Barfrestone
| Barfrestone | |
 St Nicholas' Church, Barfrestone |
|
  Barfrestone |
|
| OS grid reference | TR261501 |
|---|---|
| District | Dover |
| Shire county | Kent |
| Region | South East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DOVER |
| Postcode district | CT15 |
| Dialling code | 01304 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Dover |
Coordinates: 51°12′21″N 1°14′10″E / 51.2058°N 1.2361°E
Barfrestone is a hamlet in East Kent, UK between Shepherdswell, Eythorne and Nonington and close to the pit villages of Elvington and Snowdown.
Alternative spellings are Barfreston and Barfreystone. Old English pronunciation - "Barson" (before 1800) and antient name "Barfriston".[1] Now known as "Bar-fre-ston", rather than "Bar-fre-stone".
At the time of the Doomsday Book, the manor was owned by Odo, Earl of Kent (as the Bishop of Bayeux). But after his trial (for fraud) in 1076. His assets were re-apportioned including Barfrestone. The lands were then granted to 'Hugh de Port' (an English feudal barony) for the defence of Dover castle. The lands passed through many other owners including Sir Thomas Browne (during Henry VI of England reign).[1]
Of note are the tiny Grade I listed Norman church,[2] complete with internationally famous carvings around the door. The bell in the adjacent yew tree, and the offices and workshops of L'Arche Kent Community.
Another listed building in the village is the Grade II listed Barfrestone Court,[3]
The village is also on the Miner's Way Trail. The trail links up the coalfield parishes of East Kent.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hasted, Edward (1800). "Parishes". The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent (Institute of Historical Research) 10: 71–78. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ↑ "Church of St Nicholas, Eythorne". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
- ↑ "Barfrestone Court, Eythorne". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
- ↑ "The History of the Coalfield Parishes". www.dover.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
External links
-
Media related to Barfrestone at Wikimedia Commons - 5 pages of close up photos of Barfreston's medieval carvings
- Barfreston in the Domesday Book
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