Following in the footsteps of HSBC and Lloyds banks, Barclays Bank is closing its doors for the last time on 15th October 2021 leaving NatWest as the remaining clearing bank in Rainham. The building housing Barclays bank was sold in 2016 and rented back to them so it's unclear what will happen to it now. Barclays Bank in Gillingham closed in 2016 and old photos of that can be seen here: Barclays Bank Gillingham History & Old Photos

The London and Provincial Bank Ltd opened a Rainham branch as a sub agency to Chatham in July 1899. The bank mainly catered for small tradesmen and private customers with limited means, and confined its attention to the London suburbs, South Wales and the Eastern Counties, it was not until 1891 that a branch was opened at a leading commercial centre outside the London area, in Bristol. In 1917 the bank amalgamated with one of its formidable rivals, the London and South Western Bank, to form The London, Provincial and South Western Bank which subsequently merged with Barclays in 1918.

It was not until 1902 that Rainham acquired its own premises originally based in one of the shops next to the Post Office. The London and Provincial Board minutes of 14th October 1902 state that the Branch manager had written to the Board, on the 10th October 1902, suggesting the purchase of a site for the building of branch premises. “Rainham. Premises. With reference to Board minutes of 14th inst. Letter of 20th from Mr Long (Inspector) concurring in Branch Manager's recommendation that the freehold property at corner of High Street and Station Road be purchased for £475, but that the question of building there on, be allowed to stand for the present to be purchased.”

 Photo above of the location of the first Barclays Bank branch in Rainham which would have been the premises between the shops with canopies extended. 

The changes in Rainham branch's premises are recorded in the Barclays Schedule of Title Deeds. This shows that the branch was originally located at “Myrtle Cottage”, High Street opposite what is now JCB Citroen. The London and Provincial Bank obtained the land adjacent to this building in 1902, presumably because they were occupying the building. In 1913 a tenancy was granted to the London and Provincial Bank for 14 years at a rent of £30 per annum and in 1926 this tenancy was renewed at £42 per annum.

In July 1938 Barclays Bank at Rainham moved to new purpose built premises 89-93 High Street on the corner of Station Road where it has remained since. Originally 89-91 High Street was rented out to other businesses (shown in the cover photo as Mattocks Sweet shop in the 1950s) but these became part of the bank itself in the late 1960s. The Coronation clock was attached to the wall in 1953 so the photo above from the 1940s was taken prior to that happening.

Interior photo of Barclays Bank Rainham taken on 24th June 1967

The church school was adjacent to Barclays bank on Station Road before Rainham Shopping centre was built and you can just see the edge of it in the photo.

There have been other minor changes to the building over the years with the entrance being moved further to the left and the cash machine that was in the wall on the corner of Station Road moved to the far left of the bank building on High Street in the mid 2000s. You can also see the differences in the Barclays Bank signs in the various photos over the years.

Below: Barclays Bank Rainham in 2001

Below: Barclays Bank Rainham in 2001

 Below: Barclays Bank Rainham in 2003

History Articles

When the Manor Farm pub were redeveloping their car park to build the Premier Inn hotel in 2010 the site was subject to an archaeological survey to check for any historic remains as it is so close to the A2. This investigation brought up various finds including Iron age and Roman pottery as well as an Air Raid shelter dating to the Second World War that was built for the staff of the Gas Showrooms. This would have been to the right of the photo below.

The area has been settled for thousands of years as the main route from the coast to the north of the country and these finds help give some context to the people who lived or travelled through the area.

The development of Churchill Retirement complex on the site of 5 bungalows on the A2 adjacent to the Manor Farm pub has given more opportunity for archaeologists to investigate the area. According to an interview with them this week significant Iron age discoveries have been made, in particular salt pits.

With the A2 being the main Roman Road to London (Watling Street) there have been significant finds in the area including recent discoveries of a Roman Temple in Newington close to the A2 and Roman Villas in Hartlip.

History Articles

During the construction of the Churchill Retirement living housing project on the A2 various remains have been found that date habitation of the area back to the early Iron Age, some 3000 years ago. Sandy Fleming from Rainham News visited the site to find out more

Watch her YouTube video on the discoveries here

Churchill Retirement Living statement re Rainham archaeology dig – November 2021

“Our site in Rainham is of historic interest due to its location, so having liaised with the relevant authorities we brought in a team of professional archaeologists and temporarily paused work on the site while they carry out their important work. We are pleased to be supporting this project and very interested to see what the team discovers.”

