Major Site Updates

The site has undergone a major update today to freshen the look and fix some navigation issues. There are also a number of new articles and photos that have been added.

It has been tested in Google Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer 7 but if any errors are spotted please get in touch as not all pages may have been checked.

If you have any comments about the site please let me know.

Mystery Photographs - Berengrave Lane Rainham 1900s

I was contacted recently by someone selling a postcard of Berengrave Lane Rainham on Ebay that was virtually identical to one that is on the Rainham History site. Nothing strange there you might think - except on closer inspection the majority of photo is completely identical - all the people are in the same poses and same positions but with the addition of 2 young lads in the foreground.

There are a couple of possibilities. Firstly that 2 shots were taken and the lads wandered into one shot. The other that the lads were added or removed in the darkroom at a later date which looks to be the more likely possibility.

Have a look and see what you think!

Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre 30th Birthday

Hempstead Valley shopping centre, known locally as Savacentre or Sava is celebrating its 30^th birthday this month. What may seem commonplace now was groundbreaking in 1978 as there were very few other out of town shopping centres of this size at the time.

When originally opened the main shop was Sainsburys Savacentre, the brand they originally created for their large hypermarkets. At the time Sainsburys was by far the largest supermarket in the UK with Tesco trailing far behind – a far cry from the current situation with Tesco leading the field. The centre was redeveloped in the early 1990s with an extension and new shops like M&S being added.

The challenge is to remember all the original shops that were there when the centre opens….Sainsburys, Presto (then became Safeway) - but which others?

Farthing Corner - Fardon Corner - Last Prize Fight

Message for Freddie Cooper - Hello my name is Jeff Farthing.

My Great Great Great Grandfather was John Farthing Born in 1763 in Trimley St Martin In Suffolk, He married a Jane (Barber) (Their children shown below)!!!!!!!!
The local family history society in Felixstowe have transposed information in a book which they have published.
In the book 4 of John Farthing's children were mentioned as having the surname (Fardon) Sarah born in 1793 Twins born in 1795 Britannia & Rebecca John born in 1798 (My Gt Gt Grandfather) Then........................
1801 Mary (Farthing) was born
1802 Robert (Farthing) was born
1809 Elizabeth (Farthing)was born

So circa 1798 - 1801 Fardon may have changed to Farthing.

You wrote an article re the last bareknuckle prize fight which you said mentioned fardon's corner which you were unable to find on any map, maybe changed from Fardon Corner to Farthing Corner, around the time of my possible family name change, could be a large Fardon/Farthing family lived there ???

Farthing name is linked to many village names in UK & Norway, there was a Viking King Farthegn, possibly why there are so many village names with Farthing in them and maybe variants of the name ??, He came from Karmoy in Norway.

Their is a Farthing Corner Rainham Kent ME8 8PQ (Possibly the place you were trying to locate ??)

I hope that the above may be of interest to you

Rainham Football team

I found the website very interesting.

Would there be any chance of information about the football team?

I have this photo but no knowledge of the event it commemorates. My grandfather and great grandfather are both in the photo which must have been taken prior to August 1911 when he married and moved to Dartford aged 21.

Thank you for all your hard work.

Regards Linda

Update from Linda - 21/7/08

My grandfather is holding the cup, he was Albert Charles Tadman. His father George is second from the left in the first standing row, he has a moustache and a role neck sweater. The very tall man at the back appears in many old photos that we inherited from my grandmother but we have no idea who he is.

Location of Rainham Down?

Hello, I wonder if you could help me with a query?

I am trying to find where 'Rainham Down' was. It is mentioned in the Thomas Arden play, and was the place where Anne of Cleves met Henry VIII's officials when she journeyed to Rochester to meet him for the first time. I've always supposed it was the hill between Rainham Mark and Rainham High street (London Road). I'd be grateful if anyone could clarify this.

Many thanks, Stephen Holley

Tunnels in Bredhurst

My name is Mark Price and I may have something you maybe interested in.
I came across your web-site while looking for someone that maybe able to shead some light on something I found a couple of years ago in Bredhurst Woods, Bredhurst.

It appears to be some type of small round underground man made tunnel with its own fireplace. One side is what I think is hand made brick, the other carvered out of rock and chalk. I realise that I'm not being very decryptive so I've added some photos I've taken to so you can have a look for yourself. Also very close to the tunnel lays a chalk cave which someone dug. The cave goes into the side of a chalk wall about 10/15 feet and just wondered if you could guess what they were used for?

I would be greatful for any information you maybe able to give.