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'''Wormshill''' is a small [[village]] in [[Kent]], [[England]], situated at a high point on the [[North Downs]] between [[Sittingbourne]] and [[Maidstone]] some ten miles south of [[The Swale]]. The village exists in the [[Hundred (division)|Hundred]] of Eyhorne and predominantly in the Church Parish of Wormshill the central focus of which is the [[Norman architecture|Norman]] church of [[Saint Giles]]. The population is around 200. |
'''Wormshill''' is a small [[village]] in [[Kent]], [[England]], situated at a high point on the [[North Downs]] between [[Sittingbourne]] and [[Maidstone]] some ten miles south of [[The Swale]]. The village exists in the [[Hundred (division)|Hundred]] of Eyhorne and predominantly in the Church Parish of Wormshill the central focus of which is the [[Norman architecture|Norman]] church of [[Saint Giles]]. The population is around 200. |
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To the East lies the village of Frinsted, to the West the hamlet of Bedmonton, to the South and South West are the villages of [[Hollingbourne]] and Hucking. |
To the East lies the village of [[Frinsted]], to the West the hamlet of [[Bedmonton]], to the South and South West are the villages of [[Hollingbourne]] and [[Hucking]]. |
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== Environment and development == |
== Environment and development == |
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Wormshill's elevated and exposed position on the [[North Downs]] means it occasionally experiences extreme weather conditions such as in the heavy snowfalls between 11th and 14th January [[1987]]. More recently in [[March 2005]] (see right) the village experienced significant snowfall when lower-level towns and villages had little or none. |
Wormshill's elevated and exposed position on the [[North Downs]] means it occasionally experiences extreme weather conditions such as in the heavy snowfalls between 11th and 14th January [[1987]]. More recently in [[March 2005]] (see right) the village experienced significant snowfall when lower-level towns and villages had little or none. |
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Much of the local woodland was devastated by the [[Great Storm of 1987]] which swept [[hurricane]] force winds across the South East of England in October of that year. A significant part of the exposed woodland to the North of 'The Street' was felled and, following a replanting programme, is only now starting to show signs of maturing. Similarly an ancient [[yew]] tree which had stood for several hundred years in the grounds of the house at Norwood Farm was destroyed along with a number of long-standing trees in the area. However, some 20 years later, happily the village shows few obvious signs of the damage |
Much of the local woodland was devastated by the [[Great Storm of 1987]] which swept [[hurricane]] force winds across the South East of England in October of that year. A significant part of the exposed woodland to the North of 'The Street' was felled and, following a replanting programme, is only now starting to show signs of maturing. Similarly an ancient [[yew]] tree which had stood for several hundred years in the grounds of the house at Norwood Farm was destroyed along with a number of long-standing trees in the area. However, some 20 years later, happily the village shows few obvious signs of the damage. |
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To the West of the village there lies an [[ancient woodland]] which has been known to contain [[flint tools]] but this has recently been put under considerable threat by the extensive use of [[off-road]] vehicles on a [[Byway (road)|byway]] that runs through it. |
To the West of the village there lies an [[ancient woodland]] which has been known to contain [[flint tools]] but this has recently been put under considerable threat by the extensive use of [[off-road]] vehicles on a [[Byway (road)|byway]] that runs through it. |
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Wormshill is a small villageinKent, England, situated at a high point on the North Downs between Sittingbourne and Maidstone some ten miles south of The Swale. The village exists in the Hundred of Eyhorne and predominantly in the Church Parish of Wormshill the central focus of which is the Norman church of Saint Giles. The population is around 200.
To the East lies the village of Frinsted, to the West the hamlet of Bedmonton, to the South and South West are the villages of Hollingbourne and Hucking.
Wormshill stretches primarily along a single carriageway road known as The Street. Building in the village has been scant since the 1960s and 1970s in part due to its position within the North Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The last major development being that of Draysfield.
Wormshill's elevated and exposed position on the North Downs means it occasionally experiences extreme weather conditions such as in the heavy snowfalls between 11th and 14th January 1987. More recently in March 2005 (see right) the village experienced significant snowfall when lower-level towns and villages had little or none.
Much of the local woodland was devastated by the Great Storm of 1987 which swept hurricane force winds across the South East of England in October of that year. A significant part of the exposed woodland to the North of 'The Street' was felled and, following a replanting programme, is only now starting to show signs of maturing. Similarly an ancient yew tree which had stood for several hundred years in the grounds of the house at Norwood Farm was destroyed along with a number of long-standing trees in the area. However, some 20 years later, happily the village shows few obvious signs of the damage.
To the West of the village there lies an ancient woodland which has been known to contain flint tools but this has recently been put under considerable threat by the extensive use of off-road vehicles on a byway that runs through it.
Until the end of the 20th Century the village had a Post Office and general stores along with a public house, The Blacksmiths Arms. However, the decline in rural Post Offices in the late 1990s led to its demise and the village retains only the Blacksmith's Arms and a post box. A small school was built in the village in 1872 and did not last 100 years though the building remains as a private dwelling.
In the 19th Century an additional public house existed at the Northern edge of the village near Norwood Farm and was known as the Woodmans Arms. Until the 1990s Wormshill retained its own telephone exchange before becoming part of the Maidstone exchange. A red telephone box remains in the village following an insistence from villagers that it was not replaced with a modern design.
The church is dedicated to Saint Giles and forms part of the united benefice of Bredgar, Milstead, Bicknor and Frinsted. In 1995 received a new ring of six bells after a concerted campaign by villagers begun in 1944 by the late Michael Nightingale OBE. The last major renovations of the church were in 1789 and early in the 20th Century. Of note within the church are a Norman font and Tudor pulpit. The impressive former rectory is now a private dwelling.
The origin of the name Wormshill is attributed to Wodensell - after the Norse God Woden. A corruption, Wormsell is mentioned as a birthplace of a Cistercian Abbot resident the nearby abbeyinBoxleyin1474. The Manor of Wormsell was apparently in the ownership of Robert de Gratton during the reign of Henry III.
In terms of attractions and tourism, the Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway attracts tourists and rail enthusiasts throughout the summer season and the magnificent Leeds Castle is just a few miles from the village.
