Hodsoll Street

 

Prior to 1946 Hodsoll Street was a very small hamlet of approximately 16 houses dominated by Holywell Park (manor) which has a fascinated history of its own.

 

In 1946 Dartford Rural District Council opted to build 10 houses and later in 1949 8 more were added and thus Park View was born.

 

 This meant a big rise in population of the Hamlet especially the young and the Rev Vigo who lived in Brickfields and Mrs Sanders got together to find a home for Sunday School no. 13 Park view, the old Barn at the beginning of Honeypot Lane (now demolished) and Greenfields were all used.

 

From these small beginnings a committee was formed to raise money for a village hall. Mr Stoneham was the first chairman, names like the Bolsters from Goose Farm, Mr B Tilling, Mrs Hansford and lots of others served on the committee. This was in 1952.

 

Money was raised by fetes, raffles etc, but it was slow going.

In 1952 Mr Thompson who lived in Greenfields offered the committee a prefab building for £330 which was surplus to his firms’ requirements.

 

We accepted gratefully as our total funds at the time were £350. We applied for a grant from Kent social services.

 

Mr & Mrs Burgess who had the Post office and shop near the green donated the top of their garden for the site of the hall and a further strip of land was donated by Whitbread Brewery who owed the field behind the hall.

 

A grant of £1000 was obtained from Kent Social Services and finally at 3pm on Saturday 26th November 1960 the hall was officially opened.

 

Written like this sounds like it was so easy but it was built after many setbacks and I am pleased to say that all committees since have worked hard to maintain the village hall.