The Finale to the BARC Club Car Championships Weekender at Brands Hatch and after a Very Thrilling set of both Qualifying Sessions and Races which took place on the Saturday it was Time once again for each Driver to strap in and get ready for some high speed Racing Action thought the Sunday.

 

In Tribute to the Marshall who was Tragically Killed on the Saturday Some Car and Driver Pairings were Racing with Orange Hearts on their Cars as a Tribute to all of Motorsports Family of Marshalls for who without Racing would not be possible. Thank You!

 

So Lets get started and see what the days events Haver to Offer and who can Push their Machinery to the Limits and beyond for a Victory.

 

Britcar Endurance Championship - Trophy Category (Race 1 Results FINAL)

 

The Britcar Endurance Trophy was the First up and it was time to see who could claim that elusive Pole Position and to see if anyone else could challenge the Top Three Drivers Lets see how things turned out.

 

In First Place was the Pairing Of (Datum Motorsport's Axel Van Nederveen and Adriano Medeiros) in their Ginetta G55A with a Best Lap Time of 52:193 and an Average Speed of 64.75mph. Congratulations Axel and Adriano a Really Fantastic Drive and A Super Victory.

 

In Second Place was (SVG's Mark Lee) in his Ginetta G56A with a Best Lap Time of 52.086 and an Average Speed of 64.70mph. Amazing Drive Mark Keeping that Ginetta on the Track and Taking Second Place while Nearly Matching the Speed of Axel and Adriano. Well Done.

 

In Third Place was (Terry Stephens) in his Peugeot 308 with a Best Lap Time of 53.421 and an Average Speed of 64.50mph. Well Fought Terry a Fantastic Finish in Third Place and Staying Ahead by just over 11 seconds to the Pair of Jasver and Bryan in 4th. Amazing Job.

 

A Really Enjoyable and Exciting First Race of the Sunday with High Speed Action and Incredible Victories on Track. Congratulations Axel Adriano Mark and Terry. Lets see what Race 2 Brings in terms of the Action.

  

Britcar Endurance Championship - Trophy Category (Race 2 Results FINAL)

 

Race 2 For Britcar Next and after a Very Fast and Action Packed First Race Will we see a New Face on the Top Step of the Podium? Lets find out.

 

In First Place was the Pairing of (Woodrow Motorsport's Simon Baker and Kevin Clarke) in their BMW 1 Series with a Best Lap Time of 51.837 and an Average Speed of 78.22mph. Amazing work Simon and Kevin who have Beaten the Pairing Of (Datum Motorsport's Axel Van Nederveen and Adriano Medeiros) to Victory. An Incredible Drive by Both of them Well Done.

 

In Second Place was (SVG Mark Lee) in his Ginetta G56A with a Best Lap Time of 52.281 and an Average Speed of 76.89mph. Again a Huge Congratulations to Mark Lee for hanging onto that Second Place Despite Fierce Competition during The Race. Amazing Drive.

 

In Third Place was (Simon Green Motorsport's Pairing of Jasver Sapra and Brian Branson) in their BMW M3 E46 with a Best Lap Time of 52.718 and an Average Speed of 76.88mph. Congratulations Jasver and Brain Brilliant Drive and well Defended to keep that Third Place in Tact.

 

Two Incredible Races with Two Very Different Outcomes of Race Winners and Runners Up The Britcar Endurance Trophy is Proving to be Very Competitive this Year.

 

A Huge Congratulations to Simon Kevin Mark Jasver and Brain for some Amazing Racing and Victories and Good Luck to All Other Drivers. Keep working Hard and Pushing for that All Important Victory.

 

CTCRC Edmundson Electrical Classic / Historic Thunder Saloons (Race 1 Result FINAL)

 

Next Up was the CTCRC Electrical and Historic Thunder Saloons and After a Thrilling Qualifying Session Yesterday Lets see what Each Driver has got and who can Push to the Limits for that All Important Victory.

 

In First Place was (Jason West) in his BMW E46 M3 3200 with a Best Lap Time of 51.907 and an Average Speed of 59.84mph. Congratulations Jason for Another Incredible Drive for First Place and a well Deserved Victory Amongst some Stiff Competition.

 

In Second Place was (Andrew Wilson) in his Holden Monaro 7000 with a Best Lap Time of 52.418 and an Average Speed of 59.96mph. Well Done Andrew Fantastic Driving and a Super Defensive Drive for Second Place.

 

In Third Place was (Samuel Wilson) in his Aston Martin V8 Vantage with a Best Lap Time of 52.699 and an Average Speed of 59.50mph. Amazing Work Samuel and a Beautiful Example of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage on Display Showing its Raw Power and Racing Pedigree to Finish in Third Place.

 

A Fantastic Finish to The Historic and Electrical Thunder Saloons Racing at The Weekend. A Huge Congratulations to Our Top Three Finishers Jason Andrew and Samuel. Fantastic Racing from all Three of you and Good Luck to all other Drivers Keep Tuning and Working Hard and I'm sure Victory Will not be too Far Away from you.

 

CTCRC JEC Saloon & GT Championship & Burton Power BOSS (Race 2 Results FINAL)

 

Next Up CTCRC Saloon and GT Championships and with some Fierce Competition on Display during not only Qualifying but also Their First Race on the Saturday Which saw Malcom Harding Storm to an Insane Victory who Will be able to Take him on and Potentially Steal his Crown during the Next Race Today? Lets See.

 

In First Place was (Malcom Harding) in his Ford Escort MK2 Zakspeed 2500 with a Best Lap Time of 53.888 and an Average Speed of 78.49mph. Another Incredible Victory for Malcom that Highly Modified Zakspeed Escort Really Shows off the Power and Performance of a True Champion and a Fantastic Driver. Congratulations Malcom.

 

In Second Place was (Steven Goldsmith) in his Ford Anglia 105e 260 with a Best Lap Time of 54.335 and an Average Speed of 78.21mph. Another Storming Drive to Achieve Second Place for Steven. Fantastic Driving and Amazing Car Control through Every Corner. Congratulations Steven.

 

In Third Place was (Tom Robinson) in his Jaguar XJ6 4000 with a Best Lap Time of 55.481 and an Average Speed of 55.481mph. Congratulations Tom Superb Display of Driving Ability behind the Jag and a Well Deserved Third Place for Him.

 

Another Incredible Weekend of Racing for the CTCRC Saloon and GT Championships with Some New and Some Old Drivers Stepping onto the Podium. Massive Congratulations to Malcolm Steven and Tom for their First Second And Third Place Finishes. Keep Up the Good Work and Never Stop Trying.

 

CTCRC Laser Tools Pre 93 & Simply Serviced Pre 03 Touring Cars (Race 1 Results FINAL)

 

Now Its Time for The Laser Tools Pre 93 and Simply Serviced Pre 03 Touring Cars to make their way back onto The Track for what Looked to be a Spectacular Race. A Whole Range of Different Cars to Race Against and Stiff Competition after Qualifying Proves that This Race will be One not to be Missed. Lets See what Unfolded.

 

In First Place was (Gary Prebble) in his Honda Civic EG 2000 with a Best Lap Time of 54.100mph and an Average Speed of 78.60mph. Well Done Gary a Really Well Deserved First Place Victory and an Amazing Drive to the Flag.

 

In Second Place was (David Griffith) in his BMW E36 M3 3058 with a Best Lap Time of 54.558 and an Average of 78.42mph. Incredible Drive their David Pushing that BMW For Everything that it Has got to Achieve Second Place.

 

In Third Place was (Kam Tunio) in his Honda Civic EK9 1595 with a Best Lap Time of 55.347 and an Average Speed of 77.05mph. Well Driven Kam Super Driving on Display and a Well Deserved Third Place Finish.

 

Another Amazing Race for The Pre 93 and Pre 03 Touring Cars and a Huge Congratulations to Gary David and Kam for their First Second and Third Place Victories. Keep up the Hard Work and Good Luck to everyone Else wherever your Next Races take you.

 

CTCRC Poultec Classic Race Engines Pre 66 Touring Cars (Race 1 Results)

 

Now it was Time for the Fan Favourite to Enter onto the Brands Hatch Circuit with the Pre 66 Touring Cars Championship. With Mini's Lotus Cortina's and Ford Falcons. This was One Race that No One Wanted to Miss. After a Very Fast Paced Qualifying Session on the Saturday Which saw (Alan Greenhalgh) take Pole Position who Will be able to Challenge Him During the Race and Snatch Victory Away from Him.

 

In First Place was (Alan Greenhalgh) in his Ford Falcon with A Best Lap Time of 58.707 and an Average Speed of 72.63mph. Congratulations Alan A Beautiful Example of the Ford Falcon and Certainly a Very Fast One too. Congratulations on Your Victory.

 

In Second Place was (Robyn Slater) in his Ford Anglia 1550 with a Best Lap Time of 58.992 and an Average Speed of 72.06mph. Very Good Drive their From Robyn to Secure Second Place in The First Race of the Day for the Pre 66 Touring Cars.

 

In Third Place was (Barry Sime) in his Morris Mini Cooper S 1293 with a Best Lap Time of 59.116 and an Average Speed of 71.95mph. Fantastic Work their Barry Keeping that Little Rocket on The Track looked to be Very Challenging but A Very Well Deserved Third Place.

 

What A First Race for The Historic Pre 66 Touring Cars showing The Power and Pride Each Driver takes in Both Racing and Preservation on Their Beloved Racing Machines. Congratulations to Alan Robyn and Barry on their First Second and Third Place Finishes. Lets See what New Challenges Await Them in Race 2 The Final Race of The Day for Them.

 

CTCRC Poultec Classic Race Engines Pre 66 Touring Cars (Race 2 Results FINAL)

 

The Epic FINALE To The Pre 66 Touring Cars Race was A Race in Wet Conditions Making it even more Challenging for The Top Three Drivers. Who would Win and be able to Retain if not Take on thease Three Giants of Touring Car Racing in thease Conditions. Lets See How Things Concluded.

 

In First Place was (Barry Sime) in his Morris Mini Cooper S 1293 with a Best Lap Time of 1:11.482 and an Average Speed of 58.62mph. Amazing Work Barry to take Home a Superb Victory and a Brilliant Bit of Wet Weather Driving in The Mini Well Done.

 

In Second Place was (John Davies) in his Austin Mini Cooper S 1293 with a Best Lap Time of 1:11.416 and an Average Speed of 58.38mph. Amazing Work John Racing A Mini in thease Conditions is Very Tricky and Yet both You and Barry made it look Easy.

 

In Third Place was (James Ibbotson) in his Hillman Imp Super 998 with a Best Lap Time of 1:11.518 and an Average Speed of 58.12mph. Well Done James Sliding that Imp around in the Wet for a Magnificent Third Place was Well Deserved.

 

What A Race to End the Day for the Pre 66 Touring Cars and with So many Old and New Winners Lets Hope we Get to see More Races like This One Thought the Rest of the 2021 Season. A Big Congratulations to Barry John and James on their Respective Victories and Keep Trying Everyone Else The Hard Work will Pay off.

 

CTCRC Shell Oils Pre 83 Touring Cars (Race 1 FINAL)

 

Up Next The Pre 83 Touring Cars took to the Track for Their Only Race of The Day and from what We Have Seen Already This Race also looks like its going to be a Very Strong Battle for First Second and Third Place. Lets See who Came First and Took that All Important Victory.

 

In First Place was (Mark Lucock) in his Ford Escort MK1 RS2000 2040 with a Best Lap Time of 57.687 and an Average Speed of 74.53mph. Amazing work there Mark Pushing All the Power the RS2000 Engine Has and Keeping it on Track to Score an Amazing Victory.

 

In Second Place was (Stephen Primett) in his Ford Escort MK1 2037 with a Best Lap Time of 57.503 and an Average Speed of 74.52mph. Another Brilliant Drive from the Likes of Stephen Keep the Pace with Mark and Making for some Fierce Competition Thought the Race.

 

In Third Place was (Mike Luck in his BMW E21 320 1998 with a Best Lap Time of 57.236 and an Average Speed of 74.46mph. Super Driving there Mike to take Third Place and a Very Classic Looking BMW Indeed.

 

What A Race from the Pre 83 Touring Cars showcasing Speed Power and What a Touring Car was Made to do around a Race Track. A Big Congratulations to Mark Stephen and Mike on their First Second and Third Place Finishes. Keep Racing and Keep Having Fun Out There.

 

Junior Saloon Car Championship (Race 1 Result FINAL)

 

The Junior Saloon Car Championship was Up Next and Even Though the Age Range of thease Next Drivers Taking to the Circuit Might Shock you at The Fact that Many of them are as Young as 15 Years of age don't be Fooled Because thease Guys Know how to Race Having been brought up from Carting since the age of 4. They are always a Fan Favourite and After Qualifying on the Saturday its Anyone's Game as to Who Wins and Who Losses in Thease Races.

 

In First Place was (Ruben Hage) in his Citroen Saxo VTR 1600 with a Best Lap Time of 59.967 and an Average Speed of 65.65mph. Congratulations Ruben What A Drive and an Incredible Run for First Place Fending off the Other On Coming Drivers. Truly a Championship Winning Drive.

 

In Second Place was (Harvey Caton) in his Citroen Saxo VTR 1600 with a Best Lap Time of 59.629 and an Average Speed of 65.64mph. Very Well Driven there Harvey Staying very Close to Ruben in First Place and Keeping Him on His Toes Thought the Entire Race.

 

In Third Place was (Charlie Hand) in his Citroen Saxo VTR 1600 with a Lap Time of 1:00.006 and an Average Speed of 65.57mph. Solid Third Place there Charlie Keep Up the Momentum and Never Give Up Chasing Your Dreams.

 

What a Fantastic Race from the Junior Saloon Car Championship with New Winners on the Podium and Some Close Wheel to Wheel Action Thought the Race Thease Guys will be Fantastic To see in Future Racing Series All Over The World. Congratulations to Ruben Harvey and Charlie for First Second and Third Place and Good Luck to All Other Aspiring Young Drivers Following in the Footsteps of Your Greatest Racing Heroes.

 

Kumho BMW Championship (Race 1 Results)

 

Finally it was Time for the Last Two Races of the Day the Kumo BMW Championship. Featuring The Makes and Models of Many BMW'S taking to the Circuit for Race 1. After a Busy Day Qualifying on Saturday Lets See what Each Driver Cando in The Frist of Two Races for their Championship.

 

In First Place was (Niall Bradley) in his BMW E46 M3 with a Best Lap Time of 50.920 and an Average Speed of 83.60mph. Brilliant Driving There Niall Pushing the Power of the BMW Engine to Max and Putting the Pedal to the Metal the Whole Race. A Superb Victory.

 

In Second Place was (Michael Vitulli) in his BMW E36 M3 3200 with a Best Lap Time of 51.158 and an Average Speed of 83.45mph. Another Incredible Driver Pushing Hard and Taking Second Place. Well Done Michael.

 

In Third Place was (James Card) in his BMW E46 M3 3200 with a Best Lap Time of 51.154 and an Average Speed of 83.42mph. Very Well Done their James Keep Pushing.

 

Three Fantastic Drivers in Niall Michael and James all Fighting for that Victory and Showing The Racer Inside each and Everyone of them. Lets see what Their Final Race of the Day Brings Them.

  

Kumho BMW Championship (Race 2 Results FINAL)

 

In First Place was (Niall Bradley) in his BMW E46 M3 with a Best Lap Time of 53.581 and an Average Speed of 77.79mph. Another Well Deserved First Place Finish to Round of The Days Racing. Congratulations Niall Go and Celebrate with The Team In Style.

 

In Second Place was (Darren Morgan Owen) in his BMW E46 M3 3200 with a Best Lap Time of 53.200 and an Average Speed of 77.43mph. Super Drive There Darren for Second Place and a New Winner onto The Podium.

 

In Third Place was (Brad Sheean) in his BMW E46 M3 3200 with a Best Lap Time of 53.227 and an Average Speed of 77.13mph. Fantastic Drive there Brad and Some Incredible Car Control thought the Entire Race to Finish Third.

 

And That Concludes Racing for the Kumho BMW Championship with 4 Different Winners Across two Races and A lot of Really Fast Action you could not Have Asked for a better Finish to The End of The Days Racing. Massive Congratulations to Niall Darren and Brad and Good Luck to all Other Competing Drivers who are still Looking for that almighty Victory.

 

That Concludes Racing for The BARC Club Car Championships Weekend A Big Congratulations to All of the Drivers of Every Team and a Huge Thank You to Marshalls Far and Wide as Without Your Support Events like This and Champion Drivers May Never Get to Achieve Their Dreams.

 

See You All At The Next One!

             

Being a Saturday, first job of the day, after coffee, was hunter-gathering in Tesco.

 

Was not surprised to find half an aisle already full of Easter eggs and stuff.

 

Elsewhere there was lots of Valentine's Day cards and more stuff to spend your money on.

 

Back home for a quick breakfast, before going out again and heading north for Thanet.

 

On the north coast there are two large churches that I wanted to revisit: St Nicholas at Wade and All Saints in Birchington.

 

Thanks to the Sandwich Road and Thanet Way round Ramsgate, we got to Birchington at half nine, but found the church did not open until ten, so we went in search of the sea.

 

Though the sea was not lost.

 

Through a large 1950s housing estate, there it was.

 

There are three of us, trying to photograph Kent churches . I met one a few years back on Heritage Weekend, and there is Rob, an online friend who is trying to record all churches, irrespective of denomination, in the county.

 

And so, thanks to Rob and his love for Victorian and 20th century churches, I got to know some newer churches, maybe once chapels of ease, but some now parish churches in their own right.

 

Minnis Bay is one, set among mid-war development, a 1920s construction, bankrolled by the local Freemason's lodge, St Thomas sits on the main road, opposite a micropub and convenience store.

 

I got out to take a shot of the front and side, then a car pulled up: do you want to see inside, I'll only be here ten minutes, the warden told me.

 

Win!

 

So, I grabbed the big camera and got busy, though in truth not much other than the building itself, but it was pleasant enough. Though there are rumours that it might be closing.

 

Grenham Bay, Birchington, Kent.

 

Bleak.

 

Bleak and bracing.

 

Bleak, bracing and quiet.

 

At low tide.

 

This morning, we found ourselves here, and having parked, we found low chalk cliffs, concrete flood defences and lots of sea birds and fowl feeding among the chalk rockpools at low ride.

 

We didn't stay long, long enough to get some shots, before moving on.

 

Here, Jools walks down the concrete ramp to the "promenade, wide enough to run a grand prix, just the occasional jogger or dog walker were the only others around.

 

Back in the car at ten for the short drive through the town centre, parking outside the village hall, and walking through the large churchyard where the porch door was open.

 

All Saints is open between ten and midday each Sunday, and inside there were at least four wardens, each of whom gave us a warm welcome.

 

A heavily restored church, but the jewel is the Quex Chapel, for the Crispe family that owns, or used to own, Quex Park nearby.

 

Wall full of tablets, memorials and tombs.

 

The next parish southwards is St Nicholas at Wade, now better known as a roundabout on Thanet way where the driver can turn either for Ramsgate or Margate. There is also a village, named after the parish and the parish church, which towers over the narrow streets of the village, that we had to weave through to reach the church.

 

At the west end of the village, around the church, are some wonderfully old buildings, whose brickies had a novel attitude to laying, with bricks at all angles.

 

The church is entered through a double-decked porch, something more seen in East Anglia, and the priest would live in a small room above the entrance, and accessed by what must be the oldest set of steps in Kent, if not England.

 

It took half an hour to get all the shots, but having done so we went back outside to head home.

 

Instead of turning round and going through the village, shall we go straight on and see where that takes us?

 

An adventure?

 

So we did.

 

Where it did take us was along some fields and over a bridge spanning Thanet Way, where there was a junction to head east back towards Ramsgate and home.

 

So, that was easy.

 

And back in time for a brew before lunch, and bacon butties too as we were both hungry, and I could sit beside Scully watching the Coventry v Leicester game, which Cov won 3-1.

 

Most of the afternoon was a battle to stay awake whilst listening to the radio. Jools went to the gym to have a sauna, so came back full of beans.

 

Dinner was Caprese with warmed through focaccia drizzled with chilli-infused olive oil to crisp it up.

 

It all went well with the remainder of the bottle of wine, but having emptied that, I needed just a little something more, so went for the barrel aged Delerium.

 

It poured a reddy-brown colour, had a full nose of fruits and spices, and was a flavour explosion on the tongue. At 11.5%, not to be messed about with, but glorious.

  

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Famous as the burial place of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and whose grave stands outside the main south door, this church contains so much more of interest. Mostly thirteenth century with a fourteenth century veneer it is full of treasures. The best collection of memorials in East Kent may be found in the north chapel owned for centuries by the series of owners of Quex House. The Quex, Crispe, Powell and Powell-Cotton families have been commemorated in monuments that reflect the styles oil the centuries. There are 6 brasses now on the wall, a huge 6-portrait bust tablet and a huge classical entablature. Opposite is a more usual but excellently crafted Prie- Dieu with gaudy colouring. The rest of the church does not disappoint. The SW corner of the church has dumpy piers and rudimentary vaulting showing that a new tower was planned there, though it was never built. The nave piers and chancel arch show remarkable degradation in the stonework. There seems to be no reason for this but it is almost that the church has been consumed by fire at some time. The reredos was designed by the 19th century architect Charles Beazley (see also Acol and Westgate) and painted by Nathaniel Westlake. It badly needs a clean to make it sing again. The altar rails are by the Canterbury College of Art, 1930s, and a really a fine period piece. What an interesting church this is – built to serve a farming village with a big house and later adapted to suit the holidaymakers who came here by the thousand. What a shame that it is difficult of access (though the helpful Church Office is happy to oblige).

