Penny Duggan
@pennyduggan
Archives | Local History | Family History Bexley, Blackfen, Kent, London, Ireland Archives Officer @BexleyArchives Chair of Lamorbey and Sidcup Local History Society
An extra element of planning for this year’s guided walks has been finding shady spots for each stopping point. The availability of trees in sunny Sidcup helps!
I think most towns in the country must have a 'Victoria Road' and Sidcup is no exception. This and the former cottage hospital feature in A Stroll around Victorian Sidcup for the Live Well, Age Well hub guided walk on Tuesday 28 July. More details and booking at Eventbrite shorturl.at/0LYTf
Transferring a new collection to the archive following someone’s death is poignant, especially if you knew the person well. Martyn designed his own Christmas cards as well as beer festival programmes. Today, while shifting 2 car loads of boxes, it was his sketches which touched me the most.
Last week I gave an armchair guided walk to patients from the Plas Meddyg Surgery in Old Bexley for Bexley Buddies. The pressing question: who was the baker of apple pies so good that Apple Pie Corner became a place name?
What do Afghan dumplings, dance and flowers have in common? They were all at Community Heritage Festival today at Bear Church Deptford, inspired by Educating Deptford project themes of food, life stories and environment. Thanks to all involved in bringing this history to life. @jpaprice.bsky.social
A practice run of my Welling guided walk which finishes at the site of the greatest place on earth, Nuxley Toy Shop, RIP.
At the Bear Church Deptford for a service remembering the history of the Ragged School and Princess Louise Institute, followed by the unveiling of a @lewishamheritage.bsky.social Maroon Plaque. A fantastic project with @jpaprice.bsky.social. We even had Educating Deptford cupcakes!
After a rather trying week, I managed to get some peace and quiet. Prepping for the next walk: Sidcup in 1926.
Hopefully it will be a bit warmer on the riverfront than it was yesterday!🥶
A super day sharing #localhistory at Bursted Wood for Bexley Buddies, an initiative that addresses non-medical needs within GP surgeries. I’m determined to get #BexleyArchives out and about! A perfect place for reminiscing about the former Maternity Hospital next door which is to be redeveloped.
A magical carpet of bluebells was exactly the antidote I needed this evening!
We held a dedication ceremony yesterday for the oak tree planted by Lamorbey and Sidcup LHS to remember the civilians who died in the Second World War, thanks to funding from Coca Cola. Over 100 people died in the Sidcup district and many more were injured.
Tomorrow is the #Blackfen Easter Fayre. At 11am I'm leading a guided walk of Blackfen - a bit different to last year as it has a music theme running through it, combining two of my favourite things! 🎶😍 #localhistory #music
The Lamorbey & Sidcup Local History Society with funding from Coca-Cola has planted an oak tree at The Green #Sidcup to remember the almost 90 civilians of Sidcup who died in the Second World War. Many thanks to Coca-Cola and London Borough of Bexley Parks team for their help.
Don’t miss the Blackfen Easter Fayre on Saturday 28 March 10am-3pm! We have a market, crafts, magic, treasure hunt, #localhistory walk, games and bingo. Thanks to Tom’s Butchers, Spar and Blackfen Chiropractic Clinic for sponsoring the entertainment. #Blackfen #Easter
Gone full circle today doing an event on the history of Sidcup at Queensgate Apartments which is built on the site of the maternity hospital where I was born! And pleased I managed to squeeze into one talk Queen Victoria, Dame Ethel Smyth, Led Zeppelin and Rolling Stones. #Sidcup #localhistory
I joined Kent Libraries last week. They’d run out of adult cards so gave me a children’s one temporarily… but I want to keep this one! #WorldBookDay
Busman’s holiday at the Isle of Wight County Records Office where I spent a happy few hours today.
Being an archivist has its perks! #Christmas2025 Yes, someone did bring me parsnips 🤣
Just a couple of days to go until Christmas Comes to Blackfen on Saturday 29 November. Lots going on at Blackfen Community Library and in the George Staples Car Park. Come along and support your local shops in #Blackfen too!
It was an honour today to take part in the Remembrance Sunday parade to St John’s Church and the wreath-laying at Sidcup War Memorial on behalf of Lamorbey and Sidcup Local History Society. The sacrifices made must not be forgotten.
A great weekend lined up with the Erith Made Festival (including ‘Pleasure Garden’ at the Exchange) on Sat 13 Sept and Woodland Festival at Lesnes Abbey on Sun 14 Sept. I’ll be on a stall at both with @bexleyarchives.bsky.social so come and say hello! #CelebratingBexley
A Very Victorian Day Out at Crossness Pumping Station celebrating 160 years of sewage disposal. A fabulous combination of engineering, music, history, ice-cream and beer.
A day in #Londonium - a fantastic mudlarking exhibition at the Roman amphitheatre underneath London’s Guildhall, with so many incredible stories unearthed from the tiniest objects that have been found beside the Thames. Part of Totally Thames Festival 2025
Back at work today @bexleyarchives.bsky.social with my impressive stash of Ancestry goodies and full of bright ideas from the Archives and Records Association Conference @araukie.bsky.social #ARA2025
My first ARA conference and I am incredibly thankful for the Ancestry bursary that allowed me to be here. A fantastic learning opportunity and archivists are all such lovely people! #ARA2025
A perfect day in Bristol: a second hand book shop, a castle and ‘the oldest pub in Bristol’.
What an inspiring exhibition of creativity from Centrepieces in ‘Reflections on Where We Live’ showing what a profound impact our surroundings have on our memories and experience. In the Stables Gallery at Hall Place #Bexley until 12 August. #CelebratingBexley #LocalHistory #art