History Articles

The Cricketers pub is situated in the heart of Rainham on the A2 High Street, next to the church and opposite Station Road. These photos of the Cricketers Pub in Rainham were taken in 1901, 1950, 1972, in 2001 and 2014. It was the terminus for the trams from Chatham and Rochester when they came to Rainham in 1906. The first photo is prior to the tram lines being built and was taken around 1901.

Cricketers pub in 1901. (photo thanks to Nick Knell)

The pub sign shows P.A Schurig as the landlord at this time and the name is The Cricketers Commercial Inn. Note how the pub is much further forward than the current building, this was demolished in the 1930s and rebuilt. Another sign to the left of the pub says Bowling Green and Tea Gardens. It is advertising London Porter, Dark Stout. The shop further down the High Street is advertising Reckitts Blue.

Cricketers in 1906

This photo shows the first tram to come to Rainham in 1906 outside the pub where they terminated. There are now steps and a railing outside the Cricketers which suggests the road level was slightly reduced when the tram lines were added as the door was at street level. There are now pavements on both roads of the road unlike in 1901. The pub sign has changed to read Cricketers Inn and Tourists Hotel.  There is a sign for the Theatre Royal in Chatham on the wall opposite and the tram shown is from Chatham Town Hall to Rainham.

Rainham Cricketers Pub in 1950s with church in background. You can also see the belisha beacon crossing rather than traffic lights outside the pub

 Cricketers Pub around 1972.

Very little changes from 1950s in this photo but the area around would have looked more different.

Cricketers Rainham in 2001

The junction is now controlled by traffic lights and there are tables to the front of the pub.

Cricketers in 2014

History Articles

Over the centuries many Upchurch residents have become well-known within the village, and a few have gained fame farther afield.

The King’s Carpenter

Hugh Herland became the first recorded Upchurch resident to gain widespread fame. Living in Upchurch from 1378 to 1391 he became chief carpenter to Richard II and designer of the hammer-beam roof of Westminster Hall, the largest medieval timber roof in Northern Europe. Considered a masterpiece, this became his greatest achievement. He also completed work at Rochester, Leeds and Winchester castles, the Tower of London, Canterbury Cathedral and the tomb of Edward III’s wife, Philippa of Hainault, in Westminster Abbey. Herland initially worked with his father William, also the king’s carpenter, but on September 28th, 1370 the king rewarded Hugh with ‘pesage of wools’ in Queenborough (which established him as a member of the merchant class) and also with a tenement in the City of London. Herland’s wife Joan also came from Upchurch but the couple eventually moved to Kingston in Surrey. Herland died in 1405 but a stained glass window featuring him exists at Winchester College Chapel.

The Crackerbarrel Actor

Actor, James Robertson Justice lived in Greylag, Ham Green during part of WW2 after getting wounded. A big man with a beard and a booming well-spoken voice, he was also highly-educated, with two doctorates. Being interested in nature and a keen ornithologist, Justice soon settled and was often accompanied by naturalist and wildlife TV presenter, Sir Peter Scott as he ventured onto the saltings for bird watching. He drank in The Crown, where he was considered an extrovert and always had an audience. He periodically walked around the peninsula dressed in a kilt playing the bagpipes, bathed naked in the river with lady friends from London and openly bathed in a tin bath in his garden. The village children called him ‘Crackerbarrel’ because he appeared in media advertising said cheese. However, he got into trouble with Sittingbourne Magistrate’s Court for breaking blackout law.

Village gossip said he was a German spy after a torch was spotted flicking on and off from the bedroom window of Greylag at night and Justice received a caution. After Upchurch, he gained fame as an actor in the popular ’Doctor in’ films. He also appeared in other films: Moby Dick, Scott of the Antarctic, The Guns of Navarone and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Justice taught Prince Charles falconry whilst living in Scotland becoming a personal friend of Prince Philip. He was also rector of Edinburgh University and stood as a Labour candidate for North Angus and Mairns in the 1950 General Election.

