The residents at Barty took to the waters of the Medway onboard The Kentish Lady, learning about Maidstone on route, an unexpected treat. Did you know Maidstone is known as a Brewing and Paper town? No neither did most of the eight residents who sailed down the Medway today. As we passed the site of the old Sharps Toffee Factory, now flats for Maidstone folk. We were informed that the factory was established in 1911. Doreen remembered visiting the factory as a child on a school trip and being given a large bag of toffee’s. I doubt this would happen today on children’s school trips. We also learnt all about the Whatman Paper Mill as we cruised past the original building. Apparently Napoleon penned his last will and testament on Watman paper three months before he died!
Our trip today was a mere hour long round trip from the Malta Inn, though apparently the river Medway is in total 72 miles long, and the very last commercial barge to travel the waters was in 1979.
Well educated and refreshed having had a nice cup of tea onboard, we stepped back onto dry land at the Malta Inn. All the residents loved the trips both in the morning and the afternoon. Doreen and Pat expressed how beautiful it had been and that they loved the pure white swans. Olive could be seen doing her crossword on board, nothing comes between Olive and her crossword book. Once back at ‘The Malta’, we took in the sights of the river watching the Medway River traffic sail past us while having a drink from the bar.
Big thanks to Wes our Oomph driver who got us all to both boardings of the boat on time and in style. Another fabulous trip for Barty residents and staff out and about.
Find out more about the famous toffee factory here:
http://www.pressreader.com/uk/kent-messenger-maidstone/20150626/283347585836189
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