If most of us wanted to mark a birthday, we might book lunch or buy ourselves something nice. Ann Thwaytes helped give Herne Bay a CLOCK TOWER.
Ann loved holidaying in Herne Bay and donated £4,000 towards the building of the seafront Clock Tower - an enormous sum at the time.
The tower opened on 2nd October 1837.
That date wasn't accidental. It was Ann's 48th birthday.
The Clock Tower is believed to be the world's first purpose-built freestanding clock tower, and Ann's name can still be seen on it today.
Her relationship with Herne Bay did, however, have a wonderfully unexpected ending. Despite her generous gift and her affection for the resort, Ann left the town in 1840 - reportedly in a temper - and never returned.
Give a town one of its great landmarks for your birthday... then fall out with the place three years later. Ann Thwaytes certainly knew how to leave a story behind.
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