Public Talk "Ashford's Worst Day - The Great Bombing Raid of 24 March 1943", 30 November 2023, Hothfield Village Hall
Over 20 people attended Ed Adams' illustrated talk. On 24 March 1943 Ashford experienced the worst single air-raid, in terms of death and injury, to occur in Kent during the Second World War. Fifty two people died as a direct result of that day's events, with three times as many injured. Ashford was a key objective for the Luftwaffe because of the railway works at Newtown. Ed showed many rare and unseen photographs which included comparisons of scenes as they were then and are now. Ed is a freelance author and historian, and copies of his book "Ashford at War" are available online at https://canterley.co.uk/product/ashford-at-war/
Our thanks to Hothfield Village Hall for hosting the event and to everyone who came to listen, and we are also very grateful to Ed.
Fun Fund-raising Race Night 11 November 2023, Hothfield Village Hall
People came from far and wide to come along to our successful Fun Race Night. Everyone enjoyed themselves and had a fabulous home cooked meal. We would like to thank everyone who helped set up and organise the event, and we are also very grateful to Jay and Bina for selling the tickets at Hothfield Post Office. Our thanks also go to our generous sponsors: Lacton Manor Holiday Lets, Nineoaks Vineyard, Malcolm Cook's family, John Coles, Trevor, John and Sarah Stevenson, Peter Patten and Malcolm Wood. We are also very grateful to Jay and Bina for selling the tickets at Hothfield Post Office. The event made a profit of just over £600 which will be shared equally with Hothfield Village Hall and Hothfield History Society.
Public Talk "The Wreck Hunter: Battle of Britain and The Blitz", 30 September 2022
The illustrated public talk was a great success and around forty people attended St Margaret's Church to listen to local historian Melody Foreman tell us more about her new book.
In 1940 Sgt Herbert Black was shot down by the Luftwaffe over Hothfield. Although he bailed out from his burning aircraft, he died of his injuries ten days later. Over 80 years since the Battle of Britain, a unique memorial to Hurricane pilot Herbert remains in a field in this village. The moving story of Herbert’s last flight, and that of many other RAF and Luftwaffe aircrew, were discussed, and artefacts from Herbert’s Hurricane were also on show.
Our thanks to St Margaret's Church for hosting the event and to everyone who came to listen, and we are also very grateful to Melody.
Public Talk: The Tufton Family of Hothfield during the English Civil War, on 11th October 2019
The illustrated public talk about the Tufton family during the English Civil War by Dr Janet Pennington was highly informative and we've received lots of positive feedback. Sir John Tufton, 2nd Earl of Thanet, had a tough time during the Civil War, particularly during the years of 1642-1648. He supported King Charles I and became a marked man in Kent - a ‘Delinquent’ - and his estates were sequestrated by the Parliamentary side. His lands at Hothfield in Kent, Northiam and Wiston in Sussex were pillaged by soldiers of both sides. He went to Spa for a year ‘for his health’, leaving his pregnant wife Margaret and young children behind at Wiston House in Sussex. Janet's talk explained just what happened to one family during these turbulent times.
The talk was held in the historic setting of Hothfield Church within the grounds of the former country seat of the Tufton family, and where Sir John’s grandfather built a magnificent tomb for the family.
Janet is the historian for the Wiston Estate in Sussex and has researched the Tufton family’s difficult existence during the Civil War through documentary evidence both at the West Sussex Record Office and the Kent Record Office. Our thanks to everyone who came along to listen, and of course we are also very grateful to Janet.
"Step in to Hothfield's History" Exhibition 2019
7th and 8th September, St Margaret's Church, Hothfield
The Exhibition was a great success and thank you to everyone who came along and to all those who helped out. Our displays inside the church, and outside in the churchyard and in the adjacent courtyard proved to be very popular. We are grateful to those who brought along photographs that we were able to scan to add to our archive, and we would also like to thank those who allowed us to display their own personal artefacts. Visits to the bell tower also proved to be very popular and gave visitors another fascinating insight into the history of the 13th century church.
The church café was also very busy and our thanks go to the Friends of St Margaret's for running it. Our raffle included a number of fabulous star prizes and we would like to give a special note of thanks to the Wheel Inn at Westwell for so generously donating a voucher for a delicious two-course lunch for two people.
The event made around £300 for Hothfield History Society.
Fun Quiz Night on 6th April 2019
The Fun Quiz Night was a great success with over 130 people joining in. We've received lots of positive feedback and hope that everyone enjoyed themselves. This most successful evening resulted in us taking over £1,000, and the profits of nearly £800 have been shared equally between Hothfield History Society and Hothfield Village Hall.
Fun Race Night on 27 October 2018
Our recent fun Race Night at the Village Hall was a great success. We have received lots of positive feedback and we hope that everyone who came along had a great night out. The profits from the evening came to £838 which has been shared equally between Hothfield History Society and Hothfield Village Hall.
Public Talk "Smarden: notable people and events over the years" on Monday 26 June 2017
Our speaker, Martin Brooks, gave a fascinating talk on Smarden's connections to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Miss Marple, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and how, in 1861, an escaped American slave spoke out against slavery at the Zion Baptist Church. Radio and TV personalities have lived here along with mountain climbers and explorers and at least one MI5 agent.
