Historic Medway Guestbook

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There are now 274 messages in our guestbook.
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Viewing messages 24 to 1.

Msg 24: melanie singh | @

i thoroughly enjoyed browsing through your site. you have done an excellent job. i have some interest in all saints as i worked there from 1979 to 1981 in the psychology department. my two oldest children were born there 1981 and 1985. now i have just found out that my great-great-great grandfather died in the union work house in 1882. i now live in the states and was not aware until now that they demolished the old hospital. what a shame. i shall be bookmarking your site and will visit again.

Thursday 30 December 2004 at 22:48:35 - New Orleans, USA

Msg 23: dean cowan | @

great site jason...enjoyed learning more about the towns that i have much love for......cheers mate!!!

Tuesday 7 December 2004 at 02:09:42 - north halling

Msg 22: Sally Rose | @

Very good site Jason - i really enjoyed the All Saints Hospital photos. I was told that the bricked up tunnels on Chatham Hill were built at the same time as fort luton, by prison labour, presumably for some military defence purpose and had to be bricked up because the ceilings were caving in - my dad said he had been in the tunnel as a boy but could only get about 20 yards in because of chalk fall - well done on being featured in Webuser by the way!

Saturday 6 November 2004 at 16:05:19 - chatham hill, kent

Msg 21: sacha forrest | @

lovely photo's - I had both my children at all saints hospital, Samuel 17 feb 1992 & olivia 2nd august 1994. Although Im not from Kent, although was living in sittingbourne at the time, have now returned to Newcastle Upon Tyne but nice nostalgic times in Kent, and enjoyed looking at the photos

Thursday 4 November 2004 at 11:56:20 - Newcastle upon tyne

Msg 20: lil miz flava | @

wow, i have to give it to u this is a well good site, at first i was looking for info for my geography project but i have learnt some well good stuff props 2 u, and i luv the spooky stuff it is a real mistery i never realised that any of that stuff was there and i would have luved to have met the mind reader guy lol but i think that tunnel at the bottom of chatham hill is a old train tunnel and probly leands to gillingham train station possible blocked after they bult the bridge? or trams they used to have them. well anyway boring people now. will visit the site more.

Sunday 24 October 2004 at 16:41:28 - england

Msg 19: june powles | @

Great nostalgic reading. My mother's family came from "Cage Lane" (unjustly ill-famed) and went to St. Mary's School in Dock Road. I spent a lot of my childhood in that area with my grandparents. The Lines were at the back of Nan's garden and we walked to Gillingham Strand from there. Dad was in the Navy. I remember going across to Upnor "on the mud" from the Sun Pier, what a treat! I don't know the Burial Ground but will surely visit it next time I'm home. Chatham was so historically exciting and beautiful....not so much now with the eye-sore Pentagon and Tescos and foul smelling hot dog stands in the High St.

Friday 15 October 2004 at 14:53:46 - Milan, Italy

Msg 18: Jane Grant (nee Wenham) | @

Wonderful site. I grew up in Milton Road. I was born in All Saints, my Grandfather passed over there. My mother worked there until her retirement and passed over at Wisdom Hospice. The memories of Chatham, Rochester and Gillingham are as fresh as ever. I left when I was 25 - I'm now 42! I always wondered what the bricked up tunnel was as well (one at bottom of Chatham Hill). Keep up the brilliant work! Any phtographs of the old style Medway Hospital and of Chatham Dockyard would be appreciated. My Grandfather worked there and was Union Shop Steward there for 53 years - his name was Sydney Alfred Horton. If anyone knows of him, let me know!

Thursday 14 October 2004 at 17:13:20 - SE London

Msg 17: PETER REYNOLDS | @

this is for patricia green barbara reynolds says hello do you remember her you worked together on ruth ward at all saints..u can contact her via my email which is preynolds8@hotmail.com she is loking forward to hearing from you.

