I was born in the middle of the roundabout, in Elm Cottage in 1954 and lived there until 1964. Lots of happy memories of the people and community of Key Street.
In 1964 the traffic lights at Key st were to reason I met my husband . If they had been green he & his Mod Mates from London on there scooters were heading for Margate . But they stopped on the red light & decided to turn left and go to Leysdown . Where I was on holiday we celebrated our Emerald wedding anniversary in March !
As someone who grew up in Sittingbourne, and saw this junction most weeks from about the late 60s until the late 80s, thereafter only intermittently, I found this very interesting. Thank you. A lovely little video.
As a resident in Lower Halstow in Green Farm House what was once an important quality listed Kent farm house, now in my opinion totally ruined by speculators. From 1968 until 1976 with friends the Brownridges at Bryngwyn on Keycol Hill and the Lanes at Cranbrook Farm in Newington Village, I found this fascinating and also sadly moving. Thank you for posting and your research.
I spent my formative years living up Bobbing Hill. From the mid 1950s to 1965 when, at the tender age of 21, I emigrated to Australia. I've seen on Google Earth how the area has changed but our old house, called "Marleen-Ney", still stands along with the other houses on that side of the road. Thanks for the memories.
As a "mod" in the 60's well remember the key street junction on our way to and from the coast on our scooter's. On a nice Sunday evening the traffic on the A2 was a nightmare. Our next stop would have been at the central pub along the top road, famous for a coach stop.
I remember vaguely the area. My family lived around Sittingbourne area. But remember my mother at nearly a 100 telling me a lot about the area. My brother was born in Bobbing.
Thank you for this interesting video. My father Raymond Wiles was co-owner of Pearce & Batt garage from 1957. My sister Linda & I lived with our parents Ray & Greta at number 17 Key Street adjoining the garage. I remember well Mr Hadler who ran the shop. When my father retired my brother-in-law Dennis Plumb took over the Business to the rear of the original garage my parents house & old garage having been demolished. When Dennis retired he was succeeded by his son Ray who is joint owner of the business.
Ah, Key Street. I remember it well. The landlord of The Key would often stand outside by the traffic lights if he wasn’t busy. A few years before I was born my dad said he had a ‘bad pint’ in there once so preferred to use The Billet instead. One day dad entered a raffle in The Biing a posh looking glass bottle and said to me, ‘Want this?’ And Insaid to him… ‘It’s a whisky decanter!’ He said, ‘Is it. I didn’t know what it was but I won it. Just why a ten year old boy would want a whisky decanter or indeed why a father would want to give his young child a whisky decanter beats me…. But he clearly didn’t want it. Perhaps he thought I could decant my Lego in it.
Fascinating. Just to say despite the keys from the once tavern which I did sup at at on more than several occasions ; etymologically speaking the name keys has Latin origins from the roman road-Caius the middle name of Julius Caesar.Also keycol is the collinus latin for hill of key street.. Pardon me if that is already in the book. Is Keycol hospital still going as i have fond memories of it!.Yours ,Philip Drury
I was born in the middle of the roundabout, in Elm Cottage in 1954 and lived there until 1964. Lots of happy memories of the people and community of Key Street.
Great video. I used to live just down the A2 from Key St so remember it fairly well. I went to School in Bobbing.
In 1964 the traffic lights at Key st were to reason I met my husband . If they had been green he & his Mod Mates from London on there scooters were heading for Margate . But they stopped on the red light & decided to turn left and go to Leysdown . Where I was on holiday we celebrated our Emerald wedding anniversary in March !
As someone who grew up in Sittingbourne, and saw this junction most weeks from about the late 60s until the late 80s, thereafter only intermittently, I found this very interesting. Thank you. A lovely little video.
As a resident in Lower Halstow in Green Farm House what was once an important quality listed Kent farm house, now in my opinion totally ruined by speculators. From 1968 until 1976 with friends the Brownridges at Bryngwyn on Keycol Hill and the Lanes at Cranbrook Farm in Newington Village, I found this fascinating and also sadly moving. Thank you for posting and your research.
Great video! Really enjoyed that , and how sad too. Hope you make some more !
I spent my formative years living up Bobbing Hill. From the mid 1950s to 1965 when, at the tender age of 21, I emigrated to Australia. I've seen on Google Earth how the area has changed but our old house, called "Marleen-Ney", still stands along with the other houses on that side of the road. Thanks for the memories.
Smashing bit of interesting local history, thank you.
Excellent - thanks for this
As a "mod" in the 60's well remember the key street junction on our way to and from the coast on our scooter's. On a nice Sunday evening the traffic on the A2 was a nightmare. Our next stop would have been at the central pub along the top road, famous for a coach stop.
Really interesting. I can just about remember this area before the 1995 carriageway underpass opened, so remember a couple of those lost buildings. 😮
I grew up in a house that has the inglenook fireplace beam from the key pub that was demolished. It’s still close by in Newington. 👍
I remember vaguely the area. My family lived around Sittingbourne area. But remember my mother at nearly a 100 telling me a lot about the area. My brother was born in Bobbing.
Nice little video, progress ain't what it's cracked up to be.
Thank you for this interesting video. My father Raymond Wiles was co-owner of Pearce & Batt garage from 1957. My sister Linda & I lived with our parents Ray & Greta at number 17 Key Street adjoining the garage. I remember well Mr Hadler who ran the shop. When my father retired my brother-in-law Dennis Plumb took over the Business to the rear of the original garage my parents house & old garage having been demolished. When Dennis retired he was succeeded by his son Ray who is joint owner of the business.
Thanks for sharing!
Great video - went for a bike ride recently and found the information board. Your video brings the history to life!
Ah, Key Street. I remember it well. The landlord of The Key would often stand outside by the traffic lights if he wasn’t busy. A few years before I was born my dad said he had a ‘bad pint’ in there once so preferred to use The Billet instead. One day dad entered a raffle in The Biing a posh looking glass bottle and said to me, ‘Want this?’ And Insaid to him… ‘It’s a whisky decanter!’ He said, ‘Is it. I didn’t know what it was but I won it. Just why a ten year old boy would want a whisky decanter or indeed why a father would want to give his young child a whisky decanter beats me…. But he clearly didn’t want it. Perhaps he thought I could decant my Lego in it.
For ‘Bling’ emplacements the word, ‘Billet’. Blooming predictive text!!!!
Very Much enjoyed watching the video of how it used to be
Glad you enjoyed it
I’ve made a video about this before . It’s very interesting
Fascinating. Just to say despite the keys from the once tavern which I did sup at at on more than several occasions ; etymologically speaking the name keys has Latin origins from the roman road-Caius the middle name of Julius Caesar.Also keycol is the collinus latin for hill of key street.. Pardon me if that is already in the book. Is Keycol hospital still going as i have fond memories of it!.Yours ,Philip Drury
No, Keycol Hospital is no more. There are houses there, and also a children's hospice, Demelza House next door.
at 01:07 where is this information sign?
It is on the roundabout - on the north east corner