WELCOME TO WESTERHAM

Scarecrow Festival 8th - 9th September 2012

Following on from the great success of last year's event we are making an early start to make this year's even bigger and better. Enter your scarecrow early and maybe you will be lucky enough to be included in the Scarecrow Trail. Scarecrows for the trail will be placed at pre-determined positions around the town centre.

The 2012 theme is Television Advertisements and exhibitors will be given their specific advert with a clue and precise position on the trail. We will publish a list of exhibitors on the trail so that businesses, clubs and societies will get a mention. Anyone wishing to enter a (free of charge) themed scarecrow into the trail should email scarecrows@visitwesterham.org.uk with their name, contact number if applicable and Society/Business name by Friday 17 February 2012. Spaces are limited and will be chosen at random. The public will be able to guess the clues on the scarecrows to win a prize. Anyone not involved in the trail can still display a scarecrow of their own choice on their property, the more the merrier to decorate the town! Successful exhibitors will be contacted via email, which will contain full details, by 2nd March 2012

WESTERHAM in the NEW YEAR

Rambler Westerham Society Floral Fantasia Hanging Baskets 2012 This year's colour scheme will be Bright Red mixed with Lime Green to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee and the Olympics

The Scarecrow Committee would like to thank everyone who's committed a Scarecrow for next September 8th/9th. This is a further appeal for more scarecrows to enter the Trail in September. It's free of charge, the theme is TV adverts and you'll have an advert to depict. For your Group/Club/Society to support this fun weekend, please email scarecrows@visitwesterham.org.uk.

Westerham Town Partnership Click here
for Notice of AGM which is on March 15th in the Parish Office. Russell House 6.30pm

If you are expecting visitors or a visitor yourself, click on the "Discover Westerham" logo on the right of the website. Whether you are here for a morning, a day or a more extended break, there are plenty of ideas of what you can do and places to visit.

What's On

Homestay accommodation in Westerham

Homestay Logo

Are you interested in renting out your house or spare room during the London 2012 Games and beyond? Westerham is planning to promote the town as a base for visitors, mentioning surrounding countryside and attractions, both close by and further afield, including the London sights.

The initial promotion will be for the Olympics but there's no reason why we cannot make it a permanent feature. If you are interested, then Westerham Town Partnership would be happy to hear from you and, hopefully, to add you to the current list of accommodation.

Guidance notes for residents, who are thinking of renting out their home/room can be found here.

It's important that you read them carefully before committing yourself. If you might be interested, email us at homestay@visitwesterham.org.uk

Please send your contact details including email, phone number, the type of property you are offering, including number of bedrooms and your area of town/general location, and anything particular potential customers may need to know, like 'car essential' - for example. Include a photo if possible.

Quick look ...

Daffodil Walk for Hospice in the Weald. Sunday 18^th March (Mothering Sunday) from 11am – 4pm Squerryes Court. All proceeds to the Hospice - revenue from entrance and refreshments.Details

Theatre Club .Top Hat at Apollo Theatre on Wednesday May 23rd is followed by Twelfth Night starring Mark Rylance at The Globe on 3rd October.Please contact the Membership Secretary cecilystiles@btinternet.com 01959 565715.

Westerham Netball Club needs experienced players to join their friendly team (all ages). They play in the Tonbridge League at Weald of Kent School on a Tuesday, and have fun matches as well. Call Maggie on 01959 564464

Westerham Darenth Womens Institute 'Tuscany to Venice' talk by Mr. Chris Wade. Do try and come and bring a friend with you. See Local News .

For the Royal British Legion 2012 progamme of Saturday social events is now available. Click here

Westerham Junior Chess Club will be completing their bronze and silver English Chess Federation (ECF) Awards this term. See Local News .
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Westerham Hall's Annual Fun Quiz to raise money for improvements. To be held on Friday 24th February 2012 at 8 p.m. Tickets £10 including supper. Raffle. Bar. click here for details and entry form

The Biggin Hill and Westerham Lions Club are holding another of their excellent Quiz Nights on Saturday 3rd March. To join them see Local News

NSPCC Fund Raising Lunch Rebellious Women: The Women’s Suffrage Movement in Kent & Surrey Speaker: Dr Ruth Davidson. Friday 16th March 2012, See Local News for details.

Next Bonneval Association exchange visit 12th -15th April. Offers to host visitors very welcome. Please see Local News for more details.

The Westerham Horticultural Society Summer Show will be on 23rd June. Schedules will be available shortly at www.whs.btck.co.uk and in local shops. Read more on Local News page

Westerham Rotary Club meets for an evening meal at The King's Arms in Westerham on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesdays. January Update 2012 Local News .

Westerham Society. View the 2012 programme.

Westerham Fine Arts Society Click for our exciting 2012 programme. Still not too late to join! Come on 7^th March as a visitor for a taster!

.Don't miss out on local events - look at our Local News Page

Westerham Farmers' Market

Wendy Westerham's Farmers' Market opened in May 2010.Markets are held in Market Square (outside The George and Dragon) on the first and third Sunday of each month, from 9.30 to 12.30.

Dates for next markets in2012 are Jan 15th, Feb 5th and 19th. Mar 4th and 18th.

There will be delicious bread, cheese, vegetables, fish, olives, plants, wine, honey, cakes, nuts and preserves. There are also some unusual craft stalls.

The organisers try to invite stallholders whose produce is as local as possible and doesn't compete with existing businesses in town. Shopping in a market always seems more fun and it there is a chance to catch up on local gossip with old friends and meet new neighbours. And you can always stop to buy a bacon roll from Peter, Kate and Dan and help to raise money for the Sea Cadets and other local charities.

Westerham was given its first market charter in 1227 and has been a Market Town ever since. For general information about the modern market click here.

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Tell us what's on

How often do you find out about something after it has happened, or need to tell people about an event you've organised? The Westerham Town Partnership has been talking to societies, businesses, the local papers and the Westerham & Brasted Gazette and would like to make the Westerham website a collection point for advertising current events and also keeping a "Town Diary" so anyone can find out what is planned for the rest of the year.

Information sent to events@visitwesterham.org.uk will be put on the wesbite calendar and sent to The Chronicle and County Border News and appear monthly in The Gazette. Please send information well in advance if you can, as it will appear on the website straight away and help others to plan events so dates don't conflict. All these publications need volunteers to write short pieces on any subject of local interest and provide background information to forthcoming events. Send it to us and we'll pass it on.

History of Westerham

Buttery in 1817 We are delighted to be able to present a new history of The Buttery by our contributor Bob Combley, who was born in Westerham and is a life-long friend of Peter Finch. Bob recently completed his research on the building that was variously known as The Market House, The Summer House, The Pavilion or The Temple of the Winds and was pulled down in 1856.

Click The History of The Buttery to read Bob's monograph about this extraordinary building.

Also on this website are Bob's History of The Tower and The Hosey Caves.