Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The Upper High Street Gardens were donated to the public in 1947. The site features a garden designed to symbolise the Garden of Eden.

Monument Types

• SHELTER (Unknown date)
• WELL HEAD (Unknown date)

Full description

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The most ancient of garden formulas was used to create this pleasant retreat for local residents. The four-fold layout of the upper garden, with water represented by the well-head at the centre, symbolises the Garden of Eden, fertility, timelessness and Paradise. In the hot sun, aromatic shrubs and flowers give off their scents. Flowering cherries, Prunus Kanzan, shade the lower grassy area where there are seats and a rustic shelter
Upper High Street Gardens in Sevenoaks were donated in memory of Mr and Mrs Constant, by their children in 1949. (1)
Parks and gardens online ID: 3349

From the 2011 review:

"SUMMARY OF HISTORIC INTEREST

A small (0.25ha) garden, laid out in the mid C20 on land which was gifted by a local resident, a Miss Constant, as a permanent public garden for the town of Sevenoaks to commemorate her parents.

CHRONOLOGY OF THE HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT

Upper High Street Gardens date from 1949 when the garden, a site which was owned by Miss Constant who lived in the 'Old House' on the opposite side of the road, was given by her to Sevenoaks to commemorate a 'JC' 1855-1935 and 'SLC' 1861-1948. A report in the Sevenoaks Chronicle (29th April 1949) referred to it as a ’re-constructed garden' and reported that it was officially given to Sevenoaks Council following a service at St Nicholas Church. The keys were handed over by two great-grandchildren of Mr and Mrs Constant. Joseph Constant of 'The Old House' 18 High Street appears in Kelly's directory (1934 p581). The electoral registers of 1929-35 list Joseph Constant and Sarah Lily Constant as resident in 'Old house'. From 1948 the house ceases to be listed and is (2011) incorporated into Sevenoaks School as the International House.

Sevenoaks Town Council records show the Gardens as being gifted to the then Urban District Council, now Sevenoaks Town Council, by Joan Constant on 22nd April 1949 as a tribute to her parents, for perpetual use as a garden only, with the request that the memorial tablet set in the northern boundary wall be maintained. It was also requested that grave nos. 1152 and 3748 in Greatness Cemetery, Sevenoaks, and the walls and fencing around the garden be maintained.

The site appears as a field on the tithe map of 1841. During the early C20 (OS 2nd and 3rd edn 25”maps, 1897-1900 and 1907-1923) it appears as a nursery with greenhouses. By 1929 (4th edn) the land appears to be a field again. Sevenoaks Historical Society in '100 Years of Growth' refers to the garden as having been laid out as a flower garden for Miss Constant in the 1930s by Redgrave and Patrick. However no further information on their involvement or possible partnership has been found.

The Sevenoaks High Street Conservation Area Appraisal of 2008 refers to the Gardens as 'the only notable area of open space within the town'. It also states that the name Six Bells Lane is derived from the original peal of six church bells (suggesting a pre 1750 date for the name as the bells were replaced in the 1750s with a peal of eight) and that the sound of the bells, view of the church tower and links with the garden are important features of this area.

The Sevenoaks Official Guide of 1958 refers to the Gardens as being given to Sevenoaks by a Miss Constant and her family as a tribute to her parents and to remain a public garden for all times. There was a rose planting ceremony in 1995 for the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations and in 1998 the northern boundary wall was rebuilt. Four flowering cherry trees and a commemorative plaque were donated in 1999 by the local Women's Institute members to celebrate the Millennium. In 2009 fifteen rose trees together with a plaque were planted in the Gardens by the Girl Guides to celebrate their centenary. The Gardens remain in the ownership of Sevenoaks Town Council which also maintains them."

Kent County Council, 1996, The historic parks and gardens of Kent (Kent Gardens Compendium) (Unpublished document). SKE12972.

<1> Parks and Gardens Data Services Limited (PGDS), 2005, Parks and Gardens UK (www.parksandgardens.org) (Website). SKE16061.

<2> Kent Gardens Trust, 2011, Upper High Street, Sevenoaks: The Kent Compendium of Historic Parks and Gardens for Sevenoaks District (Unpublished document). SKE30618.

Sources and further reading