1900 News
History > Newspaper Stories 1900 - 2000 > 1900-1919
06 Jan 1900 Northfleet Standard
A Longfield Yeoman
"Mr A Allen, of Longfield, has volunteered for service in South Africa in the Imperial Yeomanry Corps, and has been accepted." [Archibald William Allen of New Barn Farm, Longfield]20 Jan 1900 Northfleet Standard
Mysterious Disappearence of a Domestic Servant
"On Thursday week, about 2 o'clock, Mary Jane Leaman left her master's residence, The Briars, Longfield, Kent, for the purpose of shopping at Gravesend. She was afterwards heard of manking purchases in High Street of that town, about 4.30pm since which time no tidings of her whereabouts have been gleaned. Description: Hair, black and inclined to curl, not very long, small fringe; forehead, rather low with one or two lines across; eyebrows, black, rather close together and well marked; eyelashes, black and medium length; eyes, bright, rather small, hazel, with a touch of light brown; nose, small, short and inclined to turn up; lips, thin, rather pale, narrow, and not very curved; teeth, small; chin, small, rather prominent and denoting a strong will; complexion, rosy when in good health, mole on left side of face, a little below the mouth; ears, small and almost round; head altogether rather small and round, and face not fat; arms, strong looking, and not very long; hands, rather large, well formed, and showing signs of work; feet, rather large and long; inclinded to be stout; height 5ft 3ins; dressed when last seen: Hat, black straw, trimmed with white and black; jacket, brown, with rather large sleeves, big buttons and pockets; bodice and skirt, black, bodice trimmed with jet; gloves, probably brown or black kid, brown fur with tails round neck; brooch, small gold saftey pin with heart set with sparks; rings (1) plain gold band, set with 3 to 5 medium sized diamonds; (2) imitation ruby ring; watch, small, silver, with a short fancy chain and small gold padlock; handbag, small, brown and probably containing a small dark blue or black purse; basket, fancy rush, light fawn, with 2 handles. The police at Dartford, Longfield and Gravesend are investigating the matter and are desirous of tracing and finding her, and any reasonable expenses will be defrayed by her master on receipt of information proving her present whereabouts."02 Feb 1900 Bromley Journal and West Kent Herald
Animal Cruelty at Longfield
(Dartford Magistrates) "At this court on Saturday…. Thomas Pollock Shields, of Longfield, was summoned for maliciously shooting a black retriever dog, the property of Henry Tomlin, on January 19th. The prosecutor, who is Postmaster at Longfield, sent his daughter with a telegram to Longfield Hill, and she took the dog with her. The dog went into the defendant's garden, and he shot it in the left shoulder, the dog dying aobut 4 hours afterwards. The defence was that the dog was in the habit of going into defendant's garden, and he had cautioned prosecutor's son. The defendant was fined £5 and was ordered to pay the prosecutor £5 compensation."05 Feb 1900 Northfleet Standard
Price of Horse Shoes
"Notice. At a meeting held by the Farriers and Shoeing Smiths of the town and neighbourhood, the whole of the trade decided upon an advance in the charge of sixpence a set of four shoes, dated as from the first day of February 1900. Signed by the following:Gravesend (Robert Gates, Messrs Gillis & Robinson, W G Harpun, A L Vaughan, G Church. Shorne (George Bailey), Northfleet (A W Newby), Swanscombe (G Head), Chalk (O Mullender), Cobham (A Walker), Perry Street (Henry Levings), Henhurst Cobham (Thomas Russell), Westwood Southfleet (W Levings), Meopham (P Dalton, H Wells), Longfield (W High), Hartley (E Cooper)"
10 Mar 1900 Northfleet Standard
Neglected Children
"On Saturday last at the Dartford Police Court Walter and Sarah Danson were summoned for neglecting their 4 children who were said to have lived in an oast house at Longfield. Inspector WN Stanton of the NSPCC, said the children had been very well fed, it would seem, but they were literally covered with vermin. A Dartford Union Portress and Dr Bryden gave similar evidence. The justices sentenced both prisoners to one month's hard labour."17 Mar 1900 Northfleet Standard
Shocking Neglect of Children
