Sevenoaks - Kent

Sevenoaks was one of those places that we passed through or around with the occasional trip to Knole Park and the magnificent Knole House.  This day we were expecting rain so decided that going to a town where they may be ready shelter was a good idea.  As it turned out the day was not as wet as we expected to instead of dodging the showers we ambled around the town enjoying the early spring blooms and the experience of seeing the town from the sidewalks.  The first problem was the car parking and missing a few so we ended up parking behind the theatre, cinema complex close to the pedestrian area.

Sevenoaks is an old town with a history that as we explore the area we will discover.  The river Darent passes through to Dartford via Otford, Shoreham and Eynesford where the Lullingstone Roman Villa is displayed and well preserved.  The town centre, once a market and trading centre complete with a labor market where tradesmen would sell their wares and services, is pedentrianised although old much of it has been modernised.  I am not a fan of the clean lines that tend to make all buildings look like a kit set company has supplied modules to a limited range of designs but at least the older parts have been integrated with a little care.  The newer sections have arches and narrowish lanes. 

However, all towns and cities develop as the centuries pass and like many others Sevenoaks has done just that.  The treat for lovers of buildings is the many magnificent house on the wide streets whose ages range from the 1700's to 1900's and of course the more modern structures of the later 20C. 

Sevenoaks school, a secondary and boarding school that claims an international touch and has among its students some who are capable of places at Oxford and Cambridge and the Ivy League Universities of the United States appears to dominate part of the town.  It's core buildings are ancient but the school itself seems to be progressive offering places that are well sought after.  It reflects the tone of the town - genteel sophistication with the knowledge of its part in history. 

Dominating the Tonbridge end of the High Street is St Nicholas Church opposite the Knole Park entrance and parts of the Sevenoaks school.  Beside the church is the Chantry House built in 1720 which was itself built around a much earlier place in 1542 (I wasn't around then so I have no idea what it looked like).  We walked into the church yard but unfortunately the trusting community has chosen to put security on the entry and bar all who do not have the codes.  What does one do to worship the Lord at Easter? Seek his spirit in the nearest pub?

The little lanes around the church led us through Six Bells Lane (Above) and past some delightful dwellings and back to the main road.  From there our stroll led us past the Constituional Club building to the Sevenoaks Cricket Club grounds from where we had good views of the Darent valley.

Earlier we stopped at a market stall and bought cheese and some delicious organic bread rolls as a walking lunch.  The cheese was delicious and the bread tasted like real bread.   As you can see from the reflection of the stall in the Chequers Pub window the bread looked delicious. We decided to walk and from the cricket ground (above is a view of the flower gardens near the grounds) we took to the Vines and down onto a suburban road, turning left St Botolph's road back to the grounds and then on back to the car park, ascertain the time left on the ticket and discovered we had enough time left to get a cappucino and an ale.  So, it was back into the Shambles for a cafe or a bar.  We found a bar and sat in there putting the world to rights as you do.