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History of “Higham"HlGHLAND COURT
Organised by BRIDGE PARISH COUNCIL
e to mark the
CENTENARY Of PARISH COUNCILS
September 1994
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INDEX
HIGHAM
1) INTRODUCTION.
2) THE EARLY DAYS.
3) JAMES HALLETT ESQ.
4) THE REV’D CHARLES HUGHES-HALLET|'.
5) THE REV’D JAMES HUGHES-HALLETF.
6) THE DAYS of WILLIAM GAY.
7) COUNTESS ZBOROWSKI AND YOUNG LOUIS VAROW.
8) COUNT LOUIS VAROW ZBOROWSKI.
9) THE CHITFY-CHIITY-BANG-BANG.
10) FROM HIGHAM TO HIGHLAND COURT.
11) PRIVATE HOUSE TO HOSPITAL ANNEXE.
12) A HOME FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.
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HIGHAM
,1) INTRODUCTION
Highland Court Hospital, (formerly named Higham house) is now a residential
home for the mentally handicapped, which has a long and varied history. There
has been a house on this site for more than for more than five hundred years,
but the oldest part of the building now standing in this position was built by
lgnatious Geoghagan in 1768.
The Rev. Charles Hughes-Hallett lived in the house for a considerable period
and it served as a vicarage to Patrixbourne church. His son and heir, Rev.
James Hughes-Hallett continued to live in the house after his father’s death,
even though his parish was Petham with Waltham. After the death of Rev.
James Hughes-Hallett at the age of 84 a London banker with a passion for
growing orchids, bought the house, but was regretfully persuaded to sell to the
charming Countess Zborowski. The unfortunate countess, after spending a
great deal of money converting the house to her own particular tastes, died
shortly before the work was completed. Her sixteen year old son, Count Louis
Varow Zborowski became the most colourful caricature of all the owners of
higham. It was during this time that the famous " Chitty Chitty Bang Bang " car
emerged from the garages at Higham.
It took four years to, settle the estate after the tragic death of the count in 1924,
and it was not until 1928 that the house was bought by Mr. Walter Kennedy
Whigham, who after changing the name to " Highland court " lived there (
except during the years of the second world war ) until 1948. lt was offered to
the regional hospital board who in 1951 opened the house as an annexe to
Kent and Canterbury Hospital dealing with gynaecological and ophthalmic
patients. lt was closed due to financial circumstances and centralisation of all
units in 1968 and stood empty until 1972.
In November 1972 it opened it’s doors once again as a hospital, but this time
as a residential home for the mentally handicapped patents to live to their full
potential in a happy and friendly atmosphere and it is hoped will continue to do
so for many years.



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HlGHAM
2) THE EARLY DAYS
Research work carried out at County Hall, Maidstone and at the Beany Institute
in Canterbury showed that the mansion house called Higham existed in the
North-East corner of the parish of Patrixbourne during the reign of Edward ll
(1320) and was owned by a family by the name of De Hegham.
The property changed hands many times during the reign of Henry Vlll (1543).
Higham was added to the already vast estates of Thomas Culpepper. lt was
then passed to Anthony Aucher, whose descendent, Sir William Aucher died
without issue in 1726. He bequeathed it to his sister Elizabeth who on her
marriage entitled her husband Thomas Corbett LL.D. possession of the
property. their fourth daughter Antonio married lgnatious Geoghegan who in
1768 built the house which stands today. They lived in the house until 1781
when James Hallett Esq. became the new owner.
3) JAMES HALLETT ESQ.
At the time of the purchase of Higham, James Hallett owned the manor of
"Little Dunmow“, Essex which carried with it the right to present the traditional
“flitch of Bacon". This was a slice of bacon awarded each year to the happiest
couple residing within the parish of Dunmow.
A portrait of James Hallett depicts him as a well-fed, well dressed, wealthy
Georgian. Portraits of other members of the Hallett family were painted by
Gainsborough. "The Morning Walk" which hangs in the National Gallery, and the
"Hallett family" painted by the frenchman Francis Hayman, who was
Gainsborough’s teacher, is part of a private collection. According to the diary
written by one of James Hallett’s nieces who lived with him, they all lived very
graciously in a house filled with the finest china, silver and furniture.
James Hallett’s father had been the captain of a ship belonging to the Hon.
East lndia Dock Co. ln those days if one survived and was not "lost at sea" it
was a very lucrative job, as one of the Captain’s perks was to be able to trade
in india to one’s own accord. To this already very lucrative position he
increased his wealth by marrying another ship’s captain’s daughter. He also
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inherited property in Essex and a considerable amount of money.
When James Hallett died in 1823 at theage of 84 he bequeathed higham to his
nephew: his sister having married an Oxfordshire man by the name of Hughes.
The property of Higham was left to Charles Hughes on the condition that he
added the name of Hallett to his own name by Deed Poll, within a year and a
day.
4) THE REV’D CHARLES HUGHES HALLETL
Charles Hughes wasted no time in adding the name Hallett to his own. He had
previously been presented with the perpetual curacy of Little Dunmow by his
uncle and in 1813 was presented with the chaplancy of Bridge and vicarage of
Patrixbourne by Edward Taylor of Bifrons. At that time Charles Hughes-Hallett
lived Bridge Place, Bourne Park.
