Otterden's Recent History

We would like to record some of Otterden's more recent history.
If you have anything that could be included here, please e-mail us:

Mr David Lawrence of Teynham, nr Sittingbourne, contacted Otterden Online with memories of when he lived at Otterden. He said:

"My grandfather, Mr Ernest Croucher and his family lived at Otterden Place as caretaker and head gardener during World War II and, later on, at the Corner House bungalow. The big house was occupied by the tank regiment who used the parklands as training grounds.

Grandad worked for the Wheler family who were up in Yorkshire. Of his six children, four are still living (three locally and one in London, the eldest now age 91). I spent many school holidays with the soldiers, and then, later, living at the bungalow at Corner House."

David Lawrence (Thursday, November 16, 2000). To e-mail him:

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In the March 2001 edition of the "Good News" parish magazine, Mr Granville Wheler*(*now deceased) of Otterden Place paid tribute to former local estate worker Mr John Edwards who died, age 93, on 15 February 2001.

Mr Wheler recalled how Mr Edwards had worked as a forester on the Otterden estate since June 1949. Mr Edwards married twice and the son from his first marriage lived in Canada and pre-deceased him. The second marriage was to a local lady Chris Elvy, in April 1955; she also pre-deceased him.

Mr Wheler said he was especially grateful to the local residents who cared for Mr Edwards in recent years.

Mr Steve Godden of Ashford, Kent, wrote (in April 2002):

"I regularly walk around the parish - both with Ashford Ramblers (www.ashford-ramblers.co.uk) and on my own. I was only there yesterday (Good Friday), passing through on my way from Ashford to Lenham. Once again my wife and I were impressed by Otterden Place and so I went onto the Web to see if there was anything about it!

I’m especially interested in Monkton and Boardfield Church. I occasionally lead a walk through the path in that valley and was disappointed when Ordnance Survey removed the description “Site of Old Church” from the current Explorer 1:25000 maps. The old "Pathfinders" were far better for old monuments in my opinion.

My father’s family lived at the cottages next to Huntingfield Farm, Stalisfield, during the war only moving to Homestall Farm, Newnham (where I was bought up) in the late forties. They farmed Huntingfield for Lord Harris but also contracted to other farms in the area, including, I’m sure farms in Otterden Parish. I also know that father was in the local Home Guard unit.

My own interest is medieval and post medieval hall and farm houses and the parish (and the adjoining ones) do seem to have their fair share of these."

Stalisfield and Otterden residents enjoyed huge success with a visit by Texan choir Chorus Angelorum over the weekend July 27 and 28, 2002.

A Saturday evening concert in Stalisfield parish church was "sold out" and a Choral Evensong on the Sunday afternoon attracted a capacity congregation. Joint church warden Mrs Hilary Galer was delighted. She said it was difficult to remember when she had seen the church so full. Priest-in-Charge the Reverend Penny Fenton complimented the choir on their singing. "It was magnificent," she said.

Hosting the group of 27 American visitors were families in Stalisfield and the neighbouring parishes of Otterden and Eastling. A farewell "friendship supper" at The Bowl Inn near Charing on the Sunday evening provided yet another highlight before the choir set off for a week's residency singing in Lincoln Cathedral.

A major surprise at a pig roast, staged at Stalisfield Green after the Saturday concert, was the winning by choir director Byron Franklin of a patchwork quilt, raffled to aid church funds. Made by local quilting expert Terrance Gilbert, the magnificent quilt incorporated authentic American printed feed sack fabrics. Mr Gilbert commented: "I'm really delighted that this particular quilt was won by one of our American visitors and, in effect, will be 'going home'."

Mrs Jean West, also a church warden, said: "We couldn't have had a better event to celebrate the Golden Jubilee Year and also, as it happens, the Centenary of the Stalisfield Church organ. The weather was perfect and a lot of new international friendships have been formed." Although the primary aim of the weekend was to hold a local celebration, the church anticipates its funds will have been boosted by several hundred pounds.

You can see the choir’s website at www.chorusangelorum.org   

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In December 2005, Mr James Hare of Carter Jonas (Land Agents) wrote:

"Prior to his death on 15th May 2004, Granville Wheler made extensive provision for his Estates to pass into a Charitable Trust after his death. Granville, himself a bachelor, had two siblings, neither of whom produced children. As a result there is no relative to inherit his Estates. The Wheler Family have, for many years owned the Otterden Estate, as well as the Ledston Estate near Castleford, West Yorkshire.

"Both these Estates are due to pass on to the Wheler Foundation once Probate has been granted on Granville’s Estates. Mr. Wheler was also Trustee of the Lady Elizabeth Hastings’ Charity. Lady Elizabeth Hastings was, of course, a Wheler ancestor. When setting up the Wheler Foundation he had much of the LEHEC’s good work and objectives in mind.

"The Trust deed was set up carefully so that the Trustees in essence, whilst being a body of individuals, have the power to make decisions on their land and assets as an individual who owned the property and assets outright would have. This is governed and ‘policed’ by the Charity Commission. There are four specific objectives mentioned within the Wheler Foundation:

1. The maintenance and preservation of lands of historical educational landscape value or natural beauty, for the benefit of the public, whether or not educational.
2. The maintenance and preservation of historical buildings and works of art for the benefit of the public, whether or not educational.
3. Encouragement and assistance to agriculture, forestry and rural industry, for the benefit of the public, whether or not educational.
4. The making of gifts or donations to charitable bodies where, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees, such gifts or donations will be conducive to the promotion of the objectives of the Trust or any of them.

"Currently there are two Trustees of the Wheler Foundation, Mark Granger of Carter Jonas and Peter Fitzgerald of Wilson Solicitors in Salisbury. More will be appointed in due course.

"In accordance with Granville’s wishes, it is intended that the four main objectives of the Wheler Foundation will be at least partially fulfilled on the Estates themselves. This is hoped to include, in due course, visits by school children and others to the Estates. It is intended that Ledston Hall will be refurbished and put to a use in which at least part will be accessible by the public.

"At this stage, it is not anticipated that there will be any major changes to either Estate, at least in the short term. Certainly the Trustees are obliged to take a commercial view in any transaction, be it a lease, a negotiation with a public utility company, or a disposal of acquisition. They do not have the luxury of a private individual in allowing such transactions to take place at under the market value. It is inevitable that some disposals of property in and around Ledston and Ledsham will take place in the future, although it is unlikely that any residential properties or land will be sold.

"Development opportunities, as and when they arise, may well lead to the ultimate disposal of land. The individuals who acted for Mr Wheler both as his Land Agents, Solicitors and other advisors will also remain unchanged.

"I perceive the inception of the Wheler Foundation as a very exciting time, both in respect of the Estates themselves but also more importantly for those that live and work on the Estates and those involved with them. There will be many beneficiaries both financially and educationally in the future. Mr Wheler’s forethought, when he set up the Wheler Foundation some years ago, was the need to provide education to those who are not lucky enough to live and work in the countryside. He showed a depth of knowledge of both countryside and his Estates, as well as other’s needs, proving what those that knew him were already aware of - that he was an extremely erudite and thoughtful man."

The above text was published in the parish magazines for Ledsham, Yorkshire and also Otterden, Eastling, Stalisfield and Ospringe near Faversham, Kent.