When we went down Hopping, Hopping down in Kent - 2014
Even more memories of Hopping down in Kent by residents and staff of Tower Hamlets Community Housing produced to celebrate the 2014 THCH Hop Festival in Cable Street, Shadwell
Sponsored by Olli Construction
Foreword
Once again I have been asked to write the foreword for the THCH souvenir Hop Festival Booklet. This annual booklet is enjoyed by its readers every year as it gives a chance for those East Enders who went hop picking to reminisce about their time in the Kentish countryside.
This year is the eighth Annual Hop Festival; and it is always an enjoyable day out.
I was present in 2006 when my predecessor as MP for the area, Mildred Gordon opened Thirza House. At the opening Mike Tyrrell explained that as part of the development, THCH promised to build a hop garden in the courtyard for the new and existing residents and that it would be the venue for an annual Hop Festival. Jim Fitzpatrick MP at the 2013 THCH Hop Festival
The Hop Festival is such an enjoyable day not only because there is always plenty to eat and drink, or the fact that there is a live band; but because of the fond memories that East Enders have of the hard work they put in, to earn some welcome money and have a bit of a break in the Kentish countryside.
Jim Fitzpatrick MP for Poplar & Limehouse
Photos from the 2013 THCH Hop Festival
Page 2 of 48 Introduction
Today is our eighth Annual Festival and it all started as an idea for residents to get together from all of THCH's estates to have a bit of fun and remember when they spent September hop picking in Kent. It has now become the biggest community event in Shadwell and THCH are proud to be involved with something that brings our residents from Bethnal Green and
Shadwell together as well as others from Roger Booth neighbouring estates in Stepney that THCH have built up a warm relationship with over the years.
In the 2008 booklet, Mike Tyrrell our Chief Executive explains what hopping was all about. If you would like a copy of that booklet or the follow up booklets from 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, they are still available, just contact the THCH Community Development team.
At each of our festivals we have had an exhibition of old hopping photos and at this year's festival we have an even bigger exhibition. In the week commencing 15th September 2014, the exhibition will be on show at our offices at 285 Commercial Road, Stepney, London E1 2PS. Thank you so much to those residents and friends of THCH who have provided us with the photos for this year’s booklet.
We are always looking for more photos to add to the exhibition. If you have any you can add to our collection of hop picking photographs please contact Andy Coleborn on 020 7780 3070, and he can make an appointment for you to come in so that he can copy the photographs will you wait.
Photos from the 2013 THCH Hop Festival
Photos from the 2013 THCH Hop Festival
Page 3 of 48 Finally I would like to thank Dean Hollington from Olli Construction who is once again sponsoring this year’s event.
I hope that you enjoy yourselves and that this souvenir booklet helps to remind you not only of the 2014 Hop Festival but also of many years of hard work and good times in the Kentish countryside.
Roger Booth Chair, Tower Hamlets Community Housing 3rd September 2014
Photos from the 2013 THCH Hop Festival
Photos from the 2013 THCH Hop Festival
Photos from the 2013 THCH Hop Festival
Page 4 of 48 A word from our Sponsors – Olli Construction
Olli Construction is proud to be sponsoring the 2014 Hop Festival. I could not make last year’s event so the company was represented by my Dad, Stan, who is pictured to the right. Yes he still has that blue beard!! He told me how much he enjoyed the event.
Olli Construction has worked with THCH for nearly twelve years. We are currently carrying out day to day repairs. We are very proud of the work we have carried out over the years and were delighted to be asked to sponsor THCH’s flagship community event, as Olli Construction like to make a commitment to the communities in which we work.
My own family are from Canning Town, but like most people from that area, they were originally from Stepney and all went Hop Picking. I therefore Stan Hollington of Olli know what hop picking means to East Enders and I Construction at the am very proud to be involved with THCH’s 2014 2013 Hop Festival Hop Festival.
Dean Hollington Managing Director, Olli Construction 3rd September 2014
Some of THCH’s Board Members with Stan Hollington at the 2013 Hop Festival
Page 5 of 48 Please note that in all the following photographs all the women are referred to in their single name where known, as is common practice in the East End.
Mr Gallagher, Jack Waters, Tommy Adams and Ron Gallagher at Pembles Farm, Five Oak Green, Kent.
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Lil Featherstone, Maggie Featherstone and Margie Gorst outside the huts at Jack Tompsett’s Farm, Fowle Hall, Kent
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Kitty Adams with her son Terry and John Waters outside the huts at Pembles Farm, Five Oak Green, Kent in c1952
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The Gallagher family from Westport Street, Stepney having just arrived at Pembles Farm, Five Oak Green, Kent in c1950
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Unknown, Alfie Raines and Johnny Raines from Parnham Street, Limehouse in the hop gardens at Jack Tompsett’s Farm, Fowle Hall, Kent.
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Mr & Mrs Gallagher with Kitty Adams and Jackie Gallagher from Westport Street, Stepney In the hop gardens at Pembles Farm, Five Oak Green, Kent in 1950
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Lizzie Webber, Daisy Webber and Alfie Raines from Parnham Street, Limehouse in the hop gardens at Jack Tompsett’s Farm, Fowle Hall, Kent.
