Halling, Kent

Coordinates: 51°21′05″N 0°26′29″E / 51.35142°N 0.44133°E / 51.35142; 0.44133

Halling
Halling Lake
Halling  Halling shown within Kent
Population	2,700
OS grid reference	TQ701642
Unitary authority	Medway
Ceremonial county	Kent
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Rochester
Postcode district	ME2 1..
Dialling code	01634
Police	Kent
Fire	Kent
Ambulance	South East Coast
EU Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Rochester & Strood
List of places: UK • England • Kent

Halling is a village on the North Downs in the northern part of Kent, England, covering 7.1 square kilometres of land. Consisting of Lower Halling, Upper Halling and North Halling, it is scattered over some 3 miles (5 km) along the River Medway parallel to the Pilgrims' Way running over Kent.

The origin of the name is uncertain. The following have been proposed at various times: Halls land (Belonging to Hall), Heall land (From Old English, Hall Manor), Heallgemot (the court of the Lord of the Manor), Heallingas (Comrades sharing the same hall).

Early history

Halling Man, a Neolithic skeleton discovered in 1912 behind the existing railway station, is the earliest indication of activity in Halling. There is evidence of Roman settlement indicated by a number of burials from the period as well as Roman tiles. The first written record dates from the 8th century. In the Charter for Halling (765-785 AD) Ecgberht II of Kent granted to St. Andrews of Rochester, "ten sulings at Halling with rights to pasture swine in five districts".

Modern Halling

Union Moon unloading at Halling cement works

From Wouldham Marshes, over the Medway to houses in North Halling, with cliffs of Bore's Hole and May Wood to the top left.

Halling had a small industrial existence, with two chalk mining and processing factories, however these have all now been shut and the last chimney stack was demolished in 2010.

Since before World War II, quarries have been dug in Halling, at first by hand, for the extraction of chalk for cement manufacture. The chalk was mainly shipped out of the area on barges using the river Medway.

It is connected to the other villages and towns along the Medway by the Medway Valley railway line, running from Tonbridge and Maidstone to Strood. Also there are good road links as the village sits between the M20 and the M2.

The chalk quarrying industry in Halling had a great influence, including the building of the majority of the village houses, the support of many families and the improvement of its road and railway connections. However, although the area of these activities did spread into what is Green Belt land, some of these areas have now been returned to the community or built on. Parts of the village are controlled by the Green Belt area, limiting growth of industrial and residential areas alike.

Despite the influence of the chalk industry in the past in Halling, modern technology, practices and the closure of the factories have meant that there are now very few if any workers required. Instead, the working population of the village mainly commutes to London and nearby towns.

Services and features

The village has a church, Post Office, fire station, two pubs, a small convenience store, two youth/community centres, General Practice and primary school. In addition to this, Upper Halling has both a pumping station (built recently, after a Victorian one was converted into accommodation), filter beds and small underground reservoir and spring.

It is also home to the Bishop's Palace, which came from the early powers and luxuries given to Christian Bishops. It is now a ruin, and publicly accessible. There are also a number of old World War II defences that are situated along the Riverside and evidence of the old ferry crossing from behind the church to the other side of the river.

One of Halling's most distinguishing features is the large blue lake, which was dug due to the chalk quarrying efforts. Its blue colour comes from the suspension of chalk particles in the water. It is fed by a large spring, one of which is tapped to provide the local water supply. The water is so clean at extraction that the only chemical additions made by the water company are those of the minimum government levels.

A satellite* view of Halling and its lake.

References

• Fielding, Rev. C. H. Memories of Malling and Its Valley. Henry C. H. Oliver (Publisher), 1893.
• Igglesden, Charles. A Saunter Through Kent with Pen and Pencil. The Offices of The Kentish Express, Kent, 1903.
• Gowers, Edwards and Church, Derek. Across the Low Meadow. E.S. Gowers & D. Church, 1979.

External links

• Halling Parish Council website
• Weather Records

Famous residents

Matthew Romero Loft

Nathan Oliver Lewis