The Shepway Cross

[Neil Clark]

I have been told by numerous local inhabitants of Hythe and surrounding area that the SHEPWAY CROSS is NOT a war memorial and merely marks the spot where the Cinque Ports Court used to hold their court in ancient times. I was sufficiently interested to delve deeper...

It turns out that all the locals are utterly WRONG! This civic war memorial was erected in 1923 as a tribute to the "deeds" of the men of the Cinque Ports who fell in the Great War.

It is now my intention to have the facts relayed to the local inhabitants of West Hythe and Lympne so that wreaths can be laid each November. I am aghast the local RBL knows nothing about it's existence.

I have read a few books on the Romney Marsh that remark about the Shepway Cross marking the site of the Cinque Ports Court but only one states it true purpose.

I am also compiling a file for English Heritage to "spot list" the monument because it has been allowed to gradually fall apart...

I was wondering if any forum members have ever come accross this memorial and if so, have they realised it was in fact a civic war memorial?

Last week I placed a poppy wreath at the foot of the monument weighed down with fishing weights!

Thanks

Neil

[spike10764]

Neil, I get the feeling if people did not know the true purpose of the Shepway Cross, they will when you are finished- keep up the good work and good luck....

[Chris_Baker]

I thought that GWF members might like to see some email correspondence that I have recently received concerning this thread.

Enquirer, 13 April

Perhaps you could help old sweats to stop making arrogant fools of themselves

Shepway cross is a place not only a cross. It started as a crossroads, on the Saxon and Roman ways then became the meeting place of Cinque port leaders and more recently the location of a monument to the fallen.

The author on http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=53757 also uses capitals, which in internet protocols is shouting.

That website does not allow others to contact. Feel free to forward this e-mail.

It is a pity to see old soldiers reinforce the myth they are also Dad’s Army old fools.

Chris in reply, 14 April

I am not sure why your message has come through to me. I ceased to be an Admin of the Great War Forum more than two years ago. Better send it to the current Mods. There is a link to them somewhere on the home page.

Enquirer, 14 April

No link that I could see.

I hoped your loyalty by your former position in that organisation you would help them to correct the error of their ways that will bring them into disrepute. Was wrong in that hope?

I’ve done all that I can

Chris in reply, 15 April

I’ve now looked at the thread in question and can’t see any reason at all why I would get involved. I have no connection or knowledge about the subject; frankly I don’t see the “arrogance” or “error of their ways” you mention even if the facts stated are incorrect; the people posting are not old soldiers (the “ranks” are a forum feature depending on the individual’s frequency of usage); and I have better things to do with my life. If you wish to correct the original poster, then of course you are free to do so yourself, as indeed is any other member.

Enquirer, 15 April

How sad they should miss-represent the Forces.

There are no contact details on the blog for me to use.

By the post date, it seems the arrogant blog existed in your time, possibly posted in your time. Sad that you failed to correct it at that time.

Goodbye

[KevinBattle]

WOW! So using capitals at any place in a post is considered shouting?

chris, you have shown far more good sense in your replies that that OAF!

never mind, another outrage bus will be along for him soon!

[Neil Clark]

Oh dear.

This is my first post here for some time now. Goodness me, there are some very odd people out there. I find it unbelievable that anyone would criticise kentfallen bearing in mind it's content. It has taken years of research to put online. I doubt the person here complaining has taken the time to see just how much work has been done by only a handfull of people (David Hughes mainly).

If that's not bad enough - I pay the costs of the website from my own pocket and ALL our work is freely available to everybody for absolutely NOTHING!

Ungrateful sod.

Chris I'm sorry YOU have been dragged into this "storm in a tea cup"!

Shepway Cross is NOT a place it's situated inside the parish of Lympne very close to it's boundary with West Hythe. There is NO PLACE such as Shepway Cross as this person seems to think.

I stand by my assertion that the Shepway Cross is a civic war memorial. Most local people think it's there to mark the place where the ancient court of Cinque Ports were held. Although this was a consideration it was NOT the purpose of putting it there. It just happens to be in the same position as the ancient court which is a good thing in my book.

I'd say 99% of local people believe the monument is there to mark where the court was held. I have tried to change this but some people prefer to believe in a myth and others don't like being proved WRONG (continue to believe a myth). That's there problem NOT mine or Kentfallen.

I suggest the person who complains so bitterly does their homework properly BEFORE spouting off at someone with no connection to the matter.

I suggest we all just IGNORE this rude person and concentrate on more important matters.

My links on kenfallen clearly show the true situation with regard to the Shepway Cross. I spent many hours doing background research and possess copies of local newspapers testifying to the fact this monument is a WAR MEMORIAL.

here - http://www.kentfallen.com/PDF%20REPORTS/SHEPWAY%20CROSS.pdf

All the best

Neil

[Neil Clark]

In 2002 I placed a lovely Poppy memorial on the monument to commemorate the men of the Cinque Ports who gave their lives in both World War's. This poppy wreath was stolen a few days later. I have been told that a local inhabitant and former parish councellor removed it because the monument is NOT a war memorial...

In any case the Lympne Parish Council are a bunch of utter timewasters. They gave me no help when researching JACK UDEN on Lympne's war memorial and were a hindrance to me when trying to get CWGC approval (which I did eventually get).

I still possess all the letters to prove just how unhelpful this lot were. I never even got a thanks for getting Uden commemorated. These plonkers had for 90 plus years been marching in front a village war memorial which contained the name of a local man who was never commemorated by the country he gave his life for. I put that right myself...

It cost ME (from my pocket) over a hundred pounds.

http://www.kentfallen.com/PDF%20REPORTS/UDEN%20JACK.pdf

and here is my success (a tribute to a very brave man who was forgotten by his village for 90 years plus) -

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=75228057

Cheeky sods.

[KevinBattle]

Neil, don't waste your time on these sorts of people.

I think there are strong hints in your replies as to who this twerp may be connected with.

Whatever the rights and wrongs, to deliberately interfere with a Poppy Wreath is unforgivable.

Obviously, some people still believe the Earth is flat round that part of Kent, no doubt.

Still, I suppose it stops them interfering with themselves, must be the only pleasure they have.