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Marden, Kent

Coordinates: 51°10′26″N 0°29′38″E / 51.174°N 0.494°E / 51.174; 0.494
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Marden
Village sign
Marden is located in Kent
Marden
Marden
Location within Kent
Population3,724 (2011)[1]
OS grid referenceTQ744446
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townTonbridge
Postcode districtTN12
Dialling code01622
PoliceKent
FireKent
AmbulanceSouth East Coast
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Kent
51°10′26″N 0°29′38″E / 51.174°N 0.494°E / 51.174; 0.494

Marden (/ˈmɑːrdən/ or /mɑːrˈdɛn/)[2] is a village and civil parish in the Kent borough of Maidstone approximately 8 miles (13 km) south of Maidstone. The civil parish is located on the flood plain of the River Beult, and also includes Chainhurst and the hamlet of Wanshurst Green.[3][4]

The village is associated with apple growing and from 1933 to 1991 hosted a nationally recognised fruit show.[5][4]

History

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High Street

Name

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The dense woodland and marshes of the Weald of Kent were littered with acorns and beech mast in autumn making ideal seasonal foraging ground for pigs. The grants by Saxon kings for rights to these pannage areas were known as dens which later came to refer to the herders' camps and ultimately the settlements that grew up there. Maer referred to barren areas of marsh alongside the forest. In time the dens developed into permanent settlements such a Maer den, or clearing beside the marsh.[4][6][7]

By 1066 the settlement was recorded as Maere Denn; in 1170, Maeredaen; 1235, Mereden; 1283, Merdenne, and from about 1635 by its present name.[8]

Parish pump

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Marden Parish Council covered over a well opposite the village's Maidstone Road junction in 1899 and erected a pump. In 1907, it had to be locked, and then removed, because of contamination of the water by ammonia, nitrates, chlorides and organic matter. The parish pump is depicted on the village sign.[9]

Forges

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Sutton Forge

George Rootes, a relative of the Rootes Group founders, operated Rootes' Forge at West End, and the West End Tavern next door.[10]

A Mr Bourne ran Bourne's Forge in the High Street. After it was demolished, Sutton's shop was built on the site and later new housing, the present Sutton Forge.[10]

French airliner crash

[edit]
Main article: 1930 Air Union Farman Goliath crash

On 10 February 1930, a Farman F.63 Goliath crashed at Pagehurst emergency landing ground whilst attempting an emergency landing following structural failure of the starboard tailplane. Two of the six people on board were killed.[11]

Marden Fruit Show

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In 1933, Marden Fruit Show Society was established by 35 top-fruit growers and their first show was held in October that year at Walton Hall on Pattenden Lane. The prize fruit was sent to London for display at Selfridges. Apart from World War II, and bad frost years, the Society has organised their shows annually ever since.[12]

In 1953 Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother attended the show.[12]

Marden Fruit Show is now The National Fruit Show and has moved from Pattenden Lane to the Kent Showground at nearby Detling. Entries of apples, pears and cherries come from across Great Britain and mainland Europe.[12]

Doodlebugs

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On 3 July 1944, a German V-1 flying bomb shot down by anti-aircraft fire landed on an army camp in Pattenden Lane, killing 11 and injuring eight. A total of 11 of the flying bombs fell on Marden including another on Pattenden Lane that exploded in a pond.[13]

Pluto

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A World War II Pluto fuel pipeline was constructed through Marden parish. In 2016, a section of the pipe from Gatehouse Farm, incorporating a concrete joint to facilitate a change in alignment, was relocated and put on permanent display at Marden Library.[14]

Rail collision

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Main article: Marden rail crash

On 4 January 1969, a passenger train from Charing Cross to Ramsgate overran a signal at danger in fog and crashed into the back of a parcels train. Four people were killed and 11 injured.[15]

Transport

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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. Marden railway station is on the South Eastern Main Line.

