Moatlands

The private home of a generous man that was to become a hospital, golf course, wedding venue and night club

John Herbert Podmore who lived at Moatlands was well known for generosity in the surrounding areas. For example he donated the Podmore building, originally as a pavilion on St Andrews field on Church Road but now home to the Town Council in Paddock Wood. He was present for the unveiling of the War Memorial in Paddock Wood on 7th January 1921 and was one of the founders of the Paddock Wood Lodge of Freemasons consecrated later that year on 5th November at the Parochial Hall. Membership soon increased and by April 1924 new premises were required. Mr Podmore played a key role and agreed to personally make up the difference between subscriptions and full costs required.

The Masonic Hall Maidstone Road Paddock Wood behind what was the Railway Hotel ©

The foundation stone was laid for a new Masonic Hall in February 1925. Its purpose was threefold, a new village hall for dances, concerts and meetings that included a licensed mens’ club as well as an area (Temple) for Masonic activities.

Tragically Mr Podmore lost a daughter aged only 23. He died in 1940.

The British Hospital for Mothers and Babies was once situated in Woolwich London. It came to Moatlands in 1940.

Young mothers feeding the ducks with a nurse at Moatlands Paddock Wood ©

Three young midwives, Miss Alice Gregory, Mrs Lelia Parnell and Miss Maud Cashmere, founded the Home for Mothers and Babies. It opened in 1905. Their objectives were to allow pregnant women to be attended by trained nurses and to promote and lengthen the training of midwives. The Home originally had 8 beds, but midwives also attended patients in their own homes. Patients only paid according to their means. By 1936 there were 72 beds.

Known locally as the 'Wood Street Home', its motto was 'Esto sol testis' (let the sun be my witness).

During 1940 (WW2) a bomb fell on the corner of a ward, completely destroying half of it. At the time the nursing staff, 60 patients and 56 babies had been put in the basement but they had to be evacuated. The Ministry of Health provided beds at a house in Chesham, Bucks, and some were moved there. After five months however the hospital moved to Moatlands, which at the time remained privately owned.

By August 1941 there were 36 beds with an average of 50 babies born each month. Moatlands was finally purchased in 1945 because repairs to the original bomb-damaged hospital were taking so long to complete.

Moatlands was sold again in 1953 and by 1993 it had become a golf course. This was Japanese owned and the facility stretched over the beautiful rolling countryside between Brenchley and Paddock Wood. At the time golf courses were popular and many were being created as developers and investors sought to invest in the popular sport.

Moatlands was described as a magnificent layout, and seemingly had bright future however, in spite of all that it closed in 2008 and the house and land remains in private ownership today (2022).

During its time Moatlands also had a night club and was also a popular wedding venue.

We can probably assume John H Podmore would have approved.

Moatlands Paddock Wood

Dorothy Dickens

Memorial Pavilion