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On this page - your enquiries and some of your answers on some of our buildings and streets....

Bell Rd. Cemetery

Chalkwell Road

Chiltern Manor

Cockleshell Walk

East Street, 110

The Old Gas House

The Grove - Rose Hill

Gore Court

Gore Court Military Hospital

Gore Court Cottage

Harold Road

High Street

Library

Lushington property

Memorial Hospital

Murston Rectory

Murston Church

Milton House

New Road

Avenue of Remembrance

Park Avenue

Post Office, Milton

Pullens Garage

Rhode House

Ruins Barn Road

Sittingbourne Grange

The Wall

Times Chambers, Chemists

Unity Street

Watsons Hill

West St - Berry's shop

Whites Cott., Chalkwell

William Street

Woodstock Farm

Woodstock House

Woodstock Rd, 80

Pubs in East Street

Pubs

more.....

see also our personal histories pages

Park Avenue - enq 44

I live on Park Avenue and wonder if you can shed some light on what I have found in my garden which backs onto King Georges.

Upon digging I have found a area of about 20sq mtrs of what appears to be a very worn path or floor made from red bricks laid on edge, almost cobble looking. Would you know if this is left over from any of the old outbuildings or stables that belonged to Gore Court House? The brickwork has been laying underneath concrete and I would love to know its history or if it has any before I remove it.

Thanks in anticipation

Shelley

Yes Shelley it definitely is part of one of the buildings belonging to the mansion of Gore Court. I am writing a history of Gore Court at the moment and you certainly live where it was. It was a very grand house designed by the architect S.P. Cockerell and built on the site of an ealier medieval manor house. You will have seen the remains of the pillars of the front portico in the park.

Helen, SHM

I have been researching Murston parish and would like to know where the rectory was before the one built in 1867 in the glebe land at Murston park off rectory road at Snipshill,was there a dwelling here before or was it somewhere else, knowing the original church at lower Murston was 12th century where was the rectory ?

regards
Bryan Clark

Dear sir

Chiltern Manor - enq 48 / 88

Dear Sir/Madam

I am trying to find any information about Chiltern Manor situated on Highstead Road. I remember It being boarded up 25years ago as I played in its grounds before a family {Littlejohn ?} brought it.       

Whilst playing in the gardens I saw what can only be described as a Black Ghost! I never went back!. 

I would appreciate any help on this matter ,as researching from Australia has been very difficult .

Kind regards

Claire Kempton

Adelaide S/Australia

Hinchcliffe in Sittingbourne Grange - enq 50

I wonder if you can help me.

I'm an archivist working on sculptor's papers, and have come across a photograph of a sculpted portrait of  'Hinchcliffe in Sittngbourne Grange, 1939' by Franta Belsky.

I would very grateful if anyone could shed any light on who Hinchcliffe was, and any info on Sittingbourne Grange.

Many thanks,

Ellie Finch

The Old House at the Grove - enq 23

hi, my Name is Dave Painter and i live on the grove park estate near key street the reason I'm writing to you is this we live next to the woodland over looking the cricket field and in these woods is remains of a manor house/ building and my mum is very interested in knowing the history and would be most grateful if you could provide some information on the history of this building thanking you in advance 

Mr D.Painter

Dave:

On December  3rd 2003 the East Kent Gazette carried a full page about this house with a picture of how it was in the early nineteenth century, so it would be worth looking at this at Sittingbourne library.

The house was called Rose Hill and belonged for a while in the early twentieth century to an Admiral Herbert Doyne. The house fell into disrepair and was demolished in the 1960s.

In the nineteenth century it belonged to the Rev George Simpson, vicar of Bobbing. You could find it in the census returns of Bobbing at Sittingbourne library and see the number of servants they employed and so on.

Helen, SHM

I'm wondering if there are photographs available of Gore Court Cottage where my great grandfather, Edward Fentiman and family were living at the 1861 census time period.  The name Tunstall keeps popping up in conjunction with Sittingbourne.  My grandfather's (Henry Fentiman) birth place is given as Tunstall, Sittingbourne, Kent.  Are Tunstall and Sittingbourne one and the same? I'm looking forward to your reply.