Meopham. "John Brown, labourer, and Ellen Brown, his wife, were charged at the Rochester County Police Court on Tuesday morning with wilfully neglecting their 3 children, aged 11, 6 and 2 years respectively, in a manner likely to cause them unnecessary suffering and injury to health. They pleaded not guilty. Mr G Clinch prosecuted on behalf of the NSPCC. He said that in March 1897, the prisoners were before the Bench on a similar charge against 2 of their children. Now they had 5 children, but the complaint had only been laid in respect of 3. The family had been living at Longfield Hill in a hopper, and leaving the children in a neglected and disgraceful state - The Society's Inspector gave prisoners certain warnings. They then removed, and for some time Mr Stanton lost sight of them, but he subsequently found them living with the 5 children at Brimstead Bottom in the stable. There was no bed accommodation, the whole family lying on a truss of straw with some old bags and rags, and in the immediate neighbourhood of the place where the family slept was a large quantity of stagnant water and manure. The children were extremely dirty, their heads and bodies being covered with vermin. The earnings of the prisoners was 30 shillings a week, and the neglect was largely attributed to the drunken habits of the man. - Evidence was given by PC Wickens, Inspector Stanton NSPCC, and Dr Bryden. The witnesses added that the only furniture in the stable was an old perambulator, and there being no chimney to the fire place, the door had to be left open to let out the smoke. - The woman said she had done her best for the children, but the male prisoner had nothing to say - Each prisoner was sentenced to 3 calendar months' hard labour."24 Mar 1900 Gravesend Reporter
Death From Lockjaw
"The Borough Coroner (Mr WG Penman) held an inquest on Monday afternoon, at the Town Hall, touching the death of the Charles Dann, aged 58, general labourer, of Longfield, who died at the Gravesend Hospital on Thursday afternoon in last week. - Mr William Warner was foreman of the jury. - George S Hill, blacksmith, of St John's Cottages, Longfield Hill, said deceased and himself were eomployed by Mr George Thomas Lind [?Lynds], of Longfield Hill. On 17th February, whilst stacking planks in the yard, decesased let the end of a plank fall on the forefinger of his left hand. It bled a little. Deceased bathed it in cold hand. It bled a little. Deceased bathed it in cold water and wrapped it in linen. He then went to his lodgings and did not return to work again - Ann Swann, widow, living at the Brickfields, Longfield, stated that deceased lodged with her. He saw a doctor on February 19h, and on Saturday week complained of pains in the face and back. He also had difficulty in swallowing food. - Dr Lacey of Sutton at Hone deposed that he first saw deceased on 19th February. He had split his left forefinger. On March 5th he came to witness again, and complained of siffness about the jaws. Acting on his advice he went to the Gravesend Hospital. He was of opinion that deceased must have got some foreign substance into the wound. Lockjaw might be brought about from the slightest wound or injury. - Dr WH Randolph, house surgeon at Gravesend Hospital, said deceased was admitted there on 12th March. Witnes sent for Dr Pinching, who prsecribed the treatment he was to undergo. Deceased was seized with tetanic spasms, and afterwards had ocasional slight twitches. The cause of death was tetanus, following the injury to the finger. By the Coroner: Witness could only say it might and might not have prevented lockjaw by amputating the finger shortly after the accident. - Mrs Swann, recalled, said deceased seemed better for a few days after 5th March - A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned."12 Apr 1900 Morning Post
Servant Wanted
Wanted - married couple, husband as gardener, wife to do laundry work… will live in lodge. Address: ED Old Downs05 May 1900 Gravesend Standard
New Rating Basis
Swanscombe Parish Council report that new basis of county rating will cause rates to rise by an average 13.45 per cent in Dartford Union. Increases in per cent for individual parishes are Hartley (+ 3.31), Ash (+ 15.31), Longfield (+ 4.61), Fawkham (+ 18.82), Ridley (+ 9.56). Only Swanscombe will see a fall in rates.]12 May 1900 Gravesend Reporter
Fatal Accident at Longfield
