Tag Archives: FrancisKnight

Blog, Chatham Placemaking Masterplan, Public Art, Public Realm

Newcomb’s War Diary –

May 11, 2016 Christopher Tipping 1 Comment

On Tuesday 10th May I visited Penguins, 87-89 High Street Chatham. Penguins happens to be the Newcomb family business specialising in formal wear and wedding suits for men. I met Gerald Newcomb – a 7th generation Newcomb, running a business stretching back over 180 years in Chatham.

Gerald Newcomb, Penguins, 87 - 89 High Street, Chatham standing with the Newcomb War Diary. Image: Christopher Tipping by permission of Gerald Newcomb. — Gerald Newcomb, Penguins, 87 – 89 High Street, Chatham standing with the Newcomb War Diary. Image: Christopher Tipping by permission of Gerald Newcomb.

‘The family has served the great and the good for almost 180 years. Figures such as Charles Dickens, Lord Kitchener, Lord Byron and Lord Tennyson have enjoyed the service we offer – our workrooms were a hive of activity as we created shirts for King Edward VII!’ ‘Gerald is the 7th generation to run the firm and has himself been in the industry for 45 years.’

This business fits into our Chatham Placemaking Project primarily because of its association with our route – Newcomb’s also had a Ladies Clothes Shop on Railway Street – but the big surprise is the Newcomb War Diary. Surely this has to be on our list of ‘10 things which made Chatham’.

The following statement comes from the Chatham Historical Society Website.

“A few years ago Chatham Historical Society was given permission to make a replica of an original diary written every day during the years of the Second World War by George West, company secretary of a navy tailors, hosiers, hatters and shirt makers in Chatham High Street called Newcomb’s. This replica of the “Newcomb War Diary” is dedicated to the memory of Mr West, the Newcomb and Paine families, and all Medway people – both service personnel and civilians – who lived through the events described in it.

Newcomb’s opened for business in 1854. After the original shop was demolished when the Sir John Hawkins flyover was built, the business moved along the High Street to the corner of Medway Street. Mr Gerald Newcomb is still trading as Penguins Dress Hire.

The replica was paid for by Chatham Historical Society and a generous donation by the late Mr and Mrs W. Paine, and has been available to view at public events and libraries in the Medway towns.
It had been in Strood Library for many months, and their website states that it is on display there, but it might have moved on to another temporary home. Check with Strood Library for the latest situation.

The Paine family ran outfitter’s shops in Chatham and Strood, and were founders of the Chatham Reliance Building Society.”

This is the frontispiece of the Newcomb War Diary belonging to Mr Gerald Newcomb of Penguins, Chatham. Image: Christopher Tipping

The book referred by the Chatham Historical Society is a smaller copy version of this. The actual artefact – a fantastic large folio book / ledger was originally manufactured in Chatham for Newcomb’s – is unique and I felt privileged to be shown it.

This is the gold embossed front cover of the Newcomb War Diary belonging to Mr Gerald Newcomb of Penguins, Chatham. Image: Christopher Tipping - by permission of Gerald Newcomb. — This is the gold embossed front cover of the Newcomb War Diary belonging to Mr Gerald Newcomb of Penguins, Chatham. Image: Christopher Tipping – by permission of Gerald Newcomb.

A typical page layout of an untypical diary ! The Newcomb War Diary belonging to Mr Gerald Newcomb of Penguins, Chatham. Image: Christopher Tipping - by permission of Gerald Newcomb. — A typical page layout of an untypical diary ! The Newcomb War Diary belonging to Mr Gerald Newcomb of Penguins, Chatham. Image: Christopher Tipping – by permission of Gerald Newcomb.

A page from the Newcomb War Diary belonging to Mr Gerald Newcomb of Penguins, Chatham. Image: Christopher Tipping - by permission of Gerald Newcomb. — A page from the Newcomb War Diary belonging to Mr Gerald Newcomb of Penguins, Chatham. Image: Christopher Tipping – by permission of Gerald Newcomb.

Gerald Newcomb of Penguins, 87 - 89 High Street, Chatham with the Newcomb War Diary. Image: Christopher Tipping by permission of Gerald Newcomb. — Gerald Newcomb of Penguins, 87 – 89 High Street, Chatham with the Newcomb War Diary. Image: Christopher Tipping by permission of Gerald Newcomb.

