Birling | |
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![]() All Saints Church, Birling | |
Location within Kent | |
Population | 437 (2011 Census) [1] |
Civil parish |
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District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | West Malling |
Postcode district | ME19 |
Police | Kent |
Fire | Kent |
Ambulance | South East Coast |
UK Parliament | |
Birling is a village and civil parish in the Tonbridge and Malling district of Kent, England, about seven miles west of Maidstone. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 430 increasing to 437 at the 2011 census: 224 male and 213 female. It is south-west of the nearby town of Snodland and 37 miles away from the capital.
The origin of the name 'Birling' is unclear, some sources believe that it signifies 'Bærla's family' with the 'ing' portion of the word coming from the Old English '-ingas' suffix meaning family or followers. [2] Other sources mention Birling and other place names with similar spellings with the definition: 'place of the descendants of the cup-bearer or butler'. [3]
Birling is home to the Children's House Montessori School, which was previously the village school. [4] Another notable buildings is the Nevill Bull pub, whose name derives from the Nevill family that have owned land in the area for hundreds of years. [5] The parish itself is only 680 hectares [6] with much of the area being pasture grounds, it lies at the foot of the chalk, Birling Hills. [7]
Situated at the north end of the village, All Saints church, is mentioned in Domesday Book [8] although many sources say that the main aisles and nave were actually built 300 years later in the 14th century. The chancel was rebuilt in the 16th century by the Nevill family. [9] The church became a grade 1 listed building in 1959. [10]
Despite being a rural village, Birling is relatively well connected to its local settlements due to Maidstone being in close proximity. It is on the Addington to Maidstone bus route [11] and although it does not have a train station, the nearest is less than 3 miles away in West Malling. [12]
Although there is no mention of the village of Birling pre-Norman Conquest, it features in Domesday Book which was written in 1086. At that time, there were 30 households, 12 acres of meadow and pasture and 50 cattle. It also mentions the All Saints church, but major developments on the building were made around 400 years later. [8] Around this time, a vast proportion of Kent and the surrounding areas was in possession of Odo of Bayeux, Earl of Kent. Odo was the half brother of William the Conqueror. [7]
In the 1870s, Birling was described as:
A parish in Malling district, Kent; adjacent to the river Medway, 2¾ miles WSW of Snodland r. station, and 6 NW of Maidstone. It has a post office under Maidstone. Acres, 1,883. Real property, £3,277. Pop., 662. Houses, 111. The property is subdivided. [13]
In 1881 a large number of people who lived in the village of Birling worked in agriculture due to the large amount of pasture ground and meadow. The majority of working women had occupations based around domestic services, food and dress however, a large proportion of women were not employed or had unspecified jobs. There was also one police officer in the village. [14] This structure tallies with other villages in Britain at this time due to the lack of variation in job opportunities.
The Nevill family have been prevalent in Birling's history as they have been in possession of Birling Estate since 1435. The family acquired the Estate when Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Worcester married Sir Edward Nevill. The estate has remained in the family since, coming up to 600 years later. [15] The family also had royal ties, with Queen Elizabeth I being recorded as coming to visit Henry Nevill in Birling as part of her travels in 1573.
The population of Birling is currently 437, [16] 66 more than in 1801 (371). [17] It has however fluctuated significantly in that time. The highest population count was in 1891 at 1,384 inhabitants. [17] After a decline, it increased to a similar level in 1960, before a slow decline to the current day.
In terms of population structure in the village, it is similar to that of the rest of the country, the majority of people are in the economically active category. However Birling has a higher mean and median average age (40.3 and 42) than the rest of the country (39.3 and 39). [16]
Snodland is a town in the borough of Tonbridge and Malling in Kent, England. It lies on the River Medway, between Rochester and Maidstone, and 27 miles (43 km) from central London. At the 2011 Census, it had a population of 10,211.
Tonbridge and Malling is a local government district with borough status in Kent, England. The council is based at Kings Hill. The borough also includes the towns of Tonbridge and Snodland along with numerous villages including Aylesford, West Malling and surrounding rural areas.
Kings Hill is a civil parish in the borough of Tonbridge and Malling in Kent, England. It is one of several new villages built in Kent since the 1950s. Development started in 1989 near West Malling, on land previously occupied by RAF West Malling. The plan was for a multi-purpose site of both residential and office/business space.
