Notice Board

Monday 2 November 2020

Statement from Swale Leader Cllr Roger Truelove on New COVID-19 Restrictions from Thursday

Cllr Roger Truelove, leader of the council, said:

“Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Saturday, we are working to prepare for the new restrictions coming into place on Thursday.

“We know there will be an impact on local residents and businesses and we are reviewing our plans in light of government guidance as we receive it.

“We will be updating residents and businesses with information as soon as we can, so please check our website and social media feeds for updates.

“No-one wanted this to happen, but this is the situation we are in and we now all need to do everything to keep each other safe so we can return to normal as soon as possible.”

Swale Borough Council

The Former Wakeley Brickworks in Poot Lane by David Wood

During the second part of the 19th century, brickfields and small brickworks sprung up along the Kent coast from Gravesend to Faversham, an area highly suitable for brick making because of an abundance of brick earth and the rivers Medway and Swale which allowed for barge transportation.

Wakeley Brothers, the largest and most influential farming company in the Upchurch area, produced top fruit and hops which gave local people employment. They decided to establish their own brickworks as another branch of their business in 1862. The works were constructed on land located on the right side of Brick Hill in Poot Lane as you go down the hill.

Details of the Poot Lane site are limited as Wakeley Brothers historical records and photos were destroyed in a fire at their Spade Lane warehouse in Hartlip some years ago. However, an Ordnance Survey map of the area dated 1896 shows details of the site.

Click map to enlarge.

A tramway system existed and it connected most parts of the site. A tram line also extended to Twinney Wharf and a branch of this veered off at Wetham Green and led to a sand pit opposite the present day entrance to The Poles housing estate. This enabled sand to be transported back to the brickworks for the brick making process. Another sand pit existed on the Wetham Green side of the brickworks.

Using other brickworks for comparison, the Poot Lane site would have consisted of berths for making the bricks, brick kilns for firing the bricks and brick lined pits about four feet deep containing water known as wash mills. These were used for mixing materials. A wash back (a pond) was used for storing the material to keep it pliable. The 1896 map of the site shows a pond located on the bottom right of Brick hill. A pug mill, a large conical shaped wooden container was used for mixing materials and for separating clay from the soil with an ejection hole at the end of the container.

On the Poot Lane, site brick earth was probably dug from Brick Hill as there is still a deep crater visible on the top right of the hill between Red Brick Cottage and the entrance to Spring Bank. The lower right of the hill also shows evidence of earth removal. Brick earth and sand were two important ingredients in the brick making process.

After passing through the brick making stages, the finished bricks were placed in a large storage area known as the Hack which resembled an open sided shed. The bricks were stored there to dry for a period of five to seven weeks. Brick rubble and ash were placed on the Hack floor to prevent rising damp getting into the bricks stored on top. Wheelbarrows, horses and carts and the tram system on which jubilee trucks operated would have carried heavy loads of bricks to and from here.

The finished bricks with the initials WB imprinted on them were probably transported on horse drawn jubilee trucks by tram rail from the brickworks to Twinney Wharf from where barges loaded consignments and delivered these to locations along the river and to London.

Remains of the brickworks site are still visible although much is obscured by trees and undergrowth. Near the top of the hill is a brick made kiln chimney almost as high as the surrounding trees and a brick building that once served as the site office. Further down the hill, adjacent to the road, is a row of beehive shaped kilns with low level brickwork in front and amongst the trees what is believed to be a winch block. Other parts of the former brickworks have been demolished and cleared.

Some of the original tied farm cottages built with Wakeley Brothers bricks for the company workers in Upchurch can still be seen. For example, Red Brick Cottage (formerly Red Brick Cottages) in Poot Lane, Wetham Green Cottages at Wetham Green and Otterham Cottages and Plantation Cottages in Horsham Lane.

The Poot Lane brickworks functioned during the second half of the 19th and the early part of the 20th centuries and then closed probably because of cheaper mass production in bigger brickfields such as Eastwoods Brickfield in Otterham Quay Lane and at Lower Halstow.

The site of the Poot Lane brickworks is now the location of a bungalow with a yard named Spring Bank with adjoining agricultural land belonging to Bill Manley.

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.

Sunday 1 November 2020

November News from Upchurch Horticultural Society - From the Potting Shed

Sponsored by Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd

November is on its way and hopefully, you have managed a good tidy up. October did not see an early winter after all and temperatures remained mild with a few chilly nights. Let’s hope that continues. The garden tidy up has gone reasonably well this year and it was pleasing to finally get a pick of Climbing Beans right at the end. These have now been lifted and in the compost bin. Beans can be cut off at ground level and the roots left in the ground, but this was not a good year and I will move the bean trench to the sunniest spot where it will remain permanently. The trench has been dug and filled with compost so garden and kitchen trimmings will go straight into the compost bin.

I only got one marrow this year and despite holding off for a second, none of the flowers set so that is now in the compost bin… no stuffed marrow this Easter! I lifted most of the potatoes but the milder weather has changed my mind and I will leave the remainder in the ground. They stay fresher in the ground… as long as it does not freeze! I lost a rhubarb plant this year so November is the month to divide a crown and replant.

