Biddenden
Encyclopedia
Biddenden is a village
and civil parish in the Ashford District
of Kent
, England
. The village lies on the Weald
of Kent, some five miles (8 km) north of Tenterden
. It was centre for Wealden iron industry
and also of clothmaking
. During the reign of Edward III some Flemish clothworkers settled in the area. The ready availability of raw materials led to the establishment of an industry for the production of broadcloth. An important cottage industry is established to the west, where wine and cider is produced.
Biddenden is also the trading name of Biddenden's Cider. Biddenden's cider is made by Biddenden Vineyards Ltd. whose premises are close to the village.
In 1100, Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst
, a pair of conjoined twins
, were born in the village. The Biddenden Maids, as they became known, are celebrated in the village sign.
On December 21, 1821, LDS Church leader and Utah
pioneer John R. Winder
was born in Biddenden.
As of the 2001 UK census, the Biddenden electoral ward had a population of 2,434. The ethnicity was 98.7% white, 0.4% mixed race, 0.3% Asian, 0.5% black and 0.1% other. The place of birth of residents was 94.2% United Kingdom, 0.4% Republic of Ireland, 1.6% other Western European countries, and 3.8% elsewhere. Religion was recorded as 78.6% Christian, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.2% Hindu, 0% Sikh, 0% Jewish, and 0.1% Muslim. 12.7% were recorded as having no religion, 0.3% had an alternative religion and 7.9% did not state their religion.
The economic activity of residents aged 16–74 was 32.8% in full-time employment, 12.5% in part-time employment, 16.9% self-employed, 1.7% unemployed, 1.1% students with jobs, 2.4% students without jobs, 18.8% retired, 9.4% looking after home or family, 2.5% permanently sick or disabled and 2% economically inactive for other reasons. The industry of employment of residents was 13.9% retail, 9.5% manufacturing, 10.3% construction, 14.3% real estate, 10.3% health and social work, 7.2% education, 4.7% transport and communications, 5.2% public administration, 4.9% hotels and restaurants, 5.7% finance, 5.8% agriculture and 8.2% other. Compared with national figures, the ward had a relatively high proportion of workers in agriculture and construction. There were a relatively low proportion in manufacturing, transport and communications. Of the ward's residents aged 16–74, 19.6% had a higher education
qualification or the equivalent, compared with 19.9% nationwide.
, on the Kent and East Sussex Railway
. The station opened on 15 May 1905 and closed on 4 January 1954.
Bygone Buses
was based in Biddenden during the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was sold to Maidstone & District Motor Services.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish in the Ashford District
Ashford (borough)
Ashford is a local government district and borough in Kent, England. Its council is based in the town of Ashford.The borough was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the borough of Tenterden with Ashford urban district, and the East Ashford, West Ashford and Tenterden Rural Districts...
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 village lies on the Weald
Weald
The Weald is the name given to an area in South East England situated between the parallel chalk escarpments of the North and the South Downs. It should be regarded as three separate parts: the sandstone "High Weald" in the centre; the clay "Low Weald" periphery; and the Greensand Ridge which...
of Kent, some five miles (8 km) north of Tenterden
Tenterden
Tenterden is a Cinque Port town in the Ashford District of Kent, England. It stands on the edge of the Weald, overlooking the valley of the River Rother....
. It was centre for Wealden iron industry
Wealden iron industry
The Wealden iron industry was located in the Weald of south-eastern England. It was formerly an important industry, producing a large proportion of the bar iron made in England in the 16th century and most British cannon until about 1770. Ironmaking in the Weald used ironstone from various clay...
and also of clothmaking
Wealden cloth industry
Cloth-making was, apart from iron-making, the other large-scale industry carried out on the Weald of Kent and Sussex in medieval times. The ready availability of wool from the sheep of the Romney Marsh, and the immigration from Flanders in the fourteenth century of cloth-workers – places like...
. During the reign of Edward III some Flemish clothworkers settled in the area. The ready availability of raw materials led to the establishment of an industry for the production of broadcloth. An important cottage industry is established to the west, where wine and cider is produced.
Biddenden is also the trading name of Biddenden's Cider. Biddenden's cider is made by Biddenden Vineyards Ltd. whose premises are close to the village.
In 1100, Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst
Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst
Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst , commonly known as the Biddenden Maids, were a pair of conjoined twins supposedly born in Biddenden, Kent, in the year 1100. They are said to have been joined at both the shoulder and the hip, and to have lived for 34 years...
, a pair of conjoined twins
Conjoined twins
Conjoined twins are identical twins whose bodies are joined in utero. A rare phenomenon, the occurrence is estimated to range from 1 in 50,000 births to 1 in 100,000 births, with a somewhat higher incidence in Southwest Asia and Africa. Approximately half are stillborn, and a smaller fraction of...
, were born in the village. The Biddenden Maids, as they became known, are celebrated in the village sign.
On December 21, 1821, LDS Church leader and Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
pioneer John R. Winder
John R. Winder
John Rex Winder was a leader and general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric from 1887 to 1901, and First Counselor in the First Presidency to Church President Joseph F. Smith from 1901 until his death. He was well-known...
was born in Biddenden.
