Author Topic: Guess the Place  (Read 1008664 times)

Offline Lyn L

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Re: Guess the Place
« Reply #4989 on: July 28, 2021, 12:39:29 PM »
Thank you John Walker, it is interesting history. When we visited that day a helicopter landed in the grounds ( we watched ) it was piloted by Prince William who was escorted in for lunch.
I have emailed them but have had no reply   and as I'm stone deaf now  can't phone and maybe get the answer to my query. Never mind it doesn't really matter now . Would have been interesting to me and my family though.

Offline grandarog

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Re: Guess the Place
« Reply #4988 on: July 28, 2021, 12:37:26 PM »
John Walker.As the old saying, Go Westish young man quite a long way, about 50 miles.

Offline John Walker

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Re: Guess the Place
« Reply #4987 on: July 28, 2021, 09:22:57 AM »
Lyn L, Interesting history about Chilston Park.  I hope you find the information you are after.


JohnFilmer - Fordwich Church?

Offline Lyn L

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Re: Guess the Place
« Reply #4986 on: July 27, 2021, 12:24:26 PM »
I've only just logged on today but seeing Chilston Park in GTP, can only say thankyou John Walker.
It was my late hubby's ancestral pile ( 4x Gt Grandmother born there Louisa Best. ) but and only because it's had the lovely history added , has anyone any idea of which family is shown in the large portrait on the beautiful staircase ?
Louisa's father was George Best and mother Caroline Scott. George died in 1819 .
We only visited once back in 2012 and only just to nip in and get the brochure they had. Never actually saw the portrait in person . I would love to know whether they are the Best family . Any help would be really appreciated. x

Offline grandarog

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Re: Guess the Place
« Reply #4985 on: July 27, 2021, 11:58:55 AM »
Thanks Johnfilmer. :)
My Grandfather was Bailiff at Cork Farm.My mum went to School at Chilham .My Uncle and Aunt Arthur and Nancy Fill owned/landlorded the Woolpack in the early 1900's so have visited Chilham many times over the years.


Where would you find this very distinctive Spire?

Offline johnfilmer

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Re: Guess the Place
« Reply #4984 on: July 27, 2021, 10:59:10 AM »
Spot on Grandarog. Not a fisherman myself, but their website has some serious fish pictures.


The Wikipedia entry for the Stour mills is also very informative, many more than I had realised.


Over to you.
Illegitimus nil carborundum

Offline grandarog

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Re: Guess the Place
« Reply #4983 on: July 27, 2021, 10:48:20 AM »
That's an old picture of Chilham Mill. . The Mill was owned by Southern water until it was bought with the whole estate in the last 20 years .The owner set up a carp Fishery there which is very popular with Anglers.

Offline johnfilmer

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Re: Guess the Place
« Reply #4982 on: July 27, 2021, 10:44:04 AM »
Not the Medway MartinR, go east.
Illegitimus nil carborundum

Offline Dave Smith

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Re: Guess the Place
« Reply #4981 on: July 27, 2021, 10:24:06 AM »
JohnWalker. Many thanks for that additional history to GDP, very interesting. I was intrigued by the Chinese Chippendale staircase. Anyone been there who might explain please?

Online MartinR

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Re: Guess the Place
« Reply #4980 on: July 27, 2021, 10:02:51 AM »
IS the river the Medway?

Offline johnfilmer

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Re: Guess the Place
« Reply #4979 on: July 27, 2021, 09:46:39 AM »
Thanks JW, a bit of a lucky guess if I'm honest.
This next one is a 1906 photo, the building still exists - but as ever, where?
Illegitimus nil carborundum

Offline John Walker

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Re: Guess the Place
« Reply #4978 on: July 26, 2021, 09:43:15 PM »
Chilston Park?


You've got it JohnFilmer - Well done.  Over to you.
 


History of Chilston Park Hotel
Chilston Park dates back to at least 1100, when 'Childeston' was owned by the Fitzhamon lords of Leeds Castle.
One influential owner of Chilston Park was Thomas Best, MP for Rochester, and a member of a well known Kentish family. During the Bests’ occupation between 1736 and 1819, much rebuilding was carried out. Inside, the rooms on the east side were remodelled to accommodate a staircase hall of Chinese Chippendale inspiration, and outside, the grounds were transformed into a picturesque parkland, complete with its own "natural" lake.
The Bests drained the canal east of the house, but left the pond to the south west of the garden. A sundial in the grounds bears the family's coat of arms and gives quaint bearings to such far-flung locations as Peking.
In 1821, the property passed to George Douglas, the eldest son of Alexander Douglas of Baads, Midlothian, an event which marked the start of a family connection which was to last until the sale of the house in 1983. The Douglas's were related to the Akers family of Lancashire, who were involved in the Caribbean sugar trade in the 17th and 18th century.
The head of the Akers family bore the unusual Christian name of Aretas, which was to travel through seven generations.
Aretas I married Jean Douglas, George's aunt, in 1752, and in 1795 Aretas II wed the daughter of the Reverend James Ramsay, a keen abolitionist, and rector of Teston. A portrait of Aretas II can be seen in the staircase hall.
George Douglas, a bachelor, had an adopted daughter named Margaret Brazier, who in 1830 married one of George's relations, James Stoddart Douglas. He inherited the estate upon George's death in 1836 and in 1873 the Baads estate in Midlothian was left to him. After the death of his wife, Stoddart Douglas married Sarah Jenkin, whose portrait can be seen in the former morning room next to the conservatory.
During her years at the Kentish house, Sarah had a swimming bath built in the woodlands near the south lake. All that remains of her pool, set in a leafy glade, is a trickle of water amongst traces of brickwork.
In 1858, James Stoddart Douglas left Chilston to a distant, but geographically close, relative, Aretas Akers V. He was then living in the converted remains of a Benedictine abbey at West Malling in Kent. Aretas V became the 1st Viscount of Chilston and was the son of Reverend Aretas Akers IV, Rector of Malling between 1824-1856.
In the same year as he inherited the house and estate, Aretas inherited the Scottish property of Baads in Midlothian. He went on to marry Adeline Austen Smith and took her back to his Kentish home. Within a few years, the ancient rooms rang to the sound of children's laughter as they brought the old house to life.
Upon inheriting Baads, Aretas V adopted the surname of his great grandmother Jean, to whom he owed his fortune. For 30 years Akers-Douglas represented the St Augustine's division of Kent in Parliament, eventually becoming home secretary in 1902. Portraits of him at Chilston show a young man with auburn hair and side-whiskers, and later, the corpulent, frock-coated politician he became.

Offline johnfilmer

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Re: Guess the Place
« Reply #4977 on: July 26, 2021, 07:59:54 PM »
Chilston Park?
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Offline Lutonman

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Re: Guess the Place
« Reply #4976 on: July 26, 2021, 07:40:00 PM »
Museum of kent Rural Life?

Offline grandarog

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Re: Guess the Place
« Reply #4975 on: July 26, 2021, 06:51:56 PM »
Leeds Castle  ??