 

www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Birchington

 

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NORTHWARD from Minster lies the parish of Birchington, adjoining to the sea. It is said to have been antiently called, sometimes Birchington in Gorend, and at other times Gorend in Birchington, from a place called Gorend, in this parish, where it is reported the church formerly stood, though the most usual name was always, as it is at present, Birchington only.

 

THIS PARISH is within the liberty and jurisdiction of the cinque ports, and is a member of the town and port of Dover; and though Gorend in it, is said to have been united to that town and port, ever since the reign of king Edward I. yet in king Henry VI.'s reign it was disputed whether this parish was not in the county at large; to take away therefore all doubt of it, the king, by letters patent, united it to Dover, the mayor of which appoints a deputy here, to whom the inhabitants have recourse for justice.

 

By the Landtax act of 1711, it was enacted, that in future, the parishes of St. John, St. Peter, and Birchington, in the Isle of Thanet, within the liberty of Dover, should be deemed and taken to be a distinct division within the said liberty, and in the executing of that act, should be charged towards making up the whole sum charged on the town of Dover, and the liberty thereof, according to the proportion which was assessed upon the said parishes by the act of the 4th of William and Mary, for granting an aid of four shillings in the pound, &c.

 

THIS PARISH joins the sea shore northward, along the whole of which it is bounded by high cliffs of chalk, through which there are several apertures made for the conveniency of a passage on to the sea shore. The parish is, in general, high land, and very pleasantly situated; in the middle of it stands the church and village adjoining, tolerably well sheltered with elm trees. This village, in a pleasing situation, on a gentle eminence, commands many delightful prospects over sea and land; particularly a fine view up the delightful vale to Canterbury, the principal tower of which cathedral froms a conspicuous object, though at the distance of twelve miles; beyond which, in clear weather, are plainly seen the range of hills and the losty woods in Chilham and Godmersham parks, more than six miles further southward.

 

About three quarters of a mile north-west of the church, and near as much from the sea shore, is Goreend, antiently a place of note, being particularly men tioned in the great charter of the cinque ports, as one of the members of the town and port of Dover. Leland, in his Itinerary, vol. vii. says, "Reculver is now scarce half a mile from the shore, but it is to be supposid, that yn tymes paste these cam hard to Goreende, a two mile from Northmouth, and at Gore ende is a litle straite caullid Broode Staires to go downe the clive: and about this shore is good taking of mullettes. The great Raguseis ly for defence at Gore ende and thens again is another sinus on to the Forelande." Here it is said the church stood antiently, and that it was lost by the falling of the cliff on which it stood, and that the present one was built in its stead; near this is a farm, called Upper Gore end, which was given by the owner of it, Henry Robinson, gent. by his will in 1642, for the maintenance of two fellows and two scholars in St. John's college, in Cambridge, as has been already related before. About a mile southward, lie Great and Little Brooksend; and at a like distance eastward, Great and Little Quekes. At the north-east boundary of the parish is Westgate, where there is a small hamlet of houses; from which place Domneva's deer is said to have begun its course across this island, running for some space eastward, till it turned southward towards the boundary of it, at Sheriffs Hope, in Minster.

 

This parish is somewhat more than two miles and an half each way; about the village and Quekes, it is pleasantly sheltered with trees; the lands in it are fertile, and like the other parts adjoining to it, are arable and mostly uninclosed, lying high, with hill and dale intermixed. The high road from Sarre to Margate runs along the southern side of the parish. There is a bay of the sea adjoining to the shore of this parish, called Hemmings bay; probably so called from Hemming, the Danish chiestan, who landed with his companion Anlef and their forces in this island, in the year 1009.

 

By the return made to the council's letter by archbishop Parker's order in 1563, there were then computed to be in this parish forty housholds; and by the return of the survey made by order of the same queen, in her 8th year, of the several maritime places in this county, it appears that there were then here houses inhabited forty-two; that there was a landing place, but it had neither ship nor boat.

 

A whale was cast ashore within the bounds of this parish in the year 1762.

 

The manor of Monkton claims paramount over this parish, subordinate to which is

 

THE MANOR OF QUEKES, or QUEX, as it is frequently spelt in the antient deeds of it. It is situated in the south-east part of this parish, about three quarters of a mile from the church, and was antiently the seat of a family who gave name to it, many of whom lie buried in this church, several of whose gravestones and inscriptions yet remain; among which are those of John Quek, who died possessed of it in the year 1449, anno 28 Henry VI. and of his son Rich. Quek in 1456; (fn. 1) from the latter of whom this seat devolved by paternal descent to John Quekes, esq. who about the beginning of king Henry VII.'s reign, left an only daughter and heir Agnes, who carried it in marriage to John Crispe, esq. descended of an antient family seated at Stanlake, in Oxforshire; he afterwards resided here, and died possessed of it in 1500, anno 16 Henry VII. He left by her four daughters, married to Barret, Gosborne, Thomas, and Symons; and one sone and heir John Crispe, who was sheriff in the 10th year of king Henry VIII. and kept his shrievalty at this seat of Quekes. He had three sons, John, the eldest, was of Cleve-court, in Monkton, of whom further mention has been made in the description of that place; Henry, the second, was of Quekes; and William, the third, was lieutenant of Dover castle.

 

Henry Crispe, esq. the second son, of Quekes, kept his shrievalty at this seat in the 38th year of the above reign, anno 1546, being the last of it, and was a man of great name and eminency, and of singular estimation for his discretion and weight in the management of the public affairs of the county, as well as for his hospitality, insomuch that he was reputed to have the entire rule of all this island. He died at Quekes, at a good old age, in the year 1575, leaving by his second wife six children; of whom Nicholas Crispe, esq. the eldest son, was of Grimgill, in Whitstaple. He was sheriff in the 1st year of queen Elizabeth, and died here in his father's life time, anno 1564, leaving an only daughter Dorothy. John, the second son, by his second wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Roper, esq. of Eltham, left a son Henry, heir to his grandfather, who will be further mentioned hereafter; and Henry, the youngest, had three sons, Henry, who was first of Great Chart, and afterwards succeeded to this seat of Quekes, of whom further mention will be made; Thomas, who was first of Canterbury and afterwards of Goudhurst, where he died in 1663. He left three sons, Thomas, who at length succeeded to Quekes, as will be mentioned hereafter; Henry, who was of Monkton, and died in 1678, being ancestor of Henry and Thomas Crispe, esqrs. of the custom-house, in London, and of West Ham, in Essex, the latter of whom ended in an only surviving daughter Susan, who married the late George Elliot, esq. of Upton, in that county; and Richard, the third son, died s. p.

 

Now to return to Henry, the only son and heir of John, the second son of Sir Henry Crispe, of Quekes, by his second wife, who became his grandfather's heir and possessed of Quekes; he was knighted and resided here till his death in 1648. He was twice married, but left no issue; he bore for his arms two coats for Crispe, viz. first, Ermine, a fess chequy; and second, Or, on a chevron, sable, five horse shoes, argent. (fn. 2) On his death in 1648, this seat came, by the entail of it, to his first-cousin Henry Crispe, gent. of Great Chart, before-mentioned, (the eldest son of Henry, the fourth and youngest brother of Nicholas Crispe, of Grimgill, the father of Sir Henry Crispe, last-mentioned.) He removed to Quekes, and in the year 1650 was appointed sheriff; but on account of his great age and infirmities, his son was suffered to execute this office in his room. He was commonly called Bonjour Crispe. from his having been kept a prisoner in France for some time, and never learning more French than those words, at least he never would use any other whilst there. In August 1657, he was forcibly, in the night time, taken away and carried from his seat of Quekes, by several persons, Englishmen and others, to Bruges, in Flanders, and detained there as a prisoner, till the sum of 3000l. should be paid for his ransom. A few days after his arrival at Bruges, he sent to his nephew Thomas, who then lived near Quekes, to come over to him, to assist him in his great exigencies and extremities. After some consultation together, he dispatched his nephew to England, to join his endeavours, with those of his son Sir Nicholas Crispe, for his ransom and enlargment, in which they found great difficulty, as Oliver Cromwell, who was then protector, suspected the whole to be only a collusion, to procure 3000l. for the use of king Charles II. then beyond the seas; and accordingly an order was made by the protector in council, that Mr. Crispe should not be ransomed; upon which much difficulty arose in procuring a licence for it; Sir Nicholas died before it could be effected, and then the whole care of it devolved on Mr. Thomas Crispe, to obtain the licence and raise the money, which finding himself not able to do without the sale of some of his uncle's lands, he impowered him and his son-in law, Robert Darell, for that purpose, who made every dispatch in it; but it was eight months before the ransom could be paid, and Mr. Crispe released out of prison; when he returned to England, and died at Quekes, in 1663. (fn. 3)

 

This enterprize was contrived and executed by Captain Golding, of Ramsgate, who was a sanguine royalist, and had sometime taken refuge with Charles II. in France. The party landed at Gore-end, near Birchington, and took Mr. Crispe out of his bed, without any resistance; though it appears that he had been for some time under apprehensions of such an attack, and had caused loopholes, for the discharge of muskets, to be made in different parts of the house, and had afforded a generous hospitality to such of his neighbours as would lodge in his house, to defend him; but all these precautions were at this time of no effect, so that they conveyed him, without any disturbance being made, in his own coach, to the sea side, where he was forced into an open boat, without one of his domestics being suffered to attend him, although that was earnestly requested as a favour. He was conveyed first to Ostend, and then to Bruges, both which places were then in the power of Spain, which had been at war with England for more than two years. (fn. 4) He died possessed of this seat above-mentioned, having had one son and one daughter, who married Robt. Darell, esq Nicholas the son was knighted, but died before his father at Quekes, in 1657, leaving an only daughter and heir, who married Sir Richard Powle, of Berkshire.

 

On Mr. Crispe's death in 1663, without surviving male issue, this seat came, by the entail made of it, to his nephew Thomas Crispe, (the eldest son of his next brother Thomas Crispe, of Goudhurst) who afterwards resided at Quekes, where he died in 1680, leaving by his wife, whom he married in Holland, four daughters his coheirs, viz. Maria Adriana, married to Richard Breton, esq. of the Elmes, in Hougham; Frantosi, or Frances, to Edwin Wiat, esq. of Maidstone, sergeant at law; Elizabeth, to Christopher Clapham, esq. of Wakefield, in Yorkshire, and Anne-Gertruy Crispe, who died unmarried in 1708. On the division of their inheritance, this seat fell to the lot of Richard Breton, esq. who immediately afterwards sold it to Edwin Wiat, esq. and he alienated it, after some little interval, to John Buller, esq. of Morvall, in Cornwall, whose son William dying s. p. the reversion of it, (after the death of his wife, who was entitled to it for life, as part of her jointure) (fn. 5) was sold to Sir Robert Furnese, bart. of Waldershare, but he never came into the possession of it; for Mr. Buller's widow, afterwards the widow of F. Wiat, esq. son of Edwin above-mentioned, enjoyed it till her death in 1760, when it came into the possession of Catherine, countess of Guildford, one of the three daughters and coheirs of Sir Robert Furnese, bart. who in 1767 sold it to Henry Fox, lord Holland, and he conveyed it to his second son, the hon. CharlesJames Fox, who passed away his interest in it to John Powel, esq. who dying s. p. his sister, then the wife of William Roberts, became his heir and entitled to this estate, and he is now in her right possessed of it. At this house king William used to reside till the winds favoured his embarking for Holland. A room said to be the bedchamber of the royal guest is still shewn. His guards encamped on an adjoining inclosure.

 

It has been a large commodious structure, built partly of timber and partly of brick, much of which has been within these few years pulled down, and the rest modernized and converted into a farm house. It is pleasantly situated among a toll of trees, which defend it from the winds. There was formerly a vineyard in the gardens, which are walled round.

 

This antient seat, like most others of the same rank, has been for some years going fast to ruin, the weather penetrated into most of the apartments, which had been the principal ones; the roof and windows were greatly demolished, and no part of it inhabited, or indeed capable of being so, except a small part at the end occupied by the farmer; a grand suit of apartments at the north-west corner was demolished in 1781, and much of the remaining parts of it were taken down by piecemeal at different times, for the sale of the materials; in which ruinated state this seat remained till the year 1789, when Mr. Powell took down great part of it, and rebuilt the rest as it remains at present. (fn. 6)

 

THE MANOR OF WESTGATE, alias GARLING, lies at the eastern part of this parish, extending likewise into the parish of St. John. It had antiently owners of its own name, for it appears by the book of knight's fees in the exchequer, and other records, that Robert de Westgate held it in the reigns of king Henry III. and Edward I. of the abbot of St. Augustine's, by knight's service. He left at his death his son Robert, under age, who afterwards was in the custody of Sir Henry de Sandwich, and he held it accordingly as such in the latter of those reigns. It went into the family of Leyborne very soon after this, for William de Leyborne died possessed of it in the 3d year of Edward II. leaving Juliana his grand-daughter his heir, (daughter of his son Thomas, who died in his life-time) who being heir both to her father and grandfather, became entitled to large possessions in this and several other counties, for the greatness of which she was usually stiled the Infanta of Kent, who having issue by neither of her husbands, (for she had three) whom she survived, this manor escheated to the crown for want of heirs; for it appears by the inquisition taken after her death, in the 43d year of king Edward III. that there was then no one who could make claim to her estates, either by direct or even collateral alliance. After which this manor continued in the crown, till king Richard II. in his 11th year, gave it to the priory of Canons,alias Chiltern Langley in Hertfordshire, where it continued till the dissolution of that house in the 30th year of Henry VIII. when it was, with all its possessions, surrendered into the king's hands, and was confirmed to him and his heirs, by the general words of the act, passed the next year for that purpose.

 

King Henry VIII. becoming thus possessed of it, granted this manor, with all itsrights, members, and appurtenances, among several other premises, for divers good causes and considerations, to Richard, suffragan bishop of Dover, to hold to him and assigns, during his life, without any account of rent whatsoever; provided, if he should be promoted to one or more ecclesiastical benefices, or other dignity or annuity, of the yearly value of 100l. that then this grant should be void. This certainly happened before the 36th year of that reign, for the king that year granted this manor to Sir Thomas Moyle, to hold in capite by knight's service; he alienated it in the first year of Edward VI. to Roger and Valentine Byer, alias Bere, (fn. 7) to the use of the former, who died possessed of it in the 4th and 5th year of Philip and Mary, and was succeeded in it by John Byer, his son and heir, and he conveyed it, anno 3 Elizabeth, to Thomas Adam, who in the 17th year of that reign, alienated it to Thomas Dane, of Herne, whose daughter and heir Thomasine marrying Robert Denne, esq. of Denne-hill, entitled him to the possession of this manor. His eldest son Thomas Denne, esq. who was recorder of Canterbury, died in 1656, and was succeeded in it by his eldest son Thomas, of GraysInn, esq. who dying s. p. devised it by will to his brother John, of the Inner Temple, esq. who dying likewise s. p. gave it by will to his four maiden sisters; the eldest of whom, Thomasine, on the share of the inheritance left them by their brother, became entitled to it, and afterwards marrying Sir Nicholas Crispe, of Quekes, he became in her right possessed of it, and died in 1657, leaving an only daughter Anne, who carried it in marriage in 1673 to Sir Richard Powle, K. B. of Berkshire, whose son John Powle, esq. of Lincoln's Inn, dying in 1740, s. p. this manor, among other estates, by the entail of it, reverted to the right heirs of his mother Anne Crispe, in the person of Tho. Crispe, esq. of West-Ham, in Essex, (descended from Tho. Crispe, of Goudhurst, the next brother of Henry, the father of Sir Nicholas Crispe, above mentioned) whose sole daughter and heir Anne married Sir Rich. Powle, K. B. the father of John, who died s.p. in 1740, as above mentioned.) He left an only surviving daughter and heir Susan, who married in 1757, the late Geo. Elliot, esq. of Upton, in Essex, who possessed it in her right, and in 1764 alienated it to Mr. John Wotton, of this island, as he did again to Mr. James Taddy, gent. of St. John's, whose surviving sons and devisees James and Edward Taddy, became entitled to it, but the latter is since become the sole possessor of it.

 

BROOKSEND, antiently spelt Brookesende, is a manor situated about a mile south-west from the church of Birchington; it was part of the antient possessions of the priory of Christ-church; and in the 10th year of king Edward II. the prior obtained a grant of free warren for his demesne lands in this manor among others, after this it continued with the priory till the final suppression of it in the 31st year of Henry VIII. when this manor, among the other possessions of it, came into the king's hands, where it did not continue long, for he settled it, among other premises, in his 33d year, on his new-erected dean and chapter of Canterbury, part of whose inheritance it still continues. There is not any court held for this manor.

 

The manerial rights the dean and chapter reserve in their own hands; but the scite and demesne lands are demised on a beneficial lease, the present lessee being Mr. John Friend, junior, who is the present occupier of it.

 

THE MANOR OF BROADGATE, otherwise called Brockmans, lies within the bounds of this parish, and extends likewise into Monkton; it was part of the possessions of Henry Beaufort, duke of Somerset, and on his attainder in the 8th year of king Edward IV. came to the crown, whence it was granted to John Brockman, esq. of Witham, in Essex, to hold by the same tenure and services as it was held in the 1st year of his reign, and he died possessed of it in the 16th year of king Henry VII. anno 1500, as was found by the inquisition then taken. (fn. 8)

 

Charities

 

TEN ACRES AND ONE HALF OF LAND, were given for the repairs of the church here, or perhaps purchased with the several legacies left to the church fabric, of which one acre is let by the churchwardens to a poor man employed by them, to keep the boys orderly at church; the residue is let out, and the rents applied to the use of the church.

 

ANNA-GERTRUY CRISPE, fourth daughter and coheir of Thomas Crispe, esq. of Quekes, by her will in 1707, devised to the overseers of the poor of Birchington and ville of Achole, for ever, 47 acres of land in Birchington and Monkton, then in lease at 18l. per annum, in trust, to pay to the clerk of the parish yearly 20s. to keep clean the isle and monuments belonging to Quex; to three widows of Birchington 3l. to two widows of Achole 2l. for wearing apparel to appear at church; to keep at school with dame or master, 12 boys and girls, and to give to each, at leaving the school, a bible; the overseers to take yearly ten shillings; to dispose of the remaining money for binding a school-boy apprentice; that the overseers fix up a yearly account of receipts and payments, and pass the same before a justice of the peace. (fn. 9)

 

THIS PARISH is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Westbere.

 

The church, which is exempted from the archdeacon, and dedicated to All Saints, is a handsome building, situated on a rising ground; it consists of a nave and two isles, reaching but half the length of it, and what is remarkable, they are all spanned by a single roof; beyond these are three chancels. That on the north side of it belongs to the antient seat of Quekes, in this parish, and is repaired by the owners of it; in it are many fine antient monuments and memorials of the families of Quekes and Crispe, &c. The south chancel is made into a handsome vestry, and just by stands the steeple, which is a tower, on which is placed a spire covered with shingles, of great use to ships at sea as a land-mark. There are five bells in it. In the windows of the church are some few remains of painted glass, just sufficient to shew that there was much more formerly. Before the reformation, there were here beside the high altar, altars and images with lights before them, for the blessed Virgin Mary, St. Nicholas, the Holy Trinity, St. Anne, and St. Margaret; to each of which legacies of a few pence and sometimes shillings, were almost constantly devised by the parishioners; as appears by their wills, remaining in the Prerogative-office, Canterbury.

 

Among other memorials in this church, in the high chancel, is a stone with a brass plate, having on it, the effigies of a priest in his habit, and an inscription for master John Heynes, clerk, late vicar of Monkton, obt. 1523. In the vestry, on a brass plate, an inscription for Mrs. Margaret Crispe, late wife of Mr. John Crispe, the youngest daughter and heir of George Rotherham, esq. obt. 1508. In the Quekes, formerly called St. Mary's chancel, are many gravestones, with brass plates and monuments well preserved, for the family of Crispe, of Quekes, with their busts, several of which, as well as the ornaments, are of excellent sculpture, from the year 1508 to 1737. A very handsome mural monument and inscription for dame Anne Powel, only daughter and heir of Sir Nicholas Crispe, of Quex, and relict of Sir Richard Powel, K. B. obt. 1707, leaving only one son John Powel, esq. of Lincoln'sInn, who died unmarried 1740, and lies here interred. By her death, all his mother's estates in Kent pursuant to her deeds of settlement, descended to Henry and Thomas Crispe, esqrs. of the custom-house, London, the only surviving branch in the male line of this antient name and family. A memorial for Wm. Buller, esq. of Quekes, ob. 1708; arms, Sable, on a cross, argent, four eagles displayed of the field, a crescent for difference; impaling sable, a chevron between three pelicans, or. John Blechenden, gent. of Birchington, appears, by his will, anno 1580, to lie buried in the nether end and north side of the chancel, where Sir Henry Crispe was buried. There are engravings of three of the monuments of the Crispe's in Lewis's History of Thanet.—On an antient tomb in this chancel, lie the effigies of a man and woman; on the sides and end of it are the arms of Crispe singly, and those of Scott, three catherine wheels in a bordure, engrailed, and Crispe, impaling the same several times. In the middle isle, a memorial for Capt. George Friend, of this parish, obt 1721; and several others for the same family. A memorial, shewing, that in a vault underneath, lie several of the Neames, of Gore-end, and Mockett, of Dandelion. One for Samuel Brooke, esq. obt. 1774. Several memorials for the Kerbys, of Southend, and Brooksend; Austens, and of Gore. A memorial for Thomas Underdown, late of Fordwich, and thrice mayor of that corporation; he died 1709. A stone, on which is a brass, with a priest in his habit, the inscription gone, but in small circular brasses at each corner are his initials, I. F. conjoined in the manner of a cypher.

