Kent Village of the year 2004
In every city, town and village this decade was dominated by the Great War which raged from 1914 to 1918. Challock was no exception. 11 men gave their lives and a further 48 served for varying periods. It is difficult to assess the effect this would have had on such a small community. In one case it appears that 6 members of the same family served and 1 of these died. Their names are commemorated in plaques in the Parish Church and the Memorial Hall. We have tried to give as much information as possible on each of those who made the supreme sacrifice and this information can be found under the “Lest we forget” pages on the main village website We are, of course, aware that there are differences between the plaques in the church and the memorial hall. For the purpose of this history we have combined the information and worked on the combination. As far as the Great War is concerned we have the problem of the passing of time. We are talking to as many people as possible who have knowledge of these times so that we can record any information for future generations. If you can help in any way, please contact us.
Two brasses in the Parish Church have dates in this decade. One reads: Rev William Henry Vicar 1919. The other reads: Henry William Lyall 1915 son of one time vicar of Challock and one whose gaeity and kindness of heart will be long remembered.
The 1917 Challock Poem is now published in full
We now have a page of pictures from 1910-1919
Picture from Hugh Potter
Click picture for full size
Wlater Potter 1918. He had retired in 1910 but returned because of the war.
He died in 1918 and is buried in the churchyard
A forgotten Gravestone
In a small piece of woodland by the side of the lane leading to the Gliding Club
there is a gravestone, inscribed, as far as I am able to discern, In loving memory
of Rosa Earl, Wife of George Earl of Challock. Died the 4th day of the 4th month
1911 aged 66. Also of George Earl, died on the 20th day of
the 7th month 1921 aged 80. From the 1901 census we find that George was born about
1842 in Stowing and Rosa about 1845 in Hastingleigh. They had a son Sidney born about
1887 in Dunkirk (Kent), and a daughter Kate born about 1885 also in Dunkirk. In
1901 we learn they were living at Little Paddock Farm. George is listed as a General
Labourer and Sidney as an agricultural Labourer. At one time there were four stones
witht the other three believed to be graves of the Merricks. At one time there had
been a small wooden chapel in front of where the last gravestone now stands.
Click photo for full size
A painting of the old cottages, which are next to the gravestone.
Owen Hams (1884-1974) in Windsor around 1912 when he was in charge of the Royal Kennels.
Later he farmed at Green Lane and Landews.
Pictures from Fred Hams
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We now have copies of old house and land sales from 1918