"A lad named William Farmer, in the employ of Mr Chambers, Manor Farm, Betsham, met with a fatal accident last Friday afternoon. It appears that deceased and a man named Martin were returning home from Meopham with a waggon and 2 horses. When at Longfield the deceased got off the waggon to attend to one of the horses, after which, whilst the waggon was still in motion, he tried to get upon it again. He missed his hold and fell, and was run over. The poor lad received such injuries that he died whilst being conveyed to the Gravesend Hospital."[Separate report in Northfleet Standard of 19/5/1900 mentions a cyclist witness, Mr Lockyer of Orpington, who called for assistance and gave him brandy]
12 May 1900 Chatham Observer
Shocking Railway Tragedy
"News of the terrible death which had befallen Mr Thomas Albert Bullock, tailor, off New Brompton, caused quite a sensation when it became generally known in the district on Wednesday morning. It would appear that Mr Bullock, who also had a business in Commercial Road, London, travelled almost daily to and from London and had a season ticket. On Tuesday evening he was journeying down the line by the train due to arrive at New Brompton at 8.25, an was riding alone in a 2nd class compartment. As the train passed Longfield Siding - a siding on the Meopham side of Fawkham Station - he either jumped or fell from teh compartment onto the up line, and was immediately caught by the Dover boat express which was going in the opposite direction. The driver of the express reported at Fawkham Station tha the had run over somebody, and whne hte officials wend down the line a sickening spectacle met their sight. The body had been literally cut to pieces and fragments were picked up for a distance of 200 yards along the line. The head and limbs were torn from the body, and it was quite impossible to identify the remains. Papers found on the clothing led the officials to believe it was Mr Bullock who had met his death, and when his son went up to Fawkham the following morning he was able to identify the clothing. The deceased was well known in New Brompton and Chatham, having opened a tailoring business in the former town about 14 years since. He was a son of Mr J B Bullock, who for a considerable period was manager of the Axe Brand works at Chatham for Messrs Cook & Son. He leaves a widow and a family of one son and two daughters. At the County Police Court on Friday, in evidence given in a case of alleged embezzlement by a tailor named Ward, it appeared that Mr Bullock had sold his business to Mrs Bennett and was acting as her general manager. He was one of the witnesses bound over to give evidence at Ward's trial at the next Quarter Sessions."An Open Verdict (Chatham Observer 19/5/1900) - Lengthy report of inquest at Railway Tavern Longfield. Jury accept coroner's recommendation of an open verdict because there was no indication he had threatened to take his life, or that he had any money problems. It was reported that he had been separated from his wife and had agreed to pay her 25 shillings a week maintenance. "Henry Lexter .... said he was driving the 6 o'clock passenger train from Dover on Tuesday evening. The last stoppage was as Chatham, and coming through the Fawkham cutting he noticed the door of a down train open. When that train had passed his engine a short distance, he felt as if he was crushing something under his engine. He concluded something had fallen from the train, but could not tell whether it was a man or a carriage door, or anything else, as it was dusk. He stopped at Fawkham to report the matter and examined the engine. There was no marks on the buffer beam, but remnants of linen were entangled in the brake gear. The accident occurred about 1½ miles below Fawkham Station. Had hte deceased been standing up he must have noticed him; it was not too dark for that. Witness's train was travelling about 40 miles an hour, but the down train had stopped at Fawkham......" Guard on 6.55pm Holborn to Sheerness train said he noticed the door was open at the Meopham Distant Signal and checked when they got into Meopham. "Thomas Chadburn, a porter living at Longfield Siding, said that his attention was called to the affair by seeing people running past his house to the line. He fond the body in nearly 20 pieces, and within a radius of 200 yards. From a mark on the ballast, it apeared that deceased was lying on this stomach across one of the up line rails. By the jury: Deceased cleared the 6 foot way and fell into the up road. Money in his pocket was flattened out, so that the bottom of his pocket must have been on the rail. One hand and the heart were picket up the next morning some distance from the rails. The remains were put in a barrow and handed over to the police....."
