Borden, Kent
Encyclopedia
Borden is a village situated immediately south west of Sittingbourne
, Kent
, from which it is separated by a small area of rural land. The history of the name is questioned. It may be derived from bor (hill) and then either from denu (valley) or denn (woodland pasture). It may also derive from "boar" "den", as it was known that the wild animals were found in the surrounding areas. Borden was first recorded in the twelfth century as Bordena. It may also stem from the settlement there of the de Bourdon (now Borden) family which came from Bourdannay, in Normandy
, France
with William the Conqueror in 1066. A similar contention surrounds the origin of the surname, so perhaps there lies the connection.
The village centre is clustered around the church, which is dedicated to Saints Peter
and Paul
and is at least eight hundred years old. The Church of England
primary school and the local inn (The Maypole) are also in the centre. The primary school is considered one of the best in the county, after improving its reputation and teaching standards substantially over the last ten years.
Within the parish are several hamlets, including Heart's Delight
, Chestnut Street
and Oad Street
. Farming
in the area is the main industry, although this has been in decline for many years due to the "scrubbing" of most of the cherry
and other fruit orchards. Borden also has a bell foundry
and small ironmongers.
Today Borden is growing with new houses and has greater ties with Sittingbourne. Many residents now commute to major towns or London
to work.
As of the 2001 UK census, the Borden electoral ward had a population of 2,154. The ethnicity was 99.1% white, 0.3% mixed race, 0.5% Asian, 0% black and 0.1% other. The place of birth of residents was 96.9% United Kingdom, 0.4% Republic of Ireland, 0.7% other Western European countries, and 2% elsewhere. Religion was recorded as 79.9% Christian, 0.1% Buddhist, 0.3% Hindu, 0% Sikh, 0% Jewish, and 0.4% Muslim. 13.4% were recorded as having no religion, 0.3% had an alternative religion and 5.5% did not state their religion.
The economic activity of residents aged 16–74 was 43.7% in full-time employment, 11.5% in part-time employment, 12.2% self-employed, 2.5% unemployed, 2.3% students with jobs, 2.6% students without jobs, 13.4% retired, 7% looking after home or family, 2.7% permanently sick or disabled and 2.1% economically inactive for other reasons. The industry of employment of residents was 17.1% retail, 16.3% manufacturing, 10.1% construction, 13.3% real estate, 7.7% health and social work, 6.8% education, 6.3% transport and communications, 5.1% public administration, 3.6% hotels and restaurants, 5.2% finance, 2.9% agriculture and 5.6% other. Compared with national figures, the ward had a relatively high proportion of workers in agriculture and construction. There were a relatively low proportion in health and social work, hotels and restaurants. Of the ward's residents aged 16–74, 16.7% had a higher education
qualification or the equivalent, compared with 19.9% nationwide.
Sittingbourne
Sittingbourne is an industrial town about eight miles east of Gillingham in England, beside the Roman Watling Street off a creek in the Swale, a channel separating the Isle of Sheppey from mainland Kent...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, from which it is separated by a small area of rural land. The history of the name is questioned. It may be derived from bor (hill) and then either from denu (valley) or denn (woodland pasture). It may also derive from "boar" "den", as it was known that the wild animals were found in the surrounding areas. Borden was first recorded in the twelfth century as Bordena. It may also stem from the settlement there of the de Bourdon (now Borden) family which came from Bourdannay, in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
with William the Conqueror in 1066. A similar contention surrounds the origin of the surname, so perhaps there lies the connection.
The village centre is clustered around the church, which is dedicated to Saints Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
and Paul
Paul of Tarsus
Paul the Apostle , also known as Saul of Tarsus, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries, with the writings ascribed to him by the church forming a considerable portion of the New Testament...
and is at least eight hundred years old. The Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
primary school and the local inn (The Maypole) are also in the centre. The primary school is considered one of the best in the county, after improving its reputation and teaching standards substantially over the last ten years.
Within the parish are several hamlets, including Heart's Delight
Heart's Delight, Swale
Heart's Delight is a settlement located to the south of Sittingbourne in Kent, England. Heart's Delight Road, leading to it, has the postal address of Tunstall....
, Chestnut Street
Chestnut Street, Kent
Chestnut Street is a settlement to the west of Sittingbourne in the Borough of Swale, Kent, England. It is located on the former A249 road alignment, to the south of its junction with the A2 road; the A 249 now being dual carriageway avoids Chestnut Street. Its postal address is Chestnut Street,...
and Oad Street
Oad Street
Oad Street is a small village in the English county of Kent.Oad Street forms part of the civil parish of Borden which, in turn, is part of Swale district. Oad Street is located close to Junction 5 of the M2 motorway where it crosses the A249 road....
. Farming
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
in the area is the main industry, although this has been in decline for many years due to the "scrubbing" of most of the cherry
Cherry
The cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshy stone fruit. The cherry fruits of commerce are usually obtained from a limited number of species, including especially cultivars of the wild cherry, Prunus avium....
and other fruit orchards. Borden also has a bell foundry
Bellfounding
Bellfounding is the casting of bells in a foundry for use in churches, clocks, and public buildings. A practitioner of the craft is called a bellmaker or bellfounder. The process in Europe dates to the 4th or 5th century. In early times, when a town produced a bell it was a momentous occasion in...
and small ironmongers.
Today Borden is growing with new houses and has greater ties with Sittingbourne. Many residents now commute to major towns or London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to work.
Demography
| Borden compared | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 UK Census | Borden ward | Swale borough | England |
| Population | 2,154 | 122,801 | 49,138,831 |
| Foreign born | 3.1% | 3.7% | 9.2% |
| White | 99.1% | 98.1% | 90.9% |
| Asian | 0.5% | 0.8% | 4.6% |
| Black | 0% | 0.3% | 2.3% |
| Christian | 79.9% | 75.9% | 71.7% |
| Muslim | 0.4% | 0.4% | 3.1% |
| Hindu | 0.3% | 0.2% | 1.1% |
| No religion | 13.4% | 15.4% | 14.6% |
| Unemployed | 2.5% | 3.5% | 3.3% |
| Retired | 13.4% | 13.6% | 13.5% |
As of the 2001 UK census, the Borden electoral ward had a population of 2,154. The ethnicity was 99.1% white, 0.3% mixed race, 0.5% Asian, 0% black and 0.1% other. The place of birth of residents was 96.9% United Kingdom, 0.4% Republic of Ireland, 0.7% other Western European countries, and 2% elsewhere. Religion was recorded as 79.9% Christian, 0.1% Buddhist, 0.3% Hindu, 0% Sikh, 0% Jewish, and 0.4% Muslim. 13.4% were recorded as having no religion, 0.3% had an alternative religion and 5.5% did not state their religion.
The economic activity of residents aged 16–74 was 43.7% in full-time employment, 11.5% in part-time employment, 12.2% self-employed, 2.5% unemployed, 2.3% students with jobs, 2.6% students without jobs, 13.4% retired, 7% looking after home or family, 2.7% permanently sick or disabled and 2.1% economically inactive for other reasons. The industry of employment of residents was 17.1% retail, 16.3% manufacturing, 10.1% construction, 13.3% real estate, 7.7% health and social work, 6.8% education, 6.3% transport and communications, 5.1% public administration, 3.6% hotels and restaurants, 5.2% finance, 2.9% agriculture and 5.6% other. Compared with national figures, the ward had a relatively high proportion of workers in agriculture and construction. There were a relatively low proportion in health and social work, hotels and restaurants. Of the ward's residents aged 16–74, 16.7% had a higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
qualification or the equivalent, compared with 19.9% nationwide.