Marden, Kent
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox UK place Marden (Template:IPAc-en or Template:IPAc-en)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is a village and civil parish in the Kent borough of Maidstone approximately Template:Convert south of Maidstone. The civil parish is located on the flood plain of the River Beult, and also includes Chainhurst and the hamlet of Wanshurst Green.<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref name=econ/>
The village is associated with apple growing and from 1933 to 1991 hosted a nationally recognised fruit show.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=econ>Template:Cite web</ref>
History
Name
The dense woodland and marshes of the Weald of Kent were littered with acorns and beech mast in autumn making ideal seasonal foraging ground for pigs. The grants by Saxon kings for rights to these pannage areas were known as dens which later came to refer to the herders' camps and ultimately the settlements that grew up there. Maer referred to barren areas of marsh alongside the forest. In time the dens developed into permanent settlements such a Maer den, or clearing beside the marsh.<ref name=econ/><ref name="saunter">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="cols">Template:Cite web</ref>
By 1066 the settlement was recorded as Maere Denn; in 1170, Maeredaen; 1235, Mereden; 1283, Merdenne, and from about 1635 by its present name.<ref name=hist/>
Parish pump
Marden Parish Council covered over a well opposite the village's Maidstone Road junction in 1899 and erected a pump. In 1907, it had to be locked, and then removed, because of contamination of the water by ammonia, nitrates, chlorides and organic matter. The parish pump is depicted on the village sign.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Forges
George Rootes, a relative of the Rootes Group founders, operated Rootes' Forge at West End, and the West End Tavern next door.<ref name="forge"/>
A Mr Bourne ran Bourne's Forge in the High Street. After it was demolished, Sutton's shop was built on the site and later new housing, the present Sutton Forge.<ref name="forge">Template:Cite web</ref>
French airliner crash
Template:Main On 10 February 1930, a Farman F.63 Goliath crashed at Pagehurst emergency landing ground whilst attempting an emergency landing following structural failure of the starboard tailplane. Two of the six people on board were killed.<ref name=Times290330>Template:Cite newspaper The Times</ref>
Marden Fruit Show
In 1933, Marden Fruit Show Society was established by 35 top-fruit growers and their first show was held in October that year at Walton Hall on Pattenden Lane. The prize fruit was sent to London for display at Selfridges. Apart from World War II, and bad frost years, the Society has organised their shows annually ever since.<ref name="shows"/>
In 1953 Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother attended the show.<ref name="shows"/>
Marden Fruit Show is now The National Fruit Show and has moved from Pattenden Lane to the Kent Showground at nearby Detling. Entries of apples, pears and cherries come from across Great Britain and mainland Europe.<ref name="shows">Template:Cite web</ref>
Doodlebugs
On 3 July 1944, a German V-1 flying bomb shot down by anti-aircraft fire landed on an army camp in Pattenden Lane, killing 11 and injuring eight. A total of 11 of the flying bombs fell on Marden including another on Pattenden Lane that exploded in a pond.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Pluto
A World War II Pluto fuel pipeline was constructed through Marden parish. In 2016, a section of the pipe from Gatehouse Farm, incorporating a concrete joint to facilitate a change in alignment, was relocated and put on permanent display at Marden Library.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Rail collision
Template:Main On 4 January 1969, a passenger train from Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk overran a signal at danger in fog and crashed into the back of a parcels train. Four people were killed and 11 injured.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Transport
Marden is 8 miles (13 km) from Maidstone and 14 miles (22 km) from Tonbridge. It is on the B2079 linking the A229 Maidstone with the A21 at Flimwell. Marden railway station is on the South Eastern Main Line.
Economy
There is local employment at the substantial industrial estate built north of the railway line on Pattenden Lane from 1950 which supplements traditional agricultural jobs, but many residents commute to work in London.<ref name="hist" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=econ/>
In 1993, there was a substantial tyre dump fire at the Pattenden Lane industrial area that caused pollution of the River Teise.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="hist" />
Amenities
St Michael and All Angels Church, depicted on the village sign, was built at the end of the 12th century.<ref name=NHLE>Template:NHLE</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2007, Ann Widdecombe opened the Marden Heritage Centre's archive at Marden Library.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The village school, Marden Primary Academy, joined the Leigh Academies Trust in 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Marden Village Club was founded in 1907 and offers refreshments, singers and bingo to its members. Across Howland Road from the Village Club is the entrance to Marden Bowls Club's green and clubhouse.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Memorial Hall
Marden Memorial Hall on Goudhurst Road is operated by a registered charity. The three function rooms host community and private events, and since 1974 have staged Marden Theatre Group productions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Hall was converted from a former Church School in 1934 and named for the memory of Mr Edward Day.<ref name="hist">Template:Cite web</ref>
Between 1950 and 1977 the Memorial Hall accommodated Marden library.<ref name="hist"/>
Sport
Marden Cricket Club and Marden Russets Hockey Club are based at Day's Sport Field.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Marden Minors football team play at Church Park.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Marden Meadows
The Template:Convert Marden Meadows Site of Special Scientific Interest is to the east of the village. Kent Trust for Nature Conservation mows the three fields once a year for hay and livestock graze the aftermath. The unimproved, natural grassland contains Ophioglossum, green winged orchid, Saxifraga granulata, Leucanthemum vulgare, Rhinanthus minor, and within a pond Hottonia palustris and bladder-sedge.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
People
- Nicholas Amhurst (1697–1742), poet<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Nicholas Fenn (1936–2016), British diplomat<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- William Hartnell (1908–75), actor<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Sidney Highwood (1896–1975 ), RAF officer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- William Morley Punshon (1824–81), preacher<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Franz Von Werra, (1914–41), German fighter pilot<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>