A blue plaque bearing his name is attached to the front wall of Greylag at Ham Green in memory of him. 

David Wood

History Articles

Woodside has always been a very busy road. In 1912/1914 land was sold off in plots of 200ft x 40ft costing £25 per plot and the road "made up" in 1925/1926 by Milton Parish Council.

Photo below taken in 1946 of Cheryl Domoney in the front garden of 28 Woodside looking into the street and houses opposite, numbers 29 Woodside (semi-detached house) and 31 Woodside (Bungalow).

The corner house at Hoath Lane was originally a stopping-off tea place for townpeople coming to their country plots. It later became a green- grocers. Opposite, was waste ground before the Spyglass was built in the ‘30s, and a few doors down a tennis court where players could also get icecream. Fruit trees covered most land along to Bredhurst Road and on that corner 'old iron' was collected for the war effort. Opposite was a house called The Parsonage, where the Priest-in-Charge of the Mission Hall lived. On the west corner of Springvale a small building sold fresh fish, later becoming Beale’s butcher's. We had a resident policeman and his family living on the south side of Woodside. The Smallholders Club, a well -known institution, was originally for exchanging or selling home-grown produce, hence the name. The first building was a tin shed, before Springvale was developed. 

The Post Office, another well-known place since the early ‘30s, also sold petrol and paraffin oil. It was small but had all sorts of pots and pans hanging from the ceiling. Sweets in glass jars were ready to be weighed up - "An a'peth of those, please" (an a'peth was a halfpenny, pre-decimal). Some bought a farthing’s worth (quarter of an old penny)! It was always busy and friendly, as it is today. Along a little further, a footpath stretched from Woodside to Durham Road known as 'the six foot pathway' - said to be six foot wide… and very muddy! Opposite the Post Office was St Matthews, originally built as Wigmore Mission Hall in 1925. It’s beautiful sanctuary in dark oak opened up on Sundays to become the church. This was modernised with lighter-coloured wood around 1935-1937 (the carpenter lived in Springvale), but with a growing population it was necessary to extend out front in ‘52. Now the Howard Memorial Hall, it is the Lodge of the Masons and St Matthews
relocated to Drewery Drive. 

Towards the Queen's Head, north side, a family opened up their front room as a general store and a little further along was a nursery full of produce in greenhouses, the owner living in Maidstone Road. On Woodside's south side, where the Osteopathic clinic now is, the front room held a Haberdashery, somewhere I loved and the next door garden was full of daffodils every year. The site of the Queen's Head was another patch of waste land, opposite was a shop which became Tarry's and there was a red telephone box at either end of Woodside. I have lived here for 93 years. In my younger days there weren’t many residents but everybody knew everybody. Modern Woodside is so different but we have a, much needed, pedestrian crossing thanks to our Mayor. 

Let us know what I have missed out!

History Articles

It was first suggested that a railway service be provided for Kent in 1824 - a prospectus was drawn up and accepted in 1825. The topic was raised in 1832, again in 1835, and in 1836 the South Eastern Railways Act was passed. However there were already short distance railways operating - the Whitstable Canterbury being the nearest to this district. The South Eastern Railway when it eventually appeared had government blessing - a point which must have weighed heavily in its favour when engaged in battle with rival companies. One of the first to be merged was the Thames & Medway Canal & Gravesend & Rochester Railway in 1849. Chief rivals were the East Kent, which became the London, Chatham & Dover Railway operating from Victoria and the South East & Chatham Railway out of Charing Cross. A main line to Rochester started at Fenchurch Street and proceeded by Tilbury, the ferry and Gravesend.

Below: Rainham station in the late 1800s, probably around 1890

The line from Chatham to Faversham was opened in January 1858 (the link from Chatham to Strood opened in March). With the extension to Faversham came the stations at New Brompton (Gillingham) and Rainham Newington. In 1862 Newington got its own station. One comment at the time the railway opened up in Kent was that 'all the parishes became very populous and places which were once quite rural are now covered with houses for the toilers of the metropolis'. Transport was now cheap and easy enough to be available to the ordinary people, and thus was born that section of the population known as commuters.

 In 1858 it was only a single track but fortunately the Chatham and Gillingham tunnels had been built sufficiently wide to allow a double track later without the need for major rebuilding. The three major companies all had bridges over the Medway at various times and it was not until 1927 that the re-alignment of the track made the South Eastern bridge the sole survivor.

