Photos

This photo of Bumbles wine bar was taken in November 1982. The sign in the window reads "Bumbles Open Thursday 18th Nov at 7pm" so presumably the photo was taken to advertise the opening of the wine bar on that date. Bumbles wine bar was located on Rainham High Street almost opposite Pudding Road. The wine bar was owned by James Field. The building is now PHC Homecare appliance repair shop.

Apparently the building was Fred's Cafe in the 1960s with many people having fond memories of visiting for strong cups of tea. By 1990 the building had become an Indian restaurant so Bumbles Wine bar was open less than 8 years. Fred's Cafe in Rainham is listed in the 1951 High Street traders at 126 High Street.

Bumbles wine bar was located on Rainham High Street almost opposite Pudding Road

I can't really recall this wine bar existing in Rainham when I was a teenager so assume it wasn't open for very long.

The photo below shows the PHC service centre in 2001. You can see the step is the same as the Bumbles wine bar photo above.

Bumbles wine bar was located on Rainham High Street previously Fred's cafe in the 1960s

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Channel Tunnel Rail Link bridge across River Medway

Although not directly affecting Rainham as the line passes some miles away, these images give a good impression of the impact of the CTRL line on the Kentish landscape of Channel Tunnel Rail Link bridge across River Medway. This also shows the construction of the new motorway bridge built to expand the M2 motorway to four lanes each direction across the River Medway which widened the motorway between junctions 1 and 4 in early 2003.

Medway Bridges, 2002

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This photo of Chestnuts on High Street Rainham was kindly provided by Michael Ball who writes "My grandmother, and sisters were born in Popes Hall in Hartlip and eventually moved to Canada. I have a fairly extensive collection of Wakeley and Rainham pictures which I have added to my family history collection. I am attaching an early picture of what I believe is "The Chestnuts" on the High Street in Rainham. I believe that it was the home of one of the members of the Wakeley family at one time."

This impressive building was demolished to make way for housing in Rainham.

It was reported for the 1887 Jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria that "At The Chestnuts, a house owned by local preacher and businessman Thomas Stanley Wakeley, the colours of the barge ‘Richmond’ surmounted the building accompanied by a transparency of the crown surrounded by flags."

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Copsey Butchers were located at 78 Station Road Rainham Kent. This photo is undated but was taken pre 1930 as the original Cricketer's pub is still there. From the atire and streets it would appear to be around 1910.

The London Central Meat Company shop with the sign Prime OX Beef is on the corner of Hothfield Road and Station Road and is still the same look although currently brightly painted and as of 2024 occupied by Redbook accountants

Copsey Butchers Station Road Rainham

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This photo of the Crest Packaging (Bowaters) Water tower ball was taken in 1993 just before the Tesco Extra store opened on the former papermill site. You can see the works to create car park in the bottom of the picture. Photo thanks to Joe Ennis

Crest Packaging Water Tower Tesco Extra Rainham

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Subcategories

Rainham Roads Article Count: 27

Roads around the Rainham - old photos of how roads used to look in days gone by

Rainham People Article Count: 34

Decades - Old Photos Article Count: 9

Old photos by decade

Page 1 of 4

Bumbles Wine Bar - Rainham Kent 1982

Channel Tunnel Rail Link

Chestnuts High Street Rainham Kent

Copsey Butchers Station Road Rainham Kent c1910

Crest Packaging Water Ball 1993 (now Tesco Extra)

Subcategories

Rainham Roads Article Count: 27

Rainham People Article Count: 34

Decades - Old Photos Article Count: 9

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