At 5:50 I was able to witness my nan and grandads sweet shop on the corner of St. Paul's street just next to the red road works sign. The shop closed down shortly after I was born (due to the unfortunate passing of my nan) and I have always wondered what it looked like. I lived in that house for 15 years of my life and to see how it was before and to see what it has become has bought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much.
Hi Charlie. Was your nan and grandads shop called 'Dots Shop'? I lived in Staple Close until 1991 and my mum would often take my sister and I to the corner shop to buy sweets and rice pudding! I remember a lovely lady called 'Dot' there. I have very happy memories of going to the shop when I was a young child :-)
Loved this video, i was born there in 1964 We immigrated to Adelaide Sth Australia in 1971 I came back home in 1983 /84 . This has brought back some terrific memories Thank you, Jaine
Fabulous. I enjoyed watching this. I grew up in Sheerness. We used to drive over to Sittingbourne a lot to see my aunt and uncle. I would have been 12 when this was shot. Lots has changed, but lots is also just the same.
I found this by accident and love it! I was born in Chatham in 1973 and lived in Medway for most of my childhood. I used to go shopping in Sittingbourne back in the early '80's and this really brought back memories. Love the cars!
Thank you for this of course. Although I live near Dartford now as I did then, we would sometimes go down to the area along the A2 road on the way to the sea, rather than taking the M2 motorway. Having been through the Medway area, you would then come to here before going onto Faversham of course. Well done though too!
Wow, loved the old style cars, the street looks so clean and less cars on the roads, i moved back in 98 and from one end to the other side of Sittingbounre, Was born in Rainham then moved here.The high street looks way better then now.
this is amazing, found it by accident. I was born in Sittingbourne but left in the early 90's. I lived in Milton and saw my parents house at 6.49 on the video. At the time of the video I was living in that house. A friend lived in Park Rd and I'm sure I saw his car too. This has brought back many memories. Now I get back to Sittingbourne once a year and it certainly has changed over the years !!
My old home town, which I left in 1972. It was a good place to grow up in and go to school (Borden GS) and it still had a country coaching town character, now long gone. The town suffered from some of the cheapest and nastiest modern developments from the 60s onwards (is their anything more repulsive than the Co-op building on the corner of Station Street, for instance). Great piece of history and thank you for going past our house in Park Road.
I really enjoyed this. Thanks for uploading. I think it was probably shot on a Sunday. You can really tell how Sunday trading laws changed the face of Britain. Before Sunday trading most people stayed at home with their families on a Sunday.
Would be great for someone to take a modern video of this exact route today so that in the future we can see the different stages of development (seeing as it's all about to change again)
Chris Adams I lived in Colchester years ago and there are videos taken in the mid Eighties of the town with updated videos shot in about 2012... As you say, someone should do the same with this video.
Right at the start is real close to my house, and have been going all around those roads for years, so really interesting to see everything 37 years ago, and not just my block but the high street and everything. Thanks!
Just like a previous post " You have made my day" I moved to the area in 2000 and you featured my house in your footage fair and square 15 years prior to me buying it - Amazing, thank you very much !
Wow Caroline, what a shock to hear the voice of my 1st ever boss! Lol David had employed me the previous year at Southern Litho and tormented me on a daily basis with that wicked sense of humour of his, of course I was a lot younger and naive then but I still think of those days with a big smile! Thank you for making me smile and making me feel old!
That was awesome seeing Sittingbourne back in the good old days. I remember so many places i used to go as a child. This would be for kids of South Avenue schools, shame no visit to "the puggy", i don't know if it's there any more? HAPPY DAYS, will come back one day for a look around to see what's not there any more!
What a fantastic upload! You've made my other's day (being a local all her life) and was getting the commentary of what things/places are now. Personally I'm amazed how Park Road has no wing mirrors on the floor (where the cars were thinner) and you could pass with ease! 30 years ago, that camera must have been a small fortune, but to film bits like this and keep them, I can't imagine what personal gems you have and the pleasure watching your tapes.
Holy!! I grew up in Sittingbourne through the 80's but haven't been there in almost 10 years... I remember most of this though; my dad worked at the paper mill and I went to Fulston Manor. No mention of that though ; )
I'm guessing this is your Dad driving. A lovely memory for you with the mention your nursery. Thanks for uploading. I really enjoyed seeing the town as I did when I was a child.
What a wonderful video! (I don’t know the area at all). Very prescient to video it for memories! Just interesting to see days gone by that are really still oddly familiar! How empty the roads and pavements are, is this a Sunday? I was 12 and I’m sure there were more cars then!
Surprised at how little has changed - traffic lights in Bell Lane, a few new buildings but pretty much the same - so many parked cars these days though. Yes, Sittingbourne is a dump, but it's my home town, and I have a soft spot for it (no idea why).
