in 1865, the rev j y stratton began a campaign to improve the conditions of the hop-pickers. also during the 1860s, the rev j j kendon, visiting goudhurst, was appalled at the plight of the hop pickers and began campaigning for improvements. this led to the formation of the "society for employment and improved lodgings for hop pickers" in 1866. the first bylaws covering hop-pickers' accommodation were adopted at bromley in kent under the sanitary acts amendment act, 1874. kendon made his headquarters at curtisden green and by 1889 had a team of over a dozen missionaries.