Higham Park: Difference between revisions
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In January 1922 Louis, his wife Vi, Gallop and Pixi Marix together with a couple of mechanics took Chitty Bang Bang and the White Mercedes across the [[Mediterranean]] for a drive into the [[Sahara Desert]], in the tracks of [[Citroen]]'s kegresse expedition. |
In January 1922 Louis, his wife Vi, Gallop and Pixi Marix together with a couple of mechanics took Chitty Bang Bang and the White Mercedes across the [[Mediterranean]] for a drive into the [[Sahara Desert]], in the tracks of [[Citroen]]'s kegresse expedition. |
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Zborowski joined the [[Mercedes-Benz in motorsport|Mercedes-Bez]] team in 1924, but while driving in the [[Italian Grand Prix]] that year, hit a tree and instantly died. He was just 29 years old. |
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==Hospital== |
==Hospital== |
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Revision as of 13:21, 3 March 2012
Higham Park' is an estate and house located at Bridge, Kent, 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Canterbury.
History
The basis of Higham Park was formed from 1320, when the lands were ceded to the De Hegham family by Edward II. Higham Park has also been frequented by the rich and famous including Mozart, Jane Austen, General Charles de Gaulle and royalty.
Louis Zborowski
In the 1920s, Higham was home to racing driver Count Louis Vorrow Zborowski, who with engineer Clive Gallop designed and built the first aero-engine powered racing cars on the estate, later immortalised in Ian Fleming's fantasy film 'Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang.
Setting up an engineering works in the stables, Zborowski ad Gallop designed and built four racing cars. The first car was powered by a 23,093 cc six-cylinder Maybach aero engine and called "Chitty Bang Bang".[1] A second "Chitty Bang Bang" was poweered by 18,882 Benz aero engine. A third car was based on a Mercedes 28/95, but fitted with a 14,778 cc 6-cylinder Mercedes aero engine and was referred to as The White Mercedes. These cars achieved some success at Brooklands.
Another car, also built at Higham Park with a huge 27-litre aero engine, was called the "Higham Special" and later "Babs" and was used in J.G. Parry-Thomas's fatal attempt for the land speed record at Pendine Sands in 1927.
In January 1922 Louis, his wife Vi, Gallop and Pixi Marix together with a couple of mechanics took Chitty Bang Bang and the White Mercedes across the Mediterranean for a drive into the Sahara Desert, in the tracks of Citroen's kegresse expedition.
Zborowski joined the Mercedes-Bez team in 1924, but while driving in the Italian Grand Prix that year, hit a tree and instantly died. He was just 29 years old.
Hospital
During World War 2, like many other hrand country estates the house was reqrisitioned, used as a British Army hospital. It remained serving as a hospital post-War, until it was closed in 1981.
Renovation
In 1995, the house and surrounding 25 acres (10 ha) of grounds were bought by Barry Gibb, his mother Patricia and Amanda Harris-Deans.[2] They began an ongoing renovation of the virtually derelict estate, but by the mid-2000s the majority of the works were complete.
The house and gardens are today used for private functions, and open occasionally to the public.
References
- ^ David Paine (August 2008). "The Zborowski Inheritance".
- ^ "Higham Park". gardens-to-go.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-03-03.