Dartford marks Wellcome connection

18 November 2010

The town of Dartford’s connections with Sir Henry Wellcome began in 1890, when he moved his pharmaceutical business’s production base to a site there.

Now, the town has commemorated these links by erecting a bandstand, which, after public consultation, has been named after Wellcome.

Part of Dartford Borough Council's plans to regenerate the town's Central Park and restore it to its Edwardian splendour, the new bandstand is situated close to Acacia Hall, which for many years served as a site for social events for employees of the Wellcome business. With Wellcome Trust assistance, the bandstand played host to a series of traditional concerts over the summer.

On 24 August it was the setting for a ceremony to mark the historic connection between Dartford and the Wellcome business. A time capsule, which contained items pertaining to both Henry Wellcome and Dartford, was buried beneath the bandstand. Attendees included staff from GSK (formed by the merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham in 2000) and Ross MacFarlane, representing the Trust.

Image: Dartford Borough Council. Credit: Wellcome Images.