There had been suggestions to close Rochester and Chatham stations in the interests of economy much to the delight of Gillingham Council who saw a very rosy future for New Brompton. It would have been almost impossible anyway since Chatham was a major station and the only way to Rainham involved changing at Chatham. June 1899 saw the amalgamation of the three major railways into the Southern Railway - which it remained until 1948. One attraction in 1899 was the Continental service out of Victoria via Queenborough to Flushing.

Below: Rainham station in 1966, notice how little has changed from the 1890s which was the original station building from 1858. 

In 1944 a flying bomb fell on a bridge between Rainham and Newington - just twenty yards in front of the Victoria train, killing eight and injuring sixteen passengers. After British Rail took over in 1948 the suggestion was made that Rainham station be renamed 'Gillingham East'. This caused such an outcry that the idea was quietly dropped in much the same way that the Premier Inn on Maidstone Road was originally proposed as Gillingham East. Then in 1958 the first electric train ran to Rainham. There was no ceremony - it was one of five pilot runs and the only passengers were electricians and engineers.

The above photo was taken in October 1966 prior to the rebuilding of the station in 1968 which was now carrying more than 2,000 commuters each day as Rainham expanded. This building lasted much less time than the original and was redeveloped again in 1990 to the current building. The most recent expansion was the additional of platform 0 in 2015 that enables Thameslink trains to start from Rainham.

Below: Rainham station in 1980

Below: Rainham station 1987 during the snow

History Articles

These photos show the maps and promotion for what was called the Rainham Park development which was part of Parkwood overall plan. This consisted of the roads opposite Durham Road off Maidstone Road Rainham and linked up with Lonsdale Drive when that was constructed. Kenilworth Drive, Lonsdale Drive, Tanker Hill, Sunningdale Drive were amongst the roads as part of this development. This promotional leaflet for Rainham Park was approximately 1965 before most of the development had begun. At the time there was no road connecting the ends of Broadview Avenue, Herbert Road or Arthur Road which were part of the Broadview Garden estate. Read here about Building the Broadview Garden Estate inc Herbert/Arthur Road

Interestingly the road layouts pictured were actually different when built. Lonsdale didn't end opposite Asquith Road but joined the stump road shown between Woodside and Asquith Road which is now Deanwood Drive and ran more parallel to Mierscourt before it connected. 

Many thanks to Craig Blum for providing these scans as well as the Rainham Park house brochures.

History Articles

RAINHAM’S CORONATION CELEBRATIONS - Part 1 from March 2002 Action Forum 

Many editors, both national and local, have  commented upon the apparent apathy by our people  toward celebrating the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and I  have been comparing this with the coronation celebrations in Rainham in 1953. First I tried to  remember how we lived at that time and I was  surprised at the changes which have occurred.  The population of Rainham was around 10,000,  probably only a quarter of that now and six years  before we had emerged from a damaging and  exhausting war. Certain foods and particularly  building materials were still rationed and licences had  to be obtained even for new wood to carry out  repairs. There were no mobile phones and only a low  percentage of residents had static telephones, most of  which were shared lines. The main means of  communication was still by mail. Council house  building was increasing but licences for individual  private development were very limited, there was no  estate building but a three bedroom pre war house  could be bought for under £1,500. A primary school  had been established in the huts on the old Anti  Aircrafi Battery site in Maidstone Road as there was  no school for infants and juniors south of the .  accommodate the high birth rate of the ‘baby boom’  years immediately after the war. Some of the army  huts were still occupied by squatters. The land  between Rainham Mark and Darland Avenue on the  south side of the A2 was still owned by the War  Department and mainly unused. There was no  Rainham shopping centre, no supermarkets or out of  town shopping. Parkwood was still an attractive  woodland area with a steep grassy bank in the middle  known to us as ‘The Den’.  I doubt if more than a third of householders had a  car but I had recently acquired my first vehicle, a  Scwt Ford van with a bus seat in the back for my  6-year-old son and all cars were coloured black. Most  people still travelled to work by bus or bike and life  was far from easy for many post war newly weds who  still lived with in-laws or in ‘rooms’. Partners living  together would have been frowned upon. I found a  ycopy of a letter which I wrote to the local paper  nphasising the need for a by-pass, the M2 was  "eventually opened in 1963, but no link road was  included in the original design so that had to be  fought for to avoid even more tmffic travelling along  the A2 through Rainham High Street en route to the  link roads in Chatham and Sittingboume.  These were the circumstances under which we  were living when a Public Meeting, which attracted  about 100 residents, was called some eight months  before the Coronation. An organising committee was  then formed with myself as Chairman, which is why I  still have a file to which I can refer. Mr R. Lucas,  Manager of Rainham Co-operative Society, was Vice  Chairman, Mr J. Lewis, Manager of Barclays Bank,  became Treasurer and the Organising Sub-Committee  was chaired by Dr G.O.S. Reid. There were 51 organisations covering many interests in Rainham at  that time and some of them arranged fund raising  events to cover anticipated expenditure. 

