Hughenden Reach

Sculptural seating to celebrate rich papermaking history

FrancisKnight were appointed by Maidstone Borough Council to project manage a public art commission in association with the Town & Country Group. Hughenden Reach is a 4-year old development of riverside apartments made up of private rental and social housing in Tovil, Maidstone.  The commission was funded through S106 contributions.   

Town & Country Group is a housing association who provide more than 9,000 affordable homes in 22 local authority areas in Kent, Sussex, Surrey and London.   

Artist Jason Mulligan was commissioned to produce a sculptural seat that has been placed in a communal gardens at the development.  Jason ran a workshop with residents and took part in a family day as the seat was unveiled.    

This new public artwork celebrates the history of the areas associated with paper making in Kent, with several of its most renowned paper mills situated in close proximity to the River Medway in Tovil.  Ragstone and Portland Limestone were incorporated into the final design with the small origami boat carved from a block of Portland Limestone.