Bearsted

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Bearsted
Bearsted (Kent)
Bearsted

Bearsted shown within Kent
OS grid reference TQ765555
District Maidstone
Shire county Kent
Region South East
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town MAIDSTONE
Postcode district ME14
Dialling code 01622
Police Kent
Fire Kent
Ambulance South East Coast
European Parliament South East England
UK Parliament Faversham and Mid Kent
List of places: UK • England • Kent

Coordinates: 51°16′18″N 0°31′46″E / 51.2717, 0.5295

Bearsted is an ancient village, and civil parish in mid-Kent to the east of, and some five miles (7km) from the centre, of Maidstone. The original village site was on the north bank of the River Len, a tributary of the River Medway, and at the foot of the North Downs. The centre of Bearsted still retains its village look: at the opposite of corners of the village green are two pubs: the White Horse and the Oak On The Green. The parish church is dedicated to the Holy Cross: on three corners of its tower are stone beasts. There is a tennis club along with a bowls club as well as both a Scout Group (1st Bearsted The Scarlet Pimpernels) and a Guide unit. The current population of the parish is about 10,000.

Communications. The village lies between Maidstone and Ashford and has road and rail links with both:

  • Road: the A20 road passes through the village; and junction 7 on the M20 motorway is a mile (2km) to the west
  • Rail: Bearsted railway station was opened with the rail line on 1 July 1884: it was originally named Bearsted and Thurnham (the latter a village to the north)
  • Footpaths; both the ancient Pilgrims' Way and the modern North Downs Way run along the North Downs north of Bearsted

[edit] Kent International Gateway

Main article: Kent International Gateway

In early 2007, the Kent International Gateway Group announced plans to build a large rail-freight and logistics depot in the corridor between Bearsted and the rail line and M20 motorway, an area which is currently made up of fields and woodland. The controversial plans have raised significant objections from local residents and the Campaign to Protect Rural England and are, as of early 2008, under review by Maidstone borough council.

[edit] Some famous inhabitants

  • John Dyke, the last man to be publicly hanged in Maidstone
  • Alfred Mynn, a cricketer of the nineteenth century
  • Baroness Orczy (1865-1947), creator of the Scarlet Pimpernel
  • Edward Thomas (1878-1917) poet
  • Alfred Percy ("Tich") Freeman (1888-1965), Kent leg spin bowler and the only man to take 300 wickets in an English season. He lived at a house called Dunbowlin.
  • Ross Kemp Eastenders actor (Grant Mitchell)

[edit] External links

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Towns and villages in the Maidstone borough of Kent, England
Allington • Barming • Bearsted • Bedmonton • Benover • Bexon • Bicknor • Boughton Green • Boughton Malherbe • Boughton Monchelsea • Boxley • Bredhurst • Broomfield • Caring • Chainhurst • Chart Sutton • Chegworth • Collier Street • Coxheath • Detling • Downswood • East Barming • East Farleigh • East Sutton • Fairbourne Heath • Frinsted • Grove Green • Harrietsham • Hawkenbury • Headcorn • Hollingbourne • Horden • Hucking • Hunton • Kingswood • Kit's Coty • Laddingford • Langley • Leeds • Lenham • Linton • Loose • Lordswood • Marden • Marley • Milebush • Nettlestead • Nettlestead Green • Otham • Otterden • Park Wood • Platts Heath • Penenden Heath • Pollhill • Ringlestone (hamlet) • Ringlestone (suburb) • Sandling • Sandway • Shepway • Sutton Valence • Staplehurst • Stockbury • Teston • Thurnham • Tovil • Ulcombe • Walderslade • Weavering • West Farleigh • Wormshill • Yalding
List of places in Kent