Picture of the Month, January 2012

The Garrison Church c.1900-10

This church was built in 1854 to serve the military garrisons at Chatham and Brompton, as a dual purpose building - a classroom during the week and a church on Sundays and for other services.
On 6th October 2002, after almost 150 years without a name, the Church was dedicated to St Barbara at a special service. St Barbara is the Patron saint of Artillerymen and Engineers.

Picture of the Month, December 2011

James Thomas Byford McCudden, VC, DSO & Bar, MC & Bar, MM, CdeG (28 March 1895–9 July 1918)

Following on from last months picture, one of Brompton's most decorated sons. James “Mac” McCudden was born in the Garrison Families Hospital in Maxwell Road Brompton, second son of William Henry McCudden, a Royal Engineer and his Chatham born wife Amelia Byford. His early years were spent in Gillingham and in 1904 he entered the Royal Engineers Garrison School in Brompton, and in 1907 the family moved to Westcourt Street, then later to Sheerness. Keeping up the family tradition, in 1910, James McCudden joined his father and elder brother in the Royal Engineers as a 15 year old bugler. By the time war was declared, he was seconded as an aircraft mechanic with 3 Squadron in the Royal Flying Corps, again following his older brother. Although officially a mechanic, he saw combat in France as an observer and gunner before returning to England for flight training in 1916. His talents as a pilot were so extraordinary that he became an instructor within days of receiving his aviator's certificate. By the beginning of April 1918, 22 year old James McCudden was the most decorated pilot in the Royal Air Force (although he was technically still a Royal Engineer having never officially transferred to the RFC or RAF). Sadly, he was killed in a flying accident three months later when his aircraft crashed to the ground about two hours after take-off. In his career he had risen from Air Mechanic 2nd Class to Major, and achieved a total of 57 victories in aerial combat, the second highest scoring British pilot of the Great War.
McCudden’s elder brother, William McCudden, was the first of the brothers to join the Royal Flying Corps, and was killed in a flying accident in France on 2nd May 1916. McCudden's younger brother, John McCudden, also served in the Royal Flying Corps and became an ace with 8 victories and an award of the Military Cross, before his death in combat on 18th March 1918.
The McCudden family medals and other related items may now be seen at the Royal Engineers Museum.

Picture of the Month, November 2011

Brompton War Memorial, Swan Garden

This seems an appropriate image for this time of year. The Brompton War Memorial was crafted by T. Fowle & Sons of Gillingham and was unveiled on Palm Sunday (20th March) 1921 by Major-General H. F. Thuillier, C.B., C.M.G., and dedicated by the Very Rev. the Dean of Rochester (Dr. John Storrs). It listed the names of 50 Brompton men who had fallen in the Great War (although currently only 45 are listed). After the Second World War an additional stone was added bearing the names of 18 Brompton men who fell in that conflict
The memorial originally stood in the grounds of Holy Trinity church, but following the closure of the church Gillingham Council took over the care of it. Following the demolition of the church the memorial was removed to its present location at Swan Garden (named after the Swand pub that once stood on the spot), the Green on Wood-Street created during the redevelopment of the area in late 1950s

Picture of the Month, August/September 2011

Lower Wood Street c.1855-60

On the corner of Lower Wood Street and the High Street stands Strowse's Gun Shop. The row of buildings from this shop to the barrack gates was known as "Strowse's Buildings" well into the 20th Century.
Wood Street is one of Brompton's earliest streets, as witnessed by the row of early eighteenth century houses seen in this picture. Many of these houses remained until Brompton was redeveloped in the 1950s.
Photograph reproduced by permission of the Royal Engineers Museum.

Picture of the Month, July 2011

Trinity Church & School c.1900

Holy Trinity Church was built in 1848 and 3 years later a school was added. The school was enlarged in 1856, and in 1884 an infants' school was added, which was enlarged in 1894. A Vicarage was added in the 1860s and 1889 saw the addition of the Conway Memorial Hall to the complex.
The Church and vicarage were demolished in the late 1950s. It remained in use as a primary school until 1969 when the Junior School moved to Westbrook School. The infants moved in 1984.

Picture of the Month, June 2011

Prince William's Bridge, Fort Amherst, 2010

As part of the Great Lines Heritage Park development a new footbridge was installed at Fort Amherst, crossing from the fort to the Lines in front of Prince William's Barracks (named after the prince who bacame King William IV). In the 19th there was used as a Royal Saluting Battery, a tradition revived in April 2011 when a 21 gun salute was fired here for the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
The bridge, opened on the day of the Royal Wedding, and has now been named Prince William's Bridge, in honour of Royal Wedding and the part of the fort named after the earlier Prince William.

Picture of the Month, May 2011

Inner Lines Field, Brompton, 2010

Known by many names over the years - Inner Lines, Officers' Gardens, The Chestnut Field, The Paddock, Brompton Bumps and probably many more I've never heard. John Wesley records preaching under the chestnut trees here. Sadly now another of Brompton's pleasant open spaces goes under concrete as the new Lampard Center is built on this spot.
Over the years there have been footpaths, tennis courts, bowling greens and an outdoor riding school here.

Picture of the Month, April 2011

Holy Trinity Church, Brompton, Late 1860s

Photograph of Holy Trinity parish church, Military Road (later Maxwell Road), Old Brompton, looking south-west from inside corner formed by Mansion Row and The Sally Port. The church of The Holy Trinity, erected in 1848 at the expense of the Rev. William and Miss Conway, was a building of brick, with stone dressings, to the design of Sir Gilbert Scot, RA. It was built in the Early English style and consisted of a chancel, nave with clerestory, lighted by ten two-light windows, aisles separated from the nave by arcades of five bays, chantry, south porch, and a tower with spire containing a clock and 1 bell: in the chancel was a memorial window to Dr Henry Weekes, of the parish: the church could seat 1,000. It was demolished about 1960.
Photograph reproduced by permission of the Royal Engineers Museum.

Picture of the Month, February/March 2011

Aerial View of Brompton

Aerial view of Brompton showing Brompton Hill, the play-park, Hawkins Close, Garden Street, Prospect Row, Flaxmans Court, Conway Mews, the southern ends of the the High Street and Manor Street and parts of Maxwell Road, Westcourt Street and Melville Court.
Photo © The Aerial Reconnaissance Co used with permission.

Picture of the Month, January 2011

Brompton High Street, December 2010

Brompton High Street covered in snow. A scene almost reminiscent of a Victorian Christmas Card.

Picture of the Month, December 2010

Melville Hospital, Brompton, c.1890

Melville Hospital for Seamen and Marines.
It was built as a hospital in 1827, and was used until its replacement by the Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham (Now Medway Maritime Hospital) in 1905 when it was handed over to the Royal Marines as Melville Barracks. Melville Barracks closed around 1960 and was pulled down to be replaced by Melville Court Flats.