Today's County in the Spotlight:Part 2

[NewcastleFalcon]

False alarm...made in Derby!



Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Genuine Kent Brick

George Smeed started making bricks at Murston, Sittingbourne, Kent in 1846. An ever expanding company, George's son in law, George Dean joins him in 1875 to form Smeed Dean. George Smeed passed away in 1881, but the company continues until 1926 when it was sold to the Dunstable Cement Co.

Smeed Dean Brick



Name lives on today.

https://www.wienerberger.co.uk/products ... ricks.html

The Smeed Dean name is synonymous with the production of high quality, traditional London Yellow Stock bricks. Based in Sittingbourne, Kent, it is the only brick factory in the UK that specialises in in the exclusive production of this type of product.

At Wienerberger we are proud of the rich heritage the Smeed Dean has. We are also committed to ensuring the Smeed Dean name continues to flourish in the future. That is why we continue to invest in this unique offering by treasuring the original products made at the factory as well as developing new products and services.

By standing the test of time, preserving a rich heritage and embracing innovation, Smeed Dean delivers a unique touch and a distinct quality with every product.

The History of Smeed Dean
Smeed Dean bricks have been used extensively throughout London and the South of England for two centuries. After acquiring a smallholding and brickworks in Sittingbourne Kent, George Smeed (1812-1881) collected town ash and clinker from the fire grates of Victorian London and mixed it with local chalk and brick earth to create the original London Stock bricks. The town ash is still used in the manufacture of Smeed Dean London Stock bricks today!

Our Smeed Dean London stock bricks are still manufactured at the Smeed Dean site using locally sourced clay and mixed with the original town ash accumulated from 1800’s. They are produced today in a modern manufacturing plant, but with the benefits of long-established skills and knowledge.

Regards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

I don't think we should let Kent's time expire without a mention of one of our most prolific authors. However as I mentioned him on a different county thread last year I'll settle for a link to that post here

[NewcastleFalcon]

Came across this on a list for 2021 of new listings by English Heritage in 2021

https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-ne ... d-in-2021/



Pub of the day NF selection Broadstairs Kent.

REgards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

Adding some music to Kent's most famous view just has to be done:

BFTW

[Rp0thejester]

Adding some music to Kent's most famous view just has to be done:

Old music, you okay with that?

[bobins]

I think I have probably found my cricket match.
County Championship, 1968
Kent v Yorkshire

REgards Neil

Nah, I think the one on Goodwin Sands was better, though I believe the wicket was a little slow that day

Cricket on Goodwin Sands 1959

Or if you want a more sedate game, howzabout croquet ?

Croquet on Goodwin Sands

[NewcastleFalcon]

I would say that as far as I know Mr Nutkins now of deepest Dorset has posted many times about his time in Kent on this forum, so I'll have a quick search and bring something into the thread from Peter's previous posts, should he miss out on Kent's day in the spotlight.

First hand stuff from the archives from Peter.

...I spent the first 30 years of my life in Kent, 23 in Petts Wood and 7 in Borough Green, been in rural Dorset now for 51.

Garden of England...

My grandmother supplied a lot of the houses with eggs, she had two big sheds of hens. I remember the money box on the window sill and pile of coupons. They also grew some beautiful fruit there, I remember the juicy Victoria plums, greengages and lots of other fruit, I used to gorge myself down there in the summer. There was a big cherry tree which grew over the tool shed, you could stand on the roof and stuff your self with them. All the fruit was delicious, not like the rubbish you get at the supermarket today, but this was in Kent, that's the place for fruit, doesn't grow so well here. Their smallholding was in Bromley, a long strip of land between the houses and the Victoria railway line near Bromley south station, they used to get most of their living from that, could have been out in the country to me.

There is of course much much more... Simple search...45 posts where Peter mentions Kent

search.php?keywords=kent&terms=all&auth ... mit=Search

Regards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

Another place in Kent with worldwide fame so shouldn't be left out:

BFTW

Visit their website here

[Peter.N.]

I didn't realise we were in Kent, must have missed that one I will try and find some pictures before it moves on.

Peter

[NewcastleFalcon]

One of my bands whose music I enjoy as much now as I ever did were a part of the Canterbury Scene, all from the Canterbury area. great musicianship, you could describe it as folk rock, with wiki describing the genre as "Progressive rock, Canterbury scene, psychedelic rock, jazz-rock, progressive pop" .

They are a band where I know every musical phrase on every track, every note of the solos, on the well-loved albums.
No comments required on whether the track is good bad or indifferent its my personal choice, and if you havent discovered Caravan in the 1970's, and appreciated their music ever since, you aren't going to be a convert to their music now.

The first track I heard and got into was from an album called "For Girls who Grow Plump in the Night" called "A hunting we shall go". By no means typical of their stuff but a tour de force once you get into it.



Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

I didn't realise we were in Kent, must have missed that one I will try and find some pictures before it moves on.

Peter

Peter, Kent is the final selection for the Day in the spotlight it was the 92nd of the 92 Counties to be selected at random for the thread. If you have anything to add just tag it on. Not as if there is another County chomping at the bit, the other 91 have had their turn, and I extended Northumberland's Day a bit as Threadstarter's Privilege

REgrads Neil

[Peter.N.]

Right, thanks Neil. My computer is refusing to up load any pictures at the moment, so I will come back later.

Peter

[Peter.N.]

Lived here in Petts Wood from 1939 until we got married in 1963.

Worked at Queensway radio from 1955 to 1963

Peter

[Peter.N.]

My first car, my mother sitting on the wall which she built!

1956

Chislehurst Road Petts Wood, the pink bonnet and wings on the left are on my first PA Cresta, circa1960.

Peter