Fairseat House postcard, dated July 1908

 

This postcard is date stamped July 1908.

Court House in Fairseat (previous name 'The Cottage')

I found this old postcard image which was dated 1910. I was not sure where it was, so sent it to local knowledge guru Dick Hogbin. On further investigation, he told me that it is certainly a pre-1942 image of Court House (as an extension to the house was built at that date). 

On another post about Fairseat House (which is next door to Court House/The Cottage) Becca Peters commented and told me this:

"Fairseat House was a school. Court House was originally built for the headmistress' brother which is why there is a little gate between the two. It was deemed unsuitable for a man to live in the same building"

Dick also told me this information: 

"Horace Grant had the house built in around 1850 at about the same time as Fairseat House. He lived in it and called it The Cottage. His sister, Hannah, ran a boarding school for girls in Fairseat House"

I don't have the image in a better quality or size, but will continue to look out for one.

Hodsoll Street, new 'old' images

 

Two old postcards of Hodsoll Street, both showing the Green Man Pub. The top one I have never seen before, Green Man Pub is on the right, and one of my favourite houses is on the left, it still looks almost the same I think! I had to get a bit creative with the trees in the background, as there was a sticker over that area of the postcard. 

The image beneath has featured on my blog before, but it had a watermark over it,. I've managed to get rid of that now. 

These are both beautiful images of a bygone era. 

Wentfield, Fairseat

 

Many thanks to the knowledgeable Dick Hogbin of Stanstedhistory.org for identifying where this house is. It is on the left hand side of the Gravesend Road travelling north (more or less opposite the turning to Vigo). 

It was the home of the Lance family for many years. There is an article about the Lances on Dick's website on the area HERE.

Platt Farm / Platt House

I had to do a bit of detective work to track down the location of this old postcard found on Ebay, of Platt Farm, Fairseat. I am estimating it to be from the 20s/30s era.

The house is now known as Platt House, and is, naturally, near the junction of Platt House Lane/Wrotham Hill Lane/Fairseat Lane.

It has been much extended and modernised, and is now painted white, and below is a recent photo, taken from almost the same spot. I remember when I moved to the area in late 2001 it was undergoing extensive work at that time, or shortly afterwards. You can still just about see the two shield plaques above the left and right upper windows. I would be interested to know if anyone knows what they represent. The house was recently sold in March 2021. 

BBC short film featuring Daphne Oram of Tower Folly, Fairseat

Nice little film by the BBC featuring pioneering women working in Electronic sounds and music. Daphne Oram is shown at the beginning, and just at the end of her segment you see her working in her studio at Tower Folly. Click here for link

My original blog post on Daphne is here.

Old postcard of Soranks Cottage, Fairseat

 Very nice old image of Soranks Cottage, I would imagine it was taken about 1930. When I first moved to the area, Soranks Cottage was very run down and looked almost derelict so I was surprised to find out that someone still lived there. I'm sure there is a story therein, to tell. The cottage was renovated and extended approx. 2006? It still retains much of its character, including the front low wall and railings, and half-round shaped window on the 1st floor.