Welcome to the website for HADLOW TOWER RESTORATION
HADLOW, a village mentioned in the Domesday Survey, is situated in the Medway valley, approximately 25 km south-east of London and 10 km beyond the M25, and lies on the A26 between Tonbridge, with its Norman Castle, and the county town of Maidstone. Hadlow retains its original core, including a medieval church, but it is the Castle Tower which makes it unique.
THE CAMPAIGN to save Hadlow’s iconic Grade 1* Listed Tower was started by the local village community who were concerned about the obvious decay of the 19th century Romantic Gothic folly.
Following a series of public meetings the Save Hadlow Tower Action Group (SHTAG) was formed.
Our objectives were:
- to preserve for the people of Kent and for the nation, the historical, architectural and constructional heritage that exists in and around Hadlow Tower;
- to promote the restoration and long term protection and maintenance of Hadlow Tower;
- to support Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, together with English Heritage, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and others, in seeking long term solutions for the future of this building;
- to raise funds to assist in meeting the costs of the restoration of Hadlow Tower;
- to provide technical, promotional and administrative support where appropriate to the preservation efforts.
FUNDING After a successful bid for Lottery funding by the Borough Council, backed by 1000 signature in a public petition, the next task was to find a suitable Building Preservation Trust willing to take on the restoration of the Tower. In due course the Vivat Trust agreed to commit to its biggest project to date, and a scheme to offer high quality holiday accommodation in conjunction with public access (a condition of Lottery funding) was devised. Other donations include those from English Heritage, the Architectural Heritage Fund, Kent County Council and the Country Houses Association.
Although the Tower was built for ostentation not habitation, it had been partly converted for residential use in the mid 1970s, so it was necessary to acquire the building through Compulsory Purchase before any funding could be taken up and restoration and refurbishment work started.
In 2011 we are now 10 years on from the formation of SHTAG, and the Tower became the property of the Vivat Trust in February 2011. We now look forward to welcoming the first visitors to climb the Tower to see the view from our famous village landmark at Easter 2013.
VISITORS’ CENTRE Although the Vivat Trust owns and is restoring the building SHTAG will be designing and running the Visitor Centre at the base of the Folly, which will be open 28 days a year. Together with our supportive members we have raised nearly £50,000 for our part in this exciting project, but still have some way to go to reach our target of £100,000.
YOU CAN HELP OUR PROJECT by becoming a member of our group or making a donation (or both!).
Save Hadlow Tower Action Group is run by a 10 person committee, and annual membership is very reasonably priced. You can be sure that no money is used for wages or wasted on unnecessary expenditure and sumptuous offices. Our day to day running costs are very low and the largest slice of income goes towards funding for our Visitors’ Centre and the Tower. For a small outlay you too can be part of the restoration of a magnificent Grade 1 Listed Victorian neo Gothic extravaganza.
I hope that you find the web-site interesting and informative.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need more information. *
Caroline Elcombe Chairman
* Please leave your contact details in the comment box on the Roman Cement page and we will get back to you.
