Ruined church hides mystery of ‘royal’ grave: a skating queen, and a place of worship ruined by a lake. St Mary’s, Eastwell, has enough history without the tale of Richard II’s illegitimate son

Highs and lows of the Riceman Empire: from towels to grand pianos, from three-piece suites to lingerie – department stores had the lot Bygonekent.org.uk

Inspiring yard boss helped Acorn to grow: the Rochester wharf that once built warships survived against the odds with the expertise of a problem-solving manager

Bold plans to revive blitzed Canterbury shot down by opponents: the Holden Plan architects’ post-war vision for rebuilding the ancient centre was diluted to compromises that pleased very few

Noble past of brothers in cricket: Kent’s wandering brethren opened their account in 1858 and have been playing the game ever since Bygonekent.org.uk

Final journey: humble rail van’s role in carrying war heroes to their graves

Fairy author mixed anti-suffrage fantasy with stuffy politics: what would Jane Austen have said? Her great-nephew became a writer, but chose to castigate women who were ‘amending the law of nature’

Haven for foundlings: pioneering care for babies born into shame and poverty