THE HISTORY OF DARTFORD’S COUNTY LUNATIC ASYLUM

NEW BOOK PUBLISHED ABOUT DARTFORD’S COUNTY LUNATIC ASYLUMS

The “County Asylum” system developed from 1808 and saw a network of immense institutions built across England and Wales. Often accommodating well over 2,000 patients each, they functioned much like a self-contained town, including their own chapels, recreation halls and theatres, hairdressers, farms, art studios, bakeries, fire stations, and so on; almost everything a patient could physically need was provided within their walls. How well the asylums actually met their patients‘ psychiatric needs is a more controversial topic.

By 1845, every county and borough was expected to build at least one asylum to accommodate their “pauper lunatics” (a formal term at that time) who could not afford private treatment, and over 150,000 people were housed in such a way by the 1950s. While Dartford did not require its own (the two built for Kent were located at Barming Heath and Chartham, respectively), the Dartford area did play host to two of London’s.

The first to appear was Stone House, which opened in 1866 in a small farming hamlet on the outskirts of Dartford, and was built to serve the City of London Corporation. The handsome building was considered truly cutting-edge when it opened, and no expense was spared to accommodate even its poorest residents, with a beautiful chapel and ornate dining room among additions to its lavish interior. At its peak, it housed 610 patients. However, by the time it opened, there were few paupers still resident in the tiny geographical area the asylum served, and so the Corporation was able to boardin lunatics from Dartford and other areas at a higher rate, turning out to be another lucrative investment for them. Bexley was the 7th London County Asylum and was built on land around Bexleyheath formerly known as Baldwyn’s Park. The land had been owned by American inventor Hiram Maxim (1840-1916), who achieved the first aeroplane flight there (albeit still partly attached to the ground) a full six years before the Wright Brothers’ “true” flight. Originally known as “Heath Asylum”, the London authorities decided on a change to “Bexley” in 1905. Bexley’s council feared a lunatic asylum named after their town would be a disaster for house prices, with their plea to Parliament to have it called “Dartford Heath Asylum” instead being ignored. Bexley was an immense building that eventually housed 2,544 patients. In its earlier years, it practiced some of the horrendous “treatments” doled out to unfortunate asylum patients, including lobotomies and aversion therapy. However, over time it gained one of the better reputations among such institutions and established a healthy relationship with Bexley and Dartford’s population, many of whom volunteered at the asylum or attended sporting, entertainment, and social events within the huge building and its grounds. Bexley was completely demolished (bar the chapel) by 2001, with Bexley Park housing estate built in its place. Stone House closed in 2006 and has been sympathetically converted into luxury apartments. Its water tower still serves as a local landmark and can still be seen clearly when traveling south across Dartford Bridge. “A History of London County Lunatic Asylums & Mental Hospitals” by Ed Brandon features a full chapter on Bexley Asylum, along with ten others from London and the surrounding area. The book is available via all good booksellers, published by Pen & Sword Books.

27-29th October 2022

Box Office: 0343 310 0033

www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

JOIN OUR GROWING COMMUNITY

At Healthy Living Centre Dartford, we are proud to be working with valuable partners across the borough to bring our vision for a ‘Growing Community’ to life; to develop an active and thriving food network across Dartford. We are working together to turn unused land across Dartford into communal and educational food growing spaces that are in harmony with nature. The aim of our project is in the name – for our community to work together to grow food, and for our food growing project to develop community connections.

Supported by the National Lottery Community Fund, Growing Community is a project that places food at the very heart of everything we do. In this way, we will have a positive impact on many vital areas in society; health and wellbeing, economic and environmental development, education, culture, and creativity.

For more than decade Healthy Living Centre Dartford has helped nurture healthier, happier people and communities, by helping to grow confidence and skills in a safe and open environment. This project aims to develop fresh opportunities for healthy physical activity, learning and skills that can open the door to volunteering and employment opportunities and build a strong food network across the borough.

At our “Making Memories” events in Temple Hill, the team have been offering local people the chance to engage with nature and growing at our seed sowing and plant swapping

stall. During National Allotments Week (8th – 14th August 2022) young people took the opportunity to plant tomato, beetroot, chard, parsley and salad green seeds in plant pots or recycled plastic bottles to take home and nurture in their gardens or on their windowsills. We hope this introduction to planting and growing-your-own food will inspire them to continue to explore and experiment with foods they can nurture, harvest, and eat at home.

GROWING COMMUNITY NETWORK: We want passionate people to help create productive growing spaces in Dartford. No matter how much time you can share, or how much gardening knowledge you have, if you care about food, nature, and people we would love to hear from you – everyone has something they can offer!

