Life in Rainham Kent in the 1880s

In 1881 Rainham had far fewer buildings and a much smaller population than today totalling 2,739 people whereas twenty years earlier the population stood at 1,422 which showed a sizeable increase in just two decades. The village continually expanded after the coming of the railway during the mid-1850s and eventually developed into one of the biggest commuter towns in the south-east by the end of the 1960s.

During the 1880s large areas of land were still owned by Sir Henry Tufton who became a Justice of the Peace and Lord of the Manor, St Katherine’s Hospital owned land including the area around Berengrave Lane while the Earl of Aylesford and J W Stratford were also landowners. The principal crops included cherries, wheat and hops and several market gardens.

Farmers in the parish included Richard Mansfield Wakeley at Moor Street Farm, Peter Manwaring at East Moor Street Farm and James Mansfield also had land at Moor Street. James Miles owned Siloam Farm in Mierscourt Road and James Stearman owned Pump Farm opposite Pump Lane. The land formerly owned by farmer Thomas Dodd in Rainham and Upchurch became the property of Wakeley Brothers after intermarriage between members of the two families. Reverend William Walter owned the Berengrove estate where the paddock was used for fetes, the Rainham Flower Show and periodic matches involving Rainham Cricket Club. Walter employed William Kentenius as his farm bailiff to look after agricultural matters on his land.

Most of Rainham’s population was based along the High Street and down Station Road during the 1880s. Behind the High Street and church cherry orchards could be found and hops were grown at the Moor Street end of the village. The area from the present day Hothfield Road to Rainham Mark only had a small number of houses with large areas of open farmland and extensive woods further up on the land opposite Pump Lane. The land each side of Maidstone Road and Mierscourt Road, known at the time as Chapel Lane, remained open and almost totally unpopulated.

Rainham High Street had a large variety of shops that served the community. Herbert Hunt worked as the postmaster in the post office which also served as a telegraph office and a savings bank, James Taylor worked as a printer and Tom Pike had a barber’s shop. For meat you could go to butchers William Finness or John Parsons. Andrew George served as the village chemist and Fred Baker worked in the baker’s shop. Ellen Brook offered shoe repairs, George Green & Sons served as ironmonger’s and also offered carpentry services while tailor Bill Damarell could mend or alter clothes. Furthermore, a range of grocery shops lined the high street. Shopkeepers included Henry Callaway, Frank Frost, Sarah Coppins, Elizabeth Boorman, Walter Bolton, Charles Moss and John Wills. Henry Reeves served as a tobacconist while Edwin Jelly had an outfitter’s store and George Whayman had a draper’s store.

Shopkeeper George Whayman became involved in local affairs and had come to the village from Suffolk. He founded the Rainham Waterworks Company, he became a director of the Rainham Freehold Land and Allotment Company and was an original member of Rainham Horticultural Society. He also played cricket for Rainham Cricket Club and served as a club official on the committee

A working Men’s Club could also be found in Rainham High Street where Reverend William Walter from Berengrove House served as president and Dr Henry Penfold, Rainham’s doctor for many years, served as honorary secretary. In other streets Sarah Hales and Minnie Barling were shopkeepers in Ivy Street and George Quinnell had a grocer’s shop in Broad Walk.

In Station Road the National School stood on the site of the present day shopping centre while a variety of shops offered services. John Hath served as a shoe maker, Robert Dawson a boot maker, Thomas and John Harden were coal dealers and Arthur Roberts a watchmaker. Shopkeepers included Jesse Barrett, Tom Kidney, Tom Mudge, Bill Miles and Martin Parker.

Elizabeth Sayers managed The Temperence Hotel, now ‘The Railway’. This was situated beside Rainham railway station where Mr Shepherd worked as the stationmaster. Wakeley Brothers Corn Merchant’s and Brick Maker’s had their offices nearby and constructed the oasthouse that still exists there today. Opposite the Temperence Hotel a meadow owned by Solomon Brice became known as ‘Mr Brice’s Meadow’ where cows grazed and where periodic village events took place. Solomon Brice lived in Milton Villa, a big house at the far end of Webster Road. Solomon Road was later named after him. Other members of the Brice family included George Brice and Mrs E Brice who ran the family clay merchant business and Alfred Brice had a stone, clay and manure business.

Of the pubs located in the centre of Rainham Alfred Fiske ran the White Horse with stables at the back, Samuel Jarrett ran the Cricketers Inn where a bowling green and stables could be found, Walter Singer ran the Lion Hotel, James Clark ran The Angel and Bill Jenkins ran the Men of Kent. To get a horse drawn omnibus to the Medway Towns a ticket could be purchased in the Cricketers Inn and to go to Sittingbourne, Canterbury or Dover a ticket could be bought in the White Horse.

The setting up of Rainham Recreation Ground in 1888-89 became one of the biggest developments of the decade when Lord Hothfield who owned a large part of Rainham presented the people of the village with a seven acre field between the present Station Road and Scott Avenue in celebration of Queen Victoria’s Jubilee. The ground was overseen by a committee and this became known as the Rainham Recreation Ground Committee. Rainham Cricket Club played at the Scott Avenue end during the summer while the football club played at the other end during the winter. Trees were planted around the perimeter and a bicycle track constructed.

The Reverend Charles Cobb, vicar of St Margaret’s church, resided at the vicarage and had come to Rainham from East Anglia in 1876. He played for Rainham Cricket Club as an opening batsman in the early 1880s and held the position of club president for a while. He had an interesting background having been educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge where he went on to obtain a Master of Arts degree and was awarded the Royal Humane medal for the courage he had displayed on a shipwreck.

