Kent Archives

Shown here is an information pack titled 'HIV/AIDS: How can we help?'. It was compiled by Kent County Council’s Social Services in the mid-to-late 1990s [ref. C/SS/1/13] Produced with the assistance of those living in Kent with HIV and AIDS, the pack provides a glimpse into the challenges and advocacy efforts surrounding the public health crisis in the 1990s. It includes details about transmission; accessing testing and treatment; the county, national and global picture; the help available from Kent’s Social Services; patient confidentiality; and the cost associated with receiving assistance. Inserted at the back are supplementary documents including 'Treatment Issues: A basic guide to medical treatment options for people with HIV and AIDS' published by The Terrence Higgins Trust in April 1996; and several sheets listing essential county-wide contacts as at April 1997, among which include testing and counselling services, helplines, local carer groups, and drug addiction advisers.

Released by Kent County Council's Social Services in the mid-to-late 1990s, this information pack captures growing empathy towards those battling #HIV and #AIDS, with sections addressing the right of patients to access confidential and prejudice-free care.

☟ See C/SS/1/13
#WorldAIDSDay @nat.org.uk

Shown here is a notice issued by Kent Archives, announcing the following: Temporarily closed Kent Archives is conducting essential collections work from Monday 1st - Sunday 14th December. During this time, our Search Room will be closed to the public and we will not be accepting or answering enquiries by email or telephone. Normal service will resume on Monday 15th December – please send your enquiries to us from this date onwards. For further information, email us at archives@kent.gov.uk or call us on 03000 420 673

NOTICE: Kent Archives is temporarily closed.

Our team is conducting essential collections work from Monday 1st - Sunday 14th December.

During this time, our Search Room and enquiry service will be closed. Normal service will resume on Monday 15th December.

So satisfying! ✨

Shown here is a photograph of Julia (archives volunteer) chatting to Glyn House (strategic manager – specialist & support services) at Kent Archives' annual Christmas party, held to celebrate our wonderful volunteers. From hosting reading groups to providing customers with IT support and developing resources to aid historical research, the Time2Give scheme offers members of the public the opportunity to volunteer at Kent Libraries, Registration and Archives. For further information and to submit an application, visit: www.kent.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/libraries/clubs-and-activities-in-libraries/volunteer-in-libraries-and-archives

Yesterday we celebrated the outstanding contributions made by our volunteers in 2025. A special presentation was made to Julia, who has volunteered at Kent Archives for an impressive 20 years.

Our thanks to Julia, João, Gill, Pabitra, Julie and Anne for all their hard work! ✨

Shown here is a promotional graphic for Canterbury History Weekend 2026. The weekend offers a fascinating programme of 20 in-person talks at the University of Kent, bring together leading historians, lively discussion, and fresh insights into the Middle Ages. Attendees can create their own itinerary using a pick-and-mix booking system, selecting from a range of talks covering four main themes: Religion and the Arts, Royalty and Nobility, War and Politics, and Social History. Among this year’s speakers include Helen Castor, Marc Morris, Rachel Koopmans, David Carpenter and Caroline Barron. Tickets are priced at £10.00 per person, per event. Discounts for students and bulk purchasing are available – visit history-weekends.org for more information. The weekend is organised by the Canterbury Association for Medieval and Early Modern Studies (CAMEMS) in collaboration with the Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies at the University of Kent.

Now booking: Canterbury Medieval Weekend
Friday 1st - Sunday 3rd May 2026

Join leading historians and writers as they uncover the ideas, people and events that shaped the Middle Ages.

📍 University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NU
ℹ️ For details and tickets: history-weekends.org

Thank you! 😊

Blurb: 'Tilt Boats and Hatch Boats of Gravesend and the London River, 1555–1865' tells the story of two significant vessels that worked the River Thames and served the City of London. In the foreword the Lord Mayor of London, Professor Michael Mainelli, illustrates the manorial relationship over 835 years with the Thames and the craft that sailed upon it. His reference to Winston Churchill's description of the Thames as a 'silver thread' is especially relevant to the narrative. The author, David Patient, is a retired shipwright. He has spent most of his working life restoring craft that sailed the Thames Estuary and has taken a keen interest in maritime history.

