HETAS approved Master Chimney sweep - Southborough, Kent, TN4

Southborough’s local chimney sweep is James the Sweep. When it comes to inspecting chimney flues, woodburners, open fires and gas fires; alongside sweeping chimneys and clearing birds’ nests – James is the go-to master sweep for the town. That is why he’s known as the Southborough sweep most highly rated by local residents. James advises customers on fire risks and safe burning methods and he also issues Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps certificates of sweeping, which are useful for household insurance. James is well-known by residents and he has been sweeping chimneys in the town for more than 20 years. Southborough is a wonderful town, located near Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent. It is rightly placed within the High Weald of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Cricket has been played in Southborough for more than 200 years and cricket balls were first made in the town in 1853.

The 71-acre Southborough Common, in the centre of the town and where cricket has been played for the past 200 years, is owned by Southborough Town Council. The land originally included another 30 acres but this was closed off in the 1790-to-1810 period. The twinning link is another interest in Southborough. It was officially confirmed on October 18 1992 between the town and Lambersart in the Nord department of northern France. Southborough and Lambersart maintain friendship ties with mutual ties and exchange visits for the purposes of culture and education. An interesting nugget of info: Lambersart Close in Southborough’s Barnetts Wood housing estate is named after the French town. Southborough also has close ties with Kaniv in Ukraine and the Southborough and Kaniv Association was founded in 2005.

Southborough was once part of the urban layout in Tonbridge. An official separation occurred in 1871 when Southborough created an independent board of health. Then a council authority was established and the area became an urban district. This authority was converted to civil parish status in 1974 but Southborough also had its own town council. Southborough in the current day retains a solid link to the borough of Tunbridge Wells where James the Sweep also sweeps chimneys. This is due to the location just to the north of T Wells. Southborough also maintains good connections with nearby areas, Speldhurst and Bidborough, as well as Tonbridge and Tonbridge Wells (as aforementioned, or rather Royal Tunbridge Wells to use the town’s official name).

The history of Southborough’s Royal Victoria Hall Theatre in Southborough is an ongoing narrative. The hall was erected in 1900, to honour Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, joining-in with nationwide celebrations in honour of the Monarch. It was the first municipal theatre in Britain at the time but not listed due to alterations later made in the 1970s. The building was intended for demolition, causing an outcry amongst some Southborough residents. At least, that was the announcement made after a performance of Peter Pan in 2015. Yet there has been an interesting development with plans recently made known to create a Southborough Hub instead. The new hub would allow for a number of dramatic performances and other facilities too such as a GP surgery, and a cafe as well.  The story is ongoing but whatever the outcome, Southborough residents are rightly proud of where they live and there is an active interest in the local community, to keep arts and culture alive.

There’s a lovely balance of busyness and space in Southborough. You’ll often see James the Sweep’s van on one of the roads, as he tootles off for another chimney sweeping appointment. Road names are rather intriguing what with Doric Avenue, Garlinge Road, Draper Street and Fernhurst Crescent alongside the most stoutly named Castle Street, Sheffield Road, Park Road and Vicarage Road. The London Road A26 runs through Southborough, turning a corner at Southfields Park and then venturing beyond Pennington Grounds and Southborough Common, before veering east past Bidborough and heading straight up to Tonbridge. Victoria Road is a longer stretch, just outside the urban layout, ending in Gainsbury, parallel to Holden Road. Pennington Road heads east in the other direction, also a long route, coming to a stop not far from Ivy House Farm. Constitutional Hill Road is another unusually named street, coming off from the half-circular Church Road.

Iron was a main commodity for trade in Southborough for many years. Two furnaces, using water as a power source, were based in the town’s two streams for the purposes of proceessing the product. One of these was at Southborough Borne and the other at Modest Corner. The furnaces were first set up in the 16th century and carried on until the 18th century when trade petered out. Manufacturing in the form of gunpower then took over in 1771 and a cornmill was also put on the site, until it stopped working in 1942. These industries gave residents employment in Southborough but other trades included textiles, agriculture, and cottage industries such as blacksmithing and the making of harnesses. Chimney sweeping is a more specialised trade, which is why most residents call upon the professional sweeping services of James the Sweep.

Southborough was once called the ‘chief abode of the visitors of [Tunbridge Wells]’. The comment was made by John Marius Wilson in the informative tome, ‘Imperial Gazetter of the England and Wales’, in 1870. He described Southborough as being a village ‘and a chapelry’, which was ‘constituted’ in 1831 within the parish of Tunbridge in Kent, as well as having a post office. There was a population of 2,038 with 424 houses. Properties were subdivided into areas such as Broom Hill, Bounds Park, and Bentham Hill. The local church had five trustees and there was a smaller church constructed in 1861, as well as Wesleyan chapel, and school and a library.

James the Sweep is the Master Chimney Sweep for Southborough. He is the go-to chimney sweep for the Southborough area. Residents recommend his services and his experience, built-up over 20 years in the trade, is appreciated by property owners. James is a member of the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps and other trade organisations such as HETAS. Southborough residents who need chimneys sweeping appreciate the hard work of James. His highly regarded reputation has been gained by tenacious dedication to the task at hand: displaying sheer professionalism and reliability. From the moment he knocks on a door to sweep a chimney in Southborough, to the moment he leaves (with no soot or mess behind), James offers an A to Z service, which meets the highest of industry standards. That’s why James is the Southborough chimney sweep for residents. He always gets the job done well.

Pennington Grounds

Pennington Grounds is a beautiful recreation ground, popular with families, which is located off Pennington Road and London Road. It’s an ideal pleasure spot for people to gather and take some time off, using the splendid free facilities. That includes a children’s play area encompassing tennis, basketball and volleyball, a climbing net, crazy golf, and table tennis outdoors. A gym set-up is also free to use, and also outdoors, which is available from 8am to dusk each day.

Looking for a chimney sweep in Southborough? James the Sweep is available in Southborough and surrounding area.

-James The Chimney Sweep

Chimney Sweep Working in Southborough