26 May 1900 Northfleet Standard
Drowned in a Bath
"On Saturday last an inquest was held at the Railway Hotel, Longfield, by Mr H B Sewell, Deputy Coroner, touching the death of a child named Mabel Dorothy Goodchild, who was found drowned in a bath of water on Thursday. The mother, who lives at Red Cow Farm, said the deceased was a year and eight months old. On Thursday morning witness started work in a field close by her house, the deceased and another child being with her. Soon after, the other child came running to witness, saying, 'Mother, come at once, Mabel is in the water.' She saw the child lying in a washing bath with its head down in the water, and at once took it out. As she was overcome with the excitement, a neighbour took it from her. A piece of bread and butter was floating in the water, and witness was of opinion that the child had dropped it in the bath, and in trying to pick it out had fallen in. Mary Ann Coppins, the neighbour referred to, said when she took charge of the child it appeared lifeless. She tried to restore animation, and being unsuccessful sent for a doctor. Dr Ladce said he had examined the body, and the appearences were consistent with death by drowning. Abner Goodchild, the father, who is a waggoner by occupation, protested against the body having been taken away for a day and a half and placed in a shed at the hotel preparatory to the inquest. The coroner said he was sorry the feellings of the parents had been hurt in any way, but the best had been done under the circumstances. The farm was 2 miles away, and the arrangements necessitated the removal of the body on the previous day. A verdict of 'Accidental death' was returned."17 Jun 1900 Reynolds's Newspaper
Accident on the LC and D Railway
"On Friday afternoon the 4 o'clock up train from Dover met with an accident between Fawkham and Farningham Road Stations. From some cause, at present not stated, the engine left the rails, but fortunately the carriages kept the metals. A breakdown gang was promptly despatched from Chatham, but considerable delay and inconvenience resulted, in consequence of both the up and down trains having both to be worked on the down road."07 Jul 1900 Gravesend Standard
Gravesend Hospital AGM
Extract of annual report: "The number of patients treated during the year is as follows: Patients in the hospital on 1st April 1899, 39, admitted during the year 480, total 519; of these 279 have been cured, 147 have been relieved, 57 have died, 36 remained under treatment at the end of the year. These in-patients came from the following places: Ash 2, Betsham 4, Canterbury 1, Chalk 1, Chatham 2, Cobham 3, Darenth 1, Dartford 3, Denton 9, Fawkham 1, Galley Hill 3, Gravesend and Milton 263, Grays 12, Greenhithe 3, Hartley 2, Ifield 1, Kingsdown 2, London 11, Longfield 6, Meopham 13, Northfleet 70, Nursted 1, Perry Street 18, Rochester 3, Romford 1, Rosherville 10, Shorne 4, Sevenoaks 1, Southfleet 5, Stanford-le-hope 1, Swanscombe 14, Stone 1, Tilbury 14, Thames Shipping 33. Of the above patients 237 were men, 133 were women and 149 were children. There have been treated 5,432 out patients, 1,835 were casualties, and 910 were dental cases. These out patients came from the following places: Ash 1, Bean 6, Betsham 15, Chalk 37, Chatham 5, Cliffe 10, Cobham 7, Corringham 1, Crayford 1, Darenth 1, Dartford 2, Denton 71, Eynsford 1, Fawkham 3, Fobbing 1, Galley Hill 44, Gravesend and Milton 3,215, Grays 101, Greenhithe 41, Green Street Green 6, Hartley 2, Hastings 1, Higham 4, Horton Kirby 5, Ifield 3, Kingsdown 2, London 46, Longfield 29, Luddesdown 1, Maidstone 2, Meopham 11, Mucking 5, Northfleet 740, Nursted 2, Ockendon 11, Orsett 1, Perry Street 280, Port Victoria 3, Purfleet 2, Rochester 1, Rosherville 204, Redhill 1, Shorne 36, Shoeburyness 1, Singlewell 8, Sittingbourne 1, Southfleet 49, South Stifford 1, Stansted 1, Stanford-le-hope 21, Stone 25, Strood 1, Sutton at Hone 2, Swanscombe 107, Thames Haven 1, Thames Shipping 62, Thurrock 8, Tilbury 172, Tilbury East 6, Upnor 2, Woolwich 2, Whitstable 1." Report continues with details of fundraising and staff changes.[The total number of patients represents about 12 per cent of the population of Gravesend, and 10 per cent of Northfleet. For Hartley, Fawkham and Ash, it was much lower at 1 per cent of the population, Longfield's numbers represented about 6 per cent of the population.]
