L/R Christine Bleach, Frank Pyke, Jill Partridge, Annie Bamford, Bob Preedy

#13

Lilla, The Countess of Chichester & The Chichester Memorial Hall

On the 18th June 1861, aged 24, Lilla married Walter John Pelham (Lord Pelham and 4th Earl of Chichester) at St George’s Church, Hanover Square in London.

Lord Pelham held the office of Deputy Lieutenant of Sussex and in 1865 was elected to the House of Commons for Lewes as a Liberal MP.  Source: The Peerage

Their home in Sandgate was at Enbrook built on land owned by John Bligh, 4th Earl of Darnley, Lilla’s grandfather.  His son, Sir John Duncan Bligh, inherited the house and land.  He rebuilt the house in the 1850s and after his death in 1872 the property passed to Lilla, Countess of Chichester.

Source: Swale & Thomas Survey Co. Undated.

1861 Census shows Lilla living at Enbrook with her father just before her marriage.  This census lists five relatives staying at Enbrook and also eleven members of staff ie house-keeper, ladies maid x 2, upper housemaid, kitchen maid, dairy maid, housemaid, butler x 2, coachman and footman.

Information about the Countess of Chichester has been researched through  several newspaper articles from which we can discover something of her kind character and good deeds which led ultimately to the Chichester Hall being built in her memory.

The following is from the The Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 15th December 1911.  The obituary article in this newspaper reports on the death of the Countess of Chichester and tells us a little more about Lilla.  She was often in Dover in connection with religious work and how she was held in great esteem in Sandgate with the poor having lost a true friend.  Lilla also had no family.

“The death occurred early on Friday morning last of Elizabeth Mary, Countess of Chichester, at her residence, Enbrook, Sandgate, Kent.  The late Countess, who was often at Dover in connection with religious work was the widow of the fourth Earl of Chichester who died in 1902.  Before her marriage, in 1861, she was Elizabeth Mary Bligh, only daughter of the late Hon. Sir John D Bligh, K.C.B., son of the fourth Earl of Darnley.  Lady Chichester had no family, and on the death of her husband, his brother, the late Earl succeeded,  He died in 1905, and was succeeded by Jocelyn Brudenell Pelham, the present peer.  The Countess was greatly esteemed in the Sandgate district, and in her the poor have lost a true friend.  A memorial service was held at Sandgate on Monday and the funeral took place at Stanmer on Tuesday.”

The Folkestone Express, Sandgate, Shorncliffe & Hythe Advertiser dated 16th December 1911 gives us more information about Lilla. 

The paper reports that “the death of Elizabeth Mary (known as Lilla) Countess of Chichester will be the cause of deep sorrow among a large section of the community in Folkestone and Sandgate, where she had, during her long widowhood’ taken a deep interest in what may be termed the higher life of the people.  The various societies which have as their main objective the improvement of the lot of young women have lost by the death of the Countess one who was a tower of strength to them, not only by her sympathy but by her sound practical assistance.  At the time when she was ill (only a few days ago) she was announced to take part in various functions having for their object the assistance of those who needed aid.  Her last appearance in public was, we believe, on November 18th, when she distributed prizes to the pupils in the Girls’ County School, and gave a most encouraging address to the girls.

The memorial service was held at St Paul’s Church, Sandgate.  The coffin, on which rested a number of beautiful wreaths, was taken from Enbrook to St Paul’s by members of the Sandgate Fire Brigade by the private entrance.  The firemen, who were commanded by the Capt W H Jacob and Lieut J S Clark, wore their uniforms and helmets.  Drawn up outside the church was the Sandgate detachment of the Red Cross Society and also the members of the St John Ambulance Brigade, both contingents being in uniform.  The service was attended by a large and representative congregation.  One floral wreath from members of the household ‘desired that this floral harp may express their deep attachment and respect for their beloved lady’.  The coffin, after being removed from the church, was placed on the funeral car and taken to Shorncliffe Station, to be conveyed to Lewes by train, and thence to Stanmer, where the family mausoleum is situated.”

The Whitstable Times & Herne Bay Herald, dated 16th December 1911 informs us that the memorial service was held in Sandgate Church.  On 2nd March 1912 the same newspaper tells us about the estate left by Lilla.

“The estate left by the late Right Hon, Elizabeth Mary Countess of Chichester of Enbrook, Sandgate, widow of the fourth Earl of Chichester, has been sworn at £31,613 gross.  Testator left the residue of her estate to the Central Branch of the Y.W.C.A. Brighton, the Police Convalescent Home at Hove, the Girls’ Shelter,

Buckingham Road Brighton, the Connaught Institute, Lewes Road, Brighton, and the C.M.S.”

Y.W.C.A. is the Young Women’s Christian Association C.M.S. is the Church Missionary Society

The Folkestone Express, Sandgate, Shorncliffe & Hythe Advertiser dated 28th February tells us a little more details of Lady Chichester’s Will.

Lilla bequeathed many personal items and monetary gifts to a long list of  recipients. Some examples of bequeathed items are listed herewith: to Lady Dorothy Bligh, an opal and ruby pendant and twelve books: to Lady Kathleen Brownlow, a band bracelet with diamond buckle and sapphire and diamond ring: to Lady Alice Bligh, a pearl ring: to Lady Ruth Pelham, a group of Chelsea china: £6,000 to the Earl of Chichester: £10,000 to Miss Mary Louisa Pelham:  £1,000 to her god daughter, Lilla Morris and so on.  The residue of the estate divided between charitable institutions.

The Chichester Memorial Hall

The Chichester Hall was built as a lasting memorial to Lilla (Elizabeth) with funds raised through public subscriptions by residents who wished her to be remembered for all the support she had given to Sandgate over the years.

The Folkestone Express, Sandgate, Shorncliffe & Hythe Advertiser dated 20th December 1913 reports on the stone laying ceremony for the Chichester Hall.

“There was a large attendance, on Monday, at the memorial stone-laying of the working men’s club, which is being erected in the High Street, Sandgate, in memory of the late Lilla Countess of Chichester, whose interest in Sandgate and its residents will not be forgotten for many, many years.  Mr C H Master, Chairman of the Chichester Memorial Committee, presided over the proceedings and the ceremony was performed by Sir Squire Bancroft.”

Mr Master went on to say that “the Gough Home was first of all suggested, and it was almost purchased.  They were just about to settle the purchase, when it was sold over their heads.  He, however, did not regret that fact now.  He thought the Gough Home would not have suited their purpose in every way, and it would not have been sufficiently good enough or capable of being used for the purpose.  They then tackled the question of buying the site, and the imposing old ruins which stood there were bought for £400.  The contract for the building was £1,200, and there would be some odds and ends which would cost about £200. 

Towards the total they had got £800, and the consequence was that they wanted £600 more, and he appealed to everyone who had the interest of Sandgate at heart help that matter on, so that they could get the debt paid off………. they wanted a big room, a place where they could have evening entertainments, and which could be used for a hundred other things……Mr Conquest, the architect , then stepped forward and presented to Sir Squire Bancroft a handsome silver trowel with ivory handle, as a memento of the occasion.  The trowel bore the following inscription ‘Presented to Sir Squire Bancroft on the occasion of his laying the foundation stone of the Chichester Memorial Hall, Sandgate, December 15th, 1913.’  In Sir Squire Bancroft’s speech he “yielded to none in his sincere regard for all the acts of kindness shown to Sandgate by the late Lady of Enbrook.  His wife and he enjoyed the privilege of Lady Chichester’s acquaintance and shared the true regret in her loss which they all felt. The Contractor was Otto Marx and the Architect C J Conquest.  Copies of local papers will be placed in the cavity at the back of the memorial stone which was inscribed Chichester Memorial Hall.  This stone was laid by Sir Squire Bancroft, 15th December, 1913.’”

NB The silver engraved trowel was the work of Messrs Oclee & Sons of Folkestone.

Mr Arnold H Ullyett (Hon. Sec. & Treasurer) advised in a letter dated 22nd  January 1914 that the committee received a generous offer from Mr Master and Mr Burke who promised to give jointly a cheque for £250, provided a similar sum of £250 is subscribed within 6 months.

The clock was relocated to the Chichester Memorial Hall but was originally installed on the J B Gough Soldiers Home at 56 – 60 Sandgate High Street.  It was renovated in 1981 again in 2009 and is due a further renovation this year .

The Dowager Countess of Guildford unlocked the entrance door to the Chichester Memorial Hall and declared the building officially open on 10 June 1914.

