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| Bethersden | |
|---|---|
 St Margaret's Church | |
  Bethersden Location withinKent | |
| Area | 26.1 km2 (10.1 sq mi) |
| Population | 1,481 (Civil Parish 2011)[1] |
| • Density | 57/km2 (150/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TQ927402 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ASHFORD |
| Postcode district | TN26 |
| Dialling code | 01233 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| UK Parliament | |
| 51°07′44″N0°45′12″E / 51.1290°N 0.7533°E /51.1290; 0.7533 | |
Bethersden is a village andcivil parish in theborough of Ashford inKent, England, 5 miles (8 km) west of the town ofAshford. Located on the main road, A28, betweenTenterden andAshford.
The village has an active community, including a small primary school,football team,cricket team and tennis club by the park.
Bethersden was formerly the centre of theKentish wool trade.
Bethersden was the seat of the Lovelace family,[2] at what is now Lovelace Court, which includedWilliam Lovelace (MP), and the 17th-century poetRichard Lovelace.
The Bethersden Parish Records Society holds the original parish register, maps, books, photographs and other records relating to the village.
Bethersden has long been associated with the material known asBethersden Marble which was quarried until the 19th century and used in many of Kent's churches and cathedrals. The name 'marble' is misleading because it is a limestone packed with fossilized gastropod shells which polish well, hence the use of the term.
Several successful businesses have operated from the village: Stevenson Brothers, who produce high-quality handmade rocking horses; W & D Cole, who make iron gates and railings; and the former Colt Houses, who sold prefabricated timber homes.
The village has three public houses, The Bull, The George and The Pig & Sty. The George had closed in 2020, but was purchased andre-opened in May 2023 by a community groupThe George Community after they raised over £300,000 with locals buying shares.
Places adjacent to Bethersden | |
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| International | |
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| Other | |
