1959 News - Hartley-Kent: Covering Hartley, Longfield & District

09 Jan 1959 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)

She left it all to the dealer….

"As it was her first experience of motor vehicles, Mrs Dora Stokes, 62 of Keston Nurseries, Church Road, Hartley, left everything to the dealer when she bought a motorcycle, [NAME], representing her, told Gravesend magistrates.

Then she had a slight accident with a van, and was amazed when the police officer checking on it told her that she had no driving licence. 'I described a driving licence in detail to her and she told me she had never had one,' said PC [NAME].

Mrs Stokes had a certificateof insurance, but it was invalid as she was not licensed to drive, he said.  Mrs Stokes was fined £10 for not having a licence and insurance in force."

16 Jan 1959 Tonbridge Free Press (KM)

Hottsfield House for Sale

"Messrs Porter Putt & Fletcher… offer the following properties for sale: Hartley, Hottsfield - very attractive modern detached semi-bungalow.  Hall, lounge/dining room, large kitchen, sun lounge, 4 bedrooms, bathroom, brick garage, excellent condition, £3,800"  [I think this is probably Rorty Crankle, formerly called Sandhurst]

23 Jan 1959 Tonbridge Free Press (KM)

Chickens for sale

(Advert) D.O. R.I.R [Rhode Island Red] and L.S. [Light Sussex] Pullets, £14 per 100.  Cockerels £3.  Hatching weekly - Hart, The Laurels, Manor Lane, Hartley, Dartford."

04 Feb 1959 Tatler

Crufts Entrant

Picture of Mr E G Russell-Roberts [Edmund Godfrey Russell-Roberts 1905-1990] of Picaroon Kennels, Hartley with one of their Papillon dogs at Crufts [The Old Forge, Ash Road]

13 Feb 1959 Kentish Express

100,000 Houses Built in Kent Since War

"Over 60,000 were council homes.  Since April 1945, over 106,550 houses have been built by councils or housing associations.  Private building has also been at a fast rate and to date 45,948 private houses have been built since 1945.  Most private houses have been built at Orpington  Here 4,530 have already been built and another 257 are under construction.  Gillinghan has built more council houses than any other council in the county,  Nearly 3,000 have gone up since the war and 82 are being built.  A lot of development has also taken place in Dartford Rural District.  Over 2,220 council houses have been put up plus another 3,207 private houses."

27 Feb 1959 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)

Shell ploughed up

"A live 4.6 AA shell, unearthed by [NAME] of Longfield, when ploughing Fawkham Manor Land, was exploded by Royal Engineers from Maidstone on Friday."

27 Mar 1959 KM (Gravesend Telegraph)

Longfield Student for Rugby Tour

"Included in a Cambridge University Rugby team to make a 10 day playing tour of France is [NAME] (21) of Bushwood, Main Road, Longfield….at one time [NAME] was captain of the King's school Rochester First XV."

10 Apr 1959 Tonbridge Free Press (KM)

Miss Top Typist

"17 years old [NAME] [pictured] who lives at Arden [Gorsewood Road], Hartley near Dartford, has won first prize for the intermediate typing examination held by the London Chamber of Commerce.  The examination consists of a set paper, tabulation and a speed test of 45 words a minute."

10 Apr 1959 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)

Site of Johns Close for sale

(advert) "Building land with planning permission.  1½ acres.  Hartley. £3,500.  Longfield 2185."  [Chatham Observer of 6/3/1959 says the site with PP for 6 bungalows was priced at £2,950]

10 Apr 1959 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)

London Refuse at Sole Street

"Railway trucks, loaded with refuse from southwark, standing overnight in sidings at Sole street, are annoying residents and Strood Council….. In a report to Friday's council meeting, the public health committee said that the refuse was collected in Southwark and loaded into wagons to be tipped at Southwark's rubbish dump at Longfield.  There were occasions when wagons stood ovrnight at Sole Street, due to fog, conditions of the tip, an abnormal number of wagons, or because of refuse smouldering in them....."  BR to be asked to stop doing this.

24 Apr 1959 Chatham Observer

Bookmaker broke window panes with hammer

"A commission agent, [NAME], High Street, Snodland with a business in Strood, was fined £1 at Dartford on Monday when he pleaded guilty to breaking 5 window panes with a hammer in the porch of Mr Robert Burnsten Wilson's house in Stack Lane, Hartley [Romney Cottage].  He ws ordered to pay £5 compensation for the damage.

