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

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

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">Eastry</span> Civil parish in Kent, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ash, Dover District</span> Village and civil parish in the Dover district of east Kent, England

Ash is a village and civil parish in the Dover district of east Kent about three miles west of Sandwich.

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

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

Elvington is a small pit village on a ridge in between Canterbury and Dover in the county of Kent in Southeast England. Located near Eythorne, Elvington was mostly built in the early 20th century to serve the nearby coal mine at Tilmanstone, as were other Kent Coalfield villages including Snowdown, Aylesham and Betteshanger.

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

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.

<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> Human settlement in England

Preston or Preston-next-Wingham is a civil parish and village in the valley of the Little Stour in the Dover District of Kent, England. The village is on the B2076 secondary road. The parish includes the hamlet of Elmstone. The main river through the area is a tributary of the River Stour. The suffix 'next-Wingham' distinguishes the area from Preston-next-Faversham.

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

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

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

Sholden is a small village adjacent to the seaside town of Deal, lying on the road towards Sandwich in Kent, South East England.

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

Tilmanstone is a small village and civil parish in Kent, in the South East of England, near Eastry, a much bigger and more developed area. Tilmanstone no longer has a village school; however, the independent Northbourne Park School is close to the parish boundary. The name of Tilmanstone has historically been famous for its colliery, although it is located in the village of Eythorne, operated from 1906 to 1986 as one of the four main pits of the Kent coalfield. The population taken at the 2011 Census also included that of the nearby hamlet of Ashley.

Goodnestone is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Graveney with Goodnestone, in the Swale district of Kent, England. The village is mainly on the road 'Head Hill Road' towards Graveney. In 1961 the parish had a population of 58.

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

Coldred is a settlement and former civil parish, now in the parish of Shepherdswell with Coldred, in the Dover district of Kent, England. The main part of the village is Coldred Street which lies 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) to the south-west. In 1961 the parish had a population of 153.

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

Wootton is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Denton with Wootton, in the Dover district of Kent, England. In 1961 the parish had a population of 164.

<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">Chillenden</span> Human settlement in England

Chillenden is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Goodnestone, in the Dover district, in east Kent, England. It is between Canterbury and Deal. In 1931 the parish had a population of 130. On 1 April 1935 the parish was abolished and merged with Goodnestone.

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

Betteshanger is a village and former civil parish. now in the parish of Northbourne, in the Dover district, in east Kent, UK, near Deal. It gave its name to the largest of the four chief collieries of the Kent coalfield. In 1931 the parish had a population of 55. On 1 April 1935 the parish was abolished and merged with Northbourne.

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

Little Wigborough is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Great and Little Wigborough, in the Colchester borough of Essex, England and forms part of Winstred Hundred Parish Council. Little Wigborough is located between Peldon and Great Wigborough. In 1951 the parish had a population of 45.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norton, Buckland and Stone</span> Human settlement in 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.

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. Institute of Historical Research. 10: 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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