In 1903 a community of nuns expelled from France opened a Convent School
at Shrublands, Mill Lane. The building has now been demolished.
The
Covent eventually moved to the mansion house of Foxbush in
Hildenborough. Known as Notre Dames de Lourdes it was both a day school for local girls and boarding school for international students. The pupils could be seen in Tonbridge wearing flat bloaters and white gloves (even in the heat of summer). The covent closed its doors in the early 70's.
If a reader has photographs, attended the school or knows anyone who did
please contact tonbridgedaily@gmail.com or leave a comment on the
blog.
Showing posts with label Foxbush. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Foxbush. Show all posts
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
Saturday, 14 April 2012
Sibling Sensation
Last weekend I visited an exhibition of photography and embroidery at The Langley Hotel, London Road by, brother and sister, Mark and Eva Charrington.
Mark became interested in photography at the age of 14 when he attended Ardingly College and it was here that he had his first exhibition. He has come a long way since then moving from film to digital photography and his interest has travelled with him all over the world.
The photographs on display were a mix of subjects in both black and white and colour. Mark describes himself as ...' a keen photographer'. I found the exhibits both engaging and enjoyed the varied content, and it was an added bonus for Mark to be on hand to talk about his work, explain where in the world they were taken and relate stories to individual pieces.
Eva's embroidery was also on display and her work is inspired by local historical buildings and places of interest, such as The Oast Theatre and a beautiful weeping willow at Foxbush in Hildenborough. Her enthusiasm was evident as she talked me through past and future projects.
She did reveal that she wanted to make her own protest, and document the 95ft Wellingtonia in the Pinnacles pub garden that is set to be felled to make way for 20 new homes. So hopefully this beautiful Redwood Cedar will be immortalised in an embroidered image by Eva.
This exhibition was probably the most interesting and warmly inviting afternoon I have spent for some time. Eva had baked Tonbridge biscuits from an old recipe which were delicious and taken the trouble to decorate the room with an Easter theme. Her enthusiasm for local history was infectious and Mark's tales of his photographs were so entertaining. The afternoon was made perfect for me when their German mother dropped by and I was able to spend some time speaking in my own mother tongue for a while. Perfect!
If you missed this ... you missed a real local treat!!!!!
 | |
| Hildenborough artists Mark and Eva Charrington |
Mark became interested in photography at the age of 14 when he attended Ardingly College and it was here that he had his first exhibition. He has come a long way since then moving from film to digital photography and his interest has travelled with him all over the world.
The photographs on display were a mix of subjects in both black and white and colour. Mark describes himself as ...' a keen photographer'. I found the exhibits both engaging and enjoyed the varied content, and it was an added bonus for Mark to be on hand to talk about his work, explain where in the world they were taken and relate stories to individual pieces.
Eva's embroidery was also on display and her work is inspired by local historical buildings and places of interest, such as The Oast Theatre and a beautiful weeping willow at Foxbush in Hildenborough. Her enthusiasm was evident as she talked me through past and future projects.
She did reveal that she wanted to make her own protest, and document the 95ft Wellingtonia in the Pinnacles pub garden that is set to be felled to make way for 20 new homes. So hopefully this beautiful Redwood Cedar will be immortalised in an embroidered image by Eva.
 |
| 95ft Wellingtonia |
This exhibition was probably the most interesting and warmly inviting afternoon I have spent for some time. Eva had baked Tonbridge biscuits from an old recipe which were delicious and taken the trouble to decorate the room with an Easter theme. Her enthusiasm for local history was infectious and Mark's tales of his photographs were so entertaining. The afternoon was made perfect for me when their German mother dropped by and I was able to spend some time speaking in my own mother tongue for a while. Perfect!
If you missed this ... you missed a real local treat!!!!!
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