1921 News
History > Newspaper Stories 1900 - 2000 > 1920-1929
15 Jan 1921 KM (Gravesend Telegraph)
Fruit Plants for Sale
"200 half standard Bramleys and Newtons, strong growth; 100 Fertility Conference Pears; 500 Redcurrants - Costen, Hartley, Longfield, Kent." [The Old Orchard, Church Road]
18 Jan 1921 Western Daily Press
Wilfred Mansfield, Actor
Favourable review of Wilfred Mansfield [of Castle Hill], appearing in Remembrance at Theatre Royal, Bristol
05 Feb 1921 KM (Gravesend Telegraph)
Women's Institute
"The Hartley Women's Club decided at a well attended meeting at the Cooperative Store on Thursday to form their club into a Women's Institute. The president, Mrs Balchin, enumerated the various things that had been accomplished during the year the club had been in existence - furnishing the store with chairs, tables, curtains and china, and still having a hand a good balance for future expenses. Mrs Golding of the National Federation of Women's Institutes, in an interesting address, explained the working of institutes, and it was decided to establish an Institute at Hartley. Officers and a committee were elected. Mrs Balchin becoming President, Mrs Scott, Vice President and Mrs Frank Tate, secretary. Arrangements were made for meetings to be held on the first Thursday in each month, and from the interest aroused it is hoped that the new organisation will have a successful career."
09 Mar 1921 Lewisham Borough News
Motorbike for Sale
"BSA Comb(ination}, 1917, late 3 speed clutch, speedometer, lamps, horn, recently overhauled; excellent condition, tax paid; insured to Oct 1921; bargain £110 - Phone Day, Ash, Wrotham, Kent"
19 Mar 1921 KM (Gravesend Telegraph)
Hartley House for Sale
"Porter Putt & Fletcher are instructed to submit to auction, at the Masonic Hall, Wrotham Road, Gravesend, on Wednesday 13th April 1921 at 3 o'clock precisely…..The old fashioned country residence known as 'Hartley House' within about 1 mile from the Station, and contains large entrance hall, smoking room, dining room, drawing room, billiard room, 6 bedrooms, large bathroom, and usual offices. Stables and garage with man's quarters. Standing in about 3½ acres of land, including orchard, kitchen garden, flower garden and tennis lawn. The property has recently been redecorated throughout and is in excellent repair......"
[KM 16.4.1921 said reserve not met, so now for sale by private treaty]
02 Apr 1921 KM (Gravesend Telegraph)
Side Lights
Tonbridge Magistrates. Charles Bond Evans of Grafton House, Hartley fined £2 for driving without side lights at Tonbridge.
09 Apr 1921 KM (Gravesend Telegraph)
Eliza Treadwell
Burial of Eliza, wife of William Treadwell, of Hartley, later of Scarbutt's Manor, Boughton under Blean, aged 90 at Hartley.
16 Apr 1921 KM (Gravesend Telegraph)
End of the Jam Factory
Advert. "Re Allen's Confectionery Company Ltd in voluntary liquidation. Fairby Farm, Hartley, Longfield, Kent (Fawkham Station…). To jam manufacturers, engineers and others. Mr John Sulley is instructed to sell by auction on the premises as above on Tuesday next, April 19th at 1 o'clock prompt, the jam making plant and stock.
Consisting of 4 copper steam pans (Low and Duff), 3 Pulping Machines (Collier), 2 Double Headed Orange Cutters and Gooseberry Snuffer (Brierley), 20hp Loco Boiler (Ruston, Proctor & Co Ltd), 12½ hp Oil Engine (Campbell), 7s 6in Vertical Boiler, 12 Boiling pans, 18 sieves, 10cwt Platform Scales, 3cwt 'Waygood' lift, wheat stone mill (Blackstone), root pulper (Nicholson), 2 Acetylene Gas Plants, 100 tons gooseberry, blackberry, plum, apple etc pulp, 14,000 1s 2s 3s and 7lb glass and ware jars, 700 hinged etc, crates and trays, 42 cases honey and apricot pulp, 5cwt caustic soda, 5ft and 3ft 6in mahogany desks, 12 typist and other tables, 10 chairs, Barlock Typewriter and numerous other items......"
23 Apr 1921 Times
Hartley House for Sale
Hartley House for sale; hall, 3r, billiard rm; 6 beds, stabling, garage with servant's quarters above (also in Reporter 12.3.21)
23 Apr 1921 KM (Gravesend Telegraph)
English Stores
Advert. "10 weeks' old pigs made 12 stone in 4 months on Karswood Penny Pig Powders; bulk tins 21s - English Bros Stores, Hartley near Longfield." [This was part of the Black Lion]
07 May 1921 Gravesend Reporter
Coal Shortage
Coal Emergency - drastic changes to rail service from Gravesend
07 May 1921 KM (Gravesend Telegraph)
Longfield Local Wounded Fund
"To the editor of the KM, Sir - It is almost impossible to express the gratitude we feel, but we, the undersigned, wish to convey our sincere appreciation and thanks to all those who have been concerned in the organisation, working and supporting of the Longfield Local Wounded Sailors and Soldiers' Fund. Thanking them for their kind remembrance and wishing them all every good wish. Yours truly. A Adams, H N Latter, M Hannigan, W J Gander."