We would like to thank the members of our Growing Community Network who have been pivotal in getting our project off to the best start: Dartford Science and Technology College, Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School, The Galaxy VOLUNTEER WITH HEALTHY LIVING CENTRE DARTFORD: Do you have skills and talents to share, like helping others and enjoy meeting new people?

We have various volunteering opportunities available to support Healthy Living Centre Dartford’s community projects. We need enthusiastic, sociable volunteers for administration and reception roles, event support, gardening, and community cafes as well as lead volunteers for our IT, ESOL and cookery classes.

If you would like to get in touch to volunteer your time, or to find out more about our Growing Community project or any of our other opportunities, we would love to hear from you:

info@hlcdartford.org.uk | 01322 311265 | Facebook: healthylivingcentredartford |

BLUEWATER AWARDED GREEN FLAG FOR ITS PARK AND GREEN SPACE.

Landsec, Incentive FM and landscaping group Gavin Jones are celebrating after receiving a Green Flag Award for Bluewater Shopping Centre, one of 2208 UK winners. The award is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

After two years that have seen our parks and green spaces play a vital role for people through lockdowns as a place to relax, exercise and meet friends and family safely, the news that Bluewater Shopping Centre has achieved the Green Flag Award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that make the green space a great space that everyone can enjoy.

James Waugh, Centre Director at Bluewater, said “We are delighted to receive our Green Flag Award here at Bluewater. Our 50 acres of stunning parkland are maintained by a fantastic team, and we really take pride in maintaining our local environment. The Awards set the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces in the UK, so this is a tremendous accolade to receive.”

Commenting on the news that Bluewater Shopping Centre has met the Green Flag Award standard, Keep Britain Tidy’s Accreditation Manager Paul Todd said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making Bluewater worthy of a Green Flag Award.

“Bluewater is a vital green space for the community in Greenhithe. This award is testament to all the hard work of staff who do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

HIGH FLIERS AND BONFIRES WALK THROUGH HISTORY IN BALDWYNS PARK, MAYPOLE AND LEYTON CROSS

By Clair Humphries

The border of Bexley and Dartford might seem unremarkable but its paths have been walked by great inventors, wealthy merchants and even rock stars over the years. Little remains of the great estates of Baldwyns Park, Maypole and Leyton Cross nowadays but why not have a wander and follow some famous – and infamous – footsteps from the past? This area has seen jubilant processions and even flying machines overhead (!) so come on – let’s start with the origins of those big old great estates…

The Regency Baldwyns Manor existed on the site of the old Bexley Hospital and was owned by royal physician Sir Edward Hulse until 1759. Hulse and his wife were buried in a Wilmington churchyard before the estate was passed down to his son. In around 1810 it was sold to the Minets, a distinguished local family who were descended from French Huguenots.

Turf Wars! The Minets and Tredegars were two families of note in 19th century Dartford. Records show that they clashed over the condition of Dartford Heath, which was owned by the Tredegars. The First Baron Tredegar was accused by the Minets of destroying the Heath as a result of extensive chalk and gravel mining.

Bexley Park is a quiet housing estate these days but the skies above certainly saw some action in the 1890s! Sir Hiram Maxim moved into Baldwyns Manor in 1889 and set about inventing a series of flying machines, which he tested in the grounds. Although regarded as a local eccentric he was certainly well-connected – the author H.G. Wells and even the Prince of Wales turned up to watch his displays!

Baldwyns Manor and its parkland was eventually sold to London County Council and 1898 saw the construction of Bexley Hospital. The neighbouring Maypole housing estate was then developed to accommodate workers at the new asylum. Local

researcher Kim Button has written a comprehensive account of Maypole history on their website www.maypolehistory.site123.me which chronicles everyday life in the area (a fascinating read for local history fans). They found that, before the influx of hospital staff, only four notable houses existed ‘within 400 yards – Baldwyns Manor, Heathwood Lodge, Maypole House and Broomhills.’

Maypole School was opened in 1912 as the population grew and Kim’s website paints a vivid picture of 20th century family life. Annual sports days were held for Maypole residents, plus fancy dress processions and maypole (!) dancing all featuring in the local calendar. Bonfire celebrations on Dartford Heath were another ritual, continuing until the end of the 1960s. Maypole House itself originated from the late 18th century but was sadly demolished in the 1980s. Its most notable residents were the Winter family, who lived there for over fifty years. Leyton Cross, like the nearby Heath, has long been excavated for chalk, gravel and flint. Tredegar Road is a legacy of its past as is The Horse and Groom pub, which was built in the early 20th century. Originally named as five roads crossed through it, routes still lead out towards Birchwood / Stanhill, Wilmington and Joydens Wood – areas which each have an intriguing history of their own. Maybe we can discover those next time, on another walk through Dartford’s colourful history…