Chief Inspector said Mr Burnsten Wilson received a telephone call from [NAME] asking him about a cheque which a subcontractor had paid into McDonald who had cashed it.  It was issued by Mr Burnsten Wilson to the subcontractor and was returned to McDonald marked by the bank 'Refer to Drawer'.  When McDonald called at the house at Hartley for the money Mr Burnsten Wilson said he would have it in a few days.

In a statement to the police, McDonald said he smashed the windows 'on an impulse'.  He told the court he had paid cash for the cheque, which was for £18."

15 May 1959 Tonbridge Free Press (KM)

They're off on a 2,000 miles' tour of Europe

"8 members of the Young Conservatives' Branch at Hartley near Gravesend, are to go on a 2,000 miles' tour of the Continent at the end of the month.  They will start from Gravesend, cross to Calais, and then go through France, Switzerland and Italy in a Dormobile.  They will camp each night.  Organiser of the 15 day trip is 23 years old Mr [NAME] of June Hill, Hartley, chairman of the Young Conservatives.  Other members of the party are [NAME], Brushwood, Main Road, Longfield;[NAME], Ashenden, Gorsewood, Hartley; [NAME], Elwine, Ash Road, Hartley; [NAME], 1 Wye Road, Gravesend; [NAME], 129 Darnley Road, Gravesend; [NAME], Loxwood, Gorsewood Road, Hartley; and [NAME], 25 Villa Road, Mid Higham, near Gravesend.  The trip will cost each member of the party £30."

15 May 1959 Chatham Observer

Dartford RDC election results

Hartley -Miss E A Everard, ship owner [?1923-?2013] Conservative 702, Mrs L F Brakefield, housewife [?1899-?1970]) Labour 72.  Ash - W Simmons (Cons) 254, Labour 43

29 May 1959 Tonbridge Free Press (KM)

Adverts

(Advert - Porter Putt & Fletcher of Gravesend) "Hartley - Green Way.  Modern semi-detached bungalow, convenient shops and station, hall, lounge, half tiled kitchen with Rayburn, 3 bedrooms, half tiled bathroom, built in garage, £2,700"

[Probably no. 3 which changed hands in 1959, but possibly no 7 which changed hands in 1960]

"New house. 40 minutes Victoria.  Oil fired central heating, 3 bedrooms, lounge, dining, kitchen, bathroom, cloakroom, garage, garden, £3,850.  Beck, Windrush, Ash Road, Hartley, Dartford."

Kent Educational Committee

Hartley CE Primary School.  Female part time assistant for clerical and other non-teaching duties required for 5 hours weekly during term time.  Salary 3s 6d per hour...."

21 Aug 1959 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)

Kent Man's Invention to be shown in London

"An invention by a Kent man will be seen by thousands of visitors to the Do-It-Yourself Exhibition at Olympia, London from September 3rd to 19th.  It is a seed sower shown by Mr A G O'Hara of Thames View, Hartley, Near Dartford.  It is one of the 16 inventions selected from many submitted from all parts of Britain and Eire for display in a special section at the exhibition.  In past years, several inventions selected for display have been taken up by manufacturers."

Footpath diversion

KCC propose a variation in footpath no 4 in Longfield in Station Road opposite Kent Road.  [Presumably this is the Station Road - Hartley Road footpath, the diversion allowed the construction of 55-59 which occurred the following year]

04 Sep 1959 Tonbridge Free Press (KM)

Old Downs Assistant Matron required

(Advert) "Kent County Council require Assistant Matron (Resident) at the Old Downs, Hartley, Longfield, providing accommodation for 39 old people (men and women).  Candidates need not have done this work before provided they possess genuine interest in care and welfare of old people, and are likely to meet requirements within a short time.  Salary £325 to £365 a year, with residential emoluments valued at £144 a year...."

18 Sep 1959 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)

Cowman Wanted

"Good cowman wanted in few weeks' time - Fulford, New House Farm, Hartley, Dartford."

02 Oct 1959 Tonbridge Free Press (KM)

Fawkham Pumping Station

(Public Notice) "Water Acts 1945 and 1948.  Medway Water Board.  Fawkham Pumping Station.

Notice is hereby given that the Medway Water Board… are about to apply to the Minister of Housing and Local Government for an order under section 23 of the Water Act 1945....

The general effect of the order will be:

(1) To empower the Board on or under land situated partly in the parish of Fawkham and partly in the parish of Longfield... to

(a) Construct, alter or continue and maintain a well or borehold and pumping station; and

(b) construct and maintain (in addition to the works authorised by section 4 of the 3rd schedule to the Water Act 1945) all such wells, boreholes, adits and headings as may be necessary for augmenting or improving the supply of water obtainable by means of the well or borehold and pumping station referred to in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph.