Photo of Coronation Party in Holding Street Rainham in 1953

The events arranged for the great day had to take  account of the increased interest in television as this was the first great national attraction since its  introduction and many people bought their first set  for the occasion. I remember buying a second hand  9-inch set which had to be viewed from a few feet but even that was a great advance on wireless. It was  assumed that many residents would wish to view the actual ceremony and subsequent events until early afternoon so events on 2nd June started around  2.30pm. The Carnival arranged for Wednesday 27th  May had to be cancelled twice before it was  eventually held and some of the events arranged for  Coronation Day were also curtailed by inclement  weather, which was disappointing to many who had  laboured to ensure a happy and successful day.  A copy of the programme had been delivered in  advance to every household and I forget which events  had to be cancelled or restricted.

The RE Cadet Band  opened by playing as they marched along various  roads leading to the Recreation Ground. Other events  included the Peter Pan Starlets, London Mime  Theatre, Tug of War Heats, and a Sheep Dog  Demonstration. It was anticipated that over 1,000  childrenwould attend the free tea which was to be  followed by a Comic Football match, Maypole  Dancing and The Fueding Dudes with Hill Billy  songs. Free tickets were provided for children to  enjoy pony rides, and all types of side shows.  There were 23 races for children aged from 5 up to  l6, the youngest ruiming 80 yards and the 15 and 16  year olds had both cycle and one mile track races. 

The Rainham County Secondary School from  Orchard Street had a House Relay for a Shield whilst  all other lst, 2nd or 3rd places received money  There were many street parties whilst houses,  shops and street standards were decorated,  Gillingham Council also helped by erecting  Coronation Arches across the A2 at West Moor Farm  and outside the Vicarage which at that time was next  to the Post Office. The day ended with a dance in the  Co-operative Hall.  The population seemed to be captivated by the  Coronation of our young Queen and almost everyone  entered into the spirit of the occasion. Rainham was  proud to play its part. 

P.S. Whilst typing this article a radio  announcement has confirmed that the Salisbury Avenue NWA and Residents Association has  cancelled its proposed Golden Jubilee celebrations  due to lack of interest and the cost of insurance!  However, I am pleased to hear that a Community  Project jointly with the Rainham Theatrical Society  and St Margaret’s Church are planning some celebrations.

Freddie Cooper

March 2002

History Articles

THE PROBLEMS OF THE SHOPPING  CENTRE 

The news of the enforced closure of 10 shops within  the Rainham Centre has obviously caused consternation among the proprietors and great  concern among the public at large. It is understood  that those who have received notice from the  landlords are Barry’s Fruiterers, Morecut Butchers,  Rainham Health Food Shop, Quidsaver, Boots the  Optician, Bookmark, Xpressions, Ascot Flowers and Pet Supplies, who all expect to be closed for about 28  weeks.

Some will obviously try to relocated as close  to the centre as possible but the immediate problems  for shop tenants and their staff is most worrying and  the long term impact may also be far reaching. The letter to ‘all tenants’ dated 14th March said  that ‘following the results of soil investigation it has  been established that remedial works are required to  the centre which would commence on 1st May’. Of  course such a disruption in the pattern of Rainham  shopping has given rise to much conjecture in fertile  minds particularly as to the cause of the problem  which has not been made public and only a minority  of residents will remember the buildings on the site  pre war. 

