Godmersham
The first known record of
Godmersham was in AD824, when Boernulph, King of Mercia, gave
Godmersham to Wulfred, Archbishop of Canterbury. Godmersham was
also included in the Domesday Book. Godmersham parish now comprises
two communities: Godmersham and Bilting. It lies on the A28 midway
between Ashford and Canterbury in an Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty and is bounded by the North Downs - with the North Downs Way
and Pilgrims’ Way traversing the parish to the North West. A
village hall is shared with the neighbouring parish of Crundale.
Each parish has its own church, but since 1946 both parishes have
shared one priest. Godmersham church is Norman and contains a
carving considered to be one of the earliest representations of
Thomas-à-Beckett. Godmersham Park House was built in 1732, and
eventually became the property of Edward Knight, brother of Jane
Austen. Her novel “Pride and Prejudice” is said to depict
characters and scenes from the village. The house is now a Training
College for Dispensing Opticians. Possibly because the area has
become a dormitory for people who work in Ashford, Canterbury and
further afield (some people commute to London by train from nearby
Wye station), the village lost its pub and school in 1946, and the
shop/post office in 1982. Godmersham is served by an hourly bus
service from Ashford and Canterbury and a twice-daily post-bus from
Canterbury.
Facilities
- Anglican (Parish) Church
- Village Hall
- Rudimentary Recreation Ground with Children's Play area
Organisations
- Garden Society
- Painting Society
- Rainbows, Brownies
- Herdsmen Society
-
WI
- Church Groups (eg Sunday School, Youth Group)
Population (2001 Census)
|
Population |
Number
of People in Godmersham |
% of
People in Godmersham |
Number
of People in Ashford Borough |
% of
People in Ashford Borough |
|
0-4 |
14 |
4% |
6,421 |
6% |
|
5-11 |
36 |
10% |
9,972 |
10% |
|
12-18 |
37 |
10% |
9,021 |
9% |
|
19-59 |
201 |
56% |
55,439 |
54% |
|
60+ |
73 |
20% |
21,700 |
21% |
|
Total |
361 |
|
102,553 |
|
Households (2001 Census)
|
Households |
Number
of Households in Godmersham |
% of
Households in Godmersham |
Number
of Households in Ashford Borough |
% of
Households in Ashford Borough |
| Total
Households |
140 |
|
41,450 |
|
| One
Person Households |
25 |
18% |
10,323 |
25% |
| Lone
Parent Households |
5 |
4% |
3,207 |
8% |
| Other
Households |
110 |
79% |
27,920 |
67% |
|
Average Household Size |
2.61 |
|
2.44 |
|
Housing (2001 Census)
|
Housing |
Number
of People in Godmersham |
% of
People in Godmersham |
Number
of People in Ashford Borough |
% of
People in Ashford Borough |
| Total
Dwellings |
146 |
|
42,969 |
|
| No.
Vacant |
6 |
4% |
1,284 |
3% |
| Owner
Occupied |
95 |
65% |
31,135 |
72% |
|
Rented |
45 |
31% |
10,550 |
25% |
Types of Dwelling (2001 Census)
| Type of
Dwelling |
Number
of People in Godmersham |
% of
People in Godmersham |
Number
of People in Ashford Borough |
% of
People in Ashford Borough |
|
Detached |
102 |
70% |
14,468 |
34% |
|
Semi-Detached |
40 |
27% |
13,426 |
31% |
|
Terraced |
0 |
0% |
10,287 |
24% |
| Flats,
Maisonettes |
4 |
3% |
4,331 |
10% |
|
Caravans, Temporary |
0 |
0% |
457 |
1% |
Parish Council Details
Parish Clerk: Mrs S Gaskain
Rhode Court
Selling
Kent ME13 9PS
Telephone: 01227 752076
Councillor Details
Venues
Venues for
Hire
Useful Links
This webpage was updated on 6/19/2008