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Manor Park Country Park

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Manor Park Country Park is a country park in West Malling, Kent, England. The 52acre park, formerly the private gardens of the nearby Douces Manor was purchased from the manor's owners by Kent County Council in 1973 to be converted into a public open space. The park is legally protected as public recreational land in perpetuity by Fields in Trust as part of the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge.HistoryThis Country park was bought by Kent County Council, in 1973 by using a grant aid from the Countryside Commission. The site covers 52acre, part of which was the estate of the nearby 18th Century Manor House. The Grade Listed II building (formerly owned by Thomas Augustus Douce) is opposite the park (across St. Leonard's Street). It was still within the Douce family hands, until 1916, when the manor was bought by the Trustees of Fredrick Andrews to convert it into a convalscent home for ladies. The house was then used in the Second World War to accommodate airmen and was used as the headquarters and Mess for officers flying from the nearby RAF West Malling Airfield. Inside the Georgian wine cellar (of the house), 'the Twitch Inn' was established. This was so named because of all the nervous tics caused by constantly looking out for enemy aircraft, of the pilots. Names of the pilots are still etched on the walls of the cellar. Many famous air aces have frequented Douces Manor, including ‘Sailor’ Moran, Stanford Tuck, Guy Gibson (a Dambusters pilot) and Wing Commander John ‘Cats Eyes’ Cunningham (a top RAF night-flight pilot) with his navigator Jimmy Rawnsley. The Twitch Inn is now designated as a Heritage Centre by the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council and is let to the Parish Council on a peppercorn rent for 125 years. The centre opens up to 20 times a year and displays artefacts currently in the possession of the Malling Society, including Guy Gibson's uniform. Beechcroft Developments (current owners of Douces Manor) donated up to £5,000 to get the fund-raising for the heritage centre.

Address: St. Leonards St, West Malling ME19 6PE, UK
Phone: 0300 041 4747
State: Kent
City: West Malling
Zip Code: ME19 6PE


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Reviews
It is a really beautiful little park with a crystal clear river running through it a café and toilets and lots of walking trails
The park is fine however I received a penalty notice from Eurocar parks stating I haven't paid for parking which in fact i did. I've made an appeal and still rejected my claim despite showing evidence that payment was made successfully via the bank statement. So if I was you, if you want to go to the park the I would park your vehicle away from the site or go somewhere else.
This is a lovely place for all the family. Dog walkers, families with small kids, walkers alike. The country park is 52 acres and is located right at the end of West Malling high street, the entrance to the car park being opposite the St Leonard Tower. A fair sized car park with pay and display or use of the Ringo parking app. Charges £2 a day Mon to Friday, £3 weekends and bank holidays. Up from the car park is the cafe which serves food and hot drinks at reasonable prices. Seating provided under cover and in the open - additional umbrellas too. The site map board is right by the cafe and the cafe also has toilets for public use. The park itself has a children’s play area, climbing frames, swings etc, all surrounded by a fence. There is a large grassed field which was cut and well maintained. Plenty of room for playing games with the kids or throwing the ball for the dog. The park asks that dogs are kept under close control - doesn’t say must be on leads - though they prefer leads by the lake where the ducks, coots and swans live. The cafe also sells bird food to feed the ducks with. Plenty of directed walks around the site. One goes alongside the lake and we were able to walk the length and see the ducks and their ducklings as well as the nesting swan in the reeds. A walk around the perimeter of the whole site took about 25 minutes and was about 1.5 km. Easy walking, purpose paths and groomed meadow paths. Really serene and enjoyable walk, not so many people walking around the further meadow paths, more around the play park and lake. Lovely views around the Kent countryside. A country park well worth visiting. Has everything for a family day out, a dog walk or an afternoon country stroll with a coffee and s sake at the end. One of Kent’s best.
Manor Park Country Park - 25/02/2018nnMaybe the closest country park to a town I have visited. Walking distance from West Malling high street, sits this all rounder of a country park. Plenty of parking, particularly on this sunny but cold winter day. A lovely stroll around the field found. Then this little stream lead us all the way to the lake at the side of the round into town. A great place for a quiet Sunday walk.nnThe Good;nGreat little care of site.nToilets.nGood access walkaways.nNice little park near cafe.nnThe Bad;nExact change for parking £2 on Sundays. £1.30 during week.nCafe couldn't give change for car park.nMuddy in the winter away from the walkaways.
A nice visit to the park today. Its a beautiful area, a great walk around the lake and a big play area for the kids. But £3 is a bit much for parking and most of the benches were feeling very wobbly.
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