History: Maddieson's  Holiday  Camp

Before the Romney Sands Holiday Park there was Maddieson's Holiday Camp on the same site. Maddieson's started up in the 1920s and continued into the 1980s when the camp was sold.

It was a large camp, covering some 12 acres and was an extremely popular destination for holiday makers. (You can get a very good idea of the size by looking at the pictures  at 1931 Plans for Greatstone.

The facilties were boundless, as exampled in the 1960 and 1961/67 pictures below.

The Camp in 1960

The pictures of the camp below are taken from a fold out concertina type postcard from the camp in June 1960.
The postcard said Weather too windy for the kids to go in the water but they are enjoying themselves, plenty to play with. It's a lovely camp and the food is smashing.
 

These photographs are  published courtesy of Zoe Beardsley
 

The Camp in 1961/1967

Roy Eames has very fond memories of Maddieson's. He says:
I have seen your site and it brought back so many lovely memories. I first went to Maddieson's in 1961, two years before I got married and for many years after we were married. My children were virtually reared at the camp for quite a few years after. I have a number of holiday snaps and I attach three of my late wife. As you can see she was a stunner and the judges certainly got it right when she was awarded the Miss Charm of the week on three occasions. The date on the first one by the pool was I believe 1961 two years before we were married. The other photo was as you can see in the photo 1967 four years after we were married.
 

Gillian Halls by the pool in 1961

Gillian Halls 1961

Gillian Eames
Miss Charm of the Week 1967

Do you have any information, old pictures  or  memories of the camp?   If you do please let Peter know email.

Memories of Greatstone (including Maddieson's)