Snippets & Scraps
This page holds small pieces of information, usually resulting from email correspondence. These are too small to be considered as articles and do not fit easily into other sections of the web site. It is data that has some historical interest and deserves to be recorded somewhere. Typically it is the result of investigating family histories – facts that one person has unearthed that may be of use to another in their detective work. Some of this data may eventually be relocated elsewhere on the web site, but for now it has a home here.
There is no order to this collection of data snippets. I will try to cross reference items if they are related.
Changes in text colour indicate different emails or communications.
To contribute or elaborate on an item please contact Tony Nicholls – history@pembury.org
Ref No |
Author & Description |
| 001 | Jen Lewis email with data on the Square Deal Cafe received in 2014
I am contacting you concerning the Square Deal Cafe. I came across your website this afternoon and thought you might be interested that my partner Tim Greenwood’s parents were that last owners of the Square Deal Cafe. They bought it in 1954 and sold it for redevelopment in 1977. Their names were George Alert Greenwood and Marjory Violet Greenwood. They bought the cafe from a family called Beasalls. Marjory’s parents, Alfred William Turk and Rose Mary Turk came to work for George in the Cafe. They lived in Lower Green Road. Before working at the Cafe Alfred worked for Avards coaches based in Lamberhurst and is remembered by my neighbour and others in the village for driving Pembury football team to their matches on Sundays. Unfortunately we have no photos. Upon selling the cafe the whole family moved into Meadowside on Hastings Road, including Alfred and Rose Turk. |
| 002 | Jill Hickmott remembering families in Henwoods Mount – received in 2015
I have been trying to remember the people who lived in The Mount (Henwoods Mount) in the 1940’s. So here goes. |
| 003 | Rosemary Hannah on Alfred Woods – Baker at 18 High St
The cousin I mentioned is Alfred Henry Woods, born 1854, died 1926. He married Rhoda King in 1872. She died in 1929 and the probate record shows she was living on High Street at the time of her death. They had eight children. The 1881 census shows that initially the family lived at Batchellor Cottage, Bopeep Hastings Road and had moved to the High Street by 1891 when Alfred was a Master Baker. I have got a lot more information and am currently writing it up for my book. Let me know if there’s any other information you need now. When I have finished the section of Alfred and his descendants I could let you have a copy… |
| 004 | Laura Brookes (the contents of 3 emails)
Hello, I came across your website while trying to find out the address of Vermont house in Hastings Road, Pembury. My father-in-law was Harold Brookes who ran Brookes Dairy at 115 Hastings Road, and his father before him. They had previously lived at Vermont house. I noticed you were looking for details of the Bennett family’s dairy. This had previously been at 115 Hastings Road from 1922 until 1936 when the Brookes family moved in. The Dairy was started in 1922 at 115 Hastings Road by the Bennett family. The Brookes family were living at Vermont, Hastings Road at that time and the eldest of Samuel Brookes’ sons, Edward (known as Ted) used to work there. Samuel took over the business and in November 1936 the Brookes family moved into the house. The 2 elder sons were in the RAF during WW2, while Harold stayed to help run the dairy, and took over when Samuel suffered ill health and subsequently died in 1955. Harold continued at the dairy until November 1988, when he retired, but lived in the house until his death in 2012. Samuel Brookes’ father-in-law was James Perkins and he lived here with his wife and I think one of his other children, as well as Samuel, Henrietta, Edward, Godfrey and Harold Brookes. The earliest recording I have of them there was 1918. |
| 005 | Sylvia Schmocker
Although I live lived in Tonbridge for some years I receive the Pembury Village News and love reading it. I grew up in Pembury from 1939, I well remember being seen across the road to go and buy a loaf from Adams the bakers in the Hastings Road and also later on being sent to Waghorne’s the fishmongers (he operated from a garage behind his house having fetched the fresh fish from Hastings).. Further up from the garage was a cycle repair man, a Mr. Rendle (who wore a ginger wig!)to whom my brother and I would take our cycles. As far as Baggesens Nurseries are concerned I remember them well and could tell you exactly where they were. Stories of the ghost of Dick Turpin at the Woodsgate Hotel, the tunnels that were said to connect the hotel to what we knew as “the Haunted House” down the bottom of Chalket Lane opposite the farm workers’ cottage. The man who owned Woodsgate Swimming Pool was Frank Hemsley who was an old school friend (at St.James School TW) of my father’s. and who owned quite a large haberdashery/clothing store in TW. Durng the late 50s early 60s a Mr. Wolfe was the licensee at The Camden (it was not called Arms in those days) |
| 006 | Jenni Beck on Henwood Green Road
I’m tracing 110 Henwood Green Road as we know it now. Updated in Jan 2020 – See Item 15 in the ‘Houses – Main List’ under “Buildings & Landmarks”. |
| 007 | Ian Kumekawa, Research Associate, Harvard University
The following email snippets involved Kathryn Franklin and Janet Ditchett answering this request. To Whom It May Concern: I have found a house listed which could be called Pembury. Its The Larches, Cryals Road, Matfield TN12 7HH It’s just off the A21 just past the BP garage (Blue boys ) Janet Hi Tony For your info it is Sunhill Place and the Pigous were there in the 1890s, after the Walls (who built it) and before the Adairs.
