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Archiver > UK-WORKHOUSE-HOSP > 2000-10 > 0971562334


From: "Nicola Ward" <>
Subject: RE: [UK-W&H] Suggested Roll Call
Date: Sat, 14 Oct 2000 23:25:34 +0100
In-Reply-To: <004801c0357e$cbe4e120$3c7c54d2@w5h3n9>


Dear Joy,

Thank you very much for your message! It's so nice to see someone else is
interested in Maidstone Union. I have put a couple of posts up on the
mailing group before, but never receive responses. There's also very little
in the group archives!

I am horribly familiar with the old workhouse, as I lived in Loose (one of
Coxheath's neighbouring villages) for 20 years, my parents still being
there, and my grandmother lives in Linton (another neighbour to Coxheath!),
she worked in the buildings when they became Linton Hospital for almost 40
years. She is intrigued by the history of the workhouse and the site it's
built on, partly through having worked for half her life there, through
having been scared witless by ghosts during her time there, and also,
because so many of our ancestors died there. She has lived in the immediate
area all her life, (she's now 76) and remembers so many little details about
the place. Today, when I spoke to her, (to check she'd not been washed away
with the floods in Yalding!) she mentioned how the sign outside used to say
"POOR LAW Inst", and how every Monday morning, from the bus to school, she'd
see the old crippled man who worked in the workhouse, trudging along to
Stockett Lane to register the deaths, of those who'd passed away over the
weekend. Apparently there were so many deaths there they set up their own
registry near to the institute.

Something which bothers me somewhat, is the building of the new Coxheath
estate. Now, as far as I'm aware, or rather, according to my nan, the bodies
of the dead were all buried in the land which has now been covered by the
housing estate. She is adamant that there were a few markers, and what were
obviously graves on the land when she was a girl. I have been searching for
evidence to contradict her story, although a few people have poo-pooed it,
but, if she's wrong, where DID they put the bodies? There isn't a graveyard
attached to the chapel, and the nearest church is St Nicholas' at Linton,
which may possibly have the space for the huge number of burials, but I've
found nothing to suggest this could be where they were taken. I'm puzzled!
I'd very much like to know what happened to all the bodies, after all, this
is most of my poor family we're talking about here!!!

I have seen the little book about Coxheath-very interesting! I'm
fascinated by the history of the site, particularly about the soldier's
emcampment there. My nan (AGAIN! Sorry! The woman is wealth of gripping
anecdotes!) tells me a tale about how when my uncle was in his pram, so
about the early 1950's, she'd gone into the main building of the hospital,
to clock in, then had waited to cross the road, to put my uncle in the
nursery before she started work. She said, she could hear horses galloping
along the road, and as there was a slight bend in the road, she couldn't see
anyhting, and was rather scared, having a small baby in a pram. Anyhow, she
stood there, hoping for the best, when she heard this huge roar of horses'
hooves pass by. No sign of anything. A bit shaken up, she'd gone into work,
but didn't mention anything to the nurses, as they'd probably think her mad.
Then, later in the day, she was talking to one of the old ladies in there,
asking how she was, when the woman said, "Oh, I didn't get a wink of sleep
last night! All I could hear was the horses going up and down the road!".
Hmmmmm. The other patients and nurses, had evidently not heard a thing,
but..........rather spooky, I thought!!

Hope this amuses you, if nothing else!!

Best Wishes,
Nicola XXX


-----Original Message-----
From: J&J.Bedson [mailto:]
Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2000 2:34 AM
To:
Subject: Re: [UK-W&H] Suggested Roll Call



----- Original Message -----
From: "Nicola Ward" <>
To: <>
Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2000 12:35 AM
Subject: RE: [UK-W&H] Suggested Roll Call


> Hi everyone!
> Yes! Marvellous idea about a roll-call!
> Nicola Ward! Here!
> Looking for info on Maidstone/Linton/Coxheath Union/Workhouse in Kent.
> (It's name changes depending upon what you're reading!)
> In particular, the names KEMP, REYNOLDS, KING and JEFFREY.
> I have been trying to find out a bit about the workhouse itself too, so
if
> anyone wants or has any info, do contact me.......
>
> Best Wishes,
> Nic

Hi Nic,

My ggrandparents were Master and Matron of Coxheath Union from 1868 till
about the end of the century.
They were Charles John and Charlotte MOSS.
I am VERY interested in the whole era. In fact I am just in contact with
both Ashford and Maidstone Libraries about a photocopy of the report in a
newspaper about the dedication of the chapel by the Archbishop of Canterbury
in 1884.
In fact Coxheath is now a parish in its own right and the workhouse chapel
is the parish church.
I also have a copy of the celebrations in 1888 for my grandparents 'Silver
Wedding and 20 years there in charge.
I have a booklet on Coxheath which is good reading.
I was holiday in England a few years ago and was taking my son (who
incidentally lives in Brighton,too) to see the workhouse. we arrived to
find a pile of rubble. very disappointing, but I have a recent photo of the
building, which i will send to Jan.

Let me know if i can help. perhaps you have other ino too.

Best Wishes

Joy Bedson, NSW


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