Newly acquired & available to read in our Search Room:

'Tilt Boats and Hatch Boats of Gravesend and the London River, 1555–1865' by David Patient, 2024

🔎 To view, request ref. BK/C335180096
📚 For blurb, click ALT ☟
#MaritimeHistory #RiverThames #Gravesend #Kent

Shown here is a notice issued by Kent Archives, announcing the following: Notice of temporary closure Kent Archives will be conducting essential collections work from Monday 1st - Sunday 14th December. During this time, our Search Room will be closed to the public and we will not be accepting or answering enquiries by email or telephone. Normal service will resume on Monday 15th December – please send your enquiries to us from this date onwards. For further information, email us at archives@kent.gov.uk or call us on 03000 420 673

Kent Archives will be closed from Monday 1st - Sunday 14th December whilst we conduct essential collections work.

During this time, our Search Room will be closed to the public and we will not be accepting enquiries.

Normal service will resume on Monday 15th December.

YouTube video by Kent Libraries Registration and Archives Kent Archives Talk | The Orchard Family: Loss, Heartbreak and Remembrance in #Folkestone #WW1

This #RemembranceDay, revisit our lunchtime talk about the Orchard Family of #Folkestone, presented by archivist Liz Finn.

Liz explores the human cost of the First World War and how archives can help us bring these personal stories to light. www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJRc...

Shown here is a close-up photograph capturing red poppies blooming in a field.

Kent Libraries, Registration and Archives will pause today at 11am to observe a two minutes silence.

We remember those who have fought and continue to fight for peace, and all impacted by armed conflict.

#RemembranceDay2025 #LestWeForget

Dr Catherine Budd presents her lunchtime talk at Kent History and Library Centre, Maidstone. About the talk: Through an examination of local newspapers and archival documents held at Kent Archives, this talk will explore the sports of rowing, cycling and swimming, and the development of clubs across urban Kent. The talk considers the debates around amateurs, professionals and money, as well as issues of competition, class, the participation of women, health, commercialisation, modernity, and civic pride. The development of the three sports will be placed within the wider context of socio-economic change and will demonstrate the proliferation of a wide variety of clubs and the popularity of sport for both participants and spectators. Dr Catherine Budd is an Archive Services Officer at Kent Archives. She holds a PhD in the history of sport and previously worked as a lecturer, teaching modern British and European history.

…and that's a wrap! 🎬

Our 2025 lunchtime talks programme concluded today with a fascinating sports-themed presentation delivered by our very own Dr Catherine Budd.

We've thoroughly enjoyed welcoming you all this year and look forward to seeing you again in 2026.

Shown here is a programme regarding a fireworks display in Ramsgate for Sir Moses Montefiore by C. T. Brock & Co. of the Crystal Palace, 8th November 1883 [ref. U4364/Z3] Established in 1698, Brocks was a pioneer of the British pyrotechnics industry and remains the nation's oldest fireworks manufacturer. Founded in Islington, the company later operated from South Norwood, capitalising on its proximity to the ill-fated Crystal Palace by staging frequent fireworks displays there until the iron-and-glass structure was razed by fire in 1936. This printed programme relates to an event held for Sir Moses Montefiore, a renowned Jewish philanthropist and financier who celebrated his 99th birthday in 1883. Ramsgate was a fitting location as Montefiore resided nearby at East Cliff Lodge. A major civic occasion, the schedule featured a procession at 12:30pm, followed by a fireworks display — including a 'huge fire portrait' of Montefiore, a Brocks invention — and a 'monster bonfire' at 6:30pm.

From a 'flight of fiery whirlwinds' to a 'perfect umbrella of fire', this programme from November 1883 suggests that C. T. Brock and Co's fireworks display in #Ramsgate was a feast for the eyes – and a health and safety nightmare, no doubt!