14 Jul 1900 Northfleet Standard
Fawkham Station Destroyed by Fire
"The village station at Fawkham was destroyed by fire on Wednesday. The buildings involved included the ticket, parcels and telegraph offices and the lamp room, which were practically under one roof. The financial loss is not considerable, the structure being built almost entirely of wood. It is supposed that the fire was caused by a match thrown carelessly aside by a smoker."21 Jul 1900 Gravesend Reporter
Lost Property
"Lost, Pocket Book, on Thursday, between the Crescent and The Grove; reward - Henry Outred, Market Gardener, Hartley, near Dartford."25 Aug 1900 Northfleet Standard
Sensational Case at Ash - Alleged Concealment of Birth
"An inquest was held last week at the Green Man, Hodsoll Street, Ash, on the body of the illegitimite infant of Mary Wingate.Fanny Wingate said she came from London to Hodsoll Street on August 4th, with the intention of spending a holiday with her sister Mary. As she noticed her sister looked ill, she, after much persuasion, elicited from her that she had given birth to a child on the night of August 2nd, her sister adding that as it was born dead, she had buried it in the garden. Witness immediately telegraphed to a married sister, living at Putney to come home.
Sergeant Benger, stationed at Eynsford, said that on August 9th he received an anonymous letter informing him that Mary Wingate had given birth to a child and buried it i the garden. In company with Corporals Hales and Gaunt he saw Mary Wingate, and shewed her the letter. She said she had had a miscarriage. they searched the garden without result, and then examined the house. On a landing at the top of the staircase they discovered a box, containing, under a quantity of wearing apparel, the body of a fully developed male child. The woman, who had never varied her original statement, broke down when the body was discovered.
Dr Lipscombe of Wrotham, said he attended Mary Wingate 8 years ago. On August 8th he received an unsigned letter asking him to call on her, as she was very seriously ill, and had been confined. He went to the house, and was surprised to find Mary Wingate about. 'I thought you were seriously ill,' he said. 'I am all right,' she replied. 'I received a letter from you,' said the doctor. She said she had not sent it, but htough perhaps her sister had. He questioned her with regard to the birth, and she began to cry; she said it was premature and that she had buried the child in the garden. Seeing that he could do nothing more, witness left, telling her she was to send for him if necessary. He was sent for to attend her a night or two later, and she was now unfit to be present at the inquest.
Dr Thomas F H Smith of Farningham, said he made a post mortem examination of the body on Saturday afternoon. The body was that of a fully developed male child, which had breated, but, he thought, hardly long enough to have had, in the legal sense, a separate existence. Death was due to want of proper attention at birth.
The Coroner, in summing up, was of opinion that there was no evidence of violence; and thejury returned a verdict that the child was born alive, and died through want of proper attention at birth. At the Dartford police court on Monday morning Mary Wingate was charged with concealment of the birth. The evidence given at the inquest was repeated, and Mr Clinch, who defended, appealed to the bench to dismiss the case as there was no evidence of a separate existence, but the Chairman (Mr T Bevan) said that the court had no possible option, but to commit the accused for trial."
