Edenbridge, Kent

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Edenbridge
static_

static-image-caption= The old town
latitude= 51.1993
longitude= 0.0691
population = 7808 [ [http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=795525&c=edenbridge&d=16&e=15&g=459009&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 National Statistics] Census 2001 ]
shire_district= Sevenoaks
shire_county = Kent
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Tonbridge & Malling
post_town= EDENBRIDGE
postcode_district = TN8
postcode_area= TN
dial_code= 01732
os_grid_reference= TQ445465
london_distance= 37.8mi

Edenbridge is a town and civil parish in the Sevenoaks district of Kent, England. The town's name derives from Old English language "Eadhelmsbrigge" ("Eadhelm's Bridge" in Modern English). It is located on the Kent/Surrey border on the upper floodplain of the River Medway and gives its name to the latter's tributary, the River Eden. Edenbridge has a population of around 8,000. Edenbridge recently appeared in The Daily Mail Top Ten UK Property Hotspots. [ [http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/mortgages/article.html?in_article_id=413226&in_page_id=8 This is Money] ]

History

The old part of the town grew along a section of the otherwise disused Roman road from London to the East Sussex coast at the point where it crossed the river. In the Middle Ages, it became a centre of the Wealden iron industry. There are many mediaeval timber buildings in the town, one of which houses the Eden Valley Museum.

With the coming of the railways the town expanded and the community of Marlpit Hill, north of the original settlement, is now part of the town.

Mills

Edenbridge has had four mills over the centuries, Haxted Mill and Honour's Mill on the River Eden, Christmas Mill on a tributary of the Eden, and a windmill to the south of the town. All four mill buildings survive, but now converted to other uses.

Railways

There are two railway stations serving Edenbridge. The earliest, on the South Eastern Railway (SER) route from Redhill to Tonbridge, was opened on May 26, 1842. The station, simply named Edenbridge, is located in Marlpit Hill. To the west of that station the route crosses what was once the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway main line from London to Eastbourne, opened on January 2, 1888. The crossing of the two lines takes place at a mid-break in the Edenbridge Tunnel on the SER line. Here lies the second station, named Edenbridge Town. The line serving it is now truncated at Uckfield. There is no connection here between the two routes: Edenbridge is not a junction; one existed four miles (6 km) to the west of Edenbridge Town at Crowhurst, but that junction no longer exists.

The town

The 13th century church dedicated to St Peter and St Paul contains a set of windows in the east wall by Sir Edward Burne-Jones. Edenbridge is twinned with Mont Saint Aignan in France. The bypass that was built in the early 2000s to relieve traffic pressure on the old, narrow High Street is named Mont St Aignan Way. There are Lloyds, Barclays, Natwest and HBOS banks in the town. Major retailers that are present in Edenbridge include Boots, Co-op and Somerfield. With the Co-op's recent takeover of Somerfield it is doubtful that there will be two Co-op's in the town and another retailer is expected to take over the site.

The parish

Within the parish boundary is the hamlet of Marsh Green.

References

External links

* [http://www.edenbridgetown.com/index.shtml Edenbridge Town website]
* [http://www.villagenet.co.uk/sevenoaks-weald/villages/edenbridge.php Brief history of Edenbridge]
* [http://www.edenbridgetown.com/local/churches/st_peter_paul.shtml St Peter and St Paul parish church]
* [http://www.evmt.org.uk/index.htm Eden Valley Museum (located in Edenbridge) website]
* [http://www.edta.org.uk/index.htm Edenbridge and District Twinning Association website]
* [http://www.edenbridgedirectory.co.uk The Edenbridge Directory - Free local magazine]
* [http://www.marlpithill.co.uk Marlpit Hill community web site]