North West Kent Family History Society

ALT About the talk: Opposite the lake in Mote Park, Maidstone now sits Mote House, built c.1800. However, prior to this house was another house – ‘Old Mote House’ – which stood at the bottom of the Long Valley. Today nothing of the old house remains, however sketches and paintings of the time show that it was a grand and sizeable complex of buildings. The Mote Park 'Hidden Histories' project involves a long-term study of the site where the old house once stood. For the past four years a team of archaeologists, volunteers, school children and the public have been investigating the remains of Old Mote House. This illustrated talk will summarise their findings and showcase some of their discoveries. Andrew works for the KCC Heritage Conservation Team and also for the Royal Parks at Greenwich. In 2022, he won the Community Archaeologist of the Year award which recognises an individual who has inspired others to share their love of archaeology and promote the heritage of their local area.

ALT Shown here is the Winter 2024 edition of our newsletter. It's being read on a mobile phone in front of the handmade festive garland currently on display at the entrance to our Search Room. [Archives@Kent] is the quarterly newsletter published by Kent Archives and Local History Service, Maidstone. From publicising newly catalogued material to exploring documents in detail and sharing information about upcoming events, our newsletters can be delivered straight to your email inbox or accessed at www.kentarchives.org.uk/archive-newsletter Have yet to subscribe? Contact us today and we’ll be happy to add you to our mailing list – Email: [email protected] Telephone: 03000 420673

ALT Shown here are two calendar graphics displaying Kent Archives' opening hours for December 2024 and January 2025.

ALT Shown here is a photograph capturing the entrance to Kent Archives' Search Room at Kent History and Library Centre, Maidstone. A festive garland comprising three-dimensional paper stars and fans affixed to a string of golden fairy lights is on display across the large glass windows.

ALT Blurb: South-east England, 1740s: war and heated politics bring the old practice of smuggling to new and dangerous heights. Violent gangs of smugglers terrorise communities and confound government attempts to stop them. The most famous of these, the Hawkhurst Gang, operate like a modern drug cartel fuelled by illegal tea. They threaten witnesses and authorities, brandish weapons in public, and fight battles in the streets, murdering and kidnapping those who get in their way. Enter a world filled with gangsters, corrupt politicians, crooked law enforcement and vigilantes, brought to the brink by Britain's most notorious smuggling gang. Joseph Dragovich studied History and Classics at the University of Pittsburgh, USA, before studying for a Masters in History in the UK. His dissertation focused on the political economy of 18th century smuggling. Hawkhurst is his first book. He lives in Cardiff.