Tenterden in the Great War
Welcome to the town page for Tenterden. Explore your town map to discover people who lived in your town during the First World War.
Don’t forget to visit the 100 MILES page for the Trail information and downloadable leaflet, booklet, walking directions and quiz. These trails were developed in partnership with Jack Gillett, Nick Hudd, Sue Ferguson, Colin Young and John Weller and thanks to Carol Douglas for additional information.
The Kent and East Sussex Railway (known as the Rother Valley Railway when founded) first came to Tenterden in 1903, bringing access to goods made in London and for goods to be sent to the capital and the town was the market town for the surrounding areas.
In the First World War there was a 20 bed hospital at Clifton House which was run by Kent VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) 20. A number of local women and men assisted at the hospital throughout the First World War from the hospital’s mobilisation in October 1914 to take in wounded Belgian soldiers until it closed in 1919.The operation of Clifton House was supported by local fund raising and donations.
During the First World War St Mildred’s Church Hall in Church Road was used as the drill hall for the Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles (D Squadron) and 4th Battalion, East Kent Regiment (G Company).The hall was where local men could enlist. However local men served in numerous regiments and were represented in all the services.
In 1916 local people would have gone to see the Battle of the Somme film at the Cinema Palace which was on Oaks Road.
The War memorial was unveiled on the 26th of May 1920, the memorial’s architect was W. Wrigley Diggle of London; who was the son of the Tenterden mayor Cllr J.R Diggle; and the 2 side panels list the 78 local men who died during the War.
Information courtesy Red Cross, Memories of Kent Cinemas, www.geograph.org.uk and www.kentfallen.com
1. The Latter Residence, 16 High Street
2. Tenterden Fire Station
3. Temperance Hotel
4. Town Hall – Mounted Rifles
5. The Saint Michael’s Church and School
6. The Crown Inn
7. Clifton House
8. Homewood
9. The Post Office
10. St Mildreds Church
11. Beacon Oak Road
12. Oaks Place
13. Woodchurch Road
14. Picture Theatre
15. Drill Hall
16. Tenterden Club
17. Tenterden Station
18. Vine Inn Horse
19. John Collison
20. Miss Beatrice Whiteman
21. Vicarage at St Michael’s
22. Harry Willsher
23. Minnnie Edwards
24. St Benedict’s Priory
Now residential property, known as Finchden Manor
25. High Street, Tenterden
High Street, Tenterden
The card is stamped at 9.30am on 5 February 1914 and is addressed to Miss Avery. Later Miss Edith Avery of East Court, Tenterden served as a nurse in a VAD Hospital. She served 756 hours from December 1916 to January 1918.
Information courtesy of Red Cross
26. Tenterden War Memorial
The War memorial was unveiled on the 26th of May 1920, the memorial’s architect was W. Wrigley Diggle of London son of the Tenterden mayor Cllr J.R Diggle and the 2 side panels list the 78 local men who died during the War
Image courtesy of Darrienne Price, information courtesy of http://www.kentfallen.com/