Frant

Infobox UK place
official_name=Frant
country=England
region=South East England
static_

static_image_caption=A view of Frant
area_footnotes=cite web |url=http://www.eastsussexinfigures.org.uk/webview/ |title=East Sussex in Figures |accessdate=2008-04-26 |publisher=East Sussex County Council]
area_total_km2 = 31.9
population=1,367 (2007) cite web|url=http://www.eastsussexinfigures.org.uk/webview/velocity?catalog=http%3A%2F%2F10.128.25.249%3A80%2Fobj%2FfCatalog%2FCatalog153&areaname=frant&areatype=PA&mode=area&submode=replay&geoid=21UH016 |title=Population and households profile for Frant (parish) - Wealden |accessdate=2008-08-29 |date=2008 |work=East Sussex in Figures |publisher=East Sussex County Council ]
population_density= Pop density mi2 to km2|111|precision=0|abbr=yes
os_grid_reference=TQ590354
latitude=51.10
longitude=0.27
post_town=TUNBRIDGE WELLS
postcode_area=TN
postcode_district=TN3
dial_code=01892
constituency_westminster=Wealden
london_distance=convert|33|mi NNW
shire_district=Wealden
shire_county=East Sussex
website=http://www.frant.info/

Frant is a village and civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex, England. It is located on the Kentish border, about five miles (8 km) south of Tunbridge Wells. The settlements of "Bells Yew Green" and "Eridge" are both located within the parish.

When the Wealden iron industry was at its height, much of the village was owned by ironmasters. Smuggling occurred here in the 17th and 18th centuries; and one of the turnpike roads (now the A267) came through here at that time. [ [http://thesussexweald.org/P5.asp?PId=5347Frant Frant history] ]

Frant church is dedicated to St Alban [ [http://www.frant.info/church/albans1.htm St Albans church] ] ; and there is a church school [ [http://www.frantcep.e-sussex.sch.uk/ Frant CE Primary School] ] .

There are two public houses in the parish: "The Abergavenny Arms" in Frant; and "The George Inn" at Bells Yew Green.

History

Frant is an ancient village, and although it was not mentioned in the Domesday Book, a settlement certainly predates the Norman Conquest; indeed, excavations in 1929 by S. E. Winbolt uncovered pottery fragments and ironworkings that indicated the presence of a settlement dating back to 100 BC.cite book | last = Eeles | first = Henry S. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Frant - A Parish History | publisher = Courier Co., Ltd | date = 1947 | location = Tunbridge Wells | pages = | url = http://theweald.org/bk.asp?BookId=eeles018 | doi = | id = | isbn = ] The village fell under the rape of Pevensey and the hundred of Rotherfield. cite web|url=http://theweald.org/P5.asp?PId=PSx.Ft |title=Frant |accessdate=2008-08-27 |date=2008-07-15 |publisher=The Weald ]

Toponymy

From the 1100s onwards Frant appears in charters and records, in as diverse spellings as Fernet, Fernthe, Fernth, Ferthe, Ferring, Vernthe, Franthe, Fraunte, Feruthe, Frenthe and Fant; these variations notwithstanding, the etymology of the name has its roots in the Anglo-Saxon meaning "place of the fern" or "place of the bracken", a reflection of the verdant countryside around the settlement.

Governance

Frant is part of Wealden District Council and, along with Withyham, makes up one of the District's 35 wards. The ward contributes two of the District's 55 Councillors. cite web|url=http://www.wealden.gov.uk/moderngov/mgMemberIndex.asp?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0 |title=Your Councillors |accessdate=2008-08-27 |publisher=Wealden District Council ]

The Member of Parliament for Wealden is the Conservative Charles Hendry. cite web|url=http://www.wealden.gov.uk/council/Members_of_Parliament/index.aspx|title=Members of Parliament |accessdate=2008-08-27 |publisher=Wealden District Council |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071124094418/http://www.wealden.gov.uk/council/Members_of_Parliament/index.aspx |archivedate=2007-11-24 ] He was elected in 2005 with a majority of 15,921. cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/617.stm |title=Result: Wealden |accessdate=2008-08-27 |date=2005-05-06 |publisher=BBC |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060221041337/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/617.stm |archivedate=2006-02-21 ]

Geography

Transport

Frant is situated on the A267, which runs south from Tunbridge Wells to Hailsham. The B2099, which branches off the A267 just south of the village, runs south east to Wadhurst.

Frant railway station, actually located at Bells Yew Green, is on Southeastern's Hastings Line.

References

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