 

In the church yard, on the north side, there stood formerly a small house, called the Wax-house, where they used to fabricate the lights for the church processions, &c. In the time of the sequestration of this vicarage, about the year 1642, or rather the resignation of it by Dr. Casaubon, on the ordinance against pluralities, this church was left by the vicar, to any one who would officiate in it, and this house was fitted up at the parishioners charge, or perhaps at the expence of the family of Crispe, who were defirous of a conformist's officiating here, for the minister to live in. Accordingly Mr. Edmund Fellows, A. M. of Sandwich, officiated here as minister from 1657 till after 1660; but in a late vicar's time, this house was, by his order, pulled down, and the materials carried away.

 

This church was one of the chapels belonging to the vicarage of Monkton, and is now the only one of them in being. As this church was a chapelry of the parish church of Monkton, and the chapel was erected for the ease of the inhabitants, they were antiently obliged to contribute towards the repairs of the mother church; but this usage, as well as that of the other chapels in this island, (except St. Nicholas, which still continues to pay a certain sum towards the repairs of its mother church of Reculver) has been for a long time discontinued.

 

By the endowment of the vicarage of Monkton in 1367, it was decreed, that the vicar of Monkton for the time being, should find one chaplain in this chapel of Birchington, dependant on that church, daily to celebrate, as far as he conveniently could, which chaplain should officiate in this chapel duly in divine services; for which the vicar allowed him a stipend of six pounds per annum.

 

In the valuation of the vicarage of Monkton, in the king's books, the vicar of it is charged for a priest at the chapels of Birchington and Wode, 11l. 13s. 4d. In 1640 here were 240 communicants.

 

The vicar of Monkton now finds a curate to officiate in this church, being collated by the archbishop, the patron, to the vicarage of Monkton, with the chapels of Birchington and Wode appendant to it; but the appropriate parsonage of this parish, including that of Wood adjoining, as an appendage to that of Monkton, which was part of the possessions of the priory of Christ-church, was yet a distinct parsonage from it, and as such was granted, after the dissolution, by king Henry VIII. in his 33d year, by his dotation charter, to his new-erected dean and chapter of Canterbury, in whom the inheritance of it is at this time vested.

 

The parsonage of Birchington, including that of Wood, alias Woodchurch, adjoining, is let on a beneficial lease for twenty-one years. In 1778 the rack rent of it was two hundred pounds per annum; but it was valued, on a survey, at six hundred pounds per annum, having 2000 acres of titheable land within the tithery of it. The family of Hugessen, of Provender, were lessees of it. From the coheirs of the late William Western Hugessen, esq. their interest in this lease was sold, in 1791, to Mr. George Bushell, of Minster, whose son Mr. Benjamin Bushell is the present lessee.

 

¶The parish clerk here had formerly some peculiar privileges, as appears by the antient book of the clerks for collecting his dues, (fn. 10) different from those enjoyed by other parish-clerks in this island; besides certain sums of money, amounting to 5s. 6d. and a groat a year for every cottage; and he had paid him in kind by the farmers, twelve cops and twelve sheaves of wheat, and twelve cops and two sheaves of barley; but in the year 1638, an assessment was made by the parishioners of this parish, and of the parish and ville of Wood, wherein they rated their lands at twelve pence the score acres, and the cottages at four pence each, for the clerk's wages.

 

www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol10/pp294-310

 

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The oldest standing building in Birchington, is of course, the Parish Church of All Saints Birchington, which stands in the centre of the village adjacent to the Square, and like other churches of Thanet about three quarters of a mile back from the sea.

It is positioned at the crossroads of two old roads, one which led from Minster Abbey to the sea at the little port of Gore-end, and the other to Canterbury crossing the River Wantsum by the ferry at Sarre.

Its distinguished tower with its tall, graceful spire creates an unmissable landmark on the approach to Thanet, and years ago ships passing by on the offing used it as such.

 

It is believed that a Church stood in this location for many years before the present building was constructed. There is a possibility that a Church stood here in Saxon times.

It is most likely that the church was originally a chapel of ease under Monkton and in its earliest form had a simple nave and chancel.

This evidence of the older building, can still be seen in the outside south wall, where some stones have been re-used.

There is evidence of some of the pre-Reformation features, including the base panels of the medieval rood screen at the chancel steps, reinstated in 1905, and one of the corbels that held the great rood beam itself. Between 1863 and 1883 the Victorians made their contribution with a major renovation programme.

The most memorable windows in the church are in memory of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who died in Birchington in 1882. The left is a reproduction of one of his own paintings, while the right was designed by Frank Shields.

 

In recent times there have been less dramatic changes. Among them, through the generosity of the present owner of Quex Park, the Quex Chapel has been made into a chapel of worship once more. In late 2010, the spire of All Saints became illuminated at night. It still stands like a beacon, welcoming people into the village from St Nicholas roundabout, encouraging travellers, as it has done since about 1350, to travel those last two miles with a lighter heart, knowing they are so near home.

The exact date of the current church and the names of its founders are not known but it can be deduced from the records and from the style of architecture, the oldest parts of the Church are the Chancel with its side chapels, along with the Tower. It is believed that in c. 1250 the chancel was rebuilt, with the owners of Quex Park then adding a North Chapel, while the monks of Monkton added a southeast tower and chapel.

 

It is possible that the original owners of Quex may have built the original church, especially considering the north or Quex Chapel is the private chapel and property of the owners of the Quex Estate.

 

The Nave of the old church was increased in size in c. 1350 along with its five fine arcades of five bays, two narrow aisles and Norman door to the North side and is in the perpendicular style.

 

The large southwest pillar within the church suggest to us of plans that had to be altered, probably because of the Black Death, which resulted in us having two half aisles under one enormous roof. Around the same time, the spire was added to the tower - it still contains its original framework.

 

The walls of the Church are very thick and solid, built of rubble and faced with broken flints, the Kentish cobbles.

 

The south wall contains some old stones within it, which can be seen on either side of the south porch, which was added c. 1430. These old stones which are of anterior date to the other stones used in the building have suggested that in line with tradition, they were brought from an ancient church which stood at Gore-end and which was pulled down on the encroachment of the sea and used in the re-construction and enlargement of the present church.

There are old octagonal piers constructed from old Kent Ragstone, which have well moulded caps and bases. The east window was rebuilt of Bath stone during the Victorian restoration of the Church in 1863 when the present tracery was inserted.

 

One of the oldest parts of the building is the south chapel, or the St. Margaret's Chapel, above which is located the Tower in an unusual position at the south-east end of the Church. When the original small church of the three chapels was built in about 1250, before the Nave was added in the 1300's, the Tower was in the usual position — at the south-west end of the church. The Tower, crowned with an ancient shingle spire is the only ancient shingled spire in Thanet. The spire has been re-shingled several times, with the last occurring in 1968 using Canadian Red Cedar Wood shingles. Historically, sailing ships found the Spire great use at sea to steer by on their way from the Thames to the Foreland and Trinity House provided a grant of £100 in 1864 to repair it. Capping off the Spire is mounted a vane in the shape of an arrow with the date 1699 cut out in the centre.

The Church for many centuries had a tiled roof which has been renewed on several occasions. Much of the woodwork of the roof was renewed at the 1863 restoration.

 

At the base of the piers are stone seats which until the end of the 14th century were in most churches the only seats in naves.

 

In the near centre of the north wall behind the current location of the font, opposite the south door may be seen the outline of an arch used formerly as another door and blocked probably at the restoration of 1863.

 

The Chancel is dedicated to All Saints. The beautiful reredos, was completed in 1883 takes the form of a triptych. This was designed by a Mr. C. N. Beazley and painted by Mr. N. H. J. Westlake, F.S.A., a well known artist at that time. This was restored and cleaned at the end of 2010. On the north side of the Altar is what is probably an Easter Sepulchre. The oak Altar rails were installed in 1938, which were made by a local craftsman. On the south side of the Chancel attached to a pier is a brass of a priest wearing the vestments of the period. This was formerly on a ledger stone in the Sanctuary. The inscription states that the brass is to John Heynes, priest, sometime vicar of Monkton who died 9th October A.D. 1523.

The Crucifixion is the theme of the east window and was dedicated in 1873. The west window was the gift of Mr. Thomas Gray of Birchington Hall, which was later to become Spurgeons Childrens Home then Birch Hill Park and was dedicated in 1873.

 

In the vault beneath the Quex Chapel, formally the Lady Chapel, now filled in, are buried the previous owners and their relatives of Quex. This Chapel contains some wonderful and interesting monuments in brass, alabaster, stone and marble commemorating the owners of Quex from the early 15th century to the present day.

 

The Tower contains eight bells, the oldest being made in 1633. The Church Clock was installed in 1887, as a memorial of Queen Victoria's Jubilee. There are a number of old and interesting tombstones in the Churchyard, the one of most general interest is that of Rossetti whose grave lies near the south porch, which was designed by his friend Ford Maddox Brown. In 1910, the two vestries were added.

 

There is evidence of some of the pre-Reformation features, including the base panels of the medieval rood screen at the chancel steps, reinstated in 1905, and one of the corbels that held the great rood beam itself. Between 1863 and 1883 the Victorians made their contribution with a major renovation programme.

The most memorable windows in the church are in memory of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who died in Birchington in 1882. The left is a reproduction of one of his own paintings, while the right was designed by Frank Shields.

 

In recent times there have been less dramatic changes. Among them, through the generosity of the present owner of Quex Park, the Quex Chapel has been made into a chapel of worship once more. In late 2010, the spire of All Saints became illuminated at night. It still stands like a beacon, welcoming people into the village from St Nicholas roundabout, encouraging travellers, as it has done since about 1350, to travel those last two miles with a lighter heart, knowing they are so near home.

 

www.allsaintsbirchington.com/All_Saint_Birchington/Histor...

From June to August, East Kent Mencap’s youth services received lottery funding from Sportivate, part of Sport England to host a trampoline club for young people with learning disabilities.

 

Held at Ramsgate leisure centre, where training was provided by Aire Trampoline Club – the evenings gained momentum and we hope to find funding in order to continue the club in future.

 

‘On the first evening, the group were a little cautious (as were parents!) but by the end of the evening no one wanted to leave!’ comments Children & Youth Manager Ange Brown.

 

‘We were able to host 6 sessions, but were able to reach capacity quickly.

 

‘It has been fantastic supporting the group to try something new and fun that they want to keep coming back to.

 

‘I believe this is not only down to our fabulous support workers – and the help of parents at these evenings, but especially thanks to trampoline coach- Luke Shiels who really knew his stuff and inspired confidence in our members to be brave and give it a go!’

 

On the final night, participants received a booklet containing images of themselves and their friends in action.

 

If you are a parent / volunteer or one of the attendees of the evening – please send us your comments on the club – it will help us to obtain future funding for more clubs like this!

 

you can call or email: Children & Youth Manager Ange: 01843-224482 or email angela.brown@eastkentmencap.co.uk

A new tradition maybe, although the large crowds could be a deterrent in future years... the night Colette, Eric, and I went though, it wasn't too bad. I had been the weekend prior with my mom and my sister, but Colette had not gotten the opportunity to really run around and play. So, Eric and I took her back, this time giving her a bit more freedom to run about and enjoy herself. It was an awesome night. This was when the temperatures were still just right and before we had started to busy ourselves with housework. Now that we've moved into our house, we've hardly had time to edit pictures, let alone snap 'em. Hopefully, that will start to change in the upcoming weeks. Happy belated Halloween, everyone!

Photo by Dima Tsyrenschikov / Strelka Institute

Day 2 of Brands Hatch Brit Car into The Night and after a thrilling set of Qualifying and Racing Yesterday All Drivers were Ready Once again to Challenge the Circuit.

 

Some Drivers from the Previous Day were Seen Packing Up and Heading Home after a Brilliant Days Racing while Others were Just Arriving and Getting their Machines Prepared for The Race Track.

 

With an Action Packed Day to look forward to and Lots of Action for Both Qualifying and Racing Lets take a Look and See who is up First and Ready to Challenge This Almighty Indy Circuit.

 

Avon Tyres Intermarque Silhouettes-(Qualifying Results)

 

First Up onto the Circuit was The Intermarque Silhouettes and Thease Machines are Very Quick and Built to be as Light Weight as Possible by Using a Space Frame Chassis and a Fibreglass Body.

 

Lets Find out who Qualified were and Who Managed to Take Pole Position for Race 1.

 

In First Place Securing Pole Position and The Fastest Lap was (Danny Hun) in his Ford Autoxross Fiesta ST with a Best Lap Time of 1:01.454 and a Top Speed of 70.76mph. Great Lap there Danny Really Keeping that Car on the Track and Taking a Strong Pole Position.

 

In Second Place was (Pat Kiely) in his Vauxhall Tigra with a Best Lap Time of 1:01.813 and a Top Speed of 70.35mph. Brilliant Drive there Pat Nice Work and Fantastic Second Place on the Grid for Race 1.

 

In Third Place was (Malcom Blackman) in his Vauxhall Tigra with a Best Lap Time of 1:03.883 and a Top Speed of 68.07mph. Well Done Malcom a Massive Charge to Earn that P3 Spot on the Gird Lets Hope it can be turned into a Race Win Come Race 1.

 

What an Exciting End to Qualifying with the Likes of Danny Pat and Malcom All Looking Ready to Go for Race 1 but out of The Three Who Will be Able to Turn their Qualifying Position into a Race Win? Lets Find Out.

  

Avon Tyres Intermarque Silhouettes-(Race 1 Results)

 

After an Intense Battle During Qualifying which saw the Likes of Danny Hun take a Dominant Pole Position with Pat Kiely Second and Malcom Blackman Third this Grid is Looking to be Very Big and Very Fast. Lets Find Out Who Won and Who took Glory in the First Race of The Day.

 

In First Place Taking The Victory Was (Malcom Blackman) in his Vauxhall Tigra with a Best Lap Time of 57.507 and an Average Speed of 54.53mph. Congratulations Malcom Fantastic Drive and A Well Deserved Win in that Beautifully Prepared Vauxhall.

 

In Second Place was (Danny Hun) in his Ford Autoxross Fiesta ST with a Best Lap Time of 57.789 and an Average Speed of 54.49mph. Amazing Work there Danny Brilliant Drive and a Well Deserved P2 Finish over the Line.

 

In Third Place was (Pat Kiely) in his Vauxhall Tigra with a Best Lap Time of 57.346 and an Average Speed of 54.48mph. Great Work Pat Really Pushing Hard and Almost Catching Danny Hun Just Before The End by 0.157 Seconds there.

 

What a Fantastic First Race of The Day for The Intermarque Silhouettes with Some Incredible Winners in the Likes of Malcom Danny and Pat All Taking Superb Victories for their Respective Teams.

 

With Race 2 Coming Up Next Who will be the One to Retain their Crown at the Top of The Standings and Can the Likes of Pat and Danny Possibly Improve and start Putting Pressure on Malcom who Currently Reins Supreme?

 

Lets Find Out

 

Avon Tyres Intermarque Silhouettes-(Race 2 Results)

 

Race 2 and One Last Chance for The Top 3 To Battle it out and See who can Take Either Back to Back Victories at Brands Hatch or Who can Possibly Disrupt the Win Streak Currently Set by Malcom.

 

In First Place Taking The Last Victory was (Steve Burrows) in his Vauxhall Tigra with a Best Lap Time of 1:01.432 and an Average Speed of 69.99mph. Congratulations Steve What a Brilliant Bit of Driving there in Very Wet and Dark Conditions to Beat Malcom and Take Home a Fantastically Deserved Win.

 

In Second Place was (Dave York) in his Vauxhall Tigra with a Best Lap Time of 1:01.329 and an Average Speed of 69.59mph. Amazing Work there Dave Really Pushing that Vauxhall for All it was Worth and Doing Very Well to Keep it on the Damp and Slippery Track for a Superb P2 on the Podium.

 

In Third Place was (Malcom Blackman) in his Vauxhall Tigra with a Best Lap Time of 1:01.343 and an Average Speed of 69.50mph. Well Driven there Malcom Great Drive and A Really Good Finish in P3 from an Amazing Weekend of Racing.

 

What a Fantastic Weekend for The Intermarque Silhouettes and So many Amazing Winners in the Likes of Danny Pat Malcom Dave and Steve Who All Showed Incredible Wet Weather Skills and Kept there Cars Going to Take some Superb Victories. Well Done to All of the Other Drivers too Who Fought Hard on Track. Keep Pushing for that Victory and Good Luck.

 

BMR Super Saloons & CMMCS Tin-Tops-(Qualifying Results)

 

Next Up on to The Race Track was The Super Saloons and Tin Tops and Thease Machines not Only Have Incredible Liveries and Looks but they Also Pack a lot of Power and Variety in the Types of Race Cars and How they Handle.

 

From the Ford Escort WRC to the Peugeot 306 and even the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10 Each Car and Driver Have a Certain Driving Style that can Either Mean the Difference Between a Loss or a Victory on the Race Track.

 

Lets Get to Qualifying and See Who Took Pole

 

In First Place Taking Pole Position and The Best Lap Was (Rod Birley) in his Ford Escort WRC with a Best Lap Time of 58.886 and a Top Speed of 73.84mph. Brilliant Drive from Birley as a Home Hero of Brands Hatch He Always Knows How to Take Almost Any Car and Get it onto Pole Position Fantastic Drive.

 

In Second Place was (Chris Basset) in his Peugeot 306 with a Best Lap Time of 1:00.040 and a Top Speed of 72.42mph. Fantastic Drive there Chris Pushing that Peugeot Hard for a Well Deserved P2 Finish Well Done.

 

In Third Place was (Nick Sutton) in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10 with a Best Lap Time of 1:01.904 and a Top Speed of 70.24mph. Brilliant Drive there Nick Really Working Hard and Getting that Beautiful Lancer Evo into P3 on the Gird.

 

A Fantastic Qualifying Session for Tin Tops and Super Saloons with some Very Fast and Experienced Drivers in Rod Chris and Nick all Pushing their Machinery Hard and Gunning for a Victory. With Race 1 Just Around the Corner it will be Interesting to See who can Take the Victory and who can Defend their Position from the other Drivers who will no Doubt Be Ready and Waiting to Attack.

 

BMR Super Saloons & CMMCS Tin-Tops-(Race 1 Results)

 

In First Place Taking the Victory and The Fastest Lap was (Rod Birley) in his Ford Escort WRC with a Best Lap Time of 1:02.316 and an Average Speed of 57.41mph. Congratulations Rod a Really Incredible Bit of Driving in those Rain Soaked Conditions to take Home a Victory that the Whole Family will be Really Proud of. Amazing Drive.

 

In Second Place was (Steve Dann) in his VW Scirocco with a Best Lap Time of 1:02.502 and an Average Speed of 57.35mph. Great Driving there from Steve Taking the Fight Right to Birley at The End and Almost Catching him for the Race Win. Non the Less a Very Well Deserved P2 Finish.

 

In Third Place was (Nick Wall) in his Renault Clio with a Best Lap Time of 1:04.877 and an Average Speed of 55.89mph. Brilliant work there Nick A Fantastic P3 Finish in Conditions that were Very Challenging Indeed.

 

What an Incredible Race this was to Witness with the Start Being Behind the Safety Car before All of the Driver put their foot down and Went for it in conditions where at Times the Spray made it Impossible to see Anything.

 

A Big Congratulations to the likes of Rod Steve and Nick who All Drove Incredibly and Really Showed Everyone who the Rain Masters were around the Indy Circuit. A Big Congratulations to All of the Other Drivers too Who also Showed Incredible Bravery and Skill Navigating their way Around and Claiming some Incredible Victories of their own.

 

With Race 2 Coming Up Next will Rod be able to Hold onto his 1st Place Finish or Will the Likes of Nick and Steve Try to Take that 1st Place away from Rod? and Who Else May be able to Challenge this Trio of Fast and Capable Drivers.

 

Lets Find Out

 

BMR Super Saloons & CMMCS Tin-Tops-(Race 2 Results)

 

With The Circuit Now Entering Night fall it was Getting Very Difficult for The Drivers to see which will add a New Challenge to this Race. Will the Likes of Rod Birley be Able to Win Once Again?

 

In First Place Taking the Win and Fastest Lap was (Rod Birley) in his Ford Escort WRC with a Best Lap Time of 1:00.960 and an Average Speed of 60.83mph. Amazing Work there Rod Driven like a True Champion and a Fantastic Home Win to Add to the Already Incredible Win Streak at Brands Hatch.

 

In Second Place was (Nick Sutton) in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10 with a Best Lap Time of 59.429 and an Average Speed of 60.74mph. Great Drive from Nick Once Again Showing his Brave and Fantastic Skills even at Night When the Lights go Out. Well Done.

 

In Third Place was (Steve Dann) in his VW Scirocco with a Best Lap Time of 1:02.227 and an Average Speed of 60.48mph. Nice Work Steve Really Good Drive for P3 Showing some Incredible Speed and Commitment Thought the Race.

 

What an Amazing Race from the Super Saloons and Tin Tops with some Incredible Drives and Victories from the likes of Rod Nick Sutton Nick Wall and Steve All Pushing Hard and Achieving Some Incredible Victories.

 

Well Done to All of the Other Drivers out there Racing too You All did a Fantastic Job and Looking Forward to seeing you All out there Again Doing what you Love and Sharing a Passion for Motorsport.

 

Dunlop Mini Winter Challenge supported by Mini Spares (Race 2 Results)

 

The Mini's were Up Next and After Some Incredible Racing Yesterday which Saw the Likes of Rupert Deeth Take 1st with Scott Kendall 2nd and Colin Peacock 3rd it was Going to be an Intense Battle at the Front of the Field.

 

The Likes of Endaf Owens was Also Prepared after an Engine Failure During Yesterdays Race Which Many thought would put him out of Contention for Today..........However With Some Incredible Overnight Work by Him and His Fellow Mechanics as well as a Late Night Trip to Wales and Back to Pick Up a Spare Engine, Endaf and His Dedicated Team Have Managed to Get his Car Ready for Race 2. Truly a Phenomenal Achievement. Lets Hope for Better Luck this Time.

