- Aylesham
infobox UK place
country = England
official_name = Aylesham
population = 3,884
shire_district= Dover
shire_county =Kent
region = South East England
constituency_Westminster= Dover
post_town =Dover
postcode_district = CT3
postcode_area = CT
dial_code = 01304
OS_grid_reference = TR278502Aylesham (pronounced /IPA|ˈeɪl.ʃəm/) is a
village andcivil parish in the Dover district ofKent inEngland . AAccording to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 3,884.
The village was once associated with coal-mining. Apart from Aylesham itself the parish includes
Snowdown . Both villages are served by railway stations –Aylesham railway station andSnowdown railway station .The village was established in 1926. Designed by Dorman and Long, the village was settled to provide housing for the newly sunk coal mine at nearby Snowdown Colliery. Miners from all parts of the UK, notably South Wales, Scotland and the Northeast, seeking better wages and safer conditions, traveled to the village to work at nearby Snowdown Colliery.Many endured the
Jarrow March .During the 1960s a considerable number of families from the village emigrated to Australia. Many of them settled in a suburb of Brisbane called Acacia Ridge. The resettled families often affectionately referred to this suburb as "Little Aylesham."
Walking in the fields and woods around Aylesham is a great experience. It also has a few war relics – old pillboxes. During the
Second World War the Aylesham coalminers had a Home Guard contingent. They were involved in many rescue operations during the German bombings (especially in Canterbury).Aylesham has been identified by the Dover Local Plan as a location for expansion.
Aylesham has been lnown to produce a number of talented sports men and women, most notably though an array of talented young footballers. In the 30's and 40's there were men from the village that represented both ottenham Hotspur, and Coventry City. In more recent years the village has produced a young footballer named Ryan Wilson that has found himself signed by an American University, on a full soccer scholarship.
[http://www.dover.gov.uk/aylesham/]
References
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