2 To empower the Board to take for the purposes of their undertakig any underground waters from the chalk formation (not being water flowing in a defined channel) which may be intercepted by means of any of the works mentioned in the last foregoing paragraph but not exceeding a greater quantity of water than:

(a) 548,000,000 gallons in any one year reckoned from 9am on the 1st day of January to 9am on the 1st day of January in the following year; or

(b) 2,000,000 gallons in any one day of 24 hours reckoned from 9am.

3 To authorise the Board to acquire by compulsion land in the said parishes and rural district for the purposes of the said works........"

16 Oct 1959 Tonbridge Free Press (KM)

It's the Confident Look

"It's the confident look for Great Dane Helena of Ashthorpe from her young playmate, 9 years old [NAME].  She will be out to justify that confidence when she defends the two silver cups she won last year at this Saturday's Dane of the Year Show at Wimbledon.  Helena, who also has one challenge certificate and 48 other awards, belongs to [NAME] mother, Mrs R Drinkwater [Joan V Drinkwater 1922-1965] of Church Road, Hartley, near Dartford."

17 Oct 1958 Chatham Observer

Champion

Picture of Robert E Hood [1924-1999], aged 33 of Luton near Chatham who won the North Kent Ploughing Cup at New House Farm, Hartley on Saturday.

06 Nov 1959 Tonbridge Free Press (KM)

Door will be old folk's way of escape from flooding

Longfield Parish Council Meeting.  "A wall to keep back flood water is not to be built near the old people's flats at Whitehill Cross Roads, Longfield, the Parish Council was informed on Monday.  Instead there will be a door built to connect the ground floor to the upstairs flat, so that if there is flooding as there was last year, the residents will be able to easily get to safety.  'This is the most fantastic think I have ever heard,' said Dr Peter Read, 'They are providing an escape hatch so that the risk of drowning is slightly less.'  As ther are other flood precautions being taken near the spot, the council agreed to wait for further development.

Regarding complaints about smoke nuisance from the refuse tip at Longfield Siding, the council was informed by Southwark Borough Council, the users of the tip, that the inconvenience was regretted and that there had been no fires there for 2 weeks.  What often looked like smoke was in fact steam from a railway engine.  Mr F Sims said he had never heard anything so fatuous as the remark about steam.  He sometimes laid choking in bed from the bad smell from the tip which often came right into the village.  The council was told that people in the New Barn area were petitioning to have the nuisance stopped.

The county council, it was stated, thought the best site for the proposed subway under the railway line at Hartley Road was on the east side of the road on the same side as Fawkham Station.  If constructed on the west side the cost would be increased by about 50 per cent.  The parish council thinks the subway should be on the west side.  'You can't value in pounds, shillings and pence the cost to people who lose parts of their gardens when they are small anyway,' said Dr Read."

[Mr Sims 1915-1981 lived in the Drive, New Barn, so was fairly close to the tip]

Hartley Country Club an Asset to the District

"Hartley Country Club is in a flourishing state and there are many more young members which augurs well for its future.  This was stated by Mr William Simmons at the 25th annual dinner in the beautifully decorated club hall on Saturday in proposing a toast to the club.  'The club is such an asset to social life in Hartley and the surrounding area that it is in danger of being taken for granted,' said Mr Simmons, 'All it sports sections are doing well.'  Mr Simmons paid tribute to the work of the officers, especially the chairman, secretary and treasurer.

Responding, [NAME], chairman, reviewedd the past year which had brough many problems, not least of which was the appointment of a new steward and stewardess and groundsman.  They had also to find a new secretary and treasurer and was glad to say that Mr H Bennett and [NAME] were very efficiently carrying out these duties.  [NAME] said the club was particularly fortunate in its present chairman of the entertainments committee, Mr E Cherry [1930-1997], whose energy and organisation was proving of the greatest value to the club.  [NAME] expressed his great appreciation of the support given him by the members of the Board and looked forward with confidence to the future of the club.  He hoped that members would make greater use of its facilities.

[NAME] proposed a toast to the ladies and Mrs M E Venus [1913-2001] responded.  Mr W H Pearcey [William H Pearcey 1891-1983] welcomed the guests and [NAME] responded."

12 Nov 1959 Tonbridge Free Press (KM)

Hartley Social Club is Going Well

"The early days of Hartley Social Club during which there was a struggle to attact members and money, were recalled by its president, Mr D T R Gray at the 25th anniversary dinner in the club hall which had been attractively decorated by the entertainments secretary, [NAME].  More than 50 members were present.

