Places
Kent's hidden gem
Above: The Union Mill
Above: The village centre
A Cranbrook artist created the first ever Christmas card, the actress Elizabeth Taylor was once a resident of the town, and Elizabeth Paine, wife of the author of The Rights of Man, is buried in Cranbrook’s St Dunstan's churchyard. It’s a beautiful, friendly country town, known as the Capital of the Weald.
Everywhere is within easy walking distance. The long High Street, packed with intriguing shops, terminates at the Weald Information Centre, with St Dunstan’s church set behind. Stone Street leads off to the right and this eventually forks into The Hill, which climbs dramatically, giving you panoramic views over the timber-framed and white weather-boarded buildings.
Historic title
The name derives from ‘The Crane’s Brook’ a reference to the birds which frequented the local stream. In the 14th century Flemish weavers, fullers and dyers arrived from Flanders and established the broadcloth industry. The ensuing prosperity lasting until late Tudor times, after which tanning, rope-making and agriculture filled the vacuum.
The old Tudor grammar school evolved into Cranbrook’s current large day/boarding school. An artistic tradition emerged in Victorian times when ‘The Cranbrook Colony’ was formed: a group of local professional painters who used the surrounding architecture, people and children for inspiration.
The originator was Thomas Webster, joined by brothers Frederick and George Hardy, George Bernard O’Neill, Augusts Edwin Mulready and John Callcott Horsley, drawing master to Queeen Victoria’s children.
Did You know?
- The Cranbrook Colony of Artists moved from London to Cranbrook so as to be surrounded by sources of inspiration.
- Artist John Calcott Horsley created the first Christmas card in 1843. This provoked much controversy because it depicted children drinking wine.
- When Queen Elizabeth 1 stayed at the George hotel in 1573, she walked on a mile of Cranbrook broadcloth to reach Coursehorne Manor.
- Sissinghurst Castle and Garden was restored by Harold Nicholson and his wife Vita Sackville-West in the 1930s. The latter’s writing room in the castle has been preserved.
- The Boyd Alexander collection of Victorian stuffed birds in the museum is the largest in the UK outside the Natural History Museum.
- Elizabeth Paine, wife of American revolutionary philosopher Thomas Paine, is buried in the churchyard of St Dunstan’s.
- Union Mill is the tallest and the finest example of a smockmill of its type in England.
- Shoemaker and Methodist hymn writer Thomas Clarke wrote Cranbrook in 1805, whose tune was later adopted for the Yorkshire folk-song On Ilkley Moor Bah ‘At.
- The first Cranbrook & Tenterden Food and Drink Festival will take place from 1-4 November.
Related links:
Next town feature (Sandwich)
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