We meet with nothing requiring particular notice before we reach Seven Oaks, or Sevenoke, which is said to have derived its name from seven tall oaks that once stood near the town. It is situated 23 miles from London, on the road to Tunbridge and Rye. Many of the domestic buildings are spacious and respectable mansions, inhabited by independent families, and forming a genteel and desirable neighbourhood. The market place is large and ancient : the market is held weekly on Saturdays, and is plentifully supplied with provisions of all kinds.

Here is an Hospital for maintaining 32 decayed elderly trades people, and a school for educating poor children, endowed by Sir William Sevenoke, who was lord mayor of London in the reign of Henry VI, and is said to have been a foundling, brought up by some persons of this town, whence he took his name. Dr. John Potkyn, who lived in the reign of Henry VIII. was a great benefactor to the school, and this institution being incorporated by Queen Elizabeth, it was thence called Queen Elizabeth's Free-school. It was rebuilt in 1727, and the style of the corporation is "the wardens and assistants of the town and parish of Sevenoke, and of Queen Elizabeth's Free school there." There are six exhibitions belonging to this school; four of which are of 15l. a year, and confined to no college, or either university in particular.

The Church is a handsome and large building, containing many monuments and memorials.

In the neighbourhood of the town, northward, is an open space called Sevenoke Vine, noted for being the place where games of cricket, the provincial amusement of this county, are in general played.

Near Sevenoaks Sir Humphry Stafford was defeated and slain by the famous Jack Cade, in the year 1450.

Knole or Knowle Park, the celebrated residence of the Sackvilles, Earls and Dukes of Dorset, through many descents, nearly adjoins to the town of Seven-Oaks, on the southeast side. This splendid and immense pile exhibits the architectural style of many ages, from the time of the Anglo-Normans to the reign of James I. The collection of Pictures preserved at this noble mansion, is extremely numerous, and is open to public inspection on certain prescribed days. The attached park is very extensive, and abounds in picturesque beauties.

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SEVENOAKS is a market and union town, parish, head of a county court district and petty sessional division, in the Western division of the county, hundred of Codsheath lathe of Sutton-at-Hone, rural deanery of Shoreham, archdeaconry of Maidstone and diocese of Canterbury; it is 20 miles from London by the direct line of the South Eastern and Chatham railway, and 25 by the London and Chatham branch of the same system, there feeing separate stations for each; it is also 7 miles north-west from Tonbridge and 18 west from Maidstone. The parish of Sevenoaks extends both above and below the great ridge of sand hills which runs across this county and divides the Upland from the Weald or southern district of it.

Under the provisions of the “Local Government Act, 1894,” the old parish of Sevenoaks has been divided into three, viz.: Sevenoaks, Sevenoaks Weald and Riverhead.

The Local Government Board Order for the formation of the three parishes was dated September 24, 1894. The present Sevenoaks parish comprises the area of the Urban district.

The town, built on high ground, consists of two principal streets, and is paved, lighted with gas by a company, abundantly supplied with good water from a pumping station in Oak lane, the reservoirs being near the Tonbridge road and Bailey’s Hill, Wickhurst, 680 feet above sea level; the reservoir at Bailey’s Hill having a capacity of 450,000 gallons, and that at Tonbridge road, 300,000 gallons; it was from 1871 under the control of a Local Board, but under the “Local Government Act, 1894” (56 and 57 Vict. c. 73), the town is now governed by an Urban District Council of 12 members. In the time of Queen Elizabeth the assizes for the county used to be field in this town.

The Sevenoaks railway, opened in May, 1862, is now a branch belonging to the South Eastern and Chatham Railway Company, with a station at St. John’s hill (Bat and Ball), 1 mile north of the town: the line between Otford Junction and Maidstone, also belonging to this company, and opened for public traffic on the 1st of June, 1874, gives railway access from Sevenoaks to Maidstone. In 1868 the South Eastern Railway Company completed their line through this town to Tonbridge, and it is now the main route to the Continent. The London and Chatham branch joins the direct line at the bottom of Tubs’ hill, half a mile north-west, where there is another station. Both are now controlled by the South Eastern and Chatham Railway Company.

The church of St. Nicholas is of Kentish rag, in the Perpendicular style of the 13th and 14th centuries, and has a tower, 99 feet in height, with a clock and 8 bells. There are a number of fine and interesting mural monuments to Charles, first and only Earl Whitworth sometime Viceroy of Ireland, and to the Fermor, Boswell, Amherst, Lake, Pitt, Scott and Lambarde families, besides several stained windows. The church affords 700 sittings. The earliest date of the register is 1559. The living, formerly a sinecure rectory and a vicarage, is now a rectory, net yearly value £600, with residence and 15 acres of glebe, in the gift of and held since 1874 by the Rev. Thomas Samuel Curteis M.A. of Trinity College, Cambridge and F.S.A.