Blog, Chatham Placemaking Masterplan, Public Art, Public Realm

‘CHATHAM – KENT – ENGLAND’ –

May 10, 2016 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

A brilliant time-lapse film celebrating the Chatham Placemaking Project, by the Filmmaker Simon Williams was premiered on the Waterfront Big Screen in Chatham on Friday evening 6th May – and then ran at hourly intervals through Saturday 7th May –

‘A series of films will focus the eye and the heart and have clearly distilled a vision for the project – a reductive process of stripping back and looking afresh. Simon refreshingly admits he has fallen in love with Chatham – he has lived here for 15 years. ‘Chatham, Kent, England’ is a remarkable 12-hour time-lapse work beautifully filmed from the roof of UCA at Fort Pitt. Standing in front of the Big Screen, the River Medway can’t actually be seen . The disengagement is clear. The film powerfully makes the case for Chatham to celebrate and acknowledge this enduring and symbiotic relationship. It could be an elegy for a Chatham we have forgotten but which is actually still alive and well and all around us’. Project Lead Artist Chris Tipping –

‘Chatham, Kent, England’, is the first in a series of films being delivered as part of the Temporary Art Programme supporting the Chatham Placemaking Project. They were commissioned by FrancisKnight Art Consultants and myself as project lead artist. ‘These are our Streets’, a collaboration between Simon and Rob Young, Writer, will be the second film in the series to be released.

Simon Williams on the roof of UCA Rochester at Fort Pitt. Chatham Placemaking Project. Image: Simon Williams.

Simon Williams by the Waterfront Big Screen - showing 'Chatham, Kent, England'. Chatham Placemaking Project. Image: By Permission of Simon Williams. — Simon Williams by the Waterfront Big Screen – showing ‘Chatham, Kent, England’. Chatham Placemaking Project. Image: By Permission of Simon Williams.

Blog, Chatham Placemaking Masterplan, Public Art, Public Realm, Uncategorized

Pentagon Day –

May 9, 2016 Christopher Tipping 1 Comment

Saturday 7th May 2016 – Pentagon Shopping Centre, Chatham

A workshop day – talking, being talked to – gathering stories, memories and an understanding of life in Chatham. Thanks to all who cam to speak to us – Elsie was one of them ! Her Dad used to say that the Thomas Waghorn Statue on Railway Street pointed to the toilets under the New Road viaduct. As a young girl, her impression of Chatham was that it was brim full of Public Houses.

Rob Young and Elsie - Pentagon Shopping Centre, Chatham. Chatham Placemaking Project. Image: Christopher Tipping — Rob Young and Elsie – Pentagon Shopping Centre, Chatham. Chatham Placemaking Project. Image: Christopher Tipping

One of our brilliant badge-makers working with Xtina Lamb. Pentagon Shopping Centre. Chatham Placemaking Project. Image: Christopher Tipping

'These are our Streets' - Postcards handed out at the Pentagon Shopping Centre. Chatham Placemaking Project. Image: Christopher Tipping — ‘These are our Streets’ – Postcards handed out at the Pentagon Shopping Centre. Chatham Placemaking Project. Image: Christopher Tipping

WE HAVE THE POSTCARDS !

AND WE WORE THE T SHIRTS !

Very grateful to Shelly Goldsmith, Senior Lecturer in Fashion Textiles: Print at UCA Rochester for producing the shirts for us at very short notice !

Some enthusiastic badge-makers ! Pentagon Shopping Centre. Chatham Placemaking Project. Image: Christopher Tipping

Badges made at our Pentagon Shopping Centre workshop day. Chatham Placemaking Project. Image: Christopher Tipping

Chatting about Chatham's History at the Pentagon Shopping Centre. Chatham Placemaking Project. Image: Rob Young — Chatting about Chatham’s History at the Pentagon Shopping Centre. Chatham Placemaking Project. Image: Rob Young

Photographs of Chatham past and present helped to jog memories and start conversations. Chatham Placemaking Project. Image: Rob Young

