Doddington
Aerial photo of Doddington
Doddington is located in Kent
Doddington
Doddington
Location within Kent
Population557 
OS grid referenceTQ 934572
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSittingbourne
Postcode districtME9
Dialling code01795
PoliceKent
FireKent
AmbulanceSouth East Coast
UK Parliament

Doddington is a village and civil parish in the district of Swale in Kent, England. The Syndale Valley shelters the central part in the Kent Downs Area of outstanding natural beauty. Today the village is notable for Doddington Place Gardens, for its remarkably well kept buildings and its house prices show higher prices than the home counties average.

History

Within the parish at Sharsted Court, earthworks excavated were believed remains of an Iron Age Belgic Fort (100 BC – 43 AD). However the current village settlement dates from the 11th century.[1]

Of particular note is Doddington Church with the unusual dedication of "The (decollation) Beheading of St. John the Baptist". The dedication dates from at least 1467 when it is referenced in a will.[2]

Doddington Church 2006

Other notable buildings within the parish are: Doddington Place built in 1870 for the Croft family (of 'Croft original sherry' fame)[3] who owned it until 1906 when the Jeffreys and Oldfied families jointly purchased it. It is still owned by the Oldfield family and the Doddington Place Gardens are open to the public and have achieved listed status;[4] in its grounds are the Place, a much-altered house, Park House[5] and Park Cottage, also listed with fascinating history, as Grade II.[6]

Attractions and amenities

Within the parish just 500 metres (1,600 ft) to the north east is Sharsted Court, a Medieval Wealden hall house distinctive of this area, the Weald, however a building on the site dates from at least 1080; today a large romantic rambling manor house due to the many additions and alterations over the centuries. It is owned by former Wimbledon champion Virginia Wade.

The village has an award-winning butchers shop, Doughty's, owned by the Doughty family since 1919 (and a butchers shop since 1789), with its own slaughter house.[7] It also has a garage (Doddington Service Station) for car repairs/servicing as well as petrol and a small shop, one pub (The Chequers Inn) which also acts as a post office, and camping and bed and breakfast (Palace Farm & The Old Vicarage). Sharsted Sports Club plays home to Little Sharsted FC, who are known for their attractive style of play, and Sharsted Sports FC.

The village has a strong community spirit with numerous clubs and groups, which include as of 2013: An allotments association, amateur dramatics (The Valley Players), singing (Cantiana), parent/toddler group (Buddies), health and fitness (Medau) and tied in with the neighbouring village of Newnham, folk dancing, Women's Institute and brownies groups.

References

  1. ↑ "The History of Doddington". www.doddington-kent.org.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  2. ↑ "No.3 Doddington Church". twokentvillages.org. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  3. ↑ "Doddington Place, Doddington Village in Kent". Archived from the original on 20 April 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  4. ↑ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1000398)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  5. ↑ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1055783)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  6. ↑ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1343900)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  7. ↑ "Doddington butcher S W Doughty named best in Britain". KentOnline. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
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