Other religious denominations existed in Rainham with chapels for Wesleyians, Independents and the United Methodist Free Church.

Thomas Stanley Wakeley became one of the most well-known local Baptist pastors during the 1880s. Being intensely religious he preached in Providence Chapel which his family had built in Orchard Street in 1884 and at the ‘Old Granary’ in Otterham Quay. He was also a family member of Wakeley Brothers fruit, hop and brick business which he joined in 1862. Regarded as a shrewd and straightforward man, he had a big influence on the family business. He rode to the fox and hounds with the Tickham Hunt, he also played cricket for Rainham and he captained Rainham First XI. His brother Richard Mansfield Wakeley lived at Moor Street Farm, John Wakeley lived in Church House almost opposite St Margaret’s Church and William Wakeley who became a national prize rose grower lived in Macklands House in Station Road.

The National School had been constructed at the top end of Station Road in 1846 and was designed for 140 pupils. In 1882 130 boys and 115 girls attended. The school existed on voluntary takings, government grants and school fees. John Longley served as headmaster and became involved in church and local political affairs which made him a respected member of the community. Samuel Hodson succeeded him in 1883.

Samuel Hodson, who originated from the Midlands, became a well-known Rainham figure as headmaster of the School and he played a prominent part in the community. He helped to organize Queen Victoria's Jubilee in Rainham; he became a parish churchwarden and took part in many activities connected with the church.

The infant’s School had a total of 120 pupils with an average attendance of 110 and these were taught by Miss Verrall and Mrs Brice. Another infant’s school existed in Lower Rainham with 60 children and an average attendance of 20. Miss Ada Spinner served as the mistress.

Rainham thrived during the 1880s with a wide range of shops and other facilities to encourage newcomers. The railway played a big part in the growth of the village and for the transport of agricultural produce to London and beyond. Therefore the 1880s was a period of expansion.

David Wood, 1,426 words.

History Articles

After the sinkhole discovered in the centre of the M2 motorway, another has been found in the grounds of Rainham Mark Grammar School in Rainham and Anchorians in Gillingham. These show how Kent is extensively riddled with Dene Holes dug into the chalk and that seem to becoming visible as a result of the exceptionally wet weather over Winter 2013/14 perhaps washing the covering soil away from them.

These are photos of dene holes found in Rainham Kent in 1980 during the building of a new housing estate. The same Dene holes are what was responsible for the M2 motorway closure.

History Articles

Memories of Well-Known Orchard Street School Teachers

Most teachers tend to be remembered as characters rather than for their quality of teaching by former pupils who like to recall their time at school and the events that took place there.

At Rainham Secondary School for Boys in Orchard Street, a well-run school of about 500 pupils during the early 1960s, a range of interesting characters existed. Headmaster Mr Bacon B.sc, otherwise known as ‘Rasher’ led from the top with his air of authority. Cut off from pupils in his study for long periods of time, he most frequently appeared in the school assembly wearing his long, black academic gown which flowed behind him as he strutted into the assembly hall and up on to the stage to take his place at the lectern in front of the seated prefects.

Although Mr Bacon led from the front by periodically patrolling the school corridors, those who saw him most frequently were disaffected pupils who had to visit his study for ‘six of the best’ with his cane. Many boys stuffed exercise books down the back of their trousers to avoid the pain of a good thrashing but Mr Bacon became wise to this and often asked boys to remove the books before their punishment was administered.

For very serious offences Mr Bacon occasionally caned groups of boys in front of the school assembly after giving a morose speech. With the entire staff and pupils looking on in deadly silence, Mr Bacon delivered a painful 'six of the best' to each pupil as an example to others. The event resembled a public execution. He also vilified two boys and forced them to stand up in full view of everyone for turning up in the school assembly with Mohican style haircuts and then sent them home. He once brought the complete school population into the assembly hall one afternoon to investigate the mass murder of the terrapins that inhabited the school quadrangle pool. Pupils generally respected and feared Mr Bacon.

Mr 'Rot-Gut' Thomas with his famous pronunciation of 'sospans' instead of saucepans taught science lessons. He also served as deputy head teacher and periodically took school assemblies. He and several other teachers had been at the school for so long that they had taught the fathers of some pupils. Others included art teacher Bert Newell who lived close to the school and usually arrived on his bicycle. He proved to be a good teacher and also assisted with the painting of scenery and organising of the school play. He went on to become headmaster for a short period just before he retired from the Howard School.

Mr Sneath who looked way beyond his 60 odd years taught metalwork and had been at the school for donkey’s years. He shuffled quietly around the workshop and the school which resulted in the name ‘Creeping Jesus’ being given to him. On the day that he retired he received a special gift from Mr Bacon in the school assembly and a rapturous cheer from the pupils after giving a short emotional speech.

Welshman Mr ‘Jug head’ Jones whose name derived from the shape of his bald head taught science and had the misfortune of having an incredibly high pitched feminine voice which had a negative effect on his classroom control and most of his lessons took place in a loud din of noise and chaos.  Mr Powell, known as ‘Bucket’ also taught science and had a reputation as a good form teacher. He was a thin, mild-mannered and quietly spoken individual with bushy black eyebrows who later became deputy headmaster at the Howard School during the 1990s.

Then there was music teacher Mr Springate with an authoritarian manner and a powerful, penetrating voice who became well known for his mass slippering of at least half the class in some lessons with a bit of piano playing in between, accompanied by pupils’ singing. He often played classical music on the class record player and demonstrated simple magical tricks to add some variety to lessons. For the rest of the time pupils copied texts about famous musicians and had a lesson reserved for sorting and tying bundles of newspapers together. Mr Springate was also a member of the Salvation Army, ran the school photographic club, organised the school choir and drove a green MG sports car.