The Chichester Hall has been at the centre of village life and events for over 100 years and the main hall is hired and used regularly by clubs, groups, meetings, music events and organisations on a regular basis including a Farmers’ Market.  Sadly the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, and which is continuing into 2021, has meant that the Chichester Hall was closed but is gradually reopening as lockdown restrictions are lifted by the Government.

It has been interesting to try and discover more about Lilla Countess of Chichester, however, if you have any documents or photographs that we can copy/add to the records in our archives please do contact us.

Christine Bleach

Archive Team/2021

#12

The Sandgate Railway – from departure to demise.

The Railway Mania in the mid1800s was a classic bubble. Middle class money was thrilled to be part of this huge social enterprise. From 1843 to 1846 hundreds of companies were formed with shares duly issued in anticipation of the required Act of Parliament to commence the purchase of land. Sadly in 1845 Bank interest rates rose providing a less risky home for savings. Overnight share prices collapsed and the nascent railway boom hit the buffers.   Large landowners, though, had the capital to acquire bankrupt companies and proceeded with plans to open up their estates to commercial exploitation.

The Duke of Devonshire saw a line to Eastbourne open in 1849, while three years earlier Sir Richard Hotham’s Bognor was rail linked to London. On the east coast the Earl of Scarborough’s landholding in the wilds of Lincolnshire was developed into the happy holiday resort of Skegness, offering relaxation and frivolity for the tobacco workers of Nottingham and industrial powerhouse of Derby. Once a railway was planned, entrepreneurs soon grasped the opportunities for housing development.

 Into these fevered times stepped Sir Edward Watkin, Manchester born, he was a visionary a century before his time. He was Chairman of London’s first underground system, the Metropolitan Railway. He planned a tunnel between Scotland and Ireland – and in 1880 dug two miles under the sea at Dover to develop a Channel Tunnel. In the north he created the port of Grimsby and its neighbouring resort Cleethorpes, while in 1899 his Grand Central Railway opened from Manchester to London’s Marylebone. He also campaigned in Parliament in 1867 to give women the vote. Abroad he rescued the bankrupt line across Canada to form the Canadian Pacific Railway. So why would he trouble himself with a three miles branch line from Westenhanger to the village of Sandgate? His vision was to create an alternative route for cross-channel freight and leisure.

  The line from London to Folkestone Junction opened in December 1843, reaching Dover the following year. Folkestone West (named Shorncliffe Camp until 1962) opened almost twenty years later. The South Eastern Railway also built a new more accessible station in 1884, Cheriton Arch – renamed Radnor Park in 1886 and Folkestone Central by 1895.

  A rival service to the continent was also built by the London, Chatham and Dover Railway – reaching Dover by 1861.  Two rail lines now converged on Dover, but the SE Railway had developed Folkestone Harbour from 1844 and was determined to fight back. Sir Edward Watkin had a vision of a spur leaving the main London line at Westenhanger and being routed along the coast to Folkestone via Hythe and Sandgate. The final link would have involved a line passing close to Sandgate Castle and thus onwards along the cliff to Folkestone Harbour. Sadly, Watkin hadn’t reckoned with the wiles of the Radnor Estate, leading to a thirty year battle, ending in stalemate.

The first sod of the new Hythe and Sandgate Railway was dug by Prince Arthur of Connaught, grandson of Queen Victoria, on Thursday 11^th April 1872 at Cannon Gate, Hythe, sadly the spade snapped in two but the Prince gallantly used the lower portion to transfer the turf to the barrow.

Work on the line continued at pace and the first London train streaked into Hythe Station on Friday 9^th October 1874 at 11.40am. Prince Arthur was unable to officiate but taking his place was Prince Francis, Duke of Teck, whose daughter, the eventual Queen Mary, had been born seven years earlier. His later life was rather colourful – gambling and womanising being his favourite hobbies. In his will he left the family jewels to a mistress and also created the concept of secrecy by ‘sealing the Royal will’ – a practice that continues to this day. The actress Sarah Miles claims to be the great- granddaughter of Prince Teck from his liaison with a seamstress – further details in her memoirs, A Right Royal Bastard.

Back at Hythe Station in 1874 the whistle blew for the short journey to Sandgate, where Prince Teck was shown the waiting room and the booking office. Back in Hythe the party was met by local dignitaries, school children and a Military Band. The 300 guests were then taken down to Rampart Road where a huge marquee had been erected for a sumptuous celebratory meal. From the following day a regular seven day service ran,  the first train departing Sandgate at 6.15am and the final service arriving back into the station at 9.10pm. A Goods Traffic service later commenced on Friday 1^st January 1875. Five years after the Sandgate branch opened, a new station was built at Westenhanger, and the original branch station was renamed Sandling Junction.

  During its heyday the line was advertised across London stations by Thos. Cook offering a Rail & Tea Excursion for 3/9d. Breakfast, Lunch and Teas were served at the Grosvenor Hotel, Sandgate. ‘The village is an ideal spot for a Day’s Outing, there being excellent facilities for Boating, Bathing and driving.’

 Sadly, the line was never extended into Folkestone – Sir Edward Watkin had fought for nearly three decades but vested interests forestalled his dream of a rival route to the continent. The Railway King died in 1901 and there was no enthusiasm within the company for more investment. The final train ran into Sandgate on Tuesday 31^st March 1931 saving annual wages of £679. Hythe survived for a further twenty years with its final closure on Saturday 1^st December 1951.

The people of Hythe were enthusiastic when their station opened, and on its final day 77 years later, railway fans were back on the platform for an hour to say farewell to a treasured friend. A special wreath was made, of various vegetables and was placed on the engine front. At 4.20pm the whistle sounded and the packed train ran over two detonators creating loud explosions as its final parting shots. 

This was all in contrast to the reaction in Sandgate. On the very first public train out only two passengers alighted – while on the final journey in 1931 again only two travellers left the train. Sandgate held no opening celebrations nor final farewells. The East Kent Bus Service soon bought up to the site and from 2005 the Corniche housing estate was built on eastern part of the station platform.

Walking access is restricted now but views of the old line can easily be seen between Seabrook and Saltwood. The Hayne tunnel remains intact although impassable due to flooding. 

• For a very thorough history of the branch line, Brian Hart’s exhaustive “The Hythe & Sandgate Railway” book is highly recommended.

The Hayne Tunnel is easily accessible from the car park at Sandling Station, but impossible to walk through. Here we see a film crew using the historical atmosphere to create memories of the rather underused Hythe & Sandgate rail line.

Bob Preedy

Archive Team

#11

PUBS BREWERIES AND HOTELS IN SANDGATE OVER TIME

There have been over the years many pubs, clubs and hotels in Sandgate in fact at one time it was reported there were over thirty pubs alone in Sandgate, also several breweries. I thought this tale might be of interest to the reader so we need to start way back in the late 1700s!

Although we know that the Castle in Sandgate was built in 1538 by order of Henry VIII, and the first houses recorded in the Village were the shipbuilder’s cottage in the late 1700s, the first pub that we have found mentions of was the Rose Tavern in Prospect Road which was there in the 18^th century. Sadly we have not got a definite date for it, the premises had formerly been called Lawn Cottage, but no record of how long it was in business!

1717 – Sandgate House whose location is unknown however was on a list of Folkestone Beer houses but was most likely in Sandgate although the boundary between Folkestone and Sandgate, at that time ran from the foot of Sandgate Hill by the Fleur de Lis.

1725 – Fleur de Lis at 23 Sandgate High St. was in business from the 1700s to 1974.  At one time there were only 3 houses in Sandgate one being the Fleur. It was said to have been a meeting place for smugglers, also a haven for shipwrecked sailors in times past. In 1888 it was almost completely rebuilt and extended.  Apparently, it was in the Flisher family who held the licence for 175 years from the 1740s

1765 – Sandgate Fort was in business until 1772, location unknown however it is thought it possibly became the Castle Tavern in the High Street

1775 – The Royal Kent and Tap, formerly the New Inn, a wonderful old Coaching Inn in the High Street. Very up market with a garden leading down to the sea. Over time had many famous visitors inc. Queen Victoria when she was a Princess along with her mother!

1792 – 1804 The Trotting Horse, which stood on Castle Green

1792   The Good Intent unsure of this exact location but possibly in the vicinity of the Castle, nor how long it was in business

1789c to Present Day Ship Inn documents show when it was built. It is recorded that in 1838 a Mr Hogben was a fishmonger and beer retailer there, from 1890, beer only was served and the fish shop had ceased trading, extensive alterations took place. In 1929 it was granted a full licence to sell beer wines and spirits. There is said to be a ghost on the premises of a fish lady whose appearance is accompanied by a strong smell of fish!