St. John’s is an ecclesiastical parish, formed September 27Th 1878, from that of Sevenoaks. The church consecrated in October, 1858, is of stone in the Gothic style and has a western turret containing one bell; the aisle was added in 1878, and the chancel, vestries and bay in 1901: there are 600 sittings, 450 being free. The register dates from the year 1858. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £100, in the gift of the Rev. Thomas Samuel Curteis M.A., F.S.A, and held since 1900 by the Rev. John Palliser David M.A. of Durham University.

The Catholic church in Granville road, dedicated to St. Thomas and The Most Holy Trinity, has sittings for 200 persons.

There are chapels; Congregational, erected in 1866, seating 425, Baptist, built in 1748, with 580 seat, also a Wesleyan chapel and meeting rooms for the Plymouth Brethren.

St. John’s Hall (Congregational schoolroom), Hollybush. lane, was built in 1888, and will hold 350 persons.

The offices and stables, Argyle road, belonging to the Urban District Council, and erected in 1882 at cost of about £3,000, are of white gault brick with Bath stone dressings; the Fire Engine Station is in Eardley road.

The Sevenoaks Horticultural and Floral Society usually holds an annual show in the month of August.

The Sevenoaks and West Kent Gardeners’ and Amateur Society holds a chrysanthemum show in November, as well as fortnightly competitions.

The London and County Banking Co. Limited and Lloyds Bank Limited, have branches here in the High street.

A stock market is held the third Wednesday in the month.

The County Police Station, in High street, was erected in 1864, at a cost of £3,000.

The Constitutional Club, at the junction of the Maidstone and Dartford roads, was erected in 1890, and has a large hall, holding 600, and used for public entertainments and meetings.

The Old Market Hall in High street is now used as a Technical institute, and has a lecture hall holding about 200 people. The District Library is also established in these premises.

The G Company 1st Volunteer Battalion, Queen’s Own Royal West Regiment, have head quarters in Argyle road.

There are several first-class hotels; The Royal Crown hotel is in London road; the Royal Oak is opposite Knole Park, the Sennocke is pleasantly situated facing Tubs’ Hill station on the South Eastern and Chatham railway, and Bligh’s Private hotel is in the High street.

Between the old town and St. John’s portion of the district is an open space called “Sevenoaks Vine,” which is used by the public and the Sevenoaks club as a cricket ground. The old Local Board in 1890 purchased the cottages and ground adjoining the Vine and extending to the boundary of the Constitutional club, and in, 1893 this land was converted into a public recreation ground, called “The Vine Pleasure Ground;” it is open to the public from 7 to 5 in the winter, and from 6 to 9.30 in summer, and a band plays on Thursdays and Saturdays during the summer months.

The Almshouses, founded by Sir William Sennocke (Sevenoak) kt. in connection with his school, contain 20 inmates, each of whom receives 6s. per week; there are also 12 houses, whose inmates receive is. 8d. weekly from an endowment left by the Misses Edwards, and vested in the minister and churchwardens of the parish, and one inmate receiving 5 s. 6d. weekly from Col. Thos. Austen’s charity; there are also two houses endowed by the late Mr. John Clarke (who died in 1869) with 5s. 6d. per week each. Eight houses were erected in 1874 for the out-pensioners of Sir William Sevenoake's charity. Besides these charities, about £23, arising from a bequest by Sir Edward Fermor, is distributed in bread.

The Holmesdale Cottage Hospital, established in 1873, at the bottom of St. John’s hill, has 9 beds, and is supported by voluntary subscriptions. The Hospital for Children with Hip Disease, founded by Miss Jackson in 1872, is a handsome building, erected on Tubs’ hill in 1902 at a cost of £10,000, and will hold 34 patients; it is supported by voluntary contributions and donations. There is also a Fever Hospital in Oak lane; and there is now (1902) in course of erection an infectious Diseases Hospital (also in Oak lane), for 12 beds, at an estimated cost of £7,000.

St. Michael’s Orphanage, on the London road, established in 1887, is supported by voluntary contributions.

Near Sevenoaks, in the year 1450, Sir Humphrey Stafford, knighted at the second battle of St. Alban’s, 19 Feb. 1461, was defeated and slain by the famous Jack Cade.