The Archdeanery Court Mandate of Induction sequestrations and relaxations of
1729-1869, in Canterbury Cathedral Library show the following entry:
"On receiving a mandate from his Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury
bearing the date twenty-fourth day of february 1813, a mandate issued forth
from the official General of the Archdeacon Court of Canterbury to all and
singular clerks, to instruct the Rev’d Charles Hughes-Hallett, clerk, master of
arts to the Vicarage of Patrixbourne with the chapel of Bridge, annexed in the
Archdeanery of Canterbury late void by the sequestration of William Taylor, the
last incumbent there.
To which he was presented by Edward Taylor Esq., of Bifrons in the County of
Kent, the true and undoubted patron thereof.“
Charles Hughes-Hallett married Frances Anne, the daughter of Sir Edward
Knatchbull, 8th bart of Mersham Hatch. Lady Knatchbull was the daughter of
John Graham, Lt- Govenor of Georgia at the time of the American War of
independence. During the uprising they lost all their plantations and 227 slaves!
Before being involved in a carriage accident which crippled her for the rest of
her life, Frances Anne presented her husband with nine children, the eldest of
whom followed his father’s profession into the church.
The Rev’d Charles Hughes-Hallett died at the age of 68, on the 10th of May
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1846 , and was buried beside his wife who had died the previous year on the
14th of March at the age of 54. He had held the vicarage of Patrixbourne for 33
years. ,
Higham then passed to the eldest son Rev’d James Hughes-Hallett.
5) THE REV’D JAMES HUGHES-HALLETF
James had been born in 1807 and was the eldest of nine children, several of
whom died in their early twenties in various parts of the world. He married the
daughter of Gen. Sir Thomas Gage Montresor of Ospringe; she had been "born
on the march" in lndia during the war with the Mahratras.
On the death of his uncle, Graham Hughes-Hallett, the Rev’d James was
inducted as Vicar of Petham with Waltham on November 13th 1837, by his
brother-in-law, Sir John Honeywood. The Archbishop made him live at Petham
for half the year, where he built a house to act as a vicarage. Portraits of Rev’d
James Hughes-Hallett and his wife were painted by the french artist Sanges and
were exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1854.
at that time the Higham estate was very prosperous, in particular the breeding
of Highland cattle and pigs. All the water required for the house was drawn
from a well, by a donkey wheel and a special herd was kept at the farm for this
purpose.
During the periods when James was resident at Higham he would ride or drive
his trap to Petham for the Sunday services, stopping over for lunch with friends
so that he could take the evening prayers.
The Hughes-Halletts of Higham seemed to be of very strong stock. James
remained Master of the hunt until at the age of 84 a sudden riding accident
while hacking home at dusk, called a halt to his equestrian activities. His sister
sold his horses whilst he was recovering from the fall. The family strength and
will-power is further illustrated by an account from Lt-Col. N.V. Hughes-Hallett,
of Cheltenham, and grandson of James Hughes-Hallett, that one of James’
sisters emigrated from higham to Australia at the age of 93 to go and live with
an elder sister.
The Rev’d James Hughes-Hallett died 3rd November 1901 at the age of 96.
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higham was bequeathed to Col J.W. Hughes-Hallett C.B.,C.V.O.,D.S.O., of the
Seaforth Highlanders. He had no son and was domiciled in Scotland so Higham
was put up for "SALE".
6) THE DAYS OF WILLIAM GAY
Higham was bought by William Gay, a retired London banker with Lloyds , who
was married with two sons and two daughters. Apart from farming the estate
he took a very keen interest in the adjacent grounds to higham and indulged
in his favourite pastime of growing orchids. During this period the walled garden
was constructed and many types of fruit were grown, including Grapes and figs.
A qualified team of gardeners were employed and no expense spared.
Mrs. L.M. Crookenden, widow of the late Col. Crookenden of Barham, and only
surviving child of William Gay, recalls her childhood at Higham as being happy
but very much according to victorian etiquette which still lingered on.
Her father owned a much prized herd of pedigree Highland cattle which roamed
the estate, and she recalls one occasion when "Hopkins" the bailiff was taking
a white bull to be slaughtered, at the local butchers, the bull had other ideas
and tossed the bailiff over the Church wall before making off down the village
High Street, causing a great fluster amongst the villagers.
Mrs. Crookenden’s mother was of french ancestry and this had some influence
on the decor and furnishings of the house. She enjoyed entertaining and had
a wide circle of influential friends; one of these being Countess Zborowski who
lived opposite in Bridge Hill House. As a girl Mrs. Crookenden remembers
being taken for tea with the charming Countess and instantly disliking a pale-
looking boy called Louis. Also always in the background was the formidable
Miss Hodges, the Countess’ companion.
It was the friendship between the Countess and Mrs Gay that was to lead to
Higham being sold once again. The Countess had set her heart on buying the
property from the Gay family and any objections raised were soon overcome
by the Countess’ charm.
Mrs. Crookenden still has in her possession a dolls house, originally made for
the Hallett family as an exact replica ofhigham, which must be over 150 years
old.



7) COUNTESS ZBOROWSKI AND YOUNG LOUIS VAROW
When Margaret- Countess Zborowski first came to Bridge she set her heart on
buying Higham and used all her charm to persuade the Gay family to sell the
property. When the purchase was complete she set down plans for the whole
house to be transformed. Unfortunately she never lived to see her dreams
come true, as she died of influenza just before the work on the house was
completed.
