OHDS members set about collecting memories of those who had lived and worked locally before motor transport changed all this. The LHG still has a stock of taped interviews and transcripts from this exercise. In due course, we published four booklets on such firms - "The Taylors of Canterbury" (corn and seed merchants, 1988); "Holmans" (millwrights and agricultural engineers, 1992); "Bigglestons" (Iron Founders, 1996) and "Pinnocks" (coal merchants, 2000). The City Council recognised our work by agreeing to name a car park "Holmans Meadow" and an alleyway "Bigglestons Link".

These booklets were complemented by memories of those living on three principal streets - "Dover Street Remembered" (1990), "Ivy Lane Remembered"(1994) and "Nunnery Fields Remembered" (1998). This trio of booklets is still in much demand from newcomers in these streets, wondering about the history of the many interesting old buildings there. The group is now commencing a project on Old Dover Road, to add to this series.

All our booklets are full of memorable photographs, often from family archives. The LHG has built up its own large archive of photographs, covering both the Society's activities and the many changes in our area over the last 30 years. We are continuing this work, and particularly anxious to find new members willing to keep a lookout for interesting events and changes to record photographically.

We have not just collected words and pictures.

For nearly half a century from 1946, a tiny, traditional family hardware shop, "Wood's Stores", was a much loved feature of Dover Street.

As it was closing, the LHG-collected a full set-of the goods-on sale, raised funds to house them and worked with the Museum of Canterbury in Stour Street to create a permanent display. "From paraffin to pegs, from mousetraps to hairnet, a magical shop that housed a cornucopia of goods was back on display" reported the Gazette on its opening (12 May 2005).

Members of the group, still including a few of the original founding members, now meet for a coffee, a chat and to manage the group's affairs every second month on a Tuesday morning.