My Secret Dartford

Source: Highways England  What's the deal with Dartford Traffic?  Just ask anybody from Dartford and they will have plenty to say on the matter! Routinely the M25 experiences traffic delays which can be exacerbated by trouble on the A2 snarling up road junctions in the surrounding areas.  Before long local roads inevitably back up and the whole of Dartford routinely grinds to a stand still, a hostage to the traffic.  Fun fact (ready irony here),  the detrimental impact to local air quality is significant 'For much of a typical day in many areas close to the crossing does not meet current air quality standards.'  The proposed solution is to build a Lower Thames Crossing to release pressure on Dartford/Thurrock crossing point.  The road will be 23km long including a 4km twin tunnel.  It will be the second longest road in the country connecting Gravesham, Kent with Turrock.  The project is expected to be completed in 2027.  Traffic capacity will increase across the Thames from

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 be used.

Electricity was historically generated at Littlebrook since 1939 when the first Power Station at the site was constructed. Littlebrook 'A' and B were coal powered. Although C was at first coal powered it was later converted to burn oil fuel from 1958. Littlebrook ‘D’ began generating electricity in 1981, and was the fourth power station to be built at the location. After storm force winds in October 1987 Littlebrook D had a significant role in restoring power to the South East of England due to its back-start capabilities i.e. it did not require an external source of power. Littlebrook Power Station closed in 2015 as it was believed unprofitable to bring it up to necessary environmental standards and subsequently demolished by explosion on Friday 30 August 2019. Source: Wikipedia- Littlebrook Power Station Powerstations UK

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 an Essex village

Trivia quiz 1  Trivia quiz 2 How well do you know Dartford?  Try these two quizzes to find out! 

The concept of workhouses was a developing part of the welfare system back in Elizabethan times when parishes collected money from residents. In the 1723 parliament passed an act called ' The Workhouse Test Act ' which was a legal framework for running workhouses. The workhouse was a place for people whom handouts were not enough. If people were able to work they could earn their board and lodging. The cost of handouts was increasing so a new standard national system was introduced in 1834. It's aim was to bring down costs and if you were destitute but able bodied this is where you went and were expected to work.  Families were not kept together.  Men, women and children were separated accordingly.  In order to be allowed into the workhouse you would have to live in the catchment. There was an official called the Relieving Officer who was able to offer people a place at the workhouse. Once in, those in its care were provided with clothing and their own clothes were placed

This is a little sanctuary hidden under our noses along Princes Road that can be accessed at various places including a tunnel from Dartford Park. Here is a taste of the very beautiful Brooklands Lake and its wildlife. If you find a nice spot to sit and pause without requiring much patience you will see some wonderful wildlife. Bringing frozen peas is recommended to feed the birds and coming early in the morning since it gets very busy. The coots make their nests in hard to reach places! The swans are especially lovely because they are quite at home in the presence of people. They are very docile as long as you treat them with respect. If you look carefully you might find the terrapins. They are a little bit further round from the old Home Base side. The lake is popular for carpe fishing which looks a wonderful way to enjoy the lake tranquility. DDAPS Brooklands lake map

'Good things are worth waiting for' Tesco said when they promised a new supermarket on Lowfield Street. Dartford waited 12 years for the giant to make good on its word. Source: Newsshopper Shops were boarded up and small local businesses forced to leave. It was an ugly derelict eyesore on the town. Tesco changed their plans four times before demolition work began and for more than a decade shop owners were made to sell up so that they could clear the site. Business owners including butcher Ray Richardson who closed his family shop due to the prolonged pressure of a compulsory purchase after having a business there for over a century.  The council was blamed for selling out to Tesco and further sending the town into decline. The stress of fighting for livelihoods against the supermarket corporate giant was tough. Finally after causing such hurt, Tesco pulled out and all Dartford had to show was derelict land where successful local businesses used to be. This part of recent histo