Golden Green Explained

Country:England
Official Name:Golden Green
Static Image Name:Goldhill Mill1.jpg
Static Image Caption:Goldhill Mill
Coordinates:51.211°N 0.343°W
Shire District:Tonbridge and Malling
Shire County:Kent
Region:South East England
Constituency Westminster:Tonbridge & Malling
Post Town:Tonbridge
Postcode District:TN11 0
Postcode Area:TN
Os Grid Reference:TQ638483
Civil Parish:Hadlow

Golden Green is a village in the Medway valley near Tonbridge in Kent, England. It is 1 mile (1.6 km) from the larger village of Hadlow (of which it is part of the civil parish) and 4miles from the town of Tonbridge.

Location

Golden Green has a population of around 350. The surrounding area is predominantly agricultural, with fruit orchards and cereals as the principal crops. It stands on a ridge, with the River Medway to the south and the River Bourne to the north. Goldhill Mill is the only watermill on the Bourne that retains its machinery. The village is popular with commuters and has many expensive houses. Barnes Street hamlet is immediately adjacent along the same minor road. The Bell Inn public house is in the village centre. There are no shops or schools, but the Golden Green Mission Church—a Grade II-listed tin tabernacle opened in about 1914—serves Anglican worshippers. It is a chapel of ease to St. Mary's Church, Hadlow.[1] [2]

Hartlake disaster

On 20 October 1853, a wagon carrying migrant hop pickers back to their campsite overturned on Hartlake bridge, tipping its occupants into a flood-swollen River Medway. The accident, known as the Hartlake disaster, resulted in the deaths of 30 people.[3] An inquest into the disaster held at the Bell Inn in the village blamed the Medway Navigation Company for failing to adequately maintain the old wooden bridge.

Aircraft accident

On 6 August 1924,[4] Farman F.60 Goliath F-ADDT Languedoc of Air Union was on a scheduled international passenger flight from Paris to Croydon when the port engine failed. A forced landing was made at Golden Green. One person amongst the pilot and five passengers on board was injured. The aircraft was dismantled to allow removal. It was later repaired and returned to service.[5] In 1931, the aircraft was written off when it crashed shortly after taking off from Marden Airfield, Kent.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Churches in our Parish or Benefice: Hadlow. Archbishops' Council. 2010. A Church Near You website. 12 July 2012.
  2. Web site: The Golden Green Mission Church . . 2012 . A Church Near You website . 12 July 2012 . dead . https://archive.today/20121224213250/http://www.stmaryshadlow.org.uk/the-church/40-introduction/52-the-golden-green-mission-church . 24 December 2012 .
  3. Web site: Tribute to drowned hop pickers . BBC News . 2003-10-19 . 2013-10-21.
  4. Mishap to Passenger Aeroplane . 8 August 1925 . 14 . 43725 . F.
  5. Aviation News . December 2005.
  6. Book: Catherine . Alderson . Chris . Gosling . Mari . Gosling . Steve . McArragher . Richard . Adam . Marden's Aviation History . The Marden History Group . Marden . 11 . 2009.