West Malling
Encyclopedia
West Malling is a historic market town
in the Tonbridge and Malling
district of Kent
, England
. It has a population of about 3000-5000.
, a Norman
keep, was built by Bishop Gundulf
c.1080. He also built the White Tower of the Tower of London
, the castles of Rochester and Colchester
, the Priory and Cathedral of Rochester
. In c.1090 Gundulf founded St. Mary’s Abbey in West Malling for Benedictine
nuns. This historic site contains significant buildings from the Norman, medieval, Tudor and Georgian
eras. There is also a Grade II* Listed 1966 Abbey Church which is used by the Anglican Benedictine nuns who have made Malling Abbey
their home since 1916.
Other buildings of interest in West Malling include the Prior’s House, once a residence for those with leprosy; Ford House, over 600 years old; a mainly Georgian High Street; the Swan Hotel, an 18th-century coaching inn (Grade II listed), and Went House, built c.1720 and noted for its elegant brickwork. Manor Park Country Park
is located just to the south of the town close to St Leonard's Tower and Douce's Manor, whose grounds the park once comprised.
as having the highest average income and the highest proportion of households earning greater than £100,000 per annum in Great Britain
.
and Dover
and with good links by road and rail the area has become a popular commuter location.
, and from Junction 2 of the M26
which leads on to the M25
, encircling London.
, and several US Navy squadrons were based there during the 1960s. After closure as an operational air station in 1967, several commercial air-based activities moved onto the site, and a number of popular airshow
s took place - the last being in 1987. By this time work had started to convert the area to non-flying use, developing into the new parish of Kings Hill
.
, situated on the outskirts of the town, provides a regular service, operated by Southeastern Trains
up to Victoria, and down to Maidstone
and Ashford
. Journeys into London take around one hour. Direct services to London Bridge and Cannon Street were withdrawn in January 2010.
With the recent development of Kings Hill
, the station was renamed West Malling for Kings Hill, and in 2007, road access was provided from the West Malling bypass
, taking commuter traffic away from the High Street.
newspaper, published by the KM Group
.
. The county-wide stations BBC Radio Kent
, Heart and Gold can also be received in the town.
, and it is known that In 1705, "West of Kent" played Chatham at Malling.
The setting for the cricket match between All Muggleton and Dingley Dell in Charles Dickens
' Pickwick Papers was based on an amalgamation of the grounds at West Malling and Maidstone
. There is a resemblance to West Malling in the original illustration of the match, a version of which featured on the back of the £10 banknote featuring Dickens, first circulated on 29 April 1992.
A real alternative to the above.
Charles Dickens was a regular visitor to Dingley Hall in the village of Dingley, Northamptonshire. Here he would have encountered an annual cricket match against a team formed of men with the name Muggleton, from the next village of Wilbaston. Dingley Dell is an area just south of the village, steep and wooded.
' Magical Mystery Tour
was filmed around West Malling, including in the High Street and at the airfield. The Beatles were once owners of Douce's Manor, between the town and the airfield. Part of the estate of the 18th Century Manor has been turned into Manor Park Country Park
.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
in the Tonbridge and Malling
Tonbridge and Malling
Tonbridge and Malling is a local government district and borough in the English county of Kent.Tonbridge and Malling borough covers an area from the North Downs at Burham and Snodland in the north to the town of Tonbridge in the south...
district 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...
. It has a population of about 3000-5000.
Landmarks
West Malling contains many historic buildings. Including St Leonard's Tower, West MallingSt Leonard's Tower, West Malling
St Leonard's Tower is a Norman keep in West Malling, in the county of Kent, England. The tower was built by Bishop Gundulf around 1080.Situated beside Manor Park Country Park, along St.Leonard's Road.-History:...
, a Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
keep, was built by Bishop Gundulf
Gundulf of Rochester
Gundulf was a Norman monk who came to England following the Conquest. He was appointed Bishop of Rochester and Prior of the Cathedral Priory there; built castles including Rochester, Colchester and the White Tower of the Tower of London and the Priory and Cathedral Church of...
c.1080. He also built the White Tower of the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
, the castles of Rochester and Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
, the Priory and Cathedral of Rochester
Rochester Cathedral
Rochester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Norman church in Rochester, Kent. The bishopric is second oldest in England after Canterbury...
