Darenth Country Park
| Darenth Country Park | |
|---|---|
 Darenth Country Park shown within Kent
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| OS grid | TQ627734 |
| Coordinates | 51°25′51″N 0°15′01″E / 51.4309°N 0.2503°ECoordinates: 51°25′51″N 0°15′01″E / 51.4309°N 0.2503°E |
| Area | 100 hectares (250 acres) |
| Created | 1999 |
| Operated by | Dartford Borough Council]], |
| Open | 7 days a week, dawn until dusk |
| Website | Official website |
Darenth Country Park is in Darenth near Dartford, in Kent, England. On the site of a former demolished hospital site Darenth Park Hospital, also the site of a scheduled ancient monument and the site of ancient Saxon burials. Due to this protection it was turned into a millennium open-space park.
In 1954. General Post Office(GPO) engineers while digging a cable trench past the Hospital, cut through a Saxon grave and also recovered a late 6th century silver gilt square headed brooch and parts of a bronze howl. These finds were then given to the British Museum to research and store.
In 1978, 'Dartford & District Archaeological Group' excavated a trench on the site, before a planning application was made by Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers Ltd. for chalk extraction on the site. This trench found an ancient Saxon burial ground (5th century), with 12 Saxon graves, as well as various artefacts (including a spearhead, brooches and a glass bowl) from the period. The glass bowl is now known as the 'Darenth bowl' (which is known to be dedicated to St. Rufinus of Soissons c.450 A.D.), is now in Dartford Borough Museum. The graves were then deemed important enough to be scheduled as an Ancient Monument.
The hospital buildings were then demolished in 1995. The new Darent Valley Hospital was built on part of the site. Then a 'village' of 300 new houses was also built on a portion and the remaining 100 acres became the Darenth Country Park. The only surviving building is the former 'Darenth Park Hospital Farm', which is now used as a riding school. Arrow Riding School for the disabled.
The park was developed as a "Changing Places" National Millennium Project
The council employed artist Andy McKeown to work with local schools and community groups to design the sculpture in the park.
In 2004, Kent Thameside Green Grid Design Strategy and Guidelines was produced by Kent County Council. It proposed to extend both Beacon Wood Country Park and Darenth Country Park to create a ‘joined’ Darenth and Beacon Country Park.
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Wikipedia