Blog, Chatham Placemaking Masterplan, Education, Public Art, Public Realm

CHATHAM UP – Ideas for Magazine layout –

May 6, 2016 Christopher Tipping 2 Comments

Chatham Placemaking Project - Draft artwork for Chatham Up Magazine. Image & Artwork: Christopher Tipping — Chatham Placemaking Project – Draft artwork for Chatham Up Magazine. Image & Artwork: Christopher Tipping

Chatham Placemaking Project - Still image from an episodic film series by Simon Williams & Rob Young with additional graphics by Xtina Lamb. — Chatham Placemaking Project – Still image from an episodic film series by Simon Williams & Rob Young with additional graphics by Xtina Lamb.

The Fish Finger - by Rob Young. Chatham Placemaking Project. — The Fish Finger – by Rob Young. Chatham Placemaking Project.

Draft page for print proposal. Text by Rob Young - Still Images from documentary film by Simon Williams. Chatham Placemaking Project. — Draft page for print proposal. Text by Rob Young – Still Images from documentary film by Simon Williams. Chatham Placemaking Project.

'Is This You', Draft Page layout - Chatham Placemaking Project. Artwork: Christopher Tipping - Text by Rob Young - Photograph by kind permission of Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre. — ‘Is This You’, Draft Page layout – Chatham Placemaking Project. Artwork: Christopher Tipping – Text by Rob Young – Photograph by kind permission of Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre.

Blog, Chatham Placemaking Masterplan, Education, Public Art, Public Realm

Guildhall Museum, Rochester & Rob Young, Writer

May 6, 2016 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

On Tuesday 3rd May, Rob Young & I had a meeting with Rachel Kerr, Project Coordinator (100 Objects That Made Kent) and the Education Officer, Jeremy Clarke at The Guildhall Museum, High Street, Rochester. We were looking to explore opportunities for us all to collaborate in some manner during the project, taking advantage of the Museum Collections cultural importance to Medway and its outreach work with the community – particularly in education and schools.

Rob is very keen to build this relationship into his commission and has already submitted a wonderful proposal for an engagement with St Michaels Roman Catholic Primary School, who are already working with the Museum on an arts award educational project, focussed on the Statue of Thomas Waghorn on Railway Street and a portrait of whom hangs in the Museum. The school is the most local to our project route. Rob is also keen to meet with The Friends of the Guildhall Museum to hear their thoughts about Chatham. Simon Lace, Medway’s Heritage Services Manager is also helping our cause by contributing a call out for stories by Friends of the Guildhall in their ‘about to be launched’ newsletter.

Thanks to all involved for your continuing help.

Interior stucco ceiling of the stairwell in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image by Christopher Tipping reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester — Interior stucco ceiling of the stairwell in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping – reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester

A Portrait of Thomas Waghorn. Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image by Christopher Tipping reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester — A Portrait of Thomas Waghorn. Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image by Christopher Tipping – reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester

Ornate ceiling & Electrolier in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping - reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester — Ornate ceiling & Electrolier in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping – reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester

Portrait of Sir Cloudesley Shovell, Admiral of the Fleet & MP for Rochester hanging in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping - by kind permission of Guildhall Museum. — Portrait of Sir Cloudesley Shovell, Admiral of the Fleet & MP for Rochester hanging in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping – reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester

Isn’t that the most amazing name – Sir Cloudesley Shovell –

Ornate ceiling, electrolier and wall decorations in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping - by kind permission of Guildhall Museum. — Ornate ceiling, electrolier and wall decorations in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping – reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester

Ornate ceiling & electrolier in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping - by kind permission of Guildhall Museum. — Ornate ceiling & electrolier in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping – reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester

Rob Young, Writer, looking at vintage photograph in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping - reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester — Rob Young, Writer, looking at vintage photograph in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image: Christopher Tipping – reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester

Jeremy Clarke, the Museum’s Education Officer – found this image for us of a young boy taken at the Photographic Studio of W. Kent, Photographic Artist at No 19 Military Road, Chatham – a great find for us right on our project route. I’m sure Rob will make some resonant response to this.

