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Post by Les on Apr 10, 2016 6:38:45 GMT
River Medway fishing I fished many hours along the riverbank as a lad. My grandfather took me fishing here on several occasions and good fun we had too. His rod seemed about twelve foot long and made of split cane the expensive sort and mine a home made rod of two pieces of bamboo can held together by a piece of copper tube that had been sawn down the middles and squeezed together. Quite pleased with my self for making it and I probably caught as many fish as anyone else.
I do remember my grandfather catching eels which I hated seeing squirming and tangling themselves around the line. Still after a few good clouts with a stone they stopped and were taken home and eaten. If you put undeveloped film in the river, it would come out developed. Probably an exaggeration but it was dirty and many chemicals found there way in
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Post by Les on Apr 10, 2016 6:40:20 GMT
Industry along the River Medway
The industry along the Maidstone section of the Medway grew there because the river allowed the movement of commodities coming in as well as out. Barges brought coal to both Maidstone Generating Company and the Gasworks to fuel their boilers. Barges brought wood to Smythe and Drayson the wood-yard. Barges brought corn and took it away. Barges brought life to the town...It was 1846 before the railway came to Maidstone but it had its faithful Medway.
Our gas comes from natural sources and our electricity from nuclear generated stations like Dungeness these days although there are still some coal power stations dotted around the country.
Foster Clarkes used to discharge all sorts of things into the river including bits and pieces of peas and carrots (still made interesting fishing). The paper mills discharged chemicals and all sorts of things.
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Post by Les on Apr 10, 2016 6:42:32 GMT
Peter Capon Childhood memories
My grandmother took me for a trip along the medway many times I remember in what I think was called the "Maid of Maidstone" help me please someone. On a sunny day what could be more pleasant the cool of the river and the shouting to the fishermen "Any luck"
The pleaser boat I remember was the Swan
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Post by Les on Apr 10, 2016 6:43:09 GMT
Tony Egglesden
I remember fishing on the Medway down by the breweries just along from Maidstone swimming baths. When we caught anything we would throw it as hard as we could against the wall to kill it.
(Tony you little mugger)
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Post by Les on Apr 10, 2016 6:43:50 GMT
The river Medway has always been a favourite walk and resting place for courting couples. Of course having such a sheltered life my self I would not know too much about this sort of thing. The walk from Allington locks was via the south bank of the river up to Maidstone where you would cross the Maidstone Bridge and make your way on the north side and on up through Tovil.
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Post by Les on Apr 10, 2016 6:44:30 GMT
Shirley
Maidstone I remember it well: I am still on the Medway now, we have a little cabin cruiser, so I have had a lifelong connection with the river. The trip boat I remember going on a few times was "The Swan" a lovely old wooden boat. I was in the Information Office at the Town Hall last summer and an old lady asked if "the Swan" still did trips, bless her. There were dozens of real swans by the Old Palace in the forties & fifties. attracted by the plentiful supply of fruit & vegetables from Foster Clarks, and by all us children taking stale bread down to feed them. The water is much cleaner now, there were huge lumps of pulp from the paper mills floating, plus the fruit & vegetables, and the colour of the river varied with whatever Foster Clarkes was canning that day! There were the wood yards on the bank where the Law Courts are, and a narrow alley to access the bank by the palace due to the wharf buildings there. I have slept there many a time on our boat when attending the River Festival, and it still brings back memories.
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Post by Les on Apr 10, 2016 6:45:51 GMT
Quin
Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: We went on the medway to do our a level swat for the tech. law economics etc. we picked up a couple of lovely girls on the river bank one was leaving from manchester to go to jamiaca the following week so we hitch up there the following weekend to see her off. We used to go up to east farleigh by punt.
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Post by Les on Apr 10, 2016 6:46:22 GMT
Kevin
Maidstone I remember it well: You bunch of losers there is nothing nice about the river medway! you lot need to get out more!!!!!!
I think you miss the point Kevin we did get out more that's why we have fond memories of the Medway..........
