Location
50°58'N
0°44'E
|
 | (4) |
 | (1) |
On this Page
Other Pages
Local Links
|
|
 |
Playden
(Saltcote and fish)
 |
|
Origin of Village Name |
Playden was probably derived from the Anglo Saxon Plega Denn meaning a clearing in the forest
where the people from Rye came for their sport or pastimes, possibly the training area for the
local militia.
|
|
|
|
General Details
|
Playden is about 1 mile north of Rye on the A268. In earlier times
the sea, which is now about 2 miles away came to the bottom of the
hill. The main occupation of the local people was fishing. The fish
were salted, and then laid on the roadside banks to dry. At this
time Playden was known by the alternative name of Saltcote(see below).
In the Domesday Book , it the village is called Plaidenham. With its
tall, wooden shingled spire, St Michaels Church was built about a
century later stands off the main road. It was built around 1190
and has not been altered much since the Middle Ages.
There is a massive wooden ladder that leads up to the belfrey, which
has been dated from 1686. It cannot be climbed as it is very worm
eaten.
On the floor of the north aisle is a black stone slab. It features a
carving of two casks and a crossed matchstick and fork. It commemorates
a Flemish brewer, Cornelis Roetmans who was buried here in 1530. The
carvings were originally inlaid with brass.
Below the north tower arch there is a magnificent 14th century wooden
screen, and above the chancel arch are the Royal Arms of George III.
(Many thanks to Neil Davenport for the following corrections)
The area you have as Playden is actually a combination of Rye Foreign
(the area to the west of the A268) and Playden (the area to the east
of the A268 down onto the marsh around the north of East Guildeford.
This is a well established error locally, the County Council having
many years ago put the Playden sign at the top of Rye Hill in
Rye Foreign with the result that the residents of Leasom Lane
(running west from the A268 immediately north of the Rye Memorial
Care Centre) all claim a postal address of Playden and had to be
removed from the electoral roll some years ago as they were found
to be claiming to be in Playden.
Also, Playden has never had Saltcote as an alternative name,
that was the name of the long disappeared hamlet at the bottom of
what is now New England Lane, formerly known as Saltcote Street.
Playden has always been the parochial district which included
Houghton Green as well as Saltcote.
In the Doomsday Book, it is called Plaidenham.
|
|
|
|
Services
|
 Playden has no village centre as such, and its main services
are in Rye about 1 mile away to the south. The nearest
supermarket is in Peasmarsh about 3 miles to the west on
the Hawkhurst road.
The nearest trains go from Rye hourly to Ashford and Hastings.
|
|
|
Views
|
 Playden church is very old and pretty to visit.
The best views are from the back road down to the military canal,
where you can see across the Romney Marsh .
|
|
|
| |
|
|
