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Mereworth in Kent

Google map showing area surrounding Mereworth
(The First Victoria Cross)
Location: 51.258461,0.380712
General Details
Mereworth in Kent pronounced Merryworth is a small village lying just off the current A26 Maidstone to Tonbridge road. It lies between the villages of Wateringbury and West Peckham near the crossing of Seven Mile lane with the A26.

The manor was owned by William Shosmith in the mid 1400's, who was a warden of the Skinners Company of London, and his tomb has one of the earliest representations of the guild. (The tomb was moved when the church relocated see below). In the late 1400's the manor was owned by the Bergavenny (later Abergavenny) family and the Neville family. In the early 1700's the Honorable John Fane who was later to become the Earl of Westmoreland inherited the manor of Mereworth. He decided that the manor was too small, and had a mansion built to a design by Colen Campbell, in the Palladian style. Mereworth Castle overlooked the old village, which was to the south east of its current location. Because the mansion overlooked the village, John Fane moved the village to where it couldn't be seen from the estate, about 1/2 mile to the north west. He also demolished the old church and built a brand new one again in the Palladian style in the new village.

In 1755 it is said that John Fane entertained Prince Charles Edward the Young Pretender at Mereworth Castle, which is where he held the last Jacobite council.

The Baltic War in 1854 brought Charles Lucas the very first Victoria Cross. Charles was later to be known as Rear Admiral Charles Lucas . He was onboard HMS Hecla under bombardment from the batteries at Bomarsund in Finland, when a shell hit the ship with its fuze still burning. He picked it up and threw it overboard where it exploded, due to this brave deed HMS Hecla survived.

During the Second World War the steeple of the church was damaged due to its proximity to West Malling airfield, the damaged steeple was then restored during 1946-47.
Views
Mereworth in Kent is surrounded by hop fields and the whole area is agricultural.

The church is very magnificent , being built in the palladian style during the early 1700's from local stone. It is most unusual in its design, and has an ornate interior, and also many tombs relocated from the old church.
Services
Mereworth in Kent has the usual small village services. Its nearest main shopping centre is in Maidstone, about 5 miles to the east.

The Maidstone to Tonbridge bus service passes through the village, and the nearest main line trains run from Paddock Wood about 5 miles south. The M20 motorway is accessible 4 miles to the north at Wrotham Heath.
Map
Mereworth is shown as the red symbol on the map.

Nearby Villages

(click on symbol to see the village page)
Village= Town= Recorded in Domesday=
Boughton Monchelsea (Miraculous vision)6.83 miles
Coxheath (Soldiers and Duels)5.26 miles
East Peckham (Centre of the Hop Industry)3.22 miles
Hadlow (Mays Folly - 150ft tower)
3.15 miles
Linton (Cavalier loses House)
6.16 miles
Yalding (longest medieval bridge in Kent)
3.24 miles
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Local Businesses
For all things mosaic, commissions workshops etc please contact Hannah
The Bald Explorer for local documentaries
Battle Brewery our local excellent micro brewery
Talk in Code fabulous new Album
Tenderheart Childrens Charity
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