All about Wouldham village, Kent

If you are Travelling downstream on the river Medway, along the tidal reach
from Allington Lock to the impressive concrete span of the M2 bridge at
Rochester, the only village actually to reach down to the water on the Men of
Kent's eastern bank is Wouldham.

It is worthwhile for any river traveller to disembark to see the village (which
has all the casual dishevelment of many waterside communities), if only to
visit the church.

Well, the churchyard, really, for it is here that the searcher will find the grave
of local man Walter Burke, who had the distinction of being the purser
aboard Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar and of having cradled Lord Nelson
himself in his arms as the great man died.

The near deification of Nelson that followed his death was enough to reflect
such glory upon the Wouldham purser that, ever since, local school children
have trooped down from the school to the grave in the churchyard and
reverently placed posies of flowers there each Trafalgar Day. (21st October)

The transcript on the stone reads "Sacred to the Memory of Walter Burke,
Esq, of this Parish, who died on the 12th September 1815 in the 70th year of
his age. He was Purser on His Majesty's Ship Victory in the glorious Battle of
Trafalgar, and in his arms the immortal Nelson died."

Walter Burke left the Navy and came home to Wouldham where he owned
both Purser Place and Burke House. Both were removed to Maresfield in East
Sussex in 1937 and materials from both were used to build one new house
called Purser Place.

For centuries there was a ferry crossing the river whenever hired to do so
from Wouldham to Halling and it may be that there was, before that, a ford
across the river at this point, possibly where Romans and Britons fought for
the way to London. In 1843 workmen found what, at the time, was thought to
have been a Mithraic temple at Wouldham, though later experts decided it
was more likely to have been an old farmhouse cellar. They can't be sure
now because no details of it's location have survived so no-one now knows
where it was found

The ferry service ended in 1963, when the Stevens family, who had operated
it for many years, gave it up. Nowadays, it is assumed that anyone who wants
to cross the river will have the means to travel the few miles north or south to
the nearest bridges at Aylesford or Rochester, but there will also be a new
bridge at the site of the new Peters village development.

The churchyard grave of Walter Burke may soon no longer be the main
attraction the Wouldham has to offer it's visitors. Out on Wouldham marshes,
north of the village, the 14th century remains of the house called Starkey
castle have been brought back to life by it's new owner, retired barrister
Gerald Davies.

The house was original built for Sir Humphrey Starkey, Recorder of the City
of London in 1471 and later Chief Baron of the Exchequer in 1483. The Royal
Commission on Historical Monuments described Starkey Castle as a
monument of national importance, and one of the few medieval manor
houses to have survived more or less in it's original condition.

It had been converted into three cottages before Mr Davies bought it and
began the long job of restoring it to it's former glories, with the intention of
opening it for exhibitions and conferences eventually.

I am always looking for new information about Wouldham, if you have
anything of interest that you care to share please Email me, the link is at the
bottom of the page

After the whale drama of the Thames, 56 years ago, the River Medway had a
whale drama of its own. The whale involved was of a much rarer species
than the northern bottlenose whale in the Thames. In October 1949, records
author Bob Ogley in 'Kent - A Chronicle of the Century Vol 11', "...there was
great excitement at Rectory Wharf, Wouldham, when the body of a narwhal
arrived on the shore via the Medway." "It is only the second example of the
species to be washed ashore in this country in 500 years." The whale's body
was taken to the Natural History Museum, in London. So, what is a narwhal?
Narwhals are usually found in Arctic seas and rivers where they feed on
cuttlefish, crustaceans and fish. The most unusual feature of the narwhal is
that it has only two teeth in its upper jaw.

Site Map

Top of Page

I would like to say a big thank you to Suzanne Emery for the following
historical tidbits.

"With reference to the ferry across to Halling, my mother who is 89 years old
and was a Stevens has told me there were two ferries operating when she
was a little girl one to Halling and the other to Snodland.
There was also a tunnel from the church to Starkey Castle and another one
in the centre of the village that people used during the war."

A big thank you to for some further information regarding tunnels from
Robert Mallard formally of 11, Ravens Knowle.

"A tunnel ran from the Ravens Knowle chalk pit ,it started beneath the large
overhang of chalk,that still exists and exited alongside the recreation
ground to enable the mined chalk to be moved to the waiting barges.
As a schoolboy during the war I remember running to the tunnel which was
used as a village air raid shelter. Lighting was provided by generators,
access from the Ravens Knowle end of the tunnel was via steps cut into the
side of the pit,(not too safe in the rain).
We quite enjoyed our times in the tunnel, after each raid was over PC Hall
the village policeman would notify us where any bombs had fallen, even the
one that fell on the tunnel did no damage.
There was almost a party atmosphere, always a singsong going on and
Claude Cornwall always did his best to liven thing up. I well remember him
dressed in an old fashion black swimsuit, a Union Jack attached, having us
in stitches, a fine man.
Cornwall Crescent was named after him.
After the war ,we boys used the tunnel as our play area ,we would use it as
our "camp".
Of course now, it would be considered dangerous, (perhaps it was then, but
no one got hurt) ,and it was decided to close the entrances."

A big thank you to for some further information regarding tunnels from David
Jones formally of Wouldham and now living in Australia.

"Yes, Bob Mallard is correct in everything he wrote about the tunnel, in fact,
Bob was also at the school when I was there so know exactly what he
talking about. People slept in the tunnel as well at times, and the lighting
was either by candles or paraffin lamps. No doubt Bob can also remember
the Bridge that was built across the river by the Royal Engineers from the
local camp which was situated almost opposite the old rectory. The bridge
itself was a one way job with traffic lights either side, and the lads at school
most days would go down to the site and watch the barges drive the long
heavy piles into the bed of the river during it's construction.
I wonder if Bob can also remember the American troops which were 'under
canvas' at the Wouldham approach to the bridge. many pitching their tents
right up against the churchyard wall. The Americans had some very
interesting vehicles for us lads and they were kept in the field next to the
roadway adjacent to thee river which stretched towards the vicarage and
the army camp further along up the road. These American troops had tanks
and also amphibian craft they trained with and using the Medway River, and
occasionally they would offer us lads rides in the vehicles around the field
they were camped in.,-providing we took their empty bottles back to the
Waterman's Arms where we would get a penny twopence refund on each of
them. ( A little extra pocket money too this was). I can also remember that
terrible day when a German land mine was dropped across the road and
exploded right opposite the church blowing the main leadlight window into
the church, the shattered glass littering across the alter and down the Aisle
as well as causing lots of other damage to the roof and other windows, but
thankfully little other damage to the main part of the Church itself. Enough
for now, regards to dear old Wouldham, there's so much to tell about the
place. I believe I am right in saying that Wouldham was mentioned in the
Doomsday Book as 'Woldenham' or something like that. David Jones

If anyone has any further information on the above or any other information
please contact me using the link below