Happy #BonfireNight 🔥
☟ See U4364/Z3

Shown here is a photograph capturing members of Maidstone Swimming Club wearing swimming uniform and medals, n.d. [c.1886] [ref. U3360/P2/1] About the talk: Through an examination of local newspapers and archival documents held at Kent Archives, this talk will explore the sports of rowing, cycling and swimming, and the development of clubs across urban Kent. The talk considers the debates around amateurs, professionals and money, as well as issues of competition, class, the participation of women, health, commercialisation, modernity, and civic pride. The development of the three sports will be placed within the wider context of socio-economic change and will demonstrate the proliferation of a wide variety of clubs and the popularity of sport for both participants and spectators. Dr Catherine Budd is an Archive Services Officer at Kent Archives. She holds a PhD in the history of sport and previously worked as a lecturer, teaching modern British and European history.

Announcing our final lunchtime talk of 2025!
Monday 10th November, 1-2pm
📍 Kent History & Library Centre, #Maidstone

'Recreation, health and competition: Sport in Victorian Kent' presented by Dr Catherine Budd.

Book your free seat today:
📧 archives@kent.gov.uk
☎️ 03000 420 673

Shown here is an early 20th century postcard depicting Lewis & Evenden, drapers and grocers (left) and The Black Horse Pub (right) in Pluckley, Kent [ref. KHLC-IMG/PO/1/PLU/4] Located five miles to the west of Ashford and once home to the aristocratic Dering family, Pluckley found its place in the 1989 Guinness Book of World Records owing to numerous reports of supernatural occurrences. Between 12 and 16 spectres allegedly haunt the village, including an impaled highwayman at Fright Corner; a phantom horse-drawn coach at Maltman's Hill (often heard but not seen); a burnt gypsy lady at Pinnock Bridge; the hanging body of a suicidal schoolmaster; the ghost of Lady Dering in the graveyard of St Nicholas’ Church; and a young Victorian boy at the Black Horse Pub. At the latter, it's claimed that tableware and articles of clothing have been seen moving of their own accord – occasionally disappearing, only to return at a later date. So much for having a quiet drink down at the local!

Fright-seeking residents of Kent need not travel far this #Halloween. Allegedly home to over twelve spectres, the village of #Pluckley near #Ashford is said to be the most haunted in England. Visit at your own peril…

To learn more, click ALT ☟

🎃 See KHLC-IMG/PO/1/PLU/4

Shown here are Gareth, Lara and Alice from the team at Kent Archives. Dressed in rain coats, with bin bags and pincers in hand, they're litter picking along the towpath beside the River Medway in Maidstone.

Shown here are Victoria and Fiona from the team at Kent Archives. Dressed in rain coats, with bin bags and pincers in hand, they're litter picking in Whatman Park, located on the western side of the River Medway in Maidstone.

Yesterday's retention policy: bin the lot!

Our team took to the wet and windy streets of #Maidstone to conduct a much-needed appraisal of the 'pavement ephemera' littering the local area.

Needless to say, there were plenty of duplicates – and nothing worthy of preservation… 🗑️

Shown here is a photograph capturing industrial-scale paper making. It's one of several photographs we hold in our Sittingbourne Paper Mill Collection. Did you work at Sittingbourne Paper Mill, or know someone who did? Kent Archives needs your help! From naming members of staff to recognising different types of machinery, join us on Friday 24th October at Sittingbourne Library and impart your knowledge to our team. Your invaluable contributions will help us improve our catalogue descriptions for the Sittingbourne Paper Mill Collection, making the records more accessible to the public. For further details and queries – Email: archives@kent.gov.uk Telephone: 03000 420 673

Can you help us identify photographs from our #Sittingbourne Paper Mill Collection? If so, join us for a trip down memory lane...

