Lympne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lympne |
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 Lympne Castle |
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 Lympne
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| Population | 1,575 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TR121352 |
| Civil parish |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HYTHE |
| Postcode district | CT21 |
| Dialling code | 01303 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Lympne (/lɪm/) is a village in Kent, England. It sits on old sea cliffs above the wide, flat area called Romney Marsh.
The village has an L-shape. It stretches from Port Lympne Zoo past Lympne Castle and an industrial park. Then it goes through the main village area to Newingreen in the north. Lympne is about 11 kilometers (7 miles) west of Folkestone. It is also about 3.7 kilometers (2.3 miles) west of Hythe.
Contents
History of Lympne
Ancient Times
Long ago, in Roman times, Lympne was known as Portus Lemanis. This name is where the English name "Lympne" comes from. It was at the end of a Roman road from Canterbury, which is now called Stone Street.
Lympne had a special fort called a Saxon Shore fort. This fort helped protect the coast. A record from the 400s says that soldiers from Tournai in northern Gaul (modern-day France) were stationed there. You can still see parts of the fort's ruins today. They are on private land but a public path lets you visit them.
In Anglo-Saxon times, the fort was given the name "Stutfall." This name means a "fold" or enclosure where animals like horses or cattle were kept. One of the oldest houses in the village, The Sanctuary, has parts that date back to 1774.
Lympne Aerodrome and Famous Flights
From 1923 onwards, Lympne Aerodrome was a busy place for planes. It hosted trials for light aircraft and exciting air races. In the 1930s, many pilots started their long-distance record flights from Lympne.
- In 1932, Amy Johnson flew solo from Lympne all the way to Cape Town, South Africa.
- Her future husband, Jim Mollison, also made record flights from Lympne.
- In 1934, Jean Batten flew from Lympne to Darwin, Australia. She broke Amy Johnson's long-distance record!
After World War II, Lympne was home to the world's first air car-ferry service. Silver City Airways flew cars and people between Lympne and Le Touquet in France. Today, the airport is closed. It has been turned into an industrial estate, which is an area with many businesses and factories.
Important Places to See
Lympne has several interesting landmarks.
Port Lympne Zoo is located to the west of the older part of the village. It is a popular wildlife park.
St. Stephen's church is the local Church of England parish church. It is a very old building, mostly from the late 1000s to the 1300s. It has been carefully restored over the years. The church is considered a "Grade I listed building," which means it is very important historically and architecturally.
Lympne Castle is also a "Grade I listed building." Experts believe it was built in the late 1200s. The castle and the church are next to each other. They both look out over the beautiful Romney Marsh plain. You can even see the Palmarsh sailing club lake below. The castle was also restored and added to in the early 1900s. It has an old medieval well nearby.
How Lympne is Governed
Lympne is part of an area called the Lympne and Stanford electoral ward. This is a local area used for elections. In 2011, about 2,004 people lived in this ward.
Local Services
Lympne has a village hall, which is a community center. There is also a small grocery shop and a hairdresser. You can find a large pub and restaurant called The County Members in the village.
Sports in Lympne
Lympne has its own village football team, called Lympne Village Football Club (LVFC). They play in local leagues and also train new young players. In the summer, people in Lympne sometimes play cricket informally.
Getting Around
Lympne is located on the B2067 road. This road connects Hythe to other villages like Aldington, Hamstreet, and Tenterden. The closest train station is at Westenhanger.
Lympne in Books and Movies
Lympne has appeared in several famous stories and films.
Early 1900s Stories
- In H. G. Wells's 1901 book First Men in the Moon, the main character, Bedford, lands his anti-gravity sphere near Lympne. A local boy accidentally activates the sphere and flies off into space!
- The 1945 film Blithe Spirit, directed by David Lean, was set in Lympne. It starred Rex Harrison and Margaret Rutherford.
- Lympne Hill is mentioned in the exciting Doctor Syn stories by Russell Thorndike.
- In the book Biggles Pioneer Air Fighter by W. E. Johns, the hero Biggles has his plane stationed at an airfield in Lympne while on holiday.
Images for kids
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Sign placed at site of Royal Oak Motel
See also
In Spanish: Lympne para niños