[Mary Wingate was acquitted at the Kent Assizes - Northfleet Standard 8.12.1900]
01 Sep 1900 Gravesend Reporter
Death From Lockjaw
"The death of William Thomas Goodchild at the Gravesend Hospital was the subject of an inquiry at the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, before the borough coroner (Mr WG Penman), the foreman of the jury being Mr Lindsey Stevens. - Clara Goodchild identifed the body as that of her husband. She said he was 32 years of age, was a waggoner, and they resided at Red Cow Farm, Longfield. Deceased was employed by Mr Allen of New Barn Farm, Southfleet. About 7 o'clock on the evening of 2nd August deceased left the farm for London with 2 horse and a vanload of fruit. He returned home about 6 o'clock the next evening, when he told her he had had a fall from the van and had hurt his right thumb. After bathing his head and bandaing it she persuaded him to see a doctor and he went at once to Dr Matthew of Meopham. On returning she noticed that his thumb was bandaged. He stopped at home for a week and then commenced work again. On the 15th August she sent for Dr Matthew as he seemed to be getting worse. His jaws appear to be getting set and he could not get anything in his mouth. Both his head and his thumb appeared to have been healing up nicely and he complained of no pain. On the advice of the doctor, he was admitted to the Gravesend Hospital the same day - Arthur Remington, waggoner's mate, employed by Mr Bartholemew, Southfleet, said on 3rd August he was returning just behind deceased from London with a horse and van and when between Dartford and Green Street Green he saw him fall from the driving box to the ground. Witness could not say what made him fall. The horses were going along quietly. Witness went and assisted him, and he came round a bit and got up and drove the horses again. Deceased told him he fell through slipping. He could not say if deceased was asleep when he fell. The horses were walking at the time he fell. By a juror: There were no ruts in the road - Dr Charles Matthew, of Meopham, deposed to attending deceased for the injury to his head and thumb. The wound on the thumb he said, was very dirty, and there was a good deal of grit and dirt in it. On 15th August, when called to see him, witness found symptoms of lockjaw and advised his removal to the Hosptial as soon as possible. Both wounds were healed by that time. Deceased told him that he had had a fall when returning from London and that he was asleep when it happened. - Dr Randolph of Gravesend Hospital said deceased went on fairly well until the 22nd August, when he became worse and died on the night of the 26th. Death was due to tetanus (lockjaw), probably the result of the injury to the thumb, and owing to some foreign substance having got into it - A verdict of 'Accidental death in accordance with the medical testimony' was returned."[This was the second case of death by lockjaw at Longfield in a short time - see Reporter 24.3.1900]
22 Sep 1900 Northfleet Standard
The Drink
Dartford Magistrates fined Charles Hope 10 shillings and costs for being drunk and disorderly at Longfield Hill on 24 August.13 Oct 1900 Northfleet Standard
Alleged Indecent Assault
"At the Dartford Petty Sessions, Richard Tapsell, coachman, of Hartley Court, Hartley, was summoned for indecently assaulting Lilian Hollands, on the 20th ult. Mr Clinch appeared for defendant. Prosecutrix admitted talking to defendant in her house a long time, and after he had acted indecently. The magistrates, without hearing further evidence, dismissed the case.20 Oct 1900 Gravesend Reporter
Gravesend Hospital
The Hon Treasurer (Mr C E Hatten) gratefully acknowledges the receipt of the following:Hartley National Schools (children's entertainment) - £1.0.0
Capt Andrew's SS Southend Belle £6.0.0
Hospital Saturday - Employees of
Mr T W Box - £1.14.6
Messrs Multon and Wallis - £1.19.3
Gravesend Sanitary Laundry - £1.8.0
The London Portland Cement Company Ltd - £6.17.0
Northfleet Coal and Ballast Company Ltd - £4.0.0
Robins and Co Ltd - £8.14.8
[ In the days before the NHS, many local hospitals had to rely on the generosity of the public. The local paper had regular lists of donors. The Hospital Saturday Fund still exists today to give money to medical charities, but back then it was for regular giving out of wages. Patients from Hartley also went to the Workhouse Hospital in Dartford, later West Hill Hospital. While Gravesend also had a workhouse hospital, later St James's Hospital, it does not appear to have dealt with general patients.
Another article dated 4.11.1905 records the donation of the Harvest Festival fruit and vegetables from Hartley Church and the Longfield Hill CofE mission church, and clothing from Mrs Foa of Holywell Park, Hodsoll Street.]