Yalding is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Maidstone in Kent, England. The village is situated 6 miles (9.7 km) south west of Maidstone at a point where the Rivers Teise and Beult join the River Medway. At the 2001 census, the parish, which includes the villages of Benover, Laddingford and Queen Street, had a population of 2,236. increasing to 2,418 at the 2011 Census.
Allington is an almost entirely modern village situated alongside the sides of the A20 road west of Maidstone in Kent, England. It is part of the built-up area of Maidstone.
Luddenham is a widespread hamlet or small village north-west of Faversham in Kent, England, with many long-distance views across the Swale and the Isle of Sheppey. It is on the edge of Luddenham Marshes and is also home of Luddenham School. Oare Gunpowder Works are on the edge of the village. It had, according to Edward Hasted in 1798, 396 acres of low flat arable land and 200 acres of meadow and pasture, although half of those are marsh. It is in the civil parish of Norton, Buckland and Stone.
Addington is a village in the English county of Kent. It is close to the M20 motorway, and between the villages of Wrotham Heath and West Malling. In the Domesday Book of 1086 it is called Eddintune. The meaning of the village's name is "Æddi's estate". The village is notable for the long barrows, Neolithic chamber tombs. Its parish covers a little under 700 acres (2.8 km2), containing 291 houses. Addington Brook runs through the parish.
East Malling is a village in the borough of Tonbridge and Malling, Kent, in the part of the civil parish of East Malling and Larkfield lying south of the A20 road. In 2019 the ward had an estimated population of 5478.
Sundridge and Ide Hill is a civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, England. It is located in the Darenth valley and lies between Sevenoaks and Westerham. The parish contains the villages of Sundridge and Ide Hill and the hamlet of Goathurst Common. It lies within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and within London's Metropolitan Green Belt. It is approximately 21 miles south of London.
Ospringe is a village and area of Faversham in the English county of Kent. It is also the name of a civil parish, which since 1935 has not included the village of Ospringe.
Ditton is a large village and civil parish in the borough of Tonbridge and Malling in Kent, England. The village is 4.6 miles (7.4 km) west-northwest of Maidstone and 1.8 miles (2.9 km) east of West Malling. The parish, which is long and narrow, straddles the A20, with farmland to the south and industry to the north. It lies in the Medway Valley, on the northern edge of the Kent Weald, and adjoins the ancient parishes of Larkfield, Aylesford and Barming. In 2011 it had a population of 4786.
Stalisfield is a village in the borough of Swale in Kent, England, located on a secondary road about 1½ miles (2.4 km) north of Charing and 5 miles south west of Faversham. The parish includes the hamlet of Stalisfield Green.
Oare is a village and civil parish north of Davington, Faversham in southeast England. It is separated from Faversham by the Oare Creek. To the north of the village are the Oare Marshes, and the Harty Ferry which once linked to Harty on the Isle of Sheppey. Kent Wildlife Trust manages a nature reserve that is an important stopping place for migratory birds.
Hunton is a civil parish and village near the town of Maidstone in Kent, England.
Otham is a village and civil parish in the Maidstone district of Kent, England. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 523, with 204 dwellings.
Stockbury is a village and civil parish in the Maidstone district of Kent, England. The population of the civil parish at the Census 2011 was 691.
Frinsted or Frinstead is a small village and civil parish in the ecclesiastical parish of Wormshill and in the Maidstone District of Kent, England. and has been a recorded settlement as far back as the Domesday Book and indeed was the only settlement in the surrounding area to be described at the time to have a church. The village exists in the Hundred of Eyhorne.
Wateringbury is a village and civil parish near the town of Maidstone in Kent, England. The Wateringbury Stream flows into the River Medway just above Bow Bridge. It formerly powered three watermills in the village, one of which survives. The Wateringbury railway station is on the Medway Valley Line.
Ryarsh is a village and civil parish in the local government district of Tonbridge and Malling in Kent, England. It is home to around 1,000 residents. Ryarsh is west of Maidstone and north of West Malling.
Ringshall is a village and civil parish in the Mid Suffolk district of Suffolk in eastern England. Located around four miles south of Stowmarket, and 13 miles north west of Ipswich.