Looming Over The Thirsty Pig

Today's image is of Ye Old Thirsty Pig pub in Maidstone. It is affectionately known as just "The Pig" by the locals and is a traditional ale house with a wealth of massive timber beams, sloping floors and curious nooks and crannies. It has low ceilings downstairs but upstairs they are high and vaulted. There have even been reports of ghostly hauntings!
It was originally a farmhouse and was believed to have been part of the estate of the nearby Archbishop's Palace and could very possibly be the oldest building in the town - having been constructed between 1430 and 1440.
It sits on the corner of Lower Stone Street and Knightrider Street - a point at which two ancient thoroughfares meet and would have been the beginning of a settlement in the Middle Ages.
I loved the juxtaposition between all the history of "The Pig" and the modern high rise buildings looming over it in the background.
There is a much more serious aspect to this shot. The nearest high rise in the image is called Miller Heights - an 122 apartment block, converted from offices, which is one of many buildings in the country embroiled in the cladding scandal following the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower. It has been beset with problems after fire safety concerns were raised following a report for the-then freeholder in August last year.
The report stated that cavity barriers are missing throughout the building with one section being described as "like a chimney" which "has the potential spread fire unhindered to any level".
It has left flat owners in complete limbo - either rightly very concerned over their own safety or unable to sell as they wait to hear whether the government will pay for the repairs urgently needed.
It is utterly scandalous that our government has failed to deal with this in any appropriate way whatsoever and refused to compensate the majority of affected flat owners accordingly, leaving a large percentage to foot the entire bill for safety repairs - which has led to some residents having no option but to declare bankruptcy when they do not have the necessary funds. A suitable compensation package was actually voted down by Tory MP's. This should bring shame on our government.