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Kenardington in Kent

Google map showing area surrounding Kenardington
(Danes destroy Saxon Fort)
Location: 51.059452,0.811741
General Details
St Marys church (Kenardington Kent)Kenardington in Kent may be found standing on what was once the 'Ancient Saxon' shoreline, but is nowadays the edge of the Romney Marsh .

St Marys church stands on the site of what was believed to be a small Saxon fort. The fort was 600ft long on the eastern side, and 550ft long on the northern side. Unfortunately most of its earthworks have been ploughed away over the years.

The fort may have been built to repel the Danish invasion, however it was only half finished when the Danes attacked in 892AD. The Danes encamped here before moving on to establish themselves at Appledore .

A Saxon church at Kenardington dedicated to St Mary, is recorded in the Domesday Book. At this time an annual fee of 12d (5p) was paid to the monks of Christchurch Canterbury. This indicates that it is likely the monks were the original founders of the church.

The original church may have been wooden, then after the Norman Conquest of 1066 was replaced by a stone building. The tower dates from 1170AD and is a square structure without buttresses. To the north side it has an unusual round tower, which carries the staircase to the belfrey at the top of the main tower.

The church is another one a long way away from the village, which implies quarantine at the time of the Black Death .

In the 14th century, it is believed that the church was sacked by the French during the Hundred Years War , but there is no remaining evidence. In 1559 the church was struck by lightning, and which started a fire causing the collapse of the nave, chancel and the north aisle.
Views
If you travel up to the church, and walk round the churchyard, the area is very deserted, and you can imagine the Danes attacking the Saxons in the fort nearby.

Also from the church, the valley to the north east would have been flooded by the sea in Saxon times, although now it is many miles inland.
Services
Kenardington in Kent is a very small village with very limited services, the nearest shops are in Hamstreet .

The main large shopping centre is in Ashford with its large number of shops, and Tenterden for small town shopping. The nearest trains also run from Ashford , with the main line to London passing through, together with the Ashford Terminal of Eurostar.
Map
Kenardington is shown as the red symbol on the map.

Nearby Villages

(click on symbol to see the village page)
Village= Town= Recorded in Domesday=
Aldington (The Aldington Gang)
6.21 miles
Appledore (Danes invade England)
2.14 miles
Bilsington (The Priory and Obelisk)
4.42 miles
Bonnington (Saint Rumwold the child saint)
5.41 miles
Brenzett (St Eanswyth a saxon princess)
3.91 miles
Fairfield (The Isolated Church)3.82 miles
Hamstreet and Orlestone (The Start of the Ordnance Survey)1.97 miles
Ivychurch (The burial ground on the Island)4.66 miles
Newchurch (The Church Tower with a kink)5.33 miles
Ruckinge (Smuggling and Traction Engines)
3.38 miles
Smallhythe (The Ellen Terry Museum)5.12 miles
Snargate (Sluice Gates made by Royal Order)2.87 miles
Snave (the Remote church)3.08 miles
St Mary in the Marsh (Ancient Celts)6.66 miles
Stone in Oxney (Roman stone altar)3.61 miles
Tenterden (Centre of the Broadcloth industry)5.40 miles
Warehorne (A good place to explore the Marshes)
1.18 miles
Wittersham (Park your Airship here ?)5.81 miles
Woodchurch (Dragoons capture Smugglers)1.80 miles
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Local Businesses
Battle Brewery our local excellent micro brewery
The Rudes as lots of people call us, are an outdoor touring theatre company specialising in taking new & original theatre to mainly small rural communities and a few towns across the South of England. We were founded in 1998 & first toured in the Summer of 1999. Currently we tour only in the summer performing 50+ times nightly during June, July & August. https://therudemechanicaltheatre.co.uk
Tenderheart Childrens Charity
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The Bald Explorer for local documentaries
Talk in Code fabulous new Album