Elsie Gaughan
Elsie Gaughan is the talented artist who made an ink drawing on cream vellum paper of, what was then known as, Palace Farm.
In the 1980s the CDLHS committee adopted it as the society’s header on correspondence and now, as you can see in the top left corner, on our web site too.
Elsie was a Charing resident in the 70’s & 80’s, living in the Moat. She later moved away from Charing but, during her time here, she produced this watercolour picture, which hangs in Charing library.
It can be found on the wall behind the librarian’s desk. It shows a map of Charing surrounded by pictures and historical information all drawn and written in watercolours.
It was created in honour of Queen Elizabeth’s silver jubilee, in 1977, and is believed to have been presented to the library when the new building was opened that year. It appears it was given on behalf of The Charing Women’s Institute.
To see a transcription of numbered text in the picture click here and for the rest of the text click here.
Details from the picture, with transcriptions of Elsie’s captions, are shown below (click a picture to see it full screen).
We hope to improve the quality of these images once the library reopens after the Covid-19 pandemic and better photos can be taken.
Cherringes in the Domesday Book probably derived from the Saxon word ‘cerran’ meaning to turn. “There were diverse wents and turnings in the place.”
Old House is a C14 house with a C17 front built onto it. Once owned by the Filmer family, and used to house poor families. Today it is a private residence.
The Church is C13, but roof and interior reconstructed after the 1590 fire. The vicarage is C15
Peirce House built by the Brent family in the late C15, one of the few remaining hall houses. It was added to during the Tudor period, today it is a privately owned residence.
Archbishop’s Palace. The manor house which became known as the Archbishop’s palace because many archbishops had lived there, now known as Palace Farm (1977). Henry the seventh and Henry the eighth both stayed here and Archbishops visiting charing still robe here to the present day.
Charing Windmill In 1911 the windmill ceased working. The sails (went) to Margate, and stone (grindstone?) to Cranbrook. Pett Place and Wickens were two of the 11 manors of Charing. They both private residences today. Pett Place has Norman foundations the core of the house was 16th century. It was significantly changed and enlarged early in the 17th century. Wickens a 15th century house built by the Brent family. It was embellished in the 16th century.
A closer look at the map