- Bearsted
infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Bearsted
latitude= 51.2717
longitude= 0.5295
population =
shire_district= Maidstone
shire_county =Kent
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Faversham and Mid Kent
post_town= MAIDSTONE
postcode_area= ME
postcode_district= ME14
dial_code= 01622
os_grid_reference= TQ765555Bearsted (IPAEng|beər'stɛd, "Bare-sted") is an ancient village, and
civil parish in mid-Kent to the east of, and some fivemile s (7km ) from the centre, ofMaidstone . The original village site was on the north bank of the River Len, a tributary of theRiver Medway , and at the foot of theNorth Downs . The centre of Bearsted still retains its village look: at the opposite of corners of the village green are two pubs: the White Horse and the Oak On The Green. The parish church is dedicated to the Holy Cross: on three corners of its tower are stone beasts. There is a tennis club along with a bowls club as well as both a Scout Group (1st Bearsted The Scarlet Pimpernels) and a Guide unit. Other establishments include a Rifle Club (http://www.btrc.org.uk) and a private members club (The Bearsted and Thurnham Club). The current population of the parish is about 10,000."Communications". The village lies between Maidstone and Ashford and has road and rail links with both:
* Road: the A20 road passes through the village; and junction 7 on theM20 motorway is a mile (2km) to the west
* Rail:Bearsted railway station was opened with the rail line on1 July 1884 : it was originally named "Bearsted and Thurnham" (the latter a village to the north)
* Footpaths; both the ancientPilgrims' Way and the modernNorth Downs Way run along the North Downs north of BearstedKent International Gateway
In early 2007, the Kent International Gateway Group announced plans to build a large rail-freight and logistics depot in the corridor between Bearsted and the rail line and M20 motorway, an area which is currently made up of fields and woodland. The controversial plans have raised significant objections from local residents and the
Campaign to Protect Rural England and are, as of early 2008, under review by Maidstone borough council.ome famous inhabitants
* John Dyke, the last man to be publicly hanged in Maidstone
* Alfred Mynn, acricket er of the nineteenth century
*Baroness Orczy (1865-1947), creator of the "Scarlet Pimpernel "
*Edward Thomas (1878-1917) poet
* Alfred Percy ("Tich") Freeman (1888-1965), Kent leg spin bowler and the only man to take 300 wickets in an English season. He lived at a house called Dunbowlin.
*Ross Kemp Eastenders actor (Grant Mitchell)External links
* [http://www.historic-kent.co.uk/ Notes on Bearsted]
* [http://www.bearstedandthurnhamsociety.org/ Bearsted and Thurnham Society]
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