 

Lets Get to the Action

 

In First Place Taking Victory and The Fastest Lap was (Endaf Owens) in his Mini Miglia 1298 with a Best Lap Time of 55.033 and an Average Speed of 67.78mph. Incredible Drive there Endaf Coming Back from Yesterday with an Engine Failure to Win the First Race of Sunday is Truly The Drive of a Champion. Incredible Work.

 

In Second Place was (Rupert Deeth) in his Mini Miglia 1293 with a Best Lap Time of 54.925 and an Average Speed of 67.72mph. Another Heroic Drive from Rupert Really Putting Pressure on Endaf the Entire Race and the two of them being in a Class of their Own way out in Front. Amazing Drive there Rupert.

 

In Third Place was (Scott Kendall) in his Mini Miglia 1293 with a Best Lap Time of 55.618 and an Average Speed of 67.34mph. Great Drive there From Scott Racing Hard and Doing a Fantastic Job of Defending that P3 Spot. A Very Well Deserved Third Place Finish.

 

What a Race from The Dunlop Mini Winter Challenge and with One More Race to go The Game is on for Anybody to take on the Likes of Scott Endaf and Rupert for Victory. Lets Find Out what Race 3 Brings and if Endaf can Make it 2 out of 3 Wins to Finish what Has Been a Phenomenal Weekend of Racing for the Mini's.

 

Dunlop Mini Winter Challenge supported by Mini Spares (Race 3 Results)

 

The Final Race for The Mini's and with Endaf Owens on an Incredible Charge will he be able to Withstand The Pressure coming from Rupert Deeth and Take Victory Once More?

 

In First Place taking the Final Win and Fastest Lap was (Endaf Owens) in his Mini Miglia 1298 with a Best Lap Time of 1:02.979 and an Average Speed of 60.65mph. Congratulations Endaf Another Superb Victory for Today and What an Incredible Come Back From Yesterday. He and His Family as well as His Race Engineers and Mechanics will be Very Proud of Him This Weekend that's for sure.

 

In Second Place was (Joe Thompson) in his Mini Miglia 1300 with a Best Lap Time of 1:03.571 and an Average Speed of 60.40mph. Brilliant Driving from Joe and a Really Excellent Performance in Very Dark and Dreary Conditions for a P2 Finish.

 

In Third Place was (Rupert Deeth) in his Mini Miglia 1293 with a Best Lap Time of 1:03.433 and an Average Speed of 59.93mph. Very Well Done Rupert a Fantastic P3 Finish To End the Weekends Racing and some Incredible Battles thought the Weekend with Endaf too. Well Done.

 

What a Weekend it has been for The Dunlop Mini Winter Challenge with Some Incredible Drives from the Likes of Endaf Rupert Joe and Scott all Taking Amazing Victories. Well Done to all of the other Competitors too you All did a Fantastic Job and Good Luck for the Next Time Out. Hope to See you All again Next Year for More High Speed and Close Racing Action.

 

Ginetta Junior Championship-(Qualifying 2 Results)

 

Now it was Time for the Return of the Ginetta Junior Championship onto the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit and after Some Intense and Close Racing Yesterday Each Driver was Ready to Go for Victory Once Again.

 

Currently Josh Rowledge Liam Mcneilly and Max Dodds are The Top 3 Finishers from Yesterdays Race and with Another Qualifying Session Ready and Waiting Will they be able to Put themselves Back at the Front of the Grid or Will a New set of Driver work to Challenge them?

 

In First Place Taking Pole Position and The Fastest Lap was (Tom Edgar) in his GBR R Racing with a Best Lap Time of 1:05.449 and a Top Speed of 66.44mph. Congratulations Tom Taking Pole Position and Ensuring a Front Row Start. Brilliant Lap.

 

In Second Place was (Aqil Alibhai) in his RSA Elite Motorsport with a Best Lap Time of 1:05.832 and a Top Speed of 66.05mph. Great Work there from Aqil Taking P2 on the Gird and Some Impressive Car Control thought Qualifying. A Well Deserved P2.

 

In Third Place was (Joe Warhurst) in his GBR Elite Motorsport with a Best Lap Time of 1:05.964 and a Top Speed of 65.92mph. Brilliant Drive there Joe Keeping that Car Nicely Positioned Thought the Lap to ensure a Smooth and Yet Confident P3 Spot on the Gird.

 

A Great Second Qualifying Session for the Ginetta Junior Drivers with Three New Drivers in the likes of Tom Aqil and Joe All Looking to take that Glory Come The Next Race. But Who will be able to turn that Impressive Qualifying Lap into a Victory?

 

We Will Have to Wait and See.

 

Ginetta Junior Championship-(Qualifying 2 Second Fastest Results)

 

After an Intense Qualifying Session which saw the Likes of Tom Edgar Aqil Alibhai and Joe Warhurst Taking the Top Three Spots it was Time for them to do it One More Time in a Second Heat for Qualifying. Who will be on Top This Time and will the likes of both Joe and Aqil take that P1 Spot away from Tom?

 

In First Place Taking The Pole was (Tom Edgar) in his GBR R Racing with a Best Lap Time of 1:05.453 and a Top Speed of 66.43mph. Superb Job Once Again from Tom who manages to Hold onto that All Important P1 Position. Brilliant Drive there Tom.

 

In Second Place was (Joe Warhurst) in his GBR Elite Motorsport with a Best Lap Time of 1:06.089 and a Top Speed of 65.79mph. Fantastic work Joe Pushing Hard and Taking that P2 Spot away from Aqil Alibhai.

 

In Third Place was (Aqil Alibhai) in his RSA Elite Motorsport with a Best Lap Time of 1:06.284 and a Top Speed of 65.60mph. Nice Work there Aqil P3 and a Really Good Effort Against the Likes of both Joe and Tom.

 

What Another Intense Qualifying Session with the Top Three In Tom Joe and Aqil All Pushing Hard and Swapping Positions thought Second Qualifying. What Will the First of Two Races Bring Today and Who will be the First to take Victory?

 

Ginetta Junior Championship-(Race 3 Results)

 

In First Place Taking The Victory was (Aqil Alibhai) in his RSA Elite Motorsport with a Best Lap Time of 59.381 and an Average Speed of 71.48mph. Congratulations Aqil A Really Well Deserved Win and Some Incredible Driving to take the Race Win. Well and Truly Deserved.

 

In Second Place was (Max Doods) in his GBR Assetto Motorsport with a Best Lap Time of 59.284 and an Average Speed of 71.21mph. Brilliant Driving from Max Pushing Himself and The Car Thought the Race to take Home a Fantastic P2 Finish.

 

In Third Place was (Liam Mcneilly) in his GBR Fox Motorsport with a Best Lap Time of 59.426 and an Average Speed of 71.12mph. Brilliant Driving Liam P3 and The Final Spot on The Podium.

 

A Fantastic Race with Two New Winners in the Likes of Max and Liam and a Huge Congratulations to Aqil for that Incredible Victory after Overtaking both Liam and Max During the Race to take Victory. Good Luck to All other Drivers too and Lets see what the Final Race Brings.

  

Ginetta Junior Championship-(Race 4 Results)

 

The Final Race for Ginetta Juniors and One Last Time for One Driver to Stand on the Top Step of the Podium. After Some Fantastic Drives from the likes of Max Aqil Liam Tom and Joe who will be able to take that Last All Important Victory?

 

In First Place Taking The Final Victory was (Liam Mcneilly) in his GBR Fox Motorsport with a Best Lap Time of 1:07.685 and an Average Speed of 45.65mph. Congratulations Liam Brilliant Final Drive and a Really Great way to End a Perfect Weekend. Your Family and Friends will be Really Proud of you.

 

In Second Place was (Aqil Alibhai) in his RSA Elite Motorsport with a Best Lap Time of 1:07.749 and an Average Speed of 45.62mph. Awesome work there Aqil Another Very Good Battle at the Front of the Field and a Great P2 Finish to End the Weekend with a Smile.

 

In Third Place was (Sonny Smith) in his GBR R Racing with a Best Lap Time of 1:07.784 and an Average Speed of 45.59mph. Congratulations Sonny P3 and a Really Superb Job Defending from the Likes of Max Behind thought the Race.

 

A Brilliant Weekend for The Ginetta Junior Championship With So Many Fantastic Drivers in the likes of Liam Aqil and Sonny as well as Max and Liam These Young Drivers are Going to do Really Well in Future Top Level Motorsport. A big Congratulations to All of you and to the Other Drivers in the Field Keep Pushing and Working Hard Never Stop Trying.

 

Britcar Endurance Championship-(Race 1 Results)

 

As The Light Fell away from the Circuit The Britcar Endurance Championship made its way out onto the circuit with Lights a Blaze and a lot of Energy coming from both the Drivers and their Cars This was Going to be a Race of Endurance and Car Management thought the 45 Minutes of the Race.

 

During Qualifying Yesterday The Team of

 

Valluga's Carl Cavers/Sean Doyle took Pole with

 

Valluga's Ian Humphries/Benji Hetherington in Second while

 

Nial Bradley Took Third.

 

With a Quick set of Warm Up Laps Over it was Time for The Brit car's to make their way out onto the Track and Get Ready for two Races of Endurance to Decide the Britcar Champion of 2021.

 

In First Place Taking the Victory was (Valluga's) Ian Humphries and Benji Hetherington in their Porsche 718 GT4 Club sport with a Best Lap Time of 50.023 and an Average Speed of 70.37mph. Congratulations both Ian and Benji a Fantastic Win in Very Tricky and Tiering Circumstances thought the 45 Minutes.

 

In Second Place was (Nial Bradley) in his BMW M3 E46 with a Best Lap Time of 50.799 and an Average Speed of 70.34mph. Brilliant work there Nial Keeping the Pressure on for both Ian and Benji at the front of the Pack. a Very Committed Drive for P2.

 

In Third Place was (Valluga's) Carl Cavers and Sean Doyle in their Porsche 718 GT4 Club sport with a Best Lap Time of 50.016 and an Average Speed of 70.34mph. Congratulations Carl and Sean Brilliant Drives from both of you and a Well Deserved P3 Finish after an Intense Battle with Team Hard's Eric Bolton in P4.

 

What an Intense First Race for the Britcar Endurance Championship with the Likes of Ian Humphries and Benji Hetherington Taking the Spoils while Nial Bradley Finishes Second and Carl Cavers and Sean Doyle Finish Third.

 

With Only One Race Left who will be the Victor and Take Home Glory? Lets Find Out.

 

Britcar Endurance Championship-(Race 2 Results FINAL)

 

In First Place Taking the Final Race Win of the Day and The Fastest Lap was (Steve Rothery) in his Peugeot 308 with a Best Lap Time of 58.289 and an Average Speed of 66.59mph. Congratulations Steve a Really Phenomenal Drive to take The Final Win of the Weekend for Britcar. Brilliantly Driven and Nicely Controlled.

 

In Second Place was (Valluga's) Ian Humphries and Carl Cavers in their Porsche 718 GT4 Club Sport with a Best Lap Time of 57.414 and an Average Speed of 66.46mph. Great Work there by both the likes of Ian and Carl to Bring there car Home in P2. A Wonderful Way to End the Weekend and the Championship.

 

In Third Place was (Spires Motorsport's) Anton Spies in his Renault Clio Gen 4 with a Best Lap Time of 1:01.189 and an Average Speed of 64.37mph. A Very Heroic Drive from Anton Pushing His Renault Hard and Ensuring He Defends that All Important Final Spot on the Podium. Great Job.

 

What a Weekend it has been for the Britcar Endurance Championship with Many Fantastic Teams and Drivers in the Likes of (Valluga's) Ian Humphries Carl Cavers Benji Hetherington and the Likes of (Spire Motorsports) Anton Spires and Steve Rothery.

 

Brilliant Driving from All of you and a Really Big Congratulations to The Final Race Winner Steve Rothery.

 

A Fantastic Weekend with Many Talented and Incredible Drivers All Pushing Hard and Doing what they Love on the Race Track. Congratulations to All of the Race Winners.

 

See You All Again Next Year!

                                    

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Kenny Pearsall, a crew chief assigned to the 169th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, participates in a FOD walk at José María Córdova International Airport during Feria Aeronautica Internacional—Colombia 2017 in Rionegro, Colombia, July 11, 2017. The United States Air Force is participating in the four-day air show with two South Carolina Air National Guard F-16s as static displays, plus static displays of a KC-135, KC-10, along with an F-16 aerial demonstration by the Air Combat Command’s Viper East Demo Team. United States military participation in the air show provides an opportunity to strengthen our military-to-military relationships with regional partners and provides the opportunity to meet with our Colombian air force counterparts and facilitate interoperability, which can be exercised in future cooperation events such as exercises and training. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Megan Floyd)

Festus G. Mogae, Chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), met with the Group of 10 (former detainees), members of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), and members of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan (GRSS) on 22 December 2015. During his welcoming remarks, Mr. Mogae said the return of SPLM/A-IO indicates their commitment to restoring peace and implementing the Agreement in South Sudan. “Your return is not the end of the road, but the start of another important journey,” he stressed.

He also mentioned his appreciation of the Government for enabling the first group of the SPLM/A (IO) to return, and urged both parties to plan for the expeditious return of the second and third groups, in accordance with the proposed plan. In remarks aimed at the greater South Sudanese population, he said “in this season of hope, forgiveness and renewal … this Christmas, 2015, is the last celebrated in a context of conflict.”

The main purposes of the meeting were: a) to ensure the timely establishment of the main pre-transitional institutions, b) to hear from the leadership of the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) about their activities, challenges and how best to support their efforts in future, c) to hear from the Parties on the status, to date, of the cantonment of forces and d) to move forward with the other processes necessary to establish the Transitional Government of National Unity, as required by the Compromise Peace Agreement.

We enjoyed our Sunday Brunch @ The IFI, The Irish Film Institute located in Temple Bar, the heart of Cultural Dublin, near the Gallery of Photography and the River Liffey || Our Brunch Choices included: Eggs Royal, Eggs Benedict, French Toast with Bacon and Maple Syrup, Hot Chocolates and Orange Juice x2. Recommended before or after seeing a movie, but the food was memorable even on a stand alone basis when visiting the IFI as a destination. Enjoy, we would consider to eat here again in the future.

 

(for English scroll down)

 

Am 19. Juni 2015 verlegte die Weinkellerei F. W. Langguth Erben aus Traben-Trarbach die Welt der Erben Weine für einen Abend von der Mosel an die Spree und feierte mit „Hot Barbecue“ die erfolgreiche Premiere einer neuen Veranstaltungsreihe. Mit der „Erben Tafelrunde“, einer Serie von Pop-up-Events, möchte das Familienunternehmen Langguth seine Traditionsmarke künftig einem jungen, urbanen Publikum näher bringen. - Ziel von Langguth ist es, den Teilnehmern an den Veranstaltungen ein ungewöhnliches, überraschendes und mit allen Sinnen erfahrbares Markenerlebnis rund um die Erben Weine zu bieten und dadurch die Grundlage für eine emotionale Bindung zu fördern.

 

Die Premiere fand an einem Ort statt, der selbst in Berlin noch als Geheimtipp gilt - ein direkt an der Spree gelegenes, altes Kranhaus (Kranhaus Café) in Köpenick. Den rund 40 Gästen, darunter Mitglieder der wachsenden Markenbotschafter-Community der „Erben Gemeinschaft“ und Berliner Food- und Genussblogger, wurde die An- und Abreise vom und zum Historischen Hafen auf dem solarbetrieben Katamaran SOLON ermöglicht. Getreu dem Motto des Abends „Hot Barbecue: Chili trifft Erben Wein“ war das Programm als kulinarisches Crowd-Pairing-Experiment angelegt, in dessen Verlauf verschiedene Chili-Saucen, präsentiert vom Chili-Fachmann Felix Eichholtz vom Pfefferhaus Berlin mit diversen Weinen aus dem Erben Sortiment kombiniert wurden. Dazu exquisite Barbecue-Gerichte, authentisch zubereitet im „Smoker“ von BBQ-Master Adam Ramirez aus Texas von „The Pit - Real Texas Barbecue“. Anders als beim klassischen Wine-Pairing wurde den Gästen beim Crowd-Pairing pro Gang eine Auswahl aus drei Erben Weinen serviert. Die Idee hinter dem Crowd-Pairing ist, nicht Weinexperten, sondern den Schwarm per Abstimmung entscheiden zu lassen, welche Food-Wein-Kombination am besten zusammenpasst. Für den Veranstalter und die Teilnehmer war der Auftakt der Pop-up-Eventserie am Ende ein voller Erfolg.

 

*** ERSTER GANG ***

 

Truthahnbrust geräuchert an Dreierlei Käse-Dips. Dazu Grim Reaper „Rookie Goblin"

 

Weinauswahl

2014 Erben Patenschaft-Riesling, Trabener Königsberg Riesling feinherb, Mosel

2014 Erben Grauburgunder trocken, Pfalz

2014 Erben Spätlese feinfruchtig, Rheinhessen

 

*** ZWEITER GANG ***

 

Pulled Pork aus dem Smoker an Pariser Blattsalat und Quinoasalat. Dazu „Marie Sharp's „Hot Habanero“ Chili Sauce

 

Weinauswahl

2013 Erben Spätburgunder lieblich, Rheinhessen

2014 Erben Dornfelder Rosé halbtrocken, Rheinhessen

2014 Erben Exklusiv Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé Réserve trocken, Pfalz

 

*** DRITTER GANG ***

 

Rinderbraten aus dem Smoker an Linsensalat und Schwäbischem Kartoffelsalat. Dazu Suicide Sauces "Habanero BBQ“ Chili Sauce

 

Weinauswahl

2014 Erben Regent fruchtig-süss, Rheinhessen

2013 Erben Exklusiv Dornfelder Barrique trocken, Pfalz

2013 Erben Exklusiv Spätburgunder Réserve trocken, im Eichenholz gereift, Rheinhessen

 

*** VIERTER GANG ***

 

Quark-Joghurt mit Trauben Walnuss Dessert. Dazu

Suicide Sauces "Mango Fire“ Chili Sauce

 

Weinauswahl

2013 Erben Exklusiv Huxelrebe Auslese, fruchtig-süss, Rheinhessen

2014 Erben Müller-Thurgau fruchtig-süss, Rheinhessen

2014 Erben Spätlese feinfruchtig, Rheinhessen

 

www.erben-wein.de/

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HOT BARBECUE: Chili meets Erben wine

 

On June 19, 2015, the F. W. Langguth Erben winery from Traben-Trarbach moved the world of Erben wines from the Mosel to the Spree for an evening and celebrated the successful premiere of a new series of events with "Hot Barbecue". With the "Erben Tafelrunde", a series of pop-up events, the Langguth family business aims to bring its traditional brand closer to a young, urban audience in future. - Langguth's aim is to offer participants in the events an unusual, surprising brand experience around Erben wines that can be experienced with all the senses, thereby promoting the basis for an emotional bond.

 

The premiere took place at a location that is still considered an insider tip even in Berlin - an old crane house (Kranhaus Café) in Köpenick, located directly on the River Spree. Around 40 guests, including members of the growing "Erben Gemeinschaft" brand ambassador community and Berlin food and gourmet bloggers, were able to travel to and from the historic harbor on the solar-powered catamaran SOLON. True to the motto of the evening "Hot Barbecue: Chili meets Erben Wine", the program was designed as a culinary crowd-pairing experiment, in the course of which various chili sauces, presented by chili expert Felix Eichholtz from Pfefferhaus Berlin, were combined with various wines from the Erben range. These were accompanied by exquisite barbecue dishes, authentically prepared in the "smoker" by BBQ master Adam Ramirez from Texas from "The Pit - Real Texas Barbecue". In contrast to classic wine pairing, guests were served a selection of three heirloom wines per course at the crowd-pairing event. The idea behind crowd-pairing is not to let wine experts decide which food-wine combination goes best together, but to let the crowd decide by voting. The kick-off of the pop-up event series ended up being a complete success for the organizer and the participants.

 

*** FIRST COURSE ***

 

Smoked turkey breast with three kinds of cheese dips.Served with Grim Reaper "Rookie Goblin"

 

Wine selection

2014 Erben Patenschaft Riesling, Trabener Königsberg Riesling feinherb, Mosel

2014 Erben Pinot Gris dry, Palatinate

2014 Erben Spätlese fine fruity, Rheinhessen

 

*** SECOND COURSE ***

 

Pulled pork from the smoker with Parisian leaf salad and quinoa salad. Served with "Marie Sharp's "Hot Habanero" Chili Sauce

 

Wine selection

2013 Erben Pinot Noir sweet, Rheinhessen

2014 Erben Dornfelder Rosé semi-dry, Rheinhessen

2014 Erben Exklusiv Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé Réserve dry, Palatinate

 

*** THIRD COURSE ***

 

Roast beef from the smoker with lentil salad and Swabian potato salad. Served with Suicide Sauces "Habanero BBQ" Chili Sauce

 

Wine selection

2014 Erben Regent fruity-sweet, Rheinhessen

2013 Erben Exklusiv Dornfelder Barrique dry, Palatinate

2013 Erben Exklusiv Pinot Noir Réserve dry, matured in oak, Rheinhessen

 

*** FOURTH COURSE ***

 

Curd yogurt with grape walnut dessert. Served with

Suicide Sauces "Mango Fire" Chili Sauce

 

Wine selection

2013 Erben Exklusiv Huxelrebe Auslese, fruity-sweet, Rheinhessen

2014 Erben Müller-Thurgau fruity-sweet, Rheinhessen

2014 Erben Spätlese fine fruity, Rheinhessen

 

www.erben-wein.de/

A short getaway with my dear wife and dear one in her tummy. Reward for you my dear wife for working so hard in the past few months and you finally had a well deserved break! Nice couple we had on this very first cruise on Royal Caribbean was Raymond and Shuyan. Looking for more trips in future with both of ya :)

New America's Future of War Conference

 

Gen. Stephen W. Wilson, Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force

 

Photo by: Eric Gibson/ New America

Being a Saturday, first job of the day, after coffee, was hunter-gathering in Tesco.