Margaret was the wealthy granddaughter of William Astor and shortly after her
marriage to Baron Alphonse de Steurs had ended in divorce, she married
Count Elliott Zborowski. He was of Polish /American ancestry and had inherited
much capital from his father who had been one of the early settlers in the
Eastern United States and had extensive property in New York and New Jersey.
To say that Count Elliott Zborowski was somewhat of a character would be an
understatement. Tradition demanded that no self respecting Zborowski ever
died with his bedsocks on. Elliott lived up to this tradition with full varve and
vigour. His penchant was for abandoned horse riding, polo playing and general
zest for living gave credence to the tales that after an evening’s drinking he
rode his stallion up the main staircase at Coventry House, Melton Mowbray.
Needless to say good manners prevented him taking the horse further than the
bedroom door.
lnto this warm fun loving high society Louis Varow Zborowski was born on the
20th of February 1895. The boy grew up with many friends, two of whom were
Lord Limerick’s children, Viscount Glentworth and Lady Victoria. The children
spending many happy holidays together at Dramore Castle in lreland.
Louis listened with interest to his father’s account of his apparent casual
participation in the Great Paris to Victoria motor race in June 1902, and which
he would have won but for a french adjudicator’s decision against him. Cars
now completely filled the count’s life. The stables at Melton Mowbray were
closed and the horses sold. From now on the Count’s attention was completely
captivated by the large noisy monsters which had been described by the
victorians as being an outrage to all decent living beings.
The carefree world to which young Louis became accustomed was shattered
when he was eight years old when his mother returned from Nice with the news



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that his father had been killed in an automobile accident on the Grand Carniche
Road. lt was believed that his gold cuff-links had caught in the throttle lever on
the steering column; throwing the Count into the roadside where he sustaihed
a fractured skull. Louis felt very deeply the loss of his father and when he
returned from the funeral at Burton Lazars the prospect of growing up under
the care of two women - his mother and her companion, Miss Beatrice Hodges,
did not bear thinking about.
After his father died, the house at Melton Mowbray was sold, the Countess,
Louis and Miss Hodges moved to London. The Countess’ health suffered with
the London air and so they moved to Bridge Hill House, Bridge. The adjacent
estate of Higham immediately attracted the attention of Margaret Laura
Zborowski and she was determined to persuade the Gay family to sell her the
property. The Countess achieved her ambition in buying the house, but sadly
just before the finishing touches to her "dream house" were completed, she
died of influenza.
Once again Louis made the journey to Burton Lazars cemetery where the
Countess was laid beside her husband. The young Count Louis was just
sixteen when he moved to Higham with Miss Hodges and the rest of the
household.
8) COUNT, LOUIS VAROV.\_/ZBOROWSKI
At the age of sixteen Count Louis Zborowski moved into the Higham estate. He
was extremely wealthy, His father left him eight million pounds and his mother
three million pounds.
He attended Kings School, Canterbury, where it is not actually recorded that he
was expelled by all accounts though they were not sorry he left. Louis had a
flair for languages, an inborn mechanical ability and an appreciable artistic
talent, the latter being suppressed by his tutors as being considered effeminate.
Tutors came and went. He spent a term at Eton and tried university life, but all
failed. He was a natural intellect but his eccentric personality eventually became
the downfall of all attempts of classical forms of education.
The young count turned to cars for solace. The cars on the estate discouraged
spirited driving due to the heavy body work, so with the aid of some of his
friends he transformed one of these by fitting a sporting light-weight coach



work. A local firm of Bligh Bros. was co-opted into helping and also
professional advice was sought at the Weighbridge Coach works of Gordon
Watney.
At this stage the counts interest in machinery was not limited to cars alone. He
developed a keen passion for aeroplanes as engines and had an aeroplane
hanger at nearby Bekesbourne aerodrome. Actual flying had little if any appeal.
lt is recorded that he remarked to his friends C.G. Le Champion "l find flying
utterly boring", and so aeroplanes were left rigged and flown by his employees.
Also moored at Faversham Creek was a boat fitted with a Mercedes engine, but
again interest dwindled quickly. Motorcycles were purchased from local
Canterbury shops and ridden with gay abandon through the estate and
surrounding countryside, raising many a scornful eye from villagers.
One of his companions at this time was T.H. Lawrence, later Lawrence of
Arabia. Another was his friend from Kings School days, the ex-Sandhurst
Cadet, Clive Gallop who was to become a permanent part of the Higham scene
for a number of years.
As his personality developed so did his love of practical jokes, and bizarre
ideas. lt was not unknown for him to booby trap the rose garden with small
explosive devices in order to catch unexpected visitors admiring the gardeners
handiwork. This was much to the horror of Ted Mansell, the head gardener. lt
was also commonplace for him to the use the garden statues for target practice
or the front courtyard as a firing range.
The now famous Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Light Railway had its
beginning at Higham. The original narrow gauge track being salvaged from
Jackson’s scrapyard in Golden Square, Canterbury, and laid at Higham. A
beautifully built locomotive designed by Sir Nigel Bresley and named "The
Green Goddess" hauled house guests and shooting parties around the estate.
When the estate was sold after the Count’s death the railway was bought by
Captain Howie and Lee Guiness and laid in its present position. "The Green
Goddess" is still a major item of the present day rolling stock.