. In c.1090 Gundulf founded St. Mary’s Abbey in West Malling for Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
nuns. This historic site contains significant buildings from the Norman, medieval, Tudor and Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
eras. There is also a Grade II* Listed 1966 Abbey Church which is used by the Anglican Benedictine nuns who have made Malling Abbey
Malling Abbey
St. Mary’s Abbey is an abbey of Anglican Benedictine nuns, located at West Malling, Kent, England.-History:The manor of West Malling was given by King Edmund to Burhic, Bishop of Rochester in 946. The land was lost to the church...
their home since 1916.
Other buildings of interest in West Malling include the Prior’s House, once a residence for those with leprosy; Ford House, over 600 years old; a mainly Georgian High Street; the Swan Hotel, an 18th-century coaching inn (Grade II listed), and Went House, built c.1720 and noted for its elegant brickwork. Manor Park Country Park
Manor Park Country Park
.Manor Park Country Park is a country park in West Malling, Kent, England. The park, formerly the private gardens of the nearby Douces Manor was purchased from the manor's owners by Kent County Council in 1973 to be converted into a public open space....
is located just to the south of the town close to St Leonard's Tower and Douce's Manor, whose grounds the park once comprised.
Kings Hill
This new parish is a mixed residential housing estate and commercial development formed from parts of West Malling, Mereworth, East Malling and Wateringbury. The 2004 Wealth of the Nation report lists Kings HillKings Hill
Kings Hill is a civil parish in the Borough of Tonbridge and Malling in Kent, England. It is one of several new villages built in Kent since the 1950s . Development started in 1989 near West Malling, on land previously occupied by RAF West Malling. The plan was for a multi-purpose site of both...
as having the highest average income and the highest proportion of households earning greater than £100,000 per annum in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
Transport
West Malling is some 35 miles (56 km) from central London, next to the main road between London and the coastal ferry ports of FolkestoneFolkestone
Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its...
and Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
and with good links by road and rail the area has become a popular commuter location.
Road
Originally established on the main road to London from the coast, West Malling is about a mile (1½ km) from Junction 4 of the M20M20 motorway
The M20 is a motorway in Kent, England. It runs from the M25 motorway to Folkestone, providing a link to the Channel Tunnel and the ports at Dover. It is long...
, and from Junction 2 of the M26
M26 motorway
The M26 is a motorway in Kent, England. It provides a short link between the M25/A21 at Sevenoaks and the M20 near Wrotham.-Route:The motorway starts at junction 3 of the M20 and heads west, encountering almost immediately the single junction along its length where it has an interchange with the A20...
which leads on to the M25
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
, encircling London.
Air
In the 1930s, Maidstone Airport was established two miles from the town, at Kings Hill. During the Second World War, RAF fighters were based at the then-named RAF West MallingRAF West Malling
RAF West Malling was a Royal Air Force station near West Malling in Kent, England.Originally used as a landing area during the first World War, the site opened as a private landing ground and in 1930, then known as Kingshill, home to the Maidstone School of Flying, before being renamed West Malling...
, and several US Navy squadrons were based there during the 1960s. After closure as an operational air station in 1967, several commercial air-based activities moved onto the site, and a number of popular airshow
Airshow
An air show is an event at which aviators display their flying skills and the capabilities of their aircraft to spectators in aerobatics. Air shows without aerobatic displays, having only aircraft displayed parked on the ground, are called "static air shows"....
s took place - the last being in 1987. By this time work had started to convert the area to non-flying use, developing into the new parish of Kings Hill
Kings Hill
Kings Hill is a civil parish in the Borough of Tonbridge and Malling in Kent, England. It is one of several new villages built in Kent since the 1950s . Development started in 1989 near West Malling, on land previously occupied by RAF West Malling. The plan was for a multi-purpose site of both...
.
Rail
West Malling stationWest Malling railway station
West Malling railway station lies to the east of West Malling, Kent, England and is close to Kings Hill, Larkfield and Leybourne. The station, and all trains serving it, is operated by Southeastern....
, situated on the outskirts of the town, provides a regular service, operated by Southeastern Trains
Southeastern (train operating company)
London & South Eastern Railway Limited, trading as Southeastern is a train operating company in south-east England. On 1 April 2006 it became the franchisee for the new Integrated Kent Franchise , replacing the publicly owned South Eastern Trains on the former South East Franchise...
up to Victoria, and down to Maidstone
Maidstone East railway station
Maidstone East railway station is one of three stations in the central area of Maidstone, Kent, but currently the only one with a regular direct service to London. The station is on the Maidstone East Line, south-east of London Victoria , and is served by trains operated by...
and Ashford
Ashford International railway station
Ashford International railway station serves Ashford in Kent, England. Services are provided by Southeastern, Southern and Eurostar.International services use platforms 3 & 4, whilst domestic trains use the original platforms 1 & 2, and a new island built when the Channel Tunnel opened...