I traced that route on Street View. I found out that today, it is impossible to make that left turn into the High Street at 3:04 (or, for that matter, even drive west on the High Street at all). The evidence: www.google.com/maps/@51.3392018,0.7406009,3a,75y,289.53h,73.03t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQVwRaIrV3ZZz79AZEr1ZMw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1 (note "no entry" signs)
Thanks for sharing Caroline, great to see how things were in Sittingbourne. We've just posted a video showing the latest phase of the Spirit of Sittingbourne work on the road layout by Sittingbourne station - view the video here :) czcams.com/video/1vvHZ8YPs0Q/video.html
Sittingbourne born and bread. This is a fake town nowadays ain't it. I believe I'm the only one left. That everyone's dead and im the only one. Help me 90s
Brought back a lot off good memories off the town I lived there from when I two to 20 went back for a day trip in 2008 What dump has not aged well
Excellent quality for the age of the film. Andy England 🇬🇧👍
Thanks for posting this - I left Sittingbourne in 1977 at 18 - this brings back many memories
At 5:50 I was able to witness my nan and grandads sweet shop on the corner of St. Paul's street just next to the red road works sign. The shop closed down shortly after I was born (due to the unfortunate passing of my nan) and I have always wondered what it looked like. I lived in that house for 15 years of my life and to see how it was before and to see what it has become has bought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much.
Hi Charlie. Was your nan and grandads shop called 'Dots Shop'? I lived in Staple Close until 1991 and my mum would often take my sister and I to the corner shop to buy sweets and rice pudding! I remember a lovely lady called 'Dot' there. I have very happy memories of going to the shop when I was a young child :-)
Loved this video, i was born there in 1964
We immigrated to Adelaide Sth Australia in 1971
I came back home in 1983 /84 .
This has brought back some terrific memories
Thank you, Jaine
Brilliant. Can't believe how Sittingbounre has changed so much. I was working in Bowaters when this film was made.
Fabulous. I enjoyed watching this. I grew up in Sheerness. We used to drive over to Sittingbourne a lot to see my aunt and uncle. I would have been 12 when this was shot. Lots has changed, but lots is also just the same.
I found this by accident and love it! I was born in Chatham in 1973 and lived in Medway for most of my childhood. I used to go shopping in Sittingbourne back in the early '80's and this really brought back memories. Love the cars!
Thank you for this of course. Although I live near Dartford now as I did then, we would sometimes go down to the area along the A2 road on the way to the sea, rather than taking the M2 motorway. Having been through the Medway area, you would then come to here before going onto Faversham of course. Well done though too!
Wow, loved the old style cars, the street looks so clean and less cars on the roads, i moved back in 98 and from one end to the other side of Sittingbounre, Was born in Rainham then moved here.The high street looks way better then now.
this is amazing, found it by accident. I was born in Sittingbourne but left in the early 90's. I lived in Milton and saw my parents house at 6.49 on the video. At the time of the video I was living in that house. A friend lived in Park Rd and I'm sure I saw his car too. This has brought back many memories. Now I get back to Sittingbourne once a year and it certainly has changed over the years !!
My old home town, which I left in 1972. It was a good place to grow up in and go to school (Borden GS) and it still had a country coaching town character, now long gone. The town suffered from some of the cheapest and nastiest modern developments from the 60s onwards (is their anything more repulsive than the Co-op building on the corner of Station Street, for instance). Great piece of history and thank you for going past our house in Park Road.
A proper drive through memory lane, i was 9 when this was filmed but it made it feel like yesterday
I really enjoyed this. Thanks for uploading. I think it was probably shot on a Sunday. You can really tell how Sunday trading laws changed the face of Britain. Before Sunday trading most people stayed at home with their families on a Sunday.
Would be great for someone to take a modern video of this exact route today so that in the future we can see the different stages of development (seeing as it's all about to change again)
obviously the highstreet would maybe need to be on bike with a go pro as it's one way..
Chris Adams I lived in Colchester years ago and there are videos taken in the mid Eighties of the town with updated videos shot in about 2012... As you say, someone should do the same with this video.
Right at the start is real close to my house, and have been going all around those roads for years, so really interesting to see everything 37 years ago, and not just my block but the high street and everything. Thanks!
Excellent piece of history, thanks for sharing! We look forward to your next video of Kent.
Sittingbourne was a much nicer place back then :-(
In 2022, it will take 30 mins to go 2 miles across town - as it did today. Can't wait to move out now.
That brought back some memories!
A pleasant blast from the past. 😊
Skipped just as it got to my road then started again at the bottom lol still a good watch ;-)
Just like a previous post " You have made my day" I moved to the area in 2000 and you featured my house in your footage fair and square 15 years prior to me buying it - Amazing, thank you very much !
You're welcome, glad you like it!
Wow Caroline, what a shock to hear the voice of my 1st ever boss! Lol
David had employed me the previous year at Southern Litho and tormented me on a daily basis with that wicked sense of humour of his, of course I was a lot younger and naive then but I still think of those days with a big smile!
Thank you for making me smile and making me feel old!
Glad it brought a smile to your face....told him about your comment and he says hello!
@@CarolineGower where is This? ( Country?) Thanks for Posting This Video. Freeman from U.S.A.
