Cuxton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Cuxton | |
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  Cuxton shown within Kent |
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| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| Parish | Cuxton |
| Unitary authority | Medway |
| Ceremonial county | Kent |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ROCHESTER |
| Postcode district | ME2 |
| Dialling code | 01634 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Medway to be replaced 2007 by Rochester and Strood |
| List of places: UK • England • Kent | |
Cuxton is a village in the unitary authority of Medway. It lies on left bank of the River Medway in the North Downs. It is served by the A228, and Cuxton railway station on the Medway Valley Line between Strood and Maidstone. A low valley leads up from the river to the hamlet of Lower Bush.
[edit] Etymology
Cucula's stone- OE Cucolan stan 880, Cuclestana, Cucclestane 775, Coclestane 1086, Cukelstan 1240, Cuckston 1610[1]
[edit] History
Archaeological evidence suggest the first human occupation was around 200,000 years ago. A hoard of 196 handaxes from the Acheulian era was excavated in 1962. This is now displayed in the British Museum.
Remains of a Roman villa was found under the church yard. The Saxons occupied the village and it became known as Cuckelstane. The church and parish was given by Ethelwulf, King of the West Saxons to the Cathedral church of St. Andrew, Rochester.
The church contains much Norman architecture, and is unusual as it lies on a southeast northwest axis. This gave rise to the rhyme
- He that would see a church miswent
- Let him go to Cucklestane in Kent
In Tudor times the principal house in the village was Whorne's place erected on the river, by Sir William Whorne, Lord Mayor of London in 1487. This was later owned by Sir Joseph Levinson (1556-1615) the privateer. This was taken over by the Mashams, strong royalists who moved on to the Mote in Maidstone. Only an outlying granary survived in 1971.
The only other manor in Tudor Cuxton was that of Beresse or Beresh, now known as Bush. It doesn't survive.
In 1610, William Laud was rector of Cuxton, he later became Archbishop of Canterbury under Charles I, he was executed by the puritans in 1645 because of his strong royalist loyalties.
In Upper Bush there are four houses dating from 14th century and a Tudor Kentish Yeoman's house.[2] A tin chapel from Cuxton was dismantled and re-erected at the Museum of Kent Life, Sandling.
[edit] Industry
References
- ^ Judith Glover,The Place Names of Kent,1976,Batsford.
- ^ Brian Matthews, M.A.,A History of Strood Rural District, pub. Strood Rural District Council 1971
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