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Thank you for the extra information about the photo. Its good to have more details and memories. Many thanks
Thank you for spotting it! You are quite right and I have amended it. Many thanks St Margaret’s History Society
Many thanks for helping us to pin down the date. I have been doing some work on James Powell lately in connection with his farm, Street Farm, now replaced by Knoll Court, in the middle of the village.
This photo needs turning through 180 degrees.
I think this photo was perhaps taken around or before 1890. James Powell died in 1890 aged 74 and James Hammond died 1896 born c1819. Edward Gage was born c1816.
Yes, taken in the garden of ‘Collis’. The short span on the left bridged the gap to ‘Auntie’ Annie’s front door. Photo taken by my late father who appears in many of the earlier images of Bockhill Farm as a young boy. That’s me holding Annie’s hand :o)
Manu thanks for adding some names to the faces!
What a lovely memory. Thank you for that further information and we are glad that you like the site.
This is where my paternal grandmother lived from the about the 60s to late 90s. May LaTrobe Foster. Would love to know if there any old photos of this house.
Hello, this is a picture of Annie with my elder sister Claire, Elder Brother John & myself, Alaine. Our surname was Hickmott.
This is my father’s family’s grave. These Ida and Arthur were his parents. Edwin and Ada were his grandparents. He believes that Margaret, his mother’s young sister, died of leukemia. Dad was born in Deal and grew up in St Margaret’s. He went to the village school and was evacuated during WW2 first to Sussex then to Wales. But he remembers the big guns, and his dad having to remove his front wall when they were being transported out of the village after the war. When he returned he went to Dover Grammar School leaving to join the Royal Navy when he was about 17. His dad had a garage and taxi business, and his grandad Goldfinch ran the village bakery for many years, followed by one of his sons. We used to visit my grandparents every year when I was a child. We still have a few relatives living in this area. Dad is now 88 and lives in Dorset. He hasn’t been able to visit for a number of years. He thinks his older brother Terrance, used to keep the grave tidy, before he passed away. We have enjoyed looking at the old photos together on this website.
My Dad is Arthur Jenner’s second son, Ronald. He remembers the front wall and garden wall falling down during the war when the guns fired.
I have sent you an email Robert Christine Waterman
I believe that this document is one of the sources that was used by Peter Erwood in his book “A Fury of Guns”. I also believe that an earlier handwritten source document was written by JW Clark and that this is now held by the Imperial War Museum. It would be very helpful if the full text of this document could be uploaded. Selfishly, I’d be interested to see it as I’m currently compiling a history of the D2 HAA gunsite at Wanstone.
Sorry to be a spoiler but the taxi is not a Model T, I can’t help you with the make of either vehicle though the registration number may still be traceable. Strange that there are no skid marks for the two-seater and that the steering wheel and windscreen are undamaged. Regards. Nick Cliffe. Editor, Model T ‘T Topics’ magazine. Model T Ford Register of GB.
We lived in St Margarets bay from early 1951 to 1953 in a flat that was part of The old guard house. My father, Harry Gaffney was a General foreman for R Robinson & Sons seadefence contractors. While building a seawall and groynes he got to know Noel Coward, who appreciated the new wall passing his house. My father, Harry, even gave a lift to Mr Coward from Martin Hall station when his chauffer was unavailable. Noel asked my father to a party in his house where he met famous celebreties and also asked him to build a jetty near his house in Jamaica. Harry declined this offer however. I remember seeing Noel Coward once walking out onto a balcony wearing a white dressing gown and smoking a cigarette with a cigarette holder. I have many photos of the sea defence work at St Margarets from 1951 to 1953 (My fathers) and remember a delightful character named (Lt colonel) Dagwood Cotter – does anyone rember him? I went to School in Deal at that time. Lovely memories. Eamon Gaffney Plymouth
These are my maternal grandparents
Her maiden name was Lushington (sometimes mispelt Lusshinton). They had three sons called James (2 died). Their Son is also buried in this churchyard. Stephen MATTSON (family surname is spelt Matson, so spelling error on headstone). Stephen was married to Ann, had three boys on headstone Lushington Matson (named after Stephen’s mother’s maiden name), Stephen and John. John died before 1728.
Son of James Matson (died 1730) and Susanna Matson (died 1724). Susanna’s maiden name was Lushington, then Stephen named one of his children Lushington Matson. Note Spelling of Matson, MATTSON on monumental inscription. His parents are buried here.
Thanks Garry. I will always come to you if I need anything on the fire brigade in the village. best wishes Christine Waterman
HI Ian. I think you may have a point. I cannot get into the archive at the moment to compare our information so I have temporarily put that one into our private zone pending our return to normal working. We have other ship wreck photos and I might be able to track it down.Many thanks for your help Christine Waterman
I don’t believe the wreckage is that of the Pruessen. She lays below the low water mark. The wreck is that of a merchant ship that caught fire and was run aground below the search light battery adjacent to Dover harbour
Hi Regarding the letter and your point (b) Ruth’s letter was to me, I lived in Church View, Well Lane from 1999 -2009 the property was formerly called Woodlea , there was much confusion with road names at the time, and which lane was called which, Vicarage Lane, Well Lane, Parsonage Lane and Churchyard Lane. I was also one of the village firemen who attended Roses Tea Rooms, and have compiled a lot of the history of the Fire Station, as both myself and my late father Bob both served with the Fire Brigade. Please feel free to contact me if you require any more information. Many thanks Garry
This was donated by my late Great Grandmother. She was 109 when she died. I would love to see it again and show my children
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