 

Was not surprised to find half an aisle already full of Easter eggs and stuff.

 

Elsewhere there was lots of Valentine's Day cards and more stuff to spend your money on.

 

Back home for a quick breakfast, before going out again and heading north for Thanet.

 

On the north coast there are two large churches that I wanted to revisit: St Nicholas at Wade and All Saints in Birchington.

 

Thanks to the Sandwich Road and Thanet Way round Ramsgate, we got to Birchington at half nine, but found the church did not open until ten, so we went in search of the sea.

 

Though the sea was not lost.

 

Through a large 1950s housing estate, there it was.

 

There are three of us, trying to photograph Kent churches . I met one a few years back on Heritage Weekend, and there is Rob, an online friend who is trying to record all churches, irrespective of denomination, in the county.

 

And so, thanks to Rob and his love for Victorian and 20th century churches, I got to know some newer churches, maybe once chapels of ease, but some now parish churches in their own right.

 

Minnis Bay is one, set among mid-war development, a 1920s construction, bankrolled by the local Freemason's lodge, St Thomas sits on the main road, opposite a micropub and convenience store.

 

I got out to take a shot of the front and side, then a car pulled up: do you want to see inside, I'll only be here ten minutes, the warden told me.

 

Win!

 

So, I grabbed the big camera and got busy, though in truth not much other than the building itself, but it was pleasant enough. Though there are rumours that it might be closing.

 

Grenham Bay, Birchington, Kent.

 

Bleak.

 

Bleak and bracing.

 

Bleak, bracing and quiet.

 

At low tide.

 

This morning, we found ourselves here, and having parked, we found low chalk cliffs, concrete flood defences and lots of sea birds and fowl feeding among the chalk rockpools at low ride.

 

We didn't stay long, long enough to get some shots, before moving on.

 

Here, Jools walks down the concrete ramp to the "promenade, wide enough to run a grand prix, just the occasional jogger or dog walker were the only others around.

 

Back in the car at ten for the short drive through the town centre, parking outside the village hall, and walking through the large churchyard where the porch door was open.

 

All Saints is open between ten and midday each Sunday, and inside there were at least four wardens, each of whom gave us a warm welcome.

 

A heavily restored church, but the jewel is the Quex Chapel, for the Crispe family that owns, or used to own, Quex Park nearby.

 

Wall full of tablets, memorials and tombs.

 

The next parish southwards is St Nicholas at Wade, now better known as a roundabout on Thanet way where the driver can turn either for Ramsgate or Margate. There is also a village, named after the parish and the parish church, which towers over the narrow streets of the village, that we had to weave through to reach the church.

 

At the west end of the village, around the church, are some wonderfully old buildings, whose brickies had a novel attitude to laying, with bricks at all angles.

 

The church is entered through a double-decked porch, something more seen in East Anglia, and the priest would live in a small room above the entrance, and accessed by what must be the oldest set of steps in Kent, if not England.

 

It took half an hour to get all the shots, but having done so we went back outside to head home.

 

Instead of turning round and going through the village, shall we go straight on and see where that takes us?

 

An adventure?

 

So we did.

 

Where it did take us was along some fields and over a bridge spanning Thanet Way, where there was a junction to head east back towards Ramsgate and home.

 

So, that was easy.

 

And back in time for a brew before lunch, and bacon butties too as we were both hungry, and I could sit beside Scully watching the Coventry v Leicester game, which Cov won 3-1.

 

Most of the afternoon was a battle to stay awake whilst listening to the radio. Jools went to the gym to have a sauna, so came back full of beans.

 

Dinner was Caprese with warmed through focaccia drizzled with chilli-infused olive oil to crisp it up.

 

It all went well with the remainder of the bottle of wine, but having emptied that, I needed just a little something more, so went for the barrel aged Delerium.

 

It poured a reddy-brown colour, had a full nose of fruits and spices, and was a flavour explosion on the tongue. At 11.5%, not to be messed about with, but glorious.

  

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Famous as the burial place of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and whose grave stands outside the main south door, this church contains so much more of interest. Mostly thirteenth century with a fourteenth century veneer it is full of treasures. The best collection of memorials in East Kent may be found in the north chapel owned for centuries by the series of owners of Quex House. The Quex, Crispe, Powell and Powell-Cotton families have been commemorated in monuments that reflect the styles oil the centuries. There are 6 brasses now on the wall, a huge 6-portrait bust tablet and a huge classical entablature. Opposite is a more usual but excellently crafted Prie- Dieu with gaudy colouring. The rest of the church does not disappoint. The SW corner of the church has dumpy piers and rudimentary vaulting showing that a new tower was planned there, though it was never built. The nave piers and chancel arch show remarkable degradation in the stonework. There seems to be no reason for this but it is almost that the church has been consumed by fire at some time. The reredos was designed by the 19th century architect Charles Beazley (see also Acol and Westgate) and painted by Nathaniel Westlake. It badly needs a clean to make it sing again. The altar rails are by the Canterbury College of Art, 1930s, and a really a fine period piece. What an interesting church this is – built to serve a farming village with a big house and later adapted to suit the holidaymakers who came here by the thousand. What a shame that it is difficult of access (though the helpful Church Office is happy to oblige).

 

www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Birchington

 

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NORTHWARD from Minster lies the parish of Birchington, adjoining to the sea. It is said to have been antiently called, sometimes Birchington in Gorend, and at other times Gorend in Birchington, from a place called Gorend, in this parish, where it is reported the church formerly stood, though the most usual name was always, as it is at present, Birchington only.

 

THIS PARISH is within the liberty and jurisdiction of the cinque ports, and is a member of the town and port of Dover; and though Gorend in it, is said to have been united to that town and port, ever since the reign of king Edward I. yet in king Henry VI.'s reign it was disputed whether this parish was not in the county at large; to take away therefore all doubt of it, the king, by letters patent, united it to Dover, the mayor of which appoints a deputy here, to whom the inhabitants have recourse for justice.

 

By the Landtax act of 1711, it was enacted, that in future, the parishes of St. John, St. Peter, and Birchington, in the Isle of Thanet, within the liberty of Dover, should be deemed and taken to be a distinct division within the said liberty, and in the executing of that act, should be charged towards making up the whole sum charged on the town of Dover, and the liberty thereof, according to the proportion which was assessed upon the said parishes by the act of the 4th of William and Mary, for granting an aid of four shillings in the pound, &c.

 

THIS PARISH joins the sea shore northward, along the whole of which it is bounded by high cliffs of chalk, through which there are several apertures made for the conveniency of a passage on to the sea shore. The parish is, in general, high land, and very pleasantly situated; in the middle of it stands the church and village adjoining, tolerably well sheltered with elm trees. This village, in a pleasing situation, on a gentle eminence, commands many delightful prospects over sea and land; particularly a fine view up the delightful vale to Canterbury, the principal tower of which cathedral froms a conspicuous object, though at the distance of twelve miles; beyond which, in clear weather, are plainly seen the range of hills and the losty woods in Chilham and Godmersham parks, more than six miles further southward.

 

About three quarters of a mile north-west of the church, and near as much from the sea shore, is Goreend, antiently a place of note, being particularly men tioned in the great charter of the cinque ports, as one of the members of the town and port of Dover. Leland, in his Itinerary, vol. vii. says, "Reculver is now scarce half a mile from the shore, but it is to be supposid, that yn tymes paste these cam hard to Goreende, a two mile from Northmouth, and at Gore ende is a litle straite caullid Broode Staires to go downe the clive: and about this shore is good taking of mullettes. The great Raguseis ly for defence at Gore ende and thens again is another sinus on to the Forelande." Here it is said the church stood antiently, and that it was lost by the falling of the cliff on which it stood, and that the present one was built in its stead; near this is a farm, called Upper Gore end, which was given by the owner of it, Henry Robinson, gent. by his will in 1642, for the maintenance of two fellows and two scholars in St. John's college, in Cambridge, as has been already related before. About a mile southward, lie Great and Little Brooksend; and at a like distance eastward, Great and Little Quekes. At the north-east boundary of the parish is Westgate, where there is a small hamlet of houses; from which place Domneva's deer is said to have begun its course across this island, running for some space eastward, till it turned southward towards the boundary of it, at Sheriffs Hope, in Minster.

 

This parish is somewhat more than two miles and an half each way; about the village and Quekes, it is pleasantly sheltered with trees; the lands in it are fertile, and like the other parts adjoining to it, are arable and mostly uninclosed, lying high, with hill and dale intermixed. The high road from Sarre to Margate runs along the southern side of the parish. There is a bay of the sea adjoining to the shore of this parish, called Hemmings bay; probably so called from Hemming, the Danish chiestan, who landed with his companion Anlef and their forces in this island, in the year 1009.

 

By the return made to the council's letter by archbishop Parker's order in 1563, there were then computed to be in this parish forty housholds; and by the return of the survey made by order of the same queen, in her 8th year, of the several maritime places in this county, it appears that there were then here houses inhabited forty-two; that there was a landing place, but it had neither ship nor boat.

 

A whale was cast ashore within the bounds of this parish in the year 1762.

 

The manor of Monkton claims paramount over this parish, subordinate to which is

 

THE MANOR OF QUEKES, or QUEX, as it is frequently spelt in the antient deeds of it. It is situated in the south-east part of this parish, about three quarters of a mile from the church, and was antiently the seat of a family who gave name to it, many of whom lie buried in this church, several of whose gravestones and inscriptions yet remain; among which are those of John Quek, who died possessed of it in the year 1449, anno 28 Henry VI. and of his son Rich. Quek in 1456; (fn. 1) from the latter of whom this seat devolved by paternal descent to John Quekes, esq. who about the beginning of king Henry VII.'s reign, left an only daughter and heir Agnes, who carried it in marriage to John Crispe, esq. descended of an antient family seated at Stanlake, in Oxforshire; he afterwards resided here, and died possessed of it in 1500, anno 16 Henry VII. He left by her four daughters, married to Barret, Gosborne, Thomas, and Symons; and one sone and heir John Crispe, who was sheriff in the 10th year of king Henry VIII. and kept his shrievalty at this seat of Quekes. He had three sons, John, the eldest, was of Cleve-court, in Monkton, of whom further mention has been made in the description of that place; Henry, the second, was of Quekes; and William, the third, was lieutenant of Dover castle.

 

Henry Crispe, esq. the second son, of Quekes, kept his shrievalty at this seat in the 38th year of the above reign, anno 1546, being the last of it, and was a man of great name and eminency, and of singular estimation for his discretion and weight in the management of the public affairs of the county, as well as for his hospitality, insomuch that he was reputed to have the entire rule of all this island. He died at Quekes, at a good old age, in the year 1575, leaving by his second wife six children; of whom Nicholas Crispe, esq. the eldest son, was of Grimgill, in Whitstaple. He was sheriff in the 1st year of queen Elizabeth, and died here in his father's life time, anno 1564, leaving an only daughter Dorothy. John, the second son, by his second wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Roper, esq. of Eltham, left a son Henry, heir to his grandfather, who will be further mentioned hereafter; and Henry, the youngest, had three sons, Henry, who was first of Great Chart, and afterwards succeeded to this seat of Quekes, of whom further mention will be made; Thomas, who was first of Canterbury and afterwards of Goudhurst, where he died in 1663. He left three sons, Thomas, who at length succeeded to Quekes, as will be mentioned hereafter; Henry, who was of Monkton, and died in 1678, being ancestor of Henry and Thomas Crispe, esqrs. of the custom-house, in London, and of West Ham, in Essex, the latter of whom ended in an only surviving daughter Susan, who married the late George Elliot, esq. of Upton, in that county; and Richard, the third son, died s. p.

 

Now to return to Henry, the only son and heir of John, the second son of Sir Henry Crispe, of Quekes, by his second wife, who became his grandfather's heir and possessed of Quekes; he was knighted and resided here till his death in 1648. He was twice married, but left no issue; he bore for his arms two coats for Crispe, viz. first, Ermine, a fess chequy; and second, Or, on a chevron, sable, five horse shoes, argent. (fn. 2) On his death in 1648, this seat came, by the entail of it, to his first-cousin Henry Crispe, gent. of Great Chart, before-mentioned, (the eldest son of Henry, the fourth and youngest brother of Nicholas Crispe, of Grimgill, the father of Sir Henry Crispe, last-mentioned.) He removed to Quekes, and in the year 1650 was appointed sheriff; but on account of his great age and infirmities, his son was suffered to execute this office in his room. He was commonly called Bonjour Crispe. from his having been kept a prisoner in France for some time, and never learning more French than those words, at least he never would use any other whilst there. In August 1657, he was forcibly, in the night time, taken away and carried from his seat of Quekes, by several persons, Englishmen and others, to Bruges, in Flanders, and detained there as a prisoner, till the sum of 3000l. should be paid for his ransom. A few days after his arrival at Bruges, he sent to his nephew Thomas, who then lived near Quekes, to come over to him, to assist him in his great exigencies and extremities. After some consultation together, he dispatched his nephew to England, to join his endeavours, with those of his son Sir Nicholas Crispe, for his ransom and enlargment, in which they found great difficulty, as Oliver Cromwell, who was then protector, suspected the whole to be only a collusion, to procure 3000l. for the use of king Charles II. then beyond the seas; and accordingly an order was made by the protector in council, that Mr. Crispe should not be ransomed; upon which much difficulty arose in procuring a licence for it; Sir Nicholas died before it could be effected, and then the whole care of it devolved on Mr. Thomas Crispe, to obtain the licence and raise the money, which finding himself not able to do without the sale of some of his uncle's lands, he impowered him and his son-in law, Robert Darell, for that purpose, who made every dispatch in it; but it was eight months before the ransom could be paid, and Mr. Crispe released out of prison; when he returned to England, and died at Quekes, in 1663. (fn. 3)

 

This enterprize was contrived and executed by Captain Golding, of Ramsgate, who was a sanguine royalist, and had sometime taken refuge with Charles II. in France. The party landed at Gore-end, near Birchington, and took Mr. Crispe out of his bed, without any resistance; though it appears that he had been for some time under apprehensions of such an attack, and had caused loopholes, for the discharge of muskets, to be made in different parts of the house, and had afforded a generous hospitality to such of his neighbours as would lodge in his house, to defend him; but all these precautions were at this time of no effect, so that they conveyed him, without any disturbance being made, in his own coach, to the sea side, where he was forced into an open boat, without one of his domestics being suffered to attend him, although that was earnestly requested as a favour. He was conveyed first to Ostend, and then to Bruges, both which places were then in the power of Spain, which had been at war with England for more than two years. (fn. 4) He died possessed of this seat above-mentioned, having had one son and one daughter, who married Robt. Darell, esq Nicholas the son was knighted, but died before his father at Quekes, in 1657, leaving an only daughter and heir, who married Sir Richard Powle, of Berkshire.

 

On Mr. Crispe's death in 1663, without surviving male issue, this seat came, by the entail made of it, to his nephew Thomas Crispe, (the eldest son of his next brother Thomas Crispe, of Goudhurst) who afterwards resided at Quekes, where he died in 1680, leaving by his wife, whom he married in Holland, four daughters his coheirs, viz. Maria Adriana, married to Richard Breton, esq. of the Elmes, in Hougham; Frantosi, or Frances, to Edwin Wiat, esq. of Maidstone, sergeant at law; Elizabeth, to Christopher Clapham, esq. of Wakefield, in Yorkshire, and Anne-Gertruy Crispe, who died unmarried in 1708. On the division of their inheritance, this seat fell to the lot of Richard Breton, esq. who immediately afterwards sold it to Edwin Wiat, esq. and he alienated it, after some little interval, to John Buller, esq. of Morvall, in Cornwall, whose son William dying s. p. the reversion of it, (after the death of his wife, who was entitled to it for life, as part of her jointure) (fn. 5) was sold to Sir Robert Furnese, bart. of Waldershare, but he never came into the possession of it; for Mr. Buller's widow, afterwards the widow of F. Wiat, esq. son of Edwin above-mentioned, enjoyed it till her death in 1760, when it came into the possession of Catherine, countess of Guildford, one of the three daughters and coheirs of Sir Robert Furnese, bart. who in 1767 sold it to Henry Fox, lord Holland, and he conveyed it to his second son, the hon. CharlesJames Fox, who passed away his interest in it to John Powel, esq. who dying s. p. his sister, then the wife of William Roberts, became his heir and entitled to this estate, and he is now in her right possessed of it. At this house king William used to reside till the winds favoured his embarking for Holland. A room said to be the bedchamber of the royal guest is still shewn. His guards encamped on an adjoining inclosure.

 

It has been a large commodious structure, built partly of timber and partly of brick, much of which has been within these few years pulled down, and the rest modernized and converted into a farm house. It is pleasantly situated among a toll of trees, which defend it from the winds. There was formerly a vineyard in the gardens, which are walled round.

 

This antient seat, like most others of the same rank, has been for some years going fast to ruin, the weather penetrated into most of the apartments, which had been the principal ones; the roof and windows were greatly demolished, and no part of it inhabited, or indeed capable of being so, except a small part at the end occupied by the farmer; a grand suit of apartments at the north-west corner was demolished in 1781, and much of the remaining parts of it were taken down by piecemeal at different times, for the sale of the materials; in which ruinated state this seat remained till the year 1789, when Mr. Powell took down great part of it, and rebuilt the rest as it remains at present. (fn. 6)

 

THE MANOR OF WESTGATE, alias GARLING, lies at the eastern part of this parish, extending likewise into the parish of St. John. It had antiently owners of its own name, for it appears by the book of knight's fees in the exchequer, and other records, that Robert de Westgate held it in the reigns of king Henry III. and Edward I. of the abbot of St. Augustine's, by knight's service. He left at his death his son Robert, under age, who afterwards was in the custody of Sir Henry de Sandwich, and he held it accordingly as such in the latter of those reigns. It went into the family of Leyborne very soon after this, for William de Leyborne died possessed of it in the 3d year of Edward II. leaving Juliana his grand-daughter his heir, (daughter of his son Thomas, who died in his life-time) who being heir both to her father and grandfather, became entitled to large possessions in this and several other counties, for the greatness of which she was usually stiled the Infanta of Kent, who having issue by neither of her husbands, (for she had three) whom she survived, this manor escheated to the crown for want of heirs; for it appears by the inquisition taken after her death, in the 43d year of king Edward III. that there was then no one who could make claim to her estates, either by direct or even collateral alliance. After which this manor continued in the crown, till king Richard II. in his 11th year, gave it to the priory of Canons,alias Chiltern Langley in Hertfordshire, where it continued till the dissolution of that house in the 30th year of Henry VIII. when it was, with all its possessions, surrendered into the king's hands, and was confirmed to him and his heirs, by the general words of the act, passed the next year for that purpose.

 

King Henry VIII. becoming thus possessed of it, granted this manor, with all itsrights, members, and appurtenances, among several other premises, for divers good causes and considerations, to Richard, suffragan bishop of Dover, to hold to him and assigns, during his life, without any account of rent whatsoever; provided, if he should be promoted to one or more ecclesiastical benefices, or other dignity or annuity, of the yearly value of 100l. that then this grant should be void. This certainly happened before the 36th year of that reign, for the king that year granted this manor to Sir Thomas Moyle, to hold in capite by knight's service; he alienated it in the first year of Edward VI. to Roger and Valentine Byer, alias Bere, (fn. 7) to the use of the former, who died possessed of it in the 4th and 5th year of Philip and Mary, and was succeeded in it by John Byer, his son and heir, and he conveyed it, anno 3 Elizabeth, to Thomas Adam, who in the 17th year of that reign, alienated it to Thomas Dane, of Herne, whose daughter and heir Thomasine marrying Robert Denne, esq. of Denne-hill, entitled him to the possession of this manor. His eldest son Thomas Denne, esq. who was recorder of Canterbury, died in 1656, and was succeeded in it by his eldest son Thomas, of GraysInn, esq. who dying s. p. devised it by will to his brother John, of the Inner Temple, esq. who dying likewise s. p. gave it by will to his four maiden sisters; the eldest of whom, Thomasine, on the share of the inheritance left them by their brother, became entitled to it, and afterwards marrying Sir Nicholas Crispe, of Quekes, he became in her right possessed of it, and died in 1657, leaving an only daughter Anne, who carried it in marriage in 1673 to Sir Richard Powle, K. B. of Berkshire, whose son John Powle, esq. of Lincoln's Inn, dying in 1740, s. p. this manor, among other estates, by the entail of it, reverted to the right heirs of his mother Anne Crispe, in the person of Tho. Crispe, esq. of West-Ham, in Essex, (descended from Tho. Crispe, of Goudhurst, the next brother of Henry, the father of Sir Nicholas Crispe, above mentioned) whose sole daughter and heir Anne married Sir Rich. Powle, K. B. the father of John, who died s.p. in 1740, as above mentioned.) He left an only surviving daughter and heir Susan, who married in 1757, the late Geo. Elliot, esq. of Upton, in Essex, who possessed it in her right, and in 1764 alienated it to Mr. John Wotton, of this island, as he did again to Mr. James Taddy, gent. of St. John's, whose surviving sons and devisees James and Edward Taddy, became entitled to it, but the latter is since become the sole possessor of it.

