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Gallery
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Beechlands Close is an attractive sloping road of 14 semi-detached bungalows, nestling under Hartley Wood, numbered 1-15 (odd) and 2-12 (even). They were built in 1963 on the site of Gorsewood House, Gorse Way, which was sited approximately where the front garden of number 13 is today. It is clearly a very pleasant road to live, as houses here seem to change hands less often than elsewhere. Historically the land was part of the Hartley Court estate, which was acquired in 1913 by Small Owners Limited. They sold the site of Gorse Way and Beechlands Close to May Symons in 1923. According to Charles Ellerby, she and her husband Hedley kept pigs and also owned Hartley Woods, where they sold wood for pit props in the First World War. In 1934 she sold the land to the Fawkham Development Company Limited. The company was run by George and Rosalie Mainprize, who lived at Gorsewood House. By 1962 Gorsewood House had been purchased by the Dartford builders, J H Brewster Limited. They applied to demolish the house and build 20 bungalows (application TH/5/62/257), being Beechlands Close and additional properties facing Gorse Way. The council thought that was excessive, as their policy was to allow no more than 18 people per acre here. Eventually both sides agreed on 19 houses. Links
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