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Jack & Eileen Waters with their son John, Patsy Gallager and Alan Lake in the hop gardens at Pembles Farm, Five Oak Green, Kent in 1952
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Stevie Gardiner, Maggie Cushway, Charlie Cushway and Michael Tyrrell from Limehouse on the common at Jack Tompsett’s Farm, Fowle Hall, Kent in 1980
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The Gallagher Family from Westport Street, Stepney outside their huts at Pembles Farm, Five Oak Green, Kent in 1952
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The Gorst and Webber families outside the cookhouse at Jack Tompsett’s Farm, Fowle Hall, Kent in the 1940s
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Mr & Mrs Gallagher from Westport Street, Stepney in the hop gardens at Pembles Farm, Five Oak Green, Kent
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Charlie Cushway (1928-2011) from Limehouse on the common at Jack Tompsett’s Farm, Fowle Hall, Kent in 1981
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Mr & Mrs Gallagher from Westport Street, Stepney with their grandchildren in the hop gardens at Pembles Farm, Five Oak Green, Kent in c1958
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The Cushway and Webber families from Limehouse on the common at Jack Tompsett’s Farm, Fowle Hall, Kent in the 1950s
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Pop Harrop at Whitbread’s Farm, Beltring, Kent in 1949
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Jackie Harrop, Joan Day & George Rogers at Whitbread’s Farm, Beltring, Kent in 1949.
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The Liddiard family from Stepney in a hop garden, somewhere in Kent c1930.
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View across from the huts at Morry Lane Farm, East Sutton, Kent to the Oast houses which used to belong to Michael Payne, the farmer. On the top right you can just make out Court Broom’s houses, most of the residents of which worked alongside the Londoners in the hop gardens and fruit fields.
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Mag Day (1893-1960), Patty Seach, Jackie Silor, Harriet Wright, Nancy Wright and Unknown in the in the hop gardens at Highwood’s Farm (also known as Crow Plain Farm), Collier Street, Kent,
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In the in the hop gardens at Highwood’s Farm (also known as Crow Plain Farm), Collier Street, Kent,
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Charlie Outram (1936-2006), Rene Outram & Derek Protheroe outside the huts at Highwood’s Farm (also known as Crow Plain Farm), Collier Street, Kent,
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Alice Thomas, Roy Baker, Celia Doree, Bill Thomas, Mavis Doree & Annie, in the hop gardens, near Cranbrook, Kent.
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Bill Thomas & his wife Annie, in the hop gardens, near Cranbrook, Kent.
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The brick huts at Morry Lane Farm, East Sutton, Kent were converted into stables by the new owner and the cookhouse and tin huts were demolished.
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Rene Outram holding Stevie Gardiner on the common at Jack Tompsett’s Farm at Fowle Hall, near Paddock Wood in Kent in 1955 with Kate Day sitting on the back of the lorry in the background.
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Going from the brick huts at Morry Lane Farm, East Sutton, Kent over to the tin huts. Whilst the huts were being used, the farmer still used the fields for cows and sheep to graze. Diane Brown, nee Haney with Jodie Brown.
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Wayne Gilbert on the left and on the right Rosetta Butler nee Charlton straining the veg outside the cookhouse at Morry Lane Farm, East Sutton, Kent
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Bill Thomas & his wife Annie with Roy & Alf Baker, in the hop gardens, near Cranbrook, Kent
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On the common at Highwood’s Farm (also known as Crow Plain Farm), Collier Street, Kent,
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Arthur Gray & Jimmy Pyburn outside the huts at Highwood’s Farm (also known as Crow Plain Farm), Collier Street, Kent,
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George Rogers on the common at Whitbread’s Farm, Beltring, Kent in 1949.
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Jackie Silor, Mag Day (1893-1960) on the left and Patty Seach on the right in the hop gardens at Highwood’s Farm (also known as Crow Plain Farm), Collier Street, Kent,
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Jackie Silor & Arthur Gray (1892-1985) outside the huts at Highwood’s Farm (also known as Crow Plain Farm), Collier Street, Kent,
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On the common at Highwood’s Farm (also known as Crow Plain Farm), Collier Street, Kent,
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Maggie Day & George Rogers outside the huts at Whitbread’s Farm, Beltring, Kent in 1949.
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Harriet Wright, Richard Pyburn, unknown and Mag Day outside the huts at Highwood’s Farm (also known as Crow Plain Farm), Collier Street, Kent,
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John Doree, Alice Thomas, Celia Doree & Mavis Doree in the hop gardens , near Cranbrook, Kent
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Derek Protheroe, Tony Line, Charlie Protheroe, Connie Aedo and Terry Gardiner outside the huts at Jack Tompsett’s Farm, Fowle Hall, near Paddock Wood in 1967.
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Mrs Annie Goldfinch with her daughters Mary & June and son Lionel at Sands Farm, Five Oak Green, Kent
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Sybil Ogden, Doris Cossey, Danny Tyrrell & Sally Hawes near Yalding, Kent
Pat & Jackie Harrop in the hop gardens at Whitbreads Farm, Beltring, Kent.
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Produced and Published by: The Tower Hamlets Community Housing Community Development Team 285 Commercial Road Stepney London E1 2PS
3rd September 2014