Category Archives: Reflections
Visit to the National Archives: by Carolyn Gray
On Thursday 20th April, as part of Royal Tunbridge Wells Belgian Refugees 1914 a group of us went to The National Archives . The day started with a selection of documents relating to World War One, … Continue reading
Posted in Reflections, Research notes
Tagged Louise Bell, Lullingstone Castle, National Archives, Tunbridge Wells, Van Dam family
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Administration and the refugees – a reflection: by Helen Phillimore
As a member of the CREATE Group I volunteered to research a part of the history of the Belgian Refugees who came over to the UK between 1914 – 1919, a number of whom were sent to Tunbridge Wells and … Continue reading
Belgians in Southborough: by Fiona Brown
In 1914 Southborough was quite a small village, separated by three miles of open country from the more elegant Tunbridge Wells but very much connected to High Brooms with its Brick Works and Railway station. I am fascinated by the significant … Continue reading
Posted in Reflections, Research notes
Tagged Argyle Road, Armand Van Noyen, Club Albert, Colonel's Way, Crothers VAD Hospital, Denyn family, Ellen Watson, Elvire Meternach, Hawkenbury Cemetery, Josef Denyn, Mount Sion, Pennington Road, Robertina Crothers, Southborough, Van Noyen, Warwick Par
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The Club Albert: by Jan Wright
In November 1914, Belgian Refugees in Tunbridge Wells decided to form a club. They were able to use premises at 32 Calverley Road which belonged to the Constitutional Club, on the first and second floor where Waterstones and Hotter are … Continue reading
Posted in Reflections, Research notes
Tagged Alfred Lacourt, Armand Van Noyen, Auguste Van Obbergen, Burlyon, Calverley Road, Constitutional Club, Ernst Kumps, Eugene Van Den Wijngaerts, H H Spender, Josef Denyn, Joseph Willems, Kings Day, Kosmos Kinema, Mayor Charles Emson, Mayor Hippolyte Meeus, Pantiles, Pierlot, Pump Room, Raes, souvenir album, Van Loven, Wynegem
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Wounded Belgian Heroes in Tonbridge, 1914: by Pam Mills
Following the Siege of Antwerp, many Belgians fled for their lives coming to the UK. On 16th October 1914, a ‘special’ Ambulance train arrived at Tonbridge Station in the early hours of the morning carrying several wounded Belgian soldiers & … Continue reading
Housing the Refugees: by Anne Logan
The most basic necessity for the Belgian refugees when they arrived in the UK was a place to live. Families for example needed to find somewhere to stay where their children could be educated nearby. Some refugees were fortunate enough … Continue reading
Posted in Reflections, Research notes
Tagged Alexandra Palace, Belgian Refugees Committee, children, Church Army Home, Enid Lakeman, families, Grosvenor Lodge, High Brooms, Housing, Lydia Le Lacheur, Reverend Canon Keatinge, schooling, St John's. Southborough, Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School, Upper Grosvenor Road, Van Aerschot family, voluntary committee
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Mayor Charles Emson: by Anne Carwardine
When Charles Emson died in 1936, the Kent & Sussex Courier’s obituary described him thus: Tall, upright and of striking appearance, Mr Emson commanded the respect and highest esteem of everyone associated with the social and governing life of the … Continue reading
Posted in Reflections, Research notes
Tagged Anglo-Belgian Union, Belgian Refugee Fund, Belgian Refugees Committee, Charles Whitbourn Emson, Chevalier de L'ordre de la Couronne, churchwarden, Folkestone, General Hospital Board, Insurance, King Albert, magistrate, Margaret Emson, Mayor Charles Emson, Mayor Emson, Paul van den Kerckhove, Tunbridge Wells District Council
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The Suffragist Clothing Depot: by Anne Carwardine
From 1906 onwards, Tunbridge Wells was home to an extraordinarily active Votes for Women campaign. The largest and busiest organisation in town was the local branch of the NUWSS (the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies) whose non-militant members were … Continue reading
The ‘Scott’ Album: by Alison MacKenzie
Invitation to the Misses SCOTT for the event on 22 July 1916 (Photograph ©Alison MacKenzie 2013) On 22nd July 1916, the Belgian Colony of Tunbridge Wells celebrated their National Day (21st July) by honouring the ladies of the Mayor’s … Continue reading
Posted in Reflections, Research notes
Tagged 21st July, Antwerp, Belgian soldier, Belgium National Day, Calverley Road, carilloneur, Club Albert, County School for Girls, Malines, Mayor's Refugee Committee, Ostend, painter, Senator, Skinners School, Town Hall, Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School
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Making a database from the refugees’ forms: by Jan Wright
The task I had was to compile a database of all those Belgian refugees who signed the Club Albert album presented to the Misses Scott in July 1916. The aim is to provide a snapshot for statistical purposes of Belgian … Continue reading
Posted in Reflections, Research notes
Tagged Brussels, Calverley Road, Club Albert, language, police, registration
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