Al Fentiman

Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

Al

No photographs have come to light but I have had this reply from one of our researchers:

"Tunstall is a village which is now more like a suburb of Sittingbourne. In 1861 it was still a separate community, about a mile from the town. It was actually a very small village. Gore Court was an eighteenth century mansion and the families who lived in it over the years employed quite a number of servants. They had two or three cottages close to the mansion and I wonder whether Gore Court Cottage was one of these. Gore Court House was demolished in the 1920s and only the stable block stands today. Part of its lands were saved as a public park. "

Hope this helps
 
Allen, SHM

I am wondering on the history of Road house and also Mrs. Clifford's history (owner of the house) in Sittingbourne. My father and his sister have fond memories of the house, although they didn't live in Sittingbourne. You see when Mrs. Clifford got arrested for forging old men's wills, she left her house with everything in it. Her maids etc left and the house then fell into a mans hands whom I'm not sure the name of. My father would know. Then my father's auntie worked for this man as a maid and was the favourite of this man, he asked her too keep the house up to scratch but as he didn't pay her she was told to take anything she liked as a payment from the house. However she only agreed she would do it if she could have her sister, nephew and niece down to stay in the grand house. So they did and they spent all spring, summer and autumn there. We still have some jewellery and some ornaments from the property and know that they would of belonged to Mrs. Clifford. I know now that I think the house has been demolished but I would still like to find information out about the house. My father would be very interested as he has great memories of the house as a boy. However I know you may not know anything about it, thank you for your time and if you could please get back to me it would be much appreciated. thank you. 

Yours faithfully Alice

Enq 155 (2006)

On your website there is question regarding Rhode House and Mrs Clifford, the owner. According to the letter, she was arrested over forging old men's wills. I do have a slight connection with her as I believe that she was a family friend but I know very little more than her name. Can you tell me where I could find a picture of Rhode House and details of the Case, i.e. what were the actual charges, was she found guilty etc?

I would be very grateful if you could point me in the right direction.

Best wishes
Jacqui

Rhode House - Enq 190

I am writing to you to try to find information on Rhode House.
I was born in London but since a child have resided in Australia, but hope to return to live in England again in the near future. A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to come across an old post card in a local junk shop. The picture is a black and white photo of a beautiful Georgian home which appears to have a circular driveway at the front. There is a caption at bottom left of the image which reads "RHODE HOUSE. LONDON ROAD. MILTON REGIS." After searching the web for information, your web-site seems to be the only place that mentions a "Rhode House" in England - where it is mentioned in a letter to you from a lady called Alice who was also asking for information on Rhode House - but alas there was none provided.
Does it still exist? What is its history? Do you have any information or photographs in regards to Rhode House? To me, Rhode House is the most beautiful and special home I have ever come across and it is my dream to own it, or one like it, one day.

James, AU

We believe the house was demolished some years ago to make way for an Esso service station. It is on the corner of the A2 London Road and Staplehurst Road. Google Maps will show this.
Allen, SHM

Brickmaking, Chalkwell Road, Holy Trinity Church  - enq 210

I was so interested to read the information about the huge brickmaking industry in Milton and Sittingbourne.  My great great grandfather was a brickmaker in Folkestone but he moved to Milton with his family some time in the 1870s and I wondered why and I think this explains it.  His eldest son also became a brickmaker in Milton or Sittingbourne, though by 1891 he moved away to South Shoebury as 'head brickmaker' on that census.  The family lived first at The Wall, Prince of Wales Inn, Milton next Sittingbourne (1881 census) and later at Emmas Cottages, Chalkwell Road, Milton and finally 76 Chalkwell Road (this may be the same place).  I wonder if you have any photos of these places and also the Parish Church, Holy Trinity, Milton where my great grandmother was married in 1879 and her brother (the brickmaker) in 1877?

I think your website is brilliant!

Barbara Warner

Post Office Milton - Enq 135

Having recently visited your Town and being most impressed, I wondered if you had any history relating to Milton Regis High Street? in particular I noticed a very old building which is now a Post Office no 75/77 High Street it did seem to be a very busy place and very old and I was most intrigued as to its history, I have trawled through your Web Site but could not find any imformation on this it did appear to me to be about 3/400 years old, I would be most interested if you have any further information on this or could suggest any site's that I could gain some.

I would like to congratulate you on your Web Site it was very informative.