🗓️ Friday 24th October, 11:30am - 4:45pm
📍 Sittingbourne Library
🗃️ View archival material and share your knowledge about the Mill with our team

Shown here are early documents relating to the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway, including: · A hand drawn plan [Q/RUm/74A] and corresponding book of reference [Q/RUm/74B] concerning the line's proposed route, 1824 · The Act of Parliament which approved the line's construction, 1825 [Q/RUo/5a/8] Designed by pioneering railway engineer George Stephenson (1781–1848), the "Crab and Winkle Line", as it came to be known, was a modest six miles in length and opened on the 3rd May 1830. In 1834, it became the first railway in the world to sell season tickets, allowing passengers from Canterbury to visit Whitstable throughout the summer season. The following year, Isambard Kingdom Brunel paid a visit to inspect the line and conduct experiments amidst debate about his proposed Great Western Railway. In addition to its use of steam locomotion, the line was notable for its innovative traction system which hauled trains up steep gradients using cables controlled by stationary steam engines.

Opened in 1830, the #Canterbury and #Whitstable Railway was among the first in the world to carry passengers and freight by steam. It also featured Britain's first purpose-built railway tunnel, at Tyler Hill.

For more information and document details, click ALT ☟
🚂 #Railway200

Pam Mills presents her lunchtime talk at County Hall, Maidstone. About the talk: 2024 was the 80th anniversary of the first recruitment of policewomen in Kent, the Second World War having opened the doors to female officers. Did war accelerate change? How did women carve out a path of respectability within a male dominated organisation? Pam Mills will examine these questions and other issues, such as the reluctance of Chief Constables to recruit women into the force and how after the war, change was inevitable. Pam is a former police officer and has written several books about the history of policing. The most recent of these is 'Commanding Kent County Constabulary 1857–1957' and her next book – currently with the publishers – is titled 'Reflections of 80 years: telling the story of Policewomen in Kent'. Pam will bring a collection box for donations to the charity 'Care of Police Survivors', which supports the families of police officers and staff who have lost their lives on duty.

It was great to see so many familiar and new faces at Pam Mills' lunchtime talk today, including several with personal connections to #KentPolice. Our thanks to Pam for delivering an insightful presentation.

Join us next month for our final talk of 2025 – details coming soon…

Final call to reserve your seat!

Join us next Monday for Pam Mill's free-to-attend lunchtime talk. Contact us today to avoid disappointment... 💺💺💺

About the event: Bestselling novelist Gill Hornby has vividly recreated Jane Austen’s world in books including 'Godmersham Park' and 'The Elopement'. Her acclaimed novel 'Miss Austen' was recently adapted into a BBC series starring Keeley Hawes. In this event, Gill will discuss her novels and the research behind them, reflecting on how records held by Kent Archives relating to the Knight and Austen families have informed her writing. Perfect for readers who love all-things Austen and historical fiction, and for writers interested in how primary sources can be transformed into compelling stories. Biography: Gill Hornby is the author of 'The Hive' and 'All Together Now', as well as 'The Story of Jane Austen', a biography of Austen for younger readers. Her subsequent novels, 'Miss Austen' and 'Godmersham Park' were Sunday Times bestsellers, and 'Miss Austen' is a four-part BBC adaptation starring Keely Hawes as Cassandra Austen. She is also the President of the Jane Austen Society.

This Thursday, 7-8pm:
'From Letters to Literature: Gill Hornby at the Archives'

Discover how Gill's writing was informed by records of the Knight and Austen families, held by Kent Archives.

📍 Kent History and Library Centre, Maidstone
🎟️ Tickets: £2.00
💳 Details and booking: bit.ly/42uFaz0

Shown here is part of a black and white photograph capturing male students using the 'spider's web' ropes in the gymnasium at Nonington College of Physical Education, 1970s [ref. U4164/P3/3/3] [Archives@Kent] is the quarterly newsletter published by Kent Archives and Local History Service, Maidstone. From publicising newly catalogued material to exploring documents in detail and sharing information about upcoming events, our newsletters can be delivered straight to your email inbox or accessed at www.kentarchives.org.uk/archive-newsletter Have yet to subscribe? Contact us today and we’ll be happy to add you to our mailing list – Email: archives@kent.gov.uk Telephone: 03000 420 673

