Knockholt
Encyclopedia
Knockholt is a village and civil parish
in Kent
, England
, lying approximately 5 miles south of Orpington
and 3 miles northwest of Sevenoaks
. It is part of the Sevenoaks district
and according to the 2001 census it had a population of 1,166. The village is located at 51°18'36" north 0°6'18" East.
The village is mostly a ribbon development
, surrounded by fields that are a part of the Green Belt. There is mixed arable farming. It is in a hilly, rural location, on the top of the dip slope of the North Downs, and has views over London.
Knockholt was included in Orpington Urban District
in 1934. http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10223568. When Greater London
was created in 1965, as part of Orpington UD, Knockholt was included in the London Borough of Bromley
. In 1969, it was removed from the Borough, and included in Sevenoaks Rural District
. http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10225048
The Ivy Farm Communications Centre at Knockholt Pound was the Radio Intercept Station for the non-Morse radio traffic, known as Fish
, decoded by Bletchley Park
during World War II
. The importance of the station is noted in Paul Gannon's book.
There are two parts to the village, Knockholt, near the Crown public house
, church
and school and The Pound, near the Three Horse Shoes pub, village shop and garage (Ox in Flames). There are two other pubs, the Harrow and Tally Ho, as well as a village club. All serve meals most days of the week. Food is also served at the two Coolings nurseries in the village.
The local CE
church is St Katharine's
. The primary School is St Katharine's Church of England Primary School, opposite the church. The Methodist Church is in Harrow Road.
Knockholt railway station
sits 2 miles north of the village on the old A21 near Halstead
and Badgers Mount
.
The well-known Knockholt Amateur Theatrical Society produce one play and pantomime every year. This charitable society was formed in 1945. Kytens is the local youth amateur theatrical group linked to KATS above. There are many other groups including Bowls, Cricket, Tennis, Horse Riding, Horticulture, Christian Fellowship. This is a popular area for horse riders, walkers, ramblers and cyclists, due to its beauty.
Knockholt Cricket Club completed the 2009 season unbeaten in the Kent County Village League (KCVL) Division 3, which was believed to be a KCVL first.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in 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...
, lying approximately 5 miles south of Orpington
Orpington
Orpington is a suburban town and electoral ward in the London Borough of Bromley. It forms the southeastern edge of London's urban sprawl and is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
and 3 miles northwest of Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks is a commuter town situated on the London fringe of west Kent, England, some 20 miles south-east of Charing Cross, on one of the principal commuter rail lines from the capital...
. It is part of the Sevenoaks district
Sevenoaks (district)
Sevenoaks is a local government district covering the western most part of Kent in England. Its council is based in the town of Sevenoaks. It was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by a merger of the Sevenoaks Urban District, Sevenoaks Rural District and part of Dartford...
and according to the 2001 census it had a population of 1,166. The village is located at 51°18'36" north 0°6'18" East.
The village is mostly a ribbon development
Ribbon development
Ribbon development means building houses along the routes of communications radiating from a human settlement. Such development generated great concern in the United Kingdom during the 1920s and the 1930s, as well as in numerous other countries....
, surrounded by fields that are a part of the Green Belt. There is mixed arable farming. It is in a hilly, rural location, on the top of the dip slope of the North Downs, and has views over London.
Knockholt was included in Orpington Urban District
Orpington Urban District
Orpington was a local government district in north west Kent from 1934 to 1965 around the town of Orpington, England.It was created an urban district in 1934 from parts of the abolished districts of Bromley Rural District and Chislehurst Urban District, taking in the entirety of Chelsfield, Cudham,...
in 1934. http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10223568. When Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
was created in 1965, as part of Orpington UD, Knockholt was included in the London Borough of Bromley
London Borough of Bromley
The London Borough of Bromley is a London borough of south east London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in the borough is Bromley.-Geography:...
. In 1969, it was removed from the Borough, and included in Sevenoaks Rural District
Sevenoaks Rural District
Sevenoaks Rural District was a rural district in the county of Kent, England, from 1894 to 1974. It did not include Sevenoaks Urban District, which covered the town of Sevenoaks.It included the following civil parishes:*Brasted*Chevening*Chiddingstone...
. http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10225048
The Ivy Farm Communications Centre at Knockholt Pound was the Radio Intercept Station for the non-Morse radio traffic, known as Fish
Fish (cryptography)
Fish was the Allied codename for any of several German teleprinter stream ciphers used during World War II. Enciphered teleprinter traffic was used between German High Command and Army Group commanders in the field, so its intelligence value was of the highest strategic value to the Allies...
, decoded by Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park is an estate located in the town of Bletchley, in Buckinghamshire, England, which currently houses the National Museum of Computing...
during 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...
. The importance of the station is noted in Paul Gannon's book.
There are two parts to the village, Knockholt, near the Crown public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, church
St Katharine's Church, Knockholt
St Katharine's Church is an Anglican parish church in the village of Knockholt and the Sevenoaks deanery. St Katharine's and St Margaret's came together in 1983 as a United Benefice under one parish priest. The pattern of services reflects the fact that it is two parishes working closely together...
and school and The Pound, near the Three Horse Shoes pub, village shop and garage (Ox in Flames). There are two other pubs, the Harrow and Tally Ho, as well as a village club. All serve meals most days of the week. Food is also served at the two Coolings nurseries in the village.
The local CE
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...
church is St Katharine's
St Katharine's Church, Knockholt
St Katharine's Church is an Anglican parish church in the village of Knockholt and the Sevenoaks deanery. St Katharine's and St Margaret's came together in 1983 as a United Benefice under one parish priest. The pattern of services reflects the fact that it is two parishes working closely together...
. The primary School is St Katharine's Church of England Primary School, opposite the church. The Methodist Church is in Harrow Road.
Knockholt railway station
Knockholt railway station
Knockholt railway station is a railway station in the south eastern corner of the London Borough of Bromley, in Travelcard Zone 6 and on the South Eastern Main Line. It is located next to the Greater London boundary with Kent district of Sevenoaks...
sits 2 miles north of the village on the old A21 near Halstead
Halstead, Kent
Halstead is a village and civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, England. The parish is located on the North Downs, 3 miles south of Orpington and 5 miles north of Sevenoaks....
and Badgers Mount
Badgers Mount
Badgers Mount is a village in Kent, south-east England, situated approximately south-east of Orpington and north-northwest of Sevenoaks. It is part of the Sevenoaks district, and is also in the parish of St Margaret's Church and civil parish of Shoreham....
.
Local Activities
Knockholt residents host a village carnival every two years, the most recent being in July 2010, and a fireworks night every year, late October to early November. Funds raised through these and other events go to national and local charities. On the first Monday evening in July, from 6 pm to 9.30 pm, classic lorries and trade vehicles meet up at the Crown public house, Main Road, near the church.The well-known Knockholt Amateur Theatrical Society produce one play and pantomime every year. This charitable society was formed in 1945. Kytens is the local youth amateur theatrical group linked to KATS above. There are many other groups including Bowls, Cricket, Tennis, Horse Riding, Horticulture, Christian Fellowship. This is a popular area for horse riders, walkers, ramblers and cyclists, due to its beauty.
Knockholt Cricket Club completed the 2009 season unbeaten in the Kent County Village League (KCVL) Division 3, which was believed to be a KCVL first.