An unassuming farmer's cottage in a Kent high street was the unlikely venue of a nightclub which became one of the most popular in the area in the '50s and '60s.

The Cedars folk and jazz club in Sittingbourne, closed in 1969 but was described as having a "great atmosphere" for the time it was open - even rivalling venues in the City.

The site was previously known as West End Cottage, and was owned by solicitor Richard Bathurst.

However, the building was made more than double the size by the next owner, William Whitehead Gascoyne, who was a rich farmer and leading figure in the town.

After Mr Gascoyne moved to another large house, the previous one was cut in two and the east wing re-named the Cedars.

After the Second World War, a TV set attracted a few who wanted to watch sport between games of snooker with their pals, but such clientèle provided little income. It branched out into jazz music in the '50s.

In June 1961, it was announced the Cedars was going to be extended and turned into a folk and jazz club.

A stage was built in what was previously the billiards room, and music started to become more of a focal point for the club.

Folk groups would perform during the week and traditional jazz groups would play on Friday and Saturday nights.

The 2015 book 'The Rise and Fall of the Beat Groups in Sittingbourne', published by Allen Whitnell includes an extract from an article in the Chatham Standard in the early sixties.

It described the club as being "mainly for the jazz fan", but also "the brightest and most popular club in the area", and "better by far than many similar clubs in London."

It continued: "The main room is schemed in deep blue, red and gold. The walls are papered in contrasting designs and (most important) the lights are always low.

"On one side of the room is a long bar and in an opposite corner a dais for the resident band. A small lounge and billiard room adjoin."

Doris Stagg, who owned the club from 1958, said her aim was to provide an atmosphere where people could meet and at the same time provide entertainment.

A popular resident band to play there regularly were The Maniacs - a prolific group which performed all over Kent from 1961 to 1967, as well as further afield including London.

The club featured jazz groups, but to try and cater for the growing demand of beat music, it decided to try out the band The Tributes, who ended up being very popular.

Doris and her partner Albert ran the club with her son Malcolm. She also had a daughter called Yvonne who died in the mid 1970s.

The minimum age for patrons was 18, and it was favoured by young people in their late teens and 20s.

The Tributes' line-up consisted of ‘Alec’ Alexander on bass guitar, John Jessop, Richard Kleczkowski, Dave Woods and Graham Lecore.

A section of Mr Whitnell's book includes a quotation from Alec, saying: "The best moment was winning the audition to be the first pop group at The Cedars.

"With our new ‘Beatles’ image and new songs we were immediately a hit with the younger members.

"We felt very at home at The Cedars and had a good fan-base there. It had a sort of faded glamour and probably needed a good makeover."

However, in July 1968, Doris Stagg, who owned the club for 14 years, announced she was retiring and selling up.

In August, planning permission was granted to an insurance company for a change of use, but before this happened the club stayed open for a while.

It was finally closed up in November 1969. The insurance company demolished the site the year, and a McDonald's stood in its place for some time.

The site is now behind Paddy Power and Lloyds Bank in Sittingbourne High Street.

Diane Newton, now 78, said: "I used to go to the Cedars club which was traditional jazz music in those days with a live band. Beer Butler was in the band and I think he still plays nowadays.

"I always went on Friday night as I was off to Margate on a Saturday night. It had a lovely sweeping staircase and a large room upstairs where us girls used to leave our coats and I remember you felt quite special if you were a member."

Alan Foord reminisced: "I was a regular in the late '60s. I loved the blues and soul at the time.

"I was married in '68 so no more Cedar nights, and left for Australia in '70.

"I didn't realise it was demolished though even after a few visits back. It was a great atmosphere in a nightclub."