Welcome to Dartford

Famed for the iconic QE2 bridge joining Kent and Essex and Mick Jagger of course…… there has go to be more to Dartford than this! I thought I would do my own research project to find out more about the place I live, the history (which dates back to Saxon times apparently) and its people. This is my learning journey.

Dartford is commuter belt for London. It is currently experiencing a period of regeneration at the heart of the town centre. The housing stock is a walk through history which I always find fascinating and I guess the abundance of pubs is part of its past too. The earliest pub in Dartford dates back to 1703 but I digress.

With easy access to London and only a stones throw away from the Kent countryside Dartford has the best of both worlds. Bluewater Shopping Centre is on its doorstep which some may see as a blessing others a curse!

The under belly of the QE2 Bridge

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Burroughs Wellcome & Co

Burroughs Wellcome & Co at Dartford was founded in 1889 by Silas Burroughs and Henry Wellcome who were business partners originally from America. They refurbished the former paper mills and using the latest technology created a factory renowned for manufacturing pharmaceutical products. There was a small lake in front of the mills which was drained and cleaned, and the brick mill was converted to laboratories. An analytical department was added to the complex by 1897 to test raw materials. Often plants were grown on the company’s farm including deadly nightshade, foxglove, henbane, thorn apple and aconite . (Source: Wayback Laboratories) Burroughs Wellcome & Co. Factory, Dartford Photograph c1890-1900. Source: The Victorian Web One range of products manufactured at Burroughs Wellcome Dartford were their medicine chests which were supplied to explorers, expeditions, and royalty. The medicine chests were tailored to the needs in the part of the world that they would ...

The History of Central Park

Lt-Col Charles Newman Kidd J.P In 1903 Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Newman Kidd offered five acres of land to be developed by the town into recreational grounds with the condition that it be used 'in perpetuity as a public recreation ground and for no other purpose whatsoever'. Dartford Council consequently opened the area as 'Central Recreational Ground' to the public in June 1905. Ceremonially, there was a procession from outside the council offices to the park entrance at Lowfield street and Kidd was presented with a silver key to unlock the gates. Dartford Volunteer Silver Band performed on the original bandstand in celebration. In 1910 the park grew when Bank House on the high street was converted into council offices. A large part of its garden was added to the park. In 1915 the council expanded the grounds further purchasing 16 acres of meadows bordering the river Darent. It opened to the public in May 1916 but closed shortly after d...

Wat Tyler

Wat Tyler or Walter Tyler was the leader of the Peasants' Revolt in 1381. This was a protest against the poll tax of the time and a push for social reform and greater equality. As a result of the revolt Wat Tyler became a local hero. There is a pub in Dartford named after him where it is suggested he spent time. The Peasants' Revolt began 35 years after the Black Death had decimated Europe resulting in labour shortages. Peasants realised that there was a shortage of people to work the land and wanted better pay and conditions. The government passed a law to stop wage rises and to make matters worse a poll tax was introduced to support the war with France. Three times in four years the tax was demanded so that everybody over the age of 15 irrespective of their earnings had to pay 4 pence. This disproportionately affected the poor and peasants encouraged by the teaching of John Ball a radical priest were led to take action. When a tax collector arrived in a...

My Secret Dartford

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