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Report by Organiser and Society
Chairman, Malcolm Bailey
Bright summer sunshine, an historic
family home, good company and the usual SVVS range of interesting
vehicles: what more could one want? Some shade on what seemed to be the
first hot day of the summer - and vehicles ranging from veteran to modern
classics, such is the variety of tastes within the SVVS.
I'd promised our hosts I'd meet and marshal participants on arrival, so my
grateful thanks to Tony Tester for manning the official start of the run
at the Priory Garden Centre in Nutfield.
Shortly after arriving at Penshurst, I was joined by membership secretary
Chas and Janet in their immaculate Lancia Fulvia, Bruce in his pristine
Porsche Boxter, editor Malcolm in his Merc 500SEC and Bozi in the
presidential Jag XKR. The range of vehicles present, from Simon's 1907
Singer to Roger and Lynette's Mustang, was broadly representative of those
on our vehicle register and supplementary reserve list. The vintage period
was represented by Matt's '29 Model A special, Tony's '29 Chrysler 70, and
the post-vintage by Gifford's 1933 Singer and Mike's 1934 Aston Martin. No
cars from the 50s, but Nick's S-type Jaguar, Doug's Merc 250SL and Mike's
Rover P5B were from the '60s. Cars of the 70's and 80s were most numerous,
including Roger and Janet's Silver Shadow, Simon's Granada and Graham's
very convincing E-type reproduction. 1980's vehicles included Ken's Mini,
and David's MGB. The evolution of the Alfa Duetto was well represented,
from Andy's 60's Spider, through Alex's '88 Alfa Guilia Spider to Leo's
Alfa '07 Spider Q4.
Penshurst Place, including the toy museum and its formal garden was
extremely interesting and well-presented: a real gem worth visiting for
those reading this who haven't paid a visit. All in, a most enjoyable day:
the photographs say it better than I can!
To enlarge photo please use the computer's Control+Scroll enlarge feature
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Picture from previous day's TIMES featuring a
picture of part of Penshurst Place Gardens, captioned: Bristling with roses and lavender, the Union Flag Garden at Penshurst
Place in Kent used as a hunting lodge by Hemry VIII, was originally
planted
in 1986.
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Very
chequered history: The
present manor house was built in 1341 for a London merchant and four times
Lord Mayor of London who wanted a country residence within easy distance
of London. This was at the time when such properties ceased to be castles:
they were more dwellings that could be defended in an emergency.
A
subsequent owner Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham was executed in
1521 by King Henry VIII following a lavish feast held at Penshurst Place
hosted by the Duke in honour of Henry. Henry then used Penshurst Place as
a hunting lodge, being only a few miles from Hever Castle, childhood home
of Anne Boleyn.
In 1550, Henry VIII's son, King Edward VI, granted the
house and estate to Sir Ralph Fane but it was forfeited two years later
after Sir Ralph was executed for treason. By the 19th century, the
building was falling into disrepair, - but a new occupant in 1818 began to
restore it.
One
enters the house through the enormous Baron's Hall, complete with original
open beamed vaulted roof, central open fire place and lack of any other
form of heating. On a very hot day, it was a cool haven; in winter it is
said that a chicken does not thaw. From the Baron's Hall the dining room,
still used for large family occasions (and was originally retired to by
the ladies when things became too hectic downstairs) leads to a series of
family rooms with furnishings collected by the Sidney family over the
generations. Penshurst proved to be a magnificent yet homely dwelling, set
in a formal garden with some welcome shady trees and Garden tea room. It
is a venue that the SVVS has visited a number of times, and will no doubt
visit again.
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