A Short History of Bredgar

Do you have some information that could be put into a new edition of "A Short History of Bredgar".

The first edition of A Short History of Bredgar was produced in 1959 by Bredgar Women’s Institute. The book is packed full of interesting historical information about Bredgar including; the earliest descriptions of the parish, the history of the church, school and other buildings, people, customs, war time happenings, the Women's Institute and much more - up to 1972. It comprises of A4 typed pages and original photographs, glued onto the large format pages. Corrections and additions were made in 1963 and 1972. The original edition is in the Kent Libraries and Archives, Maidstone, Kent. A copy of the original book was made between 1963 and 1972, that excludes the 1972 amendments. This edition is in the care of Bredgar Parish Council (BPC). In January 2022 Stephen Palmer, a member of the Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne (HRGS), completed an A4 transcription of the above editions, maintaining the spellings, grammar and page layouts. Two copies of this third edition were printed and bound as A4 size hardback books of 227 pages. These are held by BPC and HRGS.

BPC and HRGS plan to have more books printed, either as further third editions or possibly as a new fourth edition that includes an additional section covering from 1972 onwards. The fourth edition work being undertaken this year to mark the Coronation of King Charles III. The cost of each book is likely to be of the order of £20.

We would like to hear from anyone who has interesting pictures or information about events in Bredgar since 1972 (or before), or who would simply be interested in helping to prepare the additional section of a new fourth edition. Please contact the Brian Clarke (email bpc.clarke@gmail.com) or Teresa Hudson of Bredgar Parish Council if you have any information or pictures of events or aspects of the village since 1972 (or before) that might be interesting content for the new book.

Teresa Hudson our Parish Clerk is keeping a list of those parishioners interested in purchasing the book. Please express your interest to her - email: bpc.clerk@outlook.com or Tel: 01622 884212 or in the Post Office.