1805 – Present Day Royal Norfolk Hotel, formerly named The Ship, it was first referred to as the Royal Norfolk in 1864 after the Duchess of Norfolk and her children enjoyed a long stay there. In 1901 the old building was demolished and the new building was opened in 1902.

1805 – 1911 Castle Tavern, formerly the Martello Tower 11 High St

1815 – 1911 Duke of York was located a few buildings east of the Royal Norfolk; in WW1 it became the Allies Café and stayed that way for a number of years latterly known as Bougie Bistro, now a house

1825 – 1914 The Alexandra Hotel & Alhambra Theatre, formerly The Bricklayers Arms 103 High Street, finally becoming The Rex Cinema, now an apartment block stands there.

1830 – 1871 Victoria Tavern – located where the Memorial now is

1838 -1864 Good Intent – possibly. in Castle Rd, where York House is

1838 – 1862 The Marine Hotel stood in the High Street, where the Coastguard Cottages are now.

c1843 – Present day The Providence Inne 47-49 High St. the exact year of opening is unknown, 1826 Directory lists John Elgar as a Pork Butcher, 1838 now a butcher and beer retailer, 1852 Slaughter house built at the back. In 1854 named the Providence Inne, in 1970s extended into the Seabreeze Café which stood on the corner

1841 – 1869 Duke of Wellington in Chapel Street (Wilberforce Rd)

1843 – 1869 The Sebastopol in the back half of the Ship Inn

1843-1852 Brewery run by Richard Hills at Hillside transferred to Brewers Hill in 1852

1851 A Brewery run by Frederick Sladden in Camp Road, that became Ordnance Rd which by 1896 was known as Brewers Hill

1854 – 1858 Alma exact location not known possibly in Military Rd where Alma Cottage now stands

1855 – 1871 British Flag in High St, poss. loc. next to Sandgate café

1856 – The Union on corner of Military Rd and the High Street possibly became the Military Tavern

1857 – 1869 Duke of Cambridge location unknown poss. in High St.

1858 – 1866 Allied Arms exact loc. unknown poss. close to the British Flag & George Worsalls Butchers shop

1858 – 1869 Prince of Wales formerly Inkerman Arms loc. unknown

1859 – Flower Pot location thought to be in High St. opp. Providence

1859 – 1869 City exact loc. unknown except that it was in High St.

1859 – True Briton formerly the Duke of Cumberland

1859 – Present Day The Clarendon Brewers Hill was damaged in the landslip of 1893 when they were unable to cook for customers! now named The Earl of Clarendon

1861 – 1869 Victoria Beer House in the High St exact loc. unknown

1900? The Riviera Hotel, prev. The Conamur School, now Zarina Court, a row of private houses facing the Esplanade, with sea views.

1863   Plates & Basins site unknown

1864 – 1968 Rose Inn 152 High St. listed 1864 was art gallery now residential

1865 – 1973 Royal Oak on Sandgate Hill last licencee, Ena Pafford a retired music hall and ENSA Artiste under name of Ena Dayne lived in the property until her death in 1977 now a private residence

1868 – 1963 Military Tavern on Military Hill (known locally as The Hole in the Wall) 1^st Landlord Henry J. MacLachlan aged 18, then in Mills family for many years & last licensees the Fieldsend family

1993 – Present Day The Sandgate Hotel Wellington Terrace

2015 – Inn Doors new to the High Street in August of that year

2018 – Sandgate Vaults new to the High Street from Spring 2018

Sandgate was never short of places to ‘Quench the Thirst’. Of course in the early days when Shorncliffe was home to thousands of soldiers and personal, the pubs and breweries must have done a roaring trade. Then as the population grew and visitors started holidaying in Sandgate which had become well known now as a popular place to go for one’s health; with the lovely beaches and nice walks this kept many of the watering holes in business.

As you can see over time many of the pubs have changed their names and locations and as we are now in the 21^st century with the few that have stood the test of time and thankfully are still there and thriving in the village; they have now been joined by a wide range of restaurants and cafés all adding to the wonderful character of Sandgate with its beautiful beaches, 16^th century Castle, wonderful walks, and of course The Old Fire Station, our headquarters of the Sandgate Society.

Jill Partridge, Archivist

        Coronation Celebration outside The Ship in High Street 1911

  The Royal Norfolk with The Woodford Hotel next to it

The Bricklayers Arms, over time the Alexandra Hotel, Alhambra Theatre and lastly The Rex Cinema, now Residential Apartments

 Fleur De Lis original Building c1725                The Royal Oak 

                   The Military Tavern ( Locally known as Hole in the Wall)

          The Royal Kent Hotel and Coaching Inn, in the High street

   The Riviera Hotel prev. The Conamur School, now Zarina Court

           The Beach Marine Hotel now Beach Marine Apartments

New Inn where Royal Kent once was, now Sir John Moore Apts.

The Marine Hotel where the Coastguard Cottages now stand

The Providence Inne in 1900s above –  and below c1970s

#10

H G Wells & Spade House

As you are aware the special exhibition planned by the Sandgate Society Archive Team for 21 November 2020 sadly did not materialise due to the pandemic we are going through.  It is also looking increasingly unlikely that 2021 will not see a return to exhibitions and talks in the Old Fire Station.

Therefore, the Archive Team would like to tell you something about the postponed H G Wells exhibition as this year is also the 75th anniversary of H G Well’s death on 13 August 1946.  We are sure the following will be of great interest and hopefully next year we may be able to go ahead with the exhibition and share all these documents with you.

“Our true nationality is mankind”

“What really matters is what you do with what you have”

An introduction to the exhibition documents

Herbert George Wells was born on 21 September 1866 in Bromley, Kent.  He died in London on 13 August 1946.  H G Wells commissioned the building of Spade House, Radnor Cliff Crescent, in Sandgate in 1899. 

The architect for Spade House was Charles Francis Annesley Voysey (1857 to 1941). 

The Builders of Spade House was a local established Folkestone Building Contractor called William Dunk Ltd.

H G Wells wrote to Mr W Dunk on 19 August 1899, whilst living at Arnold House in Sandgate,  advising that he was proposing to have a house built between Folkestone and Sandgate and his budget for this new build was £1,200 to £1,500.

A copy of this letter, along with other documents relating to the build of Spade House, has been kindly donated to the Sandgate Society Archives from local retired builder John Steed.  These newly acquired documents were discovered when John Steed’s mother passed away in 2017.  John’s late father had worked for William Dunk Building firm and over many decades his family has taken great care of these documents.

In 2019 all of the original documents, including letters, paint chart, architect house plans, purchase orders, invoices etc were donated to the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) at the Victoria & Albert Museum by John Steed.  The RIBA will conserve and protect these items for the future and they will, in time, be available for the public to view.

However, some of the less fragile documents have been photocopied by John and kindly donated to the Sandgate Society Archive Team for our exhibition. 

We would like to share the letter mentioned above with you in this Tales From the Archives.

H G Wells was living at Arnold House in Sandgate at the time of writing this letter to Mr W Dunk on 19 August 1899.  The handwriting is not easy to read so a transcript is provided below.

“Dear Sir

I am proposing to build a house of about the value of £1200-£1500 between Sandgate and Folkestone.  If you are in a position to undertake such a contract for this work I shall be  glad to hear from you.

Yours truly H G Wells”

Christine Bleach /Archive Team/March 2021

#9

Joseph Seymour Clark – Builder

The Business

Around 1901 Joseph and his brother Frederick set up the building firm, F W & J Clark, from their home addresses, 20 Shorncliffe Terrace and 15 Park Road, Folkestone.

Early in their business they undertook a project to build five three storeyed terraced houses at the East end of Sandgate High St and named them Seymour Villas.  Joseph Seymour Clark had moved into number one by 1905 and erected a large sign in embossed letters on the Eastern end of the building proudly advertising their business.

Seymour Villas complete with Clarks signage from Sandgate Hill 1905

Frederick and Joseph’s business continued to flourish, building houses in St Winifred Road, Quested Road and Broomfield Road, Cheriton along with houses in Chichester Road, Sandgate and 50 houses in Seabrook Road, Hythe up until the outbreak of War in 1914.

During the war like many Sandgate men Joseph joined up to serve his country whilst William Clark continued on his own with his business based at 88 Radnor Park Road.

After the war Joseph returned to the building business on his own, trading as J S Clark.  One of the first projects he completed was a pair of villas in Granville Parade followed by a house in The Crescent and more houses in Seabrook Road.  In 1929 he moved his expanding family from 1 Seymour Villas to a large property that he had built for them on the corner of Military Road and Enbrook Road. It was given the name Warley after a village in Essex, (now a suburb of Brentwood) where his wife Mary Ann Clark was born. 