The stiff and tight lipped English teacher Mr Haugh became known as 'Hitler' mainly because of his hair style, upright style of walking and occasional ranting. Although he was a quietly spoken Irishman and could tell a good story, he also had a quick temper and once punched a pupil so hard in the stomach for misbehaving that urgent medical attention had to be sought.

The bearded and smiling Mr Gibbs served as the principal English teacher and also organised the school library where most of his lessons took place. He usually came to school on a motor scooter wearing a white crash helmet. Although he proved to be a competent teacher, his handwriting on the blackboard was barely understandable but he had a good relationship with most pupils, particularly with regard to the annual school play which he usually wrote and directed. Some pupils were overly friendly towards him with the hope that he would allow them shelter and warmth in the library during the lunch break on cold and wet winter days.

Another English teacher named Mr Poad who had a permanent smile on his face with glasses and untidy hair, wore baggy brown corduroy trousers and a tweed jacket with elbow pads. He also spent most lessons either playing his violin in front of the class or drawing cartoons. With an exaggerated well-spoken accent he usually had pupils and teachers in fits of laughter with his long and comical announcements in the school assembly.

Gardening teacher Mr Pearce who had a voice like former cricket commentator John Arlott spent most of his time getting pupils to copy from gardening books while he tended the potted plants in the conservatory at the back of the classroom or unlocked the garden shed located beside the playground for pupils to get digging forks and dig up part of the school garden.

PE teachers included Mr Monk and Mr Brown but they were very different in character. Mr Monk had a fit, powerfully built stocky frame, he sported a military style crew cut and terrorized pupils with his swinging whistle on a string and his aggressive approach. On the other hand, the smartly dressed Mr Brown had a more reasonable approach and also taught special needs pupils with a more caring and sympathetic attitude, calling many boys by their first name.

Maths teachers included Mr Carden, nicknamed ‘Jumbo,’ a big made, smartly-dressed, spring heeled teacher who strutted quickly along the corridor and the little Mr Barnes who loved grabbing the hair and ears of badly behaved pupils during his lessons.

Mr Patterson, known as ‘Benji’ taught geography and frequently showed slides of life in Africa which he had personally experienced. With a voice and manner similar to 1960s animal impersonator Johnny Morris, Mr Patterson wasn’t the most exciting or vibrant teacher around but some pupils enjoyed filling in blank maps that he distributed with great frequency. He also ran the scripture union

The lively and little Eric ‘Tich’ Rotherham who originated from the Yorkshire town bearing his surname, taught generations of Rainham boys how to weave baskets, bind books and make clay pots and became well-known for his long run up to slipper pupils rear ends. He also organised the school football and cricket teams and served as a Rainham teacher for over forty years before retiring from the Howard School aged 81 during the late 1990s. He also played football for Rainham during the late 1950s and became well-known as a cricketer at Rainham Cricket Club during the 1960s, introducing many boys to the club.

Most of the Orchard teachers from the 1960s have now passed on and we live in a different age but those pupils who experienced Rainham Secondary School for Boys in Orchard Street will have plenty of teacher memories.

History Articles

The Early Years of the Rainham Flower Show

The origins of the Rainham Flower Show date back to 1885 when exhibitors from the village and the surrounding area converged on the show to display their poultry, rabbits, fruit, vegetables and flowers. Up to 2,000 visitors regularly attended in what became regarded as a major annual event in Rainham, usually held on a Wednesday in late July.

During the course of the years the organisers tried many things to attract the crowds ranging from musical bands, athletics meetings, tennis matches and demonstrations by the Fire Brigade. All of these activities contributed to making the Rainham Flower Show an attractive event for people to attend.

In 1889 a special new cricket match involving Rainham Cricket Club was arranged to coincide with the Rainham Flower Show and this became an annual match, designed as a sideshow for the crowds. This became known as the ‘Rainham Flower Show Match.’ The first of these matches was played against Newington. The ‘East Kent Gazette’ set the scene perfectly:

‘The fourth annual show of fruit, flowers and vegetables, in connection with the Rainham and District Horticultural, Poultry and Rabbit Society took place on Wednesday at Berengrove, Rainham, the pleasantly situated grounds of this residence having been kindly placed at the disposal of the committee by the Rev J.A. and the Misses Walter. The weather, an all-important factor in open-air gatherings at this season of the year, was magnificent, and made ample amends for the heavy downpour of rain with which the show of 1888 will always be associated. An additional attraction had been arranged this year by way of a cricket match, and something special was announced to be in store for lovers of the great national game of cricket..... The game was witnessed by many spectators, who could recline at their ease on the green award, and sheltered from the sun by the shade of those fine old trees at Berengrave watch the cricket, and also enjoy the music so excellently discoursed by the band of the Metropolitan Police from Chatham, while away in the distance a view of the winding Medway formed a picture pleasing to contemplate.’

At the 1889 Flower Show the exhibits were considered to be better and more numerous than on previous occasions. Open classes were introduced for the first time and this allowed people to compete who didn't reside in the village. William Wakeley from Macklands House in Station Road dominated the flower section of the show with some beautiful roses both in this and in later shows.

