Mystery identity revealed

This portrait was completed by members of the public at the castle over the recent Heritage Weekend (with a little help from Tonbridge Art Group).

A photograph was blown up so that the pixels could be drawn out onto a larger scale as a matrix of squares, each of which was colour coded. There are 6400 squares in total in the image. Visitors to the castle were asked to fill in the squares, one by one, with the appropriate colour.

All they were told was that the picture would form a portrait of a famous person.  Only one member of Tonbridge Art Group knew the identity of that person, and it was well into the second day of the Heritage Weekend that suspicions were aroused as to who this might be.

Just in case you cannot guess who this may be - Tonbridge Art Group have identified the subject of the portrait.

The completed image can be viewed at the group's current art exhibition in the Tonbridge Castle Council Chamber until October 4 from 10am to 4pm (Sunday 10.30am to 4pm).

Admission free.

Tonbridge Daily Photo

Tonbridge Daily Photo #303

This embroidered montage caught my eye at the Parish Church craft fair over Heritage weekend.  I have to admit I don't know the first thing about tapestry work, in fact sewing buttons back on is just about my only strength where a needle and thread is concerned ... however, it was obvious that a lot of close work and time had been invested by the Tonbridge Cage Green WI, in this detailed piece of needlework illustrating Tonbridge. Can you recognise all the well know town spots on either side of the River Medway? I loved the swans and their real feathers. Well done ladies of the WI ... you have done Tonbridge proud.

 

Tonbridge Daily Photo

Tonbridge Daily Photo #302

This open door is the entrance to the belfry, and top of the tower, to Tonbridge Parish Church, St Peter and St Paul.  It's not often that the public have a chance to go through the door, and climb the medieval staircase to experience the far reaching views over the town, but today you have that chance as free tours will be going on all day as part of Heritage Weekend.

If you look on the third sandstone brick on the left-hand side of the door (from the bottom), you will see a mark that looks a little like a three pronged fork. That's a bench mark, and it's one of a handful left in the town. This chiseled mark would have been made by a surveyor in the stone structure, into which an angle-iron could be placed to form a "bench" for a leveling rod to calculate a 'mean' height. These are no longer used as digital and more accurate surveying equipment is available.

Have a look next time you are there and try to find the bench mark on the old Methodist Church in East Street.