Present day photo of Warley, the Clark’s family home.

Joseph continued to trade from 1 Seymour Villas with his nephew Horace Baker living in the house until the business closed in 1939 possibly due to the outbreak of war and Joseph Clark retired.

His Life

Joseph Seymour Clark was born in Dover on 17^th December 1871 to Margaret Ann (nee Whiting) and William Whitaker Clark, a blacksmith.  Joseph was part of a large family with 7 brothers and sisters, Frederick William, Emily, Lavinia, James Henry Whitaker, Eliza, Margaret A, and Clara Clark.  The family moved from Dover to 6 Fenchurch Street, Folkestone in about 1877.

After moving to Folkestone Joseph attended St Mary’s School and when he had finished his education he was apprenticed to a local firm of building contractors.  The family was dealt a double blow with Joseph’s mother dying in 1883 and his father dying two years later on 9^th February 1885 aged 50. Joseph went to live with his sister, Emily, her husband and two sons at Grace Hill Cottages, Folkestone. 

At the age of twenty-one on 4^th February 1896 Joseph married Mary Ann Bacon at St John’s Baptist Church, Folkestone setting up home at 20 Shorncliffe Terrace, Cheriton Road, and went on to have three daughters, Lily Kate, Mabel and Gwendoline Lucy Clark.

On the outbreak of War Joseph Clark, previously a territorial in the Kent Cyclist Battalion, joined the Royal Engineers as well as serving as a Special Constable for the police in Sandgate during the war and was awarded a medal and commended as Head of the Specials at a ceremony in 1922.

Joseph played an active part in Sandgate civic life.  He was a Freemason being initiated into the Castle Lodge on 8^th June 1906, as well as being Captain of the Sandgate Fire Brigade serving in the Brigade twenty years from 1907 to 1927. He was a Justice of the Peace at Seabrook Magistrates Court for a number of years and was elected onto Sandgate Urban District Council for over twenty years, being Chairman on eight different occasions.

In 1934 Sandgate Urban District Council was dissolved when Folkestone’s boundaries extended to Sandgate and Joseph became an Alderman on Folkestone Council and for two years he was deputy Mayor.  On the death of the Mayor of Folkestone, Alderman George Gurr in an air raid in June 1941 Joseph took his place and finished the term in November 1941.  Gwendoline his daughter taking on the duties of Mayoress.

Joseph died suddenly and unexpectedly on Monday 19^th January 1942, having just returned from a meeting of the Folkestone Town Council Watch Committee, he sat down for tea, collapsed and died.  He was buried in St Martin’s Churchyard where his wife had already been laid to rest 27^th March 1941.     

Notes – Unfortunately I cannot find either a good photo of Joseph or find a headstone for him in St Martin’s Churchyard.  I am still looking for both.

Annie Bamford 2021

#8

HISTORY OF THE EARLY POST OFFICE IN SANDGATE

These notes are part of a lengthy study of the early postal history of Sandgate gathered from the Royal Mail Archive and local historical secondary sources.     

A receiver at Sandgate is first recorded in 1794 with the establishment of the military camp above Sandgate (known now as Shorncliffe). An application was made to open a communication between Canterbury and Folkestone Camp.

It was decided that deliveries to Shorncliffe to be ‘accelerated by an hour’ and ‘a little bag to Sandgate’ would fulfil the need, with two Guineas to be paid to both the Receivers at Sandgate and Lydd, also an increase in salary made to the postmasters at Folkestone, Hythe and Romney.

In 1807 Earl Darnley having built Belle Vue at Enbrook made an application for a regular Post Office & London Bag to be established in Sandgate, as a result the Postmaster General recommended a Receiving house be appointed at Sandgate with a salary of Forty Shillings per annum.

From an account of 1807 by John Boxer, the Folkestone deputy post master it is clear that a letter delivery was made house to house at Sandgate; who stated that he delivered the letters himself by ‘eleven o’clock at the latest’. With a Widow Hogben acting as the receiver, taking in letters for the inhabitants at one penny each to be forwarded by the postman when he arrives at half past four. It is not recorded how long this arrangement lasted nor where the receiving house was.

 It is possible that the widow Hogben was still the receiver in 1814 when the first post office at Sandgate was set up and a delivery service was formally approved by the Postmaster General, and a bag was to be made up at Folkestone, conveyed to Sandgate by the ‘Ride to Hythe and Romney’ and a salary of £14 per annum was to be paid to the Receiver at Sandgate ‘to make a proper delivery’. This application for the penny post was supported by the Earl of Darnley and also William Wilberforce who came to Sandgate in 1812 to rest and recover his health.

At some point after August 1814 handstamps were put into use for the Folkestone Penny Post. Letters received at Sandgate began to be stamped with the office No. 1 with the Folkestone Penny Post handstamp being applied at the post town at Folkestone; with the earliest recorded letter with this hand stamp being 13 October 1814, written by William Wilberforce to his friend J. S. Hartford of Bristol. The No 1 handstamp continued to be used until the early 1840s.

Free postage was granted to all Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords (at this time it was the hereditary peers along with the C of E bishops who made up the membership of the House of Lords).  However because of the Court ruling, if letters were endorsed Free and bore a signature of the Member of the House of Commons or Lords and were handed to the receiver at Sandgate and went into the Penny Post between Sandgate and Folkestone they could be charged the 1d for the Penny post delivery to Folkestone, but not for the General Post delivery between Folkestone and the final destination; to make this clear, when the letter arrived at London the letters were stamped at the GPO ‘TO PAY 1d ONLY’ so when the letter arrived at its destination the recipient only had to pay the charge for the Penny Post.

Postal charges on all letters during this period were paid by the recipient, there was no prepayment until the first adhesive labels (the 1d black ‘stamps’) were introduced in 1840.

William Wilberforce was a member of Parliament so enjoyed free postage.

There are no records to show who managed the post office at Sandgate from 1814. Thomas Purday was first listed as postmaster in Pigot’s directory of 1823/24.  The same directory lists Thomas Purday running a library and reading room and in business as a bookseller, stationer and wine merchant, the premises being located adjacent to the west side of the Ship Inn. It can be assumed and likely that the post office was located at the same premises.

Here are the two extracts from Pigot 1823/24

This ‘Tale’ has been put together by Jill Partridge with generous help from Richard Cross.

# 7

Sea Rescues by Thomas John Moore

These ‘Tales from the Archives’ have been selected from the written record called The Story of Sandgate by Fred Moore, son of Thomas Moore.

Fred Moore has written about many subjects relating to Sandgate but the ones which stand out for me are the brave sea rescues and the lives saved by Fred’s father Thomas who was born in 1863, he was one of eight children. Thomas was a fisherman, fishmonger (28 High Street), volunteer lifeboatman and volunteer fireman (attached to the Sandgate Brigade) for thirty years.

Fred starts with the tragedy of the sinking of the three masted sailing ship Benvenue on 11th November 1891. Bound for Sydney, she sank in hurricane conditions off Gloucester Terrace, halfway between Sandgate and Seabrook.  Twenty seven of the crew took refuge in the rigging of the mizzen mast. The Captain, his wife and nephew were drowned.

The lifeboat “Mayer de Rothschild” had been taken from her station (which was situated at Battery Point, Seabrook) to Hythe and launched, but it had only proceeded a short distance before the boat was upset.  Fred then tells us that his father Tom and uncle Albert had joined the crew but when they were told the lifeboat was to be launched at Hythe, without a draw-off hawser, these two local fishermen refused to crew the boat. They had told the coxswain that it was too much of a risk to launch the boat at that point as the risk of not clearing the breakers was most likely.

Later, by moonlight, the lifeboat was eventually launched from the beach at Battery Point and Tom and Albert were part of the volunteer crew of many local men.  After rowing out to the Benvenue a kedge anchor was dropped to the west of the wreck and the lifeboat allowed to drift until it was under the mizzen mast.  One by one the frozen members of the crew of 27 men were safely aboard.

The lifeboat rowed into Folkestone harbour and the rescued crew were taken to the Queen’s Hotel which stood on the corner of Guildhall Street and Sandgate Road.  At a later date each lifeboatman who took part in this rescue was presented with a silver medal and thirteen pounds presented by an anonymous donor.  On the front side was the head and shoulders of Queen Victoria and on the reverse side a wreath of laurels with name of the crew member and the words “He bravely did his duty, 11 November 1891”.  However, the donor of the medal did not have permission to use the head and shoulders of Queen Victoria on the medal.  The Royal National Lifeboat Institution instructed the medals to be returned.  None of the crew were prepared to do this so did not receive the RNLI bronze medal for bravery.

