Kemsing, Kent

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude=51.307120
longitude= 0.225180
official_name= Kemsing
population = 4,014 (2001) [cite web | title = Kemsing CP | publisher = Neighbourhood Statistics | url = http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=795533&c=Kemsing&d=16&e=15&g=459119&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=781| accessdate = 2007-08-20 ]
shire_district= Sevenoaks
shire_county = Kent
region= South East England
constituency_westminster=
post_town= Sevenoaks
postcode_area=
postcode_district=
dial_code= 01732
os_grid_reference=

Kemsing is a village and the name of a civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, England. The parish lies on the scarp face of the North Downs, four miles (6km) north east of Sevenoaks town. Within the parish is the hamlet of Heaverham, one mile (1.6km) to the east. The population of the civil parish was 4014 persons.

Kemsing was the birthplace in AD 961 of Saint Edith of Wilton; and one of the focal points of the village is St. Edith's Well. The village church, Saxon in origin, is however dedicated to St Mary the Virgin. The area around the well includes the war memorial, the village hall (with its statue of St Edith in front), post office and two pubs, "The Wheatsheaf" and "The Bell". To the east of the village centre is the Mark Collet Sports Pavilion, with tennis and squash courts, and a large green used for cricket and football.

The main roads in the village are West End, Dynes Road and Childsbridge Lane. Along West End can be found a vet, mechanic (previously a petrol station) and a newsagent's. At the end of Dynes Road there is another newsagent's, convenience store, draper's, three takeaway restaurants and a post office, which are all collectively known as Dynes Parade.

One kilometre south-east of the village lies Kemsing railway station. The M26 motorway passes through the parish. It is a key stopping-off point on the North Downs Way which runs north of the village along Pilgrims' Way.

The village lies in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and Kemsing Down Reserve, managed by Kemsing Parish Council and Sevenoaks District Council, lies above the village on the North Downs. It is reached from Childsbridge Lane, and is an area of chalk grassland.

The Women's Institute organisation opened its first institute in England in Kemsing in December 1915.clear

External links

* [http://www.kemsingpc.kentparishes.gov.uk/ Kemsing Parish Council]
* [http://www.historic-kent.co.uk/vill_k.html An article on the village]
* [http://www.kentchurches.info/parish.asp?p=Kemsing St Mary's church]
* [http://www.kentdowns.org.uk/map_details.asp?siteID=24 Kemsing Down Reserve]
* [http://www.kemsingheritagecentre.org.uk/ Kemsing Heritage Centre]
* [http://www.kemsingpavilion.org.uk/page3.html Kemsing Sports Association]

References

* "The Story of Kemsing in Kent" V.E.Bowden, 1994, Kemsing Historical and Art Society, ISBN 0-9504703-2-5