Dymchurch
Coordinates: 51°01′37″N 1°00′00″E / 51.027°N 1.00°E
| Dymchurch | |
 Dymchurch Beach |
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 Dymchurch
Dymchurch shown within Kent |
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| Population | 3,605 (parish, 2001 Census) |
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| District | Shepway |
| Shire county | Kent |
| Region | South East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Folkestone and Hythe |
| List of places: UK • England • Kent | |
Dymchurch is a village and civil parish in the Shepway District of Kent, England.[1] The village is located on the coast five miles (8 km) south-west of Hythe, and on the Romney Marsh. It is typical of this part of the coast, having been a village which became larger during the 1930s. Many houses were converted railway carriages.
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[edit] History
The history of Dymchurch[2] begins with the gradual build-up of the Romney Marsh.
New Hall was rebuilt in 1575[citation needed] after an earlier wooden structure was destroyed in a storm. It was used as a court room for the Romney Marsh area. The head magistrate was known as Leveller of the Marsh Scotts[3]. It was here that the so-called scot tax[4] was introduced, levied on residents to fund maintenance of the sea wall. Those directly outside the boundaries and thus not eligible for the tax were said to have got away "Scott Free". Residents with land were required to grow thorn bushes[citation needed] for building of the wall, as thorn twigs were believed impervious to sea water. Failure resulted in an ear being cut off.[citation needed]
During the 17th and 18th centuries, smuggling was rife all along the south east coast of England. Due to its remote location Romney Marsh and the surrounding areas were amongst the busiest locations for illicit trade. Inspiration from this gave rise to Dymchurch being the setting of the "Doctor Syn" novels, based on smuggling, by Russell Thorndike. Every two years a celebration of the novels is held, usually on August Bank Holiday. A local rumour has it that the books were mostly written within The Ship Inn[5] which was built in the 15th century and is still in use to this day as a local public house, hotel and restaurant but in reality Thorndyke's nephew insists that the novels were written in the author's garage.
The other famous place in Dymchurch is The "Dr Syns Guest House" Restaurant [1]. The name was given over 60 years ago to remember the story told, a landmark in Dymchurch.
Three Martello towers and Dymchurch Redoubt are located here, all built during the Napoleonic Wars. Martello tower No. 24 is still open to the public [2]. Of the other two, one is now a house and the other is derelict.
More modern history begins in the early 20th century. In 1908 Walter Jerrold described the village as a quiet scattered village and a delightful place far from the madding crowd. It is typical of this part of the coast, having originally been a very small village which during the 1930s became a much larger settlement. When people were wanting to own their own property. Land was sold to them and buildings erected - often derelict railway carriages. Many of the houses were converted railway carriages, yet they are sadly no longer seen, however a flavour for them can be found just along the coast at Dungeness. Dymchurch is now a popular seaside resort complete with holiday camp, caravan parks, light railway station and amusement park. Today the village is a relatively large one, and much of it is dedicated to the holiday maker. Restaurants, cafes and takeaways are there, as are the four public houses and amusement park[6] and arcade.
Much of the tourism in the village is centred around New Beach Caravan Holiday Park to the East of the village, the largest holiday park on the south Kent coast.[citation needed]
The Sea Wall can be found under "Transportation" for the new development however, The Dymchurch wall (sea defences) were built originally by the Romans to protect their harbour at Port Lympne and they run for about 4 miles and were 20 ft high. The effect of this wall together with the Rhee Wall they erected between New Romney and Appledore ensured that the rich alluvial land deposited by the river Limen (Rother) initially used as salt pans, slowly through time became rich and fertile farmland.
[edit] Dymchurch Redoubt
Two redoubts were constructed into the south coast Martello chain to act as supply depots for the local Martellos, and were originally described as 'eleven-gun towers'. It was originally proposed to build a four-gun tower at Dymchurch, but this idea was revised at the Rochester conference of 1804. Dymchurch Redoubt was built between 1806-1809 to the same specifications as its Eastbourne counterpart, although Dymchurch does not have any caponiers. (Caponiers are blockhouses in the moat that allowed the garrison to cover the entire ditch with defensive musket fire - Eastbourne Redoubt has five).
Dymchurch also underwent significant re-fortification during the Second World War, bunkers and pillboxes adorning its parapets. The gun platforms were encased in concrete for machine-guns to be mounted, artillery emplacements constructed and an observation post erected. On the western extreme of the Hythe Ranges, during the 1970s the Redoubt was being used by the British Army for training soldiers in the art of street-fighting. It is still owned by the Ministry of Defence, and will probably remain so, effectively preventing any restoration work with a view to opening it to the public in the foreseeable future.
