Tenterden

Tenterden is a Cinque Port town in the Ashford District of Kent, England. It stands on the edge of the Weald, overlooking the valley of the River Rother.

The town's name is derived from the Old English "Tenet Waraden", meaning a den or forest clearing in the forest which belonged to the men of Thanet.

History
The town grew from the 14th century around the wool industry. Unlike other such centres in the Weald it had the advantage of access to the sea. Much of what is now Romney Marsh was under water, and ships docked at Smallhythe. Timber from the Wealden forests was used to construct ships, and in 1449 Tenterden was incorporated into the Confederation of Cinque Ports as a limb of Rye. Ships built in the town were then used to help Rye fulfil its quota for the Crown.

A school was in existence here in 1521; later (in 1666) it was referred to as a grammar school.

Town council
For the purposes of local government, the town is divided into four wards: North, South, West and St Michaels. The latter is the part of the town to the north (see below).

Churches and chapels
There are two parish churches:
 * St Mildred's is in the main part of the town. The church dates from the 12th century, and was progressively enlarged until 1461, when the distinctive tower was constructed. It was one of the churches in the 1588 system of warning beacons.
 * St Michael's: The suburb now called St Michael's was known as Boresisle until Victorian times, when a church dedicated to St Michael was built to serve this community. The church was consecrated in 1863, but construction of the steeple took a further 12 years.

The Unitarian Chapel, originally called the Old Meeting House, was built c. 1695. A plaque on the wall records that Dr Benjamin Franklin worshipped here in 1783, where he was to hear Joseph Priestley preach.

The town
Tenterden's broad tree-lined High Street offers a selection of shopping facilities, making the town a centre for a number of villages in the area. Tourist attractions draw the visitors: especially the Kent & East Sussex Railway line to Bodiam; Chapel Down a local vineyard; Tentertainment Music Festival; and the Tenterden Folk Festival, held on the weekend of the first Saturday in October each year since 1993.

Tenterden is an important nodal centre with routes radiating to Rolvenden and Hastings (A28), Wittersham and Rye (B2082), Appledore and New Romney (B2080), Woodchurch and Hamstreet (B2067) and Ashford and Maidstone (A28/A262). It has a busy town centre which is home to many small boutiques and antique shops, as well as craft shops, book shops and various banks. There is also a large Tesco which is accessible to pedestrians from the High Street and vehicles from Smallhythe Road. Tenterden also has a Waitrose store accessed from Sayers Lane and Recreation Ground Road. There are numerous public houses in the town centre, The Woolpack (Enterprise Inns) next to the Town Hall, the former Eight Bells (now a Cafe Rouge), The White Lion (Marston's Inns), The Vine (Shepherd Neame) and The William Caxton (Shepherd Neame). The town also benefits from a leisure centre at the end of Recreation Ground Road. The centre was opened by Diana, Princess of Wales.

Homewood School & Sixth Form Centre, a large secondary school, catering for the Weald and South Ashford is situated in Tenterden.

Tenterden Lions Club was formed in 1958; its members serve the community by giving time to local needs and raising money for local, national and international good causes. Every December, Father Christmas travels around Tenterden and some of the local villages providing enjoyment, as well as collecting money to support various good causes.

The Tenterden and District Chamber of Commerce promote and support businesses in Tenterden and the surrounding area. The Chamber hold regular meetings for members including networking events and the "TWITS" computer group. The Chamber also run the Tenterden Town website for the community, organise a Town brochure, have input into the many walking guides, help organise Late Night Shopping, various Christmas events, and support the Tentertainment Music Festival, an annual event normally held in July.

At Christmas time, Tenterden has a tradition of late-night shopping on the first Friday of December, with Christmas lights, stalls, entertainment and goodies for the whole family, as well as free parking.

Famous connections

 * Benn Barham, professional British golfer.
 * William Caxton (of printing press fame) is reputed to have been born in the town.
 * Edith Craig (daughter of Ellen Terry), actress, theatre director, producer, costume designer and early pioneer of women's suffrage, lived at Smallhythe Place.
 * Nicki French, international singer/songwriter.
 * Sir David Frost, media personality and daytime TV game show host, was born in the town.
 * Kevin Godley (of 10cc and Godley & Creme) was the owner of the West Cross tower which has recently been reconstructed.
 * Gary Hume, artist, Royal Academician and Turner Prize nominee.
 * Roderick Kedward, historian and specialist on Vichy France and the Resistance.
 * John Parker (Irish judge), died 1564, who became a leading statesman and judge in Ireland, began life as a cloth-maker in Tenterden.
 * Sir Donald Sinden, the actor, lives in the area and the local theatre is named after him.
 * Dame Ellen Terry, the actress, lived for many years at nearby Smallhythe Place (which is now under the care of the National Trust).
 * Samuel J. Tilden, who lost the U.S. presidency by one vote in 1876, is descended from the Tilden family of Tenterden.

Population
The district had a population of 7,600 at the 2001 census.

Miscellaneous
It is also the name of one of the oldest working railway locomotives in the world, an 0-6-0 tank engine.

Sports

 * Tenterden Town Football Club, established in 1889, is based on the High Street, along Recreation Ground Road whereit has played since formation. After many seasons of varied fortunes, for the 2008/09 seasonit has two teams: the 1st XI competes in the Kent County League, and the Reserve XI competes in the Ashford & District Football League, both on a Saturday afternoon.  Tenterden's ground hosts the annual Weald of Kent Charity Cup Final, which Tenterden itself has contested on a number of occasions, most recently during the 2000/01 season, losing 3-1 to Tyler Hill.
 * Tenterden Tigers Junior Football Club, established in 1996.
 * Tenterden Cricket Club is based along Smallhythe Road.
 * The Tour de France raced through the town in July 2007, with a sprint for the Maillot vert (green jersey) taking place in Tenterden.
 * Homewood Badminton Club was formed over 30 years ago for intermediate and advanced players. They play every Tuesday at the Tenterden Leisure Centre and participate in local leagues.
 * Tenterden Golf Club is located in Chalk Hill.

Local media
Tenterden has one local commercial radio station, KMFM Ashford, which serves the entire borough of Ashford. The town is also served by county wide stations BBC Radio Kent, Heart Kent and Gold.It lies within the BBC South East and ITV Meridian regions.

The local newspaper is the Kentish Express, published by the KM Group. Tenterden is also served by two free newspapers - Ashford Extra from the KM Group, and yourashford published by KOS Media on Wednesdays.

Twinning
Tenterden is twinned with the following places


 * 🇫🇷 Avallon