 

BROOKSEND, antiently spelt Brookesende, is a manor situated about a mile south-west from the church of Birchington; it was part of the antient possessions of the priory of Christ-church; and in the 10th year of king Edward II. the prior obtained a grant of free warren for his demesne lands in this manor among others, after this it continued with the priory till the final suppression of it in the 31st year of Henry VIII. when this manor, among the other possessions of it, came into the king's hands, where it did not continue long, for he settled it, among other premises, in his 33d year, on his new-erected dean and chapter of Canterbury, part of whose inheritance it still continues. There is not any court held for this manor.

 

The manerial rights the dean and chapter reserve in their own hands; but the scite and demesne lands are demised on a beneficial lease, the present lessee being Mr. John Friend, junior, who is the present occupier of it.

 

THE MANOR OF BROADGATE, otherwise called Brockmans, lies within the bounds of this parish, and extends likewise into Monkton; it was part of the possessions of Henry Beaufort, duke of Somerset, and on his attainder in the 8th year of king Edward IV. came to the crown, whence it was granted to John Brockman, esq. of Witham, in Essex, to hold by the same tenure and services as it was held in the 1st year of his reign, and he died possessed of it in the 16th year of king Henry VII. anno 1500, as was found by the inquisition then taken. (fn. 8)

 

Charities

 

TEN ACRES AND ONE HALF OF LAND, were given for the repairs of the church here, or perhaps purchased with the several legacies left to the church fabric, of which one acre is let by the churchwardens to a poor man employed by them, to keep the boys orderly at church; the residue is let out, and the rents applied to the use of the church.

 

ANNA-GERTRUY CRISPE, fourth daughter and coheir of Thomas Crispe, esq. of Quekes, by her will in 1707, devised to the overseers of the poor of Birchington and ville of Achole, for ever, 47 acres of land in Birchington and Monkton, then in lease at 18l. per annum, in trust, to pay to the clerk of the parish yearly 20s. to keep clean the isle and monuments belonging to Quex; to three widows of Birchington 3l. to two widows of Achole 2l. for wearing apparel to appear at church; to keep at school with dame or master, 12 boys and girls, and to give to each, at leaving the school, a bible; the overseers to take yearly ten shillings; to dispose of the remaining money for binding a school-boy apprentice; that the overseers fix up a yearly account of receipts and payments, and pass the same before a justice of the peace. (fn. 9)

 

THIS PARISH is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Westbere.

 

The church, which is exempted from the archdeacon, and dedicated to All Saints, is a handsome building, situated on a rising ground; it consists of a nave and two isles, reaching but half the length of it, and what is remarkable, they are all spanned by a single roof; beyond these are three chancels. That on the north side of it belongs to the antient seat of Quekes, in this parish, and is repaired by the owners of it; in it are many fine antient monuments and memorials of the families of Quekes and Crispe, &c. The south chancel is made into a handsome vestry, and just by stands the steeple, which is a tower, on which is placed a spire covered with shingles, of great use to ships at sea as a land-mark. There are five bells in it. In the windows of the church are some few remains of painted glass, just sufficient to shew that there was much more formerly. Before the reformation, there were here beside the high altar, altars and images with lights before them, for the blessed Virgin Mary, St. Nicholas, the Holy Trinity, St. Anne, and St. Margaret; to each of which legacies of a few pence and sometimes shillings, were almost constantly devised by the parishioners; as appears by their wills, remaining in the Prerogative-office, Canterbury.

 

Among other memorials in this church, in the high chancel, is a stone with a brass plate, having on it, the effigies of a priest in his habit, and an inscription for master John Heynes, clerk, late vicar of Monkton, obt. 1523. In the vestry, on a brass plate, an inscription for Mrs. Margaret Crispe, late wife of Mr. John Crispe, the youngest daughter and heir of George Rotherham, esq. obt. 1508. In the Quekes, formerly called St. Mary's chancel, are many gravestones, with brass plates and monuments well preserved, for the family of Crispe, of Quekes, with their busts, several of which, as well as the ornaments, are of excellent sculpture, from the year 1508 to 1737. A very handsome mural monument and inscription for dame Anne Powel, only daughter and heir of Sir Nicholas Crispe, of Quex, and relict of Sir Richard Powel, K. B. obt. 1707, leaving only one son John Powel, esq. of Lincoln'sInn, who died unmarried 1740, and lies here interred. By her death, all his mother's estates in Kent pursuant to her deeds of settlement, descended to Henry and Thomas Crispe, esqrs. of the custom-house, London, the only surviving branch in the male line of this antient name and family. A memorial for Wm. Buller, esq. of Quekes, ob. 1708; arms, Sable, on a cross, argent, four eagles displayed of the field, a crescent for difference; impaling sable, a chevron between three pelicans, or. John Blechenden, gent. of Birchington, appears, by his will, anno 1580, to lie buried in the nether end and north side of the chancel, where Sir Henry Crispe was buried. There are engravings of three of the monuments of the Crispe's in Lewis's History of Thanet.—On an antient tomb in this chancel, lie the effigies of a man and woman; on the sides and end of it are the arms of Crispe singly, and those of Scott, three catherine wheels in a bordure, engrailed, and Crispe, impaling the same several times. In the middle isle, a memorial for Capt. George Friend, of this parish, obt 1721; and several others for the same family. A memorial, shewing, that in a vault underneath, lie several of the Neames, of Gore-end, and Mockett, of Dandelion. One for Samuel Brooke, esq. obt. 1774. Several memorials for the Kerbys, of Southend, and Brooksend; Austens, and of Gore. A memorial for Thomas Underdown, late of Fordwich, and thrice mayor of that corporation; he died 1709. A stone, on which is a brass, with a priest in his habit, the inscription gone, but in small circular brasses at each corner are his initials, I. F. conjoined in the manner of a cypher.

 

In the church yard, on the north side, there stood formerly a small house, called the Wax-house, where they used to fabricate the lights for the church processions, &c. In the time of the sequestration of this vicarage, about the year 1642, or rather the resignation of it by Dr. Casaubon, on the ordinance against pluralities, this church was left by the vicar, to any one who would officiate in it, and this house was fitted up at the parishioners charge, or perhaps at the expence of the family of Crispe, who were defirous of a conformist's officiating here, for the minister to live in. Accordingly Mr. Edmund Fellows, A. M. of Sandwich, officiated here as minister from 1657 till after 1660; but in a late vicar's time, this house was, by his order, pulled down, and the materials carried away.

 

This church was one of the chapels belonging to the vicarage of Monkton, and is now the only one of them in being. As this church was a chapelry of the parish church of Monkton, and the chapel was erected for the ease of the inhabitants, they were antiently obliged to contribute towards the repairs of the mother church; but this usage, as well as that of the other chapels in this island, (except St. Nicholas, which still continues to pay a certain sum towards the repairs of its mother church of Reculver) has been for a long time discontinued.

 

By the endowment of the vicarage of Monkton in 1367, it was decreed, that the vicar of Monkton for the time being, should find one chaplain in this chapel of Birchington, dependant on that church, daily to celebrate, as far as he conveniently could, which chaplain should officiate in this chapel duly in divine services; for which the vicar allowed him a stipend of six pounds per annum.

 

In the valuation of the vicarage of Monkton, in the king's books, the vicar of it is charged for a priest at the chapels of Birchington and Wode, 11l. 13s. 4d. In 1640 here were 240 communicants.

 

The vicar of Monkton now finds a curate to officiate in this church, being collated by the archbishop, the patron, to the vicarage of Monkton, with the chapels of Birchington and Wode appendant to it; but the appropriate parsonage of this parish, including that of Wood adjoining, as an appendage to that of Monkton, which was part of the possessions of the priory of Christ-church, was yet a distinct parsonage from it, and as such was granted, after the dissolution, by king Henry VIII. in his 33d year, by his dotation charter, to his new-erected dean and chapter of Canterbury, in whom the inheritance of it is at this time vested.

 

The parsonage of Birchington, including that of Wood, alias Woodchurch, adjoining, is let on a beneficial lease for twenty-one years. In 1778 the rack rent of it was two hundred pounds per annum; but it was valued, on a survey, at six hundred pounds per annum, having 2000 acres of titheable land within the tithery of it. The family of Hugessen, of Provender, were lessees of it. From the coheirs of the late William Western Hugessen, esq. their interest in this lease was sold, in 1791, to Mr. George Bushell, of Minster, whose son Mr. Benjamin Bushell is the present lessee.

 

¶The parish clerk here had formerly some peculiar privileges, as appears by the antient book of the clerks for collecting his dues, (fn. 10) different from those enjoyed by other parish-clerks in this island; besides certain sums of money, amounting to 5s. 6d. and a groat a year for every cottage; and he had paid him in kind by the farmers, twelve cops and twelve sheaves of wheat, and twelve cops and two sheaves of barley; but in the year 1638, an assessment was made by the parishioners of this parish, and of the parish and ville of Wood, wherein they rated their lands at twelve pence the score acres, and the cottages at four pence each, for the clerk's wages.

 

www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol10/pp294-310

 

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The oldest standing building in Birchington, is of course, the Parish Church of All Saints Birchington, which stands in the centre of the village adjacent to the Square, and like other churches of Thanet about three quarters of a mile back from the sea.

It is positioned at the crossroads of two old roads, one which led from Minster Abbey to the sea at the little port of Gore-end, and the other to Canterbury crossing the River Wantsum by the ferry at Sarre.

Its distinguished tower with its tall, graceful spire creates an unmissable landmark on the approach to Thanet, and years ago ships passing by on the offing used it as such.

 

It is believed that a Church stood in this location for many years before the present building was constructed. There is a possibility that a Church stood here in Saxon times.

It is most likely that the church was originally a chapel of ease under Monkton and in its earliest form had a simple nave and chancel.

This evidence of the older building, can still be seen in the outside south wall, where some stones have been re-used.

There is evidence of some of the pre-Reformation features, including the base panels of the medieval rood screen at the chancel steps, reinstated in 1905, and one of the corbels that held the great rood beam itself. Between 1863 and 1883 the Victorians made their contribution with a major renovation programme.

The most memorable windows in the church are in memory of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who died in Birchington in 1882. The left is a reproduction of one of his own paintings, while the right was designed by Frank Shields.

 

In recent times there have been less dramatic changes. Among them, through the generosity of the present owner of Quex Park, the Quex Chapel has been made into a chapel of worship once more. In late 2010, the spire of All Saints became illuminated at night. It still stands like a beacon, welcoming people into the village from St Nicholas roundabout, encouraging travellers, as it has done since about 1350, to travel those last two miles with a lighter heart, knowing they are so near home.

The exact date of the current church and the names of its founders are not known but it can be deduced from the records and from the style of architecture, the oldest parts of the Church are the Chancel with its side chapels, along with the Tower. It is believed that in c. 1250 the chancel was rebuilt, with the owners of Quex Park then adding a North Chapel, while the monks of Monkton added a southeast tower and chapel.

 

It is possible that the original owners of Quex may have built the original church, especially considering the north or Quex Chapel is the private chapel and property of the owners of the Quex Estate.

 

The Nave of the old church was increased in size in c. 1350 along with its five fine arcades of five bays, two narrow aisles and Norman door to the North side and is in the perpendicular style.

 

The large southwest pillar within the church suggest to us of plans that had to be altered, probably because of the Black Death, which resulted in us having two half aisles under one enormous roof. Around the same time, the spire was added to the tower - it still contains its original framework.

 

The walls of the Church are very thick and solid, built of rubble and faced with broken flints, the Kentish cobbles.

 

The south wall contains some old stones within it, which can be seen on either side of the south porch, which was added c. 1430. These old stones which are of anterior date to the other stones used in the building have suggested that in line with tradition, they were brought from an ancient church which stood at Gore-end and which was pulled down on the encroachment of the sea and used in the re-construction and enlargement of the present church.

There are old octagonal piers constructed from old Kent Ragstone, which have well moulded caps and bases. The east window was rebuilt of Bath stone during the Victorian restoration of the Church in 1863 when the present tracery was inserted.

 

One of the oldest parts of the building is the south chapel, or the St. Margaret's Chapel, above which is located the Tower in an unusual position at the south-east end of the Church. When the original small church of the three chapels was built in about 1250, before the Nave was added in the 1300's, the Tower was in the usual position — at the south-west end of the church. The Tower, crowned with an ancient shingle spire is the only ancient shingled spire in Thanet. The spire has been re-shingled several times, with the last occurring in 1968 using Canadian Red Cedar Wood shingles. Historically, sailing ships found the Spire great use at sea to steer by on their way from the Thames to the Foreland and Trinity House provided a grant of £100 in 1864 to repair it. Capping off the Spire is mounted a vane in the shape of an arrow with the date 1699 cut out in the centre.

The Church for many centuries had a tiled roof which has been renewed on several occasions. Much of the woodwork of the roof was renewed at the 1863 restoration.

 

At the base of the piers are stone seats which until the end of the 14th century were in most churches the only seats in naves.

 

In the near centre of the north wall behind the current location of the font, opposite the south door may be seen the outline of an arch used formerly as another door and blocked probably at the restoration of 1863.

 

The Chancel is dedicated to All Saints. The beautiful reredos, was completed in 1883 takes the form of a triptych. This was designed by a Mr. C. N. Beazley and painted by Mr. N. H. J. Westlake, F.S.A., a well known artist at that time. This was restored and cleaned at the end of 2010. On the north side of the Altar is what is probably an Easter Sepulchre. The oak Altar rails were installed in 1938, which were made by a local craftsman. On the south side of the Chancel attached to a pier is a brass of a priest wearing the vestments of the period. This was formerly on a ledger stone in the Sanctuary. The inscription states that the brass is to John Heynes, priest, sometime vicar of Monkton who died 9th October A.D. 1523.

The Crucifixion is the theme of the east window and was dedicated in 1873. The west window was the gift of Mr. Thomas Gray of Birchington Hall, which was later to become Spurgeons Childrens Home then Birch Hill Park and was dedicated in 1873.

 

In the vault beneath the Quex Chapel, formally the Lady Chapel, now filled in, are buried the previous owners and their relatives of Quex. This Chapel contains some wonderful and interesting monuments in brass, alabaster, stone and marble commemorating the owners of Quex from the early 15th century to the present day.

 

The Tower contains eight bells, the oldest being made in 1633. The Church Clock was installed in 1887, as a memorial of Queen Victoria's Jubilee. There are a number of old and interesting tombstones in the Churchyard, the one of most general interest is that of Rossetti whose grave lies near the south porch, which was designed by his friend Ford Maddox Brown. In 1910, the two vestries were added.

 

There is evidence of some of the pre-Reformation features, including the base panels of the medieval rood screen at the chancel steps, reinstated in 1905, and one of the corbels that held the great rood beam itself. Between 1863 and 1883 the Victorians made their contribution with a major renovation programme.

The most memorable windows in the church are in memory of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who died in Birchington in 1882. The left is a reproduction of one of his own paintings, while the right was designed by Frank Shields.

 

In recent times there have been less dramatic changes. Among them, through the generosity of the present owner of Quex Park, the Quex Chapel has been made into a chapel of worship once more. In late 2010, the spire of All Saints became illuminated at night. It still stands like a beacon, welcoming people into the village from St Nicholas roundabout, encouraging travellers, as it has done since about 1350, to travel those last two miles with a lighter heart, knowing they are so near home.

 

www.allsaintsbirchington.com/All_Saint_Birchington/Histor...

Aug 3 : Day 215

 

____________________

 

--FROM-- . . . . . x719

 

"I've edited this image to block out my neighbours property.

 

Your driver parked too close to my home.

 

I DO NOT like my neighbours to see where I shop for groceries.

 

Please have your driver park farther away in future and he should cover up the store's logo on his clothing when coming here."

____________________

PRESS RELEASE

INTERNATIONAL INTER DISCIPLINARY ENGINEERING SEMINAR

November 06, 2012

An International Inter Disciplinary Engineering Seminar was held in the double storied auditorium of Hajvery University (HU) Lahore. Dr. Abdul Aleem Khan Chairman Institute of Engineers Jeddah KSA (Electrical Engineering Discipline), Dr. Javed Yonas Uppal Chairman Institute of Engineering Pakistan Lahore Center (Civil Engineering Discipline), Mrs Fareeda Javed Local Advisor Pakistan Engineering Council (Mechanical Engineering Discipline) spoke on the subject “Design and Development” which was introduced by the Dean of Faculty of Engineering (HU) Dr. Naeem Akhtar Khan Afridi.

The auditorium was packed with engineering students of Hajvery University. The distinguished speakers rolled the pearls of wisdom based on their knowledge and disciplines of engineering. Key note speaker Dr. Abdul Aleem Khan Chairman IEP Jeddah KSA revealed that Pakistani Engineers are leading in building the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as expressed by Saudi Arabia Minister for communication and works. He as engineering manager of Bin Ladin Group of KSA explained the projects successfully completed. He revealed that IEP / Engineers Welfare Fund KSA has helped in employment of 3000 engineers and technicians from Pakistan in different companies of Saudi Arabia other than 300 scholarships to different public sector engineering universities to the brilliant and hardworking students on recommendations of respective Deans. He concluded his address with an open invitation for helping Hajverian Engineers on recommendation of their Dean for employment in Saudi Arabian multinational firms.

The question answer session was extremely thought provoking, brain storming and informative. Distinguished speakers emphasized that as engineers they should be job creators nor job seekers. They suggested different projects and ways and means for small medium entrepreneurship that any engineer can start and create job for himself and couple of others. Mrs. Fareeda Javed admired the infrastructure and training facilities of Hajvery University. She said HU has been genuinely granted accreditation of intake of two years and in future also HU will be accreditated due to the standard and speed with which engineering faculty in HU is progressing.

In the demonstration phase of the seminar, Dean of Faculty of Engineering Dr. Naeem screened five video films of failed and successful projects. These films were hailed with big applause by all the participants.

In the end HU shields were presented by Gen Muhammad Latif Director Administration of Hajvery University to the distinguished speakers of all the three disciplines. The function ended with a sumptuous lunch in the honor of international. dignitaries engineering.

 

Visited this abandoned church in April 2011.

In 1927 the Fathers Passionists bought the property and built a home for the Fathers, a school and a public chapel. Only years later it was officially used as a church.

In 2005 the Fathers left and since then St. Fakobus is waiting for it's new destination.

In future it will be used by the police, who bought the property to house a police station.

Athan and Olivia watching the JAMMItors in Future World at Epcot.

self-explanatory

 

made out of 2 $ sized

 

diagrams will be available in future

Advocate Europe is an idea challenge for innovative European projects. We are looking for original and transnational project proposals that foster connection and cohesion in Europe. "Advocate Europe" is open to civil society actors who seek financing and support to realise sustainable ideas. These can come from fields as diverse as civic education, arts and culture or social innovation. We fund around twelve project ideas with up to €50,000 each and support their realisation through mentoring and networking activities.

How do we want to live in future? What is the ‘culture of welcome’ we should extend to refugees arriving in Europe? What is the future of social services and welfare systems in Europe? These are some of the questions that the winning project ideas of the Advocate Europe idea challenge are trying to answer.

Out of 575 submitted proposals, the expert jury has selected ten winning projects which use innovative means to foster cohesion and connection in Europe. In June the teams met in Berlin for the Networking Meeting.

More at advocate-europe.eu.

While on my way home after finishing up a final exam, I spotted the Lake State 325 job pulling stone cars out of winter storage. The cars would be loaded with ballast that will be used in future track work on the Huron Sub. Luckily, the sun popped out at the last second and I was able to get a sunny reflection.

From June to August, East Kent Mencap’s youth services received lottery funding from Sportivate, part of Sport England to host a trampoline club for young people with learning disabilities.

 

Held at Ramsgate leisure centre, where training was provided by Aire Trampoline Club – the evenings gained momentum and we hope to find funding in order to continue the club in future.

 

‘On the first evening, the group were a little cautious (as were parents!) but by the end of the evening no one wanted to leave!’ comments Children & Youth Manager Ange Brown.

 

‘We were able to host 6 sessions, but were able to reach capacity quickly.

 

‘It has been fantastic supporting the group to try something new and fun that they want to keep coming back to.

 

‘I believe this is not only down to our fabulous support workers – and the help of parents at these evenings, but especially thanks to trampoline coach- Luke Shiels who really knew his stuff and inspired confidence in our members to be brave and give it a go!’

 

On the final night, participants received a booklet containing images of themselves and their friends in action.

 

If you are a parent / volunteer or one of the attendees of the evening – please send us your comments on the club – it will help us to obtain future funding for more clubs like this!

 

you can call or email: Children & Youth Manager Ange: 01843-224482 or email angela.brown@eastkentmencap.co.uk

Margerie Glacier is about one mile wide with an ice face that is 250 feet above the waterline and a base 100 feet below the sea. At this point, we are about a half mile from the glacier. Watch a large portion of the glacier break off and fall into the sea. This is "calving," and it is a delight for tourists to witness. Listen to the comments from the crowd.

 

(A U.S. Park Service ranger requested to use this clip in future shows on cruise ships.)

New America's Future of War Conference

 

Gen. Stephen W. Wilson, Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force

 

Photo by: Eric Gibson/ New America

New America's Future of War Conference

 

Left to right: Dr. Peter W. Singer, Strategist and Senior Fellow, New America, and Author, Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the Next World War;

 

Gen. Stephen W. Wilson, Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force

 

Photo by: Eric Gibson/ New America

New America's Future of War Conference

 

Left to right: Dr. Peter W. Singer, Strategist and Senior Fellow, New America, and Author, Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the Next World War;

 

Gen. Stephen W. Wilson, Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force

 

Photo by: Eric Gibson/ New America

Being a Saturday, first job of the day, after coffee, was hunter-gathering in Tesco.

 

Was not surprised to find half an aisle already full of Easter eggs and stuff.

 

Elsewhere there was lots of Valentine's Day cards and more stuff to spend your money on.

 

Back home for a quick breakfast, before going out again and heading north for Thanet.

 

On the north coast there are two large churches that I wanted to revisit: St Nicholas at Wade and All Saints in Birchington.

