News
Plan sparks traffic concern
COUNCILLORS have demanded measures to improve traffic safety on a business and residential de- velopment scheme in West Far- leigh.
Ferns Property Development ap-
plied retrospectively to change five live-work units at American Oast in Tutsham Farm into separate self- contained flats and offices. The planning committee deferred
the planning application to include measures to restrict commercial ve- hicle access to the site only from the south via Hunt Street. Applicant Ferns Property Devel- opment stated that advisory signs to this effect were already in place, but members wanted a more sub- stantial scheme.
Cost of hatch IN last month’s Downs Mailwe re- ported that West Farleigh Parish Council had been quoted £4,754 to install an inspection hatch at a chil- dren’s roundabout. We are happy to clarify that, in fact, the figure quotedwas £475.
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Cash appeal to restore picture of benefactor
A PROJECT to restore a historic painting of Lord Bearsted is near- ing fruition. It just needs a kind benefactor to
come up with about £500 so the restoration work can commence. The painting of Lord Bearsted –
the founder of the Shell oil company who lived with his family at Mote House – has been in storage at the Maidstonemuseumfor many years, as itwas an unfit state for display. The painting shows the viscount
in his robes when he was Lord Mayor of London in 1902. Cllr Dan Daley,whois the interim chairman of the Maidstone Trust, set up 17 years ago to fund projects to mark the Millennium, has raised the bulk of the £7,750 needed to re- store the life-size portrait and frame. Bearsted Parish Council has been approached for a donation, along with Maidstone Area Arts. Once the funds are in place, the picture will be sent to specialist con- servators for the remedial work to take place. Lord Bearsted (pictured)was born Marcus Samuel into an Eastern Eu-
ropean Jewish familywhomoved to London in the 19th century. The family started in business making jewellery boxes decorated with shells and when, in 1890, Mr Samuel began importing oil from the Far East, he adopted the name of Shell. He was elected Lord Mayor of London in 1902 and made a vis- count in 1920, choosing the name Bearsted in honour of his home. As a businessman working in the Far East, Lord Bearsted amassed a
large collection of Japanese ceram- ics and art, which he donated to the Maidstone Museum to enhance its existing collection. A stone was set in the wall of the museum by Lady Bearsted in 1923, in recognition of the gift. Cllr Daley has received £4,000
from the Samuel family trust to- wards the restoration of the picture and a further £2,500 in small dona- tions. He said: “Marcus Samuel lived in
Mote House for more than 30 years and was obviously very fond of Bearsted – otherwise he may well have called himself Viscount Maid- stone. I hope that Bearsted people will be pleased to be so closely asso- ciated with such an eminent person who has a romantic and successful history. Hewas a munificent donor of much value to Maidstone and its museum. “I hope we can get the rest of the money in fairly swiftly so that the restoration project can get under- way and the picture hung in the museum.Wewant to start work be- fore there are any price escalations.”
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