Photographic portrait of a young boy taken by W Kent, Photographic Artist at No 19 Military Road, Chatham - in the collection of Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. — Photographic portrait of a young boy taken by W Kent, Photographic Artist at No 19 Military Road, Chatham – in the collection of Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester.

Figure in Diorama in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image by Christopher Tipping reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester

Beautiful and magical three mast rigged ship in the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. Image by Christopher Tipping reproduced courtesy of the Guildhall Museum, Rochester

Blog, Chatham Placemaking Masterplan, Public Art, Public Realm

Temporary Artist Commissions –

May 6, 2016 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

The Chatham Placemaking Project appointed 3 artists for the temporary programme – it feels anything but temporary to me as all the artists are contributing massively to the project and their individual and collective output in terms of film, writing and graphics has been creative, original and has added to my perception and understanding of this project – of Chatham – and how we relate to this community as well as our client Medway Council. It is an exciting time for me – & hopefully for Rob, Xtina and Simon too.

Simon and Rob have already engaged independently with the local community – calling in at shops and offices along our route down Railway Street and Military Road, building relationships with people. They have further collaborated on a series of short films, which explore and create a vision which underpins our project – the first of which we are hopeful will be given it’s Chatham premiere via the Big Screen this evening. Xtina is delivering the first of her print workshops on Saturday at The Pentagon Shopping Centre, which will encourage the local community to take part in simple printing techniques to explore themes around our project in words and motifs. Rob & I will be there too – collecting stories from people and hearing about their association with the town. Check out the Facebook page for more information on this event –

Xtina Lamb runs Medway Fine Printmakers from this building at Chatham Intra on Chatham High Street. Image: Christopher Tipping

Xtina Lamb was commissioned to run a series of print based workshops in ad hoc places – such as the Pentagon Shopping Centre – and also from her workshop and business premises – Medway Fine Printmakers – at Intra on Chatham High Street. She is also a graphic artist in her own right contributing to the visual language and interpretation of the project.

Xtina Lamb in her studio at Chatham Intra, Chatham. Image: Christopher Tipping - by kind permission of Xtina Lamb — Xtina Lamb in her studio at Chatham Intra, Chatham. Image: Christopher Tipping – by kind permission of Xtina Lamb

Xtina Lamb's studio at Chatham Intra, Chatham. Image: Christopher Tipping - by kind permission of Xtina Lamb — Xtina Lamb’s studio at Chatham Intra, Chatham. Image: Christopher Tipping – by kind permission of Xtina Lamb

Costume Hire Shop - Chatham High Street, Kent. Image: Christopher Tipping — Costume Hire Shop – Chatham High Street, Kent. Image: Christopher Tipping

Blog, Chatham Placemaking Masterplan, Public Art, Public Realm, Transport

Chatham Storyline – Barbers in the Bogs

May 6, 2016 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

One of the arches under the New Road Viaduct – aka New Cut – aka Chatham Viaduct was home to a Public Urinal & more interestingly a Barbers Shop – aka Barbers in the Bogs ! The Barber had a collection of paintings on display. Long since closed – the doors are now peeling but the memories of those who knew and used the facilities are still strong.

I am looking for images to use as part of our project – but there are some here on the Kent History Forum page – what an amazing, slightly bizarre and interesting place. Really left me wanting to know more !

Chatham Placemaking Project - New Cut Viaduct. Image: Christopher Tipping — Chatham Placemaking Project – New Cut Viaduct. Image: Christopher Tipping

The far right hand arch under the viaduct – just obscured by the white van – was the door to the Public Urinal and Barbers.

Chatham Placemaking Project - New Cut Viaduct & Public Urinal & Barbers - Image: Christopher Tipping — Chatham Placemaking Project – New Cut Viaduct & Public Urinal & Barbers – Image: Christopher Tipping

Watch this space for more images –

Blog, Chatham Placemaking Masterplan, Public Art, Public Realm

We are now on Facebook !

April 29, 2016 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

The Chatham Placemaking Project is now on Facebook ! Profiles of the project team artists can be viewed and updates of works in progress and new images will be posted at regular intervals. Perhaps you could let us know what you think and support the project.

Chatham Placemaking Project - 'These are our Streets'. Image: Simon Williams and Rob Young. — Chatham Placemaking Project – ‘These are our Streets’. Image: Simon Williams and Rob Young.