I was fortunate to mention the situation which has  arisen to the well known retired builder Mr Len  Bridge only to find that he was actually born in one  of the three cottages which is now the ‘Nationwide’  shop so has an intimate knowledge of the area. His  address was then number l4 London Road and if one  views the buildings from the opposite side of the road  it can be seen that the original external structure of all  three cottages has been retained with shop fronts  which have been altered over the years. Mr Bridge  reminded me that just west of the cottages was the  blacksmith’s forge thought then to be operated by Bill Arraman. Many of us hung over the half door to  watch horses being shod or iron work being made or  repaired. Len and I agreed that one never forgets the  smell of burning horses hooves as the shoes were  fitted and the value which both the smithy and the  wheelwright next door were to a mainly agricultural  community.

These buildings together with a large  white ex farmhouse next to the forecourt of  Springates the wheelwrights, which was occupied by  Mr Bodiam who ran the corn chandlers now  Meridian Spice restaurant, covered most of the present High Street entrance to the shopping centre.  The other shops towards Station Road with the  exception of Barclay’s Bank have mainly the original  structures with new fronts.  Mr Bridge recalled that all the old buildings would  have had cellars, wells, cesspools and underground  water tanks to collect rainwater. He considered that  the wells were probably 50 to 60 feet deep, so the  water courses were fairly close to the surface  although now with heavier extraction they may be  lower. The fields at the rear of the properties were young orchards pre war but the land may have  previously been used for general agricultural  purposes for which farmers dug large holes to obtain  chalk to spread on the land and some of which were  then used for refuse disposal purposes. The other  problem which has caused constructional difficulties  locally relates to clay faults in the chalk sub soil  which have to be excavated and refilled with concrete  as otherwise the clay will expand and contract in a  different manner from chalk. 

A very large hole once appeared in the pavement in  front of the shop next but one to the western corner of  Holding Street and another developed outside the  shops opposite to the bottom end of the old Chapel  Lane (which is now the cul de sac just east of  Mierscourt Road). Len seems to remember a hole  suddenly appearing in the car park and most older residents had their own stories of sudden subsidence  and the reasons therefore. Perhaps the most  dangerous was the one that appeared on the railway  line just east of Berengrave Lane which caused a  derailment. l have a photo of the trucks.  No one locally seems to be willing to explain the  actual cause which has necessitated ‘remedial works’  but one hopes that this will become apparent as it  could have implications upon other buildings in or around the area. In the meantime it must be pure  conjecture. Whenever a subsidence occurs north of  the Church it is inevitable that the legend of Bloors  Place tunnel is resurrected. 

Freddie Cooper  25.3.02        

History Articles

This article about prefab (pre-fabricated houses from after the Second World War WW2) is based on information originally published in Action Forum in 2021 and started with the August 2021 cover photo taken on the site of what is now Clematis Avenue (off Fairview Avenue) Wigmore.

It was shared by my cousin Mrs Anne Pearce, now retired in Bexhill, and with her by her life-long friend Mrs Pat Kay. It shows the youngsters from that tight knit community and was taken by Pat ’ s late father, Mr Steve Smith. They think the photograph was taken in 1953 (the prefabricated houses having been built post war in 1947 and lasted to 1967/68 when residents were rehomed to alternative council houses in Rainham and Gillingham). They were common sights across the UK, where housing shortages were met with these asbestos and corrugated iron constructions. Loaded onto lorries the prefabs were delivered where they were needed and erected on 30ft by 22ft prebuilt brick foundations in a matter of hours. They are remembered fondly, with all ’mod cons' provided but freezing cold in winter. There were long gardens to these plots, with a shed provided, and my Uncle Bert kept chickens and grew many fruits and vegetables. There were other similar prefab communities across Rainham and Gillingham, perhaps recalled by our readers? Locations mentioned to us have been: Russells Avenue (end of Scott Avenue) and the top of Salisbury Avenue in Rainham. They were also in Scott Avenue leading from Solomon Road up to the A2 opposite Meredale School, Solomon Road and Sunderland Square, Maidstone Road (below what is now Bettescombe Road), Derwent Way, Taverners Road, Wakeley Road and some opposite the Railway Hotel by the Station. It turns out there is a prefab museum website (www.prefabmuseum.uk) which details the prefab design and origins and includes many photos and memories shared. The photo elicits for me memories of my Aunt Dolly cooking in the small kitchen, the chiming clock on her mantelpiece, the shiny brass tools around the fireplace. Strange how a single photograph can trigger so many nearly sixty year old connections. The retention of old family photographs, kept in shoe boxes or albums, some with names and dates carefully written on the back, assist our recall, whilst others lose their significance by the year as relatives pass who could put a name to a face, place or date to when they were taken. I rescued our family photo archive from Australia when my mother passed, which she had assembled over many years. Such archives are precious family treasure and dug out occasionally to refresh memories of older times.

