Willesborough
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| Willesborough | |
|---|---|
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| Statistics | |
| Population: | 12,558 [1] |
| Ordnance Survey | |
| OS grid reference: | TR025417 |
| Latitude: | 51.138611° |
| Longitude: | 0.895747° |
| Administration | |
| Borough: | Ashford |
| Shire county: | Kent |
| Region: | South East England |
| Constituent country: | England |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom |
| Other | |
| Ceremonial county: | Kent |
| Historic county: | Kent |
| Services | |
| Police force: | Kent Police |
| Fire and rescue: | {{{Fire}}} |
| Ambulance: | South East Coast |
| Post office and telephone | |
| Post town: | TONBRIDGE |
| Postal district: | TN24 |
| Dialling code: | 01233 |
| Politics | |
| UK Parliament: | Ashford |
| European Parliament: | South East England |
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Willesborough is a suburb of Ashford, Kent, UK. The area has schools, post offices, shops and other local resources, it is mainly residential but as Ashford expands there is more and more commercial activity around Willesborough.
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[edit] The Area
The South Willesborough Dykes area is on the west bank of the East Stour river is an area of sheep fields drained by dykes. The area is designated as the South Willesborough Dykes Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI). The dykes continue on the east side of the East Stour river and amongst the residential areas, and a tributary stream (Aylesford Stream) runs between Newtown and South Willesborough and into the East Stour. The smallest ditches dry up completely in summer[2].
The South Willesborough Dykes have limited access to the public but are nonetheless important in terms of the geology of the area, being in the river floodplain and in supporting neutral, wet grassland species, along with Willesborough's Aylesford Green and Boys Hall forming part of the Ashford Green Corridor.[3].
Ashford Borough Council has a project to create the Willesborough Dykes Country Park. [4]
There are a number of schools in and around the Willesborough area.
[edit] History
The town is most famous for its classic windmill built in 1869 near Hythe Road and St Marys Church on Church Road, with one of the oldest ringing bells in Kent.
English international cricketers Mark Ealham and Richard Ellison were born in Willesborough.
[edit] Commerce
[edit] William Harvey Hospital
The major hospital based here, covering a large part of Kent is the William Harvey Hospital, named after the famous doctor, William Harvey (1578 - 1657), who discovered the blood circulatory system. There is a statue of William Harvey at the Hospital and an older damaged statue of him, from the hospital, in the garden at the William Harvey Public House, Church Road in Willesborough.
[edit] Industry
Norman Cycles was a bicycle, autocycle, moped, and motorcycle manufacturer based in Ashford, Kent. The Norman Cycles Club is based at Willesborough Windmill and The Norman Museum is located in the Windmill's barn, where they have some mopeds and bicycles on display.
Industry around Willesborough is thriving with a number of "Business Parks" in the area.
[edit] References
- ^ Ashford Borough Council Census 2001 (covering the Aylesford Green, Highfield, North and South Willesborough wards)
- ^ SWANEG (South Willesborough and Newtown Environmental Group)
- ^ Ashford Green Corridor
- ^ Ashford Borough Council - Project Office
