Beechcroft signs 'The Twitch Inn' at Douces Manor over to West Malling Parish Council.

Representatives of West Malling Parish Council, The Malling Society and Beechcroft Developments gathered at Douces Manor in West Malling to witness the signing of the lease for ‘The Twitch Inn.'

Built in the 18th century, Douces Manor is an elegant, manor house set within 12 acres of parkland.  Specialist developer, Beechcroft, has converted the original house into six stunning apartments and built a further 18 new homes in the courtyard behind the house.  

During World War II, when Douces Manor served as an RAF officers' mess for pilots flying out of West Malling airfield, the airmen created a cellar bar, named The Twitch Inn because of the nervous affliction suffered by pilots constantly on the lookout for enemy aircraft.  

 This cellar bar was frequented by air-aces of the day, including Group Captain John ‘Cat's Eyes' Cunningham and Wing Commander Guy Gibson, who won the Victoria Cross for his part in the ‘Dambusters' raid on Germany.  

 During the restoration of Douces Manor, Beechcroft employed specialist craftsmen to repair damage to the candle soot ‘graffiti,' including signatures and cartoons, which adorn the walls and ceilings of the bar.

The Twitch Inn has now been designated as a Heritage Centre by the Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council and will be let to the Parish Council on a peppercorn rent for 125 years. 

Managed by the Malling Society, it will be open up to 20 times a year and currently fund-raising is being planned to enable the Heritage Centre to be fitted out to display artefacts currently in the possession of the Malling Society, including Guy Gibson's uniform. 

  Beechcroft Developments has already committed up to £5,000 to get the fund-raising off to a flying start.

Trudy Dean, Chairman of West Malling Parish Council,  Keith Bullard, Parish Councillor and Chris Thompson, Managing Director of Beechcroft, signed the lease in the presence of Mike Bowyer-Jones, Parish Councillor, Carole D'Silva, Clerk to the Parish Council, Mark Worrall, Chairman of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, Bernard Tyson, Chairman of the Malling Society, John Lander, Vice Chairman of the Malling Society, Molly Potts, historian and Kevin Feeney, Technical Director for Beechcroft Developments.

It is hoped that the Twitch Inn will be ready in time to host a special celebration on Remembrance Sunday, 9th November 2008, to mark the 90th anniversary of the formation of the RAF.

For further information on Douces Manor or Beechcroft Developments, please visit the website on www.beechcroft.co.uk.  Anyone interested in becoming involved with the fund raising or eventually manning of the Twitch Inn should contact the Parish Council on 01732 870872 or email Carole D'Silva on carole.wmpc@btconnect.com.