Swanley History Group – April 2017 meeting
Japan is not the only place renowned for cherry blossom. The cherry orchards of Wilmington were once a favourite excursion too! Jean Radford, who manages The Wilmington Heritage Centre, provided many new and interesting facts during her illustrated talk ‘Early Wilmington - Historic Buildings’ at the April meeting of Swanley History Group.
Wilmington (named after a local warlord ‘Wighelm’ and ‘tun’ - farmstead in Old English) has a long history. Pre-Roman pottery and other artefacts have been found and a wooden Saxon chapel was on the site of St. Michael and All Angels Church. Hungry mice are the reason for some missing church records.
Some notable older buildings still exist. Wilmington Manor is associated with many important figures from history, some of whom met a grisly end. From 1896 it was the home of Sir James Whitehead, a Lord Mayor of London. His son George lived in Wilmington Grange (built in 1754) which was once Wilmington Workhouse. Now these buildings form part of Wilmington Grammar School for Girls. Manor Gate has been used to house sick females from the workhouse; as a hostel for the mentally sick and is now a BUPA nursing home. Wilmington House, built on the site of an early farmhouse, has been a country club; offices for Cooper Estates and is now apartments. Wilmington Hall was demolished in 1972 to make way for school buildings. A housing estate now replaces French style Hulsewood House, designed by Edward Cressey. All that remains of Oakfield Lodge and grounds of 35 acres is Oakfield Park – though The Clock House converted from the stables exists. Ancient Shire hall burnt down. A mysterious secret room was discovered in the ruins.
We enjoyed photographs and illustrations of the cottages and businesses along High Street and other parts of the village as well as donkeys on the heath. There are still a number of public houses but gone are The Cherry Tree, the Cock Inn, The Jessamine, The Gamecock and The Eagle. There is no truth in the legend that highwayman Dick Turpin drank at The Horse and Groom – it was built after he was hanged.
Delia Taylor will be presenting ‘The Roaring Twenties’ at our next meeting on 2 May - 7.15 for 7.30 pm start, at White Oak Indoor Bowls Centre, Garrolds Close, off Hilda May Avenue, Swanley, BR8 7BF. For further information – www.swanleyhistorygroup.weebly.com, telephone Terry on 07884493894 Or Email [email protected]
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser
Japan is not the only place renowned for cherry blossom. The cherry orchards of Wilmington were once a favourite excursion too! Jean Radford, who manages The Wilmington Heritage Centre, provided many new and interesting facts during her illustrated talk ‘Early Wilmington - Historic Buildings’ at the April meeting of Swanley History Group.
Wilmington (named after a local warlord ‘Wighelm’ and ‘tun’ - farmstead in Old English) has a long history. Pre-Roman pottery and other artefacts have been found and a wooden Saxon chapel was on the site of St. Michael and All Angels Church. Hungry mice are the reason for some missing church records.
Some notable older buildings still exist. Wilmington Manor is associated with many important figures from history, some of whom met a grisly end. From 1896 it was the home of Sir James Whitehead, a Lord Mayor of London. His son George lived in Wilmington Grange (built in 1754) which was once Wilmington Workhouse. Now these buildings form part of Wilmington Grammar School for Girls. Manor Gate has been used to house sick females from the workhouse; as a hostel for the mentally sick and is now a BUPA nursing home. Wilmington House, built on the site of an early farmhouse, has been a country club; offices for Cooper Estates and is now apartments. Wilmington Hall was demolished in 1972 to make way for school buildings. A housing estate now replaces French style Hulsewood House, designed by Edward Cressey. All that remains of Oakfield Lodge and grounds of 35 acres is Oakfield Park – though The Clock House converted from the stables exists. Ancient Shire hall burnt down. A mysterious secret room was discovered in the ruins.
We enjoyed photographs and illustrations of the cottages and businesses along High Street and other parts of the village as well as donkeys on the heath. There are still a number of public houses but gone are The Cherry Tree, the Cock Inn, The Jessamine, The Gamecock and The Eagle. There is no truth in the legend that highwayman Dick Turpin drank at The Horse and Groom – it was built after he was hanged.
Delia Taylor will be presenting ‘The Roaring Twenties’ at our next meeting on 2 May - 7.15 for 7.30 pm start, at White Oak Indoor Bowls Centre, Garrolds Close, off Hilda May Avenue, Swanley, BR8 7BF. For further information – www.swanleyhistorygroup.weebly.com, telephone Terry on 07884493894 Or Email [email protected]
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser