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

Dartford Beach View from Greenhithe   The Pathway beneath The QE2 The QE2 Bridge is as magnificent as it is imposing on the landscape. To truly see the secrets of the bridge you need to walk underneath it. Everyday this bridge carries vehicles between two counties completing the ring that is he M25 motorway but how many people can say they have seen its underside? You can join a footpath towards the bridge in two main locations. Next to the entrance of Asda in Greenhithe is a footpath which leads along to the Thames. If you follow it under the bridge you can exit at the 125 cycle route which take you onto the Bridge Estate. Running alongside the QE2 are two tunnels beneath the Thames. They were opened in 1963 and 1980. The bridge opened in 1991. It is 137m high and was designed to carry 135,000 vehicles daily. Unfortunately, as anybody who lives in Dartford or Thurrock knows congestion has become progressively worse and there are frequent heavy delays which are the bain of

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries women did not have the right to vote. It was a widely held belief that women should not be allowed. Indeed Queen Victoria called the fight for women’s rights a “mad, wicked folly”. Source: Wikipedia Why then  is it so unknown that a local woman played such an important part in propelling fundamental change to women's rights? Dartford has it's very own suffragette! Her name was Doreen Allen . She was born in 1879 and was a member of member of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). One of ten children, she married Meville Hodsoll Allen who worked at the Stock Exchange in London. As happened to the suffragettes, she was force fed during a hunger strike. Doreen was arrested twice for window smashing and spent four months in Holloway Prison for her troubles. Here is an article about a handkerchief she signed while in prison with an an amusing title pun!

They met on platform 2 of Dartford Station.  Keith Richards on his way to Sidcup Arts College and Mick Jagger travelling to London School of Economics.  Later Mick dropped his studies to pursue music and The Rolling Stones followed.  Both went to Wentworth Primary School but lost contact before the chance encounter at the railway station.    Mick had considered becoming a journalist or a  politician.   How different the world of music be if he had!   Dartford Grammar School today proudly carries the legacy of their former pupil as the Mick Jagger Centre opened in March 2020. Apparently Bill Whyman, the former Rolling Stones bassist, was not amused about the plaque at Dartford Station presumably because he didn't feature on it.  Dartford Council did not wish to incur his wrath and vowed to get it changed but it looks like it's still there.  Source: Wikimedia In Dartford Central Park there is a rusty looking homage to Sir Mick lest we forget where he came from.  It is located to

The Dazzle Alphabet Album cover collaboration with Jann Howarth OASIS’ “Champagne Supernova (Lynch Mob Beats Mix) promo, single-sided, 12” single. Cover signed by Peter Blake One of the best known British Pop artists, Peter Blake was born in 1932. Perhaps most well known for designing the album cover of St Pepper's lonely Heart's Club Band for the Beetles, he also created two of The Who's album covers and Stop The Clocks for Oasis. Blake attended Maypole school Bexley and Dartford West Central. He lived in a house on Princes Road and then in 1937 a newly built semidetached house at 9 Marcus Road costing £600 at the time! He remembers the town park and library and recalls his family were involved in the Congregation Church. Blake describes Dartford being 'run by the Co-op' and a 'Co-op town'. At the age of 7 he was evacuated to Essex and later to Worcester. At the age of 14 he got a place at Gravesend Technical College as unlike his siblings he did not pass t

On Christmas Eve in 1801 Richard Trevithick, who is buried in Dartford, made history with the first ever successful journey of a steam locomotive. He named the carriage the 'Puffing Devil' and was able to carry 6 people on a journey steered by his cousin through the streets and up Camborne Hill in Cornwall. Trevithick died of pneumonia at the Bull Hotel on 22nd April 1833. It is sad to say that he was penniless and no relatives or friends were there during his sickness. He is buried at St Edmund's Pleasance and his funeral was paid for by colleagues at Hall's works who gathered a collection. They paid a night watchmen to guard his grave as body snatching was common. Waymark.com Sources: Cornwall Forever! The Puffin' Devil's first journey Wikipedia- Richard Trevithick Engineering Timeline- Grave of Richard Trevithick. Goodreads.com - Richard Revithick

  What does the detail in this coat of arms mean?  The chevron symbolises a bridge at the river Darent.  Within it, the fool's cap is the paper industry from the 16th century and the two red sacks represent the cement industry of Swanscombe.  The three discs are the three former councils and their  shape acknowledge the former pharmaceutical industry   Inside each disc is the symbol of a millrind which were the iron supports used for mill stones grinding wheat or other grains.  The ship represents the Roman history of the area.  Its seven oars are Dartford plus the six parishes of the district.  The lightning across the sail is a reminder of the former power station at Littlebrook. The lion symbolises the Monarchy.  King Henry III's sister was married in the district and Edward III founded the Priory .   (Dartford Priory was a significant nunnery in medieval and Tudor England.)   Also of note, Queen Elizabeth often stayed in the manor at Dartford.  Beneath the lion's foot i