Windy conditions with heavy showers marred the 1892 show while the Upchurch Brass Band provided the music through the afternoon. This was the last Rainham Flower Show where a cricket match was played until 1903. The venue of the show moved to Parsonage Field, just off the top end of Station Road on the basis of being more central for visitors to attend. Unfortunately, the surface of the field proved too uneven for cricket so a match didn’t take place there but during the closing years of the 19th century tennis matches were arranged by the organisers and these were played on ‘Mr Brice's Meadow,’ which belonged to Solomon Brice from Milton Road (now Webster Road) and was situated adjacent to the railway line, opposite the Temperence Hotel (now ‘The Railway’ pub). After this the organisers decided that Rainham Recreation Ground would be more central for visitors to attend and the event took place there in future years.

Although The Rainham Flower Show took place in 1904, the cricket match between Rainham and Sittingbourne Wednesday was cancelled due to heavy rain but the other events proceeded under miserable conditions making the day unenjoyable for visitors. A problem also arose in 1905 when King Edward VII paid a visit to Chatham on the same day as the flower show which resulted in a low turnout at Rainham Recreation Ground because many people wanted to see the monarch. About 1,500 visitors attended the show which the organisers regarded as a little disappointing with an estimated £10 loss in takings. However, on a fine day everything proceeded well and after the cricket match the ‘East Kent Gazette’ reported that everybody was 'appy and 'ot.’

Visitors remembered the show of 1906 mainly for the prize winning roses of Joseph Wakeley who took 33 prizes that season, including a silver cup at Harrow in a national competition making him champion rose grower of the year. He followed in the footsteps of his relative William Wakeley who had dominated rose competitions at the late 19th century Flower Show as well as at other local and national shows throughout the country. As in the previous year Joseph Wakeley dominated the flower section of the show with his roses, followed in the evening by a new activity which took place when a London artist gave an exhibition of cinematograph pictures at dusk which proved to be very popular and attracted a big crowd.

Although the weather turned out to be glorious at the 1908 event a falling off in attendance resulted in only about 1,000 people attending with little improvement in the number of exhibits received. Meanwhile, Rainham Cricket Club staged a Married v Singles match which the Singles won by 31 runs.

During this period members of Rainham Horticultural Society played a big part in the organisation of the show getting everything prepared. These included Messrs Finness, Quinnell, Tucker, Glass, Stedman, Scott, Holmes, Jelly, Gunner, Seymour and Sid Wakeley and honorary secretary Mrs E Pearce who were all committee members.

With fine weather enhancing the 1909 Flower Show, Walter Brewer's popular String Band played music for the crowds attending the event and a shock took place in the flower section when Rainham nurseryman George Longley pushed Joseph Wakeley into second place for the first time in some years with his roses.

The Rainham Flower Show celebrated its 25th birthday in 1910 and it also turned out to be the last appearance by Rainham Cricket Club at the event. On a fine day but with a disappointing crowd Rainham played their local rivals Newington but this time it was a one sided affair as Rainham scored 69 while Newington were bowled out for 24. Walter Brewer's String Band played for the crowds again and another shock occurred in the flower section when Sid Wakeley who had earlier won the Sittingbourne Show with his sweet peas was knocked into second position by a local grower named Mr T Barrett who became the Rainham Sweet Pea Champion for 1910.

The Rainham Flower Show proved to be very successful in forthcoming years and continued to attract large crowds from the village and beyond. It became a major annual event during mid-summer and a well-known feature of life in Rainham.

History Articles

Photo of Rainham Cricket Club taken in 1902. Richard Wakeley is in the middle row wearing a cap and striped blazer. Immediately to his left is watchmaker Arthur Tucker whose business was based in the high street. In the back row far left is George Bland with a beard. He had a wine merchant's business in Station Road. In the back row centre is Rainham sub postmaster Herbert Hunt wearing a hat and coat. In the front row far left is Charlie Clark who had a men's outfitter's in Station Road. Next to him is Harry Robinson who lived near the Three Sisters pub and to his right is Stuart Jelly who had a men's outfitter's in the high street. The scorer is Tom Philpott who became a gardener.

History Articles

Richard Mansfield Wakeley Junior 1870-1943

Rainham Farmer and Cricket Legend

Born into a wealthy farming family at Moor Street Farm in Rainham in 1870 and named after his father, Richard Mansfield Wakeley entered the family farming business after leaving school. He spent his time organising the fruit and hop picking seasons in Rainham, Hartlip and Upchurch and he also had great natural ability as a cricketer.

His name first appeared as a cricketer playing for Borden School against Rainham aged thirteen at Berengrove Park on July 5th, 1883. He went on to play for Rainham Cricket Club and made his debut for Kent Second XI against Surrey at Tunbridge Wells, aged twenty-two in 1892.

Of the six Wakeley family members who played for Rainham Cricket Club during the 19th and early 20th centuries, Richard Wakeley Junior became the most successful and must rank as one of Rainham Cricket Club’s greatest ever cricketers.

Throughout the 1890s he played for Rainham whenever he could but as he was considered an exceptional player he had spells with Rochester, Mote and Chatham who played at a higher level than his home club. In 1894 he even made an appearance against the South Africans in Chatham for a Chatham & District XI. In this match which took place in order to attract top level cricket to Medway, he made scores of 0 and 21 against test match opposition.

Photo of Richard Wakeley - in the middle row wearing a cap and striped blazer.

During the late 1880s and early 1890s Richard Wakeley didn't score large quantities of runs for Rainham due to difficult and uneven wickets and long outfields. However, he still managed to come top of the club averages and was presented with a bat by the club for the best batting average in 1889. From 1892 to 1898 he only played sporadically for the club due to commitments with other clubs.

From 1898 Rainham didn’t appear to run a cricket team but when they re-formed after the Boer War in 1902 Richard Wakeley Junior became the Rainham captain and offered his meadow at Siloam Farm as the home pitch. This had been the club's original ground in 1856. Since 1890 the club had played at the recreation ground but they shared it with several other clubs and preferred more privacy.

