Charing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charing |
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 Charing High Street, c. 1905 |
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 Charing
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| Area | 24.9 km2 (9.6 sq mi) |
| Population | 2,766 (Civil Parish 2011) |
| • Density | 111/km2 (290/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TQ953494 |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Ashford |
| Postcode district | TN27 |
| Dialling code | 01233 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Charing is a lovely village and parish in Kent, a county in south-east England. It's part of the Ashford area. It includes smaller places like Charing Heath and Westwell Leacon. You'll find it at the bottom of the North Downs, which are a range of hills. In 2011, about 2,766 people lived here.
The famous Pilgrims' Way path, the M20 motorway, and Charing railway station all pass through Charing. The train station connects Charing to London Victoria and Ashford International, going through Maidstone.
Contents
Charing's Past: A Look at History
What's in a Name? The Meaning of Charing
The name Charing first appeared in the year 799. Back then, it was called Ciorrincg. The name likely comes from an old Anglo-Saxon word, cerring, which means a bend in the road. Another idea is that it comes from Ceorra-ingas, meaning "people of Ceorra."
An Ancient Stop on the Pilgrims' Way
Charing is located right on the Pilgrims' Way. This was a famous route from London to Canterbury that people used long ago. It was a perfect place for travelers to stop, as it was about a day's walk from Canterbury.
Old Buildings and Their Stories
Around the village, you can find several old manor houses. Some of these include Newlands, which is now a horse stud farm, and Pett Place. Charing was also an important trading spot, with a market recorded as early as 1285. It even had a fair in the 1400s.
The Village Church: St Peter and St Paul
The Church of St Peter and St Paul is the main church in Charing. It stands right next to the old Archbishop's Palace. The church's tall west tower was built in the 1300s. However, much of the rest of the church had to be rebuilt after a big fire in the 1500s. Inside, you can see memorials to the Dering family, who were an important local family.
Charing's Mills: Power from Water and Wind
For many centuries, Charing had different mills to help the villagers. There were two watermills that used the power of the Upper Great Stour river. There were also two windmills that used the wind.
Watermills of Charing
- Burnt Mill: This was a mill that ground corn. It worked until the 1950s, but now it's just an old ruin.
- Field Mill: This was another corn mill. The building is still there, and you can even see its old waterwheel.
Windmills of Charing
- Charing Mill: Also known as Field Mill, this smock mill stands on the hills above the village. It was built in the early 1800s and stopped working in 1891. Today, it has been turned into a house.
- Charing Heath Mill: This was another smock mill that was taken down around 1878.
Interesting Places to Visit in Charing
The Archbishop's Palace
The most famous building in Charing is the Archbishop's Palace. It's right next to the church and used to belong to the Archbishop of Canterbury. This palace was a very important building for the Canterbury area. Even King Henry VIII stayed there and later took it for himself! For the last 300 years, it has been used as a farmhouse. In 2004, the palace was featured on a BBC TV show called Restoration. It competed with other old buildings across the UK for money to be restored, but it didn't win.
The Church of St Peter and St Paul
The village church is said to hold a special stone. Legend says it's the stone on which John the Baptist was beheaded.
What Charing Offers: Local Amenities
Charing has many useful places for its residents and visitors:
- A C of E Primary School for younger students.
- A local library.
- A doctors' surgery for healthcare.
- Different independent shops and some well-known franchises.
- A lovely Kentish Tea Room where you can enjoy a snack.
- Two medium-to-large sized pubs, many of which are listed buildings (meaning they are historically important):
- The Bowl
- The Wagon & Horses
- The Kent County Crematorium. This is where 60 soldiers from World War II were cremated. Also, the author Charles Hamilton, who created the famous character Billy Bunter, was cremated here. Even Archbishops William Temple and Cosmo Gordon Lang were cremated at this location.
Charing's Community Life
Since the 1960s, more houses have been built in Charing. This means that many people who live here now work in London or at business parks along the motorways. The people of Charing are very active! They often organize club events, charity fundraisers, and fun fairs.
In recent years, Charing has brought back its Youth Club and improved its cricket team and facilities. There's also a bowls club for those who enjoy that sport. A skate park has been added for young people, and a Community Warden helps support the youth in the area.
Getting Around: Transport in Charing
Charing has good transport links. The A20 road connects London to Dover, and there are direct train services to Ashford International and London Victoria. These trains go via Maidstone East.
There are two bus stops in Charing. The main bus services are the 10X and the 124, which runs mostly as a school bus.
Train services are run by Southeastern. During the middle of the day, there's usually one train in each direction. However, during busy morning and evening times, there are many more trains.
Charing railway station first opened on 1 July 1884. It was part of a bigger plan to extend the railway lines. Today, the only train line that stops in Charing is the one that goes to London Victoria.
Images for kids
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Charing High Street, around 1905
See also
In Spanish: Charing para niños
