Mills, brewerys, gasworks, electricity and all sorts of employment

Maidstone in Kent always offered a wide variety of jobs.

The mills, which I include paper mills a huge source of work and most kids had an ample supply of paper even if we were deprived of other luxuries.

The gasworks employing many men on the north side of the Medway. The site consisted of huge gas containers and a whole army of vans, lorries and workers; the gas containers where seen from most parts of the town.

The breweries, and there were many of them, spread on both sides of the Medway and again a huge source of work.

The Maidstone Generating station on the Medway but this time on the south side.

Tilling and Stevens were making diesel engines as fast as they could for a market that never seemed to dry up. I just remember the lunch time hooter blowing and hundreds of workers making their way home on push bikes along St. Peters Street.

Nursing jobs amply supplied not only from the West Kent hospital but from Barming mental hospital and Preston Hall.

Farming although I cannot pretend inside Maidstone, nevertheless surrounded the town and only the brave would venture outside the centre if they suffered from hay fever.

Farming and my part in its demise

We had a thriving centre of sweet making from Sharps "The word for toffee".

We had Grants making cherry brandy on the north side of the river.

We had Foster Clarks making tinned produce by the bucket load. Again a huge employer in its time.

How much longer will this sign last.

This photo shows the river Len and part of the Len Furniture Works which was situated in Water Lane. Do you remember the latest in hairstyling by Michael? They were down here on the right.

Shirley

Maidstone I remember it well: My father worked at Tillings Stevens for over 25 years, he met my mother there in 1930. He worked on a machine as a tool setter, and she worked in the Timekeepers Office. I worked for Kent County Coucil, starting in 1959 when I left school. I wore suits and white gloves to work, everyone was called Mr & Mrs unless you were invited to use Christian names. I went back to KCC in 1994 as a matter of neccesity, and did another twelve years. Things had changed such a lot, even bosses were called by Christian names. The last straw was when I had to attend a workshop in which actors showed us how to behave in an office, one example was not eating chips from a bag whilst ignoring someone at your reception desk. I felt this a real insult after all the years I had worked there!!

Cliff Vanns

Maidstone I remember it well: My parents met in Tillings & Stevens my Dad (Jim Vanns) was an enginer making tank parts I believe he was also in the Home Guard he always told me he used to guard the Kent Messenger Bridge on the London Road by DFS, My Mum Rita Vanns (Nee Mericks) used to work in the wages office.

Martin Baldock

Maidstone I remember it well: My dad worked at County Hall initially and then Springfield - My first job was at Ansteys in Stone Street in the used car sales department - they also had a showroom right opposite the Granada cinema in Stone Street, a big servicing place where the huge shopping centre now is, plus another showroom in King Street. Opposite that one was Ansteymiles, the Triumph dealer and I worked there for a while too. Happy days of low pay but driving some great cars now regarded as classics! I believe Ansteymiles sold out to Dutton Forshaw and moved everything up to Park Wood

Ken Allen

Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: As I remember going to the Tech there was usually only two avenues of employment on offer - either Aylesford Paper Mills of perhaps KEF at Tovil who at that time made agricultural machinery not HiFi. The 3rd option was always what you could find for yourself.

M Sheehan

Maidstone I remember it well: does anybody remember faiths street in the 50's? kids used to play in the road no probs also played along the river and also in brenchly gardens oh happy days. went to junos which was like brownies now. remember the smells on mondays of sharp sweets being boiled coming across the river mixing with stale smell from the river and fremlins brewery. oh the happy days and school eastborough primary onto vinters girls then onto sharps to work as you did.

Angela Waller (nee Loft)

Maidstone I remember it well: I was a firewoman/control room assistant in the mid 60's stationed at the headquarters in Tovil. We firewomen worked day and night shifts and took all emergency calls for Kent Fire Brigade and arranged distribution of the various appliances required.We sometimes had to arrange for refreshments for firemen working long hours at emergencies which could be a tall order in the middle of the night!!Putting down the 'bells' from Tovil (setting off a siren ) was easily confirmed by sticking your head out of the window to hear it go off!!

vince curly oconnell

Maidstone I remember it well: hi phil its good someone remembers me.yes i did work at the mill i started there after coming out of the army in 1957 i served 14 years in the fire station the best years of my life .it would be good if the old school and work mates could get in touch keep well

Barbara Rudd

Maidstone I remember it well: Hi, I used to live in Hermitage Lane, and went to work at the very large Mental Hospital there way back in 1939 when I was only fifteen. I worked as a maid, and had to live in as you were never allowed out only on your one day a month when I used to visit my Family. It was always the place where I wanted to work, and I did enjoy it. But sadly the War was declared and with my Father having to go into the Army, my Mothers Sister told us to pack up and live near her in Yorkshire,, where I have been ever since.

KEITH BOSTEL

Maidstone I remember it well: My lifelong career in the electricity generating industry began, after basic training, at Maidstone A & B Power Stations owned then by the CEGB in Fairmeadow. (These days I think its covered by a road). The A 'Station supplied power for the trolley buses from rotary converters and had a magnificent stand-by reciprocating triple expansion steam engine driving a DC generator. The B 'Station had three chain grate coal fired boilers that supplied a steam to one 5MW and one 7MW Brush Lungstrom steam turbine generators. Cooling water came from the river medway as did the coal which was delivered by barge. It had a happy staff, always the way in small 'Stations. The most chellenging period was the winter of 1963 when we had to shut the 'Station down because the river Medway froze over and cooling water supplies were lost for several days. The 'Station was "twinned" with Gravesend Power Station, each having the same Manager.

Hi Keith do you remember my father Albert (Jim) Capon