Richard Wakeley maintained Siloam Meadow at his own expense and offered it to the club again in 1903. However, when the club held its Annual General Meeting in March 1903, members decided that the club should return to the recreation ground on the basis that it was more central. Richard Wakeley then took charge of maintaining the ground. Rainham Cricket club returned to Siloam Meadow for the 1908 and 1909 seasons after dissatisfaction with the recreation ground.

Richard Wakeley's greatest achievement at Rainham Cricket Club took place from 1902 to 1910. During this period he led the club to two consecutive Sittingbourne & District League Championships in 1905 and 1906 and helped to establish Rainham as one of the strongest cricket club’s in the area.

During the two league campaigns Rainham only suffered one defeat. This was in sharp contrast to the club's first season in league cricket in the Chatham & District League in 1896 when they lost every game and finished in bottom position. The Rainham team demonstrated its strength when it took on the area premier club Gore Court in 1906, tying the first match 88 runs each and winning the second by eight runs with Richard Wakeley scoring 80 in a total of 168. These two matches were billed 'Gore Court v The League Champions.' This was one of Rainham Cricket Club's finest periods. The East Kent Gazette reported in 1906:

‘….In R. M. Wakeley Junior they possess a captain who knows the game thoroughly, who is a first class bat and fine field, and the success of the team must be attributed to his influence and help…’

As a player Richard Wakeley Junior totally dominated the Rainham batting from 1902 and finished top of the averages every season up to 1910. He had his best season in 1907 with a batting average of 118.5. He also finished second in the Sittingbourne & District League averages in 1905 and top in 1906 with an average of 53, having scored 371 runs in eight innings. He scored at least five centuries during this period and had the honour of scoring the first recorded century for the club with 136 not out against Lower Halstow in 1904. His other batting feats included 134 not out against the Royal Marines in 1907 and 110 not out against Bobbing in 1906. In 1909 the ‘East Kent Gazette’ reported a match played between Rainham and Sittingbourne Wednesday and wrote the following about Richard Wakeley junior’s batting:

‘He received an ovation upon retiring, for he had made a gallant effort which really proved successful. To make 77 out of 111 is no everyday achievement, and it is not often that such a fine display, under such circumstances is seen in local cricket.’

Richard Wakeley Junior became a very popular and well-known captain in local cricket who had a reputation for being very astute. Known as ‘Mr Wakeley’ to the other Rainham players, he became highly respected both as a player and for the efforts he made on behalf of the club.

He got married late in life to Minnie Dundas Foulerton aged 51 in 1921 and resided at Meresborough House, close to Siloam Farm which his family owned. Like his father he played a big part in local affairs, becoming a Parish Guardian on the Milton Board of Guardians, a member of the Rainham Recreation Ground Committee, he represented Rainham on the County Council and became an alderman in 1929. He also became a school manager at the National School in Station Road and chairman of Rainham & District Horticultural Improvement Society.

Apart from being an exceptional cricketer he was also regarded a crack shot on the local shoots and rode as a regular member and follower of hounds with the Tickham Hunt in Sittingbourne like many other members of his family.

Richard Wakeley Junior stopped playing for Rainham Cricket Club at the end of the 1910 season at the age of forty to concentrate on his farm at Siloam and local politics. However, he became president of Rainham Cricket Club for a while and remained a vice-president of the club until his death in 1943. He was the last member of the Wakeley family to play cricket for Rainham. 

History Articles

Life in Rainham during the Years Leading up to World War 1

Growing rapidly as a town on the borders of Medway and Sittingbourne, Rainham experienced a rise in population of 1,186 from 1881 to 1911. Lord Hothfield continued as Lord of the Manor and principal landowners included St Katherine’s Hospital and E. Wingfield-Stratford. Farmers in the area who owned land were Richard Mansfield Wakeley, Fred Scott and Peter Manwaring at Moor Street, Walter Stedman at Rainham Mark, William Clark in Pump Lane, Edward Filmer in Maidstone Road, James Batchelor at Cozenton Farm, J. A. Walter at Berengrave, James Stewart and Edward Randall in Bloors Lane and George Lockyer in Mierscourt. Cherries, wheat and hops were the main agricultural products while cement continued to be produced at the Cement Works in Lower Rainham.

Farmer Richard Mansfield Wakeley and Mr E Kemp of ‘Kemp Brothers’ served as Guardians of the Parish while Overseers included James Adie, Joseph Macey, Stanley Wakeley and George Bland. Meanwhile, the parish council which met on the first Wednesday of every month was chaired by Dr Henry Penfold from Mardale House and Vice-Chairman George Quinnell who lived at ‘Russells’ in the High Street. George Green from Rainham High Street served as parish clerk. The parish council had committees dealing with lighting and watching, footpaths, the recreation ground, the library and reading room and finance.

Rainham security remained the responsibility of Sergeant Edwin Jenner of Station Road and constables Thomas Fielder and William Smith. In those days a large police station didn’t exist in Rainham. Doctors Henry Penfold, Sydney Tippett and Irby Webster served as doctors in the parish.

Facilities in the town had improved compared with twenty years earlier. During the 1900s the recreation ground which had been constructed at the end of the 1880s had become established with Rainham Football Club, Rainham Cricket Club and the United Methodist Football and Cricket Clubs playing there. Rainham Fire Brigade which formed in 1901 had its headquarters on the ground with one 22 man fire engine with fire fighting equipment. A cycle track, flower beds, a shelter, a public convenience and a water pipe were also to be found. Local events like the Rainham Flower Show were held on the ground annually.