**********

However, saving lives and rescues began for Fred’s father Tom in 1878.  Tom’s first rescue was with his father and a Mr Pain.  A boat had capsized half a mile off Sandgate and the three rowed out to sea to rescue a Mr Hooker whose boat had sunk.

**********

Seven years later in 1894 (3 years after the Benvenue) Tom took part in another rescue.  The following is part of a report taken from a local newspaper, possibly the Sandgate Weekly News. 

“Yesterday (Friday) morning, August 17th 1894, a young man named A A Edwards, staying at the Beach Rocks Convalescent Home had a narrow escape from drowning while bathing with two companions named Chilman and Cosedge, from a beach near the castle.  Edwards could swim a little but apparently went further out than he intended to, and becoming frightened called for help.  Two other patients from the home, Messrs Deverill and Saunders, were in a boat watching him and immediately rowed to the drowning man and threw him an oar, but he failed to get hold of it.  They endeavoured to get near him with the other oar, and under the direction of T. Moore, junior boatman, who ran towards to assist them, with considerable difficulty succeeded in rescuing Edwards.”

Edwards was restored to consciousness after half an hour and he recovered at Castle Glen in front of a fire and hot water bottles.  Later the patients at Beach Rocks presented Tom with a clock to show their appreciation and thanks.  Mr Deverill who presented the clock said Tom’s conduct showed that the great brotherhood still existed among Englishmen and he hoped they would all remember that they were brothers and help one another in time of need.

**********

Fred next recounts that on 15th August 1900 Tom rescued a young woman from drowning.  He saw her in difficulties some distance from the shore and swam out to her and managed to reach her before she went under and finally brought her to shore.  The father of the young woman, in gratitude for Tom rescuing his daughter gave him five shillings.

**********

On another occasion he saved the life of Miss Violet Annie Ray who was in imminent danger of drowning at Sandgate.  Tom, seeing the young woman in great difficulties, immediately rushed into the sea and swimming out to her, with some difficultly brought her to the shore.  Later at a meeting of the Urban District Council the Chairman Lieutenant Colonel Fynmore later presented Tom Moore with the vellum certificate of the Royal Humane Society for his bravery in saving Miss Ray from drowning.

**********

On 10th August 1901 Tom saved yet another visitor from drowning.  A local newspaper reported “If war has its honour and glory, peace no less has its triumphs and in days when we read of loss of life and carnage, it is at least consolatory to record in our happy island a deed of bravery by which life has been saved.  And once again our hero, Thomas Moore, Junior, is a well known Sandgate man useful in many spheres of local usefulness and one who to seven lives already saved from death by drowning, has added yet another to a record indeed hard and rare to beat.   On Friday last a stranger was bathing near the groin at the east end of the Riveria, a dangerous place but from many hidden rocks, and was seen by Moore to be in difficulties.  Moore, with a speed that was marvellous, launched his dingy The Floss and with one paddle only rushed to the rescue of the fast drowning man, who, when reached, was on the verge of sinking – faced blanched with terror, eyes fixed and arms extended.  In his endeavour to get a grip he was convulsively seized by the drowning man on the wrist and Moore had to exert all his strength to grasp him in a way to lift him into the boat.  He was fortunately landed and soon resorted to strength, if not to gratitude to his rescuer, as he left him without a word of thanks!”.

**********

Then on 8th September 1901 Tom took part in another rescue with his brother Albert.  This time a fishing boat capsized in rough seas.  The two brothers went to the man’s rescue and brought him to shore along with his boat.

**********

Many years later on 18th September 1922, Tom was rowing a gentleman to a fishing ground to the east of Sandgate when an aeroplane nose dived into the sea a short distance from his boat. The pilot was picked out of the sea to safety and the aircraft later towed to shore.

During the 1920s and 30s Tom took part in several more rescues and it was recorded that he was instrumental in saving 40 lives during his lifetime.  It was in 1938, when he was over 70, that he took part in his last rescue.  Three anglers in a rough sea were rowing to try and beach at Sandgate Parade and were getting closer to the rocks.  With Leslie Catt, Tom launched his row boat “Grace Darling” and on reaching the exhausted men put a rope aboard and towed them to a safe beaching at Sandgate.

Thomas Moore passed away on 12th December 1947 at the age of 84.

Christine Bleach

Archive Team – October 2020

Source – The Story of Sandgate by Fred Moore

Front row Left to right, 4th is Tom Moore, 6th is Albert Moore, Tom’s brother

Fred Moore

These photographs and many more can be found under Archives on the Sandgate Society website.

# 6

ENCOMBE – SHORNCLIFFE-CANADA-LUSITANIA

THIS IS A TRUE STORY TOLD TO ME BY ROB PATERSON WHOM WE DID SOME RESEARCH FOR. HE LIVES IN CANADA.

In the fall of 1914, after war was declared, Sir Montagu Allan and his wife Marguerite, left their home ‘Ravenscrag’ in Montreal on a house hunting trip to England.  The plan was that his wife was to do Red Cross work in England during the war. They found Encombe a large house and estate in Sandgate, which was ideal for them. It was within walking distance of Shorncliffe, that was to become a central depot for the Canadians.  The plan would be that Montagu would spend the war largely in Canada, where he had vast business interests.  He controlled the Allan Line, the main shipping line that served Canada and also the Merchants bank, one of the largest banks in the Country.  Marguerite would bring her two youngest daughters to live with her in Sandgate.  Her eldest daughter Martha planned to nurse in the U.K. whilst her son Hugh was in his last year at Eton.

The family returned to Canada for Christmas and with much to prepare for, Marguerite waited until spring to return to England.  She booked the Regal Suite on the Lusitania, that would leave New York on May 1^st 1915.  Martha, had failed to get a place in the McGill hospital, she had no training, but she was not to be denied and left a week earlier aboard another ship.  Her brother Hugh had just left Eton and was waiting to meet them all.

There was a large party with Marguerite, her daughters Gwen and Anna aged 16 and 15 and included several friends and young people who had been put in her care for the journey.

The Lusitania was sunk on May 7^th, Marguerite and her two maids lived, (although she suffered a broken hip and collar bone), but sadly her two daughters didn’t survive.  A Mrs Stephens and her party who were with them all died including a young woman aged 24, Dorothy Braithwaite who was also lost.

Hugh and Martha got to Queenstown on May 8^th and on May 11^th took the ferry to England and we think went straight to Encombe.  A few days later the Number 3 hospital, The Mcgill, arrived from Montreal at Moore Barracks. (This was the hospital that John McCrae who wrote “In Flanders Fields” worked)

The 2^nd in Command is Montagu’s best friend Henry Yates. My bet is that Marguerite was looked after for a while by his staff.  Martha begs the command of the McGill to let her join them.  This time they agree and she leaves Encombe in June to go to France with the McGill.

Meanwhile Gwen’s body is found on May 18^th; Montagu is crossing from Canada; he and Hugh go to Queenstown to see her for the last time and then make their way to Encombe. It’s all a shambles, the Allans’ have lost all their clothes and are distraught.  Marguerite is in shock imagine her experience! Hugh is faced with a terrible dilemma, all his friends are on their way to the front, his two sisters are dead and with Martha gone, he chooses to look after his parents.  His mother slowly recovers and in 1915 he joins up but stays close to home and becomes an instructor, in Hythe.

The Christmas of 1915 at Encombe is a dramatic one, Henry Yates falls very ill in France and is sent back to England. He stays with the Allans, Martha who had never fitted in at the hospital was put in charge of the cafeteria, where she smoked, drank and played cards with the men. She was reassigned to Moore.  I think that they got rid of her and also ensured that Henry had care of her. My grandfather, Alec Paterson, their first cousin joined them all on his first leave, for that Christmas.  He had just survived the 2^nd Battle of Ypres. On Boxing day Henry collapsed and was taken to a hospital nearby, he died soon after. Martha was stricken with pneumonia and was bedridden for 5 months.  When she recovered, she had a decision to make, going back to McGill was a death sentence, the hospital was housed in tents!  Instead she went to France on her own and bought an ambulance and reconnected with an old lover from before the war.  Hugh struggled on at Encombe but becomes more frustrated by his role.

In 1916 Marguerite recovers and starts to get busy with her war work. Montagu does the same.  He launches the Canadian War Pensions; at some time in 1916 they leave Encombe and go back to London.  In the summer of 1917 Hugh joins the RNAS as a fighter pilot, he had once played Racquets for Eton. In July he is killed on his first mission. The Allans had lost 3 children, they bury themselves in work.  Marguerite finances, and sets up, a 140 bed hospital in Devon.  They do not fully return to Canada until 1921.  In 1942 Martha dies too, they give up ‘Ravenscrag’ as a gift to McGill and live on quietly in an apartment in Montreal having lost all their children and their wealth.

