- Eastry
infobox UK place
country = England
static_
static_image_caption=Church of St Mary the Virgin, Eastry
official_name= Eastry
latitude= 51.2452
longitude= 1.3034
population = 2168 [ [http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=795441&c=eastry&d=16&e=15&g=457873&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 National Statistics] Census 2001] (Parish)
shire_district= Dover
shire_county =Kent
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Dover
post_town=Dover |postcode_district = CT13
postcode_area= CT |dial_code= 01304
os_grid_reference= TR332458Eastry is a
civil parish and remote, yet historically significant village four kilometres SW of Sandwich, inKent , that was voted "Kent Village of the Year 2005".Etymology
Its name is derived from "East" and "y" meaning province ("cp" Surrey: southern province) .
Historical legends
It was here that a royal palace of the Saxon kings of Kent stood. One of Kent's oldest legends concerns King
Ecgberht of Kent and the murder of his cousins within the palace walls. According to the legend, the royal residence was passed to the priory of Christchurch inCanterbury as penance for the crime. The site of this ancient palace is believed to now be occupied by Eastry Court, close besides the church.Another traditional story is that
Thomas Becket hid in Eastry's caves whilst escaping from England in 1164. Those same caves are associated with other stories that may or may not be true.Parish church
Eastry parish church is dedicated to St Mary. Within the church is a brass standard
bushel measure given in 1792.East Kent Light Railway
The "
East Kent Light Railway " was opened to freight traffic in 1911 and passenger traffic in 1916; its purpose was to serve the new coal mines which were being opened up in the area. Among the stations opened were Eastry and Eastry South. Both the colliery and the line failed and the section north ofEythorne completely closed by 1951.Mills
, has been converted into a house.
External links
* [http://www.open-sandwich.co.uk/places_to_visit/villages/eastry.htm Notes on the village]
* [http://www.eastrycricketclub.com Eastry Cricket Club]
* [http://www.eastrypc.co.uk Eastry Parish Council Website - Village news, weather and Information]
* [http://www.eastrybenefice.co.uk Eastry Church Website - Church news and info]References
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