The Volunteers Memorial

A sunny day in Mote Park in Maidstone wandering around taking photos of the participants at an informal orienteering event.  In the distance is the Volunteers Memorial which looks better from afar because unfortunately it is a poor state of repair. In fact if I had been closer it would qualify for Derelict Sunday

This is the story behind the memorial if you are interested :- The memorial was erected as a memorial to Lord Romney, Lord Lieutenant of the County, by the Kentish Volunteers.  
On August 1st 1799 the 5,000 men of the Volunteer Brigades assembled in Mote Park to show their loyalty to Lord Romney. In addition to the troops 20,000 spectators had turned out to catch a glimpse of George III and Queen Charlotte. As they entered the park guns were fired and the review of the troops commenced. Then the Royal party retired to a marquee to receive an address from the Corporation,after which Lord Romney served a huge feast of 60 lambs, 700 fowls, 300 hams, 220 dishes of beef, 220 meat pies, 220 joints of veal and 220 fruit pies.  The next day there was enough food left over to hand out to 600 starving Maidstonians