Comments on: Hop Picking Pictures

By: Sarah Byrne

Sarah Byrne — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 17:03:30 +0000

Lovely to see these photographs. I was born in 1943 and my Grandfather had Mill Place Farm in Yalding so it is possible that Cathy Hilliers family went there. The Hopper Huts were still there when we sold the farm in 1976!

I also have the account book for 1942/43 and it has the list of the pickers and theit address in the back of it. Grandfathers writing is quite hard to read!

Sarah Byrne

By: Henry lambert

Henry lambert — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 12:00:28 +0000

O my God how I loved hop picking for all children it was a dream holiday at night two men came round selling cups of bovril I used to ride on the farmers tractor such fun.

By: Cathy Hillier

Cathy Hillier — Sun, 04 Sep 2016 20:51:11 +0000

Can anybody help me find the field where we stayed whilst hop picking in Yalding, I believe. My parents were (big) Cath and H Hillier my brother was Mark. I am also called (little) Cath. I remember Joan and George, Pat and Wolly who had a son Nicky and I think Pat and George. This was around the mid 1960’s. I remember swimming in a river and having the time of my life. There is only me and my brother left and do not know how I can find out what farm we worked for. I was told by my dad H (Harry), before he passed, that some of the huts were still there and I would love to visit? I remember something about driving down seven mile lane to get there?

By: Maureen.

Maureen. — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 14:29:41 +0000

I loved it too . My mum used to take my brother and I from London to a farm in Maidstone Kent on a steam train and we stayed the 6 weeks and lived in huts and cooked outside on an old army oven set on bricks.
All of us kids went ‘scrumping’, it was great.

By: karen cushway

karen cushway — Sat, 21 May 2016 22:31:03 +0000

I remember hop picking when i was a little one with my brothers, washing at the tap at the bottom of the field, swimming in the lake with the rats lol

Great time
karen cushway
Charlie Cushway was my dad’s brother and lal outram was my nanny, lovely women can never forget her. god bless

By: Joe Norton

Joe Norton — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 21:06:01 +0000

I was born in 1944 and remember hop picking as the best days of my life, we had a ‘Hut’ on the Guinness camp site known as The Ridge. Can any one tell me why Sussex and Kent bins were different in construction?

By: Pip Field

Pip Field — Sun, 13 Sep 2015 09:15:59 +0000

Just Wonderful…Thank You.

By: Terry reeves

Terry reeves — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 14:03:17 +0000

Great on the big common the shop opposite the orchard in the lane over the little bridge on to the common watts huts on the left we was on the far right side I new Sally &charlie and snowball. Who I used play games and go to the prince or woolpack

By: Terry reeves

Terry reeves — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 11:05:15 +0000

Went there every year from 1946 with my mum Mary &nan & all the family went fishing down the rainbow. Luscombe family

By: Jacqueline HEATH (nee Harrop)

Jacqueline HEATH (nee Harrop) — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 14:40:52 +0000

What lovely photos, brings back memories of happy times.
I have never seen that photo of my Grandad,just like my sister Joan who posted above.
Also not seen the one of me (although the name is Jacqueline not Jackie) with my Aunt and uncle.
Where did the photos come from???