 

Thanks to the Sandwich Road and Thanet Way round Ramsgate, we got to Birchington at half nine, but found the church did not open until ten, so we went in search of the sea.

 

Though the sea was not lost.

 

Through a large 1950s housing estate, there it was.

 

Grenham Bay, Birchington, Kent.

 

Bleak.

 

Bleak and bracing.

 

Bleak, bracing and quiet.

 

At low tide.

 

This morning, we found ourselves here, and having parked, we found low chalk cliffs, concrete flood defences and lots of sea birds and fowl feeding among the chalk rockpools at low ride.

 

We didn't stay long, long enough to get some shots, before moving on.

 

Here, Jools walks down the concrete ramp to the "promenade, wide enough to run a grand prix, just the occasional jogger or dog walker were the only others around.

 

Back in the car at ten for the short drive through the town centre, parking outside the village hall, and walking through the large churchyard where the porch door was open.

 

All Saints is open between ten and midday each Sunday, and inside there were at least four wardens, each of whom gave us a warm welcome.

 

A heavily restored church, but the jewel is the Quex Chapel, for the Crispe family that owns, or used to own, Quex Park nearby.

 

Wall full of tablets, memorials and tombs.

 

The next parish southwards is St Nicholas at Wade, now better known as a roundabout on Thanet way where the driver can turn either for Ramsgate or Margate. There is also a village, named after the parish and the parish church, which towers over the narrow streets of the village, that we had to weave through to reach the church.

 

At the west end of the village, around the church, are some wonderfully old buildings, whose brickies had a novel attitude to laying, with bricks at all angles.

 

The church is entered through a double-decked porch, something more seen in East Anglia, and the priest would live in a small room above the entrance, and accessed by what must be the oldest set of steps in Kent, if not England.

 

It took half an hour to get all the shots, but having done so we went back outside to head home.

 

Instead of turning round and going through the village, shall we go straight on and see where that takes us?

 

An adventure?

 

So we did.

 

Where it did take us was along some fields and over a bridge spanning Thanet Way, where there was a junction to head east back towards Ramsgate and home.

 

So, that was easy.

 

And back in time for a brew before lunch, and bacon butties too as we were both hungry, and I could sit beside Scully watching the Coventry v Leicester game, which Cov won 3-1.

 

Most of the afternoon was a battle to stay awake whilst listening to the radio. Jools went to the gym to have a sauna, so came back full of beans.

 

Dinner was Caprese with warmed through focaccia drizzled with chilli-infused olive oil to crisp it up.

 

It all went well with the remainder of the bottle of wine, but having emptied that, I needed just a little something more, so went for the barrel aged Delerium.

 

It poured a reddy-brown colour, had a full nose of fruits and spices, and was a flavour explosion on the tongue. At 11.5%, not to be messed about with, but glorious.

  

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Famous as the burial place of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and whose grave stands outside the main south door, this church contains so much more of interest. Mostly thirteenth century with a fourteenth century veneer it is full of treasures. The best collection of memorials in East Kent may be found in the north chapel owned for centuries by the series of owners of Quex House. The Quex, Crispe, Powell and Powell-Cotton families have been commemorated in monuments that reflect the styles oil the centuries. There are 6 brasses now on the wall, a huge 6-portrait bust tablet and a huge classical entablature. Opposite is a more usual but excellently crafted Prie- Dieu with gaudy colouring. The rest of the church does not disappoint. The SW corner of the church has dumpy piers and rudimentary vaulting showing that a new tower was planned there, though it was never built. The nave piers and chancel arch show remarkable degradation in the stonework. There seems to be no reason for this but it is almost that the church has been consumed by fire at some time. The reredos was designed by the 19th century architect Charles Beazley (see also Acol and Westgate) and painted by Nathaniel Westlake. It badly needs a clean to make it sing again. The altar rails are by the Canterbury College of Art, 1930s, and a really a fine period piece. What an interesting church this is – built to serve a farming village with a big house and later adapted to suit the holidaymakers who came here by the thousand. What a shame that it is difficult of access (though the helpful Church Office is happy to oblige).

 

www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Birchington

 

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NORTHWARD from Minster lies the parish of Birchington, adjoining to the sea. It is said to have been antiently called, sometimes Birchington in Gorend, and at other times Gorend in Birchington, from a place called Gorend, in this parish, where it is reported the church formerly stood, though the most usual name was always, as it is at present, Birchington only.

 

THIS PARISH is within the liberty and jurisdiction of the cinque ports, and is a member of the town and port of Dover; and though Gorend in it, is said to have been united to that town and port, ever since the reign of king Edward I. yet in king Henry VI.'s reign it was disputed whether this parish was not in the county at large; to take away therefore all doubt of it, the king, by letters patent, united it to Dover, the mayor of which appoints a deputy here, to whom the inhabitants have recourse for justice.

 

By the Landtax act of 1711, it was enacted, that in future, the parishes of St. John, St. Peter, and Birchington, in the Isle of Thanet, within the liberty of Dover, should be deemed and taken to be a distinct division within the said liberty, and in the executing of that act, should be charged towards making up the whole sum charged on the town of Dover, and the liberty thereof, according to the proportion which was assessed upon the said parishes by the act of the 4th of William and Mary, for granting an aid of four shillings in the pound, &c.

 

THIS PARISH joins the sea shore northward, along the whole of which it is bounded by high cliffs of chalk, through which there are several apertures made for the conveniency of a passage on to the sea shore. The parish is, in general, high land, and very pleasantly situated; in the middle of it stands the church and village adjoining, tolerably well sheltered with elm trees. This village, in a pleasing situation, on a gentle eminence, commands many delightful prospects over sea and land; particularly a fine view up the delightful vale to Canterbury, the principal tower of which cathedral froms a conspicuous object, though at the distance of twelve miles; beyond which, in clear weather, are plainly seen the range of hills and the losty woods in Chilham and Godmersham parks, more than six miles further southward.

 

About three quarters of a mile north-west of the church, and near as much from the sea shore, is Goreend, antiently a place of note, being particularly men tioned in the great charter of the cinque ports, as one of the members of the town and port of Dover. Leland, in his Itinerary, vol. vii. says, "Reculver is now scarce half a mile from the shore, but it is to be supposid, that yn tymes paste these cam hard to Goreende, a two mile from Northmouth, and at Gore ende is a litle straite caullid Broode Staires to go downe the clive: and about this shore is good taking of mullettes. The great Raguseis ly for defence at Gore ende and thens again is another sinus on to the Forelande." Here it is said the church stood antiently, and that it was lost by the falling of the cliff on which it stood, and that the present one was built in its stead; near this is a farm, called Upper Gore end, which was given by the owner of it, Henry Robinson, gent. by his will in 1642, for the maintenance of two fellows and two scholars in St. John's college, in Cambridge, as has been already related before. About a mile southward, lie Great and Little Brooksend; and at a like distance eastward, Great and Little Quekes. At the north-east boundary of the parish is Westgate, where there is a small hamlet of houses; from which place Domneva's deer is said to have begun its course across this island, running for some space eastward, till it turned southward towards the boundary of it, at Sheriffs Hope, in Minster.

 

This parish is somewhat more than two miles and an half each way; about the village and Quekes, it is pleasantly sheltered with trees; the lands in it are fertile, and like the other parts adjoining to it, are arable and mostly uninclosed, lying high, with hill and dale intermixed. The high road from Sarre to Margate runs along the southern side of the parish. There is a bay of the sea adjoining to the shore of this parish, called Hemmings bay; probably so called from Hemming, the Danish chiestan, who landed with his companion Anlef and their forces in this island, in the year 1009.

 

By the return made to the council's letter by archbishop Parker's order in 1563, there were then computed to be in this parish forty housholds; and by the return of the survey made by order of the same queen, in her 8th year, of the several maritime places in this county, it appears that there were then here houses inhabited forty-two; that there was a landing place, but it had neither ship nor boat.

 

A whale was cast ashore within the bounds of this parish in the year 1762.

 

The manor of Monkton claims paramount over this parish, subordinate to which is

 

THE MANOR OF QUEKES, or QUEX, as it is frequently spelt in the antient deeds of it. It is situated in the south-east part of this parish, about three quarters of a mile from the church, and was antiently the seat of a family who gave name to it, many of whom lie buried in this church, several of whose gravestones and inscriptions yet remain; among which are those of John Quek, who died possessed of it in the year 1449, anno 28 Henry VI. and of his son Rich. Quek in 1456; (fn. 1) from the latter of whom this seat devolved by paternal descent to John Quekes, esq. who about the beginning of king Henry VII.'s reign, left an only daughter and heir Agnes, who carried it in marriage to John Crispe, esq. descended of an antient family seated at Stanlake, in Oxforshire; he afterwards resided here, and died possessed of it in 1500, anno 16 Henry VII. He left by her four daughters, married to Barret, Gosborne, Thomas, and Symons; and one sone and heir John Crispe, who was sheriff in the 10th year of king Henry VIII. and kept his shrievalty at this seat of Quekes. He had three sons, John, the eldest, was of Cleve-court, in Monkton, of whom further mention has been made in the description of that place; Henry, the second, was of Quekes; and William, the third, was lieutenant of Dover castle.

 

Henry Crispe, esq. the second son, of Quekes, kept his shrievalty at this seat in the 38th year of the above reign, anno 1546, being the last of it, and was a man of great name and eminency, and of singular estimation for his discretion and weight in the management of the public affairs of the county, as well as for his hospitality, insomuch that he was reputed to have the entire rule of all this island. He died at Quekes, at a good old age, in the year 1575, leaving by his second wife six children; of whom Nicholas Crispe, esq. the eldest son, was of Grimgill, in Whitstaple. He was sheriff in the 1st year of queen Elizabeth, and died here in his father's life time, anno 1564, leaving an only daughter Dorothy. John, the second son, by his second wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Roper, esq. of Eltham, left a son Henry, heir to his grandfather, who will be further mentioned hereafter; and Henry, the youngest, had three sons, Henry, who was first of Great Chart, and afterwards succeeded to this seat of Quekes, of whom further mention will be made; Thomas, who was first of Canterbury and afterwards of Goudhurst, where he died in 1663. He left three sons, Thomas, who at length succeeded to Quekes, as will be mentioned hereafter; Henry, who was of Monkton, and died in 1678, being ancestor of Henry and Thomas Crispe, esqrs. of the custom-house, in London, and of West Ham, in Essex, the latter of whom ended in an only surviving daughter Susan, who married the late George Elliot, esq. of Upton, in that county; and Richard, the third son, died s. p.

 

Now to return to Henry, the only son and heir of John, the second son of Sir Henry Crispe, of Quekes, by his second wife, who became his grandfather's heir and possessed of Quekes; he was knighted and resided here till his death in 1648. He was twice married, but left no issue; he bore for his arms two coats for Crispe, viz. first, Ermine, a fess chequy; and second, Or, on a chevron, sable, five horse shoes, argent. (fn. 2) On his death in 1648, this seat came, by the entail of it, to his first-cousin Henry Crispe, gent. of Great Chart, before-mentioned, (the eldest son of Henry, the fourth and youngest brother of Nicholas Crispe, of Grimgill, the father of Sir Henry Crispe, last-mentioned.) He removed to Quekes, and in the year 1650 was appointed sheriff; but on account of his great age and infirmities, his son was suffered to execute this office in his room. He was commonly called Bonjour Crispe. from his having been kept a prisoner in France for some time, and never learning more French than those words, at least he never would use any other whilst there. In August 1657, he was forcibly, in the night time, taken away and carried from his seat of Quekes, by several persons, Englishmen and others, to Bruges, in Flanders, and detained there as a prisoner, till the sum of 3000l. should be paid for his ransom. A few days after his arrival at Bruges, he sent to his nephew Thomas, who then lived near Quekes, to come over to him, to assist him in his great exigencies and extremities. After some consultation together, he dispatched his nephew to England, to join his endeavours, with those of his son Sir Nicholas Crispe, for his ransom and enlargment, in which they found great difficulty, as Oliver Cromwell, who was then protector, suspected the whole to be only a collusion, to procure 3000l. for the use of king Charles II. then beyond the seas; and accordingly an order was made by the protector in council, that Mr. Crispe should not be ransomed; upon which much difficulty arose in procuring a licence for it; Sir Nicholas died before it could be effected, and then the whole care of it devolved on Mr. Thomas Crispe, to obtain the licence and raise the money, which finding himself not able to do without the sale of some of his uncle's lands, he impowered him and his son-in law, Robert Darell, for that purpose, who made every dispatch in it; but it was eight months before the ransom could be paid, and Mr. Crispe released out of prison; when he returned to England, and died at Quekes, in 1663. (fn. 3)

 

This enterprize was contrived and executed by Captain Golding, of Ramsgate, who was a sanguine royalist, and had sometime taken refuge with Charles II. in France. The party landed at Gore-end, near Birchington, and took Mr. Crispe out of his bed, without any resistance; though it appears that he had been for some time under apprehensions of such an attack, and had caused loopholes, for the discharge of muskets, to be made in different parts of the house, and had afforded a generous hospitality to such of his neighbours as would lodge in his house, to defend him; but all these precautions were at this time of no effect, so that they conveyed him, without any disturbance being made, in his own coach, to the sea side, where he was forced into an open boat, without one of his domestics being suffered to attend him, although that was earnestly requested as a favour. He was conveyed first to Ostend, and then to Bruges, both which places were then in the power of Spain, which had been at war with England for more than two years. (fn. 4) He died possessed of this seat above-mentioned, having had one son and one daughter, who married Robt. Darell, esq Nicholas the son was knighted, but died before his father at Quekes, in 1657, leaving an only daughter and heir, who married Sir Richard Powle, of Berkshire.

 

On Mr. Crispe's death in 1663, without surviving male issue, this seat came, by the entail made of it, to his nephew Thomas Crispe, (the eldest son of his next brother Thomas Crispe, of Goudhurst) who afterwards resided at Quekes, where he died in 1680, leaving by his wife, whom he married in Holland, four daughters his coheirs, viz. Maria Adriana, married to Richard Breton, esq. of the Elmes, in Hougham; Frantosi, or Frances, to Edwin Wiat, esq. of Maidstone, sergeant at law; Elizabeth, to Christopher Clapham, esq. of Wakefield, in Yorkshire, and Anne-Gertruy Crispe, who died unmarried in 1708. On the division of their inheritance, this seat fell to the lot of Richard Breton, esq. who immediately afterwards sold it to Edwin Wiat, esq. and he alienated it, after some little interval, to John Buller, esq. of Morvall, in Cornwall, whose son William dying s. p. the reversion of it, (after the death of his wife, who was entitled to it for life, as part of her jointure) (fn. 5) was sold to Sir Robert Furnese, bart. of Waldershare, but he never came into the possession of it; for Mr. Buller's widow, afterwards the widow of F. Wiat, esq. son of Edwin above-mentioned, enjoyed it till her death in 1760, when it came into the possession of Catherine, countess of Guildford, one of the three daughters and coheirs of Sir Robert Furnese, bart. who in 1767 sold it to Henry Fox, lord Holland, and he conveyed it to his second son, the hon. CharlesJames Fox, who passed away his interest in it to John Powel, esq. who dying s. p. his sister, then the wife of William Roberts, became his heir and entitled to this estate, and he is now in her right possessed of it. At this house king William used to reside till the winds favoured his embarking for Holland. A room said to be the bedchamber of the royal guest is still shewn. His guards encamped on an adjoining inclosure.

 

It has been a large commodious structure, built partly of timber and partly of brick, much of which has been within these few years pulled down, and the rest modernized and converted into a farm house. It is pleasantly situated among a toll of trees, which defend it from the winds. There was formerly a vineyard in the gardens, which are walled round.

 

This antient seat, like most others of the same rank, has been for some years going fast to ruin, the weather penetrated into most of the apartments, which had been the principal ones; the roof and windows were greatly demolished, and no part of it inhabited, or indeed capable of being so, except a small part at the end occupied by the farmer; a grand suit of apartments at the north-west corner was demolished in 1781, and much of the remaining parts of it were taken down by piecemeal at different times, for the sale of the materials; in which ruinated state this seat remained till the year 1789, when Mr. Powell took down great part of it, and rebuilt the rest as it remains at present. (fn. 6)

 

THE MANOR OF WESTGATE, alias GARLING, lies at the eastern part of this parish, extending likewise into the parish of St. John. It had antiently owners of its own name, for it appears by the book of knight's fees in the exchequer, and other records, that Robert de Westgate held it in the reigns of king Henry III. and Edward I. of the abbot of St. Augustine's, by knight's service. He left at his death his son Robert, under age, who afterwards was in the custody of Sir Henry de Sandwich, and he held it accordingly as such in the latter of those reigns. It went into the family of Leyborne very soon after this, for William de Leyborne died possessed of it in the 3d year of Edward II. leaving Juliana his grand-daughter his heir, (daughter of his son Thomas, who died in his life-time) who being heir both to her father and grandfather, became entitled to large possessions in this and several other counties, for the greatness of which she was usually stiled the Infanta of Kent, who having issue by neither of her husbands, (for she had three) whom she survived, this manor escheated to the crown for want of heirs; for it appears by the inquisition taken after her death, in the 43d year of king Edward III. that there was then no one who could make claim to her estates, either by direct or even collateral alliance. After which this manor continued in the crown, till king Richard II. in his 11th year, gave it to the priory of Canons,alias Chiltern Langley in Hertfordshire, where it continued till the dissolution of that house in the 30th year of Henry VIII. when it was, with all its possessions, surrendered into the king's hands, and was confirmed to him and his heirs, by the general words of the act, passed the next year for that purpose.

 

King Henry VIII. becoming thus possessed of it, granted this manor, with all itsrights, members, and appurtenances, among several other premises, for divers good causes and considerations, to Richard, suffragan bishop of Dover, to hold to him and assigns, during his life, without any account of rent whatsoever; provided, if he should be promoted to one or more ecclesiastical benefices, or other dignity or annuity, of the yearly value of 100l. that then this grant should be void. This certainly happened before the 36th year of that reign, for the king that year granted this manor to Sir Thomas Moyle, to hold in capite by knight's service; he alienated it in the first year of Edward VI. to Roger and Valentine Byer, alias Bere, (fn. 7) to the use of the former, who died possessed of it in the 4th and 5th year of Philip and Mary, and was succeeded in it by John Byer, his son and heir, and he conveyed it, anno 3 Elizabeth, to Thomas Adam, who in the 17th year of that reign, alienated it to Thomas Dane, of Herne, whose daughter and heir Thomasine marrying Robert Denne, esq. of Denne-hill, entitled him to the possession of this manor. His eldest son Thomas Denne, esq. who was recorder of Canterbury, died in 1656, and was succeeded in it by his eldest son Thomas, of GraysInn, esq. who dying s. p. devised it by will to his brother John, of the Inner Temple, esq. who dying likewise s. p. gave it by will to his four maiden sisters; the eldest of whom, Thomasine, on the share of the inheritance left them by their brother, became entitled to it, and afterwards marrying Sir Nicholas Crispe, of Quekes, he became in her right possessed of it, and died in 1657, leaving an only daughter Anne, who carried it in marriage in 1673 to Sir Richard Powle, K. B. of Berkshire, whose son John Powle, esq. of Lincoln's Inn, dying in 1740, s. p. this manor, among other estates, by the entail of it, reverted to the right heirs of his mother Anne Crispe, in the person of Tho. Crispe, esq. of West-Ham, in Essex, (descended from Tho. Crispe, of Goudhurst, the next brother of Henry, the father of Sir Nicholas Crispe, above mentioned) whose sole daughter and heir Anne married Sir Rich. Powle, K. B. the father of John, who died s.p. in 1740, as above mentioned.) He left an only surviving daughter and heir Susan, who married in 1757, the late Geo. Elliot, esq. of Upton, in Essex, who possessed it in her right, and in 1764 alienated it to Mr. John Wotton, of this island, as he did again to Mr. James Taddy, gent. of St. John's, whose surviving sons and devisees James and Edward Taddy, became entitled to it, but the latter is since become the sole possessor of it.

 

BROOKSEND, antiently spelt Brookesende, is a manor situated about a mile south-west from the church of Birchington; it was part of the antient possessions of the priory of Christ-church; and in the 10th year of king Edward II. the prior obtained a grant of free warren for his demesne lands in this manor among others, after this it continued with the priory till the final suppression of it in the 31st year of Henry VIII. when this manor, among the other possessions of it, came into the king's hands, where it did not continue long, for he settled it, among other premises, in his 33d year, on his new-erected dean and chapter of Canterbury, part of whose inheritance it still continues. There is not any court held for this manor.

 

The manerial rights the dean and chapter reserve in their own hands; but the scite and demesne lands are demised on a beneficial lease, the present lessee being Mr. John Friend, junior, who is the present occupier of it.

 

THE MANOR OF BROADGATE, otherwise called Brockmans, lies within the bounds of this parish, and extends likewise into Monkton; it was part of the possessions of Henry Beaufort, duke of Somerset, and on his attainder in the 8th year of king Edward IV. came to the crown, whence it was granted to John Brockman, esq. of Witham, in Essex, to hold by the same tenure and services as it was held in the 1st year of his reign, and he died possessed of it in the 16th year of king Henry VII. anno 1500, as was found by the inquisition then taken. (fn. 8)

 

Charities

 

TEN ACRES AND ONE HALF OF LAND, were given for the repairs of the church here, or perhaps purchased with the several legacies left to the church fabric, of which one acre is let by the churchwardens to a poor man employed by them, to keep the boys orderly at church; the residue is let out, and the rents applied to the use of the church.

