Quick trip to Sevenoaks this morning – bit of family nostalgia. Sevenoaks is a market and commuter town 20ish miles from Central London and where the Browns were last known to have lived in the UK. Went via the Dartford Crossing, a major road crossing of the Thames – bit congested but mostly seemed to be due to the toll booths – 2×2 lane tunnels go north with  4 lane cable stayed southbound bridge. Found a nice spot for lunch in Sevenoaks village.

Reasonably expensive property here. Most notable landmark is Knole Park home of the Sackville family (Dukes of Dorset). A very impressive stately mansion.

Link to photos

Some trivia for the record – have been oaks in Knole Park for a very long time. In 1902 seven oak trees planted adjacent to the Vine Cricket Club to celebrate coronation of King Edward VII. Only one remains, but other oaks of various ages around. The Vine Cricket Ground is one of the oldest cricket venues in England. It was given to the town of Sevenoaks in 1773 by John Frederick Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset (1745 – 1799) and owner of Knole House, where the ground is sited. The land was thought previously to have been used as a vineyard for the Archbishops of Canterbury (hence the name). Of interest to me, given we have “peppercorn” rentals at work, 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, the archetypal peppercorn rent. They, in turn, must pay Lord Sackville (if asked) one cricket ball on 21 July each year. The club is notable for being the first place in England where cricket was played with three stumps rather than two.

Author: Gill

Hi. I'm fun-loving, creative, mostly energetic and a mother of 3. My interests are family, culinary pursuits (I own just a few cookbooks...), socialising and entertaining, living and always learning.