Victorian-Style Celebrations

Carolyn Gray, chair of the Friends of Grosvenor and Hilbert Park, reports on an evening event to celebrate Marnock in Tunbridge Wells.

An evening walk celebrating Marnock, photo (c) Clare Kelly.

‘Since our formation in 2011 The Friends of Grosvenor and Hilbert Park have been interested in the work of Robert Marnock. We found out lots about our history from a member of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society (RTWCS) who exhibited for Heritage Open Days in the local church, and another member of RTWCS who had written a short history; this went on to form the basis of our history book. Both of these gentlemen educated us about our old reservoirs, that became water features and the (now closed) swimming pool, and how Robert Marnock lived nearby for a while, and knew our original benefactor - Mayor John Stone Wigg.

‘It was great to pass on all this information, along with research discovered during our recent Heritage Lottery Funded Restoration, to a group of interested locals on the evening of Thursday 6th July. Having an evening walk was a different idea for us, along with a Victorian style buffet/ picnic. There was lots of reading about Victorian's food and drink, and everyone had a test of egg and chutney sandwiches, Riesling, and mini Victorian sponges.’

Part of the Victorian picnic, photo (c) Clare Kelly.