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Holder
of the KCC Award for Volunteering Excellence
MEMBERS NEWSLETTER No 110 December 2010
SBS Application rejected!
Due to a judicial review a further KCC
Planning committee meeting took place
on Tuesday 7th December. The members
of the KCC overturned the previous
decision to approve the application and
have now voted by a narrow margin to
reject the application. The arguments from Borough, Parish and local residents
added weight to the Valley Conservation Societys opinion that this proposed development with all day concrete crushing and almost 100 heavy goods vehicle movements a day of up to 40 tonnes is not suited to the changing and improving face of Tovil and could have destroyed the character of the conservation area.
Member Gary Stead, Borough and Parish councillors as well as the Tovil residents action group put forward strong arguments against the application in the county council chambers and are commended.
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Merry Christmas
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Pictured are Chairman Bryn Cornwell and Treasurer Tony Day who along with
Joy Creasey, John Smith and Secretary David Fleck manned the recent display for the Heritage lottery Fund promotion at the Chequers Centre Maidstone. Valley Conservation Society literature and pictures of the work that has been carried out within the valley were on view.
Valley Conservation Film Night
A nostalgic programme of original short films from our past.
Saturday, February 26. Curtain rises at 7.30pm
Famed film historian Barry Littlechild, who many members will remember re-discovered the film classic Adventures in the Hopfields, returns to show us some more originals from his archive.
"Times to Remember in Film" will bring back many memories for our senior members and prove an instructive look into Kent's not- too-distant past for our younger supporters.
Tickets can be purchased on the door at £7 for adults. Accompanied children under 16 are FREE.
There is a £1 per ticket discount for tickets pre-paid by February 21.
Orders to Alan Smith, Bockingford House, Cripple Street, Maidstone, ME15 6DN, or ring 01622 751926.
Membership renewal reminder: Please note that the 2011 membership fees are now due and for your convenience a form has been attached to this copy of the newsletter.
Repairs to Crisbrook Pond.
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Photos Dennis Usmar |
The recent deliberate draining of Crisbrook pond enabled the work party to establish
the extent of deterioration to both the paddled clay bed and the retaining wall. The picture on the left shows a deep hole in the clay, this has now been repaired. The working of this thick treacle like material filled the work party with admiration for those who built the pond initially. The picture on the right shows the new retaining wall which has been professionally rebuilt with engineering bricks and capped with original mill bricks. This work has been funded by the Grassroots grant.
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Ram-raid in Cripple Street A dramatic picture of the recent cash machine raid. The digger had been stolen from the building site adjacent to the Ambulance station opposite. The audacious raid took place at 2.30 am on Saturday 13th November.
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Photo David Hill |
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Mount Ararat new fence. The work party
has assisted a local contractor to install a chestnut paling fence alongside
the public footpath which leads from Cave Hill to
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Photo Dennis Usmar |
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The Hayle Mill Bricks by Simon Barcham Green
If you are strolling along Hayle Mill Road and happen to glance up at the chimney you will notice a small and eroded stone block incised HG 1891 and you might speculate as to its meaning.
The Green family have had a very long term commitment to record keeping as evidenced by our extensive archives, and this stone was the first expression of another way of marking a historic occasion. This is the first of a number of bricks placed into the walls to indicate the date of construction. The current chimney is the third of three and was built by my Great Grandfather Herbert Green in 1891 at a cost of about £90. There is a second brick on the other side of the chimney Jack 1891. This recalls the ascent of my Grandfather Jack Barcham Green to the top of the chimney in a wicker basket, hauled up on a rope by the steeplejacks in the same way that they lifted the bricks.
A number of the bricks had to be relocated during the recent restoration of the Mill and these have been placed together in a display at the North end of the Hayle Mill property.
Rιmy 1920 is named after my Father Rιmy John Barcham Green (son of Jack) and was located in the North wall of the Rag House. The Rag House was extended in 1920 but this section had to be dismantled and rebuilt for structural reasons.
Yvonne 1927 was in a pier of the cement dust wall facing onto Hayle Mill Road adjacent to the two new detached houses. My Aunt Yvonne Thom is Jacks younger daughter.
Rosemary 1934 was built into the brick surroundings of one of the two Lancashire boilers used to produce steam to dry the paper and power the steam engines. My Aunt Lady Rosemary Whitford is Jacks older daughter. The boilers were immediately north of the chimney.
Simon 1947 is my brick and used to be in the wall of the Machine House, which lay immediately to the west of the Rag House.
Heather 1948 was in the base wall of the Fitters Shop on the site of which the two detached houses have been built. My cousin Heather Matthews is the daughter of Yvonne Thom.
Celia 1957 was built into the wall of a small extension to the Rag Dusting Room overlooking Hayle Mill Pond. My cousin Celia is the daughter of Lady Rosemary Whitford.
Frederick A Brett 1961 was the first brick to reflect the outstanding contribution to Hayle Mill of a non-family member. Mr Brett was originally in partnership running a separate paper merchant company in London and following the death of his partner in the First World War he joined J Barcham Green & Son, later becoming a Director. The brick was in the Filter Room where all our filter papers were cut, sorted and packed. De Wint Mews now occupies this site.
Terry 1976 was in the base of a new hydraulic pump in the Vat House and is named after Terry Franks who was the Production Director from 1975 until 1987.
These bricks can only be viewed by the general public at the invitation of a resident at the Mill. However there is one final brick Frances 1959 which is located in a small building next to 1, Upper Crisbrook Cottages and close to the footpath alongside Lower Crisbrook Pond. This is the Pump House and used to contain an electric pump supplying water from local springs to Hayle Mill. There was no electricity at Crisbrook until 1959; before then the water was pumped first by the water wheel at Upper Crisbrook Mill and later by a gas engine. My Cousin Frances is another daughter of Lady Rosemary Whitford.
Information needed:
I would like to research information regarding a Trout Farm(s) which I believe was once operating within the Loose Stream area. If you have any information please phone, write or email.
Thank-you
Information for members:
We have commenced postings on a Blog which is an internet web page that can show
up to date information from the society and its members. It is hoped that members will contribute items including photographs directly onto this Blog. If any member can assist
in improving these pages please contact.
http://valleyconservationsociety.blogspot.com/
Invasive species 5: American Mink (Mustela vison)
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Established throughout the UK. Mostly nocturnal or active at dusk (but may be active at any time). The mink was introduced for fur farming in the 1920s, with a peak in the 1960s. It established in the wild as a result of escapes, deliberate introductions. Then took advantage of habitats released by the decline in native otter populations caused by the disastrous effects of indiscriminate use of dangerous pesticides and herbicides.
First recorded breeding in the wild in 1956. The mink has significant impact on native wildlife, especially water voles, sea birds, domestic fowl and fish on which it predates.
American mink is listed under Schedule 9 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 with respect to England, Wales and Scotland. As such it is an offence to release or allow the escape of this species into the wild.
Printed and Published by David Fleck
Secretary, Valley Conservation Society
flecky@talk21.com
01622 758567
VALLEY CONSERVATION SOCIETY
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