Clair Humphries is a freelance writer and Content Partner for Ordnance Survey. Website: www.clairhumphries.com Twitter: @clairhumphries Instagram: clair_humphries

Exploring Outdoors – Whatever The

Weather. By KatieB Kids

With summer behind us you might be thinking about wrapping up and staying inside. Research shows that young children today are spending far less time enjoying the outdoors than their parents did at the same age, with the National Trust putting it at less than 4 hours per week. Local Nursery and School of Early Childhood, KatieB Kids in Stone, Dartford is bucking the trend, with up to 15 hours a week of ‘outdoor adventure’ time for children aged from 3 months up to 5 years old.

Getting out and about locally ‘whatever the weather’ has real benefits for children of all ages. Educational expert Louise Buckley of KatieB says the emphasis they place on outdoor learning and play means that, alongside supporting their emotional and academic development, it helps children feel really rooted in the local community. Louise adds: “Getting young children out and about whatever the weather is really valuable and in autumn and winter its about making sure toddlers are wearing the right clothing to be able to really enjoy time outside in poor weather whilst having fun. This builds resilience, but more importantly, it teaches children to not just spend their lives merely tolerating the ‘bad’ days in favour of a handful of ‘good’ days and that life in all weathers is enjoyable.”

As well as helping children exercise and stay healthy, enjoying the outside in rain means children can play at being engineers, metorologists, artists, biologists, and musicians, developing important skills for later life at school. Being outside locally offers a natural opportunity for navigating uneven surfaces, hills and ditches which all support children’s risk taking and balance and helps teach them how to keep themselves safe. And of course it’s great for sleep too!

FREE PARENT WORKSHOP – ‘Chatty Children – Supporting Early Communication’ KatieB Kids is offering a great workshop for parents on early communication, speech development and language skills in young children, along with the role of Makaton signing to help prevent unwanted behaviour. Weds 26th Oct 7pm at KatieB in Stone – Find out more at www.katiebkids.co.uk

Construction and breaking ground are planned to begin in October 2022, with some staff and support functions relocating off-site. Outpatient services for patients and families will continue from an external venue, while ellenor’s inpatient ward will remain operational on-site throughout the build.

by Harden Holidays

Winter Sun - Canary Island: Which Canary Island to Visit?

A holiday to the Canary Islands always guarantees sunshine, activities and culture, but which Canary Island to visit? To find the best Canary Island for you we’ve put together the below guide to help you choose.

The Canary Islands have long been a favourite for British holidays, with a short flight journey and reliable year round weather, it is no wonder they have become so enamoured by the British. With a plethora of luxurious hotels and well-equipped resorts there’s plenty to tempt even the most discerning traveller. However, there is much more to these charming islands than meets the eye, be it award winning-cuisine, stunning landscapes or undisturbed beaches, they are a perfect destination for everyone. But, which is the best Canary Island? Which Canary Island has the best weather? Temperatures across the Canary Islands remain reliable throughout the year with plenty of cloudless, warm and dry days to go around. Each Island has its own microclimate varying slightly from each other. Tenerife tends to be the warmest with a yearly average of 23˚C and very little rainfall, whereas more easterly Fuerteventura and Lanzarote can feel cooler due to trade winds although still warm.

Tenerife • Perfect for: everyone • Best for: golf and theme parks

Truly an island for everyone, Tenerife is particularly suitable for fun family holidays, relaxing retreats, luxury beach breaks and golf escapes. The largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife surrounds the dramatic 3,718m volcano Mount Teide (the tallest mountain in Spain), adding to the allure of this eclectic island. Tenerife also has over 40 miles of beaches to explore.

For luxury holidays look no further than the upmarket resort of Costa Adeje, where designer shops, tempting restaurants and sophisticated nightlife take centre stage. North Tenerife offers a whole bag of treasures waiting to be explored. In resorts such as Garachico and Santa Cruz you can experience local life and charming rural villages.

The youthful Fuerteventura is the Canary Island’s second largest island offering desert-esque landscapes and miles of perfect beaches. The glistening turquoise waters and pure white sands attract beach lovers worldwide and the refreshing Atlantic breeze attracts watersports enthusiasts alike. From surfing to sunbathing and kiting to hiking there is so many things to do in Fuerteventura. For luxury Fuerteventura holidays, Corralejo and Jandia boast extensive white sandy beaches protected from the breeze, with the nearby Baku waterpark offering an excellent day out for families. For excellent nightlife and great shopping the resorts of Costa Calma and Caleta de Fuste boast a great array of shops and restaurants, as well as peaceful palm shaded streets.

