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As you will see below the town
of Tenterden has a notably historic past. The variety of buildings are a joy to
behold and with so many places nearby to explore both the serious and amatuer
historian will not be disappointed in what Tenterden has to offer. The town
also boasts an active Local History Society - for more details follow the links
below:
A brief history of Tenterden
Tenterden & District Local History
Society |
A Brief History of
Tenterden
In Roman times, the
Weald of Kent and much of East Sussex were covered by a huge expanse of forest.
A Roman road from Thanet passed through the district, but it was not until
Saxon times that a settlement was recorded. In Old English "Tenet Waraden"
described a den or clearing in the forest belonging to the men of Thanet, and
the town's name is derived from this ancient identification.
Tenterden first
rose to affluence as a centre for the wool trade in the 13th Century. In 1331
Edward III prohibited the export of raw wool and brought weavers and dyers from
Flanders to teach the English to manufacture finished cloth, and in the
subsequent decades Tenterden's prosperity grew. Despite this relative
affluence, a number of townsfolk supported the Peasant's Revolt and joined Wat
Tyler's march on Canterbury and London in 1381.
The town, unlike other wool
centres in the Weald, has the advantage of access to the sea. Much of what is
now Romney Marsh was under water, and ships docked at Smallhythe. Wood from the
Wealden Forest was used to construct ships, and in 1449 Tenterden was
incorporated into the Confederation of Cinque Ports as a limb of Rye. Ships
built in the town were then used to help Rye fulfil its quota for the Crown. As
a Cinque Port, Tenterden enjoyed virtual self-government, was exempt from
national taxation and represented at the coronation of the monarch. The latter
privilege is still jealously guarded and the town still retains a mayor, but
sadly exemption from taxes no longer applies! In the 15th and 16th Centuries
changes in the coastline meant that the Cinque Ports lost much of their
influence - indeed Tenterden lost all access to the sea, and today is some ten
miles from the coast.
The town has escaped much of the major development now
commonplace elsewhere, and remains one of the most picturesque in Kent. Its
broad tree-lined High Street offers a selection of shopping facilities, and is
dominated by the pinnacled tower of St. Mildred's Church. The church dates from
the 12th Century, and was progressively enlarged until 1461, when the
distinctive tower was constructed. St. Mildred was the granddaughter of Egbert
- founder of Thanet's Minster Abbey - and it is believed that a Saxon church
dedicated to her stood in the parish from the 8th Century. The suburb now
called St. Michael's was known as Boresisle until Victorian times, when a
church dedicated to St. Michael was built to serve this community. The church
was consecrated in 1863, but construction of the steeple took a further twelve
years.
Throughout the 20th Century the area was the focus of much of the
expansion in housing for the town. The pioneering printer William Caxton is
reputed to have been born in or near the town, and the town archive includes a
copy of a book published by Caxton in 1482. Actress Dame Ellen Terry is another
of Tenterden's famous former residents. Tenterden and District Museum, situated
in Station Road, has exhibits covering more that a thousand years of local
history.
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Tenterden and District
Local History Society
The programme for 2008 includes seven
lectures on Wednesday evenings in the autumn and winter. All meetings will be
held in the Zion Baptist Church, High Street, Tenterden at 7.15 pm for 7.30 pm.
There will also be two coffee mornings held in St Mildred's Church Hall from
10am until 12 noon. Outings will be arranged in the summer.
27 February
2008: History of Cobham Hall Gerry Harris
5 March 2008: Coffee Morning St
Mildred's Church Hall, Church Road, Tenterden 10am to 12noon, entrance fee
£1 Coffee and cakes available
26 March 2008: AGM followed by Scenes
of Tenterden Bill Parsons
30 April 2008: Benedictine Monk at Battle Abbey
Geoff Hutchinson
Subscriptions
The Annual Subscription is
£4. Guests and Visitors will continue to be welcome at any meeting on
payment of £1. Annual subscriptions are due at the first meeting.
Membership
If you know of anyone who may be interested in
joining, please encourage him or her to do so or ask the Secretary to send them
a copy of the Programme.
If anyone has difficulty with transport to the
meetings, please let the Secretary know and she will endeavour to arrange
lifts, or can members bring one or two near-neighbours? Please offer to help if
you have room in your car.
Coffee morning socials
We hope
that members will come to the social events and bring their friends. Members
who find it difficult to come to the evening meetings will be especially
welcome so as to keep in touch with the Society. Local history scrapbooks have
been maintained for over 40 years and these will be on display. The Scrapbooks
make a fascinating record of events as seen at the time by local newspapers and
periodicals.
Society's library
Our collection of books,
papers, etc. on local history is available for reference or borrowing in
Tenterden Public Library in the Local Studies Room, and also the County Library
collection on similar topics. To obtain the keys of the Society's bookcases,
show your Membership Card to the Librarian. The books may be borrowed for 15
days and must be recorded in the Loan Book.
Notice board
This is located on the rear wall of the corner shop, opposite the
Woolpack. Notices also appear in the Wealden Advertiser and other periodicals.
Research
Mr Alec Laurence will continue to answer queries on
genealogy and research.
Officers and committee
President
Vice President/Genealogy/Research
Hon Life Member
Chairman
Vice Chairman
Secretary
Treasurer/Membership
Excursion Secretary
Librarian
Committee
members
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Mr W
Tunstall Bates
Mr A E Laurence
Mrs H Sykes Mrs M Jacques
Dr N P Hudd
Mr D Dedrick
Mrs. Eleanor Bliss
Mrs B Booth
Mr M
Homewood
Dr J R Gillett
Canon P Brett, Mrs M Jacques, Mrs J Jex, Mr G
Peacock, Mrs J Sugden |
For more information
about the Society, please contact the Secretary, Mrs Eleanor Bliss. Tel: 01233
770082 Email: ebliss@tiscali.co.uk |
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