Doddington, Kent
Encyclopedia
Doddington is an affluent rural English
village, in the south eastern county of Kent
, within the borough of Swale
. A picturesque village nestling in the 'Syndale Valley' which is in the Kent Downs
and is designated an Area of outstanding natural beauty
. Today the village is popular with commuters to London and retired people who are attracted by its quiet charm.
Within the parish at Sharsted Court
, earthworks excavated were believed remains of an Iron Age
Belgic Fort (100-43BC). However the current village settlement dates from the 11th Century.
The village has a garage (Doddington Service Station), one pub (The Chequers Inn) which also acts as a post office. A multi-award winning butchers (Doughtys) owned by the Doughty family since 1919 and a butcher's shop since 1789.
Of particular note is Doddington Church with the unusual dedication of "The decollation (beheading) of St John the Baptist". The dedication dates from at least 1467 when it is referenced in a will.
Other notable buildings within the Parish are: Doddington Place built in 1870 for the Croft family (of 'Croft original sherry' fame) who owned it until 1906 when the Jefferies and Oldfied families jointly purchased it. It is still owned by the Oldfield family and the gardens are open to the public.
Nearby is Sharsted Court
, a Medieval Hall house, however a building on the site dates from at least 1080. Today Sharsted Court is a large romantic rambling manor house due to the many additions and alterations over the centuries. It is owned by former Wimbledon champion Virginia Wade
.
Every Christmas the local Thespian group The Valley players put on an outstanding village Pantomime
, adding their own twist to the traditional plays. In 2011 they shall be performing Mother Goose
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
village, in the south eastern county of 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...
, within the borough of Swale
Swale
Swale is a local government district with borough status in Kent, England. Its council is based in Sittingbourne. The borough is named after the narrow channel called The Swale, a channel that separates the mainland of Kent from the Isle of Sheppey, and which occupies the central part of the...
. A picturesque village nestling in the 'Syndale Valley' which is in the Kent Downs
Kent Downs
Kent Downs is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Kent, England . They are the eastern half of the North Downs and stretch from the London/Surrey borders to the White Cliffs of Dover...
and is designated an Area of outstanding natural beauty
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government; the Countryside Council for Wales on...
. Today the village is popular with commuters to London and retired people who are attracted by its quiet charm.
Within the parish at Sharsted Court
Sharsted Court
Sharsted Court is a manor house set in woodland near the village of Newnham, Kent England. A house or lodge has been recorded at the site since the time of Odo de Bayeux in 1080, however the present building, exhibiting a number of later styles, principally dates from the 18th century...
, earthworks excavated were believed remains of an Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
Belgic Fort (100-43BC). However the current village settlement dates from the 11th Century.
The village has a garage (Doddington Service Station), one pub (The Chequers Inn) which also acts as a post office. A multi-award winning butchers (Doughtys) owned by the Doughty family since 1919 and a butcher's shop since 1789.
Of particular note is Doddington Church with the unusual dedication of "The decollation (beheading) of St John the Baptist". The dedication dates from at least 1467 when it is referenced in a will.
Nearby is Sharsted Court
Sharsted Court
Sharsted Court is a manor house set in woodland near the village of Newnham, Kent England. A house or lodge has been recorded at the site since the time of Odo de Bayeux in 1080, however the present building, exhibiting a number of later styles, principally dates from the 18th century...
, a Medieval Hall house, however a building on the site dates from at least 1080. Today Sharsted Court is a large romantic rambling manor house due to the many additions and alterations over the centuries. It is owned by former Wimbledon champion Virginia Wade
Virginia Wade
Sarah Virginia Wade, OBE is a former English tennis player. She won three Grand Slam singles championships and four Grand Slam doubles championships. She won the women's singles championship at Wimbledon on 1 July 1977, in that tournament's centenary year, the last time any Briton has won a...
.
Every Christmas the local Thespian group The Valley players put on an outstanding village Pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
, adding their own twist to the traditional plays. In 2011 they shall be performing Mother Goose
Mother Goose
The familiar figure of Mother Goose is an imaginary author of a collection of fairy tales and nursery rhymes which are often published as Mother Goose Rhymes. As a character, she appears in one "nursery rhyme". A Christmas pantomime called Mother Goose is often performed in the United Kingdom...
.