Kent Miscellany
@kent-miscellany.bsky.social
A canter round the history of the Garden of England, from items of major national importance to items of utter insignificance.
#OTD 1781 An order was made to demolish the centre section of the Burgate in #Canterbury, leaving just its two towers standing.
June 5, 2025 at 6:52 PM
#OTD 1781 An order was made to demolish the centre section of the Burgate in #Canterbury, leaving just its two towers standing.
#OTD 1918 Damage amounting to about £2,500 was caused by a fire which broke out at the Isle of Thanet Tramway Company's Depot at St. Peter's.
It originated in a store, and this and the mess room were gutted, but flames were prevented from reaching the generating station.
It originated in a store, and this and the mess room were gutted, but flames were prevented from reaching the generating station.
May 29, 2025 at 11:19 AM
#OTD 1918 Damage amounting to about £2,500 was caused by a fire which broke out at the Isle of Thanet Tramway Company's Depot at St. Peter's.
It originated in a store, and this and the mess room were gutted, but flames were prevented from reaching the generating station.
It originated in a store, and this and the mess room were gutted, but flames were prevented from reaching the generating station.
#OTD 1929 Many people take platform tickets at Sandgate station in the evening for the sole opportunity of hearing the nightingales, which are in full song.
The wooded banks overlooking the station are an ideal nesting resort of the birds, which are this year, very numerous.
The wooded banks overlooking the station are an ideal nesting resort of the birds, which are this year, very numerous.
May 25, 2025 at 4:23 PM
#OTD 1929 Many people take platform tickets at Sandgate station in the evening for the sole opportunity of hearing the nightingales, which are in full song.
The wooded banks overlooking the station are an ideal nesting resort of the birds, which are this year, very numerous.
The wooded banks overlooking the station are an ideal nesting resort of the birds, which are this year, very numerous.
#OTD 1982 The old Marlowe Theatre (previously the Empire Theatre and a cinema) in St Margaret's St, Canterbury, closed for the final time.
May 22, 2025 at 2:19 PM
#OTD 1982 The old Marlowe Theatre (previously the Empire Theatre and a cinema) in St Margaret's St, Canterbury, closed for the final time.
Reposted by Kent Miscellany
A WASH-WAY was a narrow path cut in the woods to make the CANTS [portions] of a WOODFALL [part to be cut]. A fall of 10 acres would probably have been washed into 6 or 7 cants.
"You've no call to follow the main-track; keep down this here wash-way for about ten rods and you'll come right agin him."
"You've no call to follow the main-track; keep down this here wash-way for about ten rods and you'll come right agin him."
May 22, 2025 at 6:01 AM
A WASH-WAY was a narrow path cut in the woods to make the CANTS [portions] of a WOODFALL [part to be cut]. A fall of 10 acres would probably have been washed into 6 or 7 cants.
"You've no call to follow the main-track; keep down this here wash-way for about ten rods and you'll come right agin him."
"You've no call to follow the main-track; keep down this here wash-way for about ten rods and you'll come right agin him."
#OTD 1970 A 5 day beer festival, claimed to be Britain's first, opens in Marine Gardens, Folkestone as part of Expo Euro '70.
In conjunction with Bass Charrington, visitors will can taste some of the country's best beer in a gay continental atmosphere of music and entertainment.
In conjunction with Bass Charrington, visitors will can taste some of the country's best beer in a gay continental atmosphere of music and entertainment.
May 20, 2025 at 4:14 PM
#OTD 1970 A 5 day beer festival, claimed to be Britain's first, opens in Marine Gardens, Folkestone as part of Expo Euro '70.
In conjunction with Bass Charrington, visitors will can taste some of the country's best beer in a gay continental atmosphere of music and entertainment.
In conjunction with Bass Charrington, visitors will can taste some of the country's best beer in a gay continental atmosphere of music and entertainment.