Many thanks for any assistance you could give. Yours Sincerely John Piper

Having recently acquired the cemetery lodge at Sittingbourne, I am very keen to find photographs or images of the Bell Road frontage of the cemetery. Please could you let me know if you have anything, especially if the railings (since removed) are clearly visible. I would very much like to see them reinstated, just as they were.
Yours faithfully
Deborah O'Grady

I don't know if you can help at all but I have a relative whose address in 1955 was 6 Woodstock Farm,  Tunstall Sittingbourne. Can you give me any information ?

thank you

Mrs Lyn Sullivan.

Reference Lyn Sullivan's request re info on 6 Woodstock farm. I am surprised no one has answered. This was one of group of houses built by the farm yard to house farm employees and their families. They were fairly modern probably quite new in the 1950's. I cant be sure how many there were about 4 or 5 pairs of semi detached I think. If they are still there they are somewhere in the middle of the Science Park complex . Shell bought the farm way back early 60's I believe and built the original Research Station which is now called the Science Park. You can probably tell Lyn more facts than me .I left Tunstall in 1957. and didn't return to Sittingbourne until 1971.

regards, Roger Harris, April 05

Shell took over Woodstock farm in 1947 and established a Research Centre on the farm. In 1968 there were at least two farm cottages on the site, a Mr. Tasker, a tractor driver on the farm, lived in one. The cottages were demolished in the following years.

Peter, SHM, May 2005

Woodstock Park Farm - Enquiry 128

Was interested to see that you had mention on your website of houses in Woodstock Road.I am trying to do some family history research of my great grandparents who worked at Woodstock Park Farm, know they were there in the 1920's but I don't know for how long they had been there then or how long continued to work there.In my efforts, I really need information from the parish records, but haven't a clue to which parish it belonged to at the time.

We have tried requesting my grandfather's birth certificate at Maidstone Registry office, but they are not sure whether the area is covered by Canterbury - but without Parish details we are stuck.Hoping that you may be able to help in some way - I must come back down to the museum to see if you have some pics now I know where they were!

Enquiry 128 response: Woodstock Park is in the parish of Tunstall

SHM

I was wondering if you have any information at all about what use to be on the grounds of Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital either before the hospital was redeveloped, or before there was ever a hospital on the ground?  The hospital is situated on the corner of Bell Road and Highsted Road. 

Many Thanks,

Ashley  

I have spoken to an elderly resident of Sittingbourne, now in her nineties, who used to play as a child, where the Memorial Hospital now is. Her friend Joyce Spice lived in a cottage there. The land belonged to George Dean of Whitehall, Bell road. There was  a long low range of buildings which included stables with accommodation above and the Spice's cottage. There was a barn too. The entrance to it all, where the hospital entrance is now was a five barred gate with a large elm tree on each side. There was a barn too where an old horse drawn sleigh was kept. When the first hospital building was erected for Edward Lloyd these buildings were demolished.

Hope this helps. You could also look at the tithe map on CDRom at Sittingbourne library to see how it all looked in the 1840s

Helen, SHM

Hi Allen and Helen,

Thank you very much for the information that I requested, it's fantastic, thank you so so much!!!!!!!!!!!!  It is of a lot of help to me!

Many Thanks once again

Ashley

Woodstock House - Enq. 96

I recently found my Great-Grandparents listed as servants in the above house.  My G.Grandmother, Sarah Hope, was a cook and my G.Grandfather, Geroge Kimber was a gardener.  I am wondering if you know anything about this house or the Justice of the Peace, Edward Twopenny, who was the head of the house in 1861.  I should be grateful for any information you could give me.

Shirley Presland

This is an extract taken from Rev.Midwinter's book The Church and Village of Tunstall, Kent, first published 1937 and reprinted in l992 by Meresborough Books, Rainham, Kent. 

"Woodstock, called Pistock in the old days, built by Abraham Chambers about 1780. The manor at one time belonged to the Benedictine Nunnery at Minster-in-Sheppey.  At the Dissolution  of Monasteries it became the property of Sir Thomas Cheney.  Other owners have been the Tonges, Hayters, Chambers and Twopenys.  More recently it became the property of the late Earl of Westmorland, then by Captain Gilliat.  Was used for defence practice after the 1939-45 war and was demolished in 1972.  The present farmhouse within the Shell Research complex was almost certainly the only substantial house on the site prior to 1780   (this last information taken from corrections to original text  - reprint 1992)

Regarding servants, I understand that my mother-in-law then known as Lily Ingram worked there as a servant, but that would have been in the early 1900's. 