Louis was also an early exponent of "mad" movies, trains featuring in many of
them. He would tie one of his main lady friends to the railway line and with the
assistance of his friend the chief engineer, Len Martin would arrange a dramatic
rescue in true gallant manner just as the train was approaching. The whole



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episode being captured on film to be shown later at one of the many parties.
Len Martin recalls one incident when a specially constructed building was set
on fire with the intention of Louis ga'loping through the inferno complete with
en femme. on this occasion the stunt almost failed and they escaped with a
very narrow margin of safety. Unfortunately all the films were destroyed after the
Count’s death in 1924, apparently his widow did not wish to be reminded of
these escapades.
At the start of the 1914-1918 war louis volunteered his services, but much to his
disappointment was refused admission to the armed forces. The direct reason
was never revealed, but it may have been something to do with his Polish
ancestry - Zborowski not sounding quite right for an army officer. However not
to be excluded completely, he worked on the "home front" by turning over the
coach works, of which he was a director to the manufacture of artillery wheels.
Many acres of pasture land also came under the plough in an effort to produce
more food crops. Another of the Count’s "war efforts" was to fit a search light
to one of his high-powered cars, ostensibly to watch the Dover Road for enemy
infiltrators, but enjoying every minute of the fast night driving.
In keeping with his playboy image, and the family tradition, a high society social
life developed at Higham. Many pretty girls from the theatre attended Higham
champagne parties; one of whom was Phyllis Monkman, the star of the "Bing
Boys".
Louis eventually married an American show girl, Violet Ethel Leicester and she
became Countess Zborowski in 1919, honeymooning on the Thames at
Wallingford. For the first Christmas at Higham as Count and Countess, the
housekeeper, Mrs. Dixon was requested to draw up a list of all the servants’
and estate workers’ families. A grand christmas ball was arranged with bands
coming down from London, and the very best food and wine. it was a great
success and so became an annual event until 1923.
These events are still recalled by some elderly local villagers and while talking
to some of them another facet of the Count’s character became apparent.
evidently at the last of these grand balls he raised his champagne glass to toast
the estate workers as his glass clinked it shattered which the Count took to be
an ill omen. He immediately retreated to his bedroom and did not speak to
anyone for a week. The following year he was tragically killed.
Lg 44



The Count’s generosity is recalled in an article written by David A. Paine, which
appeared in Veteran and Vintage Magazine in December 1969. in 1920 the
Count, on hearing the laments of the local fire officer about his aged horse
drawn appliance being too slow to reach the outlying village fires in time to be
of any use, offered the brigade a Pilian racing chassis complete with engine and
Dion rear suspension. his coach builders were commissioned to build a suitable
body to comfortably accommodate ten men and a mile of hose. This superb 75
h.p. engine could develop speeds of 60 m.p.h., and could also haul a steam
pump if necessary and was probably the fastest engine of its type in the
country.
What other village could boast such equipment? in recognition of his generosity
the fire brigade bestowed upon the Count the honourary title of Captain of the
Brigade which he proudly retained until his death. His generosity was
appreciated and known by all, but at one time his debts had accumulated to
such an extent that Higham was mortgaged for £10,000.
Although a millionaire, money could not always obtain what the count wanted.
William James Pierce who lived in London Road, Canterbury was veterinary
surgeon to the Zborowski estate and had taught the count to shoot as a young
lad. After one particularly well retrieving for the count, he asked him to name his
price for the dog, but was told that it wasn’t for sale.
it was with shocked dismay that the estate workers heard of the death of the
count. He had died tragically from a fractured skull sustained while racing at
Monza. His body was bought back to Dover, then to Higham and finally to it’s
resting place with his parents of Burton Lazars, to the tune of his favourite
hymn (lead kindly light.) He died on October 19th, 1924 at the age of 29.
It was the end of an era the like of which Higham was never to see again.
9) THE CHlT|'Y CHITTY BANG BANGS.
Probably the most famous car of all time was first envisaged and built at
Higham. Louis Zborowski’s love of large, fast engines led him to design and
build the now legendary Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. lmmortalised by lan Fleming
in a book of the same name, but bearing little resemblance to the original car,
written when living in the nearby village of Bekesbourne.



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At the end of the first world war the Aircraft Disposal Co. advertised 30,000
surplus aero-engines for sale at Wadden Airport (later Croydon Airport). One
of these was a six cylinder, 23,093 c.c. Mayback engine capable of developing
just over 300 h.p.
This enormous engine was coaxed into a specially lengthened Mercedes
chassis. ln order to retain all the Mercedes characteristics so love by the count
the radiator and scroll clutch were retained. ln fashion with the times the car
was given a painted prow for good air penetration, inspite of the enormous
drag of the big radiator and primitive body work. Chitty was the nature of an
experiment and was first given a crude four seater body which was knocked up
by Bligh Bros. of Canterbury; a firm with whom the count had financial interests
and under whose trade plates Chitty was first driven.
ln 1921 Easter event at Brooklands race track saw Chitty make her debut,
causing an immediate sensation. Zborowski and his group of engineering
friends clad in loud checked palm beach caps, started his monstrous car with
the aid of half axle from an aeroplane, compression device and someone
furiously winding the starting magnets was a sight no Brooklands inhabitant
cared to miss.
