Dymchurch
Encyclopedia
Dymchurch is a village and civil parish in the Shepway
District of Kent
, England
. The village is located on the coast five miles (8 km) south-west of Hythe
, and on the Romney Marsh
. It is typical of this part of the coast, having been a village which became larger during the 1930s. Many houses were converted railway carriages.
.
New Hall was rebuilt in 1575 after an earlier wooden structure was destroyed in a storm. It was used as a court room for the Romney Marsh area. The head magistrate was known as Leveller of the Marsh Scotts. It was here that the so-called scot tax
was introduced, levied on residents to fund maintenance of the sea wall. Those directly outside the boundaries and thus not eligible for the tax were said to have got away "Scott Free".
Residents with land were required to grow thorn bushes for building of the wall, as thorn twigs were believed impervious to sea water. Failure resulted in an ear being cut off.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, smuggling
was rife all along the south east coast of England. Due to its remote location Romney Marsh
and the surrounding areas were amongst the busiest locations for illicit trade. Inspiration from this gave rise to Dymchurch being the setting of the "Doctor Syn
" novels, based on smuggling, by Russell Thorndike
. Every two years a celebration of the novels is held, usually on August Bank Holiday. A local rumour has it that the books were mostly written within The Ship Inn which was built in the 15th century and is still in use to this day as a local public house, hotel and restaurant but in reality Thorndyke's nephew insists that the novels were written in the author's garage.
The other famous place in Dymchurch is The "Dr Syns Guest House" Restaurant http://www.drsynsguesthouse.co.uk. The name was given over 60 years ago to remember the story told, a landmark in Dymchurch.
Three Martello tower
s and Dymchurch Redoubt
are located here, all built during the Napoleonic Wars
. Martello tower No. 24 is still open to the public http://www.martello-towers.co.uk/south-coast/towers/24.htm. Of the other two, one is now a house and the other is derelict.
More modern history begins in the early 20th century, when people were wanting to own their own property. Land was sold to them and buildings erected - often derelict railway carriages . Today the village is a relatively large one, and much of it is dedicated to the holiday maker. Restaurants, cafes and takeaways are there, as are the four public houses and amusement park and arcade.
Much of the tourism in the village is centred around New Beach Caravan Holiday Park to the East of the village, the largest holiday park on the south Kent coast.
, opened in the 1920s. Dymchurch railway station
was reopened after World War II
by Laurel and Hardy
.
, built in the 12th century, but extensions and modifications in 1821 lost its symmetry. St. Peter and St. Paul's has several stories surrounding it. Its font was once thrown out - possibly by Protestant dissenters - and then restored in the 15th century after being recovered from a ditch.
(published by the KM Group
. Free newspapers for the area include the Folkestone and Hythe Extra, part of the KM Group; and yourshepway, part of KOS Media
.
. The area is also served by the county-wide stations Heart, Gold and BBC Radio Kent
. (Romney Marsh F.M. is back November)
Shepway
Shepway is a local government district in Kent, England. It includes the towns of Folkestone and Hythe and the Romney Marsh. It is named after the Jutish lathe of Shepway; the Royal Court of Shepway, which met near Lympne at a place called Shepway Cross, was the principal court of the Cinque Ports...
District 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...
, England
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...
. The village is located on the coast five miles (8 km) south-west of Hythe
Hythe, Kent
Hythe , is a small coastal market town on the edge of Romney Marsh, in the District of Shepway on the south coast of Kent. The word Hythe or Hithe is an Old English word meaning Haven or Landing Place....
, and on the Romney Marsh
Romney Marsh
Romney Marsh is a sparsely populated wetland area in the counties of Kent and East Sussex in the south-east of England. It covers about 100 mi ² .-Quotations:*“As Egypt was the gift of the Nile, this level tract .....
. It is typical of this part of the coast, having been a village which became larger during the 1930s. Many houses were converted railway carriages.
History
The history of Dymchurch begins with the gradual build-up of the Romney MarshRomney Marsh
Romney Marsh is a sparsely populated wetland area in the counties of Kent and East Sussex in the south-east of England. It covers about 100 mi ² .-Quotations:*“As Egypt was the gift of the Nile, this level tract .....
.
New Hall was rebuilt in 1575 after an earlier wooden structure was destroyed in a storm. It was used as a court room for the Romney Marsh area. The head magistrate was known as Leveller of the Marsh Scotts. It was here that the so-called scot tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
was introduced, levied on residents to fund maintenance of the sea wall. Those directly outside the boundaries and thus not eligible for the tax were said to have got away "Scott Free".
