Horsmonden
Encyclopedia
Horsmonden is a village in Kent
, on the Weald
. It is situated on a road leading from Maidstone
to Lamberhurst
, three miles north of the latter place. The nearest railway station is Paddock Wood
, Horsmonden railway station
having closed in 1961.
. When the branch railway line to Hawkhurst
was operating there was a railway station for the village. Commonly mispronounced, the pronunciation is 'horse-men-den'. There were gypsy horse fairs held on the large village green each year - but ceased during the late nineties. The horse fairs have recently resumed following a compromise between the travellers and the local authorities. Horses may be bought and sold but other stalls - which in the past included glassware and other items - are not permitted to attend.
The village church, St Margarets, is located some miles away from the centre toward Goudhurst.
, but is now run in conjunction with a number of separate bus companies and Kent County Council
. The 297 runs to Tunbridge Wells via Brenchley
and Pembury
in the west and Tenterden
and Ashford
in the east.
On Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays the 296 bus service runs to Paddock Wood
and Tunbridge Wells.
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, on the Weald
Weald
The Weald is the name given to an area in South East England situated between the parallel chalk escarpments of the North and the South Downs. It should be regarded as three separate parts: the sandstone "High Weald" in the centre; the clay "Low Weald" periphery; and the Greensand Ridge which...
. It is situated on a road leading from Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
to Lamberhurst
Lamberhurst
Lamberhurst is a village and civil parish in Kent although the latter parish was at first in both Kent and East Sussex. The line of the county border was adjusted following the Local Government Act 1894, which required that parish boundaries be aligned with counties...
, three miles north of the latter place. The nearest railway station is Paddock Wood
Paddock Wood
Paddock Wood is a small town and civil parish in the Borough of Tunbridge Wells and county of Kent in England, about southwest of Maidstone. At the time of the 2001 census it had a population of 8,263, and is the centre for hop growing in Kent.-History:...
, Horsmonden railway station
Horsmonden railway station
Horsmonden is a closed railway station on the closed Hawkhurst Branch in Kent, England.-Background:The station was opened on 1 October 1892, when the line was opened from to Hope Mill, for Goudhurst & Lamberhurst. The station was equipped with a single 300 ft platform on the up side, together...
having closed in 1961.
History
It was an important centre of the medieval iron industryWealden iron industry
The Wealden iron industry was located in the Weald of south-eastern England. It was formerly an important industry, producing a large proportion of the bar iron made in England in the 16th century and most British cannon until about 1770. Ironmaking in the Weald used ironstone from various clay...
. When the branch railway line to Hawkhurst
Hawkhurst
Hawkhurst is a village and civil parish in the borough of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. The parish lies to the south-east of Tunbridge Wells. Hawkhurst itself is virtually two villages...
was operating there was a railway station for the village. Commonly mispronounced, the pronunciation is 'horse-men-den'. There were gypsy horse fairs held on the large village green each year - but ceased during the late nineties. The horse fairs have recently resumed following a compromise between the travellers and the local authorities. Horses may be bought and sold but other stalls - which in the past included glassware and other items - are not permitted to attend.
The village church, St Margarets, is located some miles away from the centre toward Goudhurst.
Public transport
With the railway station closed, the only public transport for Horsmonden is the 297 bus route which was until recently operated by Arriva Southern CountiesArriva Southern Counties
Arriva Southern Counties is a bus operator in London, Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent and Essex in England. It is a regional division of Arriva.- History :...
, but is now run in conjunction with a number of separate bus companies and Kent County Council
Kent County Council
Kent County Council is the county council that governs the majority of the county of Kent in England. It provides the upper tier of local government, below which are 12 district councils, and around 300 town and parish councils. The county council has 84 elected councillors...
. The 297 runs to Tunbridge Wells via Brenchley
Brenchley
Brenchley is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.-History:The name is historically derived from Branca's Leigh. The parish is located east of Tunbridge Wells, and south of Paddock Wood, and includes the neighbouring village of Matfield...
and Pembury
Pembury
Pembury is a large village in Kent, in the south east of England, with a population of around 6,000. It lies just to the north-east of Tunbridge Wells.The village centre, including the village green and High Street area is a conservation area.-History:...
in the west and Tenterden
Tenterden
Tenterden is a Cinque Port town in the Ashford District of Kent, England. It stands on the edge of the Weald, overlooking the valley of the River Rother....
and Ashford
Ashford, Kent
Ashford is a town in the borough of Ashford in Kent, England. In 2005 it was voted the fourth best place to live in the United Kingdom. It lies on the Great Stour river, the M20 motorway, and the South Eastern Main Line and High Speed 1 railways. Its agricultural market is one of the most...
in the east.
On Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays the 296 bus service runs to Paddock Wood
Paddock Wood
Paddock Wood is a small town and civil parish in the Borough of Tunbridge Wells and county of Kent in England, about southwest of Maidstone. At the time of the 2001 census it had a population of 8,263, and is the centre for hop growing in Kent.-History:...
and Tunbridge Wells.
Regeneration
Over £250,000 was recently raised by the Locket Green Regeneration Project to redevelop a spare piece of land within the village known as Locket Green. The funds were used to build a new home for the Horsmonden Kindergarten as well as a new play area. The kindergarten was opened by Sophie, Countess of Wessex.Notable people
- John BrowneJohn Browne (King's Gunfounder)John Browne was the first holder of the post of King's Gunfounder, which was created in 1615. He was heavily involved in the Wealden iron industry, having control of six furnaces in Surrey and Sussex, two in the Forest of Dean as well as his own furnace between Brenchley and...
(d 1651), gunfounder, leased Brenchley Furnace, the site of which is now in Horsmonden. - William MoonWilliam MoonWilliam Moon, Hon. LLD, FRSA, FRGS was an Englishman who created Moon Type, the first widely-used practical reading alphabet for the blind.- Life and career :...
(1818-94), teacher and philanthropist, was born in Horsmonden - Ruth ThomasRuth Thomas (novelist and short story writer)Ruth Thomas is a British writer of novels and short stories.-Biography:Ruth Thomas read English Literature at Edinburgh University, then worked in various administrative jobs in the private and voluntary sector before turning to writing...
(b 1967), novelist, was born in Horsmonden