The lawn is getting raked and kept clear of leaves and the borders are getting tidied. Still plenty of colour with the cyclamen in bloom as well. At the time of writing, we have not yet had a hard frost but this will happen soon and the Autumn flowers will get finished off. All the fruit is picked and the apples were good this year, although this has not always been good news for commercial growers. The fruits have been so large they are difficult to package and the supermarkets are rejecting them!

Insulate pots with bubble wrap or at least raise them of the ground and give evergreen hedges a final trim. If you want to keep going in the garden now is a good time to paint sheds and fences and give some thought to wildlife especially birds. There is a vast selection of different feeders available, some that favour the smaller birds which can easily be bullied off bird tables. Also clean out any nesting boxes as the blue tits will start checking them out as early as January.

With late Autumn now looming my time in the garden is drawing to a close, although quite a bit of planning to be done indoors. It is time to throw another log on the fire and start looking at the seed catalogues for next year’s vegetable varieties. There is also the wine order to think about for Xmas, assuming that Boris allows us to have one, otherwise it really will be life in a bubble.

We are always looking for new members and try to encourage a fun attitude towards friendly competition. So if you want to grow your own fruit, vegetables and flowers or even enter any of the 3 shows we hold each year, then please get in touch, we would be happy to hear from you.

If you are interested in becoming a new member, (all ages are welcome), please contact Rosey on: 01634 377812 (evenings) or Email: rosemary@ringwoodaccounting.co.uk

Sean Barry - Upchurch Horticultural Society

UpARA - November 2020 Newsletter

Hello UpARA members,

Just under a third of our membership, have taken part in activities since restarting on the 6th October, and so far each activity has been well attended and well received, even though we are having to run them in a slightly different fashion.

The Village Hall reopened on 5th October as a COVID-19 secure facility, and it really does look very good with the works completed; we’re looking forward to trying out the new lighting with a social night whenever that becomes a possibility.

We are able to use the VH loos prior to our walks, which we hope will encourage many to join us, a great way of keeping in touch.

One change for all our activities is the pre-booking element. We need to know who is coming on every session so please continue to do this; it has worked really well so far.

We have put together this newsletter to share what has happened and let you know our plans for November; in these uncertain times, nothing is fixed, and any plans can of course, change.

The Thoughts of Chairman John

Hi Everyone,

Just a short update on our current activities.

Around 25-30 members have taken part in each of our Village walks, I personally have taken short local ones, with a short coffee stop at the golf club on the way! We also had the opportunity to check out the "New Look" Village Hall first-hand, I am sure we were all suitably impressed! Well done to all who were involved in the Planning and Fundraising, congratulations a job well done.

The Art Classes have been a great success on Tuesdays, utilising cameras and our big screen to help teach to a socially distanced class, and the Soft Tennis and Table Tennis activities were also a very nice reprieve from the tedious months in lockdown.

Another outdoor activity, Petanque, restarted last week and was also a great success on a lovely, bright sunny afternoon. We are looking to restart Kurling soon, if you are interested please book your places.

Fingers crossed, we all are waiting at the moment for any other "Lock Down" regulations being introduced! all we can do at the moment is to remain upbeat, "WE MARCH ON" despite whatever is in store for us.

Stay safe, John W

All Activities

We have produced risk assessments for each of our activities to mitigate any risks. Before attending any session, attendees will be made aware of what is required of them.

We march on! Our Chairman shows the way at our first walk out. Walking in groups of six, with walks to cater for all, including just up to the golf course, (for a cuppa), and back. The eagle eyed amongst you will notice the Southampton scarf - Yes, our Chairman is a Saint!

Our first Art lesson back - Using the whole hall, we’ve been able to use our screen and lapel microphone and audio equipment to help teach the lesson, so everyone can stay safely in their seat - Note the new ceiling, lighting and new floor!

We’re using just one of our two Petanque pitches, with six allowed at each 50 minute session. We had a great afternoon with 18 members across 3 sessions. We can manage more sessions if necessary and you can enjoy a coffee or a wine in the Golf course before or afterwards, (or both)!

It is essential that if you wish to participate in any activities you let us know beforehand by Email, text or phone:-

• Email: uparaupchurch@gmail.com

• Text or call: 07802 250773

Please give your name and subject ‘eg, Village Walk’, and we will get back to you.

John Wishart - Chairman

Tel: 07971 511956

Email: john@togthedog.co.uk

Website: www.upara.club

Help Raise Funds for Upchurch Village Hall

Upchurch Village Hall has been selected to take part in the Co-op Local Community Fund.

As a Co-op Member, you can select Upchurch Village Hall as your local cause.

Join online at: coop.co.uk/membership or by downloading the Co-op app. Every time you spend at the Co-op and use your membership card the Co-op make a donation to our cause.

Check the link to our cause profile at: membership.coop.co.uk/causes/47462

Thanks for your support.

David Steward
Chairman - Upchurch Village Hall Management Committee