The late Miss Norrington’s memories of Newnham, as set down by her. (Miss Norrington died at the age of 92 in February 1970) supplied for twokentvillages.org courtesy of Alison StClairBaker & Sue Gunner
In these brief notes I record a few reminiscences of my early days in the Village of Newnham, my birthplace where the first 17 years of my life were happily spent.
My grandfather, Mr. Henry Norrington, was a wheelwright and carried on that trade In the premises now occupied by the Humphrey Bros., but many improvements have taken place since then. The old house had a thatched roof and ivy completely covered the front and was known as “Ivy House”. The shop was also thatched but has since been pulled down.
Although my grandmother died there she was buried at Doddington which is the real home of the Norrington family. My grandfather then had built “Fernlea” and moved to Doddington to carry on the Wheelwright's business where my Uncle worked with my Grandfather.
My Grandfather died in January 1895. My Father, William Norrington, then retired and moved from Ivy House to Fernlea and Alfred Humphrey Senr. took over the Newnham business, followed by his sons.
The blacksmith's forge close by Ivy House was run very successfully by Mr. Stephen Foster; whilst working he always wore a square paper hat. His son, Walter, succeeded him. He was a clever craftsman in iron; the large entrance gates to Sharsted Court were designed and made by him and bear his name.
Another specimen of his work is shown in the fence surrounding the Faunce de Laune's grave in Doddington Churchyard. One will notice that the alternate fancy spikes have each a different pattern, no two being alike.
The George public house was held by three generations of Packhams, the first, my grandfather on my mother's side, followed on his death by his son, William Packham, and then by his son, also named William, who retired owing to ill health. Then Mr. George Sargent became licensee, living there for several years before taking over The Chequers Inn, Doddington.
The first vicar of Newnham I heard much about who lived before my time was the Rev. Bower. He was a rich man and during his vicariate the Church steeple was raised to its present height being more squatty before, and he also bought the church organ which is still in use. Prior to that a small string band provided the music for the services. My Grandfather Packham before mentioned played the double bass, one of my uncles, also a Packham, the violin, and several other musical gentlemen also played stringed instruments.
The next vicar was the Rev. Philip Kingsford, a bachelor, and unlike his predecessor, very poor. He kept a lot of bees, a few cows and a pony. He was very fond of children, and often would invite a crowd of them to sit on the front steps of the Vicarage to enjoy slices of bread and honey, except one child who preferred dripping and got it (viz. myself). In his little pony trap he drove almost every evening to Faversham to buy odds and ends from butchers and fishmongers in order to supplement his rather small stipend.
I often accompanied him on these journeys and he tried, when stars were visible, to instruct me in astronomy. An older brother lived with him, a very simple man. He always wore a silk top hat and used to trudge about the village visiting people who cared to let him in to pass his time away. Our house was one of his favourite calling places, his conversation was very childish. The Rev. Philip died at Newnham and is buried near the church porch; after serving as vicar of the parish for 30 years. Very few peoplewould remember him now.
The little chapel up Sharsted Lane, now a store has quite a long history and very few, if any, will remember the time when it was used for public worship. It was built 1806 but previous to that the Congregational mission opened a Sunday School, and a cottage was licensed (I don't know which) for preaching and a resident pastor installed.
The first for the Home Missionary Society was the Rev. Mr. Diffey, he was followed by the Rev. Mr. Wittern. In 1835 the Mission was taken over by the Kent Congregational association, and the Rev. J. Hicks became its Minister; next came the Rev. T.Ratcliffe. Later on, in 1840, the Mission was transferred to the Faversham Congregational Church whose pastor, at that time, was the Rev. Jo Rook. Those following him (all were resident in Faversham) were the Rev. W. Hill and the Rev. Mr. Beeby.