. Journeys into London take around one hour. Direct services to London Bridge and Cannon Street were withdrawn in January 2010.
With the recent development of Kings Hill
Kings Hill
Kings Hill is a civil parish in the Borough of Tonbridge and Malling in Kent, England. It is one of several new villages built in Kent since the 1950s . Development started in 1989 near West Malling, on land previously occupied by RAF West Malling. The plan was for a multi-purpose site of both...
, the station was renamed West Malling for Kings Hill, and in 2007, road access was provided from the West Malling bypass
A228 road
The A228 road is an important transport artery in Kent, England. It begins at the Isle of Grain and runs in a south-westerly direction to connect eventually with the A21 trunk road at Pembury. It serves existing communities and new and proposed housing developments and commercial enterprises...
, taking commuter traffic away from the High Street.
Newspapers
West Malling is covered by the Malling edition of the Kent MessengerKent Messenger
This article is about the weekly paper for the Maidstone region. For the Kent Messenger Group, see KM Group.The Kent Messenger is a weekly newspaper serving the mid-Kent area. It is published in three editions - Maidstone, Malling, and the Weald...
newspaper, published by the KM Group
KM Group
The KM Group, formerly known as the Kent Messenger Group until 2008, is a multimedia company based in the county of Kent in South East England...
.
Radio
The local radio station for West Malling is KMFM MaidstoneKMFM Maidstone
KMFM Maidstone is an Independent Local Radio serving the town of Maidstone and the surrounding areas in Kent, South East England. It is part of the KMFM group of radio stations in the county, which are part of the KM Group.-History:...
. The county-wide stations BBC Radio Kent
BBC Radio Kent
BBC Radio Kent is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Kent.It broadcasts on FM on 96.7 , 97.6 and 104.2 also 774 and 1602 MW and DAB.- History :The radio station was launched in 1970 under the name of BBC Radio Medway, originally only serving the...
, Heart and Gold can also be received in the town.
Sport
West Malling is reputed to be the site of the first recorded cricket match in Kent. The ground, off Norman Road, was once the home of inter-county cricket in KentKent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
, and it is known that In 1705, "West of Kent" played Chatham at Malling.
The setting for the cricket match between All Muggleton and Dingley Dell in Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
' Pickwick Papers was based on an amalgamation of the grounds at West Malling and Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
. There is a resemblance to West Malling in the original illustration of the match, a version of which featured on the back of the £10 banknote featuring Dickens, first circulated on 29 April 1992.
A real alternative to the above.
Charles Dickens was a regular visitor to Dingley Hall in the village of Dingley, Northamptonshire. Here he would have encountered an annual cricket match against a team formed of men with the name Muggleton, from the next village of Wilbaston. Dingley Dell is an area just south of the village, steep and wooded.
Cultural references
In 1967, The BeatlesThe Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' Magical Mystery Tour
Magical Mystery Tour (film)
Magical Mystery Tour is an hour-long British television film starring The Beatles that originally aired on BBC1 on 26 December 1967...
was filmed around West Malling, including in the High Street and at the airfield. The Beatles were once owners of Douce's Manor, between the town and the airfield. Part of the estate of the 18th Century Manor has been turned into Manor Park Country Park
Manor Park Country Park
.Manor Park Country Park is a country park in West Malling, Kent, England. The park, formerly the private gardens of the nearby Douces Manor was purchased from the manor's owners by Kent County Council in 1973 to be converted into a public open space....
.
Notable residents
- Chris Evans, radio and TV presenter, once lived in West Malling
- Guy GibsonGuy GibsonWing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson VC, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, RAF , was the first CO of the Royal Air Force's 617 Squadron, which he led in the "Dam Busters" raid in 1943, resulting in the destruction of two large dams in the Ruhr area...
, V.C.Victoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, leader of The DambustersOperation ChastiseOperation Chastise was an attack on German dams carried out on 16–17 May 1943 by Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron, subsequently known as the "Dambusters", using a specially developed "bouncing bomb" invented and developed by Barnes Wallis...
, was stationed at RAF West Malling in 1941
External links
- Panoramic views of West Malling (BBC)
- Malling Action Partnership, a community-based partnership leading to a community-developed vision for the future of West Malling as a market town.
- Wealth of the Nation
- Geograph photo of the Cricket Ground
- West Malling Resource Centre, a non-profitmaking local community site, includes personal memories from current and previous residents.