Leybourne
Encyclopedia
Leybourne is a small village in Kent
, England
situated off Junction 4 of the M20 Motorway
. Leybourne is adjacent to Larkfield and West Malling
.
Historically, the area was extensively quarried, leaving a number of flooded gravel pit
s. These have recently been developed into Leybourne Lakes Country Park, and a housing development. Several of the houses on the development feature in the Channel 4
TV Series Cape Wrath
. Nearby New Hythe
was also home (until 2004) of Meridian
's newsroom and studio for the South East.
. He was granted land by William I in Yorkshire
and lived there with his family for a long time. His descendent, Sir Philip Libourne, decided to live in a village in Kent
called Lillieburn. The names mixed to call the place Leybourne. He built Leybourne Castle
and was the first baron of Leybourne, his new name was Sir Philip Baron de Leybourne. Two people who were quite important were barons of Leybourne. The first, the baron of Leybourne, Sir Roger de Leybourne
great grandson of Philip, was good friends with Prince Edward (later to become Edward I
). In 1270 he set off with Edward on a crusade to the Holy Land. On the way he was ill so was sent back, in France
on the way to Leybourne he died. His heart was sent back to Leybourne and put in the left hand side box of the niche, the one on the right is empty. The second is Sir William Baron de Leybourne, son of Sir Roger, who was the first Englishman to have the title admiral. On 25 October 1286 King Edward I and Queen Eleanor of Castille visited William at Leybourne Castle. They left two crowns as gifts, which hangs above the wooden plaque about Sir William, which was unveiled in 1956 by Richard Talbot.
In the church tower there used to be three bells, now there’s only one. It is because the tower collapsed in 1580, they then only restored two bells. Then in Friday 10 June 1966 a bolt of lightning hit the tower and it caught fire, then they decided only to have one bell. The tower was Norman but in 1874, architect Sir Arthur Blomfeld, Encased it in an extra layer of wall.
The Domesday Book
says about Leybourne: “Adam holds Leybourne of the bishop. It is assessed at 2 sulungs. There is land blank. In demesne are 3 ploughs; and 16 villains with 2 bordars have 7 ploughs. There is a church, and 10 slaves, and 1 mill rendering 7s, and 12 acres of meadow, woodland for 50 pigs. In the time of King Edward it was worth £8; when received , £7; now £8. Richard of Tonbridge holds in his lowy what is worth 24s. The king holds as a recent gift from the bishop what is worth 24s2d. Thorgisl holds held this manor of Earl Godwine.”
The blank above is as shown in the Domesday Book, either it was left blank for future addition, or the original entry was erased.
Leybourne and the neighbouring town of West Malling
elect three councillors to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council
. It also has its own Parish Council.
There are junior football teams aging from Under 6's to Under 18's and also a cricket club for adults and children on the school premises: Leybourne St Peter and St Paul Church of England Primary school (Voluntary aided).
Nearby Leybourne Lakes Country Park
offer fishing, scenic walking and cycle paths plus water sports such as windsurfing and scuba diving.
The need for the bypass is primarily because of vastly increased traffic resulting from the development of nearby Kings Hill
.
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...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
situated off Junction 4 of the M20 Motorway
M20 motorway
The M20 is a motorway in Kent, England. It runs from the M25 motorway to Folkestone, providing a link to the Channel Tunnel and the ports at Dover. It is long...
. Leybourne is adjacent to Larkfield and West Malling
West Malling
West Malling is a historic market town in the Tonbridge and Malling district of Kent, England. It has a population of about 3000-5000.-Landmarks:...
.
Historically, the area was extensively quarried, leaving a number of flooded gravel pit
Gravel pit
Gravel pit is the term for an open cast working for extraction of gravel. Gravel pits often lie in river valleys where the water table is high, so they may fill naturally with water to form ponds or lakes. Old, abandoned gravel pits are normally used either as nature reserves, or as amenity areas...
s. These have recently been developed into Leybourne Lakes Country Park, and a housing development. Several of the houses on the development feature in the Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
TV Series Cape Wrath
Cape Wrath (TV series)
Cape Wrath is a British drama television series produced by Ecosse Films which focuses on a family trying to escape its past while confronting an even more uncertain future...
. Nearby New Hythe
New Hythe
New Hythe is a village in mid-Kent, England on the banks of the River Medway approximately 5 miles northwest of the county town of Maidstone. It derives its name from the Old English word Hythe, meaning haven or landing place....
was also home (until 2004) of Meridian
Meridian Broadcasting
Meridian Broadcasting is the holder of the ITV franchise for the South and South East of England. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting Limited....
