Heritage Open Day Cyanotype Workshop

We had so much fun last weekend running our family cyanotype workshop in collaboration with Southborough Library for Heritage Open Day weekend! We could not have asked for more prefect weather to expose our prints.

The cyanotype process was used by botanist Anna Atkins in the mid 19th century to document different plant specimens such as ferns and algae and as such, secured her place in history as the first female photographer and first person to create a photobook. Atkins grew up in Tonbridge at Ferox Hall with her scientist father, John George Children, at a time when Southborough was still part of the domain of Tonbridge Castle. Some of you may have noticed the blue plaque that commemorates the two on the outside of the building.

The process involves coating paper with a solution of ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide to sensitise it to light. Then depending on the lighting conditions you can expose a print within 5-7 minutes (just as we did yesterday) and then simply rinse in water to develop and fix the print to reveal its beautiful blue appearance. This is where the term 'blueprint' originates from.

Our participants had lots of materials to choose from; flowers, foliage, feathers, beads, letters, lace and even a few negatives of archive postcards and photographs of Southborough to design their creations. It was the perfect activity to tie in with the Heritage Open Day's 2023 theme of 'Creativity Unwrapped', and amazing to think we were using the same process in the same Kent sunshine that Anna Atkins did over 150 years ago!

Thank you to everyone who attended the workshop and for making such wonderful prints. It was inspiring to hear so many of you to continued exploring the process in your own time. Here are some images of our photographers in action and just a snapshot of all the cyanotypes made over the course of the two sessions.

* If you like what we do, want to get involved in future events or wish to support us, please consider joining the Southborough Society. The Society is a registered charity and is run by volunteers. Membership is from just £12 a year and you will receive high quality quarterly newsletters, access to events and be supporting the work we do with archiving and researching our town's rich heritage amongst many other things. 

Last Weekend for High Street Merchandise

This weekend is your last chance to place your orders for prints and calendars, with the final deadline Monday 30th November. With this in mind, we thought we’d feature some of the other artworks that have been unseen so far.

The artists at Southborough C of E Primary explored a range of techniques and materials to create their high street illustrations: watercolour, ink drawings, collage and chine-collé etchings (where coloured and printed tissue paper is added to the etching plate). With such inspiring work it would be a shame not to showcase everything they created.

These additional illustrations can be ordered too - just make it clear on the order form which ones you are after and we are more than happy to oblige!

To make your order, please download a form and email it to us: thesouthboroughsociety@gmail.com

A Word.doc order form is available here and a PDF order form is available here.

Hand and Sceptre Hotel

Peter Hoare Antiques

The Gallery, Hairdressing Salon.

The first of two chine-colle prints of Hardman & Hemming.

Variation on the first print.

The House Company

Joe’s Barbers

Body Art Tattoo Studio

Dominos

Thank you for looking. If you like what we do and want to support a local charity, please join us. You can drop us a line here and we will send you a Membership Application Form.

Through the Lens

Over the last year, in preparation for our digital archive, we have been trawling through the scans and we thought it would be interesting to take a look back at some highlights from our photographic competition since its inception in 2004. We also hope that this post serves as a reminder for you to enter your photographs for this year’s competition by the 30th of October! See details on how to enter here.

The competition started life as ‘Putting High Brooms and Southborough in the Picture’ and was later reinvented in 2009 as ‘Through the Lens’ as it now continues to be known.

The category of ‘Places’ has consistently received the highest number of entries in the competition and has recorded many recognisable/iconic views which clearly say ‘Southborough’. But the more changeable aspects of our town such as its people, the high street and its events tell us more about how our town has been transforming over time.

Below is a small selection of the entries from our archive, we hope you enjoy reminiscing!

The beauty of St Peter’s in snow, by Albert Dungate in 2009.

2019 student category winner, Freddie Knight, ‘St Peter’s Church Tower’.

The everyday, vernacular photography can tell us more about that point in time than images of well recognised buildings and beauty spots of Southborough. Shops that had been stalwarts of the high street have been photographed in their final days, as you can see from Howes, the Q8 Garage, Wisdoms, and the butchers. A particular highlight in Southborough was the passing of the Tour de France in 2007 which resulted in many entries documenting the peloton as it raced through our High Street.

The End of an Era: Howes of Southborough, 1953-2007 by Rita Scales.

Q8 Creations, London Road, 2007, by Bob Holly.

The Upholsterer: Michael Wisdom, 2006 by Peter Dillon.

Kevin Major: The Final Chop, 2008 by Fred Scales. Major & Sons was a family butcher, previously located on the corner of Western Road and Norton Road, now residential property.

‘A Bold Gendarme’, 2007, by Michael Tayler.

Blurred Colours of the Peloton: Tour de France, 8th July 2007, by Abu Subhan.

The Leaders Speeding Through: The Tour de France, 8th July, 2007 by Olywn Kinghorn.

