Category Archives: Open Spaces

Shakespeare Colliery

Posted on November 7, 2015 by Lorraine

Unlike most other United Kingdom coalfields, the former Kent coalfield was a relatively recent discovery and quite by chance. It is said that the first coal bed discovered in South East England was in 1801, when lignite was discovered near … Continue reading →

Posted in Kent Coal Field, Open Spaces, Samphire Hoe - Shakespeare Colliery, Shakespeare Colliery | Comments Off on Shakespeare Colliery

Kearsney Abbey

Posted on September 19, 2015 by Lorraine

At the confluence of the 4-mile long River Dour from Watersend, near Temple Ewell, and it’s tributary coming in from the Alkham Valley, is Kearsney Abbey. On leaving the Abbey, the Dour wends its way through Dover until it reaches … Continue reading →

Posted in Kearsney, Kearsney Abbey, Kearsney Abbey, Kearsney Abbey, Kearsney Abbey Mansion, Open Spaces, Tourism, Wanton Destruction | Comments Off on Kearsney Abbey

Part 3 Swingate, Radar and the Towers

Posted on February 7, 2015 by Lorraine

By the late 1920’s all that remained of the former World War I (1914-1918) Swingate aerodrome, east of Dover, were empty hangars.  (see: Marconi, Wireless & Swingate Aerodrome)  Since the War, the Regular and Territorial (TA) armies had used the site, … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Open Spaces, Radio and Telecommunications, Swingate, Swingate - Radar and the Towers, Swingate - Radar and the Towers, Swingate - Radar and the Towers, Swingate - Radar and the Towers, World War II | Comments Off on Part 3 Swingate, Radar and the Towers

Farthingloe – The Historic Valley of Legends and Outstanding Natural Beauty

Posted on November 29, 2014 by Lorraine

In September 2016 the Campaign to Protect Rural England (Kent) won an Appeal against Dover District Council to save the beautiful, historic, Farthingloe valley from development. Below is the story. Farthingloe is a dry, long valley with a gently sloping … Continue reading →

Posted in Farthingloe - The Historic Valley of Legends and Outstanding Natural Beauty, Farthingloe - The Historic Valley of Legends and Outstanding Natural Beauty, Farthingloe - The Historic Valley of Legends and Outstanding Natural Beauty, Farthingloe - The Historic Valley of Legends and Outstanding Natural Beauty, Open Spaces, Tourism, Villages and Towns, Wanton Destruction | Comments Off on Farthingloe – The Historic Valley of Legends and Outstanding Natural Beauty

Old Park history part I & the Foundation of the Playing Fields Association

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Lorraine

Lost in the mists of time there was the manor of Archer’s Court at Whitfield, northeast of Dover. Nearby was a house belonging to the Knights Templars with a large park. Following the demise of the Templars in the early … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Lawes Murray Old Park & the Foundation of the Playing Fields Association, Old Park history part I & the Foundation of the Playing Fields Association, Old Park history part I & the Foundation of the Playing Fields Association, Old Park history part I & the Foundation of the Playing Fields Association, Open Spaces, People, Whitfield | Comments Off on Old Park history part I & the Foundation of the Playing Fields Association