Mobile Phone Thefts in Swale

Mobile Phones are being stolen from Leisure Centres and Schools in Swale. Register your IMEI number immediately with:  immobilise.com  This may assist in its recovery. Recycling retailers check on:  immobilise.com  when offered a Phone to purchase.


If you have any information please contact your local police on telephone number: 101.


Kent Police Neighbourhood Watch
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Roofs Tampered With

Two out house roofs were tampered with at Hales Field, Oak Lane, Upchurch directly opposite the Golf Club possibly during an attempted burglary between 24th and 25th of January.


If you have any information please contact your local police on telephone number: 101. 


Kent Police Neighbourhood Watch
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Iron Gate stolen from Chaffes Lane

On Saturday night the 28th of January, a full-width iron driveway gate was stolen from a house in Chaffes Lane, opposite the Garden Nursery.

The theft has been reported to the local police.

Jacky Long

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Community Message - Anti Theft Number Plate Screws

A number of Police staff will be at the Dagenham Motors Ford garage in Pier Road Gillingham tomorrow Wed the 25th to assist the garage in fitting free Anti Theft Number Plate Screws.


The staff will fit the screws while others will be there to give advice.
Please pop along to have the screws fitted and for a chat between 10:00am and 3:30pm.


Kent Police Neighbourhood Watch

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Garages Broken Into

Two garages were broken into and a lorry tampered with in Bishop Lane, sometime late Friday night / early Saturday morning. Police have been informed and attended the scene.

David Bryant

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The History of Poot Lane

Memories of Upchurch.

The name Poot is Anglo Saxon for Poult meaning place of game birds or chickens and it certainly lives up to this name as a large chicken farm existed there for many years. The road name dates back at least to the 1840s and it appears in the 1841 National Census List and probably existed well before then although pre 19th century maps show it as a narrow lane that merged into the marshes at the foot of Brick hill. Since the early 19th century the road has encircled the Ham Green peninsular and it has remained a popular route for walkers, cyclists and joggers.

During the early 19th century land at the top end of the lane was owned by Rainham farmer Thomas Dodd then later by Wakeley Brothers who established a brick works on Brick Hill in 1862. The brick works existed into the 20th century and a tram line connected it to Twinney and Lower Halstow creeks from where bricks were transported to different locations by barge. At Wetham Green the line branched off and doubled back to a sand pit located opposite The Poles. On the bottom left of Brick Hill is Piwit Marsh. This served as the home of Ham Green Cricket Club during the 1920s and then Upchurch Cricket Club and Upchurch Football Club during the 1950s.

Until the last part of the 19th century only two houses existed in the lane. Poot House has stood at the village end since the 1830s, Yew Tree Cottage at the lower end since the 17th century. Bayford House which lies back from the road on the bottom left is an interesting building made almost entirely of concrete and was constructed single handedly by inventor Mr Mantle in the early 1900s. He also established the Bayford Ironworks Company on the adjacent marsh in 1911. All that remains of this is an old brick built foundry, used as a fruit store for many years and owned by A Hinge & Sons. Bayford Farm which is situated nearby provided the village with milk for many years. This is situated just beyond Poot Lane and has been owned and run by the Barling family since the 1920s.

In the lower part of Poot Lane 150 acres of land were presented to the parish of Lower Halstow by the owners during the 18th century. This land was returned to Upchurch in 1882 but it wasn’t until 1961 that residents there had rights to baptisms, marriages or burials at Upchurch church. The lower left area of Poot Lane was once part of the Sharpneth’s estate, a 500 acre area incorporating Burntwick Island but during the 18th century it was dissected by the river and a large amount of land was lost. The orchard on the bottom left of Poot Lane is still known as ‘Sharps.’

During World War Two Poot Lane became a focal point for German fighter planes as anti aircraft gun positions and an army camp were established there. The lane became the most heavily bombed part of the parish during the war with some unexploded bombs still buried deep in the ground.

Familiar long term residents of Poot Lane during the 20th century have included farmers Charles Barling, Harry Witherden, Bob Witherden, Alf (Snapper) Clark, Bert Moon, golf club owners Bill and David Barling, bulldog breeder Dick Shrubsole, Georgine Gordon-Smith, Bett Kitney, Florrie Clark and the Hannigan family. These days there are more dwellings including Tanzor Riding Stables meaning that horse riders are now a familiar sight along the lane.


David Wood, who was born and raised in Upchurch and is able to write from personal experience about many people and aspects of the village and of changes that have taken place over the years making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and a detailed historical study of the village.


David's book ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David on:  david3702001@yahoo.co.uk  price £12 + p+p £2.

David Wood

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