Northfleet History Group - January 2012 Meeting.
ARMCHAIR WALKS
Alex Pavitt
Tuesday 3rd January was a very stormy day, high winds and lashing rain and the members and visitors to Northfleet History Group went on a walk with Alex Pavitt, whist sitting in the dry and warm St Botolph’s Church Hall.
Many of you may know that Alex is a local man who has enjoyed taking photographs from a young age which he is now putting to very good use by producing books on different areas of Northfleet and he also gives talks based on his books.
This time we enjoyed a stroll from The Creek to Rosherville Pier illustrated with pictures of Northfleet’s riverside industry and the many public houses that helped to relieve the workers of their wages.
In the mid 1880s Northfleet changed from a very rural area to an industrial one with the invention of Portland Cement, and Northfleet with its abundant supply of chalk was an ideal location for manufacturers. Alex walked us through the area and used public houses as points of reference, The Huggen’s Arms was near the Bevan’s cement works. The Northfleet Gas Works was located behind the India Arms which was once the offices of the East India Company. Lawn Road ran uphill to the Edinburgh Castle Public house.
Ships from far and wide called at Northfleet factory wharves and Pitchers Dockyard built ships, the first of which was the Royal Charlotte, hence the name of another public house, in 1788, to 1860 when the” Amalia” was the last ship to be launched.
Alex ended his walk at the bottom of Pier Road and reflected on the many changes affecting the Northfleet River front. Much of the heavy industry has now gone but he reminded us that the Red Lion Public house remains.
Many of you may know that Alex is a local man who has enjoyed taking photographs from a young age which he is now putting to very good use by producing books on different areas of Northfleet and he also gives talks based on his books.
This time we enjoyed a stroll from The Creek to Rosherville Pier illustrated with pictures of Northfleet’s riverside industry and the many public houses that helped to relieve the workers of their wages.
In the mid 1880s Northfleet changed from a very rural area to an industrial one with the invention of Portland Cement, and Northfleet with its abundant supply of chalk was an ideal location for manufacturers. Alex walked us through the area and used public houses as points of reference, The Huggen’s Arms was near the Bevan’s cement works. The Northfleet Gas Works was located behind the India Arms which was once the offices of the East India Company. Lawn Road ran uphill to the Edinburgh Castle Public house.
Ships from far and wide called at Northfleet factory wharves and Pitchers Dockyard built ships, the first of which was the Royal Charlotte, hence the name of another public house, in 1788, to 1860 when the” Amalia” was the last ship to be launched.
Alex ended his walk at the bottom of Pier Road and reflected on the many changes affecting the Northfleet River front. Much of the heavy industry has now gone but he reminded us that the Red Lion Public house remains.