Gravesend with talks in the morning on the area’s long and varied history and in the afternoon after lunch a choice of visits to places of local interest. Details will be sent out to members in March. Tuesday 25th May 1999 JOSEPH CONRAD AND THE .5 BISHOPSBOURNE YEARS _........ 5 \ Born of revolutionary Polish nationalists, from his earliest days Conrad lived an adventurous life, to become an English mariner and author of international fame. Dr Keith Carabine, Chair of the Joseph Conrad Society of Great Britain, gives an entertaining and anecdotal insight into the man who spent the last and most famous years of his life at Oswalds. In death Conrad was no less interesting and his passing was marked with a notable funeral, and a most unusual gravestone which can be seen in the Canterbury city cemetery. 7.30 pm Conrad Hall, Bishopsbourne. Mernbers £1, Non-members £2 Including light refreshments. Transport can be arranged. 5 1 3 6L S 12th June 1999 VISIT TO QUEX HOUSE, GARDENS & POWELL-COTTON MUSEUM Set in 250 acres of parkland and gardens, including a Victorian walled garden, Quex House was built as a Regency gentleman’s country residence, grew to become the Victorian mansion seen today and is home to the fifth generation of the Powell-Cotton family. Their most famous member was Major PGH Powell- Cotton who from big game hunting went on to become a pioneer- ing ethnographer studying tribal customs and beliefs and resulting in a magnificent collection of artifacts and archives at Quex of world importance. Fascinated by the exotic creatures he saw on his travels he set about preserving rare specimens, and over 500 were arranged in a series of impressive dioramas in specially built galleries. The house also contains oriental and period furniture, fine rugs and porcelain, family portraits and an extensive collec— tion of silver, clocks and memorabilia. Enjoy a cream tea before exploring the gardens. Meet 2.00 pm Bridge playing field car park, Patrixbourne Road Members £6, Non—members £7.25, Children £5.25 including cream tea. Cover reproduced firom ‘Tell Us About When You Bridge & District History Society was estab- lished in 1995 to promote interest in aspects of local history in and around the villages of Barham, Bekesbourne, Bishopsbourne, Bridge, Kingston and Patrixbourne. County- wide interests are served through membership of the Kent History Federation which meets quarterly at County Hall, Maidstone. Visits are informal. and sociable and transport can be arranged .— see ticket counterfoils. Membership for the season September to June is £5 single, £7.50 double and £2.50 for each additional person at the same address. Newletters and event tickets (without obliga- tion) are sent out alternate months. COMMITTEE Chairman John Bishop Tel (01227) 831517 Secretary Bill Dawson Tel (01227) 831044 Treasurer Maurice Raraty ll/fillenium Project Co-ordinator John Corfield Tel (01227) 831992 Janet Bishop Jenny Vye Written, designed, produced and distributed by Bill Dawson Were Young’ by kind permission of Anne Pope » BRIDGE 8.’ DISTRICT HISTORY SOCIETY Programme 1998-1999 Tuesday 22nd September 1998 ‘ TELL US ABOUT WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG Changes to everyday life in the latter part of the twentieth century have been enormous, so that elderly people have memories of housekeeping, work and play in their youth that are almost unbelievably different from these activities today. From landown- ers and farmers to servants and labourers Anne Pope talked to and recorded for almost ten years in the 1980’s the fascinating memo- ries of people of all walks about their experiences of life as it was lived in the rural communities of this area during the period from the turn of the century to the eve of World War II. Tell Us about When You Were Young is the book that resulted from the vast amount of material she collected and is a tribute to the so-called ‘ordinary’ people who would otherwise have passed unremarked. Signed copies of the book will be available from the author. 7.30 pm Bridge Pillage Hall. Members £1 , Non-members £2 Including light refreshments Saturday 10th October 1998 DAY our AT BA1TLE ABBEY 6. BATTLE OF HASTINGS ‘I066 The day at Battle starts with a visit to Buckleys Yesterday’s World to experience aspects of everyday life from 1850 to 1950 includ- ing many re-created shops and room settings. Then on the Battle Abbey site* at 3.00 pm the zre-enactment of The Battle of Hatings 1066, a crucial moment in the history of the nation that took place over 900 years ago performed with authentic period costumes and weaponry. Or visit the charming tovm of Battle close by. *Entry to English Heritage Battle Abbey site with discount voucher including the Battle of Hastings 1066 - Adults £3..20, Pensioners £2.40, Children £1.60, all including 20% discount. Depart Bridge 10.00 am. (Return Bridge approx. 