In February in each year an anniversary was celebrated when visitors came from Faversham in waggonettes, tea was provided and in the evening speeches, songs and recitations were given together with local talent organised by myself. The Mission then employed an Evangelist and local preachers helped to carry on the work. They used to walk the 5 miles each way in all weathers to preach for the glory of God, no remuneration whatever. When the Authorities decided to dispense with the Evangelist (a paid man) and rely on local preachers only the work began to decline, the personal weekly visits of the Evangelist were missed and therefore the Chapel was closed in 1908. Only one of the 5 people present at the last service survives, namely myself who played and worked there for 12 years.
Mrs. Faunce de Laune, wife of Mr. Chapman Faunce de Laune, was always interested in the life of the village. She employed what was known as a Bible Woman, named Miss Pegley, who lived in a small cottage and visited peoplein their homes. She also had a weekly meeting for the children at her home where they did sewing and learned portions of scripture (I was one of them). When they left for home she gave each child what she called a sugar plum which was in fact a lump of sugar. I wonder if children would be pleased with that today.
In a cottage at the top of the street, now occupied by Mr. Corrin, lived two brothers named Carrier who were rather peculiar. One was a watchsmith, the other a basket maker.
The watchsmith did a good trade. In his workshop window was a large clock which was very useful to peoplein the village as it kept good time. The window is now bricked up. 'The basketmaker was very eccentric; he once made for me a small basket of very open work design which he said would hold gooseberries. He also made me a very small wickerwork doll’s pram with tiny wooden wheels. I was pleased with it, no children had any better, in fact none at all in those days.
In the house next door to the Carriers lived a lady named Miss Pell who kept what was known as a Dames School, several boys and girls, tradesmen's children attended. I was one of them, the fee was 9d per week. There were other such schools before that, also what is now the Village Hall was used as a school before the Board School at Doddington was built.
A man named William Bottle, a native of Newnham, lived in a cottage down the yard behind the shoemakers shop. He became world famous as “Datas the Memory Man". He entertained music hall audiences throughout the world for 50 years. He had a remarkable brain and answered more questions in public without error than anyone else for 50 years. On his 80th birthday in 1955 he proved that his memory had not failed by namng Derby winners from 1780. At one time in his career he sold his brain to an American doctor for £2,000 but the doctor died first.
Calico House in my young days was let in two dwellings;
a pig dealer named Sellen lived in one part and a relative of his in the other. The garden that now is was a rough meadow.
In later years it was restored and became once again a gentleman's residence. Major Edmund Faunce de Laune lived there for some years and several other distinguished tenants have occupied
it since.
"Audrey House" the home of the late Mr. Barnard, was once
a beer shop called the Royal Oak - a Mrs. Scars was the landlady. Some years ago it was considered redundant and closed.
At the top of Hilly Field a windmill once stood. I do not remember it but have often played around the ruins.
The home of the late Mrs. Sheppard called “Eringo Bragh” was a butcher's shop for many years kept by a Mr. Doughty who died there. A Mr. Duncan followed him.
The Post Office was the little cottage recently occupied by the late Mr. Jack Baker. It was kept by a woman named Mrs. Bottle, a relative of the famous man Datas.
There was no afternoon delivery of letters but you might open the front door and enquire if there were any left there for you.
The baker's shop was then in the centre of the row of houses where Mrs. Kennard now lives, later it was moved higher up the street at the house now occupied by Mr. E. Rye. The bakers I knew were Mr. Griggs who with his family migrated to New Zealand, then Mr. Tritton and later Mr. Anderson, Senr., father of Mrs. A.Jarvis.
The King Bros. who were builders in quite a big way lived at the corner of Sharsted Lane. They built many houses in the district which include Newnham Vicarage; “Eringo Bragh” the policeman’s house, Sandhurst Farm, Seed in which a brother King lived, Doddington Post Office, Pine Trees at Bistock and my own house Fernlea and others.
I loved the village of Newnham in my younger days as I knew everyone in the parish being, as I was, interested for 12 years in the chapel, also organist at the church for 7 years and a keen member of the W.I. until it closed. Everyone was very helpful at all times, but most of the old folks have passed away. I could name some from every house but a new generation has risen up to take their places.
The following vicars followed the Rev. Kingsford, namely the Rev. Amos, Rev. May, Rev. Greenland and Rev. Davidson.