A period of big changes is the best way to describe Upchurch during the 1960s. The decade saw the construction of five new housing estates and a sharp rise in the village population. Some familiar old historical buildings were demolished and an influx of new residents changed the composition of the village population.
The village centre appeared similar to today, although the top end of Forge Lane changed with the demolishing of the old historical buildings on the site of Church Farm. These included an oast house, a forge, an Elizabethan barn and Church Farm Cottages. On the opposite side Anvil House, which incorporated W H Hales Butchers with a cattle yard behind in Forge Lane still existed, but the old 18th century cottages which adjoined it on the left side of the butcher’s in The Street were demolished, Thatched cottages at Wetham Green and Ham Green, the oast houses in Chaffes Lane and on the site of Crosier Court, the old village social club in Horsham Lane and Seager’s Cottages at Gore Bank were also demolished.
Most of the significant village people of the 1960s are no longer alive. Father Wallace McNeil Bradshaw served as the village vicar and he lived in the old vicarage. Highly conspicuous with his long grey beard and usually dressed in flowing, black religious garb, he always visited villagers ill in hospital, he regularly conducted prayers at the village schools and he played a big part in the formation of the village scout movement in 1961.
Aubrey Smith from Oak Lane and John Ardley from the Mayflower barge at Ham Green served as church wardens. John Ardley also became a local councillor and went on to play a big part in local political affairs, even when he battled with blindness. In his later years he received an OBE for his public service.
Cecil Bishop served as chairman of the parish council during the early 1960s but when he died in 1961 Mr Colvin took over then Ted Tress became chairman in 1964. Policeman Duncalf lived in the police house next to the recreation ground in Oak Lane, while Fred Wilson from Chaffes Lane worked as a part time policeman and delivered meat to customers of W H Hales Butchers at weekends.
The Street, Upchurch - July 1967.
Of the village businesses Eric Gransden continued as the main village builder, Ken Gammon succeeded Albert and Kitty Stewart as landlord of The Crown pub followed by Bill and Jean Cockhill. Dick Hales managed W H Hales Butcher’s in The Street, Mr and Mrs Huggins had the Upchurch Stores in The Street, Fred Clemons owned and managed the newsagents. Macdonald’s had the grocery shop which later became Terrys and Charles Mileham managed the Co-operative Stores. Cliff Wanstall worked as the village postmaster in the Post Office and General Store located in the present day Snaffles building. Jack and Marj Davies ran the Upchurch Garage. Norman Long became familiar as the village milkman and Ray Parker worked as the village plumber.
Doctor Longford held his surgery opposite The Poles in The Street otherwise residents could be treated in Rainham or by Doctor Cockerill who worked privately and visited residents’ homes in his open top, red sports car. Nurse Harris also visited residents’ homes to deal with medical and antenatal issues.
Maidstone & District buses passed through the village much more regularly than Chalkwell buses today and even operated during the evenings. Not so many residents owned cars as nowadays, so bus transport was in greater demand and the village centre did not have the car parking problems or the congestion of today.
Several village events were held annually during the 1960s. The fete took place on The Paddock in June followed by the village marathon and the carnival in August. The carnival, which had existed since 1952, became the biggest village event of the year with its procession of decorated floats and a Carnival Queen. A fete on The Paddock followed this which included a popular annual dog show organised by Jasmil Kennels. An evening dance in the Infant’s School completed the day.
One of the biggest tragedies in Upchurch village history occurred in 1964 when Carnival Queen Barbara Webb from Drakes Close toppled off her float and fell under a wheel of the vehicle which tragically killed her in Chaffes Lane after the carnival procession. The incident became national news headlines. However, the carnival continued to take place annually after this. A memorial plaque remembering Barbara Webb is displayed on the village hall wall.
Most of the village clubs that exist today functioned during the 1960s. Some no longer exist such as the Mother’s Union, the Darby and Joan Club, the Table Tennis Club, the Youth Club and the Badminton Club. Upchurch FC and Upchurch United FC played football on the recreation ground at weekends and Upchurch Cricket Club played on a ground in Poot Lane.
There were several big issues in Upchurch during the 1960s. Perhaps the biggest involved the construction of five new housing estates with houses at affordable prices which attracted many newcomers to the village. Architect Mark Hartland-Thomas did the planning and E C Gransden Ltd did the building.
Crosier Court became the first estate to appear in 1961 followed by Bishop Lane, The Poles, Church Farm Road and Marston Close. The original Drakes Close council estate with pebbledash houses remained until the early 1990s.
The appearance of the new estates suddenly increased the population from about 1,400 in 1951 to about 2,200 by 1966.
A new village hall became another important issue. Margaret Neame of the Upchurch Stores originally promoted the idea during the 1950s. During this period the oast house on the site of Crosier Court was proposed as a possible village hall at a cost of £5,000. The plans were shelved until the 1960s then a new site behind The Crown pub was proposed and accepted. The village hall, designed to hold 300 people at a cost of £6,750, opened on 20th October 1961 and it became a new venue for social events and clubs such as the Table Tennis Club, the Darby & Joan Club, the Youth Club, Upchurch Horticultural Society shows and village theatrical productions.
An extension to the burial ground became established when the parish council bought an acre of land from farmers A Hinge & Sons next to the village hall which made space for more graves. The parish council also decided to find a new recreation ground for the village. Father Bradshaw offered The Paddock but the council decided that it was too small, farmer Vic Mannering from Lower Halstow offered land at Twinney but the council decided that it was too far outside the village and rejected it. Mr Robinson offered a piece of wasteland beside the recreation ground but the council deemed it unsuitable. Therefore, the existing recreation ground continued to be used.
Most winters during the decade were predictable but ‘The Big Freeze’ of 1963, the coldest and longest of the decade remains the most memorable. It began on Boxing Day with a blizzard and finished in early March. Regular heavy snowfall and ice blocked the roads, children had difficulty getting to school and Upchurch Football Club had to cancel most of its matches.
Some Upchurch residents made news such as Frank Godman from Crosier Court who appeared on the TV show The Golden Shot in 1967. He narrowly missed the shot that would have won him £420 but he received an electric scooter as a prize.
Derek Hales, son of village butcher Dick Hales scored a huge number of goals for Upchurch United boys team each Sunday and he eventually became a famous professional footballer with Luton, Charlton, West Ham, Derby and Gillingham. Mike Burgess from Crosier Court also won fame with Gillingham Football Club and got a reputation as a competent ukulele player at village social events. George Chaney from Windmill Hill became a sensation as a guitarist and singer at village social events and Phil Cooper from The Poles thrilled spectators at the village carnival with wrestling displays on The Paddock.
Most of the village children attended the Infant’s School and Holywell for their pre-secondary education. A new Holywell School became a big issue during the late 1960s but it did not become reality until 1976. Mrs Tidmus served as head of the Infant’s School and Mr Andrews as head of Holywell after Miss Phyllis Broughton retired in 1967.
The changes that took place during the 1960s were profound and although many new people came to live in the village they mixed in well as Upchurch progressed.
David Wood
About David
David Wood was born, raised and still lives in Upchurch today. He is able to write from personal experience about village life and the changes that have taken place over the years, making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable and detailed historical study of the village.
David's book is available from David at david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + postage and packing.
