Timeline for Waldershare, Eythorne, Elvington and Tilmanstone Colliery - Elvington and Eythorne Heritage Group

Flints found at Malmains Ridge dating to 400,000 years ago

Flints found at Malmains Ridge dating from 4,000 - 2,000 BC

Barrows found at Haynes Farm, Tilmanstone Colliery area, Elvington, Eastling Down, and Waldershare Park, and hoards found at Malmains Farm and Waldershare

Pottery scattered at Malmains Ridge and La Tene brooch found at Waldershare

Pottery Scattered at Malmains Ridge and cremations founds at Golgotha Tunnel

Cemeteries found at Barfrestone and Shepherdswell and an encampment found at Coldred

Coldred Motte and Bailey and Barfrestone Church

Cuthred, King of Kent, sold to his minister Aethelnoth, lands in the place called Heyghe Thorne.

Archbishop Wulfred gave the estate to the monks of Christchurch Priory.

Before the Norman Conquest the lands were in the possession of Badlesmere

A dispute occurred over which ‘Hundred’ had jurisdiction over the parish of Eythorne

The lands were owned by the Badlesmere family until coming into the hands of the Crown

The lands were conveyed to John de Goldsborough

John Monins purchased Waldershare estate

Several transfers of land were in the possession of Sir Thomas Browne

Thomas Browne was granted the right to hold a yearly fair in the parish of Eythorne on St Peter’s Day

Transfer of lands were made to William Wither

Lands were passed onto Mr. John Brett and later inherited through by marriage to Mr. John Wilkes

Sir Henry Furnese purchased Waldershare Park estate and rebuilt Waldershare mansion

First recorded meeting house used at Eythorne in Coldred Road used as a Baptist chapel

Eythorne House was built by Mr. Peter

First mention of a school at Eythorne

Mrs. Mary Wilkes became the owner of Eythorne Court

Eythorne Baptist Chapel was opened at Chapel Road

The author Esther Copley died in Eythorne and was buried at Eythorne Baptist Chapel

St. Peter & St. Paul Church at Lower Eythorne extensively restored

Work ceased on a Channel Tunnel attempt and the Dover (Shakespeare) Colliery began development

A permanent school was opened in Upper Eythorne

Eythorne Parish Council began being held at Eythorne School, Sandwich Road, Upper Eythorne

Arthur Burr set up the Kent Coalfield’s Syndicate

Forty bore holes were sunk across Kent searching for coal seams

Guilford (Waldershare) Colliery began development

Development of the East Kent Colliery (Tilmanstone Colliery) began

A second shaft, the ‘Gabrielle Pit’, was sunk at the East Kent Colliery

Three sinkers were killed at the East Kent Colliery when a hoisting bucket fell into the shaft

First application made for the construction of the East Kent (Light) Mineral Railway

A third shaft, the ‘Rowena Pit’, was sunk at the East Kent Colliery

Development of the East Kent Railway with a station at Eythorne and halt at Elvington

The first 32 houses were built at Elvington

The first coal seams were reached beneath the East Kent Colliery

First coal raised at East Kent Colliery

Start of the First World War

Tilmanstone Colliery Working Men’s Club founded

First passenger trains services start on the East Kent Railway

Unveiling of Eythorne War Memorial

Richard Tilden Smith became the owner of Tilmanstone Colliery

A further 230 houses were built at Elvington

A temporary school is opened for the children of families living at Elvington

Opening of the Elvington Chapel on Milner Road

The first Kent colliery community gala is held at Elvington Court by Richard Tilden Smith

Construction of an aerial ropeway between Tilmanstone Colliery and Dover Harbour

The Milyard Seam was reached beneath Tilmanstone Colliery

The Bath House is opened at Tilmanstone Colliery by Member of Parliament, Mr. E. Shinwell

Tilmanstone Colliery Working Men’s Club changed it name to Elvington Working Men’s Club

A community sports field was laid out between Elvington and Eythorne

Start of the Second World War

Waldershare mansions house started to be used as the Dover wartime hospital

The government nationalised all collieries taking ownership across the country

Elvington Welfare Hall opened

Year long National Coal Strike begins

Tilmanstone Colliery closed

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