BermondseyBoy

This might bring back a few memories for people who went hop picking in Yalding. I also went hop picking and lived in this area for many years. I can just add a few things that might help jog the memory. The lorries are parked opposite the Two Brewers Pub (had a few pints in there) to the right was the Post Office and The George Pub (had even more pints in there). Monckton’s farm was right straight through the village and on the right. They were still there in the 1970s as I sometimes met up with them in Paddock Wood, by this time mainly picking up Fruit for the markets. Looking at the loads brings back memories for me, as that was the way I loaded them, and it was bloody hard work.

Yalding, Lees Road, Two Brewers c1930’s.

Yalding , Kent.
For many of the families this was their annual holiday, and for their entertainment the village public houses were their venues, and at that time (1950s) we had, The Walnut tree, The Bull, The Two Brewers, The George, The Railway, The Woolpack, and The Chestnut Tree, (known locally as `The Hole In The Wall') on our fringes we had The White House, The Bull, and The Prince Of Wales, (also known as The Gudgeon) in Hunton, these all did good trade at this time of the year, and as the alcohol intake increased, so the drinking, singing, dancing and occasional fighting spilled out onto the streets.
Saturday evening and Sunday lunch times were the busiest, I have seen `Crown & Anchor' boards set up for gambling.
Having lived down there for over 25yrs, from 1969 I have had a pint or two in everyone, mainly The George which became my local and also the Gudgeon, so many happy memories.

Hop Picking at Whitbreads Hop Farm, Beltring, Kent. While the family puts the hops into the bin Maureen Stone age 15 years of Rotherhithe does a sitting down job - perhaps it is because she is a typist on holiday. 4th September 1951.