Barfrestone

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Barfrestone
St Nicholas' Church, Barfrestone.jpg
St Nicholas' Church, Barfrestone
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Barfrestone
Location within Kent
OS grid reference TR261501
Civil parish
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town DOVER
Postcode district CT15
Dialling code 01304
Police Kent
Fire Kent
Ambulance South East Coast
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Kent
51°12′21″N1°14′10″E / 51.2058°N 1.2361°E / 51.2058; 1.2361

Barfrestone is a village and (as Barfreston) a former civil parish, now in the parish of Eythorne, in the Dover district, in east Kent, England. It is between Shepherdswell, Eythorne and Nonington, close to the former pit villages of Elvington and Snowdown. In 1931 the parish had a population of 91. [1] On 1 April 1935 the parish was abolished and merged with Eythorne. [2]

Alternative spellings are Barfreston and Barfreystone. The old pronunciation was "Barson" (before 1800) and the ancient name, "Barfriston". [3]

At the time of the Domesday Book , when the name was written 'Berfrestone', [4] the manor was owned by Odo, Earl of Kent (as the Bishop of Bayeux). But after his trial (for fraud) in 1076, his assets were re-apportioned, including Barfrestone. The lands were then granted to Hugh de Port (an English feudal barony) for the defence of Dover Castle. The lands passed through the hands of many other owners including Sir Thomas Browne (during the reign of Henry VI of England). [3]

Landmarks include the Grade I listed Norman church, [5] [6] which contains significant carvings of human and animal figures on both the exterior and interior of the church, as well as a very early post-Roman example of the Greek key motif carved on the inside coving. Also of note is the church bell set in a yew tree adjacent to the church and "Little Ewell", a converted rectory which, until 2013, was the location of the centre (house, offices and workshops) of the L'Arche Kent Community which has since moved to Canterbury, [7] though a L'Arche house remains in the nearby village of Eythorne.

Another listed building in the village is Grade II listed Barfrestone Court, [8] [9]

The village is on the Miner's Way Trail which links the coalfield parishes of East Kent. [10]

The village and church appear in Michael Paraskos's novel Barfrestone published in 2024. [11]

Related Research Articles

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Eythorne is a civil parish and small village located 7.3 miles north-northwest of Dover in Kent, with a combined population of approximately 2,500 residents including nearby villages Barfrestone and Elvington. Although not classed as one of the former pit villages of Kent, it was only about a mile from Tilmanstone – which closed in 1986. Today many of its residents commute to work in Dover, Deal and Canterbury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Langdon</span> Village in Kent, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elvington, Kent</span> Village in Kent, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nonington</span> Human settlement in England

Nonington, is a civil parish and village in east Kent, halfway between the historic city of Canterbury and the channel port town of Dover. The civil parish includes the hamlets of Easole Street, to which it is conjoined, Holt Street and Frogham. The 2021 census gives the population of the parish as 920. The area of the parish at 31 December 2020 is 2,510 acres (1,020 ha).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preston-next-Wingham</span> Village in Kent, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coldred</span> Small settlement in Kent, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wootton, Kent</span> Human settlement in England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waldershare</span> Human settlement in England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elmstone</span> Human settlement in England

Elmstone is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Preston, in the Dover district, in East Kent, England. It is situated between Canterbury and Sandwich. The Domesday Book of 1086 records Elmstone as 'Aelvetone'. In 1086 the recorded population was 3 households. In 1931 the parish had a population of 117. On 1 April 1935 the parish was abolished and merged with Preston, part also went to Wingham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Betteshanger</span> Village in Kent, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Wigborough</span> Village in Essex, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norton, Buckland and Stone</span> Civil parish in Kent, England

Norton, Buckland and Stone is a small rural civil parish 1 mile (1.6 km) east of Teynham and 3 miles (4.8 km) west of the centre of Faversham in the borough of Swale, Kent, England. It is bypassed by the M2 to the south and traverses the historic A2, on the route of the Roman road of Watling Street. In 2011 the parish had a population of 467.

References

  1. ↑ "Population statistics Barfreston CP/AP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time . Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  2. ↑ "Relationships and changes Barfreston CP/AP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  3. 1 2 Hasted, Edward (1800). "Parishes". The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent. 10. Institute of Historical Research: 71–78. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  4. ↑ Mills, Anthony David (2003); A Dictionary of British Place Names, Oxford University Press, revised edition (2011), p. 41. ISBN   019960908X
  5. ↑ "Church of St Nicholas, Eythorne". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  6. ↑ Historic England. "Church of St Nicholas (Grade I) (1070306)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  7. ↑ "L'Arche" . Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  8. ↑ "Barfrestone Court, Eythorne". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  9. ↑ Historic England. "Barfrestone Court (Grade II) (1122002)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  10. ↑ "The History of the Coalfield Parishes". www.dover.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  11. ↑ Michael Paraskos, Barfrestone (London: Orage Press, 2024)
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