Biddenden

Biddenden is a village and civil parish in the Ashford District of Kent, England. The village lies on the Weald of Kent, some five miles (8 km) north of Tenterden. It was centre for Wealden iron industry and also of clothmaking. During the reign of Edward III some Flemish clothworkers settled in the area. The ready availability of raw materials led to the establishment of an industry for the production of broadcloth. An important cottage industry is established to the west, where wine and cider is produced.

Biddenden is also the trading name of Biddenden's Cider. Biddenden's cider is made by Biddenden Vineyards Ltd. whose premises are close to the village.

In 1100, Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst, a pair of conjoined twins, were supposedly born in the village. The Biddenden Maids, as they became known, are celebrated in the village sign.

On December 21, 1821, LDS Church leader and Utah pioneer John R. Winder was born in Biddenden.

Origin of Name
The place name of Biddenden is derived from Old English, meaning Bidda's woodland pasture associated with a man called Bida originally Biddingden (c993) Bida + ing + denn, eventually evolved into the current spelling.

Demography
As of the 2001 UK census, the Biddenden electoral ward had a population of 2,434. The ethnicity was 98.7% white, 0.4% mixed race, 0.3% Asian, 0.5% black and 0.1% other. The place of birth of residents was 94.2% United Kingdom, 0.4% Republic of Ireland, 1.6% other Western European countries, and 3.8% elsewhere. Religion was recorded as 78.6% Christian, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.2% Hindu, 0% Sikh, 0% Jewish, and 0.1% Muslim. 12.7% were recorded as having no religion, 0.3% had an alternative religion and 7.9% did not state their religion.

The economic activity of residents aged 16–74 was 32.8% in full-time employment, 12.5% in part-time employment, 16.9% self-employed, 1.7% unemployed, 1.1% students with jobs, 2.4% students without jobs, 18.8% retired, 9.4% looking after home or family, 2.5% permanently sick or disabled and 2% economically inactive for other reasons. The industry of employment of residents was 13.9% retail, 9.5% manufacturing, 10.3% construction, 14.3% real estate, 10.3% health and social work, 7.2% education, 4.7% transport and communications, 5.2% public administration, 4.9% hotels and restaurants, 5.7% finance, 5.8% agriculture and 8.2% other. Compared with national figures, the ward had a relatively high proportion of workers in agriculture and construction. There were a relatively low proportion in manufacturing, transport and communications. Of the ward's residents aged 16–74, 19.6% had a higher education qualification or the equivalent, compared with 19.9% nationwide.

Transport
Biddenden was served by Biddenden railway station, on the Kent and East Sussex Railway. The station opened on 15 May 1905 and closed on 4 January 1954.

Bygone Buses was based in Biddenden during the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was sold to Maidstone & District Motor Services.

Notable people

 * Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst (1100–34), conjoined twins traditionally said to have lived in Biddenden.
 * Thomas Bickley (1518–96), was rector of Biddenden prior to 1585
 * Elias Sydall (1672–1733), was rector of Biddenden 1702-05.
 * Edward Nares (1762–1841), theologian, was rector of Biddenden 1798-1827
 * Robert Kahn (1865–1951), composer, lived in Biddenden from 1938–51
 * John Winder (1821–1910), Presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was born in Biddenden
 * King Rama VII of Siam (1893–1941) lived in Biddenden after his abdication in 1935.