Public Talk "Local Weald Villages: Then and Now" on Friday 27 November 2015
We had great attendance for the free talk kindly given by local author and historian, Kaye Sowden, on the history of the local villages of Hothfield, Westwell, Charing, Little Chart, Pluckley and Smarden. Kaye's picture-show showed how much, and also how little, these villages have changed through time. Her talk was accompanied by fascinating tales of the history of these local villages and some of their more notable buildings including Smarden's Cloth House, and the mystery of a possible Roman Villa and a Roman Road going through Little Chart. Kaye has recently published a book - to find out more information please follow this link.
Race Night on Saturday 12 September 2015
Our recent fun Race Night at the Village Hall was a great success. Once again, we have received lots of positive feedback and we hope that everyone who came along had a great night out.
Bets were placed thick and fast which were collected by our ‘Tote Totties’ Brian and Sheila, and numerous lucky winners scooped a total of £212 in winnings. Although there were fewer people who came along compared with last year’s event, this did not dampen anyone’s enthusiasm as all ages cheered on their steeds on the big screen. The biggest individual Tote win was £18 and the top prize up for grabs in the final auction race was £66 for the winning horse ‘Bobby Dazzler’ owned by Peter Howard. A raffle run by Sharon, Ryley and Margaret brought in extra revenue, and the star prize of a fabulous roast dinner hamper was won by Michelle and Derek. The profits from the evening came to £533 which has been shared equally between Hothfield History Society and Hothfield Village Hall.
Thank you to everyone who generously bought tickets, sponsored races, donated raffle prizes and who helped out. The sumptuous Ploughman’s supper went down a storm and our thanks go to Carol for organising and preparing the delicious feast and thanks also to Pat, Sharon and Ryley for also giving up their time and helping behind the scenes. We are most grateful to Jay and Bina for selling the tickets at the Post Office and a big thank you to to all of our generous sponsors who were: John and Pat Coles; David Parker; Bob and Pauline Fletcher; Peter Howard; Graham and Pat Warren; Ashford Valley Tickham Hunt; Colin Gallagher; Oscar Plant Hire & Sales, and Peter Patten.
Quiz Night on Saturday 6 June 2015
Our successful quiz night and ploughman's attracted around 100 people. The winning team won a booty of prizes and our raffle included a roast dinner hamper. Our thanks go to all those who helped organise the event and prepare the feast. Proceeds of £520 have been shared between the History Society and Hothfield Village Hall.
Kent Archaeological Society Visit on 18 April 2015
By Chris Rogers
Some time ago I was asked by the Church Warden to present a talk about St Margaret’s Church to the Kent Archaeological Society Churches Committee. Nearly 50 visitors came along, having visited St Mary’s Church at Westwell earlier in the day. I introduced the building and pointed out special features of interest in the context of the history of the village, Hothfield Place and the Tufton family. Visitors were shown a small plaque over the north door of the Royal Arms, believed to commemorate the visit of Queen Elizabeth I to John Tufton in 1573. It is noted in Hasted’s description of Kent that the Queen stayed two days, in the ‘genial month of August’.
Following the light refreshments provided by the Friends of St Margaret’s, our visitors were able to explore the church further and had a rare opportunity to visit the bell tower by ascending the narrow round tower.
The Kent Archaeological Society has supported the History Society so this was an opportunity to partly return the favour. I received positive feedback from the audience and I hope that they enjoyed their afternoon. Proceeds of around £270 were raised and have gone towards the ongoing repair and upkeep costs of the church.
Workshops (2014)
Our recent series of two half-day local history workshops (funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund) held in November were very successful. There were ten participants and, with help and advice from our professional archivist, Nicola Waddington, we learnt about the many sources of information that are available to help us investigate a home's history or a particular subject.
Currently we have no firm plans to run further workshops. However, if we do receive demand to hold additional sessions then we will endeavour to organise them.
If you would like to make enquiries about further local history workshop sessions, please email us at hothfieldmemories@hotmail.com
Race Night - A Runaway Success (2014)
Our recent Race Night in October at the Village Hall was lively and noisy as young and not-so-young cheered on their chosen steeds on the big screen. Thanks to an excellent turn-out, the event was a rip-roaring success and we hope that everyone who came along enjoyed their night out at the races. Bets were placed thick and fast and were collected by Brian and Sheila (the ‘Tote Totties’) and numerous lucky winners scooped a total of £325 in winnings. The top prize up for grabs in the final auction race was £55 and the winning horse was ‘Poor Mr Salmond’ owned by Hamish. A raffle run by Sharon, Ryley and Margaret brought in extra revenue and the profits from the evening came to nearly £700 which has been shared equally between Hothfield History Society and Hothfield Village Hall.
Thank you to everyone who bought tickets, sponsored races, donated raffle prizes and for helping out. The Ploughman’s supper went down a storm and our thanks go to Carol for organising and preparing the feast and to Lorraine and Lynn for giving up their time and helping behind the scenes in the kitchen. We are most grateful to Jay and Bina for selling the tickets at the Post Office and our thanks go to all of our generous sponsors who were: Colin Miles Signs; Clare Singleton at The Granary Spa; Malcolm Wood; John and Pat Coles; Colin Gallagher; Peter Howard; Ashford Valley Tickham Hunt; John Nicholls, and Mather & Smith Metalworks. Given the success of this event we hope to run another one next year – watch this space!