Ditton, Kent
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ditton is a large village near Maidstone, the County town of Kent. The first mention of Ditton is in the Domesday Book with an entry dated 1086. At that time the village had in total only 36 dwellings.
The name Ditton comes from the Saxon word "Dictune" meaning "Village on the Dyke". This is the result of Bradbourne Stream that passes through the village.
The village also has the distinction of having a football club with the same name, FC Ditton, playing in the Latvian Premier League!
[edit] History
Ditton is a long narrow Parish which straddles the A20 (the old Dover to London Road) in Kent. Its main residential area has been steadily developed since 1922, when Aylesford Paper Mill was established on the banks of the Medway, and is situated on either side of the main road. The Parish has farmland to the South and Industry to the North.
It is unique in that it boasts the only ford in the Tonbridge & Malling Borough which, along with the 15th Century Church, is situated in a Conservation area. There has been a minister at the church since 980 AD.
Since it was mentioned in the Domesday survey of 1086, the population of Ditton has risen to approximately 6000 (including children) and the facilities which have been provided for these people during recent years have been comparable to those of much larger Parishes.
A Junior School was built in 1853 (when the population was 200) with a separate Infant School being opened in 1967.
Ditton is lucky enough to possess above-average Open Space: A 4 acre Recreation Ground acquired in 1954 and a second one measuring 11 acres which was provided in the early 1970's, just prior to the building of the Community Centre. These grounds provide facilities for four Senior football teams and two Junior football clubs plus a cricket team. Two tennis courts were constructed here in 1974.
A further 18 acres of recreational land was handed to the Parish in 1991 following the cessation of quarrying at Ditton Court Quarry. Most of this land has been partially landscaped and sown with wild flowers and is to be retained as a rural area for use by local residents; this has been granted SNCI status, due to the wide variety of plants and butterflies (some quite rare) which are to be found there.
A small section of the land has been leased to Ditton Bowls Club who, with Sports Council grants and loans from the Parish Council, have provided a thriving Bowls Club which boasts one of the best kept greens in the area, which is looked after by Parish Council staff. The Club has recently added a pavilion for use by its members.
Ditton is twinned with the French town of Rang-du-Fliers.
[edit] Trivia
Ditton hosts the annual World Custard Pie Throwing Championships which now attract competitors from far outside Kent or even England. In 1984, for example, the championship was taken back to Holland by a Dutch team who won the title from opposition from such teams as The Mudslingers and The Fantom Flan Flingers. The Championships are a highlight of the annual Ditton Fun Day which is held on the village recreation ground.
Also, it is reported that Ditton had the first 'Duck Warning' sign in the whole of the UK. Warning drivers that ducks may be crossing the road near the stream in St Peters Lane.
[edit] External links
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with its suburbs, villages, towns and parishes: |
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Addington • Aylesford • Beltring • Birling • Blue Bell Hill • Borough Green • Burham • Ditton • East Malling • East Malling and Larkfield • East Peckham • Eccles • Golden Green • Hadlow • Hildenborough • Ightham • Kings Hill • Larkfield • Leybourne • Mereworth • Offham • Platt • Plaxtol • Ryarsh • Shipbourne • Snodland • Stansted • Tonbridge • Trottiscliffe • Walderslade • Wateringbury • West Malling • West Peckham • Wrotham • Wrotham Heath |
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| The borough of Tonbridge and Malling List of places in Kent |
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