🗞️ Autumn 2025 newsletter:
www.kentarchives.org.uk/archive-newsletter

Discover new additions to the Brabourne family papers including a note from #Gandhi concerning the death of the 5th Lord Brabourne, and somersault head first into the records of #Nonington College of Physical Education 🤸🏻

Very kind words, Kathleen – thank you from the team! 😊

Shown here is part of a Lettre de Bourgeoisie – a formal document once issued in certain European regions to grant non-native individuals specific rights and privileges. This example, with blue and gold marginal decoration, was received by Philip Stanhope (2nd Earl) and his son, Charles Stanhope (3rd Earl) from the Republic of Geneva in 1771 [ref. U1590/C709/2] Given the prestige of receiving such rights in a foreign region and the social status of the recipients, this manuscript exemplifies the type of historical document that might feature gilt decoration. Gold embellishments can be achieved in several ways. Methods include applying fine gold leaf over a thin layer of adhesive (flat gilding); affixing gold leaf to a substrate textured with gesso (raised gilding); mixing gold powder with gum arabic to create a gold paint (shell gold); and in bookbinding, impressing heated tools into leather through gold leaf to achieve lettering and ornate decoration (gold tooling).

G is for… #Gilding

The application of gold leaf or powder to the text, margins, bindings and text block edges of important documents. Often used to embellish theological texts and records relating to the nobility to express reverence and emphasise prestige.

#KAconservationAtoZ

Shown here is a mid-20th century photograph of two policewomen from Kent County Constabulary. Image courtesy of the Kent Police Museum. About the talk: 2024 was the 80th anniversary of the first recruitment of policewomen in Kent, the Second World War having opened the doors to female officers. Did war accelerate change? How did women carve out a path of respectability within a male dominated organisation? Pam Mills will examine these questions and other issues, such as the reluctance of Chief Constables to recruit women into the force and how after the war, change was inevitable. Pam is a former police officer and has written several books about the history of policing. The most recent of these is 'Commanding Kent County Constabulary 1857–1957' and her next book – currently with the publishers – is titled 'Reflections of 80 years: telling the story of Policewomen in Kent'. Pam will bring a collection box for donations to the charity 'Care of Police Survivors' (COPS), which supports the families of police officers and staff who have lost their lives on duty.

Announcing our penultimate lunchtime talk of 2025…
Monday 13th October, 1-2pm
📍 Lecture Theatre at County Hall, #Maidstone

'The history of Policewomen in Kent County Constabulary' presented by Pam Mills.

Book your free seat today:
📧 archives@kent.gov.uk
☎️ 03000 420 673

Blurb: Commanding Kent County Constabulary offers a comprehensive history of Britain's most south-easterly police force, covering its introduction and first hundred years; exploring innovations and developments, whilst also considering the lot of the front-line 'Bobbies' who kept the county safe. This history is charted through the lineage of its chief constables — from the indomitable John Henry Hay Ruxton, who instigated a constabulary where it "would have been impossible to find a force with a better state of efficiency and discipline"; through six successors including the indefatigable Major Chapman, the forward-looking Major Sir John Ferguson, and the high-flying Sir Percy Sillitoe. Featuring photographs, newspaper excerpts, and extensive archival research, this fully referenced and indexed book is a must for anyone who has served in Kent Constabulary, has a broader interest in the County's history, or the casual reader.

Newly acquired & available to read in our Search Room:

'Commanding Kent County Constabulary 1857–1957' by Pam Mills and Dave Swarbrick, 2025

🔎 To view, request ref. BK/C158062562
📚 For blurb, click ALT ☟
#Policing #LawAndOrder #CrimeAndPunishment #Kent

Shown here is a selection of corroded paper fasteners which have been removed from documents at Kent Archives. The harm caused to documents by historical fasteners can be categorised as mechanical damage, such as punctures, pressure and abrasion; and chemical damage, such as staining and embrittlement in the vicinity of a deteriorating fastener due to the formation of metal oxides (e.g. rust) and acidic compounds. Although a preservation concern, it’s thanks to these crusty clasps that many historical records survive in original order — giving present-day researchers a clearer understanding of the context, authenticity, and significance of archive collections. Designed with archival applications in mind, the brass paperclip is our go-to alternative. Coupled with a small piece of folded acid free paper or card to prevent distortion of the document, brass paperclips are safe for long-term use and allow the original arrangement of records to be maintained in a way that is non-invasive.

