History
Britain from Above: Gravesend from the south in 1948
General related facts
Russell's took over George Wood & Son in 1917, who had breweries at Upper Wrotham Rd, as well as at East St.
Reference:- http://www.mpeterson.co.uk/russells.htm Public Health Act 1875 (wikkipedia)
A post on Facebook at about 23:30 30 July 2015 by Claire Poynter All I can tell you is what my father told me & having lived opposite the park for over 35 years he had a wealth of knowledge when it came to the history of the park & the surrounding area.
I remember sometime in the mid 80's there was an application to develop part of the park for housing. My father became very involved in opposing the proposed development & because of the conditions & the covernent it didn't go ahead & to date nothing like that ever has been proposed. Unfortunately he has now passed away but I can assure you it's not a rumour. (Hope this helps Robin) |
Research into the history of Woodlands Park is ongoing, but here are some interesting facts we've discovered so far:-
The Land Registry title document contains the following:- "A Conveyance of the land tinted pink on the filed plan and other land dated 29 September 1884 made between (1) Sir James Ranken Fergusson and Frederick Preston and (2) George Wood contains the following covenants: "AND the said George Wood doth hereby covenat with the said James Ranken Fergusson and Frederick Preston that he ..... will not erect upon he said land any building other than private residences and will not carry on or do or permit to be carried on upon any such buildings the trade or business of a Publican Beerhouse keeper or Victualler or any noisy noisome or obnoxious trade or business but will use the same as and for private residences only" Eventually, we'll produce a timeline of the history of Woodlands Park, the surrounding areas and the social history that went hand in had with the development of the South Gravesend Estate of which Woodlands forms part. In the meantime, the names quoted in the title document, Sir James Ranken Ferguson, Frederick Preston and George Wood are being looked into. Here's what we've found out so far:- Sir James Ranken Ferguson
Sir James was the 2nd Baronnet of Spitalhaugh, co. Peebles, Scotland. His Great Grandson founded the Colyer-Ferguson Charitable Trust.
Sir James Ranken Fergusson, was born on 10 August 1835. He was the son of Sir William Fergusson, 1st Baronnet and Helen Hamilton Ranken. He married, firstly, Mary Ann Somes Colyer, daughter of Thomas Colyer, on 13 December 1862. He married, secondly, Louisa Forbes, daughter of William Forbes of Medwyn and Mary Anne Houblon, on 17 October 1877. He married, thirdly, Alice Fanny Simpson, daughter of John Price Simpson, on 1 June 1886. He died on 28 October 1924 at age 89. He was a practising barrister. He was invested as a Fellow, Society of Antiquaries (F.S.A.). He was admitted to Royal Company of Archers. He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for Peebles-shire. He held the office of Vice-Lord-Lieutenant of Peebles-shire. He succeeded to the title of 2nd Baronet Fergusson, of Spitalhaugh, co. Peebles [U.K., 1866] on 10 February 1877. References:- http://www.thepeerage.com/p24653.htm#i246528 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colyer-Fergusson_baronets It seems as though Sir James was the land owner of much of the then rural farm land surrounding Gravesend in the 19th century. Frederick Preston
investigations ongoing
George Wood
So far assumed to be the George Wood of Gravesend Brewery fame.
George Wood had a brewery in East Street and had a substantial house built in Wrotham Road which he called Woodlands. Many years later it became a hotel and today it is the restaurant most of us are familiar with.
From a post in Facebook group Gravesned Yesteryear by Roger Simmons. https://www.facebook.com/groups/238532106236796/permalink/858957370860930/?comment_id=858971957526138&offset=0&total_comments=1&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R%22} Gravesend Civil Defence Bunker – Region 6Just to the right hand side of the main gates of Woodlands Park in Gravesend down a small flight of stairs is a discreet doorway. This is the entrance to a previously secret, rare, intact, cold war bunker built in 1954 as a command centre for all of the areas emergency services. Previously, on this site, there was an air raid shelter but it was considerably expanded and fitted out for its new purpose in the event of nuclear war. The public are allowed to visit by arrangement and all 13 rooms remains as they were when operational. There are power and ventilation plants together with a fallout room, dormitories and complex communication equipment. There are two displays showing a genuine Government film on public protection against a nuclear attack and surprisingly a real WE177 air dropped nuclear bomb (less warhead !) which was in service until the 1990s.
There is a totally uncorroborated rumour that there is an access door from this bunker to a massive vehicle garage underneath Woodlands Park with lines of trucks, mobile generators, ambulances and other emergency vehicles. If they do exist they are not going anywhere as the vehicle entrances and exits have been covered up some years ago, although would be easy to clear. Reference:- http://petergeekie.hubpages.com/hub/Tunnels-and-underground-sites-in-and-around-Gravesend-over-the-ages# "The Parky" (Park Warden), an account from the 19xx's by Dennis Beck of Hartshill Road.Posted by Dennis Beck on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 to the Facebook community group Gravesenders, People and Places.
I lived in Hartshill Road as a lad and my pals and i would split our recreation time split between the Pro.and Woodlands Park.When i think back ,how safe it was for our mum's and Dad,s to not think twice about us going out and about under the age of 11,on our own.My memory of the Park Keeper was someone who to me was an authoritative character (best described in my mind as a "Blakey" from on the buses type character.He would keep a very close eye on us "Young 'erbert's",from his "Goldfish bowl ".He made sure that we were not sliding down that very high slide with a butter or lard wrapper under our bum's (to slide faster),or overbalance the "Umbrella",or go to high on "the sausage",and there was another ride which we called "The Horse",which were two contraptions that had 2 people flying "to and Fro". The early "Parky's" wore a white coat and a corporation badged hat.At closing time he would walk around the park,going to the exits (The King's gates,the ones at the top of New House Lane,and the ones down by the library) locking up as he went, ringing a handbell. Sometimes the poor chap really had to chase us "little bugger's".Inside the "Goldfish Bowl" he had a tall stool,and a slanting top,similar to a drawing board,where he kept his paperwork and a big black Bakelite telephone.Underneath the top was a locked draw where he kept all the confiscated things such as our catapults,matches and any thing else that he found on us ...if he caught us. He really had his work cut out when good old "Forrest Fun Fair" visited...he couldn't catch us then!!. Pearl M Smith also recalls "Mr. Richmond, who lived in Kitchener Avenue, was "Park keeper" some time in the 1940`s. When I and my sisters went there he would keep an eye on us. We lived in a house opposite to his." |