Wouldham
Encyclopedia
Wouldham is a small village on the bank of the River Medway
in Kent
, Great Britain
. As of 2006 its population is approximately 1000 people, with the 11th century church, one school, one village shop, and three public house
s.
Until 1963 there was a ferry
crossing over the Medway to Halling
on the opposite bank. On the Wouldham Marshes is Starkey House built in 1483: a now-restored medieval manor house.
In the churchyard is the grave of Walter Burke, who was present onboard HMS Victory at the battle of Trafalgar
and the man who held Nelson
in his arms as he died.
Wouldham school celebrates this connection with history in many ways, its four sports teams being named after ships at the Battle of Trafalgar
(Victory, Ajax, Sovereign, Brittania), students being assigned into a house named after one of four famous figures at Trafalgar, which they are able to earn merit points for, and by holding an annual event at the nearby church to commemorate Walter Burke.
Before 1999 a large area of allotments were situated between the school and the recreation ground. Despite the opposition of many villagers a housing estate was built over them, which increased the village's population by a large percentage.
A narwhal
was discovered in the 1940s washed up on the bank of the river, and is documented in the British Natural History Museum.
River Medway
The River Medway, which is almost entirely in Kent, England, flows for from just inside the West Sussex border to the point where it enters the Thames Estuary....
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...
, Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. As of 2006 its population is approximately 1000 people, with the 11th century church, one school, one village shop, and three public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
s.
Until 1963 there was a ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
crossing over the Medway to Halling
Halling, Kent
Halling is a village on the North Downs in the northern part of Kent, England, covering 7.1 square kilometres of land. Consisting of Lower Halling, Upper Halling and North Halling, it is scattered over some along the River Medway parallel to the Pilgrims' Way running over Kent.The origin of the...
on the opposite bank. On the Wouldham Marshes is Starkey House built in 1483: a now-restored medieval manor house.
In the churchyard is the grave of Walter Burke, who was present onboard HMS Victory at the battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
and the man who held Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, which resulted in a number of...
in his arms as he died.
Wouldham school celebrates this connection with history in many ways, its four sports teams being named after ships at the Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
(Victory, Ajax, Sovereign, Brittania), students being assigned into a house named after one of four famous figures at Trafalgar, which they are able to earn merit points for, and by holding an annual event at the nearby church to commemorate Walter Burke.
Before 1999 a large area of allotments were situated between the school and the recreation ground. Despite the opposition of many villagers a housing estate was built over them, which increased the village's population by a large percentage.
A narwhal
Narwhal
The narwhal, Monodon monoceros, is a medium-sized toothed whale that lives year-round in the Arctic. One of two living species of whale in the Monodontidae family, along with the beluga whale, the narwhal males are distinguished by a characteristic long, straight, helical tusk extending from their...
was discovered in the 1940s washed up on the bank of the river, and is documented in the British Natural History Museum.