Difference between revisions of "MRP: Barham Downs"
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The landscape of the Downs has changed significantly since the early part of the seventeenth century, as intensive agriculture has encroached on the chalk grasslands. | The landscape of the Downs has changed significantly since the early part of the seventeenth century, as intensive agriculture has encroached on the chalk grasslands. | ||
| − | + | [[File:ENGRAVING_CROPPED_Hundreds_Wingham_Kinghamford_Barham_Detail.PNG|thumbnail|450px|none]] | |
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| + | '''Nineteenth century descriptions''' | ||
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| + | In the early nineteenth century Barham Downs were still described as a rather desolate feature of the landscape: | ||
''The ride over Barham Downs, except in the finest weather, is black and dreary. This tract, however, forms a good race-course, and is a fine open space for the review of troops. The races take place here annually, in the month of August, and there is also a spring meetîng on Easter Tuesday. Both are in high repute, and attract visitors from all parts of the county of Kent, and even from London.'' (Brady, 1837:118) | ''The ride over Barham Downs, except in the finest weather, is black and dreary. This tract, however, forms a good race-course, and is a fine open space for the review of troops. The races take place here annually, in the month of August, and there is also a spring meetîng on Easter Tuesday. Both are in high repute, and attract visitors from all parts of the county of Kent, and even from London.'' (Brady, 1837:118) | ||
| − | An amateur botanist described the wide range of flora to be seen on and at the edge of Barham Downs in the 1860s ( | + | An amateur botanist described the wide range of flora to be seen on and at the edge of Barham Downs in the 1860s (Pamplin, 1863:18-21) |
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| + | '''Denton''' | ||
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| + | The parish of Denton lies to the south of Barham Downs. Hasted, 1800:358-60 was not enamoured of the downs, which abutt the parish: | ||
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| + | ''The parish of Denton is situated at the beginning of a very wild, dreary, and montainous country, the hills here rising on each side the valley pretty sudden and high. The soil of it is very poor, consisting either of chalk, or an unfertile red earth, mixed with quantities of sharp stones. It is but small, the village called Denton.street, lies in the valley at the northern boundary of the parish, not far from Brome, that of Barham extending quite up to it. The high road from Canterbury over Barham downs leads through the street, at the north end of which, though in Barham parish, is the seat of Maydeacon, and at the south end Denton-court and the church; hence the hill rises to the hamlet of Selsted, part only of which is in this parish, and thence the road continues over Swinfield Minnis to the town of Folkestone; in the southern part there is a great deal of woodland'' | ||
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Brady, John Henry, The Dover road sketch book; or, Traveller's pocket guide, between London and Dover (?London, 1837) | Brady, John Henry, The Dover road sketch book; or, Traveller's pocket guide, between London and Dover (?London, 1837) | ||
| + | Hasted, Edward, The History and topographical survey of the county of Kent, vol. 9 (London, 1800) | ||
Pamplin, William, The Phytologist: a botanical journal, vol. 6 (?London, 1863) | Pamplin, William, The Phytologist: a botanical journal, vol. 6 (?London, 1863) | ||
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Revision as of 06:36, September 14, 2011
Barham Downs
Barham Downs featured in the lives of the Oxindens of both Deane and Barham. A number of letters printed by D.K. Gardiner or available in manuscript at the British Library make reference to the Downs.
The landscape of the Downs has changed significantly since the early part of the seventeenth century, as intensive agriculture has encroached on the chalk grasslands.
Nineteenth century descriptions
In the early nineteenth century Barham Downs were still described as a rather desolate feature of the landscape:
The ride over Barham Downs, except in the finest weather, is black and dreary. This tract, however, forms a good race-course, and is a fine open space for the review of troops. The races take place here annually, in the month of August, and there is also a spring meetîng on Easter Tuesday. Both are in high repute, and attract visitors from all parts of the county of Kent, and even from London. (Brady, 1837:118)
An amateur botanist described the wide range of flora to be seen on and at the edge of Barham Downs in the 1860s (Pamplin, 1863:18-21)
Denton
The parish of Denton lies to the south of Barham Downs. Hasted, 1800:358-60 was not enamoured of the downs, which abutt the parish:
The parish of Denton is situated at the beginning of a very wild, dreary, and montainous country, the hills here rising on each side the valley pretty sudden and high. The soil of it is very poor, consisting either of chalk, or an unfertile red earth, mixed with quantities of sharp stones. It is but small, the village called Denton.street, lies in the valley at the northern boundary of the parish, not far from Brome, that of Barham extending quite up to it. The high road from Canterbury over Barham downs leads through the street, at the north end of which, though in Barham parish, is the seat of Maydeacon, and at the south end Denton-court and the church; hence the hill rises to the hamlet of Selsted, part only of which is in this parish, and thence the road continues over Swinfield Minnis to the town of Folkestone; in the southern part there is a great deal of woodland
Sources
Brady, John Henry, The Dover road sketch book; or, Traveller's pocket guide, between London and Dover (?London, 1837)
Hasted, Edward, The History and topographical survey of the county of Kent, vol. 9 (London, 1800)
Pamplin, William, The Phytologist: a botanical journal, vol. 6 (?London, 1863)
