Speldhurst
Speldhurst can be found on the very edge of western Kent, just a few kilometres to the North of Royal Tunbridge Wells. It is surrounded by the rolling countryside which is synonymous with this small corner of Kent and which imparts a great deal of beauty. It lies within the Metropolitan Green Belt and the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which should come as no surprise to the casual visitor.
Perched upon a sandstone ridge that over time has been moulded by the many streams that spring forth from the malleable soft stone giving rise to deep valleys and rocky outcrops, of which one dramatic group of rocks can be seen along Speldhurst Hill. A silent reminder of the quiet force of nature that is ever present. Sunken lanes framed by the old gnarled roots of almost equally ancient beech trees provide a green roof of foliage. The green roof gives a protective covering and an almost mystical quality to these highways of old.
The village itself lies at the top of a steep east-facing slope, which drops down to the valley of a stream which eventually feeds into the River Medway.
One couldn’t ask for a more perfect spot to live, encircled by a landscape that is charmingly simple and serene. You would expect any one living here to enjoy a country life of arcadian contentment, which couldn’t be further from the truth as many of the village’s inhabitants commute the short distance to Tunbridge Wells or travel further to the City of London to earn their daily crust. This is a vast change from days of old when many toiled long hours in the fields that surround. Although a small village, the parish of Speldhurst covers a large area encompassing Langton and Lower Green hamlets, Rusthall Manor, and part of Tunbridge Wells.
It seems only fitting that the landscape surrounding the village is almost as lovely as the most beautiful woman in Medieval England who has been associated with Speldhurst; Joan daughter of the Earl of Kent. She was better known as the “Fair Maid of Kent” and was married a member of the local gentry Sir Thomas Holland. Unfortunately there is no trace in the village of the large house that the Holland’s inhabited.
The Holland’s eventually sold their holdings to the Thomas Waller family in 1360. The Waller family also purchased the Manor of Groombridge from the De Cobham’s, which gave them possession of a large tract of land which stretched from Rusthall to Ashhurst and Southwards to Groombridge. It also gave them a place in the history of the village for the family was responsible for the rebuilding of Speldhurst Church using “ill gotten gains” which might well explain its eventual fate! The “bad karma” that came from using hostage money might explain why the church only lasted a few centuries. It was in October 1791 that the weather inflicted terrible damage upon the structure. There was a dreadful storm and a freak bolt of lightning struck the church and a fire ensued. Unfortunately the elements did little to help and the strong winds intensified an already chaotic situation. It only took four hours to reduce centuries of work into ruins; even the church bells were melted by the inferno.
In sharp contrast and just opposite the church built of honey coloured stone lies an ancient hostelry built of locally sourced oak and some say timbers from one of Henry VIII ships were used as main support beams. It is believed by some that the pub is much older than the 15th century, I cannot see how this can be. It is also said that the George and Dragon is the second oldest pub in the country which is believable when you look at the old oaken beams and open fires which give testament to previous centuries of use.
The name Speldhurst is Anglo Saxon; speld for wood and hurst for village. So it would be easy to assume that the roots of the village stretch back to the colonisation of Northern Kent by the Saxon invaders which would mean that the village sprang to life around the fifth century. Which in itself isn’t too unlikely as it is believed that there is plenty of archaeological potential within the area. Unfortunately written records were few and far between so we have to go on the evidence that we have; and it is the buildings to which we turn, the original church was built in 1239.
It was after the return of Sir Richard Waller from the evocative battle of Agincourt in 1415 that the church was given a makeover and that was because Sir Richard had bought back a hostage; Charles, Duke of Orleans. Charles was one of the many French noblemen wounded in the Battle of Agincourt on October 25, 1415. He was captured by Sir Richard Waller and taken to England where he remained in captivity for twenty-four years. Finally freed in 1440 he set foot on French soil again speaking better English than French. He is now remembered as an accomplished poet owing to the five hundred poems he wrote during years spent as a prisoner of war and also as the father of King Louis XII of France.
Speldhurst might not be very well known but it has had in residence some of the individuals that have shaped history as we now know!
copyright© Wendy Stevenson 2011
Can you help? Contact us if you know the history of a town or village in Kent near you. We're also looking for Photographs of Kent, submit online
Comment about this article: editorial@wikikent.co.uk
|
