This rather quaint advertisement appeared on the back of the Westerham Herald newspaper in 1883 and clearly shows where John Cattell’s business was sited, next door to the Grasshopper on the Green. Local nurseryman and seed grower Thomas Wm. Edmunds, purveyor of Cattell’s seeds quotes in the 1899 edition of ‘Wolfeland: a handbook to Westerham ...
Reference: WH0433
Interesting to note that alongside being the contractor for the Sewers in 1879, John Bingham was also contractor for the town’s Water Well in 1880 and for the expansion and rebuilding of the Gas Works in 1882. The Herald from June 3rd 1882: The Gas Company are making some extensive alterations to their works, to enable ...
Reference: WH0933
Such was the excitement that work on the proposed Westerham Valley Railway would begin at last, that Col. Warde ordered a banquet be held in the Public Hall to celebrate the momentous occasion for which they had waited so long. The date was set for Wednesday October 1st 1879, with work on the railway ...
Reference: WH0704
As can be seen from the timetable of June 1882 published in the then monthly Westerham Herald, shows there were no through-trains at that time. All passengers on the Westerham branch line wanting to pursue an onward journey to London or the south coast had to change trains at Dunton Green. A through train to ...
Reference: WH0988
This doesn’t sound like a fun lot by today’s standards, but in the late 1800s there was a strong temperance movement in Westerham, linked with non-conformist religion practised at both the Congregational Church and the Gospel Chapel in the High Street. In advertising the evening, the poster uses the letters ‘D.V’ which in Brethren parlance ...
Reference: WH0648
From the South Eastern Gazette, Monday July 11 1881: OPENING OF THE WESTERHAM VALLEY RAILWAY. “…This new line of railway which connects the small market town of Westerham with the South Eastern system, was formally opened on Wednesday afternoon amidst demonstrations of great rejoicing. For upwards of 30 years a rail communication with London has been ...
Reference: WH1078
This curious ‘advertisement’ appeared in the Westerham Herald in the early 1900s, clearly attempting to smooth some troubled waters. It starts by promoting that he, Charles F. Cattell, is the son of the late great nurseryman John Cattell, but then proclaims that the nursery site is remote enough to grow speciality stock and keep them ...
Reference: WH0432
This building today (2019) is the home of Castle Antiques, opposite the Library, so-called in memory of Vic Castle, who ran his dairy there in the 1950s. The building has an interesting history, having started out as the ‘Swan Beerhouse’ owned by William Finnis Watkins’ Swan Brewery at the bottom of Hosey Hill. Beerhouses had ...
Reference: WH0077
Harriet and Thomas Newton pose outside number 9 The Green which was the Post and Telegraph Office until 1912, when a dedicated building was erected in what became ‘Post Office yard’ in London Rd (as of 2018 this building now houses Moorenergy fitness centre). The Newtons are seen with their postmen and telegram boys outside ...
Reference: WH0975