Reposted by Kent Miscellany
Without doubt the noisiest boat in #Ramsgate harbour today was the Dunkirk Little Ship, the steam tug Challenge! 🎥🌞⛵️👍 #Dunkirk #operationdynamo
May 17, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Without doubt the noisiest boat in #Ramsgate harbour today was the Dunkirk Little Ship, the steam tug Challenge! 🎥🌞⛵️👍 #Dunkirk #operationdynamo
Reposted by Kent Miscellany
CHOATY and CHUFF are words recorded as Kentish dialect for chubby or broad faced.
"He's a choaty boy."
And CHUFFER was used for eating a large amount of food or being a hearty eater.
"By Golly! Our young Willum (William) can't half chuffer, he'll eat us out of house and home"
"He's a choaty boy."
And CHUFFER was used for eating a large amount of food or being a hearty eater.
"By Golly! Our young Willum (William) can't half chuffer, he'll eat us out of house and home"
May 15, 2025 at 6:01 AM
CHOATY and CHUFF are words recorded as Kentish dialect for chubby or broad faced.
"He's a choaty boy."
And CHUFFER was used for eating a large amount of food or being a hearty eater.
"By Golly! Our young Willum (William) can't half chuffer, he'll eat us out of house and home"
"He's a choaty boy."
And CHUFFER was used for eating a large amount of food or being a hearty eater.
"By Golly! Our young Willum (William) can't half chuffer, he'll eat us out of house and home"
Reposted by Kent Miscellany
Hanging out the #bunting for what is going to be a busy couple of weeks here in #Ramsghetto as the #littleships start arriving for the 85th #anniversary of #operationdynamo
#Ramsgate #kent #photography #blackandwhite #monochrome #mono #photooftheday #flags #photographersofbluesky #history #ww2 #war
#Ramsgate #kent #photography #blackandwhite #monochrome #mono #photooftheday #flags #photographersofbluesky #history #ww2 #war
May 15, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Hanging out the #bunting for what is going to be a busy couple of weeks here in #Ramsghetto as the #littleships start arriving for the 85th #anniversary of #operationdynamo
#Ramsgate #kent #photography #blackandwhite #monochrome #mono #photooftheday #flags #photographersofbluesky #history #ww2 #war
#Ramsgate #kent #photography #blackandwhite #monochrome #mono #photooftheday #flags #photographersofbluesky #history #ww2 #war
Reposted by Kent Miscellany
In the Kentish dialect poem 'Dick and Sal at Canterbury Fair' the White Hart ALUS or ALIS - alehouse, is mentioned;
An den we turn’d about agen,
An see an alis stan.
Sal thought it was de goat or hine,
I diden know fer my part;
But when we look’t apan de sign,
De readin was de White Hart.
An den we turn’d about agen,
An see an alis stan.
Sal thought it was de goat or hine,
I diden know fer my part;
But when we look’t apan de sign,
De readin was de White Hart.
May 14, 2025 at 6:01 AM
In the Kentish dialect poem 'Dick and Sal at Canterbury Fair' the White Hart ALUS or ALIS - alehouse, is mentioned;
An den we turn’d about agen,
An see an alis stan.
Sal thought it was de goat or hine,
I diden know fer my part;
But when we look’t apan de sign,
De readin was de White Hart.
An den we turn’d about agen,
An see an alis stan.
Sal thought it was de goat or hine,
I diden know fer my part;
But when we look’t apan de sign,
De readin was de White Hart.
#OTD 1941 Many in #Faversham were caught without their gas masks when there was a surprise test, the first in the country.
Tear gas, in low concentration, was discharged in the town centre.
Those that had masks quickly donned them, but many maskless folk were mildly affected.
Tear gas, in low concentration, was discharged in the town centre.
Those that had masks quickly donned them, but many maskless folk were mildly affected.
May 13, 2025 at 12:03 PM
#OTD 1941 Many in #Faversham were caught without their gas masks when there was a surprise test, the first in the country.
Tear gas, in low concentration, was discharged in the town centre.
Those that had masks quickly donned them, but many maskless folk were mildly affected.
Tear gas, in low concentration, was discharged in the town centre.