A copy of Rob Paterson’s book ‘Noblesse Oblige’ is kept in our collection at The Fire Station Sandgate.

Jill Partridge, Archivist

Lady Marguerite Allan

Sir Montagu Allan

# 5

Sandgate Reminiscences by Elizabeth Katy Evans (nee Jago)

This is an extract of a talk given to the Sandgate Society in 1981

I was born in Sandgate on 26^th July 1900 in Wilberforce Road, the second child and only daughter of George Jago (1870-1919) and his wife Kate (1873-1961) nee Gawler My three brothers – George, Jim and Tom were also born in Wilberforce Road and we lived there till 1906 when we moved to Number 1 Martello Cottages.

My grandparents had come to Sandgate in 1875. My Grandfather James Jago (1841-1900) had been in the Royal Navy from 13 years old, and after about 15 years had been transferred to the Coastguard Service.  While on duty in Queenstown (now Cobh) County Cork, he met and married a girl of 17 Elizabeth Ann Salter (1853-1917) on boxing day 1869.

My father was born about a year later in 1870 and they were then sent to England to a very isolated Coastguard station at Jury’s Gap, then onto Dungeness, also isolated and finally to Sandgate.  They found Sandgate Station very much to their liking, after the other two postings which had no other people around except the coastguards.  Dungerness had the Pilot Public House and a few fishing families although quite a way from them. Sandgate Station is now much bigger than it was then, having been extended in 1896.

When my grandfather finished his service. they set up home a couple of hundred yards away in Wilberforce Road.  He died in 1900 but the family lived there until just before the First World War when they moved to 1 Martello Terrace.

I started at Sandgate School at aged 4 and stayed there until I was 14, the school is still there although now an antique centre. It was a well- run school, strict discipline no homework but very good exam results. There were always celebrations in the Village for both Empire Day and May Day each year, with a May pole on the front lawn and flags and buntings everywhere with Britannia enthroned and all the kids dressed up to represent peoples of the Empire. This resulted in a great procession from the school, up to Radnor Cliff and Crescent   down the hill into Sandgate and onto Brewers Hill, no prizes no rewards but goodness me did everyone enjoy it.

At that time Sandgate was a self-contained small seaside resort with a railway station, lifeboat station, also a tramline, which was pulled by horses, which run for four miles by the sea. There were three Churches, each with a hall for entertainment, the Masonic hall, the Drill hall, Devonshire Rooms and Glennie Hall. We had every sort of shop you can imagine in the Village, including a drapers, several grocers, an ironmongers, a music shop several butchers three dairies and a barbers to name just a few! of course there were many public houses, and even a brewery.

The Alhambra Music hall, (which later became the Rex Cinema) was going great guns, it had big audiences of soldiers and people from Folkestone, the shows were good and there were two bars there and big names of music hall artists often came arriving from Sandgate Railway Station in a coach and four with horns blowing and actors riding horses it was a great time for the Village kids.  With Shorncliffe Camp a full garrison and as Sandgate was nearer to the camp than was Folkestone and there were no buses, it was well patronised by the troops seeking entertainment!

The officers were usually wealthy and although the most senior of them had army accommodation in the camp, the lesser ones had their wives and children in board residence places here in Sandgate, and they were very exclusive. Devonshire terrace for example had a private entry road and private beach and was strictly out of bounds to lesser mortals!

There were two large private estates which employed many Sandgate people.  Enbrook was the home of the Dowager Countess of Chichester for all my childhood.  She was especially interested in the church and the school and was very generous in opening her grounds for all kinds of functions connected with both of these.

 Encombe had several noble occupants who seemed to come and go and were not so much involved with Sandgate as was the Countess. Of course, Lord Radnor had his large residence on Radnor Cliff. Although not often there himself, his family of about seven young children lived there and took their daily walks into Sandgate.  Each child up to about six years old was pushed in a pram or pushchair, thus a procession of 5 Vehicles, each with a nurse or nursemaid in charge, was usually to be seen.  My brothers and I were always highly amused to see such big children treated like babies, but never dared show it!

There were many children living in Sandgate with many families having 10 or more children, especially in the Coastguard Cottages and in Wilberforce Road.  I spent a lot of time there as my Gran lived there. Every Good Friday there was a skipping race held with both mothers and children skipping up and down the road and other races taking place whilst the fathers all went to plant their new potatoes, my Dad always planted his seed potatoes on that day

While I am talking about the Coastguards, I should mention the wreck of the Benvenue.  This happened in 1891 and was the talk of Sandgate for many years.  I should say that my grandparents had many children 9 of whom grew to maturity. One of the youngest was my Aunt Janetta, later Mrs Hardy who was born in the Coastguard station on 24^th June 1870. She was 12 at the time of the wreck and I was brought up on tales told by her and my Gran, because my Grandad was a member of the Hythe Lifeboat crew who with other crews rescued those who survived from the ship, and were presented with a ‘Benvenue’ medal for their efforts.

Sandgate has seen a lot of changes, the old Chapel in Wilberforce Road is still there, with Garden Cottages and Blenheim House and with Balcot on the corner. On up the Crescent there was nothing on the right just a field that went right from the road onto the back of the houses on the High Street, from there you  could look  down on the Village below.

The Fire Station in the early days housed the engine in the lower part of the building, while the horses were kept in stables up in Wilberforce Road. The bell of course was over the Library and when that rang there was a great rushing about because the firemen were all local workman and they would all gather round;  what with the bell clanging and the horses and engine on the go it caused great excitement especially as we didn’t have many fires then.

I look back on my childhood growing up in Sandgate as a very happy time, in spite of the fact that my father was often ill and unable to work, my mother did all sorts of work to keep the family and took care of us four children, who all took it in turn to do jobs around the house, we were indeed a happy family.

This extract was submitted by Jill Partridge as Mrs Evans was my Auntie Dolly

#4

SANDGATE – SHIPBUILDING – SHIPWRECKS

Sandgate was first noted as Sandy Gate in the 13^th Century as a Guard post, but it’s history really began in 1539 when Henry the eighth built the Castle as one of a chain of defences along with Walmer-Deal-Sandown and Camber to defend the coast from the Spanish.

The accounts for the building of the Castle are held in the British Museum and show that it was built mainly using the stone from demolished Priories, particularly from St. Radigunds in Dover. In addition, they used 147,000 bricks, the total cost was £5544.  It was never attacked except by the sea which has done a great deal of damage to it over the centuries. Elizabeth 1 visited on 25^th August 1573.

An estate map of 1697, shows an empty stretch of coast, and inland part of the estate of Lord Radnor.  In 1773, Fabian Clayton Wilson, a shipbuilder, acquired the lease of the beach and land behind it from the Radnor estate.  He built 30 weather boarded cottages at the bottom of Sandgate Hill for his workers. Some of these still exist as private dwellings.  He was soon followed by 3 other shipbuilders along the beach.

Wilson built 2×28 gun frigates and 1×16 gun frigate.

Steward and Hall built 2×28 gun frigates.  One of these, The Dido, is depicted in a painting in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich showing it in battle off Minorca in 1795.

Phineus Jacobs built 1×28 gun and 1×16 gun frigate.

Colledge built 3×16 gun frigates.

All were built on the beach and fully manned before launch.  They also built fishing boats and trade lasted about 100 years.

The boat building history of Sandgate ended in the 1930s when Dick Graves was building rowing boats in a shed at the eastern end of the Riviera.

Not only were ships built in Sandgate, but a number of notable shipwrecks occurred along its coast.

On the 31^st May 1878, the German warship GROSSER KURFURST was sunk following collision with her sister ship the KONIG WILHELM. Members of the Folkestone fishing fleet went to their aid; 85 crew were saved, 3 dying later of exhaustion, 276 perished, including 7 officers.  The massed grave of the victims is marked by a grey stone obelisk, set aside from other memorials in Folkestone Cemetery. The names on it were desecrated due to anti German sentiments in WW1, now it only records the incident.

In 1825 The Lady of Calcutta, and East Indiaman sank with the loss of all 790 on board.

In 1891, the 2000ton, fully rigged Benvenue was caught in mountainous seas and an 80mph gale.  She broke away from the tug and sank 450 yards off Wellington Terrace.  Twenty- seven crew climbed into the rigging and attempts to launch the Lifeboat were unsuccessful.  It was taken to Hythe to use the tidal current, but it capsized and a young crew member Charles Fagg was washed overboard and drowned.  Due to the 80 mph winds, attempts to launch were abandoned; 17 rockets were fired in an attempt to get a rope over to her.  About 8.00pm the storm abated and the lifeboat was launched.  The 27 crew had spent 15 hours in the rigging through one of the worst storms of the 19^th century.  The rest of the crew perished.  The master, Captain Modrel is buried in St Martin’s churchyard in Cheriton.

