Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake

Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake (1881-1964)

Garrard was born in Maidstdone on 22 May 1881, the only child of Hugh William Tyrwhitt-Drake and his wife Anne Hopper. He was educated at Charterhouse School and married Edna Mary Vine in 1925.

Garrard was 12 times the Mayor of Maidstone and also High Sheriff of Kent from 1956-57. He had been an honorary Freeman of the borough since 1930 and was knighted in 1936 for his political and public services to Kent.

Sir Garrard lived at Cobtree Manor where he used part of the estate to house his private zoo - the largest in the country. His magnificent collection included lions, tigers, bears and elephants.

He also began collecting carriages after realising that the horse-drawn vehicles of his childhood were being driven off the road by the rise in popularity of the motor car. His energy and enthusiasm led to the establishment of the Carriage Museum that bears his name, which opened in 1946.

Sir Garrard was undoubtedly a major benefactor to the town, as he also donated the buildings of the College of All Saints in 1950. Since he and his wife had no children, he later established the Cobtree Charity Trust to ensure the grounds of Cobtree Manor would be used for the benefit of the people of Maidstone and surrounding areas.