Beyond the Bench

Why Benches

There’s something wonderfully simple about a bench. Scattered across Britain — tucked along coastal paths, nestled in village greens, perched on hilltops overlooking rolling fields — benches invite us to pause. In a world that rarely stops moving, a bench offers a small but meaningful kind of stillness.

 

This blog is dedicated to those moments. The quiet chats between friends, the unexpected conversations with strangers, the solitary minutes spent watching the world go by. Whether weather-worn or newly placed, every bench has a story: of who built it, who rests there, what unfolds around it and who it is in memory of.

 

Benches also play an unspoken role in supporting our mental wellness. Taking a moment to sit, breathe, notice your surroundings, and share a gentle conversation can ease stress, calm the mind, and reconnect us with a slower rhythm of life. A simple wooden seat can become a place to reset — a reminder that reflection and rest are just as important as movement.

 

Here, we’ll explore the charm, history, and hidden beauty of benches — and why taking a seat can sometimes be the nicest, and healthiest, part of your day.

 

Settle in, relax and find a bench.

Where it all began

The bench I first fell in love with sits in the Winter Gardens of Battersea Park. It wasn’t the first bench I ever sat on, but it was the first to truly stay with me — my first real “bench love.” Over the years, I’ve rested on countless benches in countless places, and each one holds its own small memory. I’ve shared laughter with friends, quiet moments of reflection, and long, wandering conversations.

 

Benches have also become quiet places of remembrance — spots where I pause and think of friends who are no longer here. There’s something comforting about sitting in a familiar place and letting their memory settle beside me for a moment, as if the bench itself is holding space for them too.

 

Benches have been the backdrop to so many good times, and the keeper of a few tender ones — and that one in Battersea Park is where it all began