Paddock Wood, Greetings From The Kentish Hop Fields c.1955

Photo ref: P220025

while hop picking with my parents at a farm in paddock wood in the early 1950s i was badley burnt when a petrol stove exploded farm name not rememberd spent 6 months in the burns unit at a hospital in east grinstead i wonder if anybody remembers this event roy furze

I remember visiting the mill many years ago as my mother had an uncle who worked there, and often went into the house on the right which then was the mill´s offices. Everyone used to buy Viv Wood's fish and chips wrapped up in newspaper, they were really delicious. I was at school with Margaret the daughter, and we used to tease her, saying she always smelled of fish and chips. (childish ...see more

I remember going to Wood's Fish & Chip shop on our way home from Mascalls School and getting 4d (old pennies) of chips and eating them whilst walking to catch the train to Marden. Does anyone know where the Piggery was behind Mascalls?? I think it was in Chantlers Hill and may have been owned by the Smitherman's. I often walk round that lane but cannot find it. I seem to remember the waste from the school dinners was collected by them.

Not sure how long I went with my grandparents, then when they passed away my parents, but I was born in 1941 and I know we were still going there until we migrated to Australia in 1961. We 'lived' in the first hut on the right as we walked over a small bridge onto the common, double storey, and mattresses of straw which I think was provided to fill the 'ticks'. I can remember 'The Brown Brothers', jumping into ...see more