F is for… #Fasteners

Whilst attached with good intention, these now-corroded clasps – ranging from split pins and staples to bulldog clips – cause mechanical and chemical damage to documents. Our team replaces these with brass paperclips which do not rust.

#KAconservationAtoZ

Tim Reardon presents his lunchtime talk at Kent History and Library Centre, Maidstone. About the talk: Using Dover Harbour Board files that are soon to be transferred to Kent Archives and Local History Service, this talk will explore the development of the port in the first half of the 20th century, its attempts to capture a share of the transatlantic liner traffic, and the challenges of operating a commercial business within a strategic naval base.

Our thanks to Tim Reardon of #Dover Harbour Board for presenting a fascinating lunchtime talk today at Kent Archives.

Join us in October for our penultimate presentation of the year (how time flies!) and for a special event in #Canterbury – to be announced soon… 👀

Shown here is a sample of main courses and desserts from a ring-bound booklet titled 'School Meals Service Recipe Book' issued by the Kent Education Committee, November 1957 [ref. C/E/15/4] Love them or loathe them, there was no escaping the concoctions in this volume if you attended school in Britain between the 1950s and early 2000s. That's right — many of these, shall we say, “vintage” recipes lingered on dinner hall menus well into the early 21st century! Among the nightmare-inducing dishes we'd really rather forget are cold boiled bacon, meat roly poly, pilchards, and the unappetisingly-named 'brown stew'. That said, the recipe book redeems itself when we reach the desserts section. From an array of sponge-based puddings and delicious biscuits to fruit crumbles and flavoured custards, it's a reminder that not everything served in the dinner hall was a culinary crime. We'll still pass on the tapioca pudding, though...

#DidYouKnow that mid-20th century school dinner recipes were still being served to students in Kent and beyond as late as the early 2000s?

Which of these savoury dishes and desserts had you going back for seconds — and which left you wishing you'd brought a packed lunch? 🧃🥪

Shown here is an extract from a ring-bound booklet titled 'School Meals Service Recipe Book' issued by the Kent Education Committee, November 1957 [ref. C/E/15/4] Titled 'Menu Making', this section describes how to plan nutritious and varied school dinners under three headings: 'Remember', 'Avoid', and 'Plan'. Key tips include serving only one flour-based dish per meal; ensuring a starchy main course is accompanied by light vegetables, followed by a light dessert; and serving a substantial dessert after a light main course. Variation is encouraged, with catering staff advised to avoid repeating the same menu each week; serve different combinations of main courses and desserts; and limit jam to just once a week. Advice is given on how to improve the attractiveness of meals, including embracing the bold natural colours of ingredients; using garnishes such as chopped parsley and sliced tomatoes; and enhancing pastry by glazing with sugar and water (sweet) or milk and water (savoury).

Fancy a plate of nostalgia served with a side of culinary trauma? 🍽️

From chocolate sponge and custard to lumpy mash, we're heading #BackToSchool today with this school dinner recipe book issued by the Kent Education Committee in 1957.

👩🏻‍🍳📖 See C/E/15/4:
kentarchives.org.uk/collections/...

The first Kent Police officer killed in Snodland in 1873 PC Israel May's body was discovered in Snodland in 1873, shocking a town's community.

Using police records (sub-fonds ref. C/PO) held by Kent Archives as part of her research, former #Kent Police officer Pam Mills shares with BBC Radio Kent the case of PC Israel May – the first policeman killed whilst on duty in the county.

🎧 Listen today:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdrkzrl57g6o