Guess the Place

[John Walker]

Just to add to previous posts about Lenham Racecourse - I have found nothing helpful. We all found the greyhound article, but there seems to be little else floating in the ether. NLS maps have 6inch and 25inch of 1902/3 and later 1930s that show the field as "Old Race Course", but that's about it.

I even plodded through about 20pages of Hasted just in case there was an earlier reference to the course, but no luck.
Carry on regardless...

I find it strange that it's referred to as a greyhound racecourse but the info on the link relates to horses?  Greyhounds race on Racetracks and horses race on Racecourses.

The course was on Lenham Hill, a short distance from the town centre, and opened with a Sweepstake won by Mr Brigg’s brown mare Fanny.The Lenham meeting was very well supported by Mr J S Douglas whose trainer was Drewitt. His horses were mostly ridden by George Fordham who rode the Squire of Lenham’s Derby favourite, Tournament, in the Epsom Derby of 1857, but it was beaten by Blink Bonny. The final meeting took place on Friday 29th June 1860.

[johnfilmer]

Just to add to previous posts about Lenham Racecourse - I have found nothing helpful. We all found the greyhound article, but there seems to be little else floating in the ether. NLS maps have 6inch and 25inch of 1902/3 and later 1930s that show the field as "Old Race Course", but that's about it.

I even plodded through about 20pages of Hasted just in case there was an earlier reference to the course, but no luck.
Carry on regardless...

[grandarog]

A bit of info about The Lenham Racecourse.


http://www.greyhoundderby.com/Lenham%20Racecourse.html

[John Walker]

Thank you JohnFilmer - that was quite a hunt.


I'll hold back on the next one for a few hours, to allow discussion on your racecourse to continue.  I found this online.  Looks like it was named Lenham Racecourse.


The Google link has the words Greyhound Derby but the info relates to horse racing there.

http://www.greyhoundderby.com/Lenham%20Racecourse.html

[MartinR]

Interesting.  When you have more information John, please post it.  What, for instance, was its correct name?  I'd looked on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_racecourses but couldn't see anything.

[johnfilmer]

You have it JW, on top of the Downs, next to the Faversham Road.


Interestingly (to me at least) various forebears lived at Woodside Green, the hamlet on the right, others at West Street, the group of houses to the north, and more at Flint Barn Farm, just off to the left of these views.


I’ve yet to find other references to races, but haven’t looked very hard!


Edit.. just checked with Mr Google, and it was a greyhound racing track from 1840’s. Will look further.


Back to you JW.

[John Walker]

Next to Rushmore Wood, North of Lenham.


51.249790638728015, 0.7205437377577623

Interestingly, the footpaths still show on this 2013 view.

[DaveTheTrain]

Is that Wye racecourse, the road being Olantigh Road.  If so the wood shown top left is Well Shave Wood.

[johnfilmer]

“Lost” race course JW, and Charing is at the bottom of the hill...

[John Walker]

Charing Racecourse?

[johnfilmer]

Not as far as Ashford, and on a bigger hill than you find in the town.

[MartinR]

Would that take us to Ashford?

[johnfilmer]

Go ESE from Maidstone...
On top of a hill.

[John Walker]

Maidstone area?

[johnfilmer]

I have gone back to a map GTP again. Its cropped back to avoid easy connections with named places nearby, but I thought a lost Race Course worthy of the game.
Mid Kent. Modern field shape is almost the same.

Map is from nls, 25inch OS, 1896/7