The New Pinnacles?

The Pinnacles - courtesy of Frances Card

The photograph above could be one of the last taken of The Pinnacles pub. It was taken on the day the hoardings were erected prior to demolishing the Shipbourne Road building.  The tall tree in the distance is the 95ft Wellingtonia. This was felled after councillors gave permission for the development. The tree was probably the tallest in Tonbridge and in good health, but even the Preservation Order that it carried bore no weight, and it was cut down. 

Slowly the pubs away from the town centre have been lost, and there's possibly one near you that's recently disappeared. My personal opinion is that it simply means another community hub is lost. I can remember spending summer evenings playing in the gardens of The Pinnacles as a child, while my parents sat socialising with local friends, neighbours and family over a drink. I loved playing on the swings, drinking lemonade and eating those crips that came with a little blue bag of salt. The pub was where the locals caught up with each other, discussed the town, had a gossip and planned local events.

This afternoon I drove by the Pinnacles roundabout, and was astounded as to how quickly the houses have taken shape. I wonder if the development will be called The Pinnacles?

It's very sad to realise these places, where people of all ages could get out of their homes to communicate with others, have disappeared. I'm sure there weren't so many lonely people around when we all could wander along to the local pub.

The Pinnacles

This photograph of The Pinnacles pub was sent to me by Frances Card. It was taken on the day that the hoardings were erected before demolition was started. The tall tree in the distance is the 95ft Wellingtonia that was felled after councillors gave the go-ahead for the development. The tree was probably the tallest in Tonbridge, and in good health, but even the Preservation Order that it carried bore no weight and it was lost. 

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.

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!!!!!