East Malling and Larkfield

:"Larkfield redirects here. See also Larkfield (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)."

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= East Malling and Larkfield
latitude= 51.290320
longitude= 0.470770
population = 12,027 (2001 census)
shire_district= Tonbridge and Malling
shire_county = Kent
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Tonbridge and Malling
post_town=
postcode_district =
postcode_area=
dial_code=
os_grid_reference=

East Malling and Larkfield is a civil parish in the district of Tonbridge and Malling, Kent, England. It is about 3.9 km (2.4 mi) southeast of West Malling, 8.5 km (5.5 mi) northwest of Maidstone, and 18.3 km (11.4 mi) SSW of Rochester. In 1962, the parish was formed from two smaller ancient ecclesiastical parishes, East Malling and Larkfield. Covering 10.78 square kilometres, the parish is in the heart of the hop fields and fruit-growing region, and has an expanding residential area.There are two parish churches within the parish. The church at East Malling is dedicated to St James the Great; that at Larkfield to Holy Trinity. There is also a Methodist church in Larkfield.

Of the two parts of the parish, Larkfield is much more built-up, lying on the main A20 road, and is part of greater Maidstone . The M20 motorway also passes through, and there is a junction at Leybourne. East Malling has a much more village "feel" about it. As well as the roads East Malling railway station, serves the village.

There is a railway station at East Malling (services to Maidstone, Ashford & London) and another nearby at New Hythe (Larkfield) (with services to Paddock Wood and the Medway towns). The estimated population of the registration district of Malling in 2001 was 12,700.

The name of Larkfield is literal and descriptive - it refers to the large numbers of skylarks found in the fields; its first recorded instance is in Domesday Book as "Lavrochesfel".

The village has expanded rapidly since the M20 motorway was constructed in the 1970s and it continues to grow, with new housing developments currently being completed on 'the lakes' - dis-used gravel pits that were turned into man-made lakes some years ago. The decision to build on this area was unpopular with some residents, but the remaining lakes were turned into a country park and nature reserve to offset the impact of the new housing.

Larkfield has three schools on a campus site - Brookfield Infants, Brookfield Juniors, and Lunsford Primary. There is a small local shopping area at Martin Square, which also provides a library, a retirement home and a modern Medical Centre, Thornhills. In addition to this there are two major supermarkets close by.

Larkfield has been of some historical interest throughout recent times, with a number of archeological discoveries in the area.

ee also

* West Malling
* East Malling Research
* East Malling Enterprise Centre
* Bradbourne House
* East Malling Stream

External links

* [http://www.emandlpc.co.uk/ East Malling and Larkfield Parish Council]
* [http://kent.lovesguide.com/east_malling.htm East Malling church]