Ashford (Kent)

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Ashford
Ashford International (Eurostar) station
Ashford International (Eurostar) station
Coordinates 51 ° 9 ′  N , 0 ° 52 ′  E Coordinates: 51 ° 9 ′  N , 0 ° 52 ′  E
Ashford (England)
Ashford
Ashford
Residents 117,956 (as of 2011)
Population density ? Ew./km²
administration
ZIP code section TN23, TN24, TN25
prefix 01233
Part of the country England
Shire county Kent
Ceremonial county Kent
District Ashford
Website: www.ashford.gov.uk
Template: Infobox location in the UK / Pop-Den

Ashford is a town in Kent in south east England . It is located in the Borough of Ashford in the North Downs on the Great Stour and the mouth of the East Stour . Ashford has 118,000 inhabitants (2011). The city's agricultural market is one of the largest in the country.

Ashford is a relatively common name in English and literally means “ash ford”, a ford lined with ash trees. The city of Ashford, which lies on the border between western and eastern Kent, has the motto "With stronger faith", a quote from Richard's poem "To Lucasta, Going to the Warres" Lovelace .

history

Ashford has always been an important market town in Kent and at the same time a junction for several roads and railways. The city is connected to the lines Ashford - Ramsgate (via Canterbury - West), Ashford - Maidstone , London - Dover ( South Eastern Main Line ) , Ashford - Folkestone and Ashford - Hastings . Since the opening of the Eurotunnel under the English Channel , Ashford's station has also had international transport connections to the continent with the Eurostar trains.

The borough of Ashford was at the east end of Andredsweal , a large wooded area that stretched from Kent to Sussex, of which the Weald is the remnant today. In Roman times a road ran from Canterbury through Ashford, but a settlement is only documented from 893 onwards. The Domesday Book of 1086 records a church, two mills and a value of 150 shillings for Ashford ( Essetesford or Eshetisford ) . The Ashford estate was then owned by the Connétable of England, Hugh de Montfort .

The relative proximity to the capital London has significantly shaped the history of Ashford. Shakespeare mentions in his play Henry VI. that the rebel Jack Cade was from Ashford. Even the butcher Dick, who exclaims in the play: First let's kill all lawyers comes from the city.

Ashford has had market and town rights since 1243 and has been since the end of the 16th century. one of the most important cattle markets in the region. This market was held in the center of town on the High Street until it was moved to Elwick Road in 1856. In the parish church of the village, the building structure from the 13th century has been preserved, otherwise it dates largely from the 15th century when it was renovated. In 1638 the city received a high school, which was used as a school until 1846 and which now serves as a museum. Until 1997, when they had to make way for the construction of the high-speed rail line for the Eurotunnel , the city ​​housed the Templer Barracks , a barracks area that also included a training facility for British foreign intelligence services.

Population development

In 1801 Ashford and Willesborough had a combined population of 2,600. The number rose to 8,800 by 1861 and reached 28,000 in 1961. In 1991 there were 92,331 people in Ashford and 102,661 in 2001, making Ashford one of the youngest major cities in England. The growth continues; for 2004 the estimated population was 107,700.

According to the 2001 census, Ashford had 41,450 households and unemployment among the 16 to 74 year olds was 2.4%. This is a very good value.

Attractions

The following sights should be mentioned:

  • The Ashford Borough Museum in the old high school; the history of the city is represented
  • The Ashford Green Corridor , extensive parkland along the city's rivers
  • Brockhill Country Park , a park around an old Norman manor house
  • Godinton House and Gardens
  • Port Lympne Wild Animal Park & ​​Gardens , a wildlife enclosure
  • Willesborough Windmill , a windmill built in 1869

economy

The city is a popular business location because of its good traffic situation. The largest industrial areas are in Waterbrook (740,000 m² with production, storage and delivery facilities for freight), the Eureka Science and Business Park (570,000 m² with production facilities and office complexes), Orbital Park (570,000 m²), and 14 other industrial areas.

One of the largest employers is the Campbell Soup Company , which was owned by Unilever until 2001 and operated one of the largest factories for the production of soups in Ashford.

Also worth mentioning is the Ashford Designer Outlet , a large shopping center. Until 2002, Ashford was the seat of the automotive supplier Connolly Leather Ltd .

In order to better utilize the location and especially the proximity to London, there is an action plan to make some massive improvements in the infrastructure and in the business location by 2031. A main focus is on the marketing of industrial and office properties due to the much cheaper rents compared to nearby London. This goes hand in hand with corresponding construction projects to create enough living space.

Sports

Ashford is known as home to numerous sports clubs. The following are to be mentioned in particular:

  • Ashford United Football Club, the city's football club founded around 1880
  • "Ashford Hockey Club", founded in 1898.
  • "Ashford Town Swimming Club"
  • "Ashford Rugby Club"
  • The 1994 Tour de France passed through the city on the Dover to Brighton stage, and the 2007 Tour de France passed through Ashford.
  • In the district of Willesborough is the "Julie Rose Stadium", an athletics stadium in which the "Ashford Athletics Club" is at home.

education

Ashford is home to a number of schools. In detail these are:

  • 19 elementary schools (Ashford South Community Primary School, Ashford-Friars School, Beaver Green Infants School, Downs View Infants School, East Stour Primary School, Furley Park Primary School, Godinton Primary School, Great Chart Primary School, Hopewell School, Kennington C of E Junior School, Linden Grove Primary School, Oak Tree Primary School, Phoenix Community Primary School, St Mary's Church of England Primary School, St Simon's of England RC Primary school, St Teresas Catholic Primary School, Victoria Road, Willesborough Infant School, Willesborough Junior School )
  • 7 high schools (Ashford-Friars School, Christ Church C of E High School, Highworth Grammar School (for girls), The North School, Norton Knatchbull Grammar School (for boys), Swadelands School, Towers School)
  • 3 colleges (Ashford School of Art & Design, South Kent College - Jemmett Campus, South Kent College - South Ashford Campus)

The Imperial College London has a larger campus in the adjoining Wye.

Twin cities

Ashford is twin town of:

Personalities

sons and daughters of the town

Other personalities

  • Alfred Austin (1835–1913), an English poet and poet laureate, died in Ashford
  • Sir Sydney Nicholson (1875–1947), choirmaster, organist and composer, founder of the Royal School of Church Music, died in Ashford
  • Simone Weil (1909–1943), activist, philosopher and mystic, died in Ashford

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/datasets-and-tables/index.html?pageSize=50&sortBy=none&sortDirection=none&newquery=ashford+kent+population