Now gone: Horse Trough on Sceptre Hill, Southborough, 2013, by Rhys Kinghorn.

The people of Southborough and High Brooms have been sharing loads of fantastic photographs on Facebook, particularly throughout the lockdown period, so get your entries in now! Good luck!

Salomons Estate through the Years

A special thank you to Emily Gordon, from Salomons Estate who created the 190 Years of Salomons Estate event on Friday, 30th of August, which members of the Southborough Society Committee, along with other special guests were invited.

Guests were treated to a fascinating talk and tour from the museum’s curator, Chris Jones (who incidentally will be presenting our next talk in November).

If anyone has not been to visit the Salomons Museum, you must! The entry is free and you can see a wide range of objects and artefacts tracing the history of the Salomons family within its stunning original Victorian interior (and while you are there you can explore the picturesque grounds).

Emily has kindly written the article below about the evening and history of Salomons Estate.

Salomons Estate Through The Years

By Emily Gordon

Garden and grounds. Photo credit: Craig Matthews

Salomons Estate is known for little more than being a conference centre on the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells. After 190 years of fascinating history at the Victorian country house, it is about time we explored the untold tales of this hidden gem in our very own town.

Last month, 50 very special guests gathered to share their unique stories and experiences of Salomons Estate through the ages. Here we piece together the jigsaw puzzle that they collectively helped to shape.

James Beeny and Gina Georgio, who wrote the West End musical ‘The Dreamers’. Photo credit: Craig Matthews

Mayor and Mayoress of Tunbridge Wells, Cllr James Scholes and his wife, Jane Scholes. Photo credit: Craig Matthews

Photo credit: Craig Matthews

The story starts in 1829 when Sir David Salomons bought a ‘very elegant small villa’ on the edge of Tunbridge Wells before tearing it down and commissioning the renowned British architect, Decimus Burton, to design the substantial country house that exists today. Sir David Salomons was one of the founding members of what is now known as Natwest Bank and was the first ever-Jewish Lord Mayor of London. The politician campaigned tirelessly for the equal rights of Jews and laid himself open to considerable penalties, speaking for his cause in the Houses of Parliament.

Sir David Salomons, (22 November 1797 – 18 July 1873).

Salomons Estate is now part of the Jewish Country House Project, which celebrates Jewish life in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the world of the Anglo-Jewish aristocracy. Representing the Jewish Country House Project at the 190th celebrations was Thomas Stammer who is currently working on a book featuring Salomons Estate.

Sir David Salomons left the estate to his nephew Sir David Lionel Salomons who was a keen scientist and engineer, making history on several occasions. Sir David Lionel Salomons built laboratories, and workshops in the grounds and a unique science theatre to demonstrate his experiments, which is still enjoyed by visitors today. Among many of his outstanding achievements, Sir David Lionel Salomons was the first person in the UK to hold a motor show. He also had the law changed so that cars could travel more than 4mph, invented an electric exposing camera in 1895 and was granted a patent for his invention of the automatic railway signaling system.

Photo credit: Salomons Museum

Photo credit: Salomons Museum

The third notable member of the Salomons family to live on the estate was First World War hero, Captain Reginald Salomons. Visiting Salomons on the 190th anniversary were James Beeny and Gina Georgio, who wrote the West End musical ‘The Dreamers’ which tells the moving tale of Captain Reggie Salomons and his team of 128 men, mainly from Southborough and High Broom, who lost their lives on the HMS Hythe, which sunk off the coast of Gallipoli in 1915. Last December, James and Gina’s top West End cast performed The Dreamers in the renowned Abbey Road Studios.

Captain Reginald Salomons. Photo credit: Salomons Museum

In 1937 Reggie’s sister, Vera Bryce Salomons, gave the estate to Kent County Council for use as a convalescent home – in memory of her brother, father and great-uncle. In the 1970s it was transformed into a training centre for regional health authorities, during which time residential facilities where build.

Returning to the estate for the 190th celebrations was Liz Scholey, manager of the NHS center in the 1980s. Liz and her husband John were also celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary last month, which was made extra special by visiting the venue where they got married.

In the 1990s Salomons was handed over to Canterbury Christ Church University who continued to use it for educational purposes. To accommodate their needs, the University converted the stables into offices and lecture rooms and the residential facilities into accommodation.

Today Salomons is operated by Markerstudy Group, which celebrates all aspects of the estate’s history. The group encourages local residents to simply explore the grounds, visit the museum and learn more about the extraordinary family it was once home to. They are working on an ongoing refurbishment programme, which aims to restore the Victorian charm of the country house and retain the unique features that make it so intriguing. They also continue to facilitate education, training and conferences on site and welcome weddings and special occasions that bring the charming house to life.

Chris Jones, Curator, Salomons Museum. Photo Credit: Craig Matthews

Photo Credit: Craig Matthews

Photo Credit: Craig Matthews