Matfield
Encyclopedia
Matfield is a small village, part of the civil parish
of Brenchley
, in the Tunbridge Wells
Borough of Kent
, England
. The sculptor Theresa Sassoon planted a tree on the green to commemorate the end of World War I
; the tree was blown down in the hurricane of 1987 and had to be replaced. There are also two pubs: The Wheelwright's Arms; The Star and a gastropub "Morello" at the Standing Cross.
Matfield was awarded the title of Kent Village of the Year in 2010.
and 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Paddock Wood
.
The village grew up around its village green
, which is the largest in Kent. The village green features a large pond at its northern end.
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...
of Brenchley
Brenchley
Brenchley is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.-History:The name is historically derived from Branca's Leigh. The parish is located east of Tunbridge Wells, and south of Paddock Wood, and includes the neighbouring village of Matfield...
, in the Tunbridge Wells
Tunbridge Wells (borough)
Tunbridge Wells is a local government district and borough in Kent, England. It takes its name from its main town, Royal Tunbridge Wells.The district was formed on 1 April 1974, by the merger of the municipal borough of Royal Tunbridge Wells along with Southborough urban district, Cranbrook Rural...
Borough 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 sculptor Theresa Sassoon planted a tree on the green to commemorate the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
; the tree was blown down in the hurricane of 1987 and had to be replaced. There are also two pubs: The Wheelwright's Arms; The Star and a gastropub "Morello" at the Standing Cross.
Matfield was awarded the title of Kent Village of the Year in 2010.
Geography
Matfield is located around 5 miles (8 km) north-east of Royal Tunbridge WellsRoyal Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town in west Kent, England, about south-east of central London by road, by rail. The town is close to the border of the county of East Sussex...
and 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Paddock Wood
Paddock Wood
Paddock Wood is a small town and civil parish in the Borough of Tunbridge Wells and county of Kent in England, about southwest of Maidstone. At the time of the 2001 census it had a population of 8,263, and is the centre for hop growing in Kent.-History:...
.
The village grew up around its village green
Village green
A village green is a common open area which is a part of a settlement. Traditionally, such an area was often common grass land at the centre of a small agricultural settlement, used for grazing and sometimes for community events...
, which is the largest in Kent. The village green features a large pond at its northern end.
Notable people
- Siegfried SassoonSiegfried SassoonSiegfried Loraine Sassoon CBE MC was an English poet, author and soldier. Decorated for bravery on the Western Front, he became one of the leading poets of the First World War. His poetry both described the horrors of the trenches, and satirised the patriotic pretensions of those who, in Sassoon's...
(1886–1967), poet, was born in Matfield. - Theresa ThornycroftTheresa ThornycroftTheresa Thornycroft was an English sculptor and member of the Thornycroft family of artists. Her brother Sir Hamo Thornycroft RA, sisters Alyce Thornycroft and Helen Thornycroft were all artists, while her brother Sir John Isaac Thornycroft was the founder of the Thornycroft shipbuilding company...
(1853–1946), sculptor, lived in Matfield. - Alan Watt (1907–74), cricketer, lived in Matfield
- Harrison WeirHarrison WeirHarrison William Weir , known as "The Father of the Cat Fancy", was an English gentleman and artist.He organized the first cat show in England, at The Crystal Palace, London, in July 1871. He and his brother, John Jenner Weir, both served as judges in the show...
(1824–1906), artist, lived in Matfield.