Hope this may be of some help.

Best wishes Peggy, SHM

Harold Road & Unity St. - Enq 177

My father was born Leslie Robert Smith in Eastry area of Deal on the 19th December 1908. As you can see by his enclosed birth certificate he was born to Annie Smith, Waitress. I will now tell you the story that was told to me about my father's young life. My father's oldest half sister Florence Godwin told my father and me that when she were around her teens that there had been awful arguments between her mother and father. Shortly after this on one Sunday morning my father was brought to the house as a tiny baby by a young girl and her aunt. He was handed over to her father (Francis Edgar Godwin) who took him upstairs to her mother and from that moment on he was their baby brother. She adored him and said that he must never think that he wasn't wanted by his natural mother as she nearly broke her heart when he was handed over. My adoptive grandmother was called Sarah Godwin (nee Hawkes) She married again a man named Percy Jeffery after Francis Edgar had died. My Grandfather died on (May 10th 1915) at the battle of Ypres serving under Princess Patricia's Light Infantry. My father never knew that he was adopted until 1929 when he asked for his birth certificate so that he could marry. I am going to relay to you a letter he wrote to my nephew Karl about his early days.

"I was born in Deal (Kent) until 1918 I lived at Sittingbourne where I can remember many incidents mostly about World War 1. This is because there was an Army Camp nearby called Gore Court Park and the soldiers passed through on their way to France, starting with the Dublin Fusiliers. We had air raids by huge cigar shaped balloons called Zeppelins and one night I watched a street where I had lived previously blown down like a pack of cards. In 1916 we purchased a business in the High St consisting of a sweet and confectionery shop and a Cafe above. The cafe was one very large room where I used to sit outside in my pyjamas and listen to the various army performers singing, (I was supposed to be in bed). The first school I can remember was Ufton Lane Infants, where I played with trays of sand and small shells and wrote on a slate with pencils. The next school was Pembury Street where I remember dancing to the piano and the tune at the time was Irving Berlins 'Everybody's doing it'."

He goes on to say at the height of the flu epidemic they moved north. Please could you tell me the following?

I know my father lived in 108 Harold Street. He also lived in Unity Street. Could you tell me if these still exist and would you be able to find out from the 1911 census that was living in the high street? What about the schools he mentions would there have been any records there.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Mrs Lorna Laing (nee Godwin)

Lorna:

Thank you for the account of your father's recollections of his life in Sittingbourne - they are most interesting.  I have done some preliminary researched in the local books I have in my library here at home and have found a little which may be of help to you.

Firstly, you ask for details of the roads in which your relatives lived so I have enclosed a 1925 map of Sittingbourne showing where Harold Road and Ufton Lane are. I have also enclosed a photocopy of a page from the 1908-9 Directory of Sittingbourne, Milton and District listing Francis Edgar Godwin, a Superintendent of the Reliance Fire and Accident Insurance Co., living at 108 William Street (see the map showing that road running parallel to Ufton Lane). I have searched for the names of Percy Jeffery and Sarah Godwin (nee Hawkes) but have drawn a blank. You ask about the streets and you will see that they still exist but the 1908 Directory does not show 108 Harold Road; it may not have been built when the Directory was printed. Of the schools you mention, Ufton Lane School building still exists but it is no longer an Infant School; it is now a Retreat Centre (a place for pupils expelled from other schools). The school in Pembury Street no longer exists and that building is at the moment used as a printing press. The records of both schools are kept safely in the County Archives in County Hall, Maidstone and you would have to come to Kent to do that research (I don't think that they are yet on line). The Pembury Street School was an Infant School.

Milton House - enq 186

Library - enq 124

I am a researcher at the University of Liverpool working on a project to collect information on historic library buildings. In the course of my research I have come across several mentions of a library in Sittingbourne. The Library Acts were adopted in the town in 1887 and the library opened in October 1889. The library may have been on a road called Crescent Street. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any further information about the library and wondered if you could help at all. Many thanks for any assistance you can offer,

Best regards, Kaye Bagshaw

The Sittingbourne Free Library and Reading Room was at 7 Crescent St. now demolished but the library had moved before then and has been in Central Ave since, I think 1965

Terry, SHM

I recently visited the roman museum at Canterbury with Tunstall school and was intrigued by information that there used to be some kind of Roman ruins in Ruins Barn Road where I now live. Does anyone have any information as I have been unable to find out anything on the net. 

