Dymchurch

Coordinates: 51°01′37″N 1°00′00″E / 51.027°N 1.00°E / 51.027; 1.00

Dymchurch
Dymchurch Beach
Dymchurch  Dymchurch shown within Kent
Population	3,605 (parish, 2001 Census)
District	Shepway
Shire county	Kent
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Police	Kent
Fire	Kent
Ambulance	South East Coast
EU Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Folkestone and Hythe
List of places: UK • England • Kent

Dymchurch is a village and civil parish in the Shepway District of Kent, England.^[1] The village is located on the coast five miles (8 km) south-west of Hythe, and on the Romney Marsh. It is typical of this part of the coast, having been a village which became larger during the 1930s. Many houses were converted railway carriages.

History

The history of Dymchurch^[2] begins with the gradual build-up of the Romney Marsh.

New Hall was rebuilt in 1575^{[citation needed]} after an earlier wooden structure was destroyed in a storm. It was used as a court room for the Romney Marsh area. The head magistrate was known as Leveller of the Marsh Scotts^[3]. It was here that the so-called scot tax^[4] was introduced, levied on residents to fund maintenance of the sea wall. Those directly outside the boundaries and thus not eligible for the tax were said to have got away "Scott Free". Residents with land were required to grow thorn bushes^{[citation needed]} for building of the wall, as thorn twigs were believed impervious to sea water. Failure resulted in an ear being cut off.^{[citation needed]}

During the 17th and 18th centuries, smuggling was rife all along the south east coast of England. Due to its remote location Romney Marsh and the surrounding areas were amongst the busiest locations for illicit trade. Inspiration from this gave rise to Dymchurch being the setting of the "Doctor Syn" novels, based on smuggling, by Russell Thorndike. Every two years a celebration of the novels is held, usually on August Bank Holiday. A local rumour has it that the books were mostly written within The Ship Inn^[5] which was built in the 15th century and is still in use to this day as a local public house, hotel and restaurant but in reality Thorndyke's nephew insists that the novels were written in the author's garage.

The other famous place in Dymchurch is The "Dr Syns Guest House" Restaurant [1]. The name was given over 60 years ago to remember the story told, a landmark in Dymchurch.

The Dymchurch Redoubt

Three Martello towers and Dymchurch Redoubt are located here, all built during the Napoleonic Wars. Martello tower No. 24 is still open to the public [2]. Of the other two, one is now a house and the other is derelict.

More modern history begins in the early 20th century, when people were wanting to own their own property. Land was sold to them and buildings erected - often derelict railway carriages^{[citation needed]}. Today the village is a relatively large one, and much of it is dedicated to the holiday maker. Restaurants, cafes and takeaways are there, as are the four public houses and amusement park^[6] and arcade.

Much of the tourism in the village is centred around New Beach Caravan Holiday Park to the East of the village, the largest holiday park on the south Kent coast.^{[citation needed]}

Transport

The A259 coastal road passes through the village, as does the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, opened in the 1920s. Dymchurch railway station was reopened after World War II by Laurel and Hardy.

Buildings of note

St. Peter and St. Paul's church^[7] is classic Norman, built in the 12th century, but extensions and modifications in 1821 lost its symmetry. St. Peter and St. Paul's has several stories surrounding it. Its font was once thrown out - possibly by Protestant dissenters - and then restored in the 15th century after being recovered from a ditch.

Local media

Newspapers

Dymchurch has two paid for newspapers, the Romney Marsh Herald (published by Kent Regional News and Media) and the Kentish Express (published by the KM Group. Free newspapers for the area include the Folkestone and Hythe Extra, part of the KM Group; and yourshepway, part of KOS Media.

Radio

The local radio station for Dymchurch is KMFM Shepway and White Cliffs Country. The area is also served by the county-wide stations Heart, Gold and BBC Radio Kent. (Romney Marsh F.M. is back November)

References

1. ^ Dymchurch online
2. ^ Dymchurch:The Romans and the Sea Wall
3. ^ page 31, Dr. Syn, Thorndike
4. ^ The name given, historically, to any such tax raised to share burdens in a community: Concise Oxford Dictionary
5. ^ The Ship Inn Dymchurch
6. ^ Dymchurch Amusements: Official Website
7. ^ St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Dymchurch

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  A view up the High Street

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  Donkey rides on the beach

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  The beach looking towards Hythe

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  A view of the High Street looking from Eastbridge Road

External links

Media related to Dymchurch at Wikimedia Commons