The Parish Free Library and Reading Room became established at the end of the 19^th century and could be found on the ground floor of the Temperance Hotel in Station Road. With a wide choice of reading material, over 2,000 books, daily newspapers and journals were available to read. A reference library could also be found. The lending library was only open from 7 pm to 9 pm. Mr Barrell from Milton Road (now Webster Road) served as the librarian in 1908.

The construction of Rainham Social Club took place at the rear of the Temperance Hotel around 1904. Although much smaller than the present club in Station Road, it had a full sized billiard table and a membership of about seventy. Mr Child served as the steward and the club stayed open from 10 am to 10-30 pm.

The National School continued to function at the top end of Station Road for 180 boys and 160 girls. Samuel Hodson had served as headmaster since 1883 and Miss Emily Charlesworth assisted him while the infant’s school continued to be run by Mrs Brice. The Lower Rainham National School which had been erected in 1876 had about 60 pupils and was run by Miss Knight then by Mrs Seago. A small private school run by Miss Bertha Atkins also existed just off Rainham High Street near the church path.

With a rise in the local population, demand increased for another school which led to the construction of the Council School in Solomon Road in 1906. It cost the parish £4,500 to build and could hold 250 pupils. Miss E Dyason served as headmistress while Miss Ethel Barker served as infant’s headmistress. Mr Harold Greenhalgh became headmaster in March 1908 but was later killed in the Great War of 1914-1918.

A wide range of churches representing different denominations existed in various locations around central Rainham. The most prominent of these was St Margaret’s church in the high street where Reverend Charles Cobb who had served as vicar since 1876 conducted services, followed later in the decade by Reverend John Tamplin. Sunday school took place every week and a group of bell ringers also operated there.

The Providence Baptist Church which had been erected in 1884 existed in Orchard Street held about 100 people. Deacons who preached there included William Wakeley, Percy Wakeley, Alf Harnett and Mr T Roper.

The United Methodist Church stood at the junction of Station Road and Wakeley Road and could hold 250 people. Reverend J Treweeke of Henry Street served as pastor in 1908. Another United Methodist Church existed in Ivy Street with a large schoolroom at the rear and seating for about 200 people. The Providence United Methodist Church, built in 1853, existed on the Lower Road and could hold 200 people. Another religious group known as ‘The Original Peculiar People,’ an evangelical group of faith healers, had a meeting house in William Street.

The Salvation Army had its headquarters in Rainham Public Hall situated in the high street with meetings every Sunday. The army also had a ‘Band of Love’ and a junior corps. In 1908 they were led by Ensign Browne and Lieutenant Howe of Albion Terrace in Station Road.

Of the pubs in the area ‘The Lion Hotel’ run by Phil Curling became the most active and served as the headquarters for Rainham Cricket Club, Rainham Football Club, Rainham Cycle Club, Rainham & District Horticultural Society and Rainham & District Horticultural Improvement Society. Other pubs were the ‘White Horse’ run by Charles Adie, ‘The Railway’ run by Stephen Mitchell, ‘The Cricketers Inn’ run by Paul Schurig, ‘The Angel’ run by Roger Wibrew and the ‘Men of Kent’ run by John Stewart.

Many Rainham businesses like Solomon Brice & Sons clay merchant’s & barge builders, Arthur Tucker watchmaker’s, William Finness butcher’s, Edwin Jelly outfitter’s and George Whayman Draper’s dated back to the 1880s and beyond while notable new businesses included Kemp Brothers, timber merchants and smiths, Charles Clark’s outfitter’s, Miles and Kitney Mineral Water Manufacturers, Rainham & District Co-operative Society and Wilkins ironmonger’s, all located in Station Road. George Green’s Undertakers, Watt’s chemist, Walter Waters Fried Fish shop and Maria Lane’s Coffee Rooms were established in Rainham High Street. Herbert Hunt continued as the long serving sub postmaster into the twentieth century until he was succeeded by Ernest Cozens from Upchurch.

Although some changes had taken place the village had not changed a great deal for some years but the appearance of motorised vehicles which competed on the roads with horse drawn transport became more noticeable. Dr Irby Webster became the first Rainham resident to own a car in the parish.

Overall, Rainham continued to grow quickly which had been the trend since the coming of the railway during the 1850s. The village developed better facilities, encouraged new businesses and appeared to be thriving during the years leading up to World War 1.

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Photo of the White Horse pub in Rainham in early 1900s. Read about life in Rainham in the years leading up to the First World War here

The same scene in 2013. The school to the left of the photo has been replaced by Barclays Bank and the stores of Rainham Shopping centre

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Where is Broad Walk Rainham Kent?

Broadwalk Rainham Kent is shown in many old documents and the old photo below but isn't listed on any current maps. Having checked the details it appears that Broad Walk Rainham is actually now part of the A2 High Street and is the section between the main Rainham High Street/Mierscourt Rd junction and the area that then becomes Moor Street at Otterham Quay Lane.

Notable landmarks for Broad Walk are the Rose pub and Congregational Church which is now a childrens nursery and Men of Kent pub. Buildings in the  area currently that are more known are STS Tyres and Darjeeling Heights restaurant which used to be the Men of Kent pub. 

:http://www.historic-images.co.uk/kent/rainham-kent#-1/7/broad-walk-rainham-1916.jpg 

Congregational Church: This modern Church, situated in Broad Walk, Rainham

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The Railway Crash Disaster of August 1944

One of the most serious incidents experienced locally in World War Two took place in August 1944 when a German V1 rocket, known as a doodle bug, destroyed the bridge in Oak Lane Upchurch shortly before a train approached resulting in a tragic accident causing death, injury and chaos.