You can see the prefabs in the distance in this photo of Rainham from 1958 which would become Sunderland Square/Scott Avenue/Russells Avenue

Your cover picture on the front of the August magazine certainly brought back childhood memories of living in a Rainham prefab, when we had not a care in the world, and the sun always shone! There were some errors in the locations mentioned. We lived in Russells Avenue, which was at the top of Solomon Road, where it still is today, not the end of Scott Avenue. There were eleven “houses” there, all of which were demolished and replaced with permanent housing in the early sixties I believe. The houses mentioned in Solomon Road, Scott Avenue and Sunderland Square were not actually prefabs; they were constructed from what was basically a steel frame with reinforced concrete panels. These houses were not intended to be temporary, as in the case of prefabs, but I believe there was an unforeseen problem with the degradation of the concrete, resulting in their premature demolition in 1997. The 38 houses in Sunderland Square were replaced by a development of over 100 houses. The main omission on your list is Mardale Road, which, along with its neighbour Wakeley Road, formed probably the biggest concentration of prefabs in Rainham. My family left Russells Avenue in 1958 to move to Gillingham, as the prefabs had already exceeded their intended lifespan, and, let’s just say they were “past their best!” I enclose a photograph of “our gang” taken in Russells Avenue in 1957. From left to right: Mick Curness (no.9); Keith Relph (no.8); my brother Keith Austin; Brian Austin (me) (no.6); and Robert Goodwin (no.4). My brother lives in Wigmore, and I in Rainham. I haven’t seen the other three for a very long time, but I believe Mick Curness went to Canada and Keith Relph to Northern Ireland. Although prefab winters had become decidedly uncomfortable by the late fifties, most of the prefab occupants I have spoken to over the years seem to remember their time in them with affection. I certainly do. P.S. In the background of the photograph my father, Jack, can be seen polishing his beloved motor bike and sidecar combination. He never seemed to be as fond of any of his subsequent cars as he was of his “bike.”

History Articles

THE END OF AN ERA -  RAINHAM CO-OP TO CLOSE 

I had expected to be writing, this month, about the end  of Gillingham Borough Council but the last meeting of  that authority is arranged for 24th March (a week  from the time of writing) so, all being well I hope to  comment on this historic event next month.  It’s obviously a period of great change as the  management of The Rainham & District Co-operative  Society Ltd have announced that they are to close all  activities here in Rainham on 4th April. This is a  terrible blow to the prosperity of the Shopping Centre  which will now rely, almost entirely, upon Tesco  continuing to trade, remember that they stated that  trading would be continued for at least five years after  the new store opened at Rainham Mark on 1st  February 1994.

One would hope that the closure of  the Co-op will encourage Tesco to remain open in the  Shopping Centre as so many older folk would find it  difficult to shop elsewhere.  The level of rents in the centre are of great concern  to many of the traders as the last review took place  when rents were far higher than now and rents  charged under the leases never go down. It’s ironic  that we’re dependent upon one supplier for grocery etc  in Rainham when, pre war, we had the Co-op,  International, Perks, Roses and Quinells and many  smaller well stocked shops.  I have information on the origin of the Co-op in  Rainham somewhere but my ‘big box’ filing system  has failed me this time so I am grateful to Mr Aubry  who has collated a lot of information on Kent Co-ops  and the Labour Party. 

