General Chat

Hi, just found this thread, I'm a Kentish Maid, born and lived in Chislehurst for 40 odd years and now living in Worcestershire.

I was born in Maidstone and still live here. My grandad's family came from Chatham (Todd/Manouvrier). Hubby's family are from the North (Yorks/Staffs. Julie

Some familiar names in this thread...Hi Maz Dowling...Damerell here after a long absence...how are you? For the rest of you, I have lived in Gillingham and Faversham (currently in Twydall) since 1972 but originally lived in Gillingham from 1945 to 1962. Then my wife and I moved to Faversham, Peacehaven, Hove and back to Gill.

ANGUS AND GLADYS: romance in Kent I was born in Surrey and now live in Hertfordshire, BUT my mother was born in Cobden Road, Hythe and lived during her childhood in Lybridge Green, Lyminge, Sellinge, Stowting, Stelling Minnis and Wye. Her family remained in the Ashford area after she left home and my grandmother lived in East Brabourne till my grandfather died and then moved to Smeeth. Since I've started my family history I found that my grandmother Gladys was born in Richmond, Surrey and my grandfather Angus in Rendcomb, Gloucestershire. This is how they ended up in Kent: My grandfather was unhappy at home - his mother died when he was 10 and he didn't get on with his stepmum. He lied about his age and joined the Royal Engineers in 1913. The following year WW1 broke out and he found himself in France. Somehow he got Gladys' photo via his cousin Frank. I have not yet found out which side of the family Frank belongs to, but he was courting a girl called Edith who was in service with Gladys and I think a little matchmaking was going on. At any rate Gladys & Angus started writing to eachother. He was going to meet her for the first time on leave in 1918, but she was ill with the flu pandemic sweeping the world and he had to go back to France without seeing her. When the war was over he came back and they were both working in London trying to save to get married, but Angus lost his job when he was called back into the Royal Engineers to work because the coal miners were on strike. He tried to work again in London but couldn't find anything. So he went to stay with his Aunt Chat (real name Charity) in Sandgate, Kent. I don't know how she got there from Gloucestershire, but at any rate her husband worked as a shoe repairer and she ran a boarding house. Angus had a lot of bad luck trying to get jobs, but eventually he got settled and Gladys got a job at Cheriton. They were finally married in Hythe in 1923, and Angus address at the time of the wedding was Coast Guard Cottages. I have only pieced all this together when my mum gave me a very old cardboard box with most of Angus' letters to Gladys during their courting period. You can imagine they are very precious to me and I only regret that her letters in reply are not there too. Helen

Hi Shan I lived in Wigmore Road. It's close to the motorway (which one I don't know). About two miles or so away from the Savacentre.... even though that didn't stop Mum from making us walk there.... as well as walking all the way to Fairview School.... I was a little kid!! Chloe

Maz I did it just for you looks better as well Margaret

Made me chuckle to see you DID change the title Margaret!!!! Maz. XX

I was born in Maidstone (near the border with Loose) and lived there until I left for university. Ann

My mother spent her last years in Minster, nr Ramsgate Kent. My auntie (mum's sister) lived in Margate and another auntie lived in Gillingham.Have spent many a holiday when I was young in Kent.

I'm in New Ash Green and have loads of ancestors from Ash/Stansted/Sutton at Hone and roundabout - on my doorstep though I didn't know that when I came here. Brought up in Bexleyheath which was Kent before it got swallowed up by Greater London. Angela

HI DO I COUNT, born in Brighton, lived just outside Canterbury for 7 years and i'm now in Larkfield near Maidstone for 2yrs and fellow is in Lenham kent his been there for 35yrs plus sandra

as a kid, on the watling road,from Rainham Gillingham Chatham, does anyone know of the central hotel????? That's the road i lived down Shan

Shan - will ask hubby when he comes home tomorrow - he is in Moscow at the moment!! Maz. XX

Maz my grandparent's lived Parkhurst Rd where i spent many happy time's do you know of it Shan

Chloe where in gillingham did u live???? Shan

Hi all u kent peep's, i was born quetta house Margate lived Birchington, gillingham, Rainham,i class my home as Birchington as alway's went to gran's summer hol's with all my cousin's who were also born and bred same area, as well as ashford

Well as Margaret who started it was from Dover, this should then be a 'Thread of Kent' surely ??!!!! Maz. XX

Hi Margaret, I live near Tenterden and have been in the area for 16 years. Before that I was in Hertfordshire and, before that, living abroad. Maz, there is a Dr. Dowling in Tenterden but don't know if he is originally local.

West of the river Medway you are a Kentish Maid, east of the Medway you are Maid of Kent. Beckenham is well to the west of the Medway! This is even defined in the dictionary if you look for Man of Kent. Joy

My family are all from Ashford i was born in Oxford came back with my parents in 1953 got married in 1961 married someone from Oxford lived there for 25 years then in 1985 came back to Ashford ,will not be going any where else love it here. Val GC