Where is Old Nonington?
The old parish of Nonington, often spelt Nonnington, is to be found in East Kent some two miles or so to the north-east of the A2 approximately mid-way between Dover and Canterbury. Sandwich is some seven miles to the north-east and Deal is about ten miles or so to the east. The old parish was divided into the present parishes of Aylesham and Nonington in the early 1950′s.
You can find Nonington on the Google Earth link below and travel to the various places mentioned on this website and see how they look in the present day.
View the location of Nonington in East Kent in a larger map.
What’s going on in the present parish of Nonington?
Go to www.nonington.com to find out!
Why I built this site?
On this site I hope to post any information that I have on the people, places and events in the old parish before its division, although people, places and events in the present parish of Nonington will be referred to from time to time.
I hope the content will be both informative and of interest to visitors, and I look forward to reading your comments.
The history of Snowdown Colliery and the mining village of Aylesham, originally both in the old parish of Nonington, has been very well recorded on several excellent websites and will therefore will not be covered in any great detail.
I would be grateful for any information on old Nonington, and in return I am willing to pass on any information I have, and to link with any other relevant sites or blogs.
Email contact: oldnonnington@btinternet.com
Thanks very much for the extract/text concerning Three Barrows Down. I rather assumed they hadn’t been dug up by the Rev Faussett because they still exist (at least two of them do – I understand one was ploughed-out). Where Faussett excavated at Golgotha in Shepherdswell, there is no sign of any barrows now. unfortunately.
Steve
There are two barrows close to the road, the closest has had a “corner” cut off by the road. These two may have survived because they were in a shave close to the road, I think the ploughed out one was out in the field. Apparently there is a lot of evidence of settlement out in the field which shows up on aerial photos and I have been told that quite a lot of coins have been found there some of which pre-date the Roman occupation. The early OS map in my 3 Barrows post shows a stone “cistern” out on the field just above the ‘O’ in down, but what period of occupation it is connected to I don’t know.
A lot of barrows seem to have disappeared in the mid-to late 1800′s when heavy steam traction engines droving ploughs became common allowing easier and deeper ploughing of large areas and the barrows probably got in the way and were flattened to allow easier ploughing, there are several barrows in Nonington where this seems to have happened. The ones in woodland seem to have survived. In the case of Golgotha it could be connected to the building of the light railway out to Eastry.
Regards,
Clive.
Clive, I wonder if you have any information on the history of Three Barrows Down – the tumuli that form the junction of Nonington, Shepherdswell and Womenswold Parishes?
Full marks on your well researched history!
Steve
Steve, thanks for the comment. I believe there was some excavation of the barrows by a Kent parson, I think it was the Reverend Bryan Faussett, in the late 18th or early 19th century, and a filled in shaft on the mound nearest the North Downs Way [known locally as The Roman Road, on various OS maps as Long Lane] is still visible, and that some more recent investigation has been done, but that’s it. I think there has also been some excavations by ‘treasure hunters’ in the distant pass. I do remember reading something years ago about some items being discovered such as bone fragments and grave goods but I can’t remember where I read it. The barrows give their name to Ruberry (Rowbergh, Rowberry ect) Downs and Wood [probably from ruh beorg-rough mound].
Sorry I can’t be of more help.
Steve, I’ve just found this. It’s in Charles Roach Smith’s book “Inventorium Sepulchrale” published in 1856-it may be of interest-read from Sibertswold Down onwards, it obviously refers to Three Barrow Downs.
http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/bryan-faussett/inventorium-sepulchrale-an-account-of-some-antiquities-dug-up-at-gilton-kingst-sua/page-17-inventorium-sepulchrale-an-account-of-some-antiquities-dug-up-at-gilton-kingst-sua.shtml
Regards,
Clive.
Agree with Robert outstanding website, one of the best I have found in my family research!! Maps are fascinating to look at wish I had those when I visited there on my last trip. Unfortunately I only know my Kingsford family lived in Holt or Eashole Street but no idea where in the mid 1800′s. Most appreciative if you hear any thing of the Kingsford family. Once again great work and fascinating website.
Greg Kingsford, Melbourne, Australia
Greg, thanks for the comments, it makes it worthwhile doing the site when people appreciate it. There were Kingsfords at Holt Street Farm in the 1670′s- details on http://www.nonington.org.uk/?page_id=1076 -I believe they were either lawyers or merchants from Canterbury and were involved in buying and selling land in Nonington in the late 1600′s and early 1700′s,and one of the girls married into the Hammond family of St. Alban’s Court in 1692 and bought a nice hefty dowry into the Hammonds which was much needed.
For details of parish records and cencus details look on
the Kent Online Parish Clerks, Nonington-unfortunately I can’t get a link to work so you’ll have to Google it-there are some Kingfords in there in the parish registers in the 1600′s.
If you email me on oldnonnington@btinternet.com I’ll send you what info I have as Word docs.
Regards,
Clive Webb.
Clive an excellent history, completely fasinating.
I have not found any further about the Stupple families of Nonington.
If you come across any further i would very much appreciate it
kind regards Robert Stupple William Stupple of Nonington 1550
Bob, thanks for the post. I think it is William Stupple of Dene (now Denne Hill), an estate and house in the parish of Kingston. Look in Hasted for some detail’s. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=63573&strquery=kingston
A William Stupple was buried at Nonington 2nd June, 1557, presumably the same.You could try looking in Kingston parish records as it’s a large parish and Stupples appears to be a fairly common name in the area records.
If I do find any more info. I’ll let you know.
Regards,
Clive