Old postcard of Tumblefield Road, Stansted

Another old postcard seen on Ebay. Electric poles on the lane so must have been taken after the installation of electricity.

Corner of Fairseat Postcard

Seen on Ebay, no date. I am wondering if this is a part of Soranks Manor house garden? That gravel path looks familiar, it can be seen through the iron gates, but I would love someone to verify where this is in Fairseat.

New Ash Green History

Website with some interesting reading and photos, all about the concept & development of New Ash Green by Span Kent. SPAN KENT

1937 map of the area

OS Map of the area, dated 1937, scale 1:25,000. I love old maps. It shows there was a Police Station on the left as you came into Fairseat from the Vigo turning. Trosley Towers was still standing but no Vigo Village of course. Also no New Ash Green. The Children's Holiday Home (now Wide Horizons Margaret McMillan House) on the A227 was there, so that has been around for a long time.

There is a big area of parkland around Pettings Court, so I'm thinking this was probably lost to agricultural land during WWII. Some of the old parkland trees remain in the grass fields as I often walk the footpaths which go over the old parkland. I would love to know when the parkland was broken up.

The Hope and Anchor up at Ash is listed as BH, which apparently stands for 'Beer House'. I'd never heard of a Beer House before, and didn't know what the difference was between that and a Pub so looked it up, found this on Wikipedia:
The Beerhouse Act enabled anyone to brew and sell beer on payment of a licence costing two guineas (£2.10 in decimal currency, not adjusted for inflation).

Click on the map and it will go much larger.

New Hillread houses at Oakwood Farm, Fairseat

When I moved here Oakwood Farm produced eggs. I believe that the new laws changing the conditions of caged hens made it non viable for them to continue. It was once mooted that a light industrial unit be built there but this was vetoed so we have this new development of houses instead. I've not yet taken a look at the new homes in Fairseat, and am not sure if the road they are on is public, or if they are a private 'gated community' which seems to be popular these days.... Oh, and if you want to buy one, you need about 1 million quid, but be quick as the biggest one has already gone! 

Here is a bit of blurb from the Hillread website, plus some photos of them.

'A unique development of 8 barn style four and five bedroom brand new homes in the village of Fairseat, Kent. These individually designed homes are in a fantastic courtyard setting and all have lovely large gardens. The development has the benefit of being in a lovely rural location with the convenience of being within easy reach of major road and rail networks and just 25 miles from central London'

Farmhouse

Farmstead

Granary

Hayloft

Millhouse

New Barn

Stables

Demolished old house near Vigo turning.

This, doubtlessly once imposing, house stood at the point where Harvel Road and the main A227 Gravesend Road meet. It has now been demolished and rebuilt upon. The site is now surrounded by high fencing and beech hedge. 

Vigo Inn customers 1952

Just found the picture below on the national Archives. Wouldn't it be wonderful if someone recognised their relatives?
Picture found here