Mystery Stained Glass Panel – Wheatsheaf Pub, Hever Road , Bough Beech , Kent

On a recent trip to Kent, one of our members called into the Wheatsheaf, and spotted Mounted in the wall behind the bar, a 20” square panel of leaded glass. It is the 600 Squadron AAF Crest. It is illuminated from behind.

The owner of the pub said;

“We found the panel last year when we were renovating the pub, it was such an interesting piece that we decided to have it professionally repaired and to use it as an illuminated centre piece for the bar. I am afraid that I don’t have any more information about the window but would be very interested to know more about its history.

We will be delighted to offer a warm welcome to any members of your Association who would like to come and see it, the Wheatsheaf is a beautiful old pub which dates back to the 14th century and is reputed to be the former hunting lodge for Heaver Castle”.

Given it is an AAF (Auxiliary Air Force) window, referring to 600 as a Bomber Squadron (600 Squadron formed 14 October 1925 as a unit of the AAF and designated a Day Bomber Squadron, and remained so right through until we moved to a Fighter Squadron designation in July 1934), this puts the panel somewhere in between.

So, does anyone have any idea as to its origin?

Please let us know……….