Ditton, Kent
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| Ditton | |
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  Ditton shown within Kent |
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| Population | 4,900 (2005)[1] |
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| District | Tonbridge and Malling |
| Shire county | Kent |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Tonbridge and Malling |
| List of places: UK • England • Kent | |
Ditton is a large village near Maidstone, the County town of Kent, England. 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!
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[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.
Ditton has a ford[2] 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 have 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.
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] Demography
| Ditton compared | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 UK Census | Ditton ward | Tonbridge and Malling borough | England |
| Population | 4,753 | 107,561 | 49,138,831 |
| Foreign born | 3.3% | 4.6% | 9.2% |
| White | 98.3% | 98.3% | 90.9% |
| Asian | 0.7% | 0.7% | 4.6% |
| Black | 0.2% | 0.1% | 2.3% |
| Christian | 79.4% | 76.1% | 71.7% |
| Muslim | 0.4% | 0.3% | 3.1% |
| Hindu | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1.1% |
| No religion | 12.2% | 15% | 14.6% |
| Unemployed | 2% | 1.9% | 3.3% |
| Retired | 14.4% | 14.2% | 13.5% |
As of the 2001 UK census, the Ditton electoral ward had a population of 4,753. The ethnicity was 98.3% white, 0.7% mixed race, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% black and 0.1% other. The place of birth of residents was 96.7% United Kingdom, 0.4% Republic of Ireland, 1% other Western European countries, and 1.9% elsewhere. Religion was recorded as 79.4% Christian, 0.1% Buddhist, 0.2% Hindu, 0.1% Sikh, 0.1% Jewish, and 0.4% Muslim. 12.2% were recorded as having no religion, 0.2% had an alternative religion and 7.3% did not state their religion.[3]
The economic activity of residents aged 16–74 was 46.3% in full-time employment, 14.3% in part-time employment, 7.7% self-employed, 2% unemployed, 2.6% students with jobs, 2.3% students without jobs, 14.4% retired, 5.7% looking after home or family, 2.9% permanently sick or disabled and 1.9% economically inactive for other reasons. The industry of employment of residents was 21.9% retail, 14.1% manufacturing, 10% construction, 12% real estate, 8.7% health and social work, 6.2% education, 6.8% transport and communications, 5.2% public administration, 3.1% hotels and restaurants, 4.7% finance, 1.3% agriculture and 6% other. Compared with national figures, the ward had a relatively high proportion of workers in construction and retail, and a relatively low proportion in hotels and restaurants. Of the ward's residents aged 16–74, 12.9% had a higher education qualification or the equivalent, compared with 19.9% nationwide.[3]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Ditton Parish Council
- Ditton Minors F.C.
- Cobdown Sports Club
- Ditton C of E Junior School
- 1st Ditton Scout Group
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