The Seven Oaks of Sevenoaks
The current seven oaks are on the northern side of the Vine Cricket Ground. The average life of an oak tree is approximately 250 years and so the oaks have been replaced several times. In 1902 seven oaks were planted on The Vine to commemorate the Coronation of King Edward VII.
During the hurricane of 1987 six of these were blown down and Sevenoaks became "Oneoaks". Surprisingly, seven new oaks were planted which means there are now eight oaks! There is also a group of oaks near the White Hart pub on the Tonbridge that were planted in 1955 to replace some that were dying.
The town's motto is "Floreant Septum Quercus" - " May the Seven Oaks Flourish "
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Knole
At the entrance to Knole one can see the course of an ancient river bed. The house itself is set on higher ground or 'knoll'. It was brought for £266.13s.4d by Cardinal Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury in 1456 from William, Baron of Say and Sele. It is known as a 'calendar House' due to the fact it has 365 rooms, 52 staircases and 7 courtyards. Bourchier died at Knole in 1486 and in 1538 it came into the possession of Henry VIII and eventually passed on to Queen Elizabeth I, who gave it to her cousin Thomas Sackville. The Sackville family are still in residence. At one time Mary Tudor was confined to Knole by Archbishop Cranmer who resided there by permission of her father King Henry VIII.
There are many treasures at Knole including the first 'Knole' settee, beautiful tapestries, silver and paintings.
Vita Sackville-West was born and brought up at Knole and later moved to Long barn in the village of Sevenoaks Weald before buying Sissinghurst Castle, one of the most famous gardens in the world. Her friend, the writer Virginia Woolf, set her novel 'Orlando' at Knole and her original manuscript is on display
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The Vine Cricket Ground
The Vine Cricket Ground is one of the oldest cricket grounds in England. It was given to the town in 1773 by John, 3rd Duke of Dorset, owner of Knole House. The land was thought previously to have been used as a vineyard for the Archbishops of Canterbury (hence the name).The first nationally reported cricket match took place here in 1734 when "The Gentlemen of Kent" played "The Gentlemen of Sussex" - and the Kent team won.
The weatherboard pavilion is 19th century. The Vine Cricket Club must pay Sevenoaks Town Council a rent of 2 peppercorns per year - one for the ground and one for the pavilion. They, in turn, must pay Lord Sackville (if asked) one cricket ball on the 21st July each year.
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The Old Market House
This building dates from 1843 and replaced an earlier Tudor one that would have been completely open to house the stalls of the traders.
The upper floor was used as a corn exchange and also as a court house.
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The Oak Tree formerly known as Blighs
Blighs was a 16th Century farmhouse originally belonging to the Archbishops of Canterbury. In the 18th Century it was rented by Bethlehem Hospital for the Insane and was known as Bethlehem or Bedlam Farm. The name was changed when Mr Bligh acquired it in 1882.
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The Shambles
The Shambles originates from Medieval times and is where the slaughterhouses were situated because of its proximity to the market Square. It would not have been a very pleasant area as much of the waste would have been left lying in the alleyways.
Bank Street and Dorset Street were part of the main trading area of Sevenoaks. Many of the buildings are timber framed dating from the 14th Century.
At the London Road entrance there is still a butchers shop although this dates from the 18th Century.
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Chequers Inn
This is a 16th Century Coaching Inn where three coaches weekly used to stop for Maidstone and London.
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The Reeve's House
The Reeve's House, now a seafood restaurant, was built in the 15th Century as the residence for the Reeve or Agent or the Archbishop of Canterbury. Inside is a Tudor fireplace that has the Coat of Arms of Archbishop Chichele and Archbishop Warham carved into it.
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The Fountain
The fountain opposite Loch Fyne Seafood Restaurant at the junction of London Road and High Street was donated by an anonymous benefactor in 1882. Near this point there was once a pond surrounded by trees called Cage Pond. Here there was a ducking stool that was used to punish women who had been convicted of being "common scolds" and who were thought of as being a public nuisance.
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The Red House
The Red House was built in 1686 and at one time was owned by Dr Francis Austen, the great uncle of Jane Austen. Jane was known to have stayed here in 1788.
