Mr Waghorn

The statue of Thomas Waghorn on Railway Street in Chatham points conveniently along the route of our Chatham Placemaking Project – from Chatham Station / Railway Street / New Cut / St Johns’ Church / Military Road / The Paddock / Waterfront. He is our biggest fan ! He was also a postal pioneer, who developed a new route from India to Great Britain. Can’t be certain that he is pointing to India – but he is certainly pointing to the Old Post Office on Railway Street, soon to become a Wetherspoon’s Pub and named conveniently – The Thomas Waghorn ! Click on the name and you can see the report from Kent Online  28th Feb. 2016, which announced the start of works on site to refurbish the building.

 

The statue of Thomas Fletcher Waghorn was raised on Railway Street, Chatham in 1888. Image:Christopher Tipping
The statue of Thomas Fletcher Waghorn was raised on Railway Street, Chatham in 1888. Image:Christopher Tipping
Old Post Office, Railway Street, Chatham. Image: Christopher Tipping
Old Post Office, Railway Street, Chatham. Image: Christopher Tipping

The work has now started to transform the building once again into a Public House !

Old Post Office, Railway Street, Chatham. Image: Christopher Tipping
Old Post Office, Railway Street, Chatham. Image: Christopher Tipping
Window Tracery and Waving Man at the Old Post Office, Railway Street, Chatham. Image: Christopher Tipping
Window Tracery and Waving Man at the Old Post Office, Railway Street, Chatham. Image: Christopher Tipping

I am very keen to get inside the building for a look around. How much of the original interiors remain is unknown. The building has twice before been transformed into pubs – first the Francis and Firkin & then The Old Post Office !

Handsome facade of the former Post Office Building on Railway Street, Chatham. Image: Christopher Tipping
Handsome facade of the former Post Office Building on Railway Street, Chatham. Image: Christopher Tipping

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