Location
51°08'N
0°35'E
|
 | (4) |
On this Page
Other Pages
Local Links
|
|
 |
Frittenden
(The Search for the Treacle Mines)
 |
|
Origin of Village Name |
Frittenden is derived from the Anglo Saxon Fridda ing dene (The woodland pasture
of Fridda's family).
|
|
|
|
General Details
|
Frittenden is a small village in a very quiet part of the Weald
of Kent, it lies between Headcorn and Staplehurst .
The village lay on an old Jutish track along which pigs were
driven into the forest of Andreadsweald, and some Roman remains
have been found nearby.
The first mention of the village is in a charter of 804 where
Friddingden and other nearby manors are recorded. In 839 the Anglo Saxon
chronicles record that land in the village had been given to St Augustines
in Canterbury by King Aethelwulf (839-855AD).
It is believed that an old Saxon church lay in the village, but
the first written record of the church is in a supplement to the
Domesday Monochorum. The church is recorded as being part of St
Augustines Abbey in Canterbury , along with that of Tenterden .
During the reign of KIng Henry VII , Lord Thomas Cromwell was
given land in the village.
In the times of Queen Mary (1553-1558AD) a local miller and his
wife who were both of the Protestant religion were accused of
selling corn cheaper than they were supposed to. They were tried
at Sissinghurst by 'Bloody' Sir John Baker as heretics and were
burnt at the stake on 18th June 1557 in Maidstone . There is a
memorial in nearby Staplehurst to the martyrs from this area.
In 1790 the church steeple was struck by lightning, and the
Cranbrook Fire Brigade was called out to fight the fire. Due
to the effects of the fire, the church was very badly damaged,
and in 1848 the curate had the church almost completely taken
down, then restored.
An amusing anecdote about Frittenden comes from the 1930's when
many visitors from London came down to the area in their new
fangled motor cars. One local wag decided that these 'Tourists'
should visit the Treacle Mines at Frittenden which were reported
to produced much of the worlds treacle supply. So many
Londoners were sent into the country lanes of Kent on a wild
goose chase.
|
|
|
|
Services
|
 Frittenden is a very small village, but has a few local shops.
The shopping at nearby Staplehurst and Headcorn provide small
town services. The major shopping centre in the area is at Maidstone
about 7 miles to the north.
Trains can be caught at Headcorn or Staplehurst , both on the
Ashford to London train line, with regular services to the Capital.
|
|
|
Views
|
 Frittenden is in a very rural part of the country, and is surrounded
by beautiful farm land.
The church is well worth a visit, and the grounds are very attractive.
The village is quiet and peaceful, with a relaxing atmosphere,
but I still hav'nt found the Treacle Mines, and I have been
searching since the early 1970's.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
