St Mary Hoo

infobox UK place

country = England
latitude= 51.4667
longitude= 0.6083

official_name= St Mary Hoo
civil_parish =St Mary Hoo
population = 244
unitary_england= Medway
lieutenancy_england = Kent
region= South East England

constituency_westminster= Medway to be replaced 2007 by Rochester and Strood
post_town= ROCHESTER
postcode_district = ME3
postcode_area= ME
dial_code= 01634
os_grid_reference= TQ804766

St Mary Hoo is a village and civil parish in Kent, England. It is on the Hoo Peninsula in the borough of Medway. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 244.

The first appearance of the name is in 1240.The Place Names of Kent,Judith Glover,1976,Batsford. ISBN 0905270 614] St Mary's Church at St Mary Hoo was the parish church and gave its name to the village, and although it remains a Grade II building, dating from the 14th century, it has been reconstructed as a private house. Formally rebuilt in about 1881 of local , it has an unrestored 15th century southwest window that is noteworthy. Newlands Farmhouse nearby along the ridge track to Northward Hill is a Grade II farmhouse which was built in 1746.

The Old Rectory at St Mary Hoo is a Grade II house built in the late 1700s. It has a special place in scandals involving the royalty. The rectors from 1788 to 1875 were a father and son, both named R. Burt. The senior of the two, the Rev. Robert Burt, performed the illegal marriage ceremony between George IV and Mrs Fitzherbert in 1785.Brian Matthews, the History of Strood Rural District, 1971, Strood Rural District Council] A plaque commemorating this event remains hidden in the old church of St Mary.

St Mary's Hall, also at St Mary Hoo, was built in the 1600s and added to in 1830. It was the home of the Victorian farm innovator Henry Pye between 1845 and 1909.

Fenn Farm House was built in the 15 th century. In 1760 it was re-faced during the reign of George II, while America was still a British colony. It was listed as a Grade 2 historic building in 2001. [http://www.fennfarm.com ]

References

External links

* [http://www.stmaryhoo-pc.gov.uk/ St. Mary Hoo Parish Council]