Goudhurst
Coordinates: 51.1112° N 0.4636° E Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...
Population	2,500 in Parish
OS grid reference	TQ725375
Parish	Goudhurst & Kilndown
District	Tunbridge Wells
Shire county	Kent
Region	South East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Cranbrook
Postcode district	TN17
Dial code	01580
Police	Kent
Fire	Kent
Ambulance	South East Coast
UK Parliament	Tunbridge Wells
European Parliament	South East England
List of places: UK • England • Kent

Goudhurst is a village in Kent on the Weald, about 12 miles south of Maidstone. It stands on a crossroads, where there is a large village pond. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x800, 11 KB) Summary Description: A blank map of the United Kingdom, with country outline and coastline; contact the author for help with modifications or add-ons Source: Reference map provided by Demis Mapper 6 Date: 2006-21-06 Author: User... Image File history File links Red_pog. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... A civil parish (usually just parish) in England is a subnational entity forming the lowest unit of local government, lower than districts or counties. ... The districts of England are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government. ... Tunbridge Wells is a local government district and borough in Kent, England. ... Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government. ... This article is about the county in England. ... The region, also known as Government Office Region, is currently the highest tier of local government subnational entity of England in the United Kingdom. ... South East England is one of the nine official regions of England. ... This is an alphabetical list of countries of the world, including independent states (both those that are internationally recognised and generally unrecognised), inhabited dependent territories and areas of special sovereignty. ... 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The TN postcode area, also known as the Tonbridge postcode area[1], is a group of postal districts around Ashford, Battle, Bexhill-on-Sea, Cranbrook, Crowborough, Edenbridge, Etchingham, Hartfield, Hastings, Heathfield, Mayfield, New Romney, Robertsbridge, Romney Marsh, Rye, Sevenoaks, St Leonards-on-Sea, Tenterden, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Uckfield, Wadhurst, Westerham... The UK telephone numbering plan, also known as the National Numbering Plan, is regulated by the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which replaced the Office of Telecommunications (Oftel) in 2003. ... Kent Police is the police force covering Kent in England, including the unitary authority of Medway. ... A Fire Appliance belonging to the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service The fire service in the United Kingdom has undergone dramatic changes since the beginning of the 21st century, a process that has been propelled by a devolution of central government powers, new legislation and a change to operational... 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Origin of Name

The place name of Goudhurst is derived from the Old English guo hyrst, meaning Battle Hill, or the wooded hill on which a battle has been fought. The name commemorates a battle fought on this high ground in Saxon times. The spelling has evolved over the centuries, Gmthhyrste (c1100) Guthurst or Guhthersts (c1200) Gudhersts (1232) Guthhurste (1278) Goutherst (1316) Goodherst (1610) then the current day spelling.^[1][2] Old English (also called Anglo-Saxon) is an early form of the English language that was spoken in parts of what is now England and southern Scotland between the mid-fifth century and the mid-twelfth century. ... Generally, a battle is an instance of combat in warfare between two or more parties wherein each group will seek to defeat the others. ... Generally, a battle is an instance of combat in warfare between two or more parties wherein each group will seek to defeat the others. ... The famous parade helmet found at Sutton Hoo, probably belonging to King Raedwald of East Anglia circa 625. ...

History

The church in Goudhurst probably existed long before 1119, its earliest recorded date. The church has been altered and restored many times over the centuries. Until 1637 it had a tall spire which was eventually destroyed by lightning. During the Victorian era the church was restored by the architect Richard Carpenter^{[citation needed]} The village was one of those involved in the Wealden iron industry; it was a centre for the growing of hops; and also of weaving. A group of weavers' cottages stands opposite the church. Richard Herbert Carpenter was an eminent Victorian architect. ... The Wealden iron industry is the result of a combination of the natural materials being available for the making of iron. ... Species Humulus lupulus L. Humulus japonicus Siebold & Zucc. ...

The Battle of Goudhurst in 1747 led to the end of the Hawkhurst Gang of smugglers.^{[citation needed]} Year 1747 (MDCCXLVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Hawkhurst Gang was a criminal organization involved in smuggling along the coast of southeast England from 1735 until 1749. ... A skirmish with smugglers from Finland at the Russian border, 1853, by Vasily Hudiakov. ...

The village's recent history is extremely well documented. The Goudhurst Jubilee Book (1935), Goudhurst Coronation Book (1937) & Goudhurst and Kilndown Millennium Book (2001, ISBN 0-9527822-1-9) contain detailed reminiscences, directories, historical notes, matters of local intelligence & records of celebrations starting from the 1800s & before up to the current time. These books were printed as limited editions and are much sought after as the authors painstakingly recorded not only the written, but also the oral, history of the village.

Bedgebury

Bedgebury is one of the oldest estates in Kent: having given its name to the de Bedgebury family, it passed into the hands of the Culpeper family in 1450. When the estate was sold in 1680, a new house was built which itself became a girls' school in the 1920s (closed in the Summer of 2006).^{[citation needed]} This article is about the county in England. ... Culpeper, Colepeper, or Culpepper are varying forms of the last name of several people: John Culpeper (1366–1414), knight in the court of Henry V Thomas Culpeper (d. ...

Bedgebury Pinetum is nearby. It was acquired by the Forestry Commission in 1924. Bedgebury Pinetum (the National Pinetum) is a 1. ... The Forestry Commission is a government body in the United Kingdom. ...

Railway

The branch railway line from Paddock Wood had a station for the village. It was opened on 1 October 1892, and was originally named 'Hope Mill for Goudhurst and Lamberhurst' before being renamed to 'Goudhurst' on 4th September 1893, the day the final part of the line came into service - the extension to Hawkhurst via Cranbrook; physically, the station was approximately 0.5 miles from the centre of Goudhurst, and somewhat further from Lamberhurst. The station was closed on the 12th June, 1961 due to lack of use, passenger numbers having dropped to less than 200 per day. The track was lifted in 1964 and in 1967 the station sites were offered for sale. Categories: British railway stations | Lists of places ... Lamberhurst is a village on the borders of Kent and East Sussex, although the parish was, at one time, in both counties. ... Hawkhurst is virtually two villages - one, the older of the two, consisting mainly of cottages clustered around a large triangular green known as the Moor, and the other, further north on the main road, called Highgate. ... For other places with the same name, see Cranbrook (disambiguation). ...

Notes

1. ^ The Place Names of Kent, Judith Glover ISBN 0905270 614
2. ^ The Origin of English Place Names, P.H.Reaney ISBN 0710020104

Sources

• The Place Names of Kent, Judith Glover.
• The Origin of English Place Names, P.H.Reaney.
• The Dictionary of British Place Names
• Dictionary of English Place Names, A.D.Mills.

External links

• Notes on village
• Village's own website
• Goudhurst entry in 'Disused Stations Site Record'