insideKENT Magazine Issue 32 - November 2014 | Page 28

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
RAF roundel with slang used by pilots in World War II

Peter Hall and Wendy Smitherman
Brass rubbing roundel featuring one of the
planes that flew from RAF West Malling

Seating roundel featuring community memories and stories

NEW ARTWORKS BRING HISTORY
ALIVE AT KINGS HILL
A SERIES OF AMBITIOUS NEW ARTWORKS HAVE BEEN UNVEILED IN KINGS HILL,
BRINGING THE VILLAGE'S PAST ALIVE AND MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE TO THE YOUNGER
GENERATION, NEW RESIDENTS, WORKERS AND VISITORS ALIKE.
Centered on the iconic Art Deco Control Tower,
the artworks comprise of 12 brass reliefs, 11 of
which feature planes that were stationed at Kings
Hill back when it was RAF West Malling during
World War II. In addition, the final relief is of the
Magical Mystery Tour bus, which marks the day
The Beatles filmed at the airfield. These brass
reliefs can be taken as brass rubbings, allowing
children of all ages to engage with the history
that makes Kings Hill unique.
In front of, and behind the newly refurbished
Control Tower, are large roundels embedded in
the ground. One of these features slang used
by World War II pilots, and the other – which
incorporates bespoke seating – contains
anecdotes and memories provided by those who
lived and worked onsite when it was an airfield.
Blighty, Brew Up and Tiggerty-Boo are three of
the 24 slang words featured in the roundels, and
now adopted into the vocabulary of locals.
Word trails with stories, quotes and ideas
provided by the community have been set in
bronze and embedded into the area around
Liberty Square. They include inspirational poetry
about flight written by the children of Kings Hill,
and memories of the airfield provided by veterans.

Called Kings Hill…A Place of Landings, the
artworks were commissioned by Kings Hill
developer, Liberty Property Trust UK, and Kent
County Council. This follows recommendations
set out in Kings Hill’s culture and placemaking
strategy written by curators, Futurecity, with
designs by artist Richard Wolfstrome.
Peter Hall, local historian and author of By
Day & By Night; The Men and Machines of West
Malling Airfield 1940-1960, unveiled the artworks
on Friday 5th September to a crowd of more
than 200 locals and VIPs. Peter also fact checked
all historical references that were included in the
artworks.
Speaking at the unveiling, John Simmonds,
deputy leader of Kent County Council, said that
the artworks provide a true sense of place, which
sets Kings Hill apart from other developments.
He explained: “Public artwork has significantly
contributed towards the highly aspirational new
community we see today, and which has been
recognised nationally as best practice in
placemaking and new community creation.
“All of these achievements flow from the
combined efforts of Liberty’s proven delivery
abilities and Kent County Council’s long-term
strategic thinking by promoting regeneration and

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economic growth policies. Kings Hill is a garden
village, demonstrating the benefits of an excellent
and well-balanced public/private sector
collaboration.”
The artworks are part of Liberty’s broader
cultural strategy to place art and culture at the
heart of the Kings Hill community, to engender
pride in the surroundings, and to engage the
public and create a sense of place.
Mark Davy, founder of Futurecity, said: “We
believe in galleri es without walls; places where
ambitious artworks are available free for new
audiences. This commission offers residents,
workers and visitors to Kings Hill a chance to
engage and interpret the amazing history and
heritage of this former RAF frontline airfield,
through contemporary art of a scale usually found
only in our major cities.”
Kings Hill, a contemporary garden village,
is set in 800 acres near the county town of
Maidstone and is just two miles from junction 4
of the M20. It was a former airfield and is now
home to around 8,000 residents and more than
200 businesses employing some 5,000 people.
For more information, visit www.kings-hill.com.