Those that had masks quickly donned them, but many maskless folk were mildly affected.
#OTD 1944 Raymond Reynell (13) and David Clutterbuck (8) of #Beltinge were both killed after hammering an object they had retrieved, braving barbed wire, from the beach.
They had invited Carl Denham (6) to join their game, but he refused, instead becoming witness at the inquest. pic.x.com/qsXSCpuks7
They had invited Carl Denham (6) to join their game, but he refused, instead becoming witness at the inquest. pic.x.com/qsXSCpuks7
May 12, 2025 at 5:12 PM
#OTD 1944 Raymond Reynell (13) and David Clutterbuck (8) of #Beltinge were both killed after hammering an object they had retrieved, braving barbed wire, from the beach.
They had invited Carl Denham (6) to join their game, but he refused, instead becoming witness at the inquest. pic.x.com/qsXSCpuks7
They had invited Carl Denham (6) to join their game, but he refused, instead becoming witness at the inquest. pic.x.com/qsXSCpuks7
Reposted by Kent Miscellany
Some recorded Kentish names for the common earwig are PINCHERWIG or PINCHYWIG and TWINGE. Although earwigs eat pests such as aphids, they can also attack young plants and shoots. CAXES or CECKSIES - dry hollow plant stalks e.g. bean or elder were used to catch earwigs, especially around fruit trees.
May 12, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Some recorded Kentish names for the common earwig are PINCHERWIG or PINCHYWIG and TWINGE. Although earwigs eat pests such as aphids, they can also attack young plants and shoots. CAXES or CECKSIES - dry hollow plant stalks e.g. bean or elder were used to catch earwigs, especially around fruit trees.
Reposted by Kent Miscellany
An 1877 edition of Notes & Queries records some local names for fossils and shark teeth found in the chalk pits around Gravesend - NIPPLE-RINGS, FILES, LARKS' TONGUES and WORMS.
An example of the cidaris fossil is pictured below (image from wikipedia).
An example of the cidaris fossil is pictured below (image from wikipedia).
May 5, 2025 at 6:01 AM
An 1877 edition of Notes & Queries records some local names for fossils and shark teeth found in the chalk pits around Gravesend - NIPPLE-RINGS, FILES, LARKS' TONGUES and WORMS.
An example of the cidaris fossil is pictured below (image from wikipedia).
An example of the cidaris fossil is pictured below (image from wikipedia).
#OTD 1949 Joan Gomm reminded the Dean, Dr Hewlett Johnson, of his promise to officiate at her wedding
The Dean had promised when he saw Joan as a little girl eating chips, and said how much he envied her. "Have a chip then." she said.
He married her at St Martins, #Canterbury.
The Dean had promised when he saw Joan as a little girl eating chips, and said how much he envied her. "Have a chip then." she said.
He married her at St Martins, #Canterbury.
March 18, 2025 at 9:55 AM
#OTD 1949 Joan Gomm reminded the Dean, Dr Hewlett Johnson, of his promise to officiate at her wedding
The Dean had promised when he saw Joan as a little girl eating chips, and said how much he envied her. "Have a chip then." she said.
He married her at St Martins, #Canterbury.
The Dean had promised when he saw Joan as a little girl eating chips, and said how much he envied her. "Have a chip then." she said.
He married her at St Martins, #Canterbury.
Reposted by Kent Miscellany
Here's another word that I hadn't come across before, found in a 1950s newspaper. BELVERING was used in West Kent for a self important and pompous individual.
March 18, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Here's another word that I hadn't come across before, found in a 1950s newspaper. BELVERING was used in West Kent for a self important and pompous individual.
#OTD 1899 The world's first radio distress call was transmitted from the East Goodwin Lightship, after the German merchant ship Elbe ran aground on the Goodwin Sands.
The signal was received by the South Foreland Lighthouse radio operator who then alerted #Ramsgate lifeboat.
The signal was received by the South Foreland Lighthouse radio operator who then alerted #Ramsgate lifeboat.
March 17, 2025 at 1:22 PM