About Westerham
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Places of Interest in Westerham
| Take our guided
walk around Westerham to discover some of its hidden history. Here is a sample of the interesting places in and around Westerham and some places you may see on the walk. Church of St. Mary the Virgin 18th century front elevation. General W Originally built in the 13th century. However there were alterations made to the structure in the 14th, 15th and 19th centuries. There are several 16th century small brasses and various 17th and 18th century memorial tables. Statue of Sir Winston Churchill Modern bronze casting of the seated Sir Winston Churchill was sculpured by Oscar Nemon and set on a stone plinth donated by the people of Yugoslavia. Statue of General Wolfe Erected in 1911. Designed by Derwent Wood ARA and standing on an ornamental pedestal of Portland stone. Major-General James Wolfe was born in Westerham on 2nd. January 1727 and died at the Battle of Quebec on 13th. September 1759. The George and Dragon Inn Timber framed house, probably of 17th century origin, with 18th century front elevation. General Wolfe stayed at this inn on his last visit to Westerham in December 1758. The General Wolfe Public House Built in the 16th century but mostly clad in 19th century weather boarding. Pitts Cottage Built in the 16th century or earlier and lived in by William Pitt at one time whilst his home in Keston was being repaired. Numerous additions to the rear including a modern kitchen wing. Winterton House Early 19th century; two-storey with high pitched roof. The home of Countess Winterton in the early 19th century; now the offices of the local free paper, the County Border News. Moretons Court, London Road Built in 1874, this romantic, neo-Tudor style building, highly irregular, is of a U-shaped composition around a green court. Westerham Evangelical Church Built in 1839. Stuccoed. The main elevation of the church has pedimented gable end, plinth and four flat pilasters. Central panelled double doors in prostyle porch with modified entabulature and blocking course. Kings Arms Hotel An early 19th century building of three storeys with stuccoed front and incised lines, articulated by five giant pilasters supporting moulded boxed eave gutter. Grasshopper on the Green The Grasshopper on the green stands in the centre of Westerham overlooking the green which was for many years, the local market place. The inn derives its name from the heraldic crest of the Greshams, an ancient family who had a country seat at Titsey, 2 miles outside Westerham. One of the most famous members of this family was Thomas Gresham, the Tudor merchant who founded the Royal Exchange and whose brilliant advice to Henry VIII earned him a knighthood. Henry VIII was a frequent visitor to these parts when courting Ann Boleyn who lived at Hever Castle which is nearby to Westerham. shopper to avoid confusion with a local ale house just over the border in Surrey. For many years the Grasshopper was a coaching station and it was the boarding point for a coach service plied daily between Westerham and Fleet Street. The next point being the Bell at Bromley. From the windows of the restaurant the statue of General Wolfe can be seen, a son of Westerham who died in his hour of victory at Quebec. In 1994 Neale and Anne Sadlier took over the Grasshopper. They re-named the inn Grasshopper on the Green and it is also know as the Little Grasshopper to avoid confusion with a local ale house just over the border in Surrey. The Grasshopper Inn, Moorhouse With origins dating back to the 13th century, the Grasshopper Inn was altered in the 18th. century and during the 1950s was restored and extended using old materials. A wrought iron door from the Houses of Parliament and the vestry doors from Coventry Cathedral can be found among the panelled walls and beamed ceilings of the Tudor Suite. The Inn's name is taken from the grasshopper incorporated in the crest of the Gresham family who owned the Manor of Westerham from the time of Henry VIII until the late 17th century. The Tower: Tower Wood, off Hosey Hill An 18th century Folly Tower, roofless and in ruins. Galletted rubble masonry, 2 storeys and basement. East and west walls have tall, round arched windows on first floor and two round windows below. A detailed history of The Tower has recently been written by the local historian Robert Combley, who has kindly given permission for his monograph to be available on this website. He mentions that Colbran's "New Guide to Tunbridge Wells" in 1840 says that the tower was built to obtain an uninterrupted view of St Paul’s London, 21 miles away. To find out how likely this might have been, please click here to read the history and see plans and historic photographs of this fascinating old building. Church of Holy Trinity, Crockham Hill The church was built in 1842 at the sole expense of Charles Warde of Squerryes Court. It has a tall square battlemented west tower with nave, chancel and south porch of local ashlar stone with perpendicular style features. |
