High Halden is a village on the A28 road between Ashford and Tenterden, 3 miles (5 km) north of the latter town.
The large pub, The Chequers on the Green, circa 1620, is known to have been used by smugglers and the various gangs such as the "Hawkhurst and Cranbrook gangs" that were active in the mid-18th century. The parish is recorded in the Domesday Book and parts of a Norman manor house can be seen at Tiffenden Farm
The village green, opposite the Chequers, has a magnificent tree at its' heart. It is particularly glorious in Autumn. There's information about the Chequers Inn (now called the Chequers On The Green) on the Dover Kent Archive website here:
The green also hosts the village beacon, and the main village bus stop, which at times of celebration or remembrance, takes on a dignity of its' own.
The church probably dates
back to the 12th century and the two especially interesting architectural
features are the tower and south porch.
The lych-gate is relatively simple, but is lifted by the ornate carving under the eaves.
Immediately inside the gate, stands the war memorial.
The grass is beautifully manicured around it, and on the other side of the path. However, thre rest of the older part of the graveyard has been seeded with wild flowers, and I have seldom seen so many butterflies and bees in one place. Very heartwarming, considering the height of the flowering season is past. They wouldn't keep still fo me to photograph them though!
The tower dates from late
13th or early 14th century and is octagonal with shingle covered spire.
Structure is braced and strengthened by system of enormous scissor trusses.
A very large quantity, fifty tons, of oak was used as the material to build the tower and spire of the 10th–14th-century church, St Mary the Virgin, in 1470–1490.
The south porch is 14th century and at its entrance is natural arch made from two halves of a colossal oak trunk.
When you pass through the south door, you will be amazed by the size of the south porch. Unfortunately, it was a little too dark in there for me to get some really good shots.
And so to the interior of this charming church.
Brass in memoriam of the rector of High Halden in 1500
(above) the South Chapel
view of the Chancel and the Sanctuary
Quilt hand stitched to celebrate the Millennium
the badges of the East Surrey Regiment and the Royal Flying Corps are engraved above the dedication. It reads that he was taken prisoner by the Turks at the fall of Kut-el-Amara and died at Nissibin June 1916, aged 21 years.
Official Records show Clement as still being a member of The East Surrey Regiment, but it appears that his mother had been told that he had transferred to The Royal Flying Corps (The East Surrey Regiment did not serve in the Middle East).
Beautiful tiles surrounding the Altar.
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