Goudhurst

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Goudhurst
Goudhurst (Kent)
Goudhurst

Goudhurst shown within Kent
Population 2,500 in Parish
OS grid reference TQ725375
Parish Goudhurst & Kilndown
District Tunbridge Wells
Shire county Kent
Region South East
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Cranbrook
Postcode district TN17
Dialling code 01580
Police Kent
Fire Kent
Ambulance South East Coast
European Parliament South East England
UK Parliament Tunbridge Wells
List of places: UK • England • Kent

Coordinates: 51°06′40″N 0°27′49″E / 51.1112, 0.4636

Goudhurst is a village in Kent on the Weald, about 12 miles (19 km) south of Maidstone. It stands on a crossroads, where there is a large village pond.

Contents

[edit] Origin of Name

The place name of Goudhurst is derived from the Old English guo hyrst, meaning Battle Hill, or the wooded hill on which a battle has been fought. The name commemorates a battle fought on this high ground in Saxon times. The spelling has evolved over the centuries, Gmthhyrste (c1100) Guthurst or Guhthersts (c1200) Gudhersts (1232) Guthhurste (1278) Goutherst (1316) Goodherst (1610) then the current day spelling.[1][2]

[edit] History

The church in Goudhurst probably existed long before 1119, its earliest recorded date. The church has been altered and restored many times over the centuries. Until 1637 it had a tall spire which was eventually destroyed by lightning. In 1638 three London masons rebuilt the West tower[3] During the Victorian era the church was restored by the architect Richard Carpenter[citation needed] The village was one of those involved in the Wealden iron industry; it was a centre for the growing of hops; and also of weaving. A group of weavers' cottages stands opposite the church.

The Battle of Goudhurst in 1747 led to the end of the Hawkhurst Gang of smugglers.[citation needed]

The village's recent history is extremely well documented. The Goudhurst Jubilee Book (1935), Goudhurst Coronation Book (1937) & Goudhurst and Kilndown Millennium Book (2001, ISBN 0-9527822-1-9) contain detailed reminiscences, directories, historical notes, matters of local intelligence & records of celebrations starting from the 1800s & before up to the current time. These books were printed as limited editions and are much sought after as the authors painstakingly recorded not only the written, but also the oral, history of the village.

Goudhurst was the birthplace of the famous Kentish cricketer William Howard Vincent 'Hopper' Levett.

[edit] Bedgebury

Bedgebury is one of the oldest estates in Kent: having given its name to the de Bedgebury family, it passed into the hands of the Culpeper family in 1450. When the estate was sold in 1680, a new house was built which itself became a girls' school in the 1920s (closed in the Summer of 2006).[citation needed]

Bedgebury Pinetum is nearby. It was acquired by the Forestry Commission in 1924.

[edit] Railway

Main article: Hawkhurst Branch

The branch railway line from Paddock Wood had a station for the village. It was opened on 1 October 1892, and was originally named 'Hope Mill for Goudhurst and Lamberhurst' before being renamed to 'Goudhurst' on 4 September 1893, the day the final part of the line came into service – the extension to Hawkhurst via Cranbrook; physically, the station was about half a mile from the centre of Goudhurst, and somewhat further from Lamberhurst. The station was closed on the 12 June 1961 due to lack of use, passenger numbers having dropped to less than 200 per day. The track was lifted in 1964 and in 1967 the station sites were offered for sale.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ The Place Names of Kent, Judith Glover ISBN 0905270 614
  2. ^ The Origin of English Place Names, P.H.Reaney ISBN 0710020104
  3. ^ Howard Colvin, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840, 3rd ed. 1995, s.v. "Edmund Kinsman", "John Young".

[edit] Sources

  • The Place Names of Kent, Judith Glover.
  • The Origin of English Place Names, P.H.Reaney.
  • The Dictionary of British Place Names
  • Dictionary of English Place Names, A.D.Mills.

[edit] External links

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Towns and villages in the Tunbridge Wells district of Kent, England
List of places in Kent
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