On 25th November 1872 a meeting was held to  consider opening Co-operative store facilities here in  Rainham but nothing developed until 1891 when  Sittingbourne Co-op opened a branch shop. At that  date Rainham, as part of Milton Regis RDC, was far  closer to Sittingbourne than Gillingham. It was just  102 years ago, in 1896, that Rainham and District Co-  operative Society Ltd was born. I’m pretty sure they  started at 1/2 Station Road which are the top shops on  the eastern side immediately below the garden of the  Whitehorse PH, that’s where they remained until the  Shopping Centre was opened.  I do have an advertisement from Kelley’s Directory  of 1908 which quotes the annual sales at nearly  £16,000 with a profit of £1,500, a membership of 505  when the population of Rainham was around 4,000.  The Share Capital was £5,447 with an entrance fee of  l/- (5 p). The first telephone was number 4.

The sales  covered Grocery, Hardware, Crockery, Tinware,  Drapery, Boots, Clothing, Furniture, Bakery, Pastry,  Corn, Coal and Meat.  Many people worked long hours, often six days a  week in the early part of the century so could seldom  get to the shops, members would leave notes for the  baker ordering replacement boots or items of clothing  etc. Many didn’t lock their back door or if they did  then those making regular deliveries would know  where the key was placed so that they could leave  deliveries of bread etc on the kitchen table. The . x  Women’s Guild, much involved in the education of women was started in 1900. The early Managing/  Secretary was Mr A.W. Barnes and subsequent  managers Mr Harry Budd and Mr Reg Lucas are still  remembered.  The new large shops and hall, opposite the Church  were opened in 1928 costing £10,000, designed by  Mr F. Mattocks and I think built by Bridges. It’s  ironic that this was opened in the same year that the  Extension to the Boundary Act was passed which  transferred Rainham to Gillingham and the building  has been demolished in the same year that Gillingham  is to be absorbed within the new Medway Towns  authority.

Many of us remember with affection the  dances in the old Co-op hall and the large clock which  hung from the frontage until it was considered  dangerous during the war and taken down.  Many Co-operative Societies were closely affiliated  to the Labour Party and Rainham was no exception as  most of the Committee were also ardent Labour  supporters. I recall the Conservatives putting up  candidates in the 1950s in an endeavour to obtain  control of the Gillingham Co-operative Society. It was  probably because of the political affiliation that the Co-ops played an important role in community  activities and the dividend earned on purchases  enabled many members to obtain shoes and clothing  etc. This dividend was, I think, paid quarterly when members would queue up the stairs to the office in  alphabetical groups at advertised times and you will  still find those who were very young children in pre  war years who can immediately recall their mother’s  membership number. At one time tin type coins were  issued. 

One rather unique feature which each shop used  was the overhead cash transmission system (I forget  its patent name) whereby the cash and bill were sent  in a two piece wooden cup by spring action from the  point of sale to the office and in due course of time  returned with change and receipt, absolutely  fascinating to young children!  The Co-op fetes were an outstanding event in pre  war years, members’ children were seated in long rows  at the Recreation Ground and then supplied with eats  and tea, each one taking his or her own mug. There were great urns of tea poured out by helpers in white  enamel jugs with sandwiches, buns, various types of  slab cake and sometimes fruit and sweets. Much of  the excitement came from the free rides, swings,  roundabout and various side shows. I believe that non members’ children had to pay for the tea and the  sideshows! The Rainham Co-op Treats

The carnival was another pre war feature  when decorated horse drawn carts and vehicles  paraded through some of our main streets with many  youngsters in attendance.  Rainham pre war was a hotbed for football and the  Co-op had a very successful team in the Wednesday  league and won many trophies. I was speaking to  Harry Howting recently and he rattled off the team of  his era as though they played last Wednesday. Edgar  Apps, Joe Cox, Percy Payne, Bill Costen, Sid Norris,  Dave Coppins, Sid Muggleton, Harry Howting, Percy  Major, Len Stockey, Sid Skinner and later Stan Lacey.  I’m sure that older residents will have many  memories as Rainham Co-operative Society Ltd had a major influence on our community pre war with many  personalities such as the departmental managers like  Bill Samson, Mrs Ovenden, Mr Lacey, Mr Norrington  (later Maidstone Road) then there were the office staff  like Mr Mattocks and Mr Waterman and Committee  (like Messrs Bowra, Day, Dartnell and Ransley. I hope that some previous employees or their children will write to ‘Action Forum’ so that far more of the history of the Co-op and those who made it tick  may be preserved for posterity. 

Freddie Cooper        

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