10 Nov 1900 Gravesend Standard
Bishop's Visitation to Cobham Deanery
"The Bishop of Rochester has been lately repeating an experiment which was tried with success 2 years ago in some of the parishes in the Hundred of Hoo. He has, with the cooperation of the parochial clergy, been holding from October 27th to November 4th, a week of prayer and preaching in certain parishes in the rural deanery of Cobham. The Bishop sends a visiting clergyman to each of the parishes whose incumbents agree to cooperate, and special services are held throughout the week. The arrangements vary int eh different parishes according to their several needs and circumstances. At Snodland a regular parochial mission has been conducted by Canon Pollock. At other places there were services of intercession, and women's meetings were arranged in some of the parishes. In every parish taking part there was a mission service conducted by the visiting clergyman each night. There was a meeting for ladies living in the district of Cobham on the Tuesday addressed by Lady Frederick Cavendish. The Bishop sent out the visiting clergy to the work, at a special service held in the Cathedral on the afternoon of Saturday, October 27th, at which intercessions were offered for the parishes concerned, and the Bishop gave an address. Almost all the clergy taking part, whether visiting or parochial, were present. In the following week his Lordship visited each of the parishes, preaching in a different church each night. The parishes taking part were: Ash and Ridley, Kingsdown, Fawkham, Longfield and Hartley, Nurstead, Luddesdown, Cobham, Snodland, Halling, Burham and Wouldham. The work closed with a meeting of the clergy concerned in the Cathedral Chapter Room on Monday, November 5th, to talk over what had been done, and discuss future plans."30 Nov 1900 London Gazette
Mains Water Comes to Hartley
Board of Trade - Session 1901 - Mid Kent Water (Provisional Order)Notice is hereby given that the Mid Kent Water Company (hereinafter called "The Company") intend to apply to the Board of Trade, on or before the 23rd day of December next, pursuant to the Gas and Waterworks Facilities Act 1870, for a provisional order (hereinafter called "The Order") to be confirmed by Parliament in the ensuing session, for the following purposes, that is to say -
To extend the existing limits of supply of the Company as defined by the Mid Kent Water Act 1898, and the Mid Kent Water Act 1900, so as to include therein the parishes and places of Ash, Longfield, Hartley, Ridley, Kingsdown and Fawkham, all in the county of Kent, or some part or parts of the said parishes and places respectively, and to extend and apply all or some of the provisions of the Mid Kent Water Act 1900 t, and to enable the Company to exercise such powers and all or some of their powers and authoristies in reference to, or in connection with, the supply of water or otherwise within the said extended limits of supply,, and to lay down, construct and maintain all such mains, pipes, culverts, tanks, service reservoirs, apparatus, machinery, appliances and conveniences as may be necessary or convenient for the purposes of the Order.
To empower the Company to cross, break up, open, alter, divert or stop up and interfere with, either temporarily or permanently, any road, highways, footpaths, streets, public places, bridges, canals, navigations, towing paths, railways, tramways, sewers, drains, pipes, rivers, streams, brooks, and watercourses fo rthe purposes of the Order within such extended limits.
To levy and recover rates, rents and charges in respect of the supply of water within such extended limits, and to vary or extinguish existing rates, rents, and charges, and to confer, vary or extinguish exemptions from the payment of rates, rents and charges.
The Order will incorporate, with or without modification, all or some of the provisions of the Waterworks Clauses Acts 1847 and 1863, and confer on the Company all necessary powers for the purposes aforesaid, and vary or extinguish all rights and privileges which would impede or interfere with such purposes, and confer other rights and privileges.
To alter, amend and repeal, so far as may be necessary, all or som eof the provisions of the Mid Kent Water Act 1898, the Mid Kent Water Act 1900, and any other Act or Order which would interfere with the objects of the order.
And notice is hereby further given that a copy of this advertisement as published in the London Gazette wil, on or before the 30th day of November instant, be deposited for public inspection with the Clerk of the Peace for the county of Kent, at his office at Maidstone, in that county, and also at the office of the board of Trade, Whitehall, London.
Printed copies of the draft provisional order will be deposited at the office of the Board of Trade on or before the 23rd day of December next, and printed copies of the draft Provisional Order when deposited and of the provisional order when made, may be obtained at the offices of Messrs Roberts and Co, 6 Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster SW, at the price of one shilling each.
Every company, corporation or person desirous of making any representation to the Board of Trade, or of bringing before them any objection respecting the application, may do so by letter addressed to the Assistant Secretary of the Railway Department of the Board of Trade, on or before the 15th day of January next ensuing, and copies of such representation or objection must at the same time be sent to the undersigned Parliamentary Agents, and in forwarding to the Board of Trade such objections, the objectors or their agents must state that a copy of the same has been sent to the promoter's agents.
Dated this 20th day of November 1900.
Roberts & Co, 6 Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster SW, Parliamentary Agents
[ A very important milestone in the history of Hartley. Mid Kent Water announce their intention to get an act of Parliament to extend their area of supply to Hartley, Longfield etc. Without mains water, Hartley would not have been an attractive site for the developers Payne & Trapps and Small Owners Limited.]