Newington, North Kent
| Newington | |
| Kent | |
|---|---|
 Newington High Street; the A2 | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TQ858648 |
| Location: | 51°21’7"N, 0°40’4"E |
| Data | |
| Population: | 2,551 (2011) |
| Post town: | Sittingbourne |
| Postcode: | ME9 |
| Dialling code: | 01795 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Swale |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Sittingbourne and Sheppey |
Newington is a village in the north of Kent, on the course of the ancient Roman road, known as Watling Street, from the Channel ports to London, now the A2. It stands between Rainham to the west and Sittingbourne to the east.
The population of the parish in 2011 was 2,551.
The village has its own railway station, on the Chatham Main Line between Sittingbourne and Rainham.[1]
Church
The parish church, dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, is a grade I listed building.[2] It was built between 1163 and 1177 by Richard de Lucy, with additions being made in the 13th and 14th century.
The church was to eventually become the property of Henry VIII who gave it to the Provost and Fellows of Eton College in 1531. The patron today is the Archbishop of Canterbury.
There is a stone in the church car park known as the Devil's Stone, which is said to bear the Devil's footprint.[3]
About the village
Newington village sign was provided by Mrs. S Huxtable in 2007. It holds a memorial plate in memory of Mr. P Huxtable. (Husband of Mrs S. Huxtable)
Newington holds the national collection of Witch Hazel, which is kept at the Witch Hazel Nursery[4] in Calloways Lane
Newington Manor, now a conservation area, is to the south of the village.
The Newington Pill Boxes: Newington has at least four First World War pill boxes (or bunkers) at various locations.
History
The Roman Watling Street runs through the village.
The ancient settlement was rediscovered in 2019 and is the site of late Iron Age remains dating from 30BC and a Roman town. An archaeological dig covering 18 acres and carried out by SWAT Archaeology has found, among others, iron furnaces and pottery kilns as part of a manufacturing site, a Roman temple (Watling Temple), a Roman roadway 23 feet wide and thousands of pottery remains.[5] The newly discovered road predates Watling Street and takes an alternative route.[6] The wealth of objects uncovered means analysis is ongoing (June 2021).
This was also possibly the site of the lost Roman station, Durolevum.[7] The remains of a Roman villa were discovered at Boxted Farm, Newington in 1882.[8]
One of the earliest references to Newington comes from a charter c1131 regarding Sheppey Monastery. It refers to Aveline, the mother of Richard de Lucy of Newington, Kent.[9]
Sport
- Cricket: Newington Cricket Club
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Newington, North Kent) |
References
- ↑ "Newington (NGT)". National Rail. http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/NGT/details.html.
- ↑ National Heritage List 1069347: Church of St Mary (Grade I listing)
- ↑ "History of Newington - Kent Past". Kent Past. http://www.kentpast.co.uk/newington.html.
- ↑ Witch Hazel Nursery
- ↑ Stephenson, Ellis (23 May 2019). "Roman remains discovered near A2 in Newington, near Sittingbourne". Kentonline.co.uk.
- ↑ A Roman Small Town". Newington History Group. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
- ↑ "History of Newington, in Swale and Kent". University of Portsmouth. http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/6294.
- ↑ "Monumont No. 418307". Historic England. http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=418307. "Site of a Roman villa east of Boxted Farm excavated in 1882."
- ↑ The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Edward Hasted