2 way traffic in high street that's when it was still a living high street instead now it's dead.... great place to grow up back then
I had a pub in Sittingbourne some years before this, strange place.
Is it me or did the traffic flow better through the town with it being two way?
I felt there was hardly any traffic about at all. Maybe shot on a Sunday? But there wasnt even much parked either?
That was awesome seeing Sittingbourne back in the good old days. I remember so many places i used to go as a child. This would be for kids of South Avenue schools, shame no visit to "the puggy", i don't know if it's there any more? HAPPY DAYS, will come back one day for a look around to see what's not there any more!
Ah, when we reached Milton i could just smell the creek!
How the Mills got away with polluting the creek so badly over the years I'll never know!
The high street looks HUGE in this! :O
What a fantastic upload! You've made my other's day (being a local all her life) and was getting the commentary of what things/places are now. Personally I'm amazed how Park Road has no wing mirrors on the floor (where the cars were thinner) and you could pass with ease! 30 years ago, that camera must have been a small fortune, but to film bits like this and keep them, I can't imagine what personal gems you have and the pleasure watching your tapes.
Holy!! I grew up in Sittingbourne through the 80's but haven't been there in almost 10 years... I remember most of this though; my dad worked at the paper mill and I went to Fulston Manor. No mention of that though ; )
I went to Fulston Manor 83-88. Grew up in Sittingbourne. Hasn't changed for the better
Cant believe town was a two way street before, it looks massive in the video
+Donovan Lewis (Dono1704) Take oaf
No cars parked at the side blocking it up ;)
I'm guessing this is your Dad driving. A lovely memory for you with the mention your nursery. Thanks for uploading. I really enjoyed seeing the town as I did when I was a child.
Nah, It's my Dad (Mike)
The old Sainsbury's!
How the roads have changed was born 1992 so this was before but they certainly changed alot
Didn't know cameras existed back in 1984 lol
What a wonderful video! (I don’t know the area at all). Very prescient to video it for memories! Just interesting to see days gone by that are really still oddly familiar! How empty the roads and pavements are, is this a Sunday? I was 12 and I’m sure there were more cars then!
I think I was there at the same time as you!
Surprised at how little has changed - traffic lights in Bell Lane, a few new buildings but pretty much the same - so many parked cars these days though. Yes, Sittingbourne is a dump, but it's my home town, and I have a soft spot for it (no idea why).
My home town, too. I went back fairly recently and found the place utterly depressing. This film is a nice reminder of how things were
yes cousin Jeremy i can totally agree
The road near Morrison’s looks a lot different
Looks better back then
Used to have delicious Indian food from High St in 1990
Everything tastes nice after the pubs turf you out!
Oh and my dad worked at Bowaters too, he will be 82 this yr.
Wow how time flies
wow Great video! Caroline I have found and messaged you on twitter and Facebook :)
Well there's a voice from the past! I knew Dave both as Gower &, in earlier years, as Dave Champion (and the Strangers. Bernard Brown ex Abject Blues
Yes it is - I'll say hello to him from you!
Yes, please do. It's been many years since we last met and I've lived in Burgundy for the last twelve years.
Was there an underpass to the train station at some point? If so what year? I have faint memories from when I was young
Yes there was, it went under St Michael's Road from the back of the Forum to the station - think it was filled in towards the end of the 90s?
I traced that route on Street View. I found out that today, it is impossible to make that left turn into the High Street at 3:04 (or, for that matter, even drive west on the High Street at all).
The evidence: www.google.com/maps/@51.3392018,0.7406009,3a,75y,289.53h,73.03t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQVwRaIrV3ZZz79AZEr1ZMw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1 (note "no entry" signs)
yes, the high street has been one way for a good 20+ years now . it was good to see it 2 way as it used to be though .
actually pretty similar even now, 40th anniverary next year 2024
The roads haven’t changed one bit....
But the road tax been going up every year? 😏
so little traffic
What were the churches and the pubs called?
Big up Liptons! 1:36
Thanks for sharing Caroline, great to see how things were in Sittingbourne. We've just posted a video showing the latest phase of the Spirit of Sittingbourne work on the road layout by Sittingbourne station - view the video here :) czcams.com/video/1vvHZ8YPs0Q/video.html
Is that you john in the passenger seat?
Anyone else in 2018?
Made a modern version for comparison.
czcams.com/video/DButN1hJE4c/video.html
Whitdale nursery?
Is that Jonny Gower driving??
It's Mike driving, Jonny would have been doing handbrake turns around the trading estate ;)
Caroline Gower
yeah, thats what a thought, although the side view looked like Jonny but different hairstyle :-)
Was weatherspoons a prison back then? lol
Sittingbourne born and bread.
This is a fake town nowadays ain't it. I believe I'm the only one left. That everyone's dead and im the only one. Help me 90s
looks the same, only the cars are different, I hate this town.
what is the pointt
So old people can remember the way the town used to be and everyone can see how it's changed