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Halling, Kent
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Halling is a village on the North Downs in the northern part of Kent, England, covering 7.1 square kilometres of land. Consisting of Lower Halling, Upper Halling and North Halling, it is scattered over some 3 miles along the River Medway parallel to the Pilgrims' Way running over Kent.
The origin of the name is uncertain. The following have been proposed at various times: Halls land (Belonging to Hall), Heall land (From Old English, Hall Manor), Heallgemot (the court of the Lord of the Manor), Heallingas (Comrades sharing the same hall).
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Halling Man, a Neolithic skeleton discovered in 1912 behind the existing railway station, is the earliest indication of activity in Halling. There is evidence of Roman settlement indicated by a number of burials from the period as well as Roman tiles. The first written record dates from the 8th century. In the Charter for Halling (765-785 AD) Ecgberht II of Kent granted to St. Andrews of Rochester, "ten sulings at Halling with rights to pasture swine in five districts".
Halling has a small industrial existence, with two chalk mining and processing factories. Since before World War II, quarries have been dug in Halling, at first by hand, for the extraction of chalk for cement manufacture. It is connected to the other villages and towns along the Medway by the Medway Valley railway line, running from Maidstone to Strood.
The chalk quarrying industry in Halling has had a great influence, including the building of some village houses, the support of many families and the improvement of its road and railway connections. However, the area affected by these interests is now spread across large parts of what were green fields and idyllic countryside. Parts of the village are controlled by the Green Belt area, limiting growth of industrial and residential areas alike.
Despite the influence of the chalk industry in Halling, modern technology and practices have meant that fewer workers are required at the plants to allow them to operate. Instead, the working population of the village mainly commutes to London and nearby towns.
The village has a church, Post Office, small petrol station (only serving diesel fuel), fire station, four pubs, a small convenience store, youth centre, General Practice and junior school.
In addition to this, Upper Halling has both a pumping station (built recently, after a Victorian one was converted into accommodation), filter beds and small underground reservoir and spring. It is also home to the Bishop's Palace, which came from the early powers and luxuries given to Christian Bishops. It is now a ruin, and publicly accessible.
One of Halling's most distinguishing features is the large blue lake, which was dug due to the chalk quarrying efforts. Its blue colour comes from the underlying white chalk and the purity of the water. It is fed by a large spring, one of which is tapped to provide the local water supply. The water is so clean at extraction that the only chemical additions made by the water company are those of the minimum government levels.
A satellite* view of Halling and its lake.
- Fielding, Rev. C. H. Memories of Malling and Its Valley. Henry C. H. Oliver (Publisher), 1893.
- Igglesden, Charles. A Saunter Through Kent with Pen and Pencil. The Offices of The Kentish Express, Kent, 1903.
- Gowers, Edwards and Church, Derek. Across the Low Meadow. E.S. Gowers & D. Church, 1979.
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The unitary authority of Medway in Kent, South East England with its suburbs, villages, towns and parishes: |
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Allhallows • Borstal • Brompton • Chatham • Chattenden • Cliffe • Cliffe and Cliffe Woods • Cliffe Woods • Cooling • Cuxton • Frindsbury • Frindsbury Extra • Frindsbury Intra • Gillingham • Halling • Hempstead • High Halstow • Hoo St Werburgh • Isle of Grain • Lordswood • Lower Rainham • Luton • Park Wood • Rochester • Rainham • Rainham Mark • St Mary Hoo • St Mary's Island • Stoke • Strood • Twydall • Upchurch • Upnor • Wainscott • Walderslade • Wigmore • Wouldham |
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| The unitary authority of Medway List of places in Kent |
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