Trip to Kent

[Nadine Moore]

I am hoping to bring my Mother down to Kent this week and was hoping for some advice re places we want to visit.

We will be going to St Mary's Church in Swanley but also I would like us to visit Dartford, Stone-next-Dartford, Crockenhill, Eynesford and Swanley Junction. I have looked at maps but would like to know how close these places are and if it is feasible to visit most of them in one day?

Also if anyone has any details of where the church yards are, I would be most grateful.

Cheers

Dinie

[domino]

Hi Dinie
You should have no problems....apart from the Dartford Interchange, where they are currently widening the road system.
All locations are close together.....you are more or less out of Dartford into Stone, Dartford into Swanley.  All locations are well sign posted.
Have a safe journey and hope you find what you are looking for 
Best wishes......Iris 

[domino]

Sorry, forgot to add....you could probably visit quite a few in one day.
Iris.....

[casalguidi]

Hi Dinie

The West Kent Family History Society have a good gazetteer on their site which gives the actual addresses (roads & streets) of the churches http://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/parindex.htm so you should be able to find them on a street map ie. http://www.streetmap.co.uk/

If it is later burials then they are quite likely to be in the local council borough cemeteries see http://www.dartford.gov.uk/cemetery/index.htm for the Dartford area.

Casalguidi

[smeghead]

Why visit stone theirs nothing there pos down the road at greenhithe is the old abbey Swanley and crockenhall are next to each other from ther pick up m25 of next junction at princess road signed for Dartford not a lot to see in Dartford but library does have a usefull family history section when you come out of dartford go up east hill and follow road for about a mile  and this takes you to stone as you pass a Co-op on your right hand side there is a left turn that takes you to stone crossing. If you carry on the main road to a roundabout and turn right and right again you could visit Blue Water

Jim

[Nadine Moore]

Thanks All for your help

Smeghead, don't mention Bluewater, this is strictly a FH trip, no gallivanting in shopping centres.

My Mum is into her 70's now and only has vague memories of where her mother's family came from, so this is a trip down memory lane for her.

Her 17 month old Aunt is buried at Stone  (Mum never knew she existed)

Cheers

Dinie

[domino]

Hi Dinie
How did the trip go ?
You certainly picked a lovely time to go weather wise 
Iris......

[Nadine Moore]

Hi Iris

We had a wonderful time, a fairly easy journey down from Milton Keynes and the fantastic views over the QE bridge.

First we visited Stone, we actually needed Stone village and found the most beautiful 13th century church where my Mums aunt is buried. Sadly, we did not find a grave stone as she died in the workhouse infirmary aged just 17 months. As the church is so old, she will remain at peace and not get paved over for housing hopefully.

We then drove down to Crockenhill where my Gran was born. As expected no sign of the little farm cottage she was born in but was nice for Mum to be in the area.

Finally we drove back to Swanley and St Mary's church (opposite Asda) and found the area where Mum's Gran was buried. Again she died in the workhouse, so no headstone but a relative had found the area and taken a photo with some good landmarks to locate the area again.

The weather was lovely, in fact quite hot coming home. The family were certainly smiling on us as, we had just got through the tunnel when it was closed due to an accident a few cars behind us. Don't think it was too serious though.

Mum had a lovely day seeing where her ancestors came from and where some of them still are . Her Mum never really spoke about her childhood so all I find out is new to her.

Cheers

Dinie

[domino]

Hi Dinie
Pleased to hear that your Mum and you had a good day
Iris......