Arthur Waterhouse was born in Wintle Cottages in Madan Road in 1915, the year of the first Zeppelin air-raid on London “…In 1939 I received my call-up papers on top of a bus – he laughs at this – I was going home one afternoon to see my mum when I heard a motorbike coming ...
Reference: WH0720
Early on in the war, the Ministry of Food and the Ministry of Supply formed reserve or ‘buffer’ depots from within Command to feed the civilian population, and it often became necessary to share railheads, such as at Westerham, where the Ministry of Supply built a large ‘buffer’ food supply depot, alongside where 6 AA ...
Reference: WH0716
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
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
Bright Gospel Services are (D.V.) held… In Brethren parlance D.V. stands for ‘Deo Volente’ meaning ‘God Willing’
Reference: WH1074
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
The Architect’s impression by Habershon & Pite of Queensbury Square, London is true and faithful in the original design, but a tad fanciful and romantic about the setting…
Reference: WH1076
Rebuilt from a former cordite storage hut purchased from Faversham Gunpowder Mills, this building was always referred to as the W.I. ‘hut’. It was in fact, quite sizeable, measuring 45 feet deep x 35 feet wide x 11 feet high, exclusive of a 9 foot-wide annex for kitchen, classroom etc. It was thought it would be ...
Reference: WH1080
Very few pictures of St. Mary’s Hall in London Road have surfaced, so this watercolour by Gwen Smith is especially good to have a copy of, and is an unusual topic for an artist to paint. Gwen had a good eye for the little elements of the social scene that were rather taken for granted ...
Reference: WH1075
Built and opened with share capital in 1865, Westerham’s Public Hall (or Town Hall as it was often called) enjoyed a chequered existence as a public meeting place, never quite achieving the profit dreamed of by the shareholders. User groups would suddenly find themselves financially embarrassed and unable to pay their rent, and the charges ...
Reference: WH1079
This photograph, taken around 1908, shows the hall’s close proximity to the kerb-edge. When the road was ‘metallised’ in the 1920s, as much width as could be provided was used, hence it was not surprising that the porch canopy had to be removed along with the gas lamp on the other side of the road. ...
Reference: WH1077