Bekesbourne

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bekesbourne

Coordinates: 51.2600° N 1.1413° E

Population 868[1] (Parish)
OS grid reference TR191559
Parish Bekesbourne-with-Patrixbourne
District Canterbury
Shire county Kent
Region South East
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town CANTERBURY
Postcode district CT4
Dial code 01227
Police Kent
Fire Kent
Ambulance South East Coast
UK Parliament Canterbury
European Parliament South East England
List of places: UKEnglandKent

Bekesbourne is a village, within the civil parish of Bekesbourne-with-Patrixbourne, near Canterbury in Kent, South East England.

Located approximately three miles south-east of the city boundary the village has a church, St Peter's Parish Church which has a Norman doorway, a 13th century chancel and the first recorded example of brick mathematical tiles.[2]

Howletts Wild Animal Park is in Bekesbourne, the home of many endangered species and the world's largest gorilla colony.[citation needed]

Bekesbourne railway station serves the area, on the line between Canterbury East and Dover Priory railway stations.

Bekesbourne was the site of an aerodrome, built during World War I, and which thrived as the home of the Kent Flying Club until World War II, when it was closed. One large hangar remained. It was severely damaged by and rebuilt after the hurricane of 1987. It was then demolished early in the 21st century and the site developed with 10 large detached houses. The road on which they are situated was named De Havillands.