Super sleuths wanted

EVER since the crown sign in Edenbridge was discovered missing last month there has been a lot of finger-pointing across town as residents, local organisations and business representatives try and piece together the intriguing mystery.

I thought I would head out to gauge local opinion on where the rare sign could be.

MAGNIFYING THE PROBLEM: Courier reporter Jessica Thompson has taken on The Case Of The Missing Crown SL2502102_3
Courier reporter Jessica Thompson is on the hunt for the missing Edenbridge Crown. She is pictured with Edenbridge Museum curator Joan Varley. SL2502102/7
Courier reporter Jessica Thompson is on the hunt for the missing Edenbridge Crown. SL2502102/4
CURIOUS: Edenbridge Museum curator Joan Varley is quizzed
Courier reporter Jessica Thompson is on the hunt for the missing Edenbridge Crown. SL2502102/2
PUBLICAN POSERS: Jessica questions Crown landlord Mike De Gouveia SL2502102_6
HUNTING FOR CLUES: Jessica interrogates Terry Farrington of T E Farrington antiques SL250210_5
WHERE HAS IT GONE? The old sign that used to hang above Edenbridge High Street Eden Valley Museum Trust

My first port of call was T E Farrington where I was given a handy magnifying glass to aid me on my hunt.

Shop owner, Terry Farrington, said: "I do remember it but I have not heard anything about what happened to it. I know it hasn't been tracked down yet."

My next stop was the Crown Inn itself, from which the sign used to hang.

It has now been replaced with a shiny new model worth £1,000 thanks to the Edenbridge Chamber of Commerce.

Crown landlord Mike De Gouveia took time out of his busy shift to talk to me.

He said: "I think a local authority took it down when the pub was refurbished ages ago.

"The sign is very rare. I think there are only two like it in the country."

The publican's verdict is similar to many in the town, some of whom think it was brought down when the Christmas lights were put up one year and simply never returned.

The Eden Valley Museum seemed like a good place to go next. There I found curator Joan Varley.

"The only evidence we have of it now is pictures," she said.

"I think it is a vital part of Edenbridge's history, it is only one of two as far as I know.

"It is quite rare to have a sign like that. It would be nice if we could find it."

Despite missing the old sign, Mrs Varley praised the chamber for having the initiative to buy a new one.

"The only activity that happens up there is when the Christmas lights are put up," she said.

Chamber chairman Peter Bolton pointed the finger at the town council, saying there is documented evidence that they took the sign down as part of a refurbishment some years ago.

But deputy clerk Kathy Staff told me she had "no idea" where it was, and that the town council was not involved in any way.

The mystery continues...

Do you know where the crown sign is? Let us know at www.thisiskent.co.uk/edenbridge