14 May 1921 Gravesend Reporter
Council Housing
W Braybrook of Hartley lowest tender for 6 houses in village for RDC
14 May 1921 KM (Gravesend Telegraph)
Longfield Wounded Soldiers Fund
Letter to Editor. "Sir - now that the Longfield Wounded Soldiers' Fund has been closed, I have pleasure in joining with my 4 friends from Longfield, whose letter I read in your last week's issue, in loud praise of the work carried out by this Fund. It very kindly took in the neighbouring parishes of Southfleet, Fawkham and Hartley, though the bulk of the funds were raised in Longfield Parish. On behalf of the Southfleet soldier 'boys' so many of whom received a contribution, I wish to tender thanks. About £80 I believe was received in Southfleet alone from this fund. The work carried out by Mr Fielder and Mr Alf Cromar, Hon Sec, deserves the highest gratitude. Yours Faithfully, Ernest J Stokes, Southfleet Rep LWSF."
28 May 1921 Gravesend Reporter
Hartley Cricket Club
Cricket - Hartley all out for 17 against Horton Kirby.
02 Jun 1921 Times
Small Owners Plots for Sale
Fairby Estates - 1 acre plots for sale, 1 minute from station.
04 Jun 1921 KM (Gravesend Telegraph)
Longfield Cricket Derby
"A local Derby took place at Longfield on Saturday when in a Stansted and District League match, Longfield Hill lost to Longfield by 10 runs - an outcome reflective of the keenness of the game. Longfield put together 73, to which R Hawker contributed 21, F Langford 17 and F Fuller 13. Although the Hill experienced a bad start, they had scored 50 - 5 and had a good chance of winning until F Langford went on with 'lobs' and then the other men were dismissed cheaply. E Stoneham played splendidly, contributing 34 not out, out of a total of 63. HIs hits included two 6s and one 4. He was especially severe on R Hawker, scoring 15 in one over from that bowler. For the losers G Lynds took 4 for 27, and E Stoneham 4 for 34. For the victors F Fuller and F Langford shared the honours with the ball."
Following week's paper reported Longfield (54) beat Fawkham (33) by 21 runs. For Longfield A Rich scored 15 while Grove took 7-11.
07 Jun 1921 Daily Herald
Miners' children at Fairby
"The Fellowship of Reconciliation has now 15 miners' children from the Kent coalfields at Fairby Grange, Longfield, Kent, waiting to be allocated to private homes. The delay is caused by many of the offeres for hospitality already received being for one child only, whereas these children have specially requested that they might go in pairs. Can anyone who has already kindly offered hospitality to one child possibly take two? Please communicate at once with C Paul Glidon, 17 Red Lion Square, WC."
25 Jun 1921 Gravesend Reporter
Hartley Cricket Club
Cricket - A Humphrey scores 21 and takes 8-17 in victory over L/field
13 Jul 1921 Times
Holidays in Hartley
"Barrister offers holiday quarters for men; 3 guineas inclusive - Mrs Dashwood, The Gun Hut, Hartley"
23 Jul 1921 Gravesend Reporter
Hartley Cricket Club
Cricket - Hartley dismiss Westwood Star for just 6
06 Aug 1921 KM (Gravesend Telegraph)
Drowned in a Nursery Tank
"On Saturday the Deputy Coroner, Mr Thompson, held an inquest on the body of Lewis Arthur John Roots, aged 1 year and 7 months, whose dead body was found in a tank at Mr Woodward's nursery, Longfield, on Wednesday. The child's parents were employed in the greenhouses and the father stated that when he discovered th body it could only have been in the water 5 or 6 mintues. Dr McCleen said artificial respiration was tried by St John Ambulancemen for about 1 hour. It was quite possible for death to take place in 2 minutes. Evidence was given of the tanks used for watering purposes and level with the ground, being 15 feet deep and in the one in which the child was drowned there was 9 feet 6 inches of water. A verdict of death by misadventure was returned, the jury saying they thought a fence should be put round the tanks."
13 Aug 1921 Gravesend Reporter
Inquest on Lewis Roots
Inquest at Mission Hall, Longfield on Lewis Rootes (address not given)
20 Aug 1921 KM (Gravesend Telegraph)
Telegraph Lines
Notice by Post Office that they intend to lay lines over and along Ash Road from Fairby Grange to the Black Lion.
Car for Sale
"£225 - Studebaker 1915, licence paid till end of year, 5 seater, 20hp, electric starter and lighting, new tyres, plugs and hood; spare wheel, tools and toolbox; £150 spent on putting into good running condition; owner just bought new car; will take £225 for immediate sale - Hammond, Bundoran [1 St John's Lane], Hartley, Longfield."
