Camer Park Country Park
Encyclopedia
Camer Country Park is in Meopham
, in Kent
, England. A former estate landscape, with grassland and woodland.
farmstead in the area since the 13th Century and the estate reached its peak size in the 18th and 19th centuries under the Smith-Masters.
Which also included William Smith-Masters
who was an English cricketer
, he died in Meopham on 27 August 1937. The last known resident was Kate (or Catherine) Smith-Masters. Her son George Smith then inheritted the estate. He kept the house but sold the rest of the estate, and it was bought in 1967 by the Strood Rural District
Council, for the sum of £9,750.
The council then converted the estate into a Country Park.
It was opened in the early 70's by Kent County Council
, it is still managed by them.
The Smith-Masters estate house (a Grade II listed building) was built in 1716, still exists (in private hands). It can be seen from the park.
Camer Park covers more than 40 acres of ancient parkland and woods, it is listed as an Area of Outstanding Beauty.
A Year of Walks, Kent book has a 11 mile walk starting in the park carpark and leading through the estate to Meopham
, Havel
, Luddesdown
, and Cobham
and then back to the park.
and then turn left into Green Lane and turn right into Camer Park Road. It has free entry car park.
Meopham
Meopham is a large linear village and civil parish in the Borough of Gravesham and ceremonial county of Kent, in England, and lies to the south of Gravesend. The parish covers , and comprises two villages and two smaller settlements; it has a population of 6,427...
, in 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. A former estate landscape, with grassland and woodland.
History
This park was originally the country estate of the Smith-Masters family. It was one of the largest estates in Meopham, where there had been afarmstead in the area since the 13th Century and the estate reached its peak size in the 18th and 19th centuries under the Smith-Masters.
Which also included William Smith-Masters
William Smith-Masters
William Allan Smith-Masters born William Allan Cowburn was an English cricketer. Smith-Masters batting and bowling styles are unknown. He was born at Humber, Herefordshire....
who was an English cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
, he died in Meopham on 27 August 1937. The last known resident was Kate (or Catherine) Smith-Masters. Her son George Smith then inheritted the estate. He kept the house but sold the rest of the estate, and it was bought in 1967 by the Strood Rural District
Strood Rural District
Strood Rural District was a rural district in the county of Kent, England.It was subject to boundary reforms in 1934 and 1935.It consisted of the following civil parishes:*Allhallows...
Council, for the sum of £9,750.
The council then converted the estate into a Country Park.
It was opened in the early 70's by Kent County Council
Kent County Council
Kent County Council is the county council that governs the majority of the county of Kent in England. It provides the upper tier of local government, below which are 12 district councils, and around 300 town and parish councils. The county council has 84 elected councillors...
, it is still managed by them.
The Smith-Masters estate house (a Grade II listed building) was built in 1716, still exists (in private hands). It can be seen from the park.
Walking in the Park
Visitors to the park can choose to either wander at ease admiring the variety of original trees of the mature parkland or go on one of the series of walks devised by Meopham Footpaths Group through the adjoining woodland of the park.Camer Park covers more than 40 acres of ancient parkland and woods, it is listed as an Area of Outstanding Beauty.
A Year of Walks, Kent book has a 11 mile walk starting in the park carpark and leading through the estate to Meopham
Meopham
Meopham is a large linear village and civil parish in the Borough of Gravesham and ceremonial county of Kent, in England, and lies to the south of Gravesend. The parish covers , and comprises two villages and two smaller settlements; it has a population of 6,427...
, Havel
Havel
The Havel is a river in north-eastern Germany, flowing through the German states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, Berlin and Saxony-Anhalt. It is a right tributary of the Elbe river and in length...
, Luddesdown
Luddesdown
Luddesdown is a civil parish in the Gravesham District of Kent, England. This very rural parish, forming part of the North Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is located in a dry valley to the south of Gravesend and is named after a scattered group of houses and farms around Luddesdown...
, and Cobham
Cobham
- Towns or districts :* Cobham, Kent, England* Cobham, Surrey, England* Cobham, Virginia , multiple places- Other place names :* Cobham Intermediate School* Cobham Sports and Social Club...
and then back to the park.
How to get there
Situated from the A2 dual carriageway near Gravesend,then take the A227 towards Wrotham. Then pass through the village of MeophamMeopham
Meopham is a large linear village and civil parish in the Borough of Gravesham and ceremonial county of Kent, in England, and lies to the south of Gravesend. The parish covers , and comprises two villages and two smaller settlements; it has a population of 6,427...
and then turn left into Green Lane and turn right into Camer Park Road. It has free entry car park.