Matfield

Matfield
Matfield
	; Matfield Post Office
	Matfield Location within Kent
OS grid reference	TQ655415
Civil parish	Brenchley and Matfield;
District	Tunbridge Wells;
Shire county	Kent;
Region	South East;
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Tonbridge
Postcode district	TN12
Dialling code	01892
Police	Kent
Fire	Kent
Ambulance	South East Coast
UK Parliament	Tunbridge Wells;

Matfield is a small village, part of the civil parish of Brenchley and Matfield, in the Tunbridge Wells borough of Kent, England. Matfield was awarded the title of Kent Village of the Year in 2010.[1]

Buildings and amenities

St Luke's Church, Matfield, is a Grade II listed building, constructed in the years 1874–76.[2] The churchyard contains the grave of the sculptor Theresa Sassoon.[3] Mrs Sassoon planted a tree on Matfield green to commemorate the end of World War I; the tree was blown down in the hurricane of 1987 and had to be replaced.

Matfield currently has a butcher's and grocery store. There are three pubs: The Wheelwright's Arms, The Star, and a gastropub, The Poet (formerly the Standing Cross). The Wheelwright's Arms closed in 2017.

Geography

Matfield is located around 5 miles (8.0 km) southeast of Royal Tunbridge Wells and 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Paddock Wood.

The village grew up around its village green, which is the largest in Kent.[4] The village green features a large pond at its northern end. Overlooking the green is the grade I listed Matfield House, a Georgian building with a stable block and coachhouse at the rear.[5] The green is used for events such as the annual village fete and by Matfield Cricket Club for home matches.

Notable people

Siegfried Sassoon (1886–1967), poet, was born in Matfield.
Theresa Thornycroft (1853–1946), sculptor, lived in Matfield.
Frank Marchant (1864–1946), cricketer and captain of Kent County Cricket Club, born in Matfield House.
Alan Watt (1907–74), cricketer, lived in Matfield
Harrison Weir (1824–1906), artist, lived in Matfield.

References

"Matfield is Kent Village of the Year!". Brenchley Parish Council. 16 September 2010. Archived from the original on 12 August 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
"About Us". St Luke's Church. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
"Theresa Georgina Thornycroft Sassoon". Find a Grave. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
"Brenchley & Matfield – Villages in the Weald of Kent". Brenchley Parish Council. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
Historic England. "MATFIELD HOUSE (1250644)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 March 2015.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] "Matfield is Kent Village of the Year!". Brenchley Parish Council. 16 September 2010. Archived from the original on 12 August 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.

[2] "About Us". St Luke's Church. Retrieved 13 July 2019.

[3] "Theresa Georgina Thornycroft Sassoon". Find a Grave. Retrieved 13 July 2019.

[parish-4] "Brenchley & Matfield – Villages in the Weald of Kent". Brenchley Parish Council. Retrieved 21 March 2011.

[5] Historic England. "MATFIELD HOUSE (1250644)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 March 2015.