Appledore, Kent
| Appledore | |
| Kent | |
|---|---|
 The Black Lion and the Church in Appledore, Kent | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TQ956295 |
| Location: | 51°1’48"N, 0°47’20"E |
| Data | |
| Population: | 749 (2011) |
| Post town: | Ashford |
| Postcode: | TN26 |
| Dialling code: | 01233 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Ashford |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Ashford |
Appledore is a village in Kent, on the northern edge of the Romney Marsh, twelve miles south-west of Ashford. The northerly part of this village is Appledore Heath.
History
The name Appledore comes from the Old English apuldre (meaning apple tree) and is first recorded in the 10th century: the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for 892 records that:
Þa sona æfter þam com Hæsten mid lxxx scipa up inne Tæmesemuþe, 7 worhte him geweorc æt Middeltune. 7 seo oðer here æt Apuldre.
("Soon afterwards came Hastein with 80 ships up the Thames Estuary and wrought a fortification at Milton and the other army at Appledore.")
Appledore was once a port on the estuary of the River Rother, hence its interest to Hastein the Viking chieftain. The greater part of the Danish army (280 ships - 5000 men) wintered at Appledore in 892-893, before moving into Wessex (where they were defeated by the West Saxons led by King Alfred's son Edward the Elder at Farnham in Surrey). The defeated Danes fell back to Benfleet in Essex where they were again defeated in battle.
The importance of Appledore as a port diminished suddenly in the 13th-century when great storms caused the river Rother to change its course; the village street now leads down to the Royal Military Canal. A French raid in 1380 resulted in the burning of the church: it was later rebuilt. The village was permitted to hold a market in the main street by King Edward II. In 1804, when there was threat of invasion by Napoleon the Royal Military Canal was built: Appledore stands on its northern bank.
The Rhee Wall, a 13th-century waterway, was built to carry silt away from the eastern part of the Romney Marsh; it runs from Appledore to New Romney.
Parish Church
The mediæval parish church is dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. It is an early 13th century church, with 14th century additions: the latter a necessity from unquiet times.
The ancient north chapel now serves as the vestry, and has with its own sanctuary. That and the tower are of the 13th century. The remainder of the church is later: it was rebuilt after the village and church were burnt by the French in 1380, the north aisle being incorporated in the nave. The church has a four bay nave. The font is of the perpendicular style.[1]
In film, the media and literature
Appledore in Kent is known to generations of children as the setting for A. A. Milne's famous verse poem, "The Knight Whose Armour Didn't Squeak". Milne lived 29 miles to the west in Hartfield, Sussex.
Appledore features in the series Darling Buds of May.
Transport links
The B2080 is a local road connecting Appledore with Tenterden and Brenzett, where it meets the A259 South Coast Trunk Road. The Royal Military Road follows the canal southwest from Appledore to Rye.[2]
The Marshlink Line railway line runs between Ashford International and Hastings via Appledore railway station, which is around a mile and a half from the village.[3] The line reduces from dual to single track beyond the station towards Rye and Hastings.[4]
Parkwood
- Location map 51°2’60"N, 0°48’5"E
- Strreetmap: TQ96453158
Parkwood is an eighty-acre woodland five miles east of Tenterden near Appledore. It is managed by Kent County Council's Country Parks service.
The wood is noted for its bluebells in spring and for nightingales. There are woodland walks and panoramic views over Appledore and Romney Marsh.
The woodland is frequently coppiced for various timber uses. Including oak thinnings being used in Shorne Wood Country Parks new visitor centre, as the window and roof joinery.[5]
There is a car park is along the Woodchurch Road, heading north from Appledore towards Brattle.
The wood, is surrounded by three other woods, Great Heron Wood (to the north), Little Heron Wood (to the east) and Butness Wood (further to the east).
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Appledore, Kent) |
- KentGuide's comprehensive page about Appledore
- Appledore in the Domesday Book
- St Peter and St Paul, Appledore
References
- ↑ St Peter and St Paul, Appledore - British Listed Buildings
- ↑ "Tenant Guide to Houses for Rent in Ashford Kent". https://www.evolutionproperties.co.uk/tenant-guide.
- ↑ White, H.P. (1976). Forgotten Railways : Vol 6 – South-East England. David & Charles. ISBN 0-946537-37-2.
- ↑ Gray, Adrian (1990). South Eastern Railway. Middleton Press. ISBN 978-0-906-52085-7.
- ↑ "Shorne Wood’s Sweet chestnut cruck frame -". http://www.fourthdoor.org/annular/?page_id=408.