Hoppers Memorial approximately 20 metres east south east of the chancel of Church of St Mary

TQ 6349 7/24

HADLOW CHURCH STREET Hoppers Memorial approximately 20 metres east south east of the chancel of Church of St Mary

GV II Memorial to 30 hop pickers who drowned in 1853. Sandstone ashlar. Short obelisk on a projecting base. The square section shaft below has a moulded base on a one-step plinth which has sockets for iron area railings. It is inscribed in capital letters around the sides of the base. On the southern side the inscription reads:

This Monument was erected by public subscription in memory of the Thirty hop pickers who were drowned at the Hart Lake Bridge in a flood of the River Medway on the 20th October, 1853, and whose bodies were buried in this churchyard. In the midst of life we are in death.

The other three sides list their names and ages. Their ages ranged from 18-50 years along with four infants under 6 years old, and included 16 members of the Leatherhead family.

Apparently the hop pickers were in a cart. The horse got into difficulties on the bridge and they were swept into the swollen river. There were eleven survivors.

Source: A memorial board in the church tower.

Listing NGR: TQ6350049686