Bearsted
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bearsted | |
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| OS grid reference | |
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| District | Maidstone |
| Shire county | Kent |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MAIDSTONE |
| Postcode district | ME14 |
| Dial code | 01622 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| UK Parliament | Faversham and Mid Kent |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| List of places: UK • England • Kent | |
Bearsted is an ancient village in mid-Kent to the east, and some five miles (7km) from the centre, of Maidstone. The original village site was on the north bank of the River Len, and tributary of the River Medway, and at the foot of the North Downs. The centre of Bearsted still retains its village look. There is a large village green, at the opposite of corners of which are two public houses: the White Horse and the Oak On The Green. The parish church is dedicated to the Holy Cross: on three corners of its tower are stone beasts, probably the work of a local mason. There is a tennis club along with a bowls club as well as both a Scout Group (1st Bearsted The Scarlet Pimpernels) and a Guide unit. The current population is thought to be about 10,000.
Communications. The village lies between Maidstone and Ashford and has road and rail links with both:
- Road: the A20 road passes through the village; and junction 7 on the M20 motorway is a mile (2km) to the west
- Rail: Bearsted railway station was opened with the rail line on 1 July 1884: it was originally named Bearsted and Thurnham (the latter a village to the north)
- Footpaths; both the ancient Pilgrims Way and the modern North Downs Way run along the North Downs north of Bearsted
[edit] Some famous inhabitants
- John Dyke, the last man to be publicly hanged in Maidstone
- Alfred Mynn, a cricketer of the nineteenth century
- Baroness Orczy (1865-1947), creator of the Scarlet Pimpernel
- Edward Thomas (1878-1917) poet
- Alfred Percy ("Tich") Freeman (1888-1965), Kent leg spin bowler and the only man to take 300 wickets in an English season. He lived at a house called Dunbowlin.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
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with the surrounding suburbs, villages, towns and parishes: |
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Allington • Barming • Bearsted • Bedmonton • Bicknor • Boughton Malherbe • Boughton Monchelsea • Boxley • Bredhurst • Broomfield • Caring • Chart Sutton • Chegworth • Collier Street • Coxheath • Detling • Downswood • East Barming • East Farleigh • East Sutton • Fairbourne • Frinsted • Grove Green • Harrietsham • Headcorn • Hollingbourne • Hucking • Hunton • Kingswood • Kit's Coty • Ladingford • Langley • Leeds • Lenham • Linton • Loose • Lordswood • Marden • Marley • Nettlestead • Nettlestead Green • Otham • Park Wood • Pollhill • Sandling • Shepway • Sutton Valence • Staplehurst • Stockbury • Teston • Thurnham • Tovil • Ulcombe • Weavering • West Farleigh • Wormshill • Yalding |
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| The borough of Maidstone List of places in Kent |
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