Life in Westerham before the First World War

These pages will attempt to describe life and events for in Westerham at the beginning of the 20th century. In August 2014,  shops and businesses commemorated the daily life of their own premises in Westerham before the outbreak of the First War.

If you know something interesting about Westerham, please contact us or the Westerham Society website (see below).

Local preparations for war…

28 October 1913 – First Official Inspection of the Westerham Voluntary Aid Detachment in the Public Hall by Major W.B. Fry R.A.M.C. (Royal Army Medical Corps).

Census Information for houses and shops 1901 and 1911

The following census information has kindly been transcribed from original documents by Bill Curtis.

1901 Census – District 16
High Street NORTH (East to West) Valence, Quebec Square, Church Alley, The Green, Fullers Hill, Hortons, Moretons, Madan Rd, Force Green and Pilgrim House School

1901 Census – District 17
London Rd (Fullers Hill), Southbank, Rystead Lane (now Croydon Rd), Farley Common, Westbury Terrace, High Street NORTH (West to East) plus bits of Croydon Rd

1901 Census – District 18
High St SOUTH (East to West) Hosey Hill to Squerryes Estate

1911 Census – District 15
Going down London Rd from Costa RHS all round Force Green, Valence Dunsdale then back up Vicarage Hill round the Green to Costa again

1911 Census – District 16
Going East from The Grange, Duncans Yard, Market Sq, London Rd and Westerham Hill LHS, turn L into Pilgrims Way, then Croydon Rd then High St to New St, Farley Lane, Farley Common, High St (North), New St, Stratton Terrace, Westbury Terrace

1911 Census – District 17
Going East from next door to Bank Cottages, Lodge Lane, High St STH, Vicarage Hill, Mill Lane, Quebec Sq, Hosey Hill, Squerryes Estate, High St STH to Bank Cotts

Shops and Trades in Westerham in the 1900’s

Bill Curtis has collected and researched details about the sort of trades and shops which were in Westerham at the beginning of the 20th century.  The event Summer of 1914 was based on much of the story of Westerham at that time.

Here is a selection of adverts. Who were they and where are they?

For lots more information, visit the Westerham Society website at www.westerhamheritage.org.uk