KB’

INTERESTING CONNECTIONS

 

Compiled by Pat Davidson

BISHOP RIDLEY, the famous martyr, was at one time curate of Bishopsbourne
and during his subsequent busy life he often visited the village ‘to enjoy
peaceful solitude‘. He was later Vicar of Herne and in Herne Church the
‘Te Deum' was sung for the first time in England under his direction. His
advocacy of Lady Jane Grey marked him as one of the most prominent victims
of papal authority and he was burned at the stake in 1555.

REVEREND RICHARD HOOKER 1554-1600, had the living of Bishopsbourne from
1595 until his death. His famous work ‘The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity‘
earned him the name 'Judicious Hooker‘. Part was written in the Old

Rectory. Hookers Hedge which formed the southern boundary of the property

still exists today - an impressive fifteen foot hedge of yew.

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART 1756-1791, returning from his Grand Tour via Dover

in 1765, spent a week as guest of Sir Horace Mann at Bourne Park,

Bishopsbourne. During this time he visited Canterbury and also went to the
races nearby, a favourite sport of the young Mozart.

GEORGE IV (Regent 1811-20, King 1820-30) frequently visited Charlton Park,

Bishopsbourne, and a new wing was added to the mansion ‘containing an

enormous apartment for theatricals to be played and the King to hold
revelry‘. It is debatable whether George IV was most conscientious in
inspecting his troops encamped on Barham Downs during the Napoleonic War,
or whether Charlton held some other attraction for him.

REVEREND JOSEPH BANKROFT READE 1801-1870, wrought wonders with his camera
and microscope in the quiet of Bishopsbourne Rectory. He died here after
a lifetime of scientific pioneering — he was the first man to separate
heat rays from light rays, he sensitised paper for photography, developed
a solution which made pictures permanent and by substituting gutta percha
for glass in photography unconsciously invented kinematographic films.
was president of the Royal Microscopal Society in 1855. '

 

SIR EDWARD BURNE-JONES 1833-1898, the artist, whilst working in
collaboration with William Morris specialised in cartoons for church
windows, some of which are incorporated in the Tower Window (1874) of
St Mary's Church, Bishopsbourne. '

REVEREND C. WALDEGRAVE SANDFORD, vicar of Bishopsbourne in 1870 later

became Bishop of Gibralter 11874).

JOSEPH CONRAD 1857-1924, spent his last years in Oswalds, next to
Bishopsbourne Church. Whilst living there he completed ‘The Rescue‘. The
porch of the village hall was erected and a memorial plaque dedicated in
December 1924 by his many friends and admirers.

SIR WINSTON SPENCER CHURCHILL 1874-1965, visited Bishopsbourne on 29th
March 1941 to inspect the famous 'Boche Buster‘ gun which was kept in the
tunnel of the Elham Valley railway line at Lenhall during the war.

 

IAN FLEMING 1908-1965, a some time resident of Bekesbourne, popular as the
inventor of James Bond 007, wrote the children's book Chitty Chitty Bang
Bang based on the colourful character Count Zborowski who lived at Highland

5

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He’

Court, Bridge in the 1920's and was the owner of a famous racing car.
NI

JOCELYN BROOK 1908-1966, author and naturalist, lived for a number of

years at Ivy Cottage, Bishopsbourne. His ‘Orchid Trilogy‘ has as its
central theme his lifelong search for the Military Orchid in the country-

side around Bishopsbourne.

ALEC and EVELYN WAUGH and other members of this well—known literary
family lived at Oswalds, Bishopsbourne for a time between 1931 and 1933.