Paddock Wood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paddock Wood |
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 Commercial Road |
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 Paddock Wood
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| Population | 8,263 (2001) 8,253 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TQ675445 |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | TONBRIDGE |
| Postcode district | TN12 |
| Dialling code | 01892 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Paddock Wood is a town and civil parish in Kent, England. It is located about 8 kilometers (5 miles) southwest of Maidstone. In 2011, the town had a population of 8,253 people. Paddock Wood is well-known for growing hops, which are used to make beer.
Contents
A Look at Paddock Wood's Past
Paddock Wood started to grow as a town in the second half of the 1800s. This happened because of the local hops industry. By the year 1900, it had become an important place for transport. The railway station had three different train lines, making it a busy hub.
Exploring Paddock Wood's Layout
The town of Paddock Wood is split into two main parts by the railway line.
Shopping and Main Roads
South of the railway line, you will find Commercial Road. This is the main shopping street, running through the town. At one end of this street is the entrance to the railway station. Commercial Road has banks, places to get food, a restaurant, and many small shops. East of Commercial Road is Maidstone Road. This road goes north towards Beltring and East Peckham, and south towards Matfield. It is a main route for getting into and out of Paddock Wood.
Industrial Areas and Businesses
North of the railway line are the industrial areas. The Eldon Way Industrial Estate is to the east. Here you can find businesses like British Car Auctions. To the west is a larger area called Transfesa Road and the Paddock Wood Distribution Centre. Many companies are located here, including Gabriel Chemie UK Ltd, Norman Collett, CoolChain, Mack Multiples, and Warburtons. There was also a Whirlpool warehouse here, which was sadly destroyed in a large fire in July 2005.
Community Life in Paddock Wood
Paddock Wood has several places and events that bring the community together.
Art and Local Events
Mascalls Gallery was an art gallery that opened in 2006. It showed different types of art to the public. However, it closed in 2016 because it did not have enough money to stay open.
The nearby Hop Farm is a popular place for events. Even though it is technically in Beltring, many people from Paddock Wood visit it. The Hop Farm hosts fun activities like the circus, exciting monster truck races, and music festivals.
Places of Worship
St Andrew's Church is a special church on Maidstone Road. It is used by both Anglican and Methodist church members.
Local Media and News
For local news and TV shows, people in Paddock Wood can watch BBC South East and ITV Meridian. These signals come from the Tunbridge Wells or Bluebell Hill TV transmitters. You can also get BBC London and ITV London from the Crystal Palace TV transmitters.
Local radio stations include BBC Radio Kent (96.7 FM), Heart South (103.1 FM), Gold (603 AM), and KMFM West Kent (96.2 FM). Since November 2021, a community radio station called West Kent Radio also broadcasts on 106.7 FM and 95.5 FM.
The local newspaper for the town is the Kent and Sussex Courier.
Getting Around Paddock Wood
Paddock Wood is connected by the B2160 and B2161 roads. It is also close to larger roads like the A228, A264, A21, and A26 roads. Sometimes, the A21 road can get very busy with traffic. The town also has its own train station, Paddock Wood railway station, which helps people travel by rail.
Learning in Paddock Wood
Paddock Wood has schools for both younger and older students.
Primary Education
The main primary school in town is Paddock Wood Primary School. It was first built in 1909 and has about 600 students.
Secondary Education
For older students, the main secondary school is Mascalls Academy. It used to be called Mascalls School. This comprehensive secondary school opened in 1956 and has about 1,400 students.
Famous People from Paddock Wood
Some well-known people have connections to Paddock Wood:
- Philip Martin Brown (born 1956), an actor, lives in Paddock Wood.
- John Brunt (1922–1944), a British Army officer and a Victoria Cross winner, lived in Paddock Wood.
- Frederick E. Morgan (1894–1967), a British Army officer, was born in Paddock Wood.
- Sammy Rimington (born 1942), a jazz musician, was born in Paddock Wood.
See also
In Spanish: Paddock Wood para niños