An interesting history for such a small place!

All information taken from our Archive Collection

#3

SGT. ALBERT JOHN MOORE R.G.A

Sgt A J Moore, his picture below, and this small but intriguing newspaper article about him was discovered just recently in the Ist Kent Artillery Volunteer Corps record book which can be found in the Archives on this website.

This newspaper article tells us that Sgt Moore of the Royal Garrison Artillery has been awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery on the field.  He is the husband of Mrs R A Moore and son of Mr and Mrs Alfred Moore of 6 Granville Road, Sandgate and before the outbreak of war was in the Territorial Artillery.

Naturally the archive team wanted to know more about this gentleman, his family, his life and, of course, his bravery award.

Family Background

The 1911 Census tells us that Albert John Moore is single, aged 20 and a labourer.  He is living with his mother Agnes Moore (42) and his father Albert Moore (43), his brother Thomas James (15) and his uncle Stephen Moore (45) in the same dwelling (but no address listed) in Sandgate.

His mother Agnes had five children but sadly only two survived ie Albert John and Thomas James. His father is a Mariner and his brother Thomas James is a Baker.  Uncle Stephen Moore, brother of Albert Moore senior, is a widower and also a Mariner.  All five of the family were born in Sandgate.

Going back another ten years, the 1901 Census states that his father Albert Moore and family are living at 6 Kirby Cottages, Sandgate.  Albert is 33 and his occupation is a lamp lighter.  Born in Sandgate.

His wife Agnes is 32 years of age and according to this census was born in Malta not Sandgate as per 1911 census.  As well as Albert John who is 10 years old and his brother Thomas (5) there is also a sister listed on this census called Amelia aged 8.

Further back in time we find in 1871 the Moore family are living in Sandgate where find Albert John’s grandparents.  The 1871 Census tells us that his grandparents are Thomas Moore (32) occupation a Fruiterer born in Faversham and his wife is Harriette who was born in Tonbridge.

The family are living in Sandgate but no address is listed.  They appear to be between the Fleur-de-Lis public house and Sydney House.  However, in 1881 their address is listed as 25 Broadway and in 1891 as 25 High Street.

Baptism Register – St Paul’s Church – Sandgate 1867

The baptism register is dated December 1867.  This document tells us again that Albert John’s grandparents are Thomas and Harriette Moore. Two of their sons are baptised on 11 December 1867 and they are Albert and Stephen ie the father and uncle of Albert John and his grandfather Thomas Moore is listed as a Greengrocer.

Further research into Albert John’s ancestors will probably take us out of Sandgate as Thomas and Harriette come from other parts of Kent.

So having discovered a little about his family background we continue with his military service during WW1 and the Military Medal awarded to Albert John.   The following newspaper feature has been discovered.

Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald

16 November 1918

We find Albert John Moore mentioned in more detail in the Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald newspaper, with the title Military Medal Winner.

Army Service of Sergeant Albert John Moore

Service number 138857

Albert’s army service commenced in 1914 and ended in 1920 when he was 30 years of age.  His regiment was the Royal Garrison Artillery and his rank was Sergeant.  He was awarded the Britain, Campaign, Gallantry and Long Service Medals and Awards.

The Military Medal for bravery was awarded for the 200th Siege by the R.G.A.

The Military Medal (MM) was awarded to warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and other ranks for gallantry in action against the enemy. It ranked below the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Later in life the 1939 Register tells us that Albert was born on 17 November 1890 and was a General Labourer.  He would have been 49 in 1939.  His wife was called Rosa and she was born on 2 February 1880 and her occupation is listed as Unpaid Domestic Duties.  They were living at 28 Park Road, Folkestone, Kent.  Three persons were in the household but third person’s name is not disclosed.

Rosa (Rosa Agnes nee Empson) was ten years older than Albert and they had married in 1915 but sadly Albert died towards the end of 1940, aged just 49 years.  

Sergeant Albert John Moore is to be remembered for his bravery during WW1.

End

Christine Bleach

Archive Team 2020

#2

EARLY MEMORIES OF TOM JAGO OF SANDGATE

I was born on 15^th January 1937 at No. 1 Martello Cottages the home of my grandmother, Kate Jago, I was the second son of Thomas and Florence Jago, grandson of George Jago and great grandson of James Jago a Coastguard who settled in Sandgate on his retirement. My elder brother James was born in 1935.

In 1939, we were living at No 1 Halls Cottages in Wilberforce Road. It was here that I had my first memory. Our house was tucked away behind the houses lining Wilberforce Road the access being through a tunnel under the houses facing Gouge’s shop. Through the tunnel up three steps, past no 2 Halls Cottages, then to our house; snuggled up against a six feet highwall, with the trees of the Encombe Estate overlooking us.  We had two bedrooms upstairs and two rooms down, the ‘front room’ and the living room. Each of the downstairs rooms had a fireplace and a single gas lamp. Off the living room, was an extension, ‘the Kitchen’. It had a gas stove and a copper boiler concealed in a brick construction with a built-in fireplace.  Along the back wall was an old bath with a board top over it to make a work surface.  A door led out into the garden, and a sink next to it had a window over it.  Over the sink was a cold water tap outside, round the corner was a toilet and coal shed, (toilet paper was courtesy of the Daily Express!)

The garden was large enough to have a vegetable patch and a few flowers and was separated from the garden next door, (the Spooner’s house) by a low brick wall. My first clear memory is of when my brother Michael was born on 5^th March 1939.  I was just two years and two months old.  A bed had been set up for my mother in the ‘downstairs front room’. We had visitors to view the new baby, and I distinctly remember a cousin telling me that my mother was breast feeding the baby with milk, but from the other breast he could drink chocolate!

War was declared on 3^rd September 1939. We were gathered in the living room listening to the announcement on the wireless set, and I was sitting on my father’s knee.  Even I could tell that this was very serious, and we were not allowed to talk.  Our wireless set was connected to a long aerial wire which ran out in the garden.  It was powered by a large lead acid battery which had to be regularly taken to a shop in the high street to be re-charged for a fee

When war broke out, my father was working for the Corporation as a driver, I can remember him driving a dust cart, and later a gully sucker, which was used to clear out drains.  He also had a license to drive buses and coaches.

The house was prepared for war, and black-out screens were made up. My parents had decided that rather than be separated, we would all stay together as a family.  All non-essential residents and most other children were evacuated.  We were allocated an Anderson air raid shelter, which was assembled in the garden and partially buried, the excavated earth being piled on top.  My father built a chicken run, and we had six Rhode Island Reds, which supplied us with additional food throughout the war.  Even that was controlled and a form had to be filled in each day with the number of eggs produced.  My father worked during the day, and became an Air Raid Warden by night, spending many hours on standby in their headquarters in the yard behind the Post Office. I believe this was Corporation property.  I remember visiting once and remember a room full of camp beds, probably in the Crescent?  There was another further up the village.

In 1940, the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk took place and thousands passed through Folkestone harbour onto trains and lorries.  My uncle (Bill Evans) was missing and we, as a family, searched among the troops for new of him.  The troops were clearly delighted to be back in England and we children were plied with French coins and notes as souvenirs.  Bill eventually arrived back safely.

The Battle of Britain, as it became known, followed soon after and we spent much time in our shelter.  A large concrete shelter was built on the corner opposite Gouge’s shop but I never saw anyone use it, except for us kids, who tried to steal the light bulbs!

One day we were in our shelter as a fierce air battle took place low overhead. My father lifted Jim and I up to the entrance to see what was happening.  I remember vividly the blue sky, with aircraft buzzing around with engines screaming and guns chattering.  Directly overhead an aircraft was flying along in a huge fireball, with sparks, flames and black smoke spurting from it.  Not far from us a pilot was descending under a white parachute.

A we grew older we were out and about more. Sandgate was our playground! We could not get access to the Parade or sea front because of barbed wire. 

Anti-Aircraft guns were located on the Parade, and when firing, pieces of shrapnel would rain down onto houses and streets.  One Sunday morning Jim and I set off as usual to attend Sunday School at the church. As we passed the Congregational church, a German aircraft flew over very low overhead and there was a terrific explosion.  We dived into the nearest shop doorway, (either the newsagents or the dairy). Guns were blazing away and shrapnel rained down.  We stayed put and in a very short time our father came sprinting along the road to look for us. The bomb had landed behind the church blowing all the windows out.  Five minutes later and we would have been in the church!  A piece of shrapnel had landed on the road near to us and I picked it up, it was still so hot it burnt my fingers! It later joined our collection which was kept in a box in our garden.

