Still paying the rent after 252 years
Published: 07 July 2025
Cricketers, Councillors, Lord Sackville and a small audience gathered on The Vine on Saturday morning to perform the peppercorn rent payment to enable the citizens of Sevenoaks to play cricket there. It’s been going since 1773 when the third Duke of Dorset gave the field to Sevenoaks on condition that it’s used for cricket, and in exchange for a peppercorn and a cricket ball.
To keep Sevenoaks most spectacular urban open space safe for the town:
- The Vine Cricket Club pays rent of a peppercorn
- Sevenoaks Town Council hands over a cricket ball.
Photo of peppercorn rent ceremony with Hugo Tudor - Chairman of Sevenoaks Vine Cricket Club, Lord Sackville and Mayor of Sevenoaks Cllr Clayton
This first gift of green space to Sevenoaks set off two centuries of others which have shaped the town. In the 19th and 20th centuries ;
- Lord Hillingdon gave the Quaker's Hall Lane Allotments to the town
- The Thompson family gave Kippington Meadow and land for affordable homes
- Henry Swaffield gave Vine Gardens, as well as a library in The Drive
- Francis Swanzy gave half the money to buy Hollybush Rec from Sevenoaks School, and build the bowls club
- The developers of Bradbourne estate handed over Bradbourne Lakes and park
- Joan Constant gave the Upper High Street garden, as well as land to extend Rockdale Village.
The tradition was renewed in 2024, when citizens of Sevenoaks came together to give over £100,000 to buy Longspring Wood, on Sevenoaks Common, to enable the Town Council to safeguard public access for the future.
It’s extraordinary how much of our town was given by local people - and great that it's still going on.
Cllr Tony Clayton
Mayor of Sevenoaks