Meopham
Meopham is a large village and civil parish in Gravesham, Kent, England, with a population of approximately 9,500 residing in an area of eight and a half square miles. The centre is just five miles south of Gravesend and the River Thames. There are four villages within the parish, Meopham Green, Culverstone Green, Hook Green and Harvel.
It has been established that Meopham was inhabited during the Stone Age with the finding of a flint knife in a field north of Camer Park. A more recent discovery was that of a Romano-British farmstead just south of the original village centre. Archaeological digs have yielded ditch boundaries and artefacts dated from AD 80-120.During the 10th century the manor of Meopham was owned by Byrhtric, a wealthy Saxon who owned many other manors in Kent and Surrey. The discovery of his will showed that it was executed in 'Mepham' with the request that the manor be bequeathed to Christ Church in Canterbury.
Nurstead Court in Nurstead Church Lane is a manor house which has stood on the site since at least the reign of Edward the Confessor in the 11th century. It is a Grade 1 listed building consisting of a Medieval Hall and Regency front and located in an idyllic setting amid acres of beautiful farmland. The oldest parts of the house that can be seen today date back just 650 years to the aisled hall built by Stephen de Gravesend, then Lord of the Manor and also Bishop of London. Today Nurstead Court is a family run estate with 400 acres of farmland and a busy livery yard. A very successful One Day Event is held every year.
The Meopham Windmill was built in 1801 by the Killick brothers, a greatly respected Kentish milling family and is thought to be constructed from old ships’ timbers bought from Chatham Dockyard. This Grade II listed, six-sided windmill was built to a 'Smock' design, the essential principles of which is that the body of the mill, in which the machinery is housed, is inert and only the 'cap' and sails revolve to face the wind. The mill was driven by sails until 1927 when new owner John Norton purchased a 15 h.p engine from a mill at Boughton. Since restored the mill now serves as headquarters for the parish council.
Camer Country Park is forty five acres of designated Outstanding Natural Beauty. Bought by Strood Rural District Council in 1967 for £9,750 it was transformed into a public park in 1971. It comprises of mature parkland and small area of woodland appropriate for a stroll or relaxed games. There are also a series of walks devised by the Meopham Footpaths Group. The park provides opportunities for picnics, children's play and other fun pursuits for the whole family. The woodland area has been allowed to mature naturally providing a haven for wildlife. A free copy of the 'Camer Park Tree Trail' leaflet can be picked up from the cafeteria kiosk for the tree enthusiast.
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