According to Peter Wood’s research at ‘Kent History Forum’ dated September 4^th 2013, in the afternoon of August 16th flight lieutenant John Malloy of the RAF chased a V1 rocket in his ‘Tempest’ fighter plane over Kent. In his combat report Malloy wrote that he tried to shoot the rocket down without success then closed in on it and managed to flip it over with the wing of his plane. This worked and the rocket sped downwards but by sheer bad luck it landed almost under the bridge in Oak Lane and not in the surrounding fields. It exploded and completely destroyed the structure. It also killed a railway worker who was sheltering underneath.

As the 3-35 pm Victoria to Ramsgate train with about 400 passengers aboard approached the bridge from Rainham, the driver didn’t notice a problem until he saw smoke directly ahead but it was too late. Both he and the fireman desperately tried to stop the train but they failed and the engine tender and three carriages crashed heavily into the gap. ‘The East Kent Gazette’ of August 1944 reported that the engine was turned upside down and the front two carriages were crushed. The third coach mounted the wreckage in front and the fourth coach was left hanging over the gap where the bridge had previously stood. Passengers jumped from the carriages to help the trapped and injured. Seven passengers were killed in the front two carriages and the body of the dead railway worker who had been killed in the rocket explosion lay on the ground nearby.

With the train and carriages damaged and strewn over the embankment and in the gap where the bridge had stood, the ground was littered with wounded passengers who had been thrown out of the carriages, onto the track and down the embankment.

Miraculously, both the driver and the fireman survived without serious injury. After clambering from the wreck the fireman ran along the track in the direction of the Newington signal box to issue a warning for fear of a train coming from the opposite direction. Luckily, the train travelling to London had already been held up at Sittingbourne otherwise the disaster could have been much worse.

Doctors, ambulances, passers-by and members of the local WRVS were soon on the scene to help the casualties while the nearby transport café known as ‘The Rest Tea Rooms’ situated opposite on the A2 was turned into a temporary hospital as doctors and medical staff rushed to the scene to help. Most of the injured were eventually taken to St Bart’s Hospital in Rochester for emergency treatment.

 According to ‘The East Gazette’ of August 1944 12 passengers were killed and 34 injured although more recent research suggests that less were killed and far more injured.

After the wreckage had been cleared a new bridge was constructed in November 1944 at a cost of £3,800 and it still exists today. The disaster turned out to be the most serious and tragic incident to hit the area during World War Two. 

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John Richardson

World War Two Pathfinder Hero and Rainham Cricket Icon

John Richardson arrived in Rainham during the late 1940s and lived with and worked for a retired Colonel as a batman (a commissioned officer’s personal servant). He also joined Rainham Cricket Club for whom he became a highly successful player and captain.

A secretive man, John Richardson didn't reveal much about his life when socializing with others and remained reluctant to talk about his war experiences but it became known that he originated from the Margate area and served as a pathfinder pilot during World War Two, flying countless missions over Germany. Pathfinders flew low and ahead of the main fighter bombers dropping incendiary bombs to mark targets while usually under heavy fire. John was also awarded the Distinguished Service Order for gallantry in combat but he would never reveal the exact reasons for this. During the process of one of his dangerous missions his plane got hit and he sustained wounds to his lower parts which kept him in hospital for some time.

A genuinely comical character with the ability to tell funny stories and make people laugh, John Richardson seemed very much a man’s man although he was also regarded as a charming person in the company of women but he remained single throughout his life.

During the early 1950s John Richardson became homeless when his employer, the retired colonel, died. Wealthy Rainham farmer Sid Callaway offered him accommodation in his Pudding Lane house, general work on his property and as groundsman at Rainham Cricket Ground. Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s John Richardson spent much of his time at Berengrove Park while Sid Callaway sponsored both him and the club from his own pocket.

John spent time at the ground preparing the wickets and cutting the outfield then captaining and playing for Rainham First XI at the weekends. During the course of the 1950s he became regarded as Rainham's leading batsman, a regular wicket taker with his medium pace seam bowling and astute captain, almost unopposed throughout the decade. His first big performance took place in 1951 when he hit 117 not out against Frindsbury and 88 against Bluebell Hill.

In 1956 John won a bat from the ‘Chatham Observer’ after several outstanding performances that included 101 against Grove Park, 6-21 against Trottescliffe, 5-5 against Medway Officers, 5-22 against Kent Farm Institute and 5-24 against Hobourn Aero.

During this period John Richardson was at his best and his most memorable batting performance took place against Colyer in 1959 when he hit 102 not out in a partnership of 119 in only 32 minutes with Les Wood who got 52 not out. For this innings he won another ‘Chatham Observer’ batting award for the most valuable century for his side. This became his thirteenth century for the club and possibly his best. With 104 not out against Offham in 1962 he scored a total of fourteen centuries for Rainham in his playing career. This became a club record until Keith Morris surpassed it during the 1990s.

John Richardson became Medway District Cricket Secretary and he also represented the Medway Area team as a player. Unfortunately, his playing career with Rainham ended in 1963 after an argument over a match that was played at Berengrove Park that he had asked to be called off due to the wicket being unfit for play. The captain of the side ignored this and proceeded with the game. Because of this John Richardson walked out on the club and refused to play or to fulfill any further part although he did periodically visit the club after this and once played in the club’s annual Married v Singles match. Overall, he goes down as one of Rainham's greatest players and characters in their long history.

