Westerham that same evening. The new motor fire engine was named ‘Invicta’ in a ceremony held on the Green on March 18. The ...
Reference: WH0927
Seen in this photograph taken circa 1920, two essential services, the purpose-built Westerham Post Office and the Fire Engine House, bearing a notice saying “Keys are kept with A. Maude Esq, Winterton House, C.Hooker ‘Glenholm’ Westbury Terrace, J. Hoath Supt. 3, South Bank”. Apart from Dr. Maude, who had his medical practice at home, all ...
Reference: WH0955
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
In the early 1900s Frederick John Meadows was the publican at the George & Dragon. Unmarried, he ran the hotel with his mother, his sister, three servants and Florence Lockwood, his hotel manageress. By the early 1920s Meadows had started a business as Jobmaster and Carman, employing returning men from the Royal Army Service Corps Mechanical ...
Reference: WH0964
The first motor dray employed by the Black Eagle brewery was a 1921 ‘Peerless’ originally built for troop carrying in the first World War. Note this example has no windscreen! Draymen Frank ‘Cracky’ Blake and Jim Obediah Waterhouse would have suffered a chilly journey quite often. Previous drays had been road locomotives (Traction-engines) preceded by horse-drawn ...
Reference: WH0133
