Smarden
| Smarden | |
|---|---|
 Smarden
|
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| Smarden shown within Kent | |
| Area | 21.8 km2 (8.4 sq mi) |
| Population | 1,301 (Civil Parish 2011) |
| • Density | 60/km2 (160/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TQ880243 |
| Civil parish |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Ashford |
| Postcode district | TN27 |
| Dialling code | 01233 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | |
Smarden is a civil parish and village, west of Ashford in Kent, South East England.
The village has the Church of England-used church of St. Michael which, because of its high scissor beam roof, is sometimes known as "The Barn of Kent".
Smarden has a multi-purpose 'Post Office and Stores', Butcher's shop, the West End House Art 'Gallery' (shop and gallery)
By the three main neighbourhoods are three mostly quite large, family-catering pubs: The Flying Horse, The Bell and The Chequers. Smaller Maltmans Hill and Haffenden Quarter are well linked and remain tied to the founding neighbourhood which bears the same name as the civil parish.
The area is drained by the headwaters of the two major rivers ultimately flowing north, via Maidstone to the west or Ashford to the east. These rivers are the River Medway and the River Stour however many of these headwaters are only seasonal. The civil parish has no A roads, motorways. It briefly has a railway which has a nearby station connected by almost straight lanes to the two major neighbourhoods, Headcorn railway station.
The earliest known date for Smarden is 1205, when Adam de Essex became the Rector of the parish. The area was covered by the forest of Anderida and when clearings were made, the River Beult (a tributary of the River Medway) formed the drainage channel. The local woollen industry was encouraged by King Edward III who brought weaver craftsmen over from Flanders to create what was to become one of England's biggest industries. Edward in recognition granted the village a Royal Charter in 1333 permitting them to hold a weekly market and an annual fair thus elevating the status from village to "Town". Elizabeth I, en route from Sissinghurst Castle to Boughton Malherbe in 1576, was so impressed by what she saw and ratified the previously granted Charter. A copy of the Charter hangs in the village church.
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Wikipedia