7.00 pm) B&DHS ticket prices: Members £5.00, Non-members £7.50 Children £3.50. Tuesday 24th November 1998 E ROMIAN KENT From the time when Julius Caesar first landed on these shores in SSBC and later in 43AD Kent was destined to play an important part in the development of this part of the Roman Empire. Dr Thomas Blagg tells how Richborough was originally developed as a military store and then later as one of four coastal defences known as Saxon shore forts, and how Canterbury grew to become a sizeable Roman town with important public. buildings on the road the Romans built from Dover to London. Religion also played its part in the story’ as the native British and Roman practices merged and were carried on alongside the newer Chris- tianity. Dr Blagg concludes with what became of Roman Kent afier the collapse of the Empire in the 5”‘ century and what can be seen today as evidence of its existence 2000 years ago 7.30 pm Bridge Village Hall Members £1, Non-members £2 Including light refreshments Saturday 12th December 1998 CHRISTMAS BUFFET A warm welcome with a complimentary glass of wine and a generous hot and cold buffet await at the traditionally friendly and informal gathering. Three prizes to be won this year — lucky ticket draw, photo quiz and general knowledge quiz. As you would expect all with strong historical leanings. 2. 45 pm for 3. 00 pm. Red Lion Inn, High Street, Bridge. Tickets in advance only. Members £7, Non-members £8, Children £4. Tuesday 26th January 1999 GHOST EVENING An atmospheric evening by candlelight in the evocative atmo- sphere of a centuries old coaching inn. Stewart Ross will be reading from the lnglesby Legends, and local ghost stories and personal experiences of a spiritual nature are invited from every- one to further enrich the evening. To meet temporal needs, a buffet will be served during the evening and mulled wine will be available 7.30pm White Horse Inn, High Street, Bridge Members £2, non-members £3 Including buffet. Saturday 27th February 1999 GUIDED TOUR OF CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL The medieval period of Canterbury Cathedral between the 12th and 15"‘ centuries was a busy one at a time when it was the core of religious life in a Benedictine Priory. Historian and official Cathedral guide Mericl Connor will concentrate on this fascinat- ing period emphasising contemporary meanings and messages expressed through the medieval wall paintings, sculptures, stained glass and even the fabric of the cathedral building itself. Iii/eet 10.15 am at Cathedrals Welcome Centre. Members £3, Non-members £4 (Admission to Cathedral not included) Tuesday 23rd March 1999 RESEARCHING THE HISTORY OF i A HOUSE 6: ITS OCCUPANTS When genealogical and historical researcher Peter Ewart and his wife bought their house, they discovered that it was an early 19'!‘ century agricultural cottage whose interior had been completely renovated and extended by two previous owners in the l970’s and 80’s. With the bread oven being the only significant original feature remaining, their curiosity was aroused as to the buildings origins and the people that had lived in it over its 160 year life. Peter shows how, no matter what the age of your house, you can without too much difficulty find out about its history and make it a more interesting place to live in. 7.30 pm Bridge Village Hall.. Members £1, Non-members £2 including light refreshments. Saturday 24th April 1999 BRIDGE EXPLORATIONS MILLENNIUM PROJECT Bridge has along and interesting history and to celebrate the new century the Society’s Millennium Project is a guided tour of the village. Any information including personal stories and anecdotes is welcome from anyone with connections with Bridge’s past to make this an interesting and comprehensive afternoon. By 2000 the aim is to have the project ready to conduct regular guided tours of Bridge during the summer months. If you, or anyone you know have anything you could contribute please contact project co-ordinator John Corfield Tel (01227) 831992. Meet 2.00pm at Bridge Post Oflice. Members £1 , Non-members £2, Children £1 Including light refreshments. Saturday 8th May 1999 KHF ONE-DAY CONFERENCE AT GRAVESEND As a member of the Kent History Federation members have the opportunity to attend the annual informal event which in recent years has become a very popular and friendly occasion held each time in a different part of the county. This year’s venue is 7_ _ ‘ BRIDGE & DISTRICT HISTORY SOCIETY Membership ‘I 998- ‘I 999 I/We would like like to join the Society Title First name Family name 1 .................................................... .. 2 ................................ .. 3 ................................................... .. Address ................................................ .. ..... ..'........_................Postcode........,.................. Telephione O1 .................................. Membership T I (all correspondence sent to address at“ shown above) Mgmbersh Single £5.00 Double £7.50 Triple £10. 00 ‘ £ . ' ....cheques peyable to Bridge & District History Society ....Please bring to next meeting or send to 0 9 ....BiIl Dawson, Secretary, Nailford House, Brewery Lane-,.. ....Bridge,-Canterbury CT4 5LF _ OFF|CE0U$E9 ONLY Received Cheque Cash