Whites Corner

“Whites Corner” at the junction of the Maidstone and Commercial Roads has figured as a focal point for traffic entering Paddock Wood from the south for over 150 years. There is nothing remaining of The Corner House stores that occupied the site prior to the 1960s, when the stores were demolished to make way for the present day Esso petrol station. The original Paddock Wood garage can be seen on the plot currently behind the Auto Centre.

The photographs show the Corner Stores and Commercial Road stretching away in the distance where the current Nat West Bank building can be seen and the present

Whites Corner Paddock Wood. These buildings are now demolished and the site of a petrol garage. Mr White’s Taylors Shop was on the left. ©

“Next came the Paddock Wood Garage. A little further on we turned left along a short path where, to our left, was Mr White’s Tailor’s Shop and then Mrs Pilbeam’s house. On our right was a small garden with a lawn surrounded by a hedge (now the Esso forecourt). As we turned left we passed Mrs Pilbeam’s house, then the garage shop. It was there that we were sent to take the accumulators (batteries) to be recharged for the wireless set. No videos, or televisions, then but we loved the wireless. Then we passed some houses and two sets of three cottages. I think the last cottage was converted into Mr Lewry’s Sweet Shop and Library. It is funny how I can recall all the sweet shops. We crossed the road just before we entered the footpath, or Cut, as we called it. Yes the Cut was there back then. On our left was another confectionery and tobacconists belonging to Mr Featherstone and on the right were more back gardens. There was a large green parrot in Mr Joy’s back garden that used to squawk as we children passed by. Through the Cut on the left, almost opposite our school, was Mr Pearson’s Sweet Shop where we usually spent our halfpenny. We could get fire toffees, a short sherbet dab, or a packet of tiger-nuts. Then we crossed the road and went into school.”

(Extract from “On The Way to School” by Margaret Knight taken from Paddock Wood Patchwork, Volume 1, History Research Group)

Whites Corner Paddock Wood facing north. Maidstone Road on the left, Commercial Road on the right. ©