I was appointed as Lead Artist back in September 2015. We have now appointed three artists to work on a 6 months art programme running from March to August 2016. The artists are – Writer Rob Young, Printmaker Xtina Lamb and FilmMaker Simon Williams. Although each artist has a specific brief, we are working collaboratively to ensure that the creative outcomes can inspire and influence the permanent public realm works, which are due to be on site from early in 2017. The project is hugely exciting !

Rob came up with this quirky set of Lego figure to represent the artists !

Chatham Placemaking Project Artists ! Image: Rob Young — Chatham Placemaking Project Artists !
Image: Rob Young

Blog, Chatham Placemaking Masterplan, Public Art, Public Realm

Rex Cadman & the War and Peace Collection

March 9, 2016 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

Actually, the images I have recently received permission to use from the collection of Rex Cadman, also feature in the Kent Photo Archive and I am grateful to Roy Moore for putting me in contact with him via his colleague Roger Smoothy. The War & Peace Collection contains a number of relevant images of our route in Chatham.

Railway Street from New Cut Viaduct circa 1955. Collection of Rex Cadman. by Permission of Rex Cadman and Kent Photo Archive.

Railway Street from New Cut Viaduct date unknown. Collection of Rex Cadman. by Permission of Rex Cadman and Kent Photo Archive.

I love this image of Railway Street, with its celebratory flags, bunting and street decorations. I have no idea what the celebration is – but clearly a big event in the calendar for the town. Notice the fairground at the bottom of Military Street on The Paddock site. On the left can be seen the Invicta Furniture Depository and below it the clock and striped awning of the Opticians – I can make out the name Clements – will check this out via Kelly’s Street Directory.

Bus Stop on Military Road Chatham. Collection of Rex Cadman. By permission of Rex Cadman and Kent Photo Archive.

All of the properties in the image above were demolished to build the Pentagon Shopping Centre and Mountbatten House.

Naval Ratings rehearsing for the King George VI's Funeral. HMS Pembroke, Chatham, Feb. 1952. Collection of Rex Cadman. By permission of Rex Cadman and Kent Photo Archive. — Naval Ratings rehearsing for the King George VI’s Funeral. HMS Pembroke, Chatham, Feb. 1952. Collection of Rex Cadman. By permission of Rex Cadman and Kent Photo Archive.

The underlying symmetry, formation, visual contrast and rhythm in this image has been an important influencing factor in the development of the ‘Chatham Patterns’ concept. Similar events and parades must have played out within the streets and public spaces of Chatham so many times, that the evidence is within the very fabric of place.

The Hatchelling House at the Ropery, Chatham Dockyards circa 1950's. Collection of Rex Cadman. By permission of Rex Cadman and Kent Photo Archive. — The Hatchelling House at the Ropery, Chatham Dockyards circa 1950’s. Collection of Rex Cadman. By permission of Rex Cadman and Kent Photo Archive.

Blog, Chatham Placemaking Masterplan, Public Art, Public Realm

Roy Moore & The Kent Photo Archive

March 9, 2016 Christopher Tipping Leave a comment

I have been corresponding with Roy Moore for some time now. He has been an invaluable contact at The Kent Photo Archive.

He has allowed me to use some archive images of Chatham from his own collection and some contemporary images of his too.

Here are a few of these –

Chatham Railway Station date unknown. Image by permission of Kent Photo Archive. Collection of Roy Moore

Railway Street, Chatham looking towards the Brook Theatre (formerly the Town Hall). Image by permission of Kent Photo Archive. Collection of Roy Moore.

Railway Street, Chatham. Image by permission of Kent Photo Archive. Copyright Roy Moore.

Railway Street, High Street, Military Road, Chatham, looking towards the Brook Theatre. By permission of Kent Photo Archive. Collection of Roy Moore

Sailors and Soldiers Welcome Home Establishment on Military Road, Chatham. By permission of Kent Photo Archive. Collection of Roy Moore.

It is said that this ‘Temperance’ establishment, built in 1877 providing accommodation and entertainment for Sailors and Soldiers, was built to help them avoid the ‘temptations’ available elsewhere in the Town.