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| 008 | Clare Norman investigating the origins of The Dower House / Strathbogie
The communications were numerous, and this is just the edited highlights. I am in the process of buying a property that backs on to what is now the Ramada hotel, opposite Nottcuts Garden Centre on Tonbridge Road. i’d be interested in finding out more about it, but can’t find any reference to the buildings on that side of Tonbridge Road on your site.
A few findings from the Kelly’s Directories in Tonbridge – These four gents occupied ‘Strathbogie’ Henry James Newcombe 1927 There were no entries for Strathbogie or Dower House in the years 1940, 1950, 1959
The following data pieces together some of the residents of Strathbogie / Brackenston. Revd R.W. Molesorth,………… The Lodge 1899 The last entry suggests F. Newcombe took the old house name with him to Lower Green. It is assumed that the variation of ‘Brackenhurst’ is a directory listing error, and we are dealing with the same house. The building seems to have adopted the name ‘Dower House’ during its use as council offices, prior to becoming a hotel. |
| 009 | Dawn Moore (Bonneywell) on Pembury Hall Cottage
Hi Tony, Photos B036 to B040 on ‘Donated Photso – Buildings’ page.
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| 010 | Tim Cottingham email from Brisbane, Australia. Photos on Donated Photos / People & Families – P046 & P047
Hello and Merry Christmas, I hope all is well in Pembury,
I have attached 2 photos of relatives of mine, Nancy Agnes Kate Cottingham and her son Arthur Cottingham.
These Cottinghams lived at 18 church road Pembury.They were not related to the other Cottinghams in Pembury.
Nancy Agnes Kate Baldock born 1884 married Fred Cottingham born 1875 in 1903 East Grinstead,
Nancy and Fred had one son Arthur 1903 – 1949, Arthur was an Electrician by trade.
These photos can go up on the website as residents from the past.Sadly i have not go a photo of Fred Cottingham, he died in 1957 the year i was born, i am hoping that one day one might turn up.
I think someone said that he worked for Pippins Farm at some time.
Best wishes Tim Cottingham, Brisbane Australia
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| 011 | Robin Kenworthy replying by email about the location of ‘Sheen’ – the original doctor’s surgery in Hastings Road.
Robin also submitted this string of comments as an edit to web page – Link to Robin’s memories. |
| 012 | John Minter from Shropshire tracing his grandparents in Pembury.
Dear Tony Nicholls
I’ve been looking at the excellent Pembury History site and wonder whether you can help me with a bit of family history. My grandparents were Thomas and Jessie Minter. From about 1930 until they died in the 1950s they lived in a bungalow in Romford Road called Devoran. I have several photos of my grandparents, my aunt Stella and my father Harry Minter taken at Devoran. My aunt Stella continued to live in Pembury until she died in 1976.
I have rather fuzzy memories of Devoran and clearer memories of visiting Stella when she had moved to Pembury Close.
I visited the Devoran many years ago and it was as I remembered it. However, I took a virtual trip along Romford Road today using Google maps but couldn’t identify the bungalow. I do remember it being set back from the road and that the drive was up a bit of an incline. Do you know whether Devoran is still there? I know you have lots of old maps of Pembury – is there one which shows Devoran’s location?
The photo below shows part of the bungalow. My grandparents are on the left and Stella stands between the two men.
I hope you can help!
Best wishes from Shropshire, John Minter
Following research by Jane Grooms & John Minter the bungalow in Romford Road was identified.
The property had undergone extension work and had been re-named “Tanglewood”.
See Pictures of the Past – Donated Photos – People – items P048 & P049
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