03 Sep 1921 Gravesend Reporter
Receiving Stolen Goods
Harold Green of Hartley Green fined £10 for receiving stolen leather
10 Sep 1921 KM (Gravesend Telegraph)
The late Mr J F Kirk
Longfield Churchwarden and Lay Reader and School Manager. Praised for his useful but unostentatious work. Retired civil servant of Somerset House and for many years KM local correspondent.
18 Sep 1921 Daily Herald
Imprisoned Councillors' Children to stay at Fairby
Picture of children of imprisoned Poplar councillors going to stay at Fairby
[For more on the Poplar Rates Rebellion where the councillors went to prison but won changes to the system of rates that favoured rich boroughs, see Wikipedia article]
24 Sep 1921 KM (Gravesend Telegraph)
Kent Agricultural Committee Hartley Sale
"Removed for convenience of sale from Fawkham Park Estate to Longfield Kent, adjoining the Church and close to Fawkham Station, Messrs Philip Champion & Sons have received instructions from the KAC to sell by auction as above on Monday 10th October.... Live and dead farming stock, including 4 valuable carthorses, and an up to date assortment of implements, comprising ploughs, cultivators, harrows, brakes, land and Cambridge rolls, land press, drill, dung cart, 3 trollies, sets of quoller and chain harness, weighing machine, small tools and other effects...."
08 Oct 1921 KM (Gravesend Telegraph)
Supt Horace Russell
New Superintendent of Cranbrook Division. Joined Kent Constabulary in 1897 and stationed at Dartford then Longfield, returning to Dartford in 1903 where he was promoted to Sergeant then Inspector before going to Deal in 1919.
15 Oct 1921 KM (Gravesend Telegraph)
Pitched his tent
"Mr Sutch reported to Dartford RDC on Tuesday that on September 24th, he inspected a tent in the occupation of Mr W E Barlow, erected in a field at Longfield [Nil Desperandum, Merton Avenue]. The man stated that he was ejected from a house in south-east London, and has bought the ground his tent is pitched on. He had erected a rough earth closet, and at present was getting his water from the premises adjoining his plot. He had a wife and 4 children, occupying the one tent. The Sanitary Committee, it was reported, had given instructions for the bye-laws to be enforced."
20 Oct 1921 Guardian
Fairby Reformatory School
Miss Grace Costin to be headmistress of new Fairby Reformatory School, opening next month
12 Nov 1921 Times
Fairby Reformatory School
Fairby given certificate to become a reformatory school for up to 20 (see article)
[Suffragette Newspaper Vote 29/9/22, described it as a school for delinquent girls]
24 Dec 1921 KM (Gravesend Telegraph)
Road Improvements
Hartley: "The surveyor reported at Tuesday's meeting of the Dartford RDC that Mr Mayford Bassano, the owner of a plot of land adjoining the Longfield to Ash road, opposite 'Fairby', on which the butts of large elm trees project into the road, had agreed to give a strip 10 feet wide in the centre, running to nothing at both ends, for widening this portion of road which is now about 14 feet wide. The suggested improvement was estimated to cost about £35, and the committee recommended that it be carried out. The trees would remain the property of the landowner."
Longfield: "At the meeting of the Dartford RDC on Tuesday, the Surveyor reported that he estimated the cost of widening and improving the road from the junction of Longfield Siding Road [Hartley Bottom Road] to Longfield Hill at £1,131 3s 9d. A plan, with the estimate, had been sent to the Ministry of Transport, asking for a grant."
24 Dec 1921 KM (Gravesend Telegraph)
Fatality near Gravesend
Report of inquest on death of Thomas Clark, aged 60, of Prinrose Cottage, Hoo(k) Green, Meopham. Norman Frank Mills, driver of charabanc said he was driving at 4mph with 18 passengers from Gravesend at 10.30pm, he saw Mr Clark but there was alos a car coming in other direction, so he switched off his lights, leaving only oil side lamps. He then felt a bump and found he had run over Mr Clark. Solicitor for family said AA advice is not to turn lights off for oncoming cars, Mr Mills said 9 out 10 drivers would do as he. Sydney Hubert Walters, driver of the car said his side lights were disconnected so if he had turned off his lights there would be nothing. He and his passenger said his lights were 4 volts and not bright enough to blind but one of the passengers of the charabanc said they were blinding. Mr Walters had also had his licence endorsed in the war for lights being too bright. Mr Walters said car belonged to Dr Howarth of Hartley Grange and he was test driving it, having just repaired it. Coroner recorded 'accidental death' and exonerated the charabanc driver, he said Mr Walters was not guilty of culpable neglect either, but police might want to charge him over lack of side lights. Coroner "firmly believed" that had the car lights been dimmed the accident would have been avoided.
Council House Rents
Dartford RDC decided the following: Westwood and Whitehill Longfield - type B houses 7s 6d per week, 2 type A houses at Longfield 6s 6d pw, exclusive of rates and water charges. Site at Ash Street, Ash for council housing has been abandoned by council.
Longfield Footpath
Dartford RDC has received sanction to appropriate strip of land to create footpath in front of houses at Whitehill Road.