Post date: Jun 10, 2020 1:9:51 PM

Extract from Kent & Sussex Courier - Wednesday 05 September 1900

The Hop-picking Season.—

The rapid approach of the hop-picking season is being heralded to all who use the main roads leading to the Paddock Wood, East Peckham, and Wateringbury districts, where are to be seen numbers of gipsy encampments, with their inhabitants eagerly awaiting opportunities of earning "an honest shilling," or more often, perhaps saving a " dishonest" coin by appropriating the goods and chattels of others; for passing the road leading from Paddock Wood to Pembury Lower Green, a man was seen to rush from the hedge and help himself very freely from a passing waggon load of hop-poles, the driver, fully cognisant of the theft, being practically powerless to prevent the marauder carrying away good number of poles, owing to the presence of his companions of the wayside. The roads, too, are infested with tramps and persons of doubtful character, and it is, therefore, inadvisable to traverse the district alone after sunset during the next few weeks.