Social Life 1900-1918

Written by a resident. Date unknown.

The end of the 19th Century was marked by the passing of Mary Horrocks of Mascalls. For many years the Horrocks family had been in the forefront of Paddock Wood life . They organised or took a prominent part in most functions held for the benefit of the community. With her passing came a feeling that a tangible memorial of her life of self sacrifice should be erected. Various proposals were discussed and eventually it was agreed that the best of all would be the erection of a building which would provide a social, recreational and educational centre for the community. Accordingly subscriptions were solicited from all who knew the family and these came readily from all friends and acquaintances in the neighbourhood.. The vicar as his contribution to the project gave the land on which the Hall was to be built.

The foundation stone was laid on Whit Monday 1901 and such was the enthusiasm that by the time the first function was held in in October the £1,181 needed for its construction had been raised. Later through the generosity of Major Horrocks and the Vicar a clock was erected facing East and West along Station Road, in memory of Queen Victoria, so the Hall was really a memorial to two great ladies, one local and one national.

The building consisted of a main hall seating 300 people, besides two smaller rooms suitable for library, reading committee rooms. Thus the Hall started on its life as the centre of village activities- club was formed, games of all kinds played, a gymnasium-with the usual apparatus- horizontal and parsley bars and a vaulting horse was established and lectures on various subjects, horticulture, beans poultry keeping etc were arranged and well attended.

A Boys Brigade Company with band was formed and met on set days for their various activities. In addition to this Paddock Wood boasted of a Brass Band an Orchestra and a Minstral Troup, all of which added to the social life of the village and neighbourhood.

The Cricket Club which was founded in 1891 carried on its activities and matches were played (midweek for tradesmen) and on Saturdays. The ground which they used was at the rear of the Kent Arms (John Brunt VC 2022) on the site of the Kent Close former Council House Estate in Old Kent Road.

In 1907 a Football club was formed to compete in the local League competitions and two members of that first eleven still took a keen interest in the clubs activities at the time this account was written.

In 1908 the first Paddock Wood Scouts were formed and as Mrs Beverely Morgan (daughter of Major Horrocks) did so much to encourage them they were registered as 1st Paddock Wood, Mrs Beverely Morgans own. These lads became interested in the movement promoted at the time by Robert Baden-Powell, after reading his publication ’The Scout’. For some time that ran themselves but eventually officers were found for them but the outbreak of the 1914-18 war WW1 and the loss of officers who volunteered for military service put a stop to other activities. Although in the earlier days of the war they’re actively engaged in patrolling the roads to ensure that telephone lines were not tampered with.

In 1909 Mr A J Harland (known as Nobby Harland) was appointed Headmaster of the Paddock Wood Boys School in Old Kent Road. He was very keen on vocal music and soon started a singing class, which gained many successes under his baton in West Kent and Kent Musical Festivals.

After very successful beginning activities in the Hall were gradually curtailed owing to the enforcement by new Trustees of the terms of the Deed of Conveyance drawn up after the Hall has been built and paid for.

During the last war WW2 the Hall came in fuller use. It was used as a hospital for Belgium wounded and a contingent of Red Cross Nurses was raised and trained to attend to their needs and those refugees who found their way here. Apparently many of the locals went down to the Hall to help and some learned French and others the art of lace making and formed friendships that lasted long after the war. The market sheds (recently- at time of writing- demolished by Mack and Edwards) became a hive of industry as a MAOC (?) depot , the personnal employed there were made welcome in the Parish.

The villagers suffered their losses, the names on the memorial prove this , and there was a great feeling of relief when the Armistice ended the conflict on 11 November 1918.

After four years of horror and the loss of millions of lives the guns on the Western Front fell silent.