Origin of Name
The place name of Biddenden is derived from Old English, meaning Bidda's woodland pasture associated with a man called Bida originally Biddingden (c993) Bida + ing + denn, eventually evolved into the current spelling.Demography
| Biddenden compared | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 UK Census | Biddenden | Ashford district | England |
| Population | 2,434 | 102,661 | 49,138,831 |
| Foreign born | 5.8% | 5.5% | 9.2% |
| White | 98.7% | 97.6% | 90.9% |
| Asian | 0.3% | 0.9% | 4.6% |
| Black | 0.5% | 0.4% | 2.3% |
| Christian | 78.6% | 76.5% | 71.7% |
| Muslim | 0.1% | 0.6% | 3.1% |
| Hindu | 0.2% | 0.3% | 1.1% |
| No religion | 12.7% | 14.6% | 14.6% |
| Unemployed | 1.7% | 2.4% | 3.3% |
| Retired | 18.8% | 13.8% | 13.5% |
As of the 2001 UK census, the Biddenden electoral ward had a population of 2,434. The ethnicity was 98.7% white, 0.4% mixed race, 0.3% Asian, 0.5% black and 0.1% other. The place of birth of residents was 94.2% United Kingdom, 0.4% Republic of Ireland, 1.6% other Western European countries, and 3.8% elsewhere. Religion was recorded as 78.6% Christian, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.2% Hindu, 0% Sikh, 0% Jewish, and 0.1% Muslim. 12.7% were recorded as having no religion, 0.3% had an alternative religion and 7.9% did not state their religion.
The economic activity of residents aged 16–74 was 32.8% in full-time employment, 12.5% in part-time employment, 16.9% self-employed, 1.7% unemployed, 1.1% students with jobs, 2.4% students without jobs, 18.8% retired, 9.4% looking after home or family, 2.5% permanently sick or disabled and 2% economically inactive for other reasons. The industry of employment of residents was 13.9% retail, 9.5% manufacturing, 10.3% construction, 14.3% real estate, 10.3% health and social work, 7.2% education, 4.7% transport and communications, 5.2% public administration, 4.9% hotels and restaurants, 5.7% finance, 5.8% agriculture and 8.2% other. Compared with national figures, the ward had a relatively high proportion of workers in agriculture and construction. There were a relatively low proportion in manufacturing, transport and communications. Of the ward's residents aged 16–74, 19.6% had a higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
qualification or the equivalent, compared with 19.9% nationwide.
Transport
Biddenden was served by Biddenden railway stationBiddenden railway station
Biddenden was a railway station on the Kent and East Sussex Railway which closed in 1954.As of 2009 some building remnants and parts of the platforms are still clearly visible about 50 metres to the west of the A274.-External links:* *...
, on the Kent and East Sussex Railway
Kent and East Sussex Railway
The Kent & East Sussex Railway refers to both an historical private railway company in Kent and Sussex in England, as well as a heritage railway currently running on part of the route of the historical company.-Historical Company:-Background:...
. The station opened on 15 May 1905 and closed on 4 January 1954.
Bygone Buses
Bygone buses
Bygone Buses was a post-deregulation bus operator based in Biddenden, Kent, England. It operated on local competitive and tendered services in Maidstone, Medway and The Weald of Kent. It emerged from a company called River Valley Coaches, and used an allover red livery.Bygone used some vintage...
was based in Biddenden during the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was sold to Maidstone & District Motor Services.
Notable people
- Thomas BickleyThomas BickleyThomas Bickley was an English churchman, a Marian exile who became Warden of Merton College, Oxford and Bishop of Chichester-Life:...
(1518-96), was rector of Biddenden prior to 1585 - Mary and Eliza ChulkhurstMary and Eliza ChulkhurstMary and Eliza Chulkhurst , commonly known as the Biddenden Maids, were a pair of conjoined twins supposedly born in Biddenden, Kent, in the year 1100. They are said to have been joined at both the shoulder and the hip, and to have lived for 34 years...
(1100-34), conjoined twins traditionally said to have lived in Biddenden. - Robert KahnRobert Kahn (composer)Robert Kahn was a German composer, pianist, and music teacher.- Life :Kahn was born in Mannheim, the second son of Bernhard Kahn and Emma Eberstadt. One of his seven siblings included financier Otto Kahn. His parents belonged to a distinguished family of bankers and merchants...
(1865-1951), composer, lived in Biddenden from 1938-51 - Edward NaresEdward NaresEdward Nares was an English historian and theologian, and general writer.-Life:He was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. He was Fellow of Merton College, Oxford and became in 1813 Regius Professor of Modern History...
(1762-1841), theologian, was rector of Biddenden 1798-1827 - King Rama VIIPrajadhipokPhra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Prajadhipok Phra Pok Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama VII was the seventh monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was the last absolute monarch and the first constitutional monarch of the country. His reign was a turbulent time for Siam due to huge political...
of Siam (1893-1941) lived in Biddenden after his abdication in 1935. - Elias SydallElias SydallElias Sydall was an English bishop of St David's and bishop of Gloucester.-Life:He was the son of a glover of Norwich. He matriculated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge in 1688, graduating B.A. in 1692 and M.A. in 1695. He became D.D. in 1705. He was a Fellow of Corpus from 1696 to 1703.He...
(1672-1733), was rector of Biddenden 1702-05. - John WinderJohn R. WinderJohn Rex Winder was a leader and general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric from 1887 to 1901, and First Counselor in the First Presidency to Church President Joseph F. Smith from 1901 until his death. He was well-known...
(1821-1910), Presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was born in Biddenden - Denise Van OutenDenise van OutenDenise van Outen is an English actress, singer and television presenter. Her most notable roles to date are as a presenter on The Big Breakfast, and as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago on both the West End and on Broadway.- Early life :Born Denise Kathleen Outen in Basildon, Essex, she is the...
and Lee MeadLee MeadLee Stephen Mead is an English musical theatre actor, best known for winning the title role in the 2007 West End revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat through the BBC reality TV casting show Any Dream Will Do...
currently live in Biddenden with their baby, Betsy.