Zborowski was cautious. He knew that much would be expected of his 23 litre
home - built car and that if it failed as a racing car he would become a laughing
stock. He did not expect the handicaps to treat him lightly. as handling had
previously proved difficult at speed 7 c.w.t. of sand was placed at the back of
the body in order to keep the wheels in contact with the ground throughout the
race.
Chitty was awarded 78 seconds from the nearest rival, a frenchman, Andre
Boillet in a Sunbeam. On the second lap chitty increased her lead, lapping at
108.15 m.p.h. This was Chitty’s first victory. The bookies took 6 to 4 on
Zborowski, 4 to 1 on the field. Chitty won two further events that day and came
second behind the cocnts 4.5 litre Mercedes driven by a friend. No easter egg
would have matched the sweet success that monday.
Flushed with a feeling of success the Count returned to Higham. The car
behaved well and deserved further development and refinement. The Zenith
carburetters were replaced with three Claudel - Hobsons, each with it’s own
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branch manifold and outside pipe. Moreover the "touring" body was removed
and guards were fitted above the exterior driving chains. All was completed for
the Whitsun race meeting at Brooklands.
With a ten second start in the lightening short handicap, Chitty won easily
lapping at 111.29 m.p.h. and averaging 102.6 m.p.h. a re-handicap for the next
race proved to much for this magnificent machine, inspite of a lap speed of 113
m.p.h. and approaching 123 m.p.h. down the straight. A cowl had been fitted
over the radiator but this fell off; the petrol tank also split as the flexible chassis
rode the Brooklands bumps, necessitating chitty’s withdrawal from any further
events that day.
the combination of Zbarowski’s temperament and Chitty’s construction was
bound to lead to eventual success, but this was not to be in 1921 Brooklands
summer meeting. Hatford shock absorbers were fitted to Chitty to keep the
back wheels down, but this only gave the car a curious lolloping appearance
as she went round the track. In the lightening short handicap Chitty achieved
second place to Swain’s G.P. Vauxhall, but was handicapped completely out
of the lightening hang race. Although winning appealed to Zborowski’s
flamboyant nature he judged Chitty not so much by her track performance but
by the fact that he greatly enjoyed driving this magnificent car on the near
deserted roads of Kent.
By late summer of 1921 an improved version known as Chitty ll was nearing
completion in the Higham workshops. Chitty ll followed the same general lines
as Chitty l but with a shorter wheel case. Using the same type of pre-war
(probably 1907) Mercedes chain driven chassis, an 18.882 c.c. Benz aeroplane
was fitted. This car had been conceived rather as an exciting road car than for
the track.
Having missed appearing at the august Brooklands meeting , although Chitty
ll had been included in the programme, Zborowski decided to enter both cars
in the autumn meeting. Unfortunately good fortune eluded them. The smaller
car proved under geared for the track and had too severe a handicap to
overcome having to give Major Seagrave’s 3 litre Sunbeam 8 seconds start in
the 100 m.p.h. short handicap and 12 seconds in the 8.5 mile version of the
race. This was Chitty ll’s only appearance as a track car. lt managed to lap at
108.27 m.p.h. but was never raced at Brooklands again. Nevertheless
Zbarowski had every reason to be pleased with his first excursion into the
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realms of fantastic motor cars. The Count’s were here to stay.
During 1922 Zborowski drove Chitty ll across France to Algeria followed by a
white Mercedes to carry the luggage. Following a stay at Nergresco Hotel, Nice,
Zborowski and his party drove some 250 miles south of Biskra on the fringe of
the Sahara desert where a close call to disaster was only just averted. Chitty’s
radiator boiled dry just as the parties water supply was at it’s lowest level.
Before returning to England Zborowski and his companion major Clive Gallop
drove up to Strasbourg in order to view the Grand Prix circuit where the
French Grand Prix would be run later that year, both having entered cars for
this event.
The Count had previously imported from Germany a 28/95 Mercedes chassis
equipped with a sketchy test body, a six cylinder overhead camshaft engine,
a direct third gear in it’s four gear box sped and a somewhat rudimentary four-
wheeled breaking system. This was to be the basis of Chitty lll but always
known as the "White Mercedes". The original 7 litre engine removed ( and
eventually found its way into a boat). The chassis was lengthened and a six
cylinder 14,778 c.c. Mercedes aeroengine fitted. At which time engines of this
nature could be easily obtained for as little as £30. westinghouse were
approached for a new breaking system, and with a complete new body, Chitty
lll became a comparatively modern shaft driven car, if still somewhat large for
the year 1923.
During 1922 a scarcity of tyres made it essential to limit track events for Chitty
type cars. However Chitty l entered and won the Southsea speed trials at an
average speed of 73.10 m.p.h. ln September 1922 Zborowski had intended to
resume racing at the Brooklands track. Unfortunately disaster struck during a
fast practice lap when an offside front tyre burst, while climbing the members
banking , turning round as she did so, went backwards through the timing hut
at the beginning of the mile, tore off her front axle and came to rest upright a
considerable distance away. The riding mechanic then Manin, was thrown out
and badly shaken. Zborowski stayed in his seat and escaped serious injury.
