HEADCORN

 Headcorn is a busy village, known primarily locally for its' still-active World War II airfield, complete with its own Spitfire that flies almost every day. The village is situated near to the river Beult, which runs to the south and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The earliest written records are references in charters of King Wihtred and King Offa, respectively, to Wick Farm, 724; and Little Southernden, 785. Headcorn must have started in the days of the Kingdom of Kent.

Henry of Ospringe was appointed the first Rector in 1222 by King Henry III. However, in 1239 the King gave the den of Headcorn, with the rectorial endowments, to the Maison Dieu at Ospringe, near Faversham. In 1251 the Master and Bretheren of Ospringe were granted a weekly market on Thursdays and an annual fair at Headcorn on St Peter and St Paul’s Day, the 29th June. In 1482 the Ospringe house was dissolved and in 1516 St John’s College, Cambridge was given the Maison Dieu properties. The fair was later held on the 12th June, having apparently been merged with the trinity-tide fair of Moatenden Priory, located to the north of the village.

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The prosperity brought to Headcorn by the weaving industry, established in the reign of King Edward III, is evidenced by houses built at that time e.g. Grade II listed Shakespeare House (on right, below), and the Cloth Hall and the enlargement of the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul. Wat Tyler’s rebellion in 1381 was partly due to jealousy and dislike of the prosperous clothiers. In 1450 fully 80 men of Headcorn took part in Jack Cade’s rebellion and received pardons.

Church Walk - this quiet footpath with its medieval cottages was once the main road out of Headcorn.

Headcorn War Memorial stands at the side of the main road, outside a row of beautiful Tudor buildings, close to the church lych-gate. The memorial is in the style of a Cenotaph with red polished marble plaques. One side displays a changing soldier whilst the other have a naval gunner. A laurel wreath features on the back  

Headcorn Institute, built in 1866 and Grade II listed. It was built by the Headcorn Mutual Improvement Society, who sold shares to villagers to raise the money to build it and run it. It was essentially Headcorn's first village hall, and was a popular meeting place until Oddfellows Hall was built in 1937. It continued in community use until the late 50s, when it was sold off. The village has an excellent new hall now.

A view of the two Tudor houses which stand behind the war memorial.

Church of St. Peter & St. Paul. The chancel of the present Church is believed to mark the site of the nave of its 11th century counterpart, and the Lady Chapel that of the 12th century south aisle. The 13th century saw the construction of a new nave, about half the length of the present one, and possibly also a cell on the site of the Vicar’s Vestry, which dates from the early 15th century. The nave was completed in the 14th century and the present south isle in the early 15th. Late in the same century the tower and south porch were built.

Unnamed tomb, used as an Easter sepulchre, set in the wall of the south chapel.

Beautifully carved reredos.

Brass plaque to the memory of (I think) Mary Bolton Stuart. The brasses in this church are wondrously gleaming. However, my little camera throws a hissy fit when it sees its' own reflection! :)

Marble plaque to the memory of Lance Corporal Herbert Stanley Cutbush of the Royal West Kent Regiment, son of William J. Cutbush, who died of wounds received in action near Arras 17/10/1917 aged 25. He was interred in France at Etaples Cemetery.

This one to Arthur Gatehouse sometime vicar of this parish - a bit too high on the wall to get a good picture. However, born in 1867 in Leeds, Yorkshire, died Headcorn 27/06/1917