In a toast to the club, [NAME], president of the Kent Branch of the Club and Institute Union, said the union was one of the largest social organisations in the country with 3,500 clubs and more than 2 million members.  'It is the village clubs such as Hartley which are the backbone of the union and help it attain its objects,' siad Mr McCombie.  He paid an eloquent tribute to the work done for the union by Mr Gray.

Mr Gray in his reply said the club had long since overcome its difficulties and was now highly successful.  He praised the club officers in running the club with voluntary labour, especially Mr F J Crouch, vice president; Mr H S Bennett, secretary; and [NAME], entertainments secretary.  The ladies and guests were welcomed by [NAME] and [NAME], education and games secretary of the Kent branch of the Institute Union, responded."

04 Dec 1959 Tonbridge Free Press (KM)

Fatal Collapse at Car Wheel

"While driving his car along Cobham Terrace, Greenhithe, in the fog on Tuesday night on his way home, Mr Leslie William Allden, 47, of [1] Fairby Lane, Hartley, near Gravesend, collapsed and died at the wheel.  The car crashed into the grass verge.  Mr Allden, a married man with no family, was in business as a chemist at High Street, Greenhithe."

Bank Clerk Wanted

(Advert) "Martins Bank Ltd, Longfield have a vacancy for Junior Lady Clerk, age 16/18, for general clerical duties.  Good standard of education necessary.  Salary from £300 p.a. according to age.  Phone Longfield 2189 for interview."

25 Dec 1959 Tonbridge Free Press (KM)

Mr Arthur Potter has Served Longfield Well

"One of the finest public servants the north Kent village of Longfield has is 68 years old Mr Arthur Edward Potter (pictured), who lives at 27 Essex Road.

He was born in a tiny Suffolk village, the 8th child of a family of 14.  When he was 12 his father died and young Arthur had to start work to help keep his family.

In 1911 he joined the Royal Navy and during the first world war saw service in the Dardenelles and in the Battle of Jutland.  During the winter of 1919 he was serving in a destroyer in the Baltic during the aftermath of the Russian Revolution and in 1920 still in destroyers he was in Irish waters during the Irish trouble.

Leaving the Navy in 1924 with the rank of Leading Seaman, he worked in various places until he obtained employment in Longfield in 1928.  Almost from the time he arrived in the village, Mr Potter has devoted himself to public work and anything that has to do with the betterment of the parish commands his keen support.

He played the tenor horn in Longfield Band and was its secretary.  To his great regret the band faded out in 1928 owing to lack of support.  But Mr Potter soon found his leisure time fully occupied.  He joined the committee of the once flourishing Longfield Horticultural Society, the Village Hall committee and the committee of the local football club.  In 1929, Mr Potter joined the British Legion and devoted himself to work for the local branch.  Within a year he was appointed secretary.  4 years later he became vice-chairman.  After 5 years he took over the chairmanship and held this office for 9 years.  When he resigened he was made a life member of the branch.  For a time the branch went into suspension, but when it was reformed Mr Potter was once again called upon to take the job of chairman.  He carried on until 1957 when he was elected a vice president and a year later he was honoured by being elected president.  Recently when he relinquished this post he was made a life vice-president, a fitting reward for a man who more than 30 years has worked so hard for the welfare of ex-servicemen and their dependents.

For 28 years Mr Potter has served on the Parish Council and is its present vice-chairman.  He has seen street lighting brought into the village and is hoping with all other Longfield residents that it will not be long before the main drainage scheme for the village is carried out.  He is also anxious to see the village provided with a recreation ground.

Keenly interested in education, Mr Potter has since 1951 been a governor of Northfleet Boys' and Girls' Secondary Schools and since 1944 has been a member of the Board of Managers of Longfield Primary School.  His ambition is to see a secondary school built in the Longfield area to avoid the long journeys of some pupils and to provide a centre for further education in the evenings.  He has been chairman of the Longfield Youth Club Management Committee since its inception and as a founder member of the Longfield Hill Community Hall committee he worked hard to get the community hall built there.

During the last war Mr Potter served as a volunteer in Civil Defence and was leader of a heavy rescue party.  In this capacity he was called out to nearly all the major incidents in the Dartford Rural Area.

Mr Potter is very proud of a clock that was presented to him on his retirement by Dartford Rural Council for whom he worked in the housing department for nearly 30 years as a ganger and later as storekeeper.  Since he retired earlier this year he spends much of his time on his allotment.  'Longfield has lost much of its rural charm since I have been here,' he said, 'and is becoming a small town.' "