One official Chamberlain had three fingers amputated as Chitty smashed
through the timing box. (The poor unfortunate fellow was later killed in a similar
accident but involving motor bikes.) Another official, Cann, saw the car go out
of control and slipped into a ditch, Chitty passing over his head without doing
him any harm. That was Chitty l’s last appearance Brooklands
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By 1924 Zborowski had become a team driver for Mercedes and all his visits
to Unterturkheim were made in Chitty lll. Chitty lll was entered as a "Mercedes"
ir the Brooklands Whitsun meeting of 1924 in the private competitors handicap,
indicative of the fact that Zborowski’s skill remained. He lapped at 93.62 m.p.h.
b_it was unplaced. However this proved to be merely a "warming up" for the
short handicap gold vase event when Chitty lapped the track at 104.63 m.p.h.
and won by 0.25 miles. At the summer Brooklands meeting Chitty was bought
out again for the short handicap and lightening hang handicap, to be pipped
to the post in events by Parry Thomas in a Leyland-Thomas special, breaking
all Brooklands speed records. This sadly was to be Zborowski’s last
appearance at Brooklands.
Back at Higham two other cars were under construction. One was never
completed, but the other was notorious and known as the "Higham Special". A
primitive chassis frame carried a war time Liberty V12 aeroengine and was the
biggest power unit ever to race at Brooklands. The 27 litre engine was matched
with a gear box from 200 h.p. Benz with chain drive and stub axles of a 1908
Grand Prix Mercedes, finished with a two-seater body. lt had a brief but
sensational career. After the death of Count Zborowski it was bought by Parry
Thomas for £125 who renamed it "babs". ln April 1926 he made a bid for the
land speed record on the flats at Pendine, South Wales. All was going well and
he had already beaten Seagrave’s previous record by 20 m.p.h. by notching up
171.02 m.p.h. on the previous run , when on a last attempt to improve upon
this speed the chain snapped lashing up and killing the driver instantly.
The car was interred in the sand under the golf course at Pendine, where it
remained until 1969 when Professor O. Wyn Owen exhumed the car and
completely restored it. ln 1976 "babs" was again driven over the flat sand at
Pendine at a somewhat leisurely pace, to mark the fifteenth anniversary of Parry
Thomas’ record attempt.
Only one Chitty still remains in existence, this is Chitty ll. After Zborowski’s
death it was thought to have been bought by a Mr. A. Fowler for £825, but later
became part of the stock of David Scott-Mancrieff who had commenced selling
horseless carriages to the nobility and gentry of the late twenties. Mr. William
Earl Hollis of Dover bought Chitty hibernated in the corner of a farmyard for
more than twenty years.



_ 
A young lad of 17, while collecting chickens from the farm for the family
butchers shop in Deal, took an interest in the old wrecked car. Hollis told him
that if he could get the car towed away he could have it. Completely unaware
of the car’s historical past and her previous owner he began a task which was
to take every spare moment of his life for the next ten years and cost him
thousands of pounds. The meticulous restoration of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
ll had begun. Peter Harris Mayers is a quiet sensitive man with a unique
devotion to the restoration of beautiful cars. Chitty ll was in his possession for
25 years. During this time the car made several appearances in various
showrooms as a centre piece, appeared on T.V. and helped raise money for
the children at Guy’s Hospital. It was only due to the financial burden of the two
tonne monster that forced Mr. Harris Mayers to decide to sell her in 1968. The
road tax at this time, based on the cubic capacity of the engine, was £35 per
quarter year, plus the fact that 11 m.p.g was the best fuel consumption ever
obtained.
She was put up for sale and bought for £16,500 by an american, Mr. M.
Rinstrick of Edendale, New York. Unfortunately when the sale was announced
in the press a controversy arose over rightful ownership and Chitty spent the
next year in a packing case awaiting shipment to the States.
Mr. Hollis (on whose farm Chitty had been allowed to rot) declared that he had
never officially given the car to Peter Harris Mayers and that it should not have
been sold without his permission. According to add to his collection at Beaulieu
and offered Mr. Hollis £4,000 for the car if he won legal ownership, he also
made the plea that the car should not leave Britain. At the end of a three day
hearing in a London High Court, Peter Harris Mayers won the day and soon
after Chitty at last began her journey to the States. She has since changed
ownership and is part of a private collection.
The name Chitty Chitty Bang Bang still lives on, originally taken, not as we were
lead to believe in the film produced by Chubby Broccoli, and starring Dick Van
Dyke, as the noise made by the exhaust, but from the somewhat lewd music
hall song of the period, the words of which like the singer have long since be
forgotten.The legendary Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and her young millionaire
creator belong to a distant age, the like of which we will never see again.



10) FROM HIGHAM TO HIGHLAND COURT.
After Count Zborowski’s death a sudden quiet fell over the estate and once
more cattle grazed in the parkland undisturbed by the monstrous cars travelling
at high speed up the driveway.
During the four years in which it took the Count’s estate administrator, George
Gosling Plant to finalise the sale of Higham it was leased to a dairy farmer from
Denton, Albert William Goldup, for £150 rent per annum.
Finally on Tuesday, 31st July 1928, Higham was put up for sale at the London
Auction Mart, Victoria Street, London by John D Wood & Co. It was described
in the brochure as " The well known and most attractive residential and
sparkling property of Higham , a fine classic mansion in a finely park".
The house , parkland and home farmland were brought by Walter Kennedy
Whigham of the Highland Investment Co Ltd., of Crosby Square, London for the
sum of £17,500 on the 31st July 1928.
