Swanley History Group – September 2017 meeting
Not far away from Swanley is Lullingstone Castle, recorded in the Domesday Book in the reign of William the Conqueror. Much of Swanley was built on estate land, hence The Lullingstone Castle public house, Lullingstone Avenue, Hart Dyke Road and Swanley Recreation Ground bequeathed for the recreation of the people of Swanley.
At the September meeting of Swanley History Group, Blue Badge Guide Konrad Start said he would tell us about the owners, St. Botolph’s Church, silk production, Royal connections and wartime – and he certainly did all that!
Early owners of the estate, Gregory De Rokesle and John Peche, Alderman and Lord Mayor of London three times, were highly regarded and awarded Free warren, or hunting rights, by their sovereigns. The present Hart Dyke family can trace their lineage back nineteen generations –Percival seems to have been a popular family name. The Hart and Dyke names came together when Anne, only child and heir of Sir Percyval Hart married Sir Thomas Dyke of Horsham in 1728. Anne had jilted him initially but they married seven years later after her first husband died. A patient and forgiving man it seems. It was this gentleman who added ‘Castle’ to the property which has welcomed visits from monarchs including Elizabeth 1, Queen Anne who had her own bathhouse, George I, Queen Mary and more recently Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Visitors can see the impressive family tombs and memorials in St. Botolph's Church in the grounds. The present Baronet is Sir David Hart Dyke who resides in Canada. His brother Guy, wife Sarah and famous plant collector son Tom live at Lullingstone. An interesting detail is that, being distant cousins, the surname of both Guy and Sarah was Hart Dyke when they married.
Many of us were unaware that, if plans had not been put on hold by the coming of WW2, a major airport the size of Heathrow would have been built in the valley. The railway station of Lullingstone was completed in 1938 and demolished in 1955. A two seater open top car was manufactured at Lullingstone by Victor Motor Company, the company owner being engineer Oliver Hart Dyke.
During World War 2 The estate was home to 200 soldiers from the Deep South of America and the Royal Engineers who were working on secret experiments and practising with live ammunition - as well as evacuated pregnant women. A decoy airfield was constructed and the gatehouse was hit by a doodlebug.
If you were visiting Lullingstone Castle during the 1930’s to 1950’s you might have noticed trays of silk worms munching mulberry leaves. The silk produced was used for the coronation gown of the late HRH Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 1937 and also the wedding gown of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, apparently paid for with clothing coupons.
Tours of Lullingstone Castle are at 2pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday until the end of September and Sundays only during October.
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser
Not far away from Swanley is Lullingstone Castle, recorded in the Domesday Book in the reign of William the Conqueror. Much of Swanley was built on estate land, hence The Lullingstone Castle public house, Lullingstone Avenue, Hart Dyke Road and Swanley Recreation Ground bequeathed for the recreation of the people of Swanley.
At the September meeting of Swanley History Group, Blue Badge Guide Konrad Start said he would tell us about the owners, St. Botolph’s Church, silk production, Royal connections and wartime – and he certainly did all that!
Early owners of the estate, Gregory De Rokesle and John Peche, Alderman and Lord Mayor of London three times, were highly regarded and awarded Free warren, or hunting rights, by their sovereigns. The present Hart Dyke family can trace their lineage back nineteen generations –Percival seems to have been a popular family name. The Hart and Dyke names came together when Anne, only child and heir of Sir Percyval Hart married Sir Thomas Dyke of Horsham in 1728. Anne had jilted him initially but they married seven years later after her first husband died. A patient and forgiving man it seems. It was this gentleman who added ‘Castle’ to the property which has welcomed visits from monarchs including Elizabeth 1, Queen Anne who had her own bathhouse, George I, Queen Mary and more recently Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Visitors can see the impressive family tombs and memorials in St. Botolph's Church in the grounds. The present Baronet is Sir David Hart Dyke who resides in Canada. His brother Guy, wife Sarah and famous plant collector son Tom live at Lullingstone. An interesting detail is that, being distant cousins, the surname of both Guy and Sarah was Hart Dyke when they married.
Many of us were unaware that, if plans had not been put on hold by the coming of WW2, a major airport the size of Heathrow would have been built in the valley. The railway station of Lullingstone was completed in 1938 and demolished in 1955. A two seater open top car was manufactured at Lullingstone by Victor Motor Company, the company owner being engineer Oliver Hart Dyke.
During World War 2 The estate was home to 200 soldiers from the Deep South of America and the Royal Engineers who were working on secret experiments and practising with live ammunition - as well as evacuated pregnant women. A decoy airfield was constructed and the gatehouse was hit by a doodlebug.
If you were visiting Lullingstone Castle during the 1930’s to 1950’s you might have noticed trays of silk worms munching mulberry leaves. The silk produced was used for the coronation gown of the late HRH Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 1937 and also the wedding gown of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, apparently paid for with clothing coupons.
Tours of Lullingstone Castle are at 2pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday until the end of September and Sundays only during October.
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser