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Sportspace - Hemel Hempstead
 
 
Thursday, 9th September 2010

 
BRUSH WITH THE PAST

A VIEW OF KENTS SOON AFTER IT OPENED IN 1901
THERE’S been considerable focus On Dickinson’s in our Heritage series so k we thought it would be nice to switch the focus to another Apsley firm with long links with the area which is still going strong and celebrates its centenary here this year.
Kent’s Brushes has been a significant employer in Apsley since it moved here during the first few years of this century.
The firm of GB Kent, London brushmakers, was first extablished way back in 1777.
Its factory here was built on a five acre site and, according to Apsley historian Peter Ward in his book Apsley and Nash Mills In Camera, the firm also bought five cottages in a row of ten that were being built at the end of Weymouth Street for their employees. This piece of road was called Kents Avenue, as it is today.
Two pictures of Kent’s very early days here have been loaned to us by Heritage readers.

THE KENTS STEAM LORRY

One picture is a fascinating view of Kent’s first lorry - steam powered of course - which transported the brushes from Apsley to London.
The lorry is parked by Kent’s wall in Apsley and the picture was loaned to us by Mrs Lancaster of Hemel Hempsdtead who’s grandfather, Owen Rogers is pictured driving and her father, Owen Junior, is standing at the front of the lorry. Mrs Lancaster’s mother, Emily, also worked at Kents.
The other picture right shows the Kent’s factory in about 1910 and was loaned to us by Barry Batchelor of Adeyfield.
The Kent’s site was redeveloped with a new factory in the 1980s when the chimney was demolished. Part of the site became home to the Texas/Wickes DIY superstores.
If any other readers have pictures of Kent’s from the past, or of other long-established companies in the area, we’d love to borrow them.
Please drop us a line at Heritage, The Gazette, 39 Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, Herts HP1 1LH.
 
 

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