After moving in with his new bride a french countess from the Saliganic Feelon
family, he changed the name of the house to Highland Court. They did not wish
to be dubbed the "Whigham form Higham" and Though Highland Court more
appropriate.
Walter Whigham and his wife had four sons, Walter Jr. Francis, Geoffrey (who
died at the age of eight) and Bernard. Mr Bernard Whigham recalls that the
cellars were used as playrooms and a Hornby Railway set laid out. So that the
children could play without disturbing the rest of the household. Private tutors
were employed for the children (the room that now serves as the dining room
for the residents was the school room). At Christ'nas large parties were held
and all the children from the village visited the house.
Highland Court mansion and its adjoining farm provided many jobs for the local
villagers. Many of the estate workers from Zborowski’s time had remained, one
in particular who returned to act as chaufieur to Walter Whigham was Len
Martin who had been Zborowski’s riding mechanic. Many of the village girls
started as housemaids at the mansion house and married estate workers or
gardeners.



The Highland Court Investment Co Ltd., expanded the farm and in 1930 new
farm buildings and a new dairy were built. Also built about this time were new
stables introduced adjacent to the house. Mr Bernard Whigham also said that
grapes were grown on a fairly large scale for wine making, unfortunately all
attempts at wine culture in latter years have always been foiled by pheasants
eating the fruit before maturation.
Mr Whigham became a well known and respected member of Kentish Society.
He was twice Sheriff of Kent but his main patronage was the Hospital
Management Committee for 13 years and was host to Princess Marina when
she visited Canterbury in 1935 to lay the foundation stone of the new Kent &
Canterbury Hospital. In recognition of this work of his a ward in the new
hospital was named after him ’Whigham Ward’.
ln 1936 a Cricket ground was added adjacent to the grounds at the back of the
house. (later in the mid-fifties a pseudo Tudor pavilion was added and Highland
Court Cricket Club had many fixtures there during the season. Many ex-Kent
players number among the regular members of the team.
Early in 1940 Mrs Whigham died, but the family had already moved to a smaller
house in Bekesbourne where Mr Whigham continued to live for the duration of
the war.
During the war years Highland Court mansion was taken over by the War
Department and was Brigade Headquarters for the London Scottish Regiment.
it is believed that when Field Marshall Montgomery visited the house shortly
before D-Day he was recorded as having remarked on the luxuriant quarters.
Mr Whigham remarried in 1943, and a further son David and Daughter Cyntheia
were born. After the war ended they returned to Higham for a short period until
Mr Whigham death in 1948 when the house was offered to the Regional
Hospital Board as an annexe to Kent & Canterbury.
In the early sixties when Highland Court investment Co Ltd., were again
expanding the farm it necessitated demolishing the old farmhouse estate. A
large well was discovered and it is believed that this may have been the original
well worked by donkeys to provide water for the whole estate.
i



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11. From Private House to Hospital Annexe.
In 1948 when Mr Walter Whigham, President of the kent & Canterbury Hospital
Management Committee for 13 years died, Highland Court was offered to the
Regional Hospital Board as an addition to Kent & Canterbury Hospital. The
project was then submitted to the authorities and there followed protracted
negotiations through the District Valuer, but the Hospital Management
Committee were determined that as far as possible they would obtain Highland
Court. They had the support of the Chairman of the Regional Board as a result
the building was finally acquired.
The plans for its adaption to a hospital were drawn up by Mr Cecil Burns and
Mr Bland who had been responsible for the plans of the main hospital in
Canterbury. The actual cost of acquisition and adaption was estimated to be
approximately £ 47,000 or E 1000 per bed, including all equipment. lt was not
possible to adapt the whole house at once and it was therefore planned to
carry out the work in two stages. Each stage provided twenty to twenty five
beds for gynaecological and ophthalmic patients.
On Thursday, October 18th, 1951 Highland Court was formally opened by Mr
K.L.Julian C.B.E. Chairman of the South Eastern Metropolitan Regional Board,
Mr E.J. Mount, Chairman of the Hospital Management Committee presided at
the ceremony which included a blessing and dedication to its new use by the
Hospital Management Committee’s Chairman now Rev R.A.F.Pratt. Hospital
nurses formed a guard of honour to welcome the many guests including the
mayor and mayoress of Canterbury, Councillor and Mrs S.H. Jennings, The
Sheriff and Mrs J.H. Barrett and Mr Walter Whigham Jnr, son of the late owner
together with many VlP’s from the medical profession.
ln his welcoming speech Mr Mount spoke of the late former owner of Highland
Court and of his valuable service to the hospital. He said that there was
possibly no use to which Highland Court could have been put that would have
pleased Mr Whigham more than its becoming part of the Kant & Canterbury
Hospital. The opening of this annexe, with its well equipped and upto date
operating theatre would go far in helping to relieve the congestion at the
Canterbury Hospital.
After the opening ceremony bouquets were presented to the ladies, and all



guests were taken on a tour of the hospital where they admired the wards and
spoke to the first four patients. All the visitors were very impressed with the Oak
ward which in previous years had been the ballroom and echoed to the strains
of waltzes and the chink of champagne glasses. From this room one
appreciates the sunken garden with its panoramic views of Canterbury beyond,
framed by towering oaks and beeches which made up the 30 acres of gardens
surrounding the Hospital. To complete the afternoons proceedings tea was
served under the excellent supervision of Mr Peter Mason of the County Hotel
Catering Service, Canterbury.
