Report: Some Local Hostelries

Mike Bundock, vice Chairman, introduced the evening in the absence of David Birch chairman, who was indisposed due to a minor accident at home from which Mike said he was speedily recovering.

He explained that he had set up a new notice board with some illustrations of buildings, streets and shops taken from the Society's extensive collection for members to peruse during the refreshment break.

The King Ethelbert, Reculver

John Fishpool, President, then gave members a very interesting history of some of the hotels and public houses in the Herne Bay area. He explained that it had been the fashion in the past for some establishments to display some rather fanciful and exaggerated stories, but he set out to illustrate many facts and details that he had researched from newspapers, census returns and licensing records.

Mick Hills, society member gave the vote of thanks.

Copies of the latest publication "Herne Bay Now and Then - a pictorial history" together with the 2014 calendar were on sale at the books table.

The next meeting will be on Thursday 21st November in the Lower United Church Hall, High Street, Herne Bay when Peter Meiklejohn will give a talk entitled "Hidden Kent". Doors open at 6.30pm for 7pm start. Visitors £2 Members free.

Report: Victorian & Edwardian Schooldays

Peter Ewart gave us a fascinating talk at our recent meeting on Victorian and Edwardian Schooldays and the impact of the wider universal and compulsory educational system on the general population after the various 19th century Education Acts.

He explained that in the 1860s, one third of children in England and Wales did not attend school at all and right up until the 1881 Act which made elementary education compulsory, children were not required to go.

He covered previous provisions which included Dame schools, Church sponsorship, including Sunday Schools and other philanthropic groups which organised the Ragged Schools in cities not forgetting the Workhouse establishments. After 1891 almost all children had access to free education.

Only in the 20th century were young children no longer regularly expected to work alongside adults and by 1902 total responsibility for state supported education was passed to Borough and County Councils. By 1918 school attendance was not only compulsory but the school leaving age was raised from 12 to 14 years old.

Edwardian schools had mainly single sex classes in fairly large rooms with seating often arranged in tiers. Subjects covered the 'three R's' (reading, writing and arithmetic) and there were also physical education lessons ('drill'). Girls were generally taught sewing and needlework, and boys wood and metal work.

Peter concluded by giving examples taken from school log books which provided members with some excellent contemporary stories.

David Birch reminded members that the Society's 2014 Calendar and their latest publication "Herne Bay Then and Now - a pictorial history covering 180 years" was now on sale.

It's time to join the Historical Records Society

The Society is just starting a new season of talks. Running from the Bronze Age to the present day, the talks range across schools, pubs, war and more.

Meetings are held in the Lower Hall, Herne Bay United Church, High Street, Herne Bay, starting at 7:00pm, doors open from 6.30pm. Meetings are open to members and guests. The Annual Subscription for 2013/2014 is just £10 per person or £20 per household. Visitors are welcome, space permitting, for a charge of £2.  

Click here to download a membership form. 

Annual General Meeting 2013

The society's Annual General meeting was well attended. John Fishpool, President, gave his report covering the various activities undertaken during the year. He said that in 2013 we had just celebrated two of the most important landmarks in the history of the town.

The first was the Act of Parliament which achieved Royal Assent on 28th June 1833 setting out the basis for the management of a separate portion of the parish of Herne and the formation of the town of Herne Bay.

The second was the centenary of the opening of the King's Hall by HRH Princess Henry of Battenberg on 10th July 1913. He was pleased that the society had taken the lead in setting up exhibitions and events to ensure that both had been given worthy recognition and he thanked the members who had worked hard to make this possible.

He reminded members of the sad loss earlier in the year of Anne Gough, widow of late Society Curator Harold Gough and the society's treasurer Tony Bendrey. He thanked Colleen Ashwin-Kean for assisting with the day to day finances in the interim and said that Colleen had since been elected as a Trustee of the society.

Mike Bundock, Society Archivist and Curator, gave his report on the various acquisitions accepted during the year. He also presented the Treasurer's report in the absence of a permanent post-holder. Colleen Ashwin-Kean, Excursions Organiser, reported on the success of the recent visit to Faversham.