In 1796 it is believed that she spent time at Chevening in one of her uncle's houses there and used Chevening House (now the official residence of the Foreign Secretary) as the model for Rosings Park in Pride and Prejudice. Jane's great grandmother, Elizabeth Austen, was housekeeper to the Master of Sevenoaks School. Kippington House (in Kippington Road) also belonged to her husband.
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St Nicholas Church
St Nicholas Church mostly dates from the 13th Century though the main part was rebuilt in the 15th Century. The earliest records date back to 1122 when it paid its dues to Rochester Cathedral.
The poet John Donne was rector from 1616 to 1631.
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Six Bells Lane
This lane probably took its name from when St Nicholas had a peal of six bells (it now has eight). The cottages are mostly 18th Century and many have typical Kentish weatherboarding.
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The Chantry
The Chantry was built in 1700 replacing one built in 1257. Masses were sung for the souls of local benefactors.
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Sevenoaks School and Almshouses
Sevenoaks School and Almshouses were founded by William Sevenoke in his own house and then in 1432 he endowed a hospital for the poor and a free school for the young people of Sevenoaks.
The present buildings replaced others between 1724 and 1734 and are thought to have been designed by Lord Burlington.
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Walthamstow Hall
The history of Walthamstow Hall school is remarkable because it reflects the history of education for girls in this country. The 19th century was a ground-breaking one for the recognition and education of young women.
Walthamstow Hall was founded in 1838 as an inter-denominational mission school and home for the daughters of Christian missionaries and retains its Christian ethos to this day. It provides an ‘all-through’ education with a Junior School for girls aged 3 – 11 and a Senior School for girls aged 11 – 18. The school is situated in the heart of Sevenoaks, close to The Vine cricket ground and adjacent to the Hollybush All Weather sports ground. It takes its name from the ‘village’ – Walthamstow - where it was founded. It moved to Sevenoaks in 1882 (May 17th). The founder’s daughter purchased the Hollybush Lane site and commissioned the architect, Edward C Robins to design the new school. The building was quite a talking point - the tallest in the town, and a tribute to the Arts & Crafts style. Visitors will recognise similarities with the National Trust properties of the same period, The Red House and Standen.
The Junior School moved to its present site in Bradbourne Park Road following the closure of St Hilary’s School in 1992.
125 years on and despite the flying bombs of the Second World War – one speech day took place partly underground until the skies cleared - the school is still breaking new ground. Nothing got in the way of the girls’ education, not even the war! In 1944 the Butler Education Act was passed which made it possible for the Senior School to become the Girls’ Direct Grant Grammar School in Sevenoaks, a move which opened up opportunities to more Sevenoaks girls. Although it reverted to full independent status in 1975 due to the phasing out of the direct grant system, the school’s generous system of bursaries supports the Governors’ aim that no girl should be prevented from attending the school solely because of their families’ financial circumstances.
The standard of education has always been very high with Oxbridge places achieved across the curriculum. The Sixth Form Centre - a fine detached Victorian building - continues to expand and adapt to meet 21st century needs. Pupils study a broad curriculum in depth and achieve 3 – 5 A Levels at the highest grades. Interestingly and unusually, the majority of sixth formers study a mix of arts and sciences. At GCSE they achieve 10 or more subjects.
During the 1970’s the link with the Voluntary Service Unit was strengthened. Founded jointly with Sevenoaks School in 1964 the VSU still has an active programme of events, largely run by Sixth Form Volunteers from all the schools in the area. In 1989 The Ship Theatre was opened by Sir Geraint Evans, an occasion which is commemorated every five years with a week-long ‘Ship Festival’ of performing arts events. The Ship Theatre is also a popular venue for community activities including the annual Sevenoaks Festival and Three Arts Festival.
In the last five years, Governors and current Headmistress, Mrs Jill Milner a graduate of St Anne’s Oxford, have successfully managed an unrivalled level of growth and expansion. New facilities are evident throughout; at the Junior School in Bradbourne Park Road, the Senior School in Hollybush Lane and The Sixth Form Centre in Bayham Road. A new 25-metre, six-lane indoor swimming pool complex was completed this year and a new sports hall, teaching block and extra performing arts facilities will follow.
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