Lower Halstow

Lower Halstow

St Margaret's of Antioch, dates back to Saxon times
Lower Halstow
 Lower Halstow shown within Kent
Population 1,180 
DistrictSwale
Shire countyKent
RegionSouth East
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Dialling code 01795
Police Kent
Fire Kent
Ambulance South East Coast
EU Parliament South East England
List of places
UK
England
Kent

Coordinates: 51°22′26″N 0°40′08″E / 51.3738°N 0.669°ELower Halstow is a village located in Kent, England. The village is situated on the banks of the Medway Estuary. It lies north of Newington on the A2 Roman road.

It has a long and interesting history, with evidence of constant occupation since the Iron Age. Being so close to the water, Lower Halstow has (until recently) been a village that has made its living from the water. Whether it be ancient pottery making, ancient fishing, barge building,[1] or in the 19th- and 20th-century brick-making (Eastwoods Brickworks),[2] the water has been the lifeblood of the village.

According to Edward Hasted in 1798, two large hospital ships, commonly called lazarettos, (which were the surviving hulks of forty-four gun ships) were moored in Halstow Creek. The lazarettos monitored ships coming to England which were forced to stay in the creek under quarantine, to protect the country from infectious diseases.[3]

In 1563, Queen Elizabeth ordered a survey, and Halstow Key (a wharf on the creek), was made up of 24 people in houses and 14 living on boats. There were two hamlets, one beside the wharf and the other around Halstow Green on Lower Street. The rest of the northern lands were salt marsh. Lands heading southwards (measuring 1200 acres) were heavy clay. All the lands were under the control of the manor of Milton Regis.[3]

In 2011, the population of the village was 1,180.[4]

Etymology

The name of the village has developed gradually over the years: Holy Place (Halig stow) Pronounced "ail-stoo", with a long "oo" as in "through" c. 1100; Halgastaw, 1160; Halgastow, 1199; Halegestowe,[3] 1226; Halgesto, 1576; Halstowe, 1610; Halstoe, c. 1790; Halstow, 1810 – Lower Halstow.

Church

On the banks of the Medway Estuary is the church of St Margaret's of Antioch. This Grade II listed church has a long history that can be traced back to Saxon times.[5] It is in the diocese of Canterbury, and deanery of Sittingbourne.[3] The first recorded parish priest was John de London who was a nephew to St Thomas Becket.[3]

The church has features and ancient artifacts that are still in use today. The church can trace its oldest parts back to the 7th century, making it one of the oldest churches still in use in England. Some points of interest are:

Other notes

The Three Tuns Inn on Lower Street

The village also has a Grade II listed public house, the Three Tuns Inn (early 18th century).[6] Also the Grade II listed Green Farm House.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Robinson, Hayley (6 February 2014). "Westmoreland barge returns to Lower Halstow". kentonline.co.uk. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  2. ↑ "A Barging Childhood". bbc.co.uk. 22 April 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Hasted, Edward (1799). "Parishes". The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent (Institute of Historical Research) 6: 34–40. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  4. ↑ Ordinary Resident Population
  5. ↑ "Church of St Margaret of Antioch, Lower Halstow". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  6. ↑ "The Three Tuns Inn, Lower Halstow". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  7. ↑ "Green Farm House, Lower Halstow". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2014.

External links

Media related to Lower Halstow at Wikimedia Commons