During the time that Highland Court served as an annexe to the main hospital
at Canterbury it was under the control of the matron Miss Sheehan, and stafied
by nurses and trainees. The General Nursing Council had given its approval for
student nurses to attend training periods of three months at Highland Court as
it was considered to come under the same structure as Kent & Canterbury
Hospital. Sister Souter was in charge of administration, sister Farmer was ward
sister and Clothier was night sister.
Many patients awakened from anaesthetic after operation opened their eyes to
see beautiful stick and daub decorated ceilings or to hear the birdsong drilting
through the open windows. Post operative recuperation must have been aided
by strolls in the sun shine or by sitting by the large lily pond. The warm friendly
atmosphere is still fondly remembered by patients who spent their time in
hospital at Highland Court.
The elticient and happy hospital continued its service until 1968, due to financial
costs and an attempt to centralise its units at the main hospital at Canterbury
it was decided to move the gynaecological unit back to Kent & Canterbury
Hospital.
When the door closed after the last patient left, the hospital stood empty for
four years until it was reopened in November 1972.
12. A home for the mentally handicapped.
In 1969 the parents of a twelve year old mentally handicapped Canterbury girl
complained bitterly to the Kentish Gazette about the conditions at Leybourne
Grange Hospital Maidstone. After the publicity given to the case by the
newspaper the Hospital was visited by the then Minister of Health and Social



Security, Baroness Santa. ln time this was followed by a Government Enquiry
into hospitals for the mentally handicapped.
The main objective of this enquiry was to reduce overcrowding and to open
smaller ’family’ units wherever possible. lt was to this end that Highland Court
was considered. Bridge Blean Rural District Council gave its full approval to the
scheme provided the Hospital management committee, voluntary organisations
and any other interested bodies.
lt was planned to open Highland Court as a residence for approximately 50
moderate to light handicapped patients who would not have to rely to heavily
on nursing care and would enjoy a fair degree of independence.
A little resentment from local villagers was experienced when the idea was first
broached but after one reassurance the idea was accepted. Any worries the
villagers might have had, have been proved completely unfounded as the
patients from Highland Court are accepted as part of the village scene. They
have taken part in Jubilee celebrations, and won such events as Easter Bonnet
Parades etc. The village primary school issues invitations to the patients when
ever they have concerts and are always greeting them with warm welcomes.
The hospital also depends on the help of voluntary workers from the village and
also on the help and support of the local branch of the league of friends.
After months of n"eetings and discussions, approval was given finally and the
task of redecorating and refurnishing the hospital began. It wasn’t until just
before Christmas 1972 that Highland Court hospital again opened its doors to
yet another family.
The first six patients all boys, came during the week commencing 18th
December 1972. All but one boy came from Leybourne Grange Hospital, and
he came from Princess Christians Hospital Tonbridge. The six original boys are
still living happily at Highland Court today.
Since its opening many more patients have joined the first few, a further twenty
came the following year and in 1974 a further five. Two more came in 1975 and
an additional one each year since. A few have left the hospital to go onto hostel
accommodation but any vacancies are quickly filled and there is always a
waiting list of patients who need to be accommodated on a full time basis.
— 
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Each month an average of five patients come to the hospital for short term
care. These are patients who normally live at home but come into residential
care for short periods while parents are on holiday or need a rest. Patients may
always be accepted on this basis if an assessment is required by a consultant.
One day patient attends for two days a week so she can be helped with her
education and training, and also so that she can socialise with other residents.
At the hospital patients lead a wide and varied social life within the hospital and
outside. This includes discos, visits to the pub, social events with other
hospitals and clubs, holidays in North Wales and trips to the Continent.
Some of the patients go to work in other hospitals, working in the greenhouse
and carpentry workshops, while others attend the Adult training Centre at Cow
Lane Wincheap, Canterbury. In the occupational Therapy Department at the
Hospital patients are taught many arts and crafts and also learn cooking, house
care and gardening.
The mansion house may have seen more elegant and extravagant days but
never has a family lived so happily at Highland Court. Pop records have taken
the place of orchestras from London as in previous eras, but never has so
much pleasure been derived as by the mentally handicapped residents living
to their full potential.
Information was obtained from the following sources:
Kentish Register 1795
Burke’s Landed Gentry, 18th Edition, Vol 1
Archdeanery Court Mandates of Induction, Sequestrations and Relaxations 1792
-1869
Count L. Zborowski by David A Paine, Veteran & Vintage Magazine 1969
(December)
Motor and the Mighty by Richard Garrett (1971)
A Racing Motorist, by S C H Davis
E Hasteds ‘History of Kent’ Vol lX
‘Garage and Motor Agent’ March 18th 1944
A Historical Guide to the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Light Railway by C.S
Wolfe
The Late Count Zborowski’ by L.C.G.M. Le Champion, Motor Magazine
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 T'
October 1924 
The Chitty Chitty Bang Bangs William Bodcly (Profile Publications)
l would like to thank everyone wh h
o as helped me with my research and for the
many letters, valuable information, loan of h
up otographs etc and for the man
interviews. I much a r '
Y
pp eciated the help. Thank You!