Eastry

"EASTRY, a parish chiefly in the hundred of the same name, but partly in that of Downhamford, lathe of St. Augustine, county Kent, 2½ miles S:W. of Sandwich, its post town, and 4½ N.W. of Deal. It is situated on the road from the former town to Dover, and near the ancient Roman highway. Several of the Saxon kings held their court here; and it was a market town, forming part of the demesne of the priory of Christ Church, Canterbury. The South-Eastern railway has a station at Sandwich, about 2½ miles distant. Heronden is a hamlet in this parish. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Canterbury, value £310, in the patronage of the archbishop. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a commodious structure, with a Norman porch, and contains monuments of the families of Boteler, Paramor, Harvey, and Bargrave. The parochial charities amount to about £109 per annum, £88 of which are Goddard's, for educational purposes. The Wesleyans have a chapel, and there is a National school for boys and girls. In the neighbourhood there have been found some relics of Roman origin. There are also some curious labyrinths cut through the chalk. It is said that Thomas-a-Becket was secreted at Court Lodge for eight days before his flight to France in 1164. Part of this mansion still remains, and has traces of a chapel attached. Eastry is the head of a Poor-law Union of 30 parishes, the house of industry being situated at a short distance from the village. It is also the seat of a superintendent registry, but is included within the Deal New County Court District. A fair is held on the 2nd October for cattle, toys, &c."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868 by Colin Hinson ©2010]