Close to the town, on the south-east, is Knole, the seat of Lord Sackville G.C.M.G., D.L., J.P.; the house, mainly built by Archbishop Bourchier, who died in 1486 and Thomas Sackville, Earl of Dorset, who died in 1608, is a quaint mixture of the Perpendicular Gothic of the 15th century and the Early Italian style of the 17th century, and covers, with its outbuildings, five acres of ground the front, seen from the approach, is of the latter period, with the exception of the gate; the inner court is chiefly of Lord Dorset’s building, and has his initials on the lead pipes; the hall is Bourchier’s work, as is also the chapel and chaplain’s room; the staterooms contain a large collection of portraits and other pictures; at the north corner of the mansion may be seen a fine bam of Bourchier’s time, and on the other hand the “Duchess Walk,” an avenue of oaks; at the north-east corner was a gaol for the Archbishop’s servants; further on, an avenue of beeches leads to the end of the ancient “Pleasaunce,” where are some fine old trees; the picturesque undulations of the extensive park, which is 6 miles in circumference, covering upwards of 1,000 acres, well stocked with red and fallow deer, and full of magnificent forest trees in stately avenues and solemn groves, render Knole one of the most attractive seats in the southern part of England in 1877 the stables were destroyed by fire; the house is open to the public on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and bank holidays. A little to the south is River hill House, the residence of Maj. John Middleton Rogers D.S.O., J.P. and commanding extensive views of several counties; St. Julian’s, the residence of Edward Herries esq. C.B.; Bulimba, of William Hemmant esq.; Edenhurst, of James Dixon esq.; Kipping ton Grange, of William James Thompson esq. J.P.; Asbgrove, the residence of Robert Kirkman Hodgson esq. D.L., J.P. is noted for its vineries, azaleas and rhododendrons.

Lord Sackville G.C.M.G, is lord of the manor and principal landowner.

The area of the civil parish and Urban district is 3,254 acres of land and 5 of water; assessable value, £57,418; the population of the parish in 1901 was 8,103.

The population of the ecclesiastical parishes in 1901 was:-St. Nicholas (parish church), 2,690; St. John the Baptist, 4,155; Kippington, 1,235.

Sexton, St. Nicholas, William Henry Theobald, Parsonage lane, Sevenoaks.

Parish Clerk, St. John’s, A. Jeffery, Bethel road.

Petty sessions are held the second & last Friday in each month at the Court House, at 11 o’clock, also intermediate sessions every friday, at the same hour, when there are any cases to be disposed of under the Summary Jurisdiction Acts The following places are in the Petty Sessional Division:-Brasted, Chevening, Halstead, Kemsing, Otford, Riverhead, Seal, Sevenoaks, Sevenoaks Weald, Shoreham, Sundridge & Westerham.

VOLUNTEERS, 1st Volunteer Battalion Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment (G Company); head quarters, Argyle road; Capt. John D. Laurie; Herbert Wheatley Knocker, lieut. Cyclists’ Company; Sergt. Herbert Parry, drill instructor.

SEVENOAKS UNION

Board day, thursday (fortnightly), at the Workhouse, Sundridge, at 11 am.

The Union comprises the following parishes, viz.:-Brasted, Chevening, Chiddingstone, Cowden, Edenbridge, Halstead, Hever, Kemsing, Leigh, Otford, Penshurst, Riverhead, Seal, Sevenoaks, Sevenoaks Weald, Shoreham, Sundridge & Westerham. The population of the union in 1901 was 30,790; area, 66,596 acres; assessable value in 1902, £189,068.

Workhouse, Birchfield, Sundridge, a building of Kentish rag, with red brick dressings, built in 1844 to hold 381 inmates.

PLACES OF WORSHIP, with times of services

St. Nicholas Parish Church, Rev. Thomas Samuel Curteis M.A., F.S.A, rector; Rev. Alfred Ernest Houfe M.A. curate; 8 & 11 a.m.. 12 noon & 3.15 & 6.30 p.m.; daily, 11 a.m. & 4.30 p.m.

St. John’s Church, St. John’s hill, Rev. John Palliser David M.A. vicar; Rev. H. T. Knight M.A. curate; 8 & 11 a.m. & 3.15 & 6.30 p.m.; daily, 5.30 p.m.; wed. & fri. 11 am.

