Hawkinge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hawkinge |
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 The Kent Battle of Britain Museum in Hawkinge |
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 Hawkinge
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| Population | 8,002 (2020) |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | FOLKESTONE |
| Postcode district | CT18 |
| Dialling code | 01303 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Hawkinge (pronounced HAW-kinj) is a town and civil parish in Kent, England. It is located in the Folkestone and Hythe area. The town you see today was formed when the original village of Hawkinge joined with another village called Uphill. The very first village of Hawkinge is actually a little less than a mile east of where the town centre is now.
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Hawkinge and World War II
During World War II, Hawkinge played a very important role. The airfield here, called RAF Hawkinge, was the closest one to France. This made it a key location during the Battle of Britain, a major air battle. Building houses in the area was tricky because workers found old bombs. These bombs were placed there in case Germany invaded, to stop enemy planes from using the airfield.
You can still find reminders of the war around the original village. The Kent Battle of Britain Museum is a great place to learn about this time. You can also see small concrete shelters called pillboxes scattered among the farms.
Near the airfield is Hawkinge Cemetery. Many of the 95 people buried here who died in World War II were airmen. About a quarter of them were killed during the Battle of Britain. Most of these war graves are in a special section east of the chapel. There are also 59 German graves grouped together in one corner.
How Hawkinge is Governed
Hawkinge is part of the Ashford area for national elections. This means people in Hawkinge vote for a Member of Parliament (MP) who represents them in the UK Parliament.
For local decisions, Hawkinge is represented by different councils. On the Kent County Council, Hawkinge is part of the Elham Valley Division. This division has a councillor named Susan Carey. For the Folkestone and Hythe District Council, Hawkinge is in the North Downs East ward. This ward has three councillors: David Godfrey, Philip Martin, and Stuart Peall.
Hawkinge also has its own Town Council. This council has thirteen elected members who help make decisions for the local community.
Getting Around Hawkinge
The main road that goes through Hawkinge is the A260. This road connects Folkestone to Barham, where it meets the A2 that goes to Canterbury. The A260 used to run right through the middle of Hawkinge. However, a new bypass road was built to take traffic around the town centre. This bypass was opened by Michael Howard on July 9, 2007.
There are also bus services that connect Hawkinge to nearby towns like Folkestone and Canterbury. These buses are usually run by Stagecoach and have routes like 19, 16, and 73.
Places and Activities in Hawkinge
Hawkinge has two local churches. The Anglican church is St Luke's. The older St Michael's church was closed in 1980. There is also a Baptist Church, which now meets in a modern chapel inside the Hawkinge Community Centre.
For younger residents, there are two primary schools in the town. One is Hawkinge Primary School, located in the older part of the village. The other is The Churchill Primary School.
The town even has its own online newspaper, called the Hawkinge Gazette. If you are interested in joining a group, there is also a local Scout group, the 3rd Hawkinge.
See also
In Spanish: Hawkinge para niños
