Warehorne (St. Matthew)

WAREHORNE (St. Matthew), a parish, in the union of East Ash ford, partly in the hundred of Ham, lathe of Shepway, E. division, and partly in the hundred of Blackbourne, lathe of Scray, W. division, of Kent, 7¼ miles (S. by W.) from Ashford; containing 428 inhabitants. The parish comprises 2870 acres, of which 620 are woodland: part of it is in the level of Romney Marsh, and in the borough of Great Kenardington. The village is situated on an eminence near the western extremity of some hills, and this eminence, with the whole of the land above the marsh, is within the Weald, the soil of which is in general a very deep clay. The river Rother has its source here, and the Royal Military canal crosses the southern portion of the parish. Fairs are held on May 14th, for toys, and on October 2nd and 3rd, for cattle; the former on Ham-Street Green, and the latter on Warehorne Green. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £19, and in the patronage of the Crown; net income, £298. A glebe-house has been lately built, a handsome residence in the Elizabethan style, beautifully situated near the village, which stretches round a green; the glebe contains 40 acres. The church is a structure of great antiquity, in the early Norman style: a brick tower was erected about eighty years since, the old one having fallen down.