's newsroom and studio for the South East.
History of the church
Leybourne church is a small church with a big history. The church was built in Saxon times but the church building was changed greatly in 1874. The Leybourne history started when the ancestor of the Leybourne family came over with William the Conqueror from FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He was granted land by William I in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
and lived there with his family for a long time. His descendent, Sir Philip Libourne, decided to live in a village in Kent
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...
called Lillieburn. The names mixed to call the place Leybourne. He built Leybourne Castle
Leybourne Castle
Leybourne Castle is a 13th century castle in the parish of Leybourne, Kent. It is situated between West Malling and Larkfield. The two semi circular bastions of the twin towered gatehouse built in 1275 remain and are incorporated into a Tudor farmhouse the was extensively rebuilt around 1930. Some...
and was the first baron of Leybourne, his new name was Sir Philip Baron de Leybourne. Two people who were quite important were barons of Leybourne. The first, the baron of Leybourne, Sir Roger de Leybourne
Roger de Leybourne
Sir Roger de Leybourne was a British soldier and landowner. He was the son of another Sir Roger de Leybourne and his wife Eleanor, the daughter and heir of Stephen of Thornham. In 1199 when the elder Roger was still a minor his wardship was sold to Thornham for 300 marks...
great grandson of Philip, was good friends with Prince Edward (later to become Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
). In 1270 he set off with Edward on a crusade to the Holy Land. On the way he was ill so was sent back, in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on the way to Leybourne he died. His heart was sent back to Leybourne and put in the left hand side box of the niche, the one on the right is empty. The second is Sir William Baron de Leybourne, son of Sir Roger, who was the first Englishman to have the title admiral. On 25 October 1286 King Edward I and Queen Eleanor of Castille visited William at Leybourne Castle. They left two crowns as gifts, which hangs above the wooden plaque about Sir William, which was unveiled in 1956 by Richard Talbot.
In the church tower there used to be three bells, now there’s only one. It is because the tower collapsed in 1580, they then only restored two bells. Then in Friday 10 June 1966 a bolt of lightning hit the tower and it caught fire, then they decided only to have one bell. The tower was Norman but in 1874, architect Sir Arthur Blomfeld, Encased it in an extra layer of wall.
The Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
says about Leybourne: “Adam holds Leybourne of the bishop. It is assessed at 2 sulungs. There is land blank. In demesne are 3 ploughs; and 16 villains with 2 bordars have 7 ploughs. There is a church, and 10 slaves, and 1 mill rendering 7s, and 12 acres of meadow, woodland for 50 pigs. In the time of King Edward it was worth £8; when received , £7; now £8. Richard of Tonbridge holds in his lowy what is worth 24s. The king holds as a recent gift from the bishop what is worth 24s2d. Thorgisl holds held this manor of Earl Godwine.”
The blank above is as shown in the Domesday Book, either it was left blank for future addition, or the original entry was erased.
Amenities
Leybourne has a primary school, pre Norman-conquest church, 13th century castle (dating back to Norman times), hairdressers, shop, newsagent and general store, village hall, pub/restaurant (The Old Rectory) and a Brewers Fayre restaurant and motel.Leybourne and the neighbouring town of West Malling
West Malling
West Malling is a historic market town in the Tonbridge and Malling district of Kent, England. It has a population of about 3000-5000.-Landmarks:...
elect three councillors to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council is the second level local authority for the Borough of Tonbridge and Malling in Kent, United Kingdom.-History:...
. It also has its own Parish Council.
There are junior football teams aging from Under 6's to Under 18's and also a cricket club for adults and children on the school premises: Leybourne St Peter and St Paul Church of England Primary school (Voluntary aided).
Nearby Leybourne Lakes Country Park
Leybourne Lakes Country Park
Leybourne Lakes Country Park is near Snodland, in Kent, England. The park, which opened in 2004, was created from disused gravel pits that have been flooded and landscaped to make fishing and wildlife lakes.-History:...
offer fishing, scenic walking and cycle paths plus water sports such as windsurfing and scuba diving.
Bypass
In mid-2005 work was started on the Leybourne bypass. The bypass was opened late in October 2006, with the aim of reducing traffic coming off the motorway and through Leybourne along Castle Way.The need for the bypass is primarily because of vastly increased traffic resulting from the development of nearby Kings Hill
Kings Hill
Kings Hill is a civil parish in the Borough of Tonbridge and Malling in Kent, England. It is one of several new villages built in Kent since the 1950s . Development started in 1989 near West Malling, on land previously occupied by RAF West Malling. The plan was for a multi-purpose site of both...
.