Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Marden developed as a settlement after herdsmen brought their stock to feed in" dens" or clearings in the forest of Anderida. It was established by 1066 as part of the King's Manor of Milton. It changed hands many times over the centuries.

In 1283 a Market was set up by order of Edward I and existed until1930.

The beginning of the cloth trade in Marden can be traced to 1336 and became an important trade. Three clothiers from the area invented a new process of dyeing in 1640.

The population grew slowly. A Pest house was used to house victims of The Great Plague in 1666 and a workhouse was erected in 1790.

A Parish pump, erected in 1899 had to be locked up in 1907 due to contamination. The first sewers were laid in 1933.

The railway came to Marden in 1842. During the building of the line, a mammoth fossil was found in a cutting.

Gas street-lighting was installed in 1902, to be replaced by electricity in 1971.

Monument Types

• TOWN (TOWN, Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

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TQ 7467 4452. Marden. (1) [Temporary record pending further recording. Town included in English Heritage MPP Provisional list of urban areas July 1992]

(2)Herdsmen bring their stock to feed on acorns in clearings (dens) in the forest of Anderida.
1066 At the Domesday survey the Manor and Hundred of Maeredenn are part of the king's manor of Milton.
1170 Maerdaen is held for the Crown by Richard De Luci, Lord Chief Justice of England.
1235 Twenty tree trunks are cut from the woods of Henry III at Mereden and presented to the Abbot of St.Radigund at Dover for the building of a refectory.
1283 Edward I commands an annual market to be held in Merdenne.
1336 The beginning of the cloth trade.
1554 Fire destroys the chancel and chapel roof of St Michaels.
1607 James I makes Merdenne over to Sir Henry Brown.
1635 (approx.) Marden passes from Charles I to Sir Edward Brown and Mr Christopher Favell.
1640 Three clothiers from the area invent a new process of dyeing.
1648 The Earl of Pembroke purchases Marden.
1666 The Pest House is used to house victims of The Great Plague.
1790 A Workhouse is erected at a cost of £529 2s 8d.
1793 Money raised from the turnpike was £21 11s 3d.
1799 Approximately 1500 inhabitants were living in 300 houses.
1821 The population is now 2051 with 1100 males and 951 females living in 353 dwellings.
1840/41 A mammoth fossil is found in a cutting for the railway.
1841 The population is 2676 with 2 inns, 6 beerhouses and 7 grocers.
1842 The railway comes to Marden with 6 trains a day.
1871 The population is 2333.
1896/97 A new school is built to accommodate 500 children.
1899 The parish pump is erected by the Parish Council.
1902 Gas street lighting is installed.
1907 The Parish pump is locked up due to contamination.
1922 A library service opens in the Village School.
1928 A Hop-pickers Hospital opens.
1930 Marden Market closes. 1933 The first sewers are installed at Marden.
1940 September 5th Franz Von Werra (German Ace pilot remembered in the film "The One That Got Away") was shot down over Marden.
1953 Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother visits Marden Fruit Show.
1969 January 4th A train crash in fog killed 4 people and 11 were injured.
1971 Electric street lighting was installed.
(information from Marden History Society www.marden.org.uk )

<1> OS 1:10000 1971 (OS Card Reference). SKE48156.

Sources and further reading