Whitfield, Kent
| Whitfield | |
|---|---|
 Whitfield
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| Whitfield shown within Kent | |
| Population | 5,143 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TR305445 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Dover |
| Postcode district | CT16 |
| Dialling code | 01304 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | |
Whitfield is an ancient village, civil parish and electoral ward in the English county of Kent. It has a modern counterpart in the large settlement located at the junction of the A2 and A256 roads, some four miles (6.4 km) north of Dover.
The village itself (Church Whitfield) can claim ancient roots in that evidence of both Roman and Saxon settlements have been unearthed. The village church, dedicated to St Peter, has two Saxon windows, and the bell is from the 13th century, or earlier. St. Peter's Church is a 10th Century Saxon Church largely rebuilt in Norman times, though the church is first mentioned in 762 AD. It was restored and enlarged in 1894.
There is also an early Congregational Chapel in the village (Chapel Rd) dating to 1781 but rebuilt in 1867. Whitfield also had its own windmill for many years, with a bakery beneath. It was built in about 1755 and was owned by generations of the Cadman family. In 1900 the mill was left to decay and was finally demolished in 1916 though the mill house still stands in Napchester Road.
The modern Whitfield began to appear when the more affluent citizens of Dover built their homes in "West Whitfeld", alongside what was to become the A2 trunk road which bypassed the village. Modern (post-Second World War) development enlarged the new village and in the 1960s Beauxfield was built then extended in the 1980s.
The 1970s saw with the introduction of Newlands, Cranleigh Drive and Farncombe Way. Again in 2005, the government proposed a maximum of 9,900 new homes to be built on greenfield sites around the village, doubling its size. The Whitfield Action Group was set up to oppose any large scale developments while accepting natural growth. It was confirmed in February 2010, that this figure will now be 6,000 new homes built.
The main village of Whitfield along the 'Sandwich Road' has, as amenities, a public house, 'The Archer'; the private members/function hall 'The Whitfield Club' Rolles Court Guest House and the Ramada Dover Hotel (formerly the Dover Motel). There is also a village hall with doctors surgery, vets, café, take aways, hairdresser and the local Post Office. A branch of McDonald's and Esso service station is located near the A2 roundabout at the top of 'Whitfield Hill'. The village's older pub, the Royal Oak, closed in February 2008 and a Marston's Brewery pub/restaurant, the 'Kittiwake', is now open at the junction of Menzies Road/Gordon Road. July 2015 saw the introduction of new KFC, Pets at Home and B & M stores on the ever expanding Honeywood Retail Park, Honeywood Parkway.
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Wikipedia