Many thanks

I think the accepted view is that the ruins were those of the unfinished mansion started by Sir James Cromer (obiit 27th March 1613/4 - see monument at Tunstall church).  He was the last of the Tunstall Cromers.  His widow married Sir Edward Hales and brought Tunstall into the hands of that family.

The mansion building scheme having been abandoned after Sir James's death, I suppose that the ruins were used as a barn by an opportunist tenant-farmer.  

Roman (& Prehistoric) Graves were discovered beside Cromers Road about 40 years ago by those excavating the chalk.  I have never heard of Roman buildings in the vicinity.

PS Sir James's grandson (Rev. Crowmer Steed of Steed Hill, Harrietsham) became incumbent at Murston in 1630/1

Hope this helps.

Phil

Re your e.mail regarding roman ruins in Ruins Barn Road. At the top of the road, opposite the start of Woodstock Park, there were some parts of a wall which we were told belonged to a barn which was built on that site.  It was from these ruins that the story of the ghost who supposedly road down the road on a horse, arose!  How much truth there was in this remains to be seen.  The site may now have been destroyed as I am talking of some considerable time ago taking into account how ancient I am!!!!!  It was situated near a path which leads through orchards to what we called The Larches, coming out near the old Tunstall Hall.  If this lady is going to look into this it might be advisable to remember that this road was originally called Woodstock Road, but later changed to Ruins Barn Road (which I presume was named after the barn) and Woodstock Road became where it is now.  When I have time I will look through some bits and pieces I have of my mothers and might find the date when this happened.

Peggy, SHM

Dear Sir/Madam,

Could you please tell me where the Gore Court Military Hospital was situated?

Regards

S.Welling

In the grounds of Gore Court Mansion which was demolished after the First World War The grounds were opened as King George V Playing Fields in 1937 The area is today bounded by Woodstock Rd, Park Avenue and Park Drive. If you look carefully when in the Grounds you can still see the bases of the pillars of the house as shown in our website photo.

Terry Fallon, SHM

Thank you for replying to my email regarding the Gore Court Military Hospital, do you know of any building that was originally on the site of Roonagh Court/UK Paper's Sports Ground?

Dear Sir or Madam, I live in Manchester but grew up in Borden. When I next visit Kent in the summer I hope to make the most of it and learn as much as I can about my home town. Something that has intrigued me is the two 'castles' by the creek (Rough and Bayford). Do you know their locations so I could visit. In addition do you know what the flint structure is a few dozen yards in front of the football ground that I used to see on the way to work at the cement works. Last of all, I have heard notions of a river flowing under the cinema, is this true? Where can I see the river/stream and what's it called. Any help would be appreciated 

Greg Jones

May 2005

In order of queries, both castles are located across the creek from one another. Rough can be located by walking along Milton creek (access via Gas Road, Green Porch close, church Milton etc) and it is around Kemsley mill. I say around as its very overgrown so spend an afternoon looking for it. Bayford used to be accessed by the road next to the flint structure opposite the stadium, which was the old Murston church in times of George Smeed. Again, I can't elaborate on Bayford, as there are no Ruins as far as I'm aware the only way of knowing where it is is by locating Castle Rough. The history of these castles is very interesting, but condensed they tell of opposing camps battling against each other for Land in Sittingbourne! It is true that a River did or does run under the cinema, from the creek up Bell road. It was the river Bourne, and Young ladies would sit by it washing their laundry etc, hence the name 'Sittingbourne' and the name of the recently built apartments opposite the entrance to the Bell centre....Riverbourne Court. I think that answers the query but its all very interesting so I'd suggest searching on the Internet and popping into the museum when you visit the town! - Adam Seymour  27/8/07

Homebase - enq 199

I am interested to know what was on the site before Homebase was built. I had heard that there was a cemetary many many years ago.

I look forward to any comments you may have.  Alison

Pullens Garage - Enq 134

Chris Baker

We have a few - see the photo "Gallery".

Pullen's Garage

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