 

ANNA-GERTRUY CRISPE, fourth daughter and coheir of Thomas Crispe, esq. of Quekes, by her will in 1707, devised to the overseers of the poor of Birchington and ville of Achole, for ever, 47 acres of land in Birchington and Monkton, then in lease at 18l. per annum, in trust, to pay to the clerk of the parish yearly 20s. to keep clean the isle and monuments belonging to Quex; to three widows of Birchington 3l. to two widows of Achole 2l. for wearing apparel to appear at church; to keep at school with dame or master, 12 boys and girls, and to give to each, at leaving the school, a bible; the overseers to take yearly ten shillings; to dispose of the remaining money for binding a school-boy apprentice; that the overseers fix up a yearly account of receipts and payments, and pass the same before a justice of the peace. (fn. 9)

 

THIS PARISH is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Westbere.

 

The church, which is exempted from the archdeacon, and dedicated to All Saints, is a handsome building, situated on a rising ground; it consists of a nave and two isles, reaching but half the length of it, and what is remarkable, they are all spanned by a single roof; beyond these are three chancels. That on the north side of it belongs to the antient seat of Quekes, in this parish, and is repaired by the owners of it; in it are many fine antient monuments and memorials of the families of Quekes and Crispe, &c. The south chancel is made into a handsome vestry, and just by stands the steeple, which is a tower, on which is placed a spire covered with shingles, of great use to ships at sea as a land-mark. There are five bells in it. In the windows of the church are some few remains of painted glass, just sufficient to shew that there was much more formerly. Before the reformation, there were here beside the high altar, altars and images with lights before them, for the blessed Virgin Mary, St. Nicholas, the Holy Trinity, St. Anne, and St. Margaret; to each of which legacies of a few pence and sometimes shillings, were almost constantly devised by the parishioners; as appears by their wills, remaining in the Prerogative-office, Canterbury.

 

Among other memorials in this church, in the high chancel, is a stone with a brass plate, having on it, the effigies of a priest in his habit, and an inscription for master John Heynes, clerk, late vicar of Monkton, obt. 1523. In the vestry, on a brass plate, an inscription for Mrs. Margaret Crispe, late wife of Mr. John Crispe, the youngest daughter and heir of George Rotherham, esq. obt. 1508. In the Quekes, formerly called St. Mary's chancel, are many gravestones, with brass plates and monuments well preserved, for the family of Crispe, of Quekes, with their busts, several of which, as well as the ornaments, are of excellent sculpture, from the year 1508 to 1737. A very handsome mural monument and inscription for dame Anne Powel, only daughter and heir of Sir Nicholas Crispe, of Quex, and relict of Sir Richard Powel, K. B. obt. 1707, leaving only one son John Powel, esq. of Lincoln'sInn, who died unmarried 1740, and lies here interred. By her death, all his mother's estates in Kent pursuant to her deeds of settlement, descended to Henry and Thomas Crispe, esqrs. of the custom-house, London, the only surviving branch in the male line of this antient name and family. A memorial for Wm. Buller, esq. of Quekes, ob. 1708; arms, Sable, on a cross, argent, four eagles displayed of the field, a crescent for difference; impaling sable, a chevron between three pelicans, or. John Blechenden, gent. of Birchington, appears, by his will, anno 1580, to lie buried in the nether end and north side of the chancel, where Sir Henry Crispe was buried. There are engravings of three of the monuments of the Crispe's in Lewis's History of Thanet.—On an antient tomb in this chancel, lie the effigies of a man and woman; on the sides and end of it are the arms of Crispe singly, and those of Scott, three catherine wheels in a bordure, engrailed, and Crispe, impaling the same several times. In the middle isle, a memorial for Capt. George Friend, of this parish, obt 1721; and several others for the same family. A memorial, shewing, that in a vault underneath, lie several of the Neames, of Gore-end, and Mockett, of Dandelion. One for Samuel Brooke, esq. obt. 1774. Several memorials for the Kerbys, of Southend, and Brooksend; Austens, and of Gore. A memorial for Thomas Underdown, late of Fordwich, and thrice mayor of that corporation; he died 1709. A stone, on which is a brass, with a priest in his habit, the inscription gone, but in small circular brasses at each corner are his initials, I. F. conjoined in the manner of a cypher.

 

In the church yard, on the north side, there stood formerly a small house, called the Wax-house, where they used to fabricate the lights for the church processions, &c. In the time of the sequestration of this vicarage, about the year 1642, or rather the resignation of it by Dr. Casaubon, on the ordinance against pluralities, this church was left by the vicar, to any one who would officiate in it, and this house was fitted up at the parishioners charge, or perhaps at the expence of the family of Crispe, who were defirous of a conformist's officiating here, for the minister to live in. Accordingly Mr. Edmund Fellows, A. M. of Sandwich, officiated here as minister from 1657 till after 1660; but in a late vicar's time, this house was, by his order, pulled down, and the materials carried away.

 

This church was one of the chapels belonging to the vicarage of Monkton, and is now the only one of them in being. As this church was a chapelry of the parish church of Monkton, and the chapel was erected for the ease of the inhabitants, they were antiently obliged to contribute towards the repairs of the mother church; but this usage, as well as that of the other chapels in this island, (except St. Nicholas, which still continues to pay a certain sum towards the repairs of its mother church of Reculver) has been for a long time discontinued.

 

By the endowment of the vicarage of Monkton in 1367, it was decreed, that the vicar of Monkton for the time being, should find one chaplain in this chapel of Birchington, dependant on that church, daily to celebrate, as far as he conveniently could, which chaplain should officiate in this chapel duly in divine services; for which the vicar allowed him a stipend of six pounds per annum.

 

In the valuation of the vicarage of Monkton, in the king's books, the vicar of it is charged for a priest at the chapels of Birchington and Wode, 11l. 13s. 4d. In 1640 here were 240 communicants.

 

The vicar of Monkton now finds a curate to officiate in this church, being collated by the archbishop, the patron, to the vicarage of Monkton, with the chapels of Birchington and Wode appendant to it; but the appropriate parsonage of this parish, including that of Wood adjoining, as an appendage to that of Monkton, which was part of the possessions of the priory of Christ-church, was yet a distinct parsonage from it, and as such was granted, after the dissolution, by king Henry VIII. in his 33d year, by his dotation charter, to his new-erected dean and chapter of Canterbury, in whom the inheritance of it is at this time vested.

 

The parsonage of Birchington, including that of Wood, alias Woodchurch, adjoining, is let on a beneficial lease for twenty-one years. In 1778 the rack rent of it was two hundred pounds per annum; but it was valued, on a survey, at six hundred pounds per annum, having 2000 acres of titheable land within the tithery of it. The family of Hugessen, of Provender, were lessees of it. From the coheirs of the late William Western Hugessen, esq. their interest in this lease was sold, in 1791, to Mr. George Bushell, of Minster, whose son Mr. Benjamin Bushell is the present lessee.

 

¶The parish clerk here had formerly some peculiar privileges, as appears by the antient book of the clerks for collecting his dues, (fn. 10) different from those enjoyed by other parish-clerks in this island; besides certain sums of money, amounting to 5s. 6d. and a groat a year for every cottage; and he had paid him in kind by the farmers, twelve cops and twelve sheaves of wheat, and twelve cops and two sheaves of barley; but in the year 1638, an assessment was made by the parishioners of this parish, and of the parish and ville of Wood, wherein they rated their lands at twelve pence the score acres, and the cottages at four pence each, for the clerk's wages.

 

www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol10/pp294-310

 

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The oldest standing building in Birchington, is of course, the Parish Church of All Saints Birchington, which stands in the centre of the village adjacent to the Square, and like other churches of Thanet about three quarters of a mile back from the sea.

It is positioned at the crossroads of two old roads, one which led from Minster Abbey to the sea at the little port of Gore-end, and the other to Canterbury crossing the River Wantsum by the ferry at Sarre.

Its distinguished tower with its tall, graceful spire creates an unmissable landmark on the approach to Thanet, and years ago ships passing by on the offing used it as such.

 

It is believed that a Church stood in this location for many years before the present building was constructed. There is a possibility that a Church stood here in Saxon times.

It is most likely that the church was originally a chapel of ease under Monkton and in its earliest form had a simple nave and chancel.

This evidence of the older building, can still be seen in the outside south wall, where some stones have been re-used.

There is evidence of some of the pre-Reformation features, including the base panels of the medieval rood screen at the chancel steps, reinstated in 1905, and one of the corbels that held the great rood beam itself. Between 1863 and 1883 the Victorians made their contribution with a major renovation programme.

The most memorable windows in the church are in memory of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who died in Birchington in 1882. The left is a reproduction of one of his own paintings, while the right was designed by Frank Shields.

 

In recent times there have been less dramatic changes. Among them, through the generosity of the present owner of Quex Park, the Quex Chapel has been made into a chapel of worship once more. In late 2010, the spire of All Saints became illuminated at night. It still stands like a beacon, welcoming people into the village from St Nicholas roundabout, encouraging travellers, as it has done since about 1350, to travel those last two miles with a lighter heart, knowing they are so near home.

The exact date of the current church and the names of its founders are not known but it can be deduced from the records and from the style of architecture, the oldest parts of the Church are the Chancel with its side chapels, along with the Tower. It is believed that in c. 1250 the chancel was rebuilt, with the owners of Quex Park then adding a North Chapel, while the monks of Monkton added a southeast tower and chapel.

 

It is possible that the original owners of Quex may have built the original church, especially considering the north or Quex Chapel is the private chapel and property of the owners of the Quex Estate.

 

The Nave of the old church was increased in size in c. 1350 along with its five fine arcades of five bays, two narrow aisles and Norman door to the North side and is in the perpendicular style.

 

The large southwest pillar within the church suggest to us of plans that had to be altered, probably because of the Black Death, which resulted in us having two half aisles under one enormous roof. Around the same time, the spire was added to the tower - it still contains its original framework.

 

The walls of the Church are very thick and solid, built of rubble and faced with broken flints, the Kentish cobbles.

 

The south wall contains some old stones within it, which can be seen on either side of the south porch, which was added c. 1430. These old stones which are of anterior date to the other stones used in the building have suggested that in line with tradition, they were brought from an ancient church which stood at Gore-end and which was pulled down on the encroachment of the sea and used in the re-construction and enlargement of the present church.

There are old octagonal piers constructed from old Kent Ragstone, which have well moulded caps and bases. The east window was rebuilt of Bath stone during the Victorian restoration of the Church in 1863 when the present tracery was inserted.

 

One of the oldest parts of the building is the south chapel, or the St. Margaret's Chapel, above which is located the Tower in an unusual position at the south-east end of the Church. When the original small church of the three chapels was built in about 1250, before the Nave was added in the 1300's, the Tower was in the usual position — at the south-west end of the church. The Tower, crowned with an ancient shingle spire is the only ancient shingled spire in Thanet. The spire has been re-shingled several times, with the last occurring in 1968 using Canadian Red Cedar Wood shingles. Historically, sailing ships found the Spire great use at sea to steer by on their way from the Thames to the Foreland and Trinity House provided a grant of £100 in 1864 to repair it. Capping off the Spire is mounted a vane in the shape of an arrow with the date 1699 cut out in the centre.

The Church for many centuries had a tiled roof which has been renewed on several occasions. Much of the woodwork of the roof was renewed at the 1863 restoration.

 

At the base of the piers are stone seats which until the end of the 14th century were in most churches the only seats in naves.

 

In the near centre of the north wall behind the current location of the font, opposite the south door may be seen the outline of an arch used formerly as another door and blocked probably at the restoration of 1863.

 

The Chancel is dedicated to All Saints. The beautiful reredos, was completed in 1883 takes the form of a triptych. This was designed by a Mr. C. N. Beazley and painted by Mr. N. H. J. Westlake, F.S.A., a well known artist at that time. This was restored and cleaned at the end of 2010. On the north side of the Altar is what is probably an Easter Sepulchre. The oak Altar rails were installed in 1938, which were made by a local craftsman. On the south side of the Chancel attached to a pier is a brass of a priest wearing the vestments of the period. This was formerly on a ledger stone in the Sanctuary. The inscription states that the brass is to John Heynes, priest, sometime vicar of Monkton who died 9th October A.D. 1523.

The Crucifixion is the theme of the east window and was dedicated in 1873. The west window was the gift of Mr. Thomas Gray of Birchington Hall, which was later to become Spurgeons Childrens Home then Birch Hill Park and was dedicated in 1873.

 

In the vault beneath the Quex Chapel, formally the Lady Chapel, now filled in, are buried the previous owners and their relatives of Quex. This Chapel contains some wonderful and interesting monuments in brass, alabaster, stone and marble commemorating the owners of Quex from the early 15th century to the present day.

 

The Tower contains eight bells, the oldest being made in 1633. The Church Clock was installed in 1887, as a memorial of Queen Victoria's Jubilee. There are a number of old and interesting tombstones in the Churchyard, the one of most general interest is that of Rossetti whose grave lies near the south porch, which was designed by his friend Ford Maddox Brown. In 1910, the two vestries were added.

 

There is evidence of some of the pre-Reformation features, including the base panels of the medieval rood screen at the chancel steps, reinstated in 1905, and one of the corbels that held the great rood beam itself. Between 1863 and 1883 the Victorians made their contribution with a major renovation programme.

The most memorable windows in the church are in memory of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who died in Birchington in 1882. The left is a reproduction of one of his own paintings, while the right was designed by Frank Shields.

 

In recent times there have been less dramatic changes. Among them, through the generosity of the present owner of Quex Park, the Quex Chapel has been made into a chapel of worship once more. In late 2010, the spire of All Saints became illuminated at night. It still stands like a beacon, welcoming people into the village from St Nicholas roundabout, encouraging travellers, as it has done since about 1350, to travel those last two miles with a lighter heart, knowing they are so near home.

 

www.allsaintsbirchington.com/All_Saint_Birchington/Histor...

Our memorable London, England, UK July/August 2017 visit. Highly recommended again and again.

Our memorable London, England, UK July/August 2007 visit. Highly recommended again and again.

"Ebony Beauty"

Met this beauty yesterday after seen her a couple of times before. Asked her if I may draw her and this the first result. Not much time to do it, but hopefully some more in future.

A new Hidden Gardens project exploring the cultural, social, spiritual, culinary and medicinal significance of plants.

 

‘Plants of Meaning’ Project

The Hidden Gardens has always used plants as a way to explore and celebrate cultural heritage, faith, identity, and place, and in doing so, has sought to build bridges between communities that live side by side but are often isolated due to perceived cultural differences such as language, religious beliefs or value systems.

 

Our 10th Anniversary

The Hidden Gardens, with the local community at the heart of a Reminiscence project to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Gardens, is undertaking an inspirational programme to revisit the significance of the original planting plan and at the same time extend it, to more fully represent the local community as it is in 2012/2013- the new voices and new stories must also be heard.

 

Back in 2003…

The original planting plan was designed to reflect the extremely diverse local community. The planting philosophy, (developed with the expertise and support of the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh), celebrates native and exotic vegetation and succession, as well as using ideas of provenance and displacement relevant to the diversity of the local population.

 

Where are we now?

The community surrounding the Hidden Gardens has significantly changed over the course of the last 9 years. There are new communities, which were not represented in the original planting plan, particularly the Eastern European and transient Roma communities.

 

Plants of Meaning Project

The Hidden Gardens will be creatively engaging with local communities over a six month period, between October 2012 and March 2013, to explore plants rich with cultural and religious significance.

 

The project will offer a unique opportunity to explore human culture, faiths and traditions in a new way – through the sharing of stories related to an understanding of plants, flowers and horticulture and their significance and meaning to us.

 

What’s coming up?

The development of a ‘Plants of Meaning’ Tour, which will include the cultural, social, spiritual, culinary or medicinal significance of different plants in the Hidden Gardens collection and the local community heritage stories associated with them.

 

Community Participation

It is also anticipated that, as an outcome of these processes, two community participants will be trained to provide guided tours of the ‘plants of meaning’ within the Hidden Gardens, to share the heritage value and local stories with others during our local festivals and events programmes in future years.

 

National Guard Soldiers and Airmen who competed in the Spartan DEKA FIT, an endurance fitness competition, attend an awards ceremony in Austin, Texas, Jan. 15, 2022 Guest speaker Brig. Gen. Michael J. Oster, assistant adjutant general for the South Dakota National Guard, spoke with the service members and handed out coins and awards for those who competed for a chance to earn a spot on the All Guard team and compete in future races and fitness challenges representing the National Guard. California took home first place for overall best team, with Michigan and Ohio finishing second and third place respectively. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kimberly Hill)

New America's Future of War Conference

 

Gen. Stephen W. Wilson, Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force

 

Photo by: Eric Gibson/ New America

Exclusive display around City Hall of innovative transport products & services related to the 2012 Investing in Future Transport Conference - organised by Cleantech Investor & Revolve.

London City Hall is the headquarters of the Greater London Authority, the Mayor of London as well as the London Hydrogen Partnership. Exclusive display around City Hall of innovative transport products & services related to the 2012 Investing in Future Transport Conference - organised by Cleantech Investor & Revolve.

London City Hall is the headquarters of the Greater London Authority, the Mayor of London as well as the London Hydrogen Partnership.

 

www.eco-rally.org/future-transport-display-london-city-hall

Malad Bus Depot (In future)

Photo by Dima Tsyrenschikov / Strelka Institute

what you plant today

you will get in future

Photo by Dima Tsyrenschikov / Strelka Institute

Finally adding the cape. It's very awkward to put on and doesn't like to stay in place so I'll likely have to pin in place in future

 

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Bliss: Is this it now? Are we done?

Me: *Sigh* I guess so

Bliss: Right, now get these rags off me

Me: ...

I won these for the picture of myself at the Grand Canyon and thanks to the votes of my supporters. To support me in future contests, visit happyjoel.com

Below is a great timeline of the progression of Gummo...

Back in Singapore, where Christmas decorations have been replaced with Chinese New Year ones. CHY lasts about a month and seems to be celebrated even more than Christmas. These decorations are in the Centrepoint Shopping Centre. Nicer ones along Orchard Road will no doubt feature in future photos.

Maserati of Baltimore Favorite "Christmas Card" House: Decorated with Giant Nutcrackers from the Nutcracker Suite

 

Holiday Light Tour Ride and Dine with Maserati of Baltimore: Local Baltimore County Homes

 

Holiday Tour of Lights and Baltimore County Decorated Neighborhood Homes

 

MOB Exotics was formed in 2008 by to help car lovers in the Mid-Atlantic region have a place of their own to call home and a resource group of auto enthusiasts to play in traffic together. For more information about upcoming events or to participate in future club activities, email Jack and Kae Davis via mobexotics@gmail.com.

 

www.mobexotics.com

 

playingintraffic.wordpress.com/2008/12/13/ferrari-rudolph...

Trainee police horse Jingle continues to learn the skills he will need to work full-time on the streets of Greater Manchester.

 

His trainer, Paul Hodgkinson, is currently introducing him to a range of experiences that will help him cope with anything he might face in future role.

 

On this occasion he was out and about on rural roads and also got the chance to meet a lots of members of the public…who were only too happy to say hello!

 

Keep checking for Paul’s updates on Jingle’s progress as he continues on his journey to earn his stripes as a fully operational police horse.

 

#JingleJourney

 

Image by guest photographer: Carly Phipps.

 

To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website.

www.gmp.police.uk

 

You should call 101, the new national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

 

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

 

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

New America's Future of War Conference

 

Gen. Stephen W. Wilson, Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force

 

Photo by: Eric Gibson/ New America

Obróbka skrzyń korbowych silników MTU serii 2000 wykonywana będzie przez spółkę córkę Tognum, firmę MTU Polska w Stargardzie Szczecińskim (Polska)

 

Kurbelgehäuse der MTU-Motorenbaureihe 2000 werden in Zukunft von der Tognum-Tochtergesellschaft MTU Poska in Stargard Sczceciński (Polen) bearbeitet.

 

In future, Tognum’s subsidiary, MTU Polksa, will process crankcases for MTU’s Series 2000 engines in Stargard Sczceciński, Poland.

It was way past 12 and I happened to hear the sound of a water droplet leaking from the tap. I switched on the lights to close the TAP. But then I grabbed my camera and captured this moment.

I realized each water droplet is precious & would cost million dollar in future, if we don't save it.

iPhone 3G, Hoya R72; Photoshop.com Mobile

 

Unfortunately the Holga version of this photo got lost because the back of the camera chose that moment to fall open in bright, direct sunlight, thus obliterating three shots on the film. In future I'll make sure I tape up the back of the Holga.

 

The barn made a good subject, though, and the iPhone version came out OK I think.

From June to August, East Kent Mencap’s youth services received lottery funding from Sportivate, part of Sport England to host a trampoline club for young people with learning disabilities.

 

Held at Ramsgate leisure centre, where training was provided by Aire Trampoline Club – the evenings gained momentum and we hope to find funding in order to continue the club in future.

 

‘On the first evening, the group were a little cautious (as were parents!) but by the end of the evening no one wanted to leave!’ comments Children & Youth Manager Ange Brown.

 

‘We were able to host 6 sessions, but were able to reach capacity quickly.

 

‘It has been fantastic supporting the group to try something new and fun that they want to keep coming back to.

 

‘I believe this is not only down to our fabulous support workers – and the help of parents at these evenings, but especially thanks to trampoline coach- Luke Shiels who really knew his stuff and inspired confidence in our members to be brave and give it a go!’

 

On the final night, participants received a booklet containing images of themselves and their friends in action.

 

If you are a parent / volunteer or one of the attendees of the evening – please send us your comments on the club – it will help us to obtain future funding for more clubs like this!

 

you can call or email: Children & Youth Manager Ange: 01843-224482 or email angela.brown@eastkentmencap.co.uk

Once again, I attempted another levitation photography at Singapore Management University. Till today, I still cannot master the graceful and elegant poise of yowayowa camera master who is able to capture that relaxing levitation moment in every of her photos. One of the limitation I regretted in my skills so far. This is perhaps the best shot in the second day. There will be more levitation shots in future.

 

Singapore, 2012.