Residents with land were required to grow thorn bushes for building of the wall, as thorn twigs were believed impervious to sea water. Failure resulted in an ear being cut off.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, smuggling
Smuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
was rife all along the south east coast of England. Due to its remote location Romney Marsh
Romney Marsh
Romney Marsh is a sparsely populated wetland area in the counties of Kent and East Sussex in the south-east of England. It covers about 100 mi ² .-Quotations:*“As Egypt was the gift of the Nile, this level tract .....
and the surrounding areas were amongst the busiest locations for illicit trade. Inspiration from this gave rise to Dymchurch being the setting of the "Doctor Syn
Doctor Syn
The Reverend Doctor Christopher Syn is the smuggler hero of a series of novels by Russell Thorndike. The first book, Doctor Syn: A Tale of the Romney Marsh was published in 1915. The story idea came from smuggling in the 18th century Romney Marsh, where brandy and tobacco were brought in at night...
" novels, based on smuggling, by Russell Thorndike
Russell Thorndike
Arthur Russell Thorndike was a British actor and novelist, best known for the Doctor Syn of Romney Marsh novels...
. Every two years a celebration of the novels is held, usually on August Bank Holiday. A local rumour has it that the books were mostly written within The Ship Inn which was built in the 15th century and is still in use to this day as a local public house, hotel and restaurant but in reality Thorndyke's nephew insists that the novels were written in the author's garage.
The other famous place in Dymchurch is The "Dr Syns Guest House" Restaurant http://www.drsynsguesthouse.co.uk. The name was given over 60 years ago to remember the story told, a landmark in Dymchurch.
Martello tower
Martello towers are small defensive forts built in several countries of the British Empire during the 19th century, from the time of the Napoleonic Wars onwards....
s and Dymchurch Redoubt
Dymchurch Redoubt
Dymchurch Grand Redoubt is a fortification on the coast of Kent in England, built during the Napoleonic War as part of a large defensive scheme to protect the country from an expected French invasion.-Description:...
are located here, all built during the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
. Martello tower No. 24 is still open to the public http://www.martello-towers.co.uk/south-coast/towers/24.htm. Of the other two, one is now a house and the other is derelict.
More modern history begins in the early 20th century, when people were wanting to own their own property. Land was sold to them and buildings erected - often derelict railway carriages . Today the village is a relatively large one, and much of it is dedicated to the holiday maker. Restaurants, cafes and takeaways are there, as are the four public houses and amusement park and arcade.
Much of the tourism in the village is centred around New Beach Caravan Holiday Park to the East of the village, the largest holiday park on the south Kent coast.
Transport
The A259 coastal road passes through the village, as does the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch RailwayRomney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway
The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway is a gauge light railway in Kent, England. The line runs from the Cinque Port of Hythe via Dymchurch, St...
, opened in the 1920s. Dymchurch railway station
Dymchurch railway station
Dymchurch railway station is on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway in Kent, England. It is five miles south of Hythe, and surrounded by flat countryside....
was reopened after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy were one of the most popular and critically acclaimed comedy double acts of the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema...
.
Buildings of note
St. Peter and St. Paul's church is classic NormanNorman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
, built in the 12th century, but extensions and modifications in 1821 lost its symmetry. St. Peter and St. Paul's has several stories surrounding it. Its font was once thrown out - possibly by Protestant dissenters - and then restored in the 15th century after being recovered from a ditch.
Newspapers
Dymchurch has two paid for newspapers, the Romney Marsh Herald (published by Kent Regional News and Media) and the Kentish ExpressKentish Express
The Kentish Express is a weekly newspaper serving southern Kent. It is published in four editions - Ashford, Folkestone, Hythe and the Romney Marsh, and Tenterden. It is owned by the KM Group and is published on Thursdays.-History:...
(published by the KM Group
KM Group
The KM Group, formerly known as the Kent Messenger Group until 2008, is a multimedia company based in the county of Kent in South East England...
. Free newspapers for the area include the Folkestone and Hythe Extra, part of the KM Group; and yourshepway, part of KOS Media
KOS Media
KOS Media is a multimedia company based in the county of Kent in South East England. The company operates local newspapers and internet sites throughout the county.-History:...
.
Radio
The local radio station for Dymchurch is KMFM Shepway and White Cliffs CountryKMFM Shepway and White Cliffs Country
KMFM Shepway and White Cliffs Country is an Independent Local Radio serving the districts of Dover and Shepway and the surrounding areas in Kent, South East England. It is part of the KMFM group of radio stations in the county, which are part of the KM Group....
. The area is also served by the county-wide stations Heart, Gold and BBC Radio Kent
BBC Radio Kent
BBC Radio Kent is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Kent.It broadcasts on FM on 96.7 , 97.6 and 104.2 also 774 and 1602 MW and DAB.- History :The radio station was launched in 1970 under the name of BBC Radio Medway, originally only serving the...
. (Romney Marsh F.M. is back November)