Wednesday 8 September 2004 at 19:28:56 - north east of england

Msg 16: PETER REYNOLDS | @

i worked at all saints from 1972 untill 1982/then i moved to medway untill 1989.i worked as a porter and enjoyed every minute well nearly every minute.my first head porter was sam baughan,and harry epps was his deputy. poor old harry died on the front pavement right outside the head porters office one suday morning.he collapsed and never woke up again
sam retired then there was taffy he took over and my mate steve swindell was his deputy.forgive me there was another before taffy but i cant think of his name at present.i new all the cleanersby first names we had some good times in those days.we were one big happy family.i know it sounds corny but it was true.the cleaners took pride in their work and treated the wards as their homes.i have vivid memories of me pushing the day hospital meal torlley up the hill from the front gate .the mortuary was just as you come in the main entrance.george martin was the boss in there.i worked with a fella called les stephens what a lovely fellow he was .we had 10 great years together.i could go on al night with my memories but i will save them for another visit to this site. what a shame that they pulled the old place down..happy days

Wednesday 8 September 2004 at 19:25:15 - north east of england

Msg 15: Pete (Uv) Atwal | @

All Saints hospital is gone.. My sister worked their as a nurse. My younger brother was born their in 1968.
ABC is also gone. I remember standing in line to watch the childrens "pictures" every Saturday morning (ten pence admission).
My father worked at the Chatham dockyard before it closed in the early eighties.
Thanks for creating this website! It means a lot for this former Chatham resident.

Monday 6 September 2004 at 21:28:54 - Rocklin, California, U.S.A.

Msg 14: pete | @

I always wondered about ragged school,,
walked passed it man and boy,,
it's a shame you were'nt my history teacher,
I've learned more on your website than I have from the local council site,,
medway is packed with 2000 or more years of history,
thanks for a great website,,
cannot believe you been away since 1977,
with all your local knowledge..

Sunday 5 September 2004 at 01:00:33 - gillingham

Msg 13: Philip Smith

I left Chatham in 1977 to live in Perth, Australia and have never been back.
Thank you for helping me remember my past. A few more photos would be fantastic.

Monday 23 August 2004 at 12:52:51 - Perth Australia

Msg 12: Janet | @

Hi
What memories I recalled looking at your site.
I lived at the bottom of King street in the Brook in the late 50's. I remember poor but happy times.
I remember the Brook very clearly, the alley way we as children used to play in was along side the old pumping station, which was I might add was the entrance to the council yard which was at the bottom of our garden.
The brook then consisted of a very close community of people.
There were many little roads off of the Brook.
We could look out of our back bedroom window to count the people going past Bob's Alley as it was then known,(A greengrocers stall in Chatham High Street)
A big lodging house was opposite our house, with a little cafe along side.
The Three Cups Public house was a little further along almost at the bottom of Queen street.
A lady called Mrs Clegg owned a little corner shop on the bottom of Queen Street Where we used to book up our weekly food bill.
I could go on and on, but what happy times they were for us.
Many thanks for your site.

Regards Janet

Sunday 22 August 2004 at 19:19:14 - Nr Sittingbourne, Kent

Msg 11: paul | @

Hi - great site! Pictures seem to really capture the place, thanks.

Thursday 12 August 2004 at 19:48:14 - gloucestershire

Msg 10: Janet Burchell | @

I understand mu family are buried in this church, recently Robert Ivan Murr.
Also my grandfather Robert thomas Murr
and his father. Could anyone check this for me and any deatails of them on the grave stone.

Thursday 12 August 2004 at 07:58:45 - Australia

Msg 9: Mary Steele (Mother's surname: Clift) | @

Hello! I am interested in the Clift family who lived on the High Street in the 1850's. My g-g-grandfather was Thomas Clift, b. Oct., 1790 in Coggeshall, Essex. His wife was Mary, b. 1796 in Chatham, Kent. In the 1851 census Thomas was listed as being a baker/grocer. One of their sons was Thomas Clift, b. 1823, who in 1851 was also listed as being a baker/grocer. This Thomas and his wife Catherine Passby (or Paspby) left Chatham with their young family and immigrated to Ontario, Canada.

Tuesday 13 July 2004 at 00:39:43 - Born in London, Ont., Canada

Msg 8: Donald William Clements PhD | @

My great great grandfather William Clements died in the Medway Union Workhouse 22 Aug 1874. He was 66 and had worked as a labourer. He and his family had lived in Rochester, Kent for many years. I just learned of his death info today (26 June 2004) and found your site with the pictures. Thanks

