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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Kent => Topic started by: Selina on Thursday 18 February 10 22:02 GMT (UK)

Title: Swale - a district or a parish?
Post by: Selina on Thursday 18 February 10 22:02 GMT (UK)
A relative has been given an address from the 1939 national registration, it is Filling Station and Cafe, Swale.

I have been trying to find out more and as far as I can see Swale is a district or borough in the Sittingbourne, Faversham area covering many parishes and not a village or parish in its own right.

I would have expected addresses for the 1939 registration to be more specific than just a district.

Can anyone throw some light on where 'Swale' in this instance would refer?  Was it used as an address? 

I would be grateful for help.

Selina
Title: Re: Swale - a district or a parish?
Post by: teaurn on Friday 19 February 10 00:18 GMT (UK)
Swale is a borough of Sittingborne

http://www.british-towns.net/en/level_3_display.asp?GetL2=197
Title: Re: Swale - a district or a parish?
Post by: grandarog on Friday 19 February 10 00:27 GMT (UK)
Hi ,
        Tea urn is right , Swale covers Sittingbourne Faversham Sheppey at the present Time.
         However back in 1939 the Towns had their own Urban District Councils .
        Swale Rural District Council covered ,as is logical, all the rural areas which covered all the surrounding villages ,. Consequently I would surmise that a reference to Swale in 1939 infers a village location.
        If you Google "Swale Borough Council" their website has a map showing all the area covered. to give you some idea of what a task you have to locate the address.
                     Regards Rog
Title: Re: Swale - a district or a parish?
Post by: shaneooo on Friday 19 February 10 10:26 GMT (UK)
There used to be a filling station and cafe @ Chestnut st, Dannaway, in the swale district, now demolished and new housing built.

shane.
Title: Re: Swale - a district or a parish?
Post by: Selina on Friday 19 February 10 10:31 GMT (UK)
Thank you very much for the replies.

In 1937 he was running a Filling Station and Cafe in Dunkirk and I see that this comes within the Swale area. 

When I first saw the address 'Swale' I though he had moved to a different village until I started to look for it and realised it didn't seem to exist but it would now appear that he was most probably still in Dunkirk.

I am still somewhat surprised that the address is the 1939 Registration is not more specific.

Most grateful for the help.

Selina
Title: Re: Swale - a district or a parish?
Post by: jibba on Friday 19 February 10 11:45 GMT (UK)
Hi Selina

This may help point you in the right direction. My 5th great-grandfather, Thomas Frier, worked as an Ostler at the Gate Inn pub in Dunkirk, which use to sit on the main road. In later years, the pub was turned into a cafe and is now part of the Little Chef / Travel Lodge site. I also seem to remember a filling station close by to it, though I'm not sure if that is there now (looks like it is on Google Maps). I've attached a photo of the Gate Inn pub, that I took a couple of years ago.

There is also another filling station / cafe about a mile or so south bound from the Gate Inn pub. These buildings look much newer though

Regards

Lee
Title: Re: Swale - a district or a parish?
Post by: Selina on Friday 19 February 10 12:07 GMT (UK)
Thank you lee, nice to have the photo and it helps sort out places. 

The filling station and cafe which were run by my relatives grandfather in the 1930's, who was also my fourth cousin once removed, was newer looking with a bungalow, maybe changed as there was a planning application a while back.

I don't live in the area, in fact have never been there, but my fifth cousin (once removed!) and I would like to find out all we can regarding that side of the family.

I also submitted an enquiry for details of the residents of 1 New Cottages, Dunkirk on the 1939 register but they were unable to trace the address.  The Cottages are just up from the Red Lion, Dunkirk but I now wonder if they come just inside the boundary with Harbleton.  Luckily I did this whilst the 1939 National Registration search was free, now that it costs  £42 regardless of results I won't be trying again using Harbledown!

Thanks again for you help and interest.

Selina
Title: Re: Swale - a district or a parish?
Post by: royd on Friday 19 February 10 18:43 GMT (UK)
Thanks for this thread!   ;D

I have relatives from Sheppey and when I was looking for something I suddenly saw Swale and was totally confused.........thought they had moved away or someting.  Sussed it eventually though.  Thanks again. R.
 ;)