Gran Canaria • Perfect for: nightlife and beach breaks • Best for: shopping

Although Gran Canaria is the 3rd largest Canary Island, it is the second most populous. From dramatic mountains to golden dunes and lush forests to seaside towns, Gran Canaria’s diverse landscapes have earned it the nickname of ‘a continent in miniature’. Its exciting towns are home to a plethora of restaurants, chic bars and vibrant streets making it superb for nightlife seekers and its large beaches and luxurious resorts attract families and beach lovers alike. Excellent for shopping and exploring the beautiful marina Las Palmas is the islands capital city which also features a beautiful sandy beach. Find sophisticated restaurants and beautiful hotels in the resort of Maspalomas or its stylish next door neighbour Costa Meloneras. The picturesque resort of Puerto De Mogan offers a prettier and more charming side, perfect for a more romantic retreat.

Lanzarote • Perfect for: geologists, volcanologists and beach lovers • Best for: Volcano walking and wine tasting For an unspoilt beachy retreat and a volcanic adventure, Lanzarote is the Canary Island to visit. Moon style landscapes and the unmissable Timanfaya National Park rival a sci-fi movie scene and create a dreamlike location that will leave you speechless. Lanzarote’s history is dominated by the much-loved César Manrique who encouraged the gentle introduction of tourism, resulting in a lack of high rise buildings and over built resorts. Its strange landscapes and devastating volcanic past give it a very young history, meaning local cuisine is more based on surrounding islands and Spanish Tapas.

For families and couples alike, the sophisticated resort of Playa Blanca offers pretty, palm lined streets, upmarket eateries and a beautiful mountainous backdrop. Puerto del Carmen boasts a more lively scene with shops and restaurants lining its sandy beach. For a more relaxed ambience, Puerto Calero’s peaceful marina it’s the perfect place to soak up the sunshine. For something a little different, Teguise is the old capital of Lanzarote, a delightful pedestrianised town with plenty of shops and a popular Sunday street market.

Whichever Canary Island you choose, you are guaranteed a mixed bag of adventure, relaxation and most importantly, well deserved sunshine. Can’t choose? Why not try them all with a Harden Holidays multi-centre. Great ferry links and local flight carriers make travelling between islands easy. Contact our team today and we’d be delighted to create an itinerary personalised to you. If you’re looking to travel further afield for your winter getaway, there are countless destinations offering sunshine through the winter months.

Some of our top picks for winter sun outside of Europe are: • Dubai - 26°C, Maldives - 27°C, Antigua - 27°C, Dominican Republic - 28°C, Mexico - 25°C Create lifelong memories with Harden Holidays, contact our team today.

Dartford Town Centre

www.hardenholidays.co.uk 0800 023 8974

HOME-START NW KENT

Home-Start has been described as a movement of people in communities who stand alongside families in the challenges they face. Our local network of 70 trained volunteers and expert staff-led support is there to help families with young children through their challenging times. We are there for parents when they need us most, because childhood can’t wait.

At the heart of Home-Start’s work is home visiting volunteer support. Dedicated volunteers work alongside parents, in their own homes, to help them cope with the stresses and strains of life and make sure they have the skills, confidence and strength they need to nurture their children. Starting in the home, our approach is as individual as the people we’re helping. We are compassionate and free of judgement. We offer confidential help and expert support. Our work offers a vital lifeline to parents and helps to give children the best possible start in life. We are currently seeking more volunteers who would like to make a difference in their community. Any age/background/culture/ethnicity, who will benefit from

• Free 40-hour training commencing 5th October (10.00-2.00 x 10 Wednesdays) • Regular staff support + supervision • Peer support of other volunteers

PLEASE CONTACT DEBBIE BOWLER ON 01322 225 100

Further details can be found on www. homestartnwkent.org.uk

A double band night is next up on Friday 9th September 2022 at Bexley Park Sports & Social Club.

Doors open 7.00pm, music starts at 7.30pm, evening ends at Midnight.

Amelia Street will be first on stage with their mix of own music and covers. Melodic acoustic guitars and vocal harmonies.

Influential covers may include artists such as Simon and Garfunkel, The Beatles, Crowded House, The Everly Brothers and Squeeze.

Second up are The Big Blue, a Rock and Blues band playing covers from Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Buddy Guy, Albert King,

Stevie Ray and “Howlin” wolf. This band makes the Blues sound fresh and exciting whilst retaining all the authenticity of the originals.

Scan the QR code with your mobile phone camera to order tickets directly from the club.

Ticket price £5.00 or £7.50 on the night.