Saturday 26 June 2004 at 05:32:06 - Edwardsville, Illinois, USA

Msg 7: Merv | @ | url

I ask people to be aware of Plans to develop the Former Commnand Headquarters of The Commodor in Chief Nore.
Alrhough it is in a protected Conservation area in Lower Gillingham.
A plan is afoot to place housing on it.
Although the Commodores House is long Gone, The Victorian Garden is still in existence and the Command Centre 100 foot below Ground still exists.
It Is now the only haven to many rare species that have existed within for over 100 years.
In this already overcrowed area, we can hardly afford to loose such an historical and Enviromental site.
The Adjoining plot also a Conservation area is also up for Development.
With a Plan to relocate the 2 Mid Kent Colleges to Gillingham.
It is the Home of the Royal Engineers, an attempt to move the engineers years ago failed, due to public pressure.
I believe this is no more than a land Grab.
Both plots involve the same developer.
It will mean not only the end of The R.E's, but will open up the Garrison Ground and Marlborough road and Great Lines.
Both site are in Prince Arthur Road/Medway road.
3 Awards were given to The St Mary's Island for it's Enviroment and Open spaces.
A site which meets all the criteria, mentioned for the plans.
Lower Gillingham as Neither.

Thursday 10 June 2004 at 14:49:43 - Gillingham

Msg 6: Richard | @

I thought to ask about St Mary Magdalene, Gillingham, as relatives of ours lived at Gillingham Vicarage, I understand is the same place.

Any one here related? Please get in touch makeitinmusic@lineone.net

Rev Dr William Henry Robins DD. I understand the Cannon, Rev William Henry Robins DD,
(born 1847 London Bermondsey) was vicar of Gillingham for 38 years 1878-1915. Church of England.

Rev Dr William Henry Robins DD married Annie Marie Isabella (surname unknown) who was born Ardwick, Lancashire 1850.
They later lived at Restoration House, Rochester Kent, England - between 1916-1926.

Cannon Robins married his daughter Marguerite Mary Theodora Robins to Claude Aveling there 16/4/1903. (a wedding at home). Cannon Robins was blind.
A story in the family mentions he was made blind by a newspaper.

They had four children as follows:

* Theodora who I have mentioned (23/9/1878 - 28/8/1961), born Gillingham Kent (had an aunt Mrs Samson)
* Gilbert Selwyn Robins b.7/10/1880 who was also born there, and at the age of 20 was an undergraduate
at Cambridge.
* Dr John Norman Robins b.1877, Decluplive? Tickenhill, Derby England. (engaged to Muriel Porter in 1903).
* William Rumney Robins, whose middle name was given - named after the mother in law of Cannon Robins,
Maria Alice Rumney. (the brother in-law was Edward Rumney). William was known as "Rumney" at the time
of his sisters wedding in an article in the newspaper that mentions him giving away his sister at her wedding.

Do you know if any of the above was at all mentioned at St Mary Magdalene, Gillingham? Any help you can provide
would be appreciated.

kindest thanks

Richard Sherman

Tuesday 8 June 2004 at 10:42:41 - UK

Msg 5: patricia green | @

I started working at All Saints Hosp in 1975 as a domestic. Enjoyed every minute of it. Then followed on to work at Medway maritime Hosp when All Saints was to be demolished. I am still working there as a Clinical Support Worker.I have just received my long service award of 20 years. I would have had a 30 year service butI broke service to work for a private firm which took over the cleaning of All Saints.....

Sunday 6 June 2004 at 21:34:09 - chatham

Msg 4: kevin | @

this site brings back the old days i can remember the ragged school it used to be a pipe factory ( repairing smoking pipes and lighters ) in the 60s the good old days

Friday 28 May 2004 at 20:52:00 - chatham

Msg 3: Andrea Ralph | @

I was born in his hosptial in the december 1984. My mum said it snowed so much that christmas because they got snowed in and my grandparents broke down going up a hill near to the hosptial. I want bak when i was younger to see the hospital I was about 4 years old. I was one of the smallest babies born there for a while, only 2 pound 6 and 3 months early. It was different to look around the building now. I wish it was still there so I could look around proberly

Wednesday 26 May 2004 at 22:00:27 - Now living in hampshire

Msg 2: Julie | @

I have recently started work at Medway Hospital & have been interested to get to know the local area & history a little better, this website has been a great help.

Sunday 2 May 2004 at 16:25:30 - Aylesford, Kent

Msg 1: bridget | @

hello,
nice site!
i`ve enjoyed the pictures very much!!!
you leave me walking down memory road!

Wednesday 28 April 2004 at 13:20:13 - germany

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