Seal
A Centre of International Intrigue!
Bright yellow daffodils growing in wild abandon along the roadsides around Seal are a welcome sight at this time of year, they signal the end of the bleak winter months and the start of spring. Even on a dismal grey day daffodils radiate sunshine casting a golden glow even in the shadiest recess. Even without the spring flowers Seal is a little village that manages to fulfil every unrealistic fantasy that city dwellers have of the countryside. Set as it is amongst a stunning pastoral idyll, you will not find ugly flat pack housing estates destroying the scenic vistas just ancient cottages that once provided shelter for poor agricultural labourers and are now much sought after homes of affluent city workers.
The village can be found located in a valley between the North Downs and the Greensand Ridge. The village is also contained within the protected Green Belt and the area as a whole is considered to be of considerable landscape value hence it is further protected as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Seal developed along the Old Saxon road from Maidstone to Winchester which today is alleviated from the heavy demands of traffic to some extent by the construction of the M26. The settlement grew up around the 600 yr old church of St Peter and St Paul around a village green of which only two small green fragments remain. Don’t be fooled by the outward appearance of some of the village buildings, they are much older than is immediately apparent having been enhanced by a 16th century makeover, in fact one of their number, known as the “Grumbles” was a place of rest for 14th century pilgrims!
A group of buildings and a church may constitute a village but in truth a village as it grows assumes an identity of its own. A village such as Seal takes on the very soul of the humans that have loved and died within it, but doesn’t outwardly mirror their excesses! On the surface it appears peaceful and mellow having acquired the patina that only time can give but as with most things in life appearances can be deceptive. Set amongst a peaceful pastoral idyll it is difficult to believe that one of its former residents and a vicar at that was involved in international intrigue. Thomas Theobald was eyes and ears of Henry VIII!
Spying on neighbouring countries is nothing new, whether the information is used for the purpose of building good relationships or subverting a foreign regime. During the reign of the Tudors the art of diplomacy (a word that incorporated spying as well!) was formalised and the framework for the modern day role of ambassadors was initiated. It was Henry VII who made the decision for the formation of a national network of spies and he decided that the best choice of spymaster general was someone who wouldn’t rouse too many suspicions; a churchman called Morton! He was given carte blanche to develop a secret service that would report to the king alone! Morton would advise the king during secret meetings, no one else was involved not even Parliament was aware of what was going on. The secret service as we know it had begun!
During the reign of his son, Henry VIII the concept of information gathering was intensified. Henry VIII was lucky enough to have in his employ a person who was to become known as the “Prince of Darkness”, Thomas Cromwell. He was a man who had used his wits, despite being humble in origin to ascend the greasy pole of power and influence with ease! He became Henry VIII's chief minister; and went on to become one of the most ruthless and powerful ministers ever to dominate the politics of this country. His mastery of the black arts of spin and propaganda make modern day government “spin doctors” seem almost amateur in comparison! Flattery, patronage and sudden betrayal were his main tools of the trade but he couldn’t do this without an efficient spy network. He was in charge of a group of people that was the nearest thing a 16th-century regime could get to the Stasi. Unfortunately it couldn’t always be said that he was working for the greater good of his country and even revelled in the torture of his enemies; one of the most unfortunate was Anne Boleyn who was beheaded because of trumped up charges of adultery!
It was into this arena that Thomas Theobald entered. He was very well educated for the time having studied at Eton and then at Cambridge University. Thomas had the ideal cover for an information gatherer or spy as we now call them for he was the vicar of Kemsing and Seal.
He was unlikely to have been a success as a vicar for his other secretive employment necessitated frequent trips to the continent. He was very well travelled as his information gathering took place in most of the major countries in Europe including France, Italy, Germany and Belgium.
These days the natives of the countries that Thomas spied upon are very likely to visit this quintessential English village themselves. Seal has been and continues to be a hive of activity, with a plentiful supply of would be residents keen to live in such an idyllic environment the future looks rosy
copyright© Wendy Stevenson 2011
Can you help? Contact us if you know the history of a town or village in Kent near you. We're also looking for Photographs of Kent, submit online
Comment about this article: editorial@wikikent.co.uk
|
