2025 marks a special milestone as the Council celebrates 130 years of serving the people of Edenbridge.
It’s a great opportunity to reflect on our past achievements and initiatives that have shaped our town, as well as look ahead to continuing our service to the community. Throughout the year, we’ll be organising some activities to celebrate this anniversary, and we hope you’ll join us in making it memorable.
A look back at the last 30 years
Much water has flowed under the Great Stone Bridge since Edenbridge celebrated the Centenary of its local Council in 1995, and a quarter of the 21st century has already passed. Here is a look back over 30 years in which community and Council have seen many changes. See the first decade below (Part 1), and keep an eye out for Parts 2 and 3.
Edenbridge Town Council : 1995 to 2005
1994/5 | Stangrove pond re-established – phase 2 landscape works
Stage one of the pond reclamation had already taken place, with residents and Council working together to clear overgrowth and silt so the feature could be restored as an open stretch of water and wildlife habitat, with an island and a graded depth. Stage two was the landscape and planting works. A detailed information painting at the pond shows the range of creatures and plants which can be found.
1998 | Edenbridge Design Statement created – updated 2000
Qualities of the environment in and around Edenbridge which residents valued were recorded in this project supported by community and Council, under the umbrella of Edenbridge Town Forum which had formed in 1994. Characteristics of building styles and design features were highlighted, from windows and doors, to types of bricks, tiles and timber – also property and estate boundaries, fencing and walls, and use of hedging and trees. It was adopted to guide and inform future planners and developers as the end of the 20th century approached. This document is still listed as a supplementary planning document for town and village design statements (though other documents are now also used).
1999-2000 | Church House/Rickards Hall refurbished – Eden Valley Museum opened
With funding from the Heritage National Lottery, a long-held dream of bringing local history items into one place in a dedicated museum was realised. Complete refurbishment of the medieval Church House, alongside Rickards Hall and courtyard, produced a multi-room showcase of life in the town and surrounding Eden Valley, dating from Roman times and beyond. Themed displays changing every year feature beside the permanent exhibits, with the work of volunteers continuing a key part of creating and stewarding this window on the past.
2000 | Mowshurst and the Millennium Wood
Once a part of Great Mowshurst Farm, the Town Council decided in 1997 to find a new use for a section of its land beyond the football pitches off Four Elms Road. Three stages of work began with restoring a large pond. Then came laying pathways around the five acre site, to serve the new woodland being added as the third stage. Around 2,000 young trees were planted, mostly of varieties native to the Weald, as “a lasting gift from one millennium to another”. Today they are well grown, and the area is maintained as natural woodland to encourage wildlife and plant habitat.
2001 | Community Appraisal – survey report published
Taking a “snapshot in time” in the summer of 2001, the Community Appraisal organised by the Town Forum was hand-delivered to 3,500 households in the parish, asking what they thought of the town then and what they wanted it to be like in future. The resulting Community View report raised issues for the future, and the question – what next? Some actions were already in hand when the report was published. Others were being investigated to make use of external funding available for improvement projects.
2002 | Community Warden – a new role
Edenbridge acquired its first Community Warden under a 50% Government funded three-year programme with Sevenoaks District Council (SDC), to provide a person in communities who would focus on the quality of the environment, and become a two-way channel of information between residents and councils, and the police. A Steering Group was formed of representatives from local organisations, including housing associations, the John Coldman Trust, SDC and the Town Council, to identify issues to address – such as fly-tipping, graffiti removal and abandoned cars. SDC continued its financial support up to 2010. Over the years the Town Council has increased its contribution to now over 50% of the running costs, and secured grant-funding, to ensure the stability of this role which is highly valued by the community.
2003 | Skate Ramps project – original all-timber structure
Facilities for young people was one of the future wishes which emerged from the Community Appraisal in 2001, and the installation of skate ramp equipment in Blossoms Park was a project which followed-up. The rising popularity of skateboarding had seen ad hoc jumps and ramps appearing in car parks as young people aimed to develop their skills. Wooden riding surface was requested in consultation, and the Town Council provided a purpose built all-in-one facility on a former tennis court at the park on Mill Hill.
2005 | Relief Road completed – opening event: Parade of Transport
Traffic queueing to get through the narrow Edenbridge High Street had long been a local complaint (as far back as the mid-1940s it was reported there was “too much traffic” and a by-pass was needed). Proposals by County and District councils came and went as time passed and costs increased, but residents’ wishes were finally fulfilled in 2005 with the completion of the Relief Road – named Mont St Aignan Way after the twin town.
The Town Council organised a formal opening event with a parade of transport through the decades. First down the new road was an ancient bicycle, followed by a stream of motor vehicles provided by local owners, ranging from vintage and classic cars, to racing cars from John Surtees’ team and a finale of big construction vehicles from the company which built the road. At the south end of town the parade turned north and passed up the High Street for more people to share the spectacle.
2005| First FairTrade Town recognition
Gaining Fairtrade Town status was a milestone for Edenbridge, being in the first small group of five Kent communities given that recognition. The town had a Fairtrade supporting group for years previously, staging regular sales of goods fairly traded. The commitment of key businesses and organisations, including the Town Council, to use/sell Fairtrade products earned the Fairtrade Town status. The recognition was renewed five years later in 2010, and the 10th anniversary celebrated with a street party in the High Street in 2015 – by which time Fairtrade principles had become more widely accepted generally across the country.
Edenbridge Town Council : 2006 to 2015 – coming soon
Edenbridge Town Council : 2016 to 2025 – coming soon
