MAY 2007 A VISIT TO CHILHAM CASTLE &GROUNDS As a reward for those who have helped with the arrangements in Bridge for the Kent History Federation we are arranging a special visit to the Castle and Grounds at Chilham. Details of this visit will be included in a later newsletter but it will be a weekday afternoon visit and will include a tea. Those members who have helped with the arrangements for the Kent History Federation Conference will be given priority. mc TUESDAY 26 JUNE 2007 CATHEDRAL PRECINCTS THURSDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2006 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The first meeting of the year will be preceded by a short Annual General Meeting, to review last years programme and to hear the Trcasurer’s report, this will also be an opportunity for you to have a say in what you would like the Society to do for you. 7.30 pm Bridge Village Hall So often we hurry through the Precincts on our way to a concert, or to shop. On this evening stroll through the grounds we will hope to look more closely at some of the buildings and hear about some of the people who lived and worked there in the past. A special evening visit organised and led by Mericl Conner and finishing with a drink in a local hostelry. Members only £5.00 6.30 pm Cathedral Cliristclzurch Gate, Buttermarket‘, Canterbury mc KENT HISTORY FEDERATION CONFERENCE, BRIDGE In order to make a great success of this year’s conference being held in Bridge we would ask all members to lend as much help as they possibly can. The more help that is given the less each person has to do. Give your names and what you can do to help to Jenny Vye without delay, do not leave it until the last minute, there are numerous things that have to be done in advance. With lots of help it is easy, without it is an uphill struggle so pitch in. Bridge & District History Society was formed in 1995 to promote interest in aspects of local history in and around the villages of‘ Barham, Bekcsbournc, Bishopsboume, Bridge, Kingston and Patrixbournc. Cm1nty—wide Aspects are served through the Society’s membership of the Kent History Federation. The evening meetings are informal and sociable. Transport and or escorts can usually be arranged with other members living nearby. On trips by members cars, those without transport can usually be accommodated in the spare seats. Please contact the organiser of each event for arrangements. Please contact any Society officer or committee member if you need any help. Membership is annual commencing in September. Rates are £6.00 single, £10.00 double and £4.00 for each additional person residing at the same address. Newsletters with a record of previous meetings and advance notice of the next events will be sent out in September. November, February and April. Chairman Maurice Raraty Tel. 830508 Secretary Jenny Vye Tel. 830983 Treasurer John Cardy Tel. 721360 Committee Mericl Conner Tel. 830487 Tim Derouet Tel. 730080 David Gilmour Tel. 832450 Joan Hill Tel. 830215 Alan Walton Tel. 832351 Pulllishezl by David Gilmuur 200606 Produced by the University of Kent Printing Unit 103636 8/06 PROGRAMME 2006-2007 BRIDG 81 DISTRICT HISTORY SOCIETY THURSDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2006 THE DOMESDAY BOOK The Domesday Book of about 1086 records changes after the Norman Conquest and is also the starting point for much English local history. This talk will look at how Domesday was made and what it tells us about Kent, Canterbury and the Bridge area 900 years ago. The talk will be preceded by a very short Annual General Meeting. 7.30 pm Bridge Village Hall Members £2.00 non~members £3.00 including refieshments THURSDAY 19 OCTOBER 2006 DOVER’S OLD TOWN GAOL In 1836 Dover described their new prison as “the most comrnodious and convenient, constructed upon the most approved principles”, although its inmates may not have agreed. Dr. Mary Dixon will be telling us of the purpose and regime of the prison and at some of the people inside, and the role of the new police force in putting them there. 7.30pm Wllage Hall, Bridge Members £2.00 non—members £3.00 including refreshments. mc THURSDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2006 AN EVENING OF OLD FILM S Harold Trill a collector of old films will be showing a selection of old and rarely seen short films of local interest including among others Witch Charms found in Charing and The History of Bat and Trap. This will an evening of information and interest with many scenes of great local relevance. 7.30 pm Wllage Hall Bridge Members £2. 00 non—members £3.00 including refreshments THURSDAY 19 DECEMBER 2006 CHRISTMAS EVENING On arrival there will be a welcoming Christmas drink and Dr. Geoff Doel and Mick Lynn, a brilliant musician and mummer, will then be giving a joint talk with slides, accompanied by folk songs illustrating the traditional “Christmas in Kent”. A hot and cold buffet will be served. 7.30 pm Village Hall, Bridge ll/Iembers £7.50 n0rz—members £10.00 Including hot and cold buffet. jv THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2007 TRADITIONAL KEN TISH TRADES, CRAFTS AND INDUSTRY Richard Filmer will be talking about trades and crafts that have almost disappeared from Kent and of industries such as charcoal burning that have now been taken over by big business. A look at how work was done in the past and of how much we have lost. 7.30 pm I/zllage Hall Bridge Members £2. 00, non—members £3.00 including refreshments. dg Tuesday 20 FEBRUARY 2007 MEMBER SEVENING Our members evening this year will be an illustrated talk by Alan Walton on the role that Count Zborowski, of Higham House, Higham Railway and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang fame, played in the establishment of the Romney, Hythe and Dym church Railway. 7.30 pm Upstairs room, Plough & Harrow Restricted to members only £5.00 including buffet. dg Thursday 15 MARCH 2007 TIMEKEEPING IN KENT Mike Bundock will be talking about the public clocks in Kent and of the clock on Bridge Church in particular and of the clock making which was carried on in villages throughout Kent, including Bridge which had several clockmakers in the 19th century. 7.30 pm Wllage Hall, Bridge Members £2.00 non-members £3.00 including refreshments. dg Thursday 19 APRIL 2007 THE WORKHOUSE WALK In 1834, 22 parishes around Canterbury formed a Union to construct a workhouse in Bridge. This evenings talk will take the form of a walk around The Close, where via signs and line marking, Alan Walton will hope to give you an impression of it’s original layout in February l836. We will discuss the reasons For it’s construction and the conditions experienced by it’s occupants 7.30 pnz The Close, Union Road Bridge Members £2.00 non-members £3.00 aw SATURDAY 12 MAY 2007 KENT HISTORY FEDERATION CONFERENCE, BRIDGE This year Bridge has the honour of hosting the Kent History Federation Conference. If any members wish to attend the conference, as opposed to helping with it, then we will include a slip in the booking form in the usual way for information to be sent to you, and for you then to register. This will be a rare opportunity to attend a conference without travel, however we expect the numbers limit that we have set to be reached without any difficulty so there will be no need to make up numbers. mr