After his break with Rainham Cricket Club John Richardson continued living with and working for Sid Callaway and became a kind of adopted son to the Rainham farmer and his wife Doris who didn’t have children. He also became familiar to customers in The Green Lion and Cricketers pubs where he spent much of his free time drinking, smoking and socializing with the locals, usually accompanied by a small Scottie dog that sat under his stool at the bar. John often held centre stage in the bar with a vast repertoire of jokes and his well-known stories like ‘Ponsonby and the gorilla’ which he told with great frequency.

During the late 1980s John Richardson and Sid Callaway became victims of an attack when thieves broke into their house in Pudding Lane, roughed them up and stole various items and cash. Sid Callaway died soon after this and left most of his wealth to John Richardson who died a few years later during the early 1990s. After his death his ashes were scattered on the pitch at Rainham Cricket Ground at his own request and so ended the life of one of Rainham’s most recognizable characters and secretive wartime heroes.

Back row: Roger Spyer, Peter Long,….? John Gorf, Roger Tottman, Clive Chambers, Wally Varley. Front row: Warren Chambers, Sid Callaway, John Richardson, David Hardman, Hughie Russell

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Rainham in the 1850s

Still a relatively small village located on the edge of the borough of Sittingbourne and Milton, Rainham had a population of 1,155 in 1851. This is in comparison with 1801 when only 722 people lived there so the population more than doubled in just fifty years.

The village population mainly inhabited the high street with a small number of houses in White Horse Lane (later Station Road). Although there were some businesses agriculture remained the main source of employment in an area renowned for its wheat growing soil. Cherry orchards existed just off the high street and hops were grown at Moor Street and Siloam Farm in Chapel Lane (now Mierscourt Lane) but much of the farmland was arable with a large wooded area at Rainham Mark.

Principal landowners were the Earl of Thanet, St Katherine’s Hospital and John Wingfield-Stratford while well-known local farmers included Thomas Dodd from central Rainham who owned 300 acres, James Miles who owned 270 acres at Siloam Farm and Richard Wakeley who owned 262 acres and employed 36 men and 4 boys at Moor Street. Smaller farmers included Tom Gilbert, Daniel Green, William Packman, James Mansfield, Walter Prentis, William Smart, Charles Rich, James Wilkins and Robert Watson.

William Walter lived in Berengrave House and owned Berengrove Park and farmland in the locality which also included picturesque woodland with ponds stretching as far as the present day railway station and this served as a popular venue for residents to relax on weekends.

In Rainham High Street St Margaret’s Church stood out as the dominant building where Reverend John Poore served as vicar and Reverend George Cole curate with the parsonage (now a fitness centre) on the other side of the road. Shops were much fewer than in later years and included butcher Robert Maddocks, grocer and draper William Moss, blacksmith George Pope and shopkeeper George Turner. Tom Wyles served as a beer retailer, William Burley as a tailor, James Atkins a malster and James Taylor a plumber and glazier. Farther along the high street at the bottom end of Chapel Lane George Longley had a nursery, later known as Mardale Nursery with a pond and worked as a seedsman while in Lower Rainham Tom Dennis had a grocer’s shop.

Henry Penfold worked as the village doctor and continued to do so for many years while Caroline Bleeze became a long serving postmistress at the post office and also ran a bakery. Thomas Hutchinson and his wife Dorothy ran the National School constructed and opened in White Horse Lane on the site of the present day shopping centre in 1847.

Village pubs included the White Horse run by Charles Sayer then by Mr Conningsby, The Cricketers Inn run by George Harriss, The Lion Hotel run by William Allsworth, The George & Dragon run by Henry Kitchingham and The Three Mariners run by Tom Knight.

Public health periodically arose as an issue, particularly at the beginning of the decade in 1850 when nine people died of cholera caused by sewage contaminated water. Outbreaks of diphtheria and scarlet fever also periodically broke out.

The construction of the railway and the station became the most important development during the decade. The station opened on January 25^th 1858 and became known as ‘Rainham & Newington’ until it was renamed ‘Rainham’ in 1862. The station’s two storey brick building incorporated the station master’s accommodation. A wooden shelter stood on the south side of the station for waiting passengers and a foot track linked the two platforms with a goods shed connected by a single track at the Gillingham end. Because a signal box didn’t exist the points were operated by manual levers.

The railway brought immediate benefits to the village. Firstly, local farmers who had sold much of their produce locally or had it transported by slow moving barges to London were now able to transport their produce to the capital much quicker by train. The railway also opened the way for an increase in the local population, attracting more people to the area in forthcoming years.

Watercolour painting of Rainham in around 1800 - by 1850 the population had doubled to 1,155

Because of long working hours many residents had little spare time and few recreational facilities existed apart from local pubs. This changed for cricket lovers in 1856 when farmers Richard Mansfield Wakeley and Thomas Dodd formed Rainham Cricket Club and James Miles who owned Siloam Farm allowed the club the use of his meadow for home matches. The first match played by Rainham took place against The Angel Club, Strood on Wednesday July 2^nd 1856. Although Rainham lost the game they quickly improved and became one of the strongest clubs in the area led by their captain Richard Wakeley and played matches as far away as Selling near Faversham. Thomas Stanley Wakeley, Edward Dodd, James Atkins, William Burley, Charles Moss, James Mansfield and James Miles were some of the original players.

Photo of TS Wakeley, Corn Merchant in Rainham Kent

Although Rainham still maintained the image of a small village at the end of the 1850s’ it continued to expand with the coming of the railway and this led to an increase in the local population which had risen to 3,905 by 1901. This doubling of the population and an expansion of businesses in just fifty years followed the trend seen in the first half of the century making Rainham the biggest village in the area.

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