Elmstone Explained

Country:England
Official Name:Elmstone
Static Image:Elmstone Church 1.jpg
Static Image Width:250px
Static Image Caption:Elmstone Church
Coordinates:51.295°N 1.245°W
Civil Parish:Preston
Shire District:Dover
Shire County:Kent
Region:South East England
Postcode District:CT3
Postcode Area:CT

Elmstone is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Preston, in the Dover district, in East Kent, England. It is situated between Canterbury and Sandwich. The Domesday Book of 1086 records Elmstone as 'Aelvetone'. In 1086 the recorded population was 3 households. In 1931 the parish had a population of 117.[1] On 1 April 1935 the parish was abolished and merged with Preston, part also went to Wingham.[2]

The village is surrounded by farmland mostly laid to apple and pear orchards. Some local farms have been sold and are no longer used for agriculture.

Elmstone Church, a small 13th-century Anglican church can be found in the village; unusually, the church does not have a dedicated saint. The church, in the Canonry Benefice of Canterbury diocese, shares a vicar with the villages of Ash, Chillenden, Goodnestone, Nonington, Preston and Stourmouth.

Elmstone recorded the lowest temperature (−21.3 °C (−6.3 °F) during the Winter of 1946–1947.[3]

Notable buildings

Notable buildings within the hamlet are the early Victorian Old Rectory, the early eighteenth century Grade Two listed Old Vicarage and the Grade Two listed Georgian country house Elmstone Court.

Community

Apart from mains water, mains drains and electricity there are no services, i.e., no shops, restaurants, pubs, public transport or street lights. The public telephone is now used as a book exchange. The nearest bus stop is in the village of Preston.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Population statistics Elmstone AP/CP through time. A Vision of Britain through Time. 13 June 2023.
  2. Web site: Relationships and changes Elmstone AP/CP through time. A Vision of Britain through Time. 13 June 2023.
  3. Web site: Dataset Collection Record: Met Office MIDAS Open: UK Land Surface Stations Data (1853-current) . 2022-04-23 . catalogue.ceda.ac.uk.