The main purpose and aim of www.crockhamhillevents.co.uk is to inform people who live inside and outside the village of news and events that occur in and around our village.
These events can include major village events such as the village fete or fireworks display (and torchlit prossesion, smaller events such as theatre in the village hall, quiz nights in the pub or sports occassions at the memorial park.
The site can also be used to promote other smaller events and to keep you informed of recent news.
www.crockhamhillevents.co.uk is meant to be used by the village residents and primarily for the village residents. If you have any comments or wish to add an event to the site please send to info@crockhamhillevents.co.uk
Haddy Cosh and Race night raises £600 in aid of Childreach International
"Many thanks to everybody who attended the Race Night in the Royal Oak on 1st May and supported my efforts.Your contributions both direct and through the betting, plus to a good number of donations from people who couldn't come, meant that the event raised over £600.Crockham Hill has shown its generosity to less fortunate children yet again.My fund raising website www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/haddycosh will be collecting right up until I return from the 250 mile walk.
Thanks again.Haddy Cosh"
Speeding Through the Village
C.R.A.S.H. UPDATE
Since the PACT meeting held in the Village Hall in November, the CRASH committee has been communicating with Kent Highways and Westerham Parish Council in an effort to push for further traffic calming improvements in the village. We recently met Mr Appleby (who attended the PACT meeting), and walked him through the key concerns we have as residents of Crockham Hill. The main discussion points were:
Re-assessment of works carried out, to see what impact the monies spent have had in the village, for indications are that there has been very little (if any) improvement. We also discussed whether there was a ‘contingency pot’ to help where measures have not worked; and what can be done to further reduce traffic speed.
The school sign needs to be on an automated system, to work when the school opens and closes – this would have an immediate impact on cars travelling through the village.
Continue to investigate the ‘Traffic Light’ system seen on the continent. This was highly supported by local residents, and further action on this would be much appreciated.
Follow up KCC funding for a Speed Indicator Device (SID).
Zebra Crossing discussed in length – this is something we definately need, to improve the ‘suggested’ crossing on the Main Road.
Exit from Main Road into Spout Lane (opposite The Royal Oak) with the possibility of using white lines to build out the kerb to disguise road contours to drivers. This would potentially reduce the speed of cars turning left as they travel down the hill.
As you can appreciate, Kent Highways were unable to offer any promises at the meeting. However, we left Mr Appleby with a list of points to report back on. It was made very clear to CRASH that funding was a key issue for Kent, and very little – if any – monies are available to help villages like ours. We are pursuing other avenues in an effort to raise money to make our village ‘safe’. However, any ideas would be very welcome! As an indication, a flashing speed sign (SID) costs as much as £15,000. If we can raise half the money it was indicated that we may have a much stronger chance than other villages in similar positions.
CRASH is also planning a Speed Awareness Week in June. We will post visual banners and posters around the village to indicate to drivers the speed limit, and hopefully to prompt them to slow down. The local press will also be involved. Unfortunately, the Police Speed Check signs that were placed in the village have been stolen! We have asked for replacements, but P.C. Ingram does not have any more at present.
In addition the Royal Oak is now offering a takeaway food service from the main menu
Vegatable Growing Competition
The Crockahm Hill vegetable growing competition was won this year by Ron Seale, with a prize winning leek
Crockam Hill Firework Night
The firework evening passed without serious incident or injury and was well attended by approx 1,000. The procession starting from Smiths Lane was a success, however a little more organisation will be required for next year.
Additional images of Crockham Hill
Crockham Hill Church
Crockham Hill Village Hall
View from Froghole Lane
Crockham Hill cottages
A Brief Crockham Hill History
Crockham Hill is situated on the Lewes to London Roman Road on the Kent side of the Kent and Surrey border, with some buildings dating back to the sixteenth century, the majority of the buildings and houses dating from the 19th century. The road on the hill (Main Road) was once a toll road with the toll both being situated next door to the The Royal Oak public house.
The northern part of Crockham Hill is mostly common land and the wooded part of Squerryes Park, whilst much of the rest belongs to the National Trust, including the Chartwell estate. There are many well-maintained public rights of way, which includes the Greensand Way.
Crockham Hill & Crockham Grange Farm - National Trust
Acquired in 1943, this 120-hectare property lies at the foot of the Greensand Ridge Escarpment and the northern half lies within Kent's AONB. Within the woods are many woodland copses and ponds. Crockham is a working farm, mainly arable but with grazing cattle.
The area has a good amount of human history scattered within its boundaries. A medieval moated manor house site exists and a Roman road passes within 100 metres of Crockham.
The property is crossed by many rights of way and has a bye-way running east to west through the centre - the boundary of the designated AONB.
The local primary school lease their playing field from the Trust and are involved in the conservation work. The village holds a fireworks event each year on the farm and the local churchyard is the resting place of one of the Trusts founding members, Octavia Hill.
Within two miles to the north lies Mariners Hill and to the east, Limpsfield common. Footpaths link both National Trust areas. (National Trust)
Tragic event at Crockham Hill during the Second World War
In 1944, Little Mariners at Froghole (Crockham Hill) was being used by the LCC as a home for evacuated children, but the house was severely damaged by incendiaries and the children and staff moved to Weald House (now Hoplands) on the edge of Crockham Hill Common.
In the early hours of Friday 30 June 1944 a flying bomb (doodlebug) came over, apparently struck a tree on Mariners Hill and was deflected onto Weald House. Twentyone children and eight female staff were killed in the tragedy - Kent's largest single civilian loss during World War II.
(Oliver Fielding-Clark's autobiography, Unfinished Conflict contains a piece about this - he was Vicar of C Hill at the time and one of the first on the scene.) There was one survivor Peter Findley, then a year-old infant with measles who had been put in another house for isolation. Over the years Mr Findley has been trying to find details of his mother, who was killed in the tragedy. He lives in Yorkshire and has visited both Edenbridge and Crockham Hill several times with his wife, and has so far managed to locate a woman who worked at Weald House at the time and knew his mother well.
(K Reynolds)
