The Herne Bay Cultural Trail

 

Herne Bay Town Partners will create a Cultural Trail in 2008, which will be educational, interesting and fun for the community and visitors alike.

The proposed Cultural Trail will cover the town, seafront, Memorial Park, Downs, Beltinge and the Canterbury Road. It is proposed it will consist of a selection of murals, statues and historical attractions, for example:

Historical Mural:  Bronze-age site at Long Rock, Hampton. The Roman Religious Fort, Reculver Towers, Barnes Wallis and Guy Gibson with the bouncing bomb trials between Reculver and the Kings Hall.

Ships Anchors: Information on the Paddle Steamers, including the Medway Queen, Balmoral and Kingwear Castle. The Ships Anchors will be from the Thames Barges which brought coal and grain to Herne Bay.

Ship Inn: Is one of the oldest buildings in its original state, situated in the oldest part of town. The public house had associations with smuggling.

Barnes Wallis Statue: A statue of Sir Barnes Wallis to celebrate the association he had with the town relating to the trials of the bouncing bomb between Reculver and the Kings Hall.

Clock tower: A wealthy lady gave the town its distinctive 80ft Clock tower, built in 1837, the first purpose built free standing Clock tower in the world

Sir Henry Oxenden:  was responsible for donating Oxenden Square, Brunswick Square and the ground in 1833 for the first church, Christ Church which opened in 1834.

Pier:  The original pier was not only one of the earliest piers, but the longest at that time. It was built by Thomas Telford in 1832.

The Famous:   A mural to celebrate the World Champions from the town in Roller Hockey, Angling and other sports.

War Memorial:   The park was laid out in the 1920's as a memorial to the First World War.<br><br>

In memory of a Young Pilot:  Pilot Officer Albert Hugo Friday of 611 Squadron, Royal Air force lost his life in 1942 close to Blacksole Bridge.

These are just some of the examples we will feature in the Cultural Trail.

If you would like to join us and be part of  the Cultural Trail, please email: chris.west@canterbury.gov.uk