Marden | |
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Marden, Kent |
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Marden shown within Kent | |
Population | 3,724 (2011 Census) |
OS grid reference | TQ744446 |
District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | Tonbridge |
Postcode district | TN12 9xx |
Dialling code | 01622 |
Police | Kent |
Fire | Kent |
Ambulance | South East Coast |
EU Parliament | South East England |
UK Parliament | |
Marden (/ˈmɑːrdən/ or /mɑːrˈdɛn/) is a village about 8 miles (13 km) south of Maidstone and civil parish in the Maidstone District of Kent, England. As well as the village the civil parish includes the settlement of Chainhurst and the hamlet of Wanshurst Green. The parish is located on the flood plain of the River Beult (a tributary of the River Medway) near Maidstone. It is in an apple-growing area, and has a population of approximately 4000 persons.
Marden is 8 miles (13 km) from Maidstone and 14 miles (22 km) from Tonbridge. It is on the B2079 linking the A229 Maidstone with the A21 at Flimwell. It has its own railway station on the South Eastern Main Line.
The village has a parish church, dedicated to St Michael and All Angels, and was built at the end of the 12th century. In February 2007, Ann Widdecombe, the local MP, opened the Marden Heritage Centre in Marden Library. The Centre houses archives from Marden's 1000-year history. Starting in 2010, Marden residents are practising bartering. The scheme follows the trend of small communities looking for ways of reducing food miles and valuing the skills and time of older people. The system is enabled by the use of internet technology to allow members of the scheme to exchange goods and services for Barter Credits. Similar schemes are in place in Lewes and Totnes which is a transition town.