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Post by Les on Apr 10, 2016 6:48:15 GMT
RENE NEWMAN
Country: New Zealand Maidstone I remember it well: I remember the barges with their red sails bringing timber,corn etc up to the bridge, timber for Smythes yard by the bridge. As a lad in Dad's Army, my father was our sergeant, guarding Maidstone Bridge determined to fight the Hun. Lucky for me none ever ventured near,just as well with a 303 and 6 rounds they wouldn't have stood a chance. We saved the river Shirley for you to enjoy your boating. I lived in Tovil so enjoyed the use of Avery's skiffs. About midnight on HG duty we heard two matelots scrambling over the coal heap next to the bridge, they been on the town and went to sleep it off by the river and fell in. The police came to the rescue and got them cleaned up and rested and promised would be back at Chatham in time to return to their ship.!942 I was called to the forces but not the army, must have heard from the Royal West Kents I wasn.t much of a shot. Cheers.
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Post by Les on Apr 10, 2016 6:49:25 GMT
Ruby Todd
Ruby Todd [ne Newman] I was going to mention the cinema and fishy bakers in Gabriels Hill but my brother Rene beat me to it,he did'nt tell you we spent most of our summer holidays swimming in the River Medway, just past the paper mill[Tovil& Bridge]the water was lovely and clean,and our Dad worked in the mill so during his tea break he used to come out to make sure we were o.k,all we needed was a bottle of lemonade[made with crystals and very sharp]and jam sanwiches,we were set for the day then. Where we used to swim we named Sandy Bay,does any one else remember swimming there,Yes I learnt to swim when I was at All Saint's School,we used to walk to the Swimming baths for our weekly lesson,I enjoy reading all then other memories.
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Post by Les on Apr 10, 2016 6:50:09 GMT
Phillip Wood
Maidstone I remember it well: Barges on medway used to deliver malt to fremlins the malt would go up on the conveyer belt over the road we would go on the barge and would be given sandwiches made with marg AND honey didn`t didn`t have the two together at home what a treat
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Post by Les on Apr 10, 2016 6:50:43 GMT
Joy Dodd ne' Brown
Maidstone I remember it well: Yes many happy days spent on the river even had to show the navy boys how to row a boat you could hire them from near the archbishops palace. oh! those were the days.
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Post by Les on Apr 10, 2016 6:51:53 GMT
Jim Yarwood
Maidstone I remember it well: Anyone remember the "submarine" a brick-shaped feature that used to be in the water just a little under the high-level bridge? Spent many a happy hour wading/swimming out to get onto the "sub". And what about further along the towpath we used to creep into the lower end of the army barracks that ran down to the river's edge and muck about in their artificial "trenches" and assault course they built for training. It was always a bit creepy on the towpath under the high-level bridge arches, used to get one or two drunks who'd make it their patch, so we'd go down either in pairs or in a group. As for the old swimming baths, anyone remember queuing up outside on the steps waiting for the sessions to end? Then after swimming having wonderful hot tomato soup and a bread roll in the small cafeteria, mmmmm!
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Post by Les on Apr 10, 2016 6:52:28 GMT
Gez Maidstone I remember it well: Also learnt to swim at sandy bay as well as spending many hours fishing on this stretch of river.by the way Jim is that Ducati still running ok ?
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Post by Les on Apr 10, 2016 6:53:06 GMT
Jim Yarwood
Maidstone I remember it well: Jez,, didn't realise you were a Maidstone born-and bred!!!! Course the Ducati's still running, when you coming out to play with the lads??? Jim
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Post by Les on Apr 10, 2016 6:54:10 GMT
David Bird
Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: I see the "Swan" mentioned I wonder what happen to it and the smaller "Signet" traveling on each of these crafts was pure pleasure As stated , the river was colours to the canning of the day from Foster Clarks, (My Mother worked there for many years) the factory over looked our back garden, next door was Leneys mineral water factory making all sorts of soft drinks from where we kids often had given to us a bottle of pop(big bottles) from one of the workers, oh such memories, David Bird Queensland
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Post by Les on Aug 7, 2017 18:23:48 GMT
J B of Rye Maidstone I remember it well I remember the river festival some years ago, the sun was shining people were enjoying themselves, it was a lovely day, with everyone feeling relaxed. Thank you Maidstone. A few photos I took at the first river Festival goo.gl/photos/x5xhPvgUgUD2U6AZ8
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