The foundation stone pictured on the Home Page is at Elliott House nursing home in Beltinge, Herne Bay. The history of this building together with many others nearby and in other parts of the country is very interesting and really part of a much larger picture of the philanthropic life of J Passmore Edwards (a Freemason) who appears on the foundation stone as:
Interestingly the nearby building of the Friendly Society Convalescent Home was also built with a large donation by J Passmore Edwards and in this instance he laid the foundation stone as well. The Friendly Society Home was opened in 1892 seven years earlier than Elliott House and both homes were built on land provided by three men who were members of either the Oddfellows or the Foresters.
It would appear that soon after the Friendly Society Home was built it became clear that it was not large enough. Consequently work began on Elliott House. Elliott House was originally built as a Railway Convalescent Home.
Aerial view of the two homes The inscriptions on the stone at Elliott House
Elliott House on the left - Friendly Society on right.
Once again the history of The Earl Amherst is deserving of great study. What is of interest to us is, of course, his association with Kent.