St. Mary’s, Kippington, Rev. Henry Percy Thompson M.A. vicar; Rev. E. S. Buchanan M.A. curate; 8 (alternate sundays) & 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

Iron Church, South park (in connection with St. Mary’s); 8 (alternate sundays) & 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7.30 p.m.; sat. 5.30 p.m.

St. Thomas of Canterbury & The Most Holy Trinity Catholic, Granville road, Rev. William M. Cunningham, rector; sundays, mass 11 a.m. (additional mass at 8.30 a.m. on first Sunday of each month), holy communion 8.45 a.m. Catechism immediately after 11 a.m. mass, devotions & benedictions at 4 p.m.; holy days of obligation, holy communion at 8.30 a.m. mass 10 a.m. benediction 7 p.m.; week days, mass 8.30 a.m. confessions heard on sats. 6 to 8 p.m. & at call.

Baptist, The Vine, Rev. Charles Rudge; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7 p.m.

Congregational, St. John’s hill, Rev. Cornelius Henry Hedgman M.A. minister; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; thurs. 7.30 p.m.

Vine Hall, Hitchin Hatch lane, sun. 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; mon. 8 p.m.; wed. 7.45 p.m.

Greatness Hall (in connection with St. John’s Congregational Church), Rev. Cornelius Henry Hedgman M.A.; 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7.30 p.m.

Wesleyan, Market place, Revs. John G. Morrow (supt.) & Rev. Charles F. Hunter B.A.; Rev. William Hunter, supernumerary; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; thurs. 8 p.m.

Bible Christian Chapel, near Bat & Ball station; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

SCHOOLS

Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, founded in 1432, by Sir William Sevenoake kt. (usually written Sennocke & son of one William Rumpstead, whose change of name has led to his being usually described as a foundling); he rose to be Lord Mayor & representative in Parliament, & left a portion of his wealth to found this school, which is now a first grade modern school, giving certain advantages to natives of Sevenoaks, Seal & Kemsing; there is one exhibition of £40, one of £35 & one of £30, tenable for three years at Oxford or Cambridge; the Kippington prizes of 3 guineas yearly in books for essays in history & English literature, & the Clabon. conduct prize of £2 yearly in books; by a charter of Queen Elizabeth granted in 1560, the management of the school & almshouses was placed in the hands of two wardens & four assistants, who were called the Corporation; the foundation is now administered by a governing body, consisting of 15 members appointed under a scheme proposed by the Charity Commissioners & approved by the Privy Council, 11th July, 1877; the appointment of master is vested in the governors; the income derived from Sir William Sevenoake’s estate, including some additions to it, particularly that of Anthony Pope, in 1571, is nearly £800 a year; George Grote, the distinguished classical historian, born at Clay Hill, near Beckenham, Nov. 17, 1794, received his early education at this school; chairman of the governors, Rev. Canon J. M. Burn Murdoch M.A.

Walthamstow Hall is an undenominational school, for the daughters of all Christian missionaries, & was opened May, 1882, by the late Samuel Morley esq. M.P.; the building is designed for about 100 children, who are eligible for entrance at five years of age & remain till seventeen; it has cost £22,000, which includes the freehold & furnishing, this amount being raised by subscriptions & by the sale of the property at Walthamstow, Essex, where the institution was first established in 1838.

A School Board of 7 members was formed 21 June, 1875, for the united district of Sevenoaks, Riverhead & Sevenoaks Weald; George F. Carnell, 130 High street, clerk to the board; William Hayward, Buckhurst lane, attendance officer.

Board, Quakers’ hall (boys), built in 1895, for 171 boys; average attendance, 170.

Board, St. John’s (girls & infants), built in 1884, for 180 girls & 180 infants; average attendance, 150 girls & 150 infants.

Lady Boswell’s, London road, founded by Lady Boswell, wife of Sir William Boswell, ambassador to Charles I. at the Hague, who conveyed an estate at Burnham, in Essex, partly for the endowment of a school for poor children of the parish, who are taught on the National system; this estate was sold, with the consent of the Charity Commissioners, & the proceeds, about £12,000, invested in Consols, of which £5,637 was transferred in 1877 to the governors of the Sevenoaks Grammar School; the school was re-erected in 1851 & enlarged in 1876, & is now available for 180 boys & 145 girls; average attendance, 105 boys & 120 girls; the yearly income from the charity now amounts to £195.

St. John’s National (boys, girls & infants), built in 1873, for 113 boys, 110 girls & 127 infants; average attendance, 51 boys, 50 girls & 60 infants.

St. Nicholas School for infants, London road, built in 1835 & enlarged in 1880 & 1885, for 200 children; average attendance, 180.