Brenchley
OS Grid Reference: TQ6741
The 1841 population was 2,472
"Brenchley is a village and parish in the lathe of Aylesford, and with Horsmonden gives name to the hundred in which it is located; the village, situated about four miles north from Lamberhurst, is a place of consequence only in an agricultural point of view. The parish is extensive, and contains besides its own village, the hamlet of Matfield, about a mile and a half distant, where there is a chapel for dissenters. The church, dedicated to All Saints, is a fine old structure of stone, with a lofty square tower; the benefice is a vicarage, in the presentation of the Courthope family." Pigot's Directory.
The 1841 population was 2,472
"Brenchley is a village and parish in the lathe of Aylesford, and with Horsmonden gives name to the hundred in which it is located; the village, situated about four miles north from Lamberhurst, is a place of consequence only in an agricultural point of view. The parish is extensive, and contains besides its own village, the hamlet of Matfield, about a mile and a half distant, where there is a chapel for dissenters. The church, dedicated to All Saints, is a fine old structure of stone, with a lofty square tower; the benefice is a vicarage, in the presentation of the Courthope family." Pigot's Directory.
Administrative Units
Brenchley fell within the Hundred of Brenchley & Horsmonden. Its 19th century Registration District & Poor Law Union was Tonbridge.
Probate Jurisdiction was Rochester to 1845, PCC 1846-57.
Brenchley included the hamlets of Paddock Wood and Matfield.
See NWKFHS publications West Kent Sources and School Records for further information.
For project purposes this parish is covered by Kent FHS.
Leaflet | © OpenStreetMap
Church and Chapels (pre 1910)
Brenchley, All Saints
Ancient Parish Church
Original Registers
These date from 1560.
All Saints.- Aug 1998
Paddock Wood, St Andrew, Queen St
Church built 1860, bombed 1940, replaced 1953; parish created 1860 from Brenchley All Saints, Yalding & Nettlestead.
Original Registers
These date from 1860.
Paddock Wood, St Andrew, Queen St - Sep 1999
Matfield, St Luke
Church built 1874-6; parish created 1875 from Brenchley All Saints.
Original Registers
These date from 1878.
Matfield, St Luke
Baptist
- Baptist: Matfield chapel. (1811). No information on registers
Wesleyan/Methodist
- Methodist: Brenchley. (1847). Original registers from 1899.
- Methodist: Paddock Wood. (1888). No information on registers