Welcome to the Gates of Hades

It might sound dramatic to liken Dartford to the Gates of Hades but this summer Dartford Heath and the marshes along the River Thames have truly paid a high price for soaring temperatures. Along with other places in the country, we witnessed the unfortunate consequences of this on the local environment.
To put this into context, the UK Met Office released its first ever red warning for heat. The two hottest days were 18th and 19th July with the highest temperatures reaching an unprecedented 40°C. It would be hard to argue in the face of this that global warming isn't real and it is worrying to see the profound impact at a local level.
These photos were taken along the flood plain on Saturday 20th August. You get some sense of the scale of the fire.

On Wednesday 24th, along with other areas of the country, a host pipe ban will be enforced following the driest July on record since 1935.

Sources:

New Scientist - Climate change made UK 40°C heatwave at least 10 times more likely

Kentlive.news- Kent hosepipe ban Thames Water announces exact date for hosepipe ban for Dartford and Sevenoaks

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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 be used.

The Legacy of Charles Newman Kidd and the Forgotten Mines

Charles Newman Kidd was born in 1844, West Sussex. He learnt the brewing trade at the Holmes and Styles Medway brewery. Some time before 1870 he bought the Oak Brewery on Hythe Street from William Miskin. In 1890 the brewery was expanded and renamed the Steam Brewery. From February 1920 the business was known as C N Kidds & Sons Ltd. In 1937 the brewery was bought and sold by Courage and brewing ceased. The brewery was demolished in 1937. C.N. Kidd Esq., Steam Brewery, Dartford, Kent. Brewers’ Journal 15th October 1890 Source: Brewery History Society Another business that Kidd was involved in was brick making. He had two brick earth pits, one of which in Shepherds Lane. It is thought the mine closed in around 1912 and subsequently the brick earth pits were used as two rubbish dumps for Kids brewery in town. In 1920 council workers entered the mines and made a small tunnel to intercept a well shaft. A drain connecting the surface water sewers of Shepherds Lane was let i

Sir Mick Jagger

Mick aged 3, 1946 Age 9, 1951 The legend and bad boy of rock Mick Jagger was born in Dartford on 26th July 1943. He was the son of a hairdresser/housewife and a PE teacher. Mick lived in Denver Road and attended Wentworth Primary School with Keith Richards who at this time was round the corner in Chastillion Road. After passing the 11+ he went on to attend Dartford Grammar School leaving with seven 'O' levels and 2 'A' levels. The school has a performing arts centre named after him having opened in March 2000. Mick and Keith formed the band 'The Rolling Stones' after a chance meeting at Dartford Train Station. Mick was studying at the London School of Economics but quit to pursue music. The band was propelled to fame with hits like 'I Can't Get No Satisfaction' and 'Angie'. “If anyone asks me where The Rolling Stones come from, I am always pleased to be able to say ‘Dartford’ and tell them all about it. Dartford is probably more famous

My Secret Dartford

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