Barfrestone
| Barfrestone | |
 St Nicholas' Church, Barfrestone |
|
  Barfrestone |
|
| OS grid reference | TR261501 |
|---|---|
| District | Dover |
| Shire county | Kent |
| Region | South East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DOVER |
| Postcode district | CT15 |
| Dialling code | 01304 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Dover |
Coordinates: 51°12′21″N 1°14′10″E / 51.2058°N 1.2361°E
Barfrestone is a Village in East Kent, England, and between Shepherdswell, Eythorne and Nonington, and close to the pit villages of Elvington and Snowdown.
Alternative spellings are Barfreston and Barfreystone. The old pronunciation was "Barson" (before 1800) and the ancient name, "Barfriston".[1] Now known as "Bar-fre-ston", rather than "Bar-fre-stone".
At the time of the Doomsday Book, when the name was written 'Berfrestone',[2] the manor was owned by Odo, Earl of Kent (as the Bishop of Bayeux). But after his trial (for fraud) in 1076, his assets were re-apportioned, including Barfrestone. The lands were then granted to Hugh de Port (an English feudal barony) for the defence of Dover castle. The lands passed through the hands of many other owners including Sir Thomas Browne (during the reign of Henry VI of England).[1]
Landmarks include the Grade I listed Norman church,[3] which contains significant carvings around door portals, the bell in the adjacent yew tree, and "Little Eweell", a converted rectory which, until 2013 was the location of the centre (house, offices and workshops) of the L'Arche Community which has since moved to Canterbury, though a L'Arche house remains in the nearby village of Eythorne.
Another listed building in the village is Grade II listed Barfrestone Court,[4]
The village is on the Miner's Way Trail which links the coalfield parishes of East Kent.[5]
References
- 1 2 Hasted, Edward (1800). "Parishes". The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent (Institute of Historical Research) 10: 71–78. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ↑ Mills, Anthony David (2003); A Dictionary of British Place Names, Oxford University Press, revised edition (2011), p. 41. ISBN 019960908X
- ↑ "Church of St Nicholas, Eythorne". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
- ↑ "Barfrestone Court, Eythorne". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
- ↑ "The History of the Coalfield Parishes". www.dover.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
External links
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Media related to Barfrestone at Wikimedia Commons - Barfreston in the Domesday Book
