Blenheim Gate Community - Maidstone

Blenheim Gate Community - Maidstone Blenheim Gate Community - Maidstone
Queen's House, The Chapel & Fennel Close The Chapel was constructed between 1848 and 1852 and was originally known as St.

Oakwood Hospital in Barming Heath near Maidstone, was a psychiatric hospital founded in 1833 as the Kent County Lunatic Asylum to an Early Corridor design by the Surveyor to the County of Kent, John Whichcord Snr. In the mid-nineteenth century, the superintendent of the asylum was Dr James Huxley (1821-1907), the elder brother of Thomas Henry Huxley, the evolutionary biologist and friend of Charle

s Darwin. Following transfer of services to Maidstone General Hospital, Oakwood closed in 1994, and was then developed as a residential estate known as St Andrew's Park, Queen’s House and The Chapel. Saviour’s Church. Designed by John Whichcord, a local county surveyor, who also designed the former surrounding asylum buildings. The south aisle, which includes the current east porch, was added to the original building back in 1870. Queen’s House and The Chapel, were converted by Berkeley Homes in the late 1990’s with the help of English Heritage, and retains many period features including the original 34ft long chancel screen in The Chapel carved between 1905 and 1915 by an inmate of the asylum, together with the 18ft by 10ft stained glass window was added in 1914 in dedication to the memory of those who died in the nearby institution. For further history and details of this stunning piece of English history can be found at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakwood_Hospital

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAG0cWsqLnM

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Fennel Close
Maidstone
ME16 OSZ

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