The Church of St. Mary's © P.E. Blanche (See next page for details)

The Village of Patrixbourne consists of a small collection of cottages which are in beautiful condition and were built in the 19th Century for employees on the Bifrons estate owned at that time by the Conyngham family. There are carvings on the cottages that were said to have perhaps been copied from those on older buildings at Lady Wotton's Green in Canterbury which were unfortunately destroyed by bombing during WWII. Although Bifrons is no more, just outside the Village is the Highland Court Estate which is really as close to Bridge as it is to Patrixbourne.

Highland Court Estate has as it's centre-piece, Higham House. Although it could be believed to be Georgian or early Victorian, it was in fact built in 1904 for Count Louis Zobrowski, the racing driver who owned the 'Chitty Bang Bang' and 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', two cars which were actually powered by Zeppelin engines. (Perhaps Nigel could use one of those now!) He held the land speed record in 1921 but was unfortunately killed in the Grand Prix at Monza in 1923. He had his own 15 inch gauge railway line running around the Estate which was the forerunner of the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway (to see the information on this railway, click here) which he started with Captain J.E.P. (Jack) Howey. In fact, the two first trains for the Railway were ordered by Count Zobrowski but were not completed before his untimely death. The Count also had a strange fascination with explosives. He used to have small houses built on the Estate and would then pack them with explosives and blow them up! (Well, what else would you do with a house packed with explosives). Sometimes, on dark nights the "Chitty Bang Bang" can be still be heard driving up to the front of the House. It stops for a moment as if someone is getting out, turns around and then drives back down the driveway out onto the old A2 to Dover. Considering the circumstances of his death, this "ghostly" sound is hardly surprising and has actually been heard by a member of my family. (However, the Count is not buried in the area but at Burton Lazars in Leicestershire as was his Father before him). There is also a room at the back of the house, known as "The Green Room" where the doors fly open at the same time as the car stops, even if they are locked! There is also meant to be another ghost in the house called "The Grey Lady" but I know few details of this apparition.

Back in the Village at St. Mary's Church there is a particularly fine 'display' of 16th and 17th glass depicting Swiss scenes including a panel of 'Pyramus and Thisbe' by the Bernese workman, Hans Funk and another of 'St. John the Evangelist and Elizabeth of Hungary' by the Lucerne glass painter, Martin Moser. It is said that the only better church glass in Kent is at Barfreston.

See also: The Church of St. Mary, Patrixbourne

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