[edit] Dymchurch Martello Towers
Martello Towers are fortifications that were built by the British Army for coastal defence during the nineteenth century. They were built all over the British Empire, from Ireland to Canada, and many survive to this day. The towers built along the coast of Kent and Sussex were the first to be built in England. Tower 20's position was described as being "critical" in 1873, and it is believed that it was washed away during the early part of the century. The immediate neighbour of the Dymchurch Redoubt, Tower 21 was the last in the line of the low-level towers, most of which were lost to the sea. As with Tower 20, the tower was described as being in a critical position in 1873 and has been washed away. Tower 22 was the second most recent south coast Martello to be lost; it was destroyed in 1956. Tower 23 was itself restored externally in the early 1970s at a cost of £4,500. A ground-level door was knocked through the seaward wall, and by the 1990s the tower was being lived in. Tower 23 has a new roof extension and was put up for sale for £850,000 in 2004. After again being used by the Coastguard up until 1959, Tower 24 was acquired by the Ministry of Works and restoration work was begun. The internal timberwork was found to be rotten, and that of Tower 23 used as a guide. A new floor of the correct pattern was installed, and room partitions added. The tower was first opened to the public as a museum in 1969 and remains as a museum of Martello Towers, owned by English Heritage. It is currently the only tower solely devoted to the history of the Martello Towers. Tower 25 is possibly the only empty tower that is regularly maintained, whereas others are just left to deteriorate. Tower 26 was demolished in 1871. Tower 27 was demolished in 1841 in consequence of the advance of the sea.
[edit] Transport
The A259 coastal road passes through the village, as does the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, opened in the 1920s. Dymchurch railway station was reopened after World War II by Laurel and Hardy.
On Saturday, 9 July 2011, the new Dymchurch Sea Wall was officially opened by the Rt. Hon. Lord Smith of Finsbury, Chairman of the Environment Agency. The scheme was implemented by the Environment Agency as part of the wider Folkestone to Cliff End Sea Defence Strategy. Allowing pedestrians to walk the sea shore for the entire length of the Village, from Hythe Military Rifle Ranges in the East to St Mary's Bay Boundary in the West, some four miles. Cyclists have the same freedom but must dismount for about 500m around the area of the public amenities.
The event was a great success and Damian Collins MP, as well as many other local stakeholders and representatives from Shepway District Council and Kent County Council attended. In a speech DOC Chairman Terry Preston thanked the Environment Agency for the successful completion of this scheme and expressed his gratitude on behalf of the local community, whose flood defences are now secured to a 1:200 standard.
Cycles are permitted on the wall except for a small section and dog walkers are often seen around and about.
[edit] Population
The Population has grown due to large development since 2001 and is estimated at 5820 (Est 2004). This will be ratified at the result of the 2011 census. Dymchurch also has a Primary School.
"Dymchurch Primary" is smaller than the average-sized primary school. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is broadly average. Most pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic heritages is much lower than average, as is the percentage who speak English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is broadly average, although in some year groups it is much higher. The school caters for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage in a Reception class. The school has about 180 pupils. (Source OFSTED Report 2011)
[edit] Buildings of note
The Norman church in Dymchurch, dedicated to St Peter & St Paul,[7] is classic Norman, built in the 12th century about 1150. The first recorded Rector was Richard de Bello in 1260. The church remained virtually unchanged for nearly 700 years. In 1821 the population of Dymchurch increased extensions and modifications and the north aisle was extended and the nave re-roofed giving the church its present lop-sided appearance. St. Peter and St. Paul's has several stories surrounding it. Its font was once thrown out - possibly by Protestant dissenters - and then restored in the 15th century after being recovered from a ditch.
The Royal British Legion Club, is situated about one Metre from the Sea wall and is rumoured to be the closest to the high tide line in Britain. The building is named Memorial hall.
[edit] Local media
[edit] Newspapers
Dymchurch has two paid for newspapers, the Romney Marsh Herald (published by Kent Regional News and Media) and the Kentish Express (published by the KM Group. Free newspapers for the area include the Folkestone and Hythe Extra, part of the KM Group; and yourshepway, part of KOS Media.
[edit] Radio
The local radio station for Dymchurch is KMFM Shepway and White Cliffs Country. The area is also served by the county-wide stations Heart, Gold and BBC Radio Kent. (Romney Marsh F.M. is back November)
[edit] References
- ^ Dymchurch online
- ^ Dymchurch:The Romans and the Sea Wall
- ^ page 31, Dr. Syn, Thorndike
- ^ The name given, historically, to any such tax raised to share burdens in a community: Concise Oxford Dictionary
- ^ The Ship Inn Dymchurch
- ^ Dymchurch Amusements: Official Website
- ^ St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Dymchurch
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A view along the High Street
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Donkey rides on the beach
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The beach looking towards Hythe
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A view of the High Street looking from Eastbridge Road
[edit] External links
Media related to Dymchurch at Wikimedia Commons
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