On another occasion, us boys sat on a wall near the coastguard cottages where we had a view across the barbed wire to the sea.  A convey of ships was being shelled by the big guns located near Calais.  These guns also fired shells at Folkestone, causing extensive damage, but none ever landed in Sandgate and amazingly, I cannot remember any serious damage from shelling or bombing in the village, apart from the bomb behind the church.  One shell hit the Harvey Grammar School in Folkestone and I remember a photography showing a gaping hole in the front façade.  One could still see the different coloured bricks used to repair it when I joined the school in 1948.

I should have started primary school in 1942, but it was still closed.  It opened again in 1944 as the evacuated children started to return.  There were two playgrounds and entrances at the rear, for boys and girls, also separate toilets.  Concrete air raid shelters were built up against the rear wall of the school and were often used.  In our classroom, there was an iron stove in the centre of the room, and small bottles of milk would be placed around it, to warm or perhaps to defreeze in winter!  They would sometimes boil over if not watched closely. Many children were supplied with cod live oil in tins to supplement their diet at home. Behind the school, in a house in the Lower road (Castle Glen?) Polish refugees lived and worked, they often gave us Polish stamps for our collection, any of which were used to boost my collection.

American troops were stationed nearby before the invasion, and their bit trucks often rumbled through the village.  Much of their laundry was delivered to the laundry in Wilberforce Road, and we often chatted with the soldiers, who would supply sweets and gum.  There was also Canadians at one stage, and my Mother and Father sometimes welcomed them into the house for drinks and a bit of home comfort. 

After the invasion of France, much of the barbed wire was removed and on occasion, parties of soldiers were allowed onto the beach for swimming.  We were allowed to join them. There were guards armed with BREN guns, keeping watch on the skies for trouble.  Each summer we as a family would spend two weeks at a hop farm in Chilham. Hops were picked and moved into the oast houses for drying before going to the brewers to make beer. Hop picking attracted many families down from London, allowing them weeks away from the city, whilst providing paid work.  We would be transported to the farm in Bert Foord’s lorry, driven by my father. Accommodation was one room in a long row of wooden huts, each one to a family. It was basic, with half the area given over to a wooden platform for a central brick built kitchen, which was shared by all the families.  The fires were fuelled by faggots of dry wood, supplied by the farm. Water was distributed daily from a water tank drawn by a tractor. Working in the fields one would pull down the vines and strip them of hops, which went into collecting baskets.  These were collected by the farmer and the family would be credited with the going rate.  We kids helped out at times but also spent many happy hours playing in the woods and the river running through the site.  We chased crayfish and minnows, using an old sack as a net.  One day we scared ourselves silly when we netted a very wriggly eel which we were convinced was a poisonous snake! Whilst hop picking in 1944 we were amazed to witness an armada of aircraft flying over, towing gliders.  We had no idea what was happening, but it turned out to be the troops on their way to Arnhem in Holland, for the disastrous attack on the famous bridge there.

Sometime toward the end of the war, a group of us boys were down the side of the Rex cinema, it was high tide and the sea was beating up against the rear wall of the cinema, which was port of the sea wall. We were watching a floating sea mine, actually bashing against the wall of the cinema! We knew these things were dangerous but thought we were safe hiding behind the wall and peeping round the corner! Certainly it was our lucky day, as if it had exploded it would have flattened the cinema and half of Sandgate including us! Later it was towed out to sea and safely detonated.

1944 was also the year of the Doodlebugs or flying bombs.  We were directly in their path as they headed for London. On one occasion we watched a bomber that had obviously been hit and was off course heading for Folkestone.  A fighter was close behind firing its guns but It suddenly exploded and the fighter disappeared into the smoke and flame.  I never found out if the plot survived.  We often found debris from shot down Doodlebugs.  In fact, a very large piece of one was stuck up in the branches of a tree near Encombe House.  After the war, a map of Dungeness bay was published by a national newspaper showing the location of all of the flying bombs known to have been shot down. The seabed off Sandgate and Hythe must have been a proper scrap yard.

After the war finished, we had a street party in Wilberforce Road with everyone taking part. Tables were set up along the street.  Bunting was hung from house to house children were plied with food, and adults rolled out the barrel(s).

Soon after, we were taken on a paddle steamer (possibly the ‘Maid of Kent’ or Maid of Thanet) from Folkestone or Dover on a trip across the Channel to Calais and Dunkirk to view the wreckage of war.  We also passed close to a number of anchored German ships or submarines that had surrendered.  The German crews were still on board, standing around on deck, watching us.  Our ship was packed with sightseers, many of whom suffered from seasickness as it was quite choppy out in the channel.

Our air raid shelter, long unused was finally dismantled and went for scrap. Memories remained of cold dark nights and puddles of water which always lay on the earth floor, and even of the cat that had crawled into the shelter to die, and was not found for weeks! The remaining hole was partially filled with junk, including an old bicycle, and covered with earth.  Our shrapnel collection, no longer of interest was despatched into the woods behind the house using or catapults. (That may be of interest to future metal detectorists).

Soon, we survivors will also be gone, but perhaps these notes will be of interest to future Sandgate residents.  It is fervently hoped however that they never have to experience what took place here in the early 1940’s.

Tom Jago

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THE AMAZING LIFE OF JAMES FIELD

This is an interesting tale, about a gentleman named James Field, who ended up, owning a considerable chunk of Sandgate.  He acquired the land from Lord Radnor in 1839. Along with Henry Dawkins of Encombe and Lord Darnley of the Enbrook Estate. Field could be said to be the third largest landowner, until his death in 1888. Field became entangled with the Royal Board of Ordnance whose presence was everywhere in Sandgate.

His name features high in most of the local charity lists of the time and here is the extent of his domain which we know today as Castle Road and the Riviera.

Field was born in 1800, he was a competent London architect, in 1833 the Governors of the ancient grammar school of St Olaves had elected him surveyor, and he planned the layout and modernisation of the school in the Tudor style similar to Cardinal Wolsey’s at Hampton Court.  He was obviously an early proponent of central heating recommending that the school be heated by hot water instead of stoves.

 Two new wings for St Thomas’ Hospital were among other notable commissions that came his way. However, in 1850, his design for some city corporation failed in competition.  In disgust he decided to emigrate with his wife Elizabeth and two sons aboard the ‘Canterbury’ in 1851 to New Zealand

On the strength that he was a farmer of Sandgate, Kent whose farm overlooked the chalk cliffs of Dover, he was awarded a Government land grant, of eight cattle runs, of 50 acres each, also other building land in Christchurch, in the Provence of Canterbury New Zealand – (hence Canterbury Cottage).

His first will was made in 1858, before embarking on the long and hazardous return journey to England.  His last Will of 1887 describes him as of Christchurch New Zealand, but late of Audley Cottage, Castle Road, Sandgate.

The Hermitage, deceptively Tudor in style, has always been the subject of speculation.  I can now establish that it stands on the site of an earlier house built by Fabian Clayton Wilson, the shipbuilder, who left Sandgate around 1813 when shipbuilding was on the decline. One can guess that there was a good supply of surplus or abandoned ragstone nearby and Field, who rather favoured Tudor, decided to blend with the Castle.

In 1846, it was clear that the sea was making inroads, and the Board of Ordnance were concerned wanting to protect the foundations of Sandgate Castle by the only possible means of laying down groynes in front.  It was also one of Field’s main concerns to keep the sea from his property.  But as is usual in Sandgate with all its rights of way, encroachments and boundary disputes, there had been a bit of a mix up as to who owned what!

In 1845, we find his brother Benjamin, a barrister of Lincoln’s Inn,  writing to the Board of Ordnance….’Mr James Field in the assured belief that property was his up to the Castle has built a substantial brick wall along the whole line fronting the sea; he would be greatly disappointed to find that he had not title to the piece of ground mentioned’

It was NO GO. The Ordnance Store keeper at Dover finally unearthed the original lease of 1798 from Lord Radnor to Fabian Clayton Wilson who subsequently assigned the remainder of his 45year lease to the Board of Ordnance.  From this it was clear that land to the westward of the Hermitage was waste or beachy ground belonging to Lord Radnor!

No wonder Field was concerned to mark his territory! Here we have evidence of a ragstone wall between Castle Glen and 20 Castle Road (later known as Arnold House) asserting his ownership.   A photo of which we have on our website. A more eroded sign is sealed in the wall between No 20 and No 18, and who knows there may be more to discover?

Taken from documents in our Archive