No nominations had been received for the vacant Treasurer's and Secretary's post prior to the meeting and no nominations were received from the floor. John Fishpool agreed to be nominated for Treasurer but the Secretary's position is still vacant. The rest of the committee Margaret Wood, Margaret Burns and Colleen Ashwin-Kean were elected en bloc.

David Birch, retiring Chairman, informed members that John Fishpool and Mike Bundock had both been given honorary memberships for their long serving contributions and hard work on behalf of the society.

The evening concluded with a slide show of various aspects of Reculver presented by Mike Bundock. The new publication “Herne Bay Then and Now - a pictorial history celebrating 180 years” was on sale, as was the 2014 Calendar featuring historical images of Herne Bay.

The next meeting will be at the Lower Hall, United Church Herne Bay on Thursday 17th October when Peter Ewart will be speaking on "Victorian and Edwardian Schooldays". Doors open at 6.30pm for 7pm start. Visitors most welcome. Ring 01227 362666 or visit our website for more programme information.

What a summer!

It has been a busy Summer for the Society as its members have been involved in various celebrations concerning the history of the town. An exhibition to mark the 180th anniversary of the formation of Herne Bay as a separate town by the 28th June 1833 Act of Parliament was prepared and mounted in Beach Creative Art Gallery, Beach Street for a week in June.

Mike Bundock presented a talk at the Herne Bay Little Theatre in Bullers Avenue on 28th and 29th June to celebrate this notable date in the town's history.

On Wednesday 10th July the Society organised and hosted a day to celebrate the centenary of the opening of the King's Hall by HRH Princess Henry of Battenberg on 4th July 1913. It started at noon with the grand opening by the Sheriff of Canterbury Cllr Ann Taylor together with guest of honour Mrs Mary Harris, daughter of Miss Nancy Iggulden, who presented the original bouquet to HRH in 1913.

The Society commissioned replicas of the original commemorative medallions that were distributed when the hall was opened and a representative number of school children attended to receive them. The remainder of the 3,000 medals were subsequently delivered to all Herne Bay and Herne Primary schools for presentation to their pupils

A marvellous lunch for 100 guests was prepared and served by students from East Kent College, with a menu based on the original “luncheon” menu, but somewhat trimmed down from the original fifteen courses! The tables were tastefully decorated in true Edwardian fashion including peacock and ostrich feathers by members of Beach Creative Arts.

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A commemorative garden, commissioned by Canterbury City Council and created for Herne Bay in Bloom by Oakapple Landscapes and Family Investment Homes on the foot of the Downs was opened later in the day by Cllr Jean Law, Deputy Leader of Canterbury City Council.

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A talk to celebrate 100 years of the King's Hall was given in the evening by Society Archivist Mike Bundock accompanied by his fully illustrated book. An exhibition (which has subsequently been transferred to the Herne Bay Museum Gallery William Street and can be viewed there until 6th October ) was also produced by members in the King's Hall foyer.

As part of the Society's contribution to English Heritage week Mike Bundock gave a talk at Herne Bay Little Theatre on 13th September on The Changing Face of Herne Bay Seafront, members manned an exhibition in the King's Hall on Sat 14th September and also organised two "Walks Back in Time" in the town and seafront on Sunday 15th September. A busy weekend! 

A walk round Faversham and its very interesting museum hosted by the Faversham Society, organised by Society's Trustee and Outings Organiser Colleen Ashwin-Kean, has also recently been enjoyed by members and friends.

Our opening meeting of the season will be held on Thursday October 3rd at 7pm (doors open at 6.30pm) in the United Church Hall High Street Herne Bay commencing with the Annual General Meeting followed by a selection of slides illustrating some aspects of Reculver. Our latest publication hot off the press, "Herne Bay Then and Now - A Pictorial History Celebrating 180 Years" written and produced by John Fishpool and Mike Bundock will be available on this evening together with the new 2014 Calendar featuring twelve historical images of Herne Bay selected from the Society's extensive archive collection.