PICKERS, PAGEANTS AND PARADES: WALK THROUGH DARTFORD’S SUMMER HOLIDAY HISTORY

By Clair Humphries

Throughout history, Dartford has provided plenty of entertainment for locals during the summer – you may have enjoyed recent festivals and celebratory events in the town, whether in its parks, halls or open spaces. If so, you’ve followed in the footsteps of numerous residents past, who made the most of long summer days taking part in processions and parades both in the town centre and its surrounding villages. The summer months have seen high drama too – particularly during the war years – but community has always been central to this corner of Kent, in good times and bad. So, why not join me on a trip down memory lane and explore what bygone Dartford summer holidays had to offer…

Residents have always flocked to its centre for summer celebrations. Recorded as a thriving market town since medieval times, Dartford was known primarily as a trading place for corn and grain. Esteemed Kent historian Edward Hasted gives a vivid description of its annual Summer Fair in ‘The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent,’ (1797) where he writes about fancy dress competitions, races and performances from concert bands. As a local (Hasted’s ancestral home was in Sutton-at-Hone) it’s likely he visited the fair himself, which was traditionally held on the second of August each year.

Summer Nature Trail!

The school holidays are a great time to explore Dartford Heath. See if you can spot dragonflies and damselflies on the ponds, purple heather growing on the heathland and chaffinches building their nests – check out the Dartford Heath guide on www.dartford.gov.uk to learn more.

Local villages have a long tradition of gathering together for summer celebrations. Until fairly recently, these tended to be farming communities (with Kent being the Garden of England after all!) Wilmington in particular was known for its soft fruit production and apple orchards abounded, with high summer and harvest a focal point. Two of my favourite local blogs – www.suttonathonehistory. co.uk and www.maypolehistory.site123.me feature community summer carnivals. In the 1900s, Sutton at Hone’s carnival had become an annual fundraising event, as villagers paraded in fancy dress, collecting money for the poor. Maypole’s carnival processions were equally jolly, as residents also dressed up and took part in various sports day races. One poignant account describes how local conscripted soldiers attended in uniform, during the First World War.

The first half of the 20th century saw a trend –not just in Dartford – but nationwide, for summer town pageants. Inspired by medieval morality tales and legends, these spectacles often involved community and religious groups (and very elaborate costumes!) In 1932, the Dartford pageant stood out, attracting around 5000 people at the main performance staged in Hall Place gardens. There, an assembled cast reenacted biblical stories and tales of Kent bravery according to the West Kent Advertiser – including the depiction of the Black Prince visiting Bexley. Surviving photographs (although black and white) show impressive looking ‘knights’ on horseback, surrounded by cheering medieval ‘maidens’ and children waving patriotic flags. The owner of Hall Place, Lady Limerick, (who planted the original topiary ‘beasts’) threw open her grounds to host the pageant which attracted various local dignitaries including the Lord Bishop of Rochester.

Quick Quiz:

Who was the famed ‘Black Prince?’ a) Prince Edward b) Prince Albert c) Prince Harry

The war years were tough for Dartford folk – as with all those living in or near to London, they became used to the threat of attack, with Second World War air raids a regular occurrence. In August 1944, one particular bombing raid hit home when a doodlebug (or flying bomb) caused devastation in Carrington Road. A plaque commemorates the tragedy, which resulted in damage to seven hundred nearby homes and killed ten people. Although deeply shocking, newspaper cuttings from the time convey a real sense of community spirit, as neighbours rallied round to support those affected by the blast.

As mentioned previously, summer meant harvest time in this corner of the county – and lots of hard work! However, one particular crop brought holidaymakers to Kent, who were able to combine work and leisure in their annual excursion to the Darent Valley hop fields. Right up until the 1960s, Londoners – and families from the suburbs, including Dartford – would descend upon the area, keen to earn money from hop-picking and enjoy the fresher country air. Castle Farm and Sepham Farm in Shoreham were both popular with the ‘hoppers’ who stayed in temporary huts. Local churches catered for the workers’ spiritual needs and some, like the Well Hill Mission chapel, were founded purposefully for the community’s annual visitors.

Summer plans may be more ambitious these days (not that staying in the Darent Valley is so bad…) but there’s still lots to do for all the family within the borough. Like thousands of Dartfordians before you, why not visit a local fair or carnival – or have a day out harvesting farm grown fruit and veg? You’ll be walking through history with a host of colourful Dartford characters who are no longer with us. Apart from the Black Prince, who (it is rumoured) still haunts the passageways of Hall Place by night… www.clairhumphries.com

Clair Humphries is a Script Consultant for ATS Heritage.

Twitter: @clairhumphries

Instagram: clair_humphries

Quick Quiz answer is a) Prince Edward, who apparently courted his wife-to-be, Joan, on the banks of the River Cray in the 14th century!

Local resident and business Owner Brian Downton is running the Copenhagen Ironman for Charity

- Sevenoaks Triathlon

- Tonbridge Triathlon

- Darenth Valley 10km run

- Harvel 5 run

- Dartford Bridge Triathlon

- Cotswold Classick half IM distance triathlon

- Midnight Man half marathon

- Great east swim – 5 km open water swim

Brian will also be travelling to Morocco in November for 5 days cycling in the Atlas mountains

The charities being supported by Brian and Downton and Ali this year are

The Openwork Partnership Foundation – They give grants to small local charities in the UK, supported by advisers and staff within the network

Holding On Letting Go – Brian is a trustee of HOLG who give Pre and Post bereavement advice to children in Kent and SE London

If you would like to support Brian then you can do so on his donation site

Dartford business owner, Brian Downton runs Downton and Ali Associates, a firm of Financial advisers based in Dartford and Coney Hall and giving advice on all areas of financial planning including pensions, investments, mortgages and Protection.

Brian is passionate about giving back to the community, and Downton and Ali as well as Sponsoring Dartford FC for a number of years, raise thousands every year to help local charities and have their annual Spring Ball at Princess Park in March.

Brian has also over the years taken part in a number of sporting events including the London Marathon and Ironman Austria Triathlon and this year he is taking on another Ironman event in Copenhagen on the 20th August.

An Ironman Triathlon consists of 2.4 mile (3.86 km) swim, 112 mile (180.25 km) bicycle ride a marathon - 26.22 mile (42.20 km) run raced in that order and without a break

These are some of the events that Brian has also taken part in this year as part of his training.

- Dartford Half Marathon

- Folkstone 10 mile run https://sponsorme.charitiestrust.org/event/ ae6aa7b7-3483-4d93-9947-8326e262de37

Friday 22nd September 6.30pm – late Priestfield Stadium, Gillingham

Tickets: £60pp/£540 per table of 10

Book here: www.jumblebee.co.uk/holgsilveranniversaryball