Cobham, Kent
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Cobham | |
  Cobham shown within Kent |
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| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| District | Gravesham |
| Shire county | Kent |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Gravesend |
| Postcode district | DA12 |
| Dialling code | 01474 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Gravesham |
| List of places: UK • England • Kent | |
Cobham is a small village and civil parish in the Gravesham District of Kent, England. It is located south of Watling Street, the old road from Dover to London, six miles SE of Gravesend. Cobham parish is part of Gravesham Borough. The hamlet of Sole Street lies within the parish. It covers an area of 1240ha and has a population of 1328 persons (2001 census).
The village, because of strict planning laws, remains relatively unspoilt. The church is 13th century, and has brasses which are reputedly the finest in England. Next to the church is Cobham College, a one-time home for secular priests, and now acting as almshouses. Cobham Hall was the former 17th century home of the Earls of Darnley: its gardens were designed by Humphry Repton and the surrounding woods contain the Darnley Mausoleum, a grade 1 listed building now undergoing restoration. Since 1957, the Hall has been a public school for girls (Cobham Hall School); it opens to the public on some occasions in the year.
Cobham has strong links with Charles Dickens, who used to walk out to the village: he set part of Pickwick Papers there. Other personalities to be connected to Cobham include Sir Joseph Williamson, and the insane artist Richard Dadd, who murdered his father near there in 1843. The Hon Ivo Bligh, who became the 8th Earl of Darnley, was the first English cricket captain to attempt to recover The Ashes from Australia in the late 19th century. Comedian, Joe Pasquale lives in the area of Cobham and owns land adjoining the estate of Cobham Hall.
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