Economy

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There is local employment at the substantial industrial estate built north of the railway line on Pattenden Lane from 1950 which supplements traditional agricultural jobs, but many residents commute to work in London.[8][16][4]

In 1993, there was a substantial tyre dump fire at the Pattenden Lane industrial area that caused pollution of the River Teise.[17][8]

Amenities

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A house on Pattenden Lane

St Michael and All Angels Church, depicted on the village sign, was built at the end of the 12th century.[18][19]

In 2007, Ann Widdecombe opened the Marden Heritage Centre's archive at Marden Library.[20]

The village school, Marden Primary Academy, joined the Leigh Academies Trust in 2020.[21]

Marden Village Club was founded in 1907 and offers refreshments, singers and bingo to its members. Across Howland Road from the Village Club is the entrance to Marden Bowls Club's green and clubhouse.[22][23]

Memorial Hall

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Marden Memorial Hall on Goudhurst Road is operated by a registered charity. The three function rooms host community and private events, and since 1974 have staged Marden Theatre Group productions.[24][25][26]

The Hall was converted from a former Church School in 1934 and named for the memory of Mr Edward Day.[8]

Between 1950 and 1977 the Memorial Hall accommodated Marden library.[8]

Sport

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Oast Cottage, Marden

Marden Cricket Club and Marden Russets Hockey Club are based at Day's Sport Field.[27]

Marden Minors football team play at Church Park.[28]

Marden Meadows

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The 8.8 acres (3.6 ha) Marden Meadows Site of Special Scientific Interest is to the east of the village. Kent Trust for Nature Conservation mows the three fields once a year for hay and livestock graze the aftermath. The unimproved, natural grassland contains Ophioglossum, green winged orchid, Saxifraga granulata, Leucanthemum vulgare, Rhinanthus minor, and within a pond Hottonia palustris and bladder-sedge.[29][30]

People

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References

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  1. ^ "Custom report - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics". Nomis. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  2. ^ "John Wells phonetic blog: Bessacarr". 29 January 2010. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  3. ^ Marden Surface Water Management Plan (PDF), JBA Consulting, 2017, archived (PDF) from the original on 3 November 2021, retrieved 15 August 2022 – via Kent County Council
  4. ^ a b c d "Places & Artefacts | The History of Marden". Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Heritage - National fruit". National Fruit Show. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  6. ^ Igglesden, Charles (1925). A Saunter through Kent with Pen and Pencil. Ashford: Kentish Express. Retrieved 27 August 2022 – via Archive.org.
  7. ^ Lutton, Robert (1997). "Heterodox and orthodox piety in Tenterden, c1420 - c1540" (PDF). p. 74. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2021 – via University of Kent.
  8. ^ a b c d e "history". Marden History. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  9. ^ "The Parish Pump". Marden History. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  10. ^ a b "The Forges | The History of Marden". Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  11. ^ "The French Air Liner Crash – Verdict of Accidental Death". The Times. No. 45474. London. 29 March 1930. col C, p. 9.
  12. ^ a b c "Marden Fruit Show". Marden History. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  13. ^ "Fighters, Bombs and Doodlebugs". Marden History. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Pluto Pipeline". Marden History. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  15. ^ Report on the Collision that occurred on 4th January 1969 between Paddock Wood and Marden (PDF). London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 1969. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022 – via Railways Archive.
  16. ^ "Despatches No 6" (PDF). Marden History. 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  17. ^ Pearce, Fred (20 November 1993). "Scrap tyres: a burning issue - With Britain's mountain of old tyres growing out of control, the government has called for new ideas to recycle them". New Scientist. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  18. ^ Historic England. "Church of St Michael and All Angels (1054804)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  19. ^ "The village sign". Marden History. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  20. ^ "The Heritage Centre". Marden History. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  21. ^ "Welcome to Marden Primary Academy". Marden Primary Academy. 30 October 2020. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  22. ^ "Marden Village Club". Marden Village Club. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  23. ^ Smith, Alan (10 May 2021). "Marden Bowls Club celebrates 50th anniversary with open day". Kent Online. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  24. ^ "Marden Memorial Hall..." Marden Memorial Hall. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  25. ^ "Marden Village Hall Accounts 2021". Charity Commission. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  26. ^ "History". Marden Theatre Group. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  27. ^ "Marden Russets Hockey Club". Marden Russets. Archived from the original on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  28. ^ "The website for the English football association". Kent FA. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  29. ^ "Marden Meadows" (PDF). Natural England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  30. ^ "Marden Meadow". Kent Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
  31. ^ "Nicholas Amhurst - Poet Nicholas Amhurst Poems". Poem Hunter. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  32. ^ "Notable Mardonians". Marden History. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  33. ^ "Sidney William Highwood". The Aerodrome. Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  34. ^ "Who was William Morley Punshon?". Lansdowne Crescent Methodist Church. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  35. ^ "THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN". Imperial War Museums. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  36. ^ Morgan, Gerald (9 October 2016). "Sir Nicholas Fenn obituary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
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