Edenbridge, Kent

Edenbridge is a

The old part of the town grew along a section of the otherwise disused

With the coming of the railways the town expanded and the community of Marlpit Hill, north of the original settlement, is now part of the town.[4]

After World War II, the London County Council built two modernist housing estates at Stangrove Park and Spitals Cross.^[5]

Owing to its position on the River Eden floodplain, the centre of the town is prone to severe flooding. The worst flood occurred in 1958, before any flood defences were built, and led to enormous damage to the High Street. Ten years later in 1968, despite the Eden having been dredged to prevent the same occurrence, the town was once again flooded after heavy storms in September. Although there were no fatalities, a helicopter was needed to save a man from his flooded home. Local legend has it that he hadn't noticed the flood waters rising, having been too engrossed in The Forsyte Saga on television.^[6] More adequate flood defences have been built since then, with the local community now well prepared to deal with possible flooding. In December 2019 the town was "paralysed" when the river again burst its banks.^[7]

Edenbridge has had four mills over the centuries, Haxted Mill and Honour's Mill on the River Eden, Christmas Mill on a tributary of the Eden, and a windmill to the south of the town. All four mill buildings survive, but now converted to other uses.

There are two

Edenbridge is twinned with Mont-Saint-Aignan in France. The inner relief road that was built in the early 2000s to relieve traffic pressure on the old, narrow High Street is named Mont St Aignan Way. There are now no banks in the town, (just a mobile bank at the small Thursday market) a post office next to St Lawrence's RC church and a number of major retail chains.

The Edenbridge Memorial Health Centre replaced a separate minor injuries unit, the Edenbridge War Memorial Hospital (initially a cottage hospital built to care for soldiers returning from The First World War), and the GP surgery in 2023.

The Edenbridge Bonfire Society burned an effigy of former prime minister

The 13th-century Anglican parish church of Church of St Peter and St Paul is a Grade I-listed building . It has a set of windows by Sir Edward Burne-Jones in the east wall.^[10] The church contains examples of medieval graffiti including ritual protection marks such as the VV symbol. A Baptist chapel on the High Street was registered for marriages in 1860.^[11][12] It was the home of the Edenbridge Baptist Church, which re-combined with its 'daughter' church at Marlpit Hill in 2003 to form the Eden Church, which moved in 2013 to The Eden Centre.

Roman Catholics worship at St Lawrence's Church, registered in 1933.^[13][14]

Also in the parish is the hamlet of Marsh Green. Two places of worship are located here: St John's United Reformed Church^[11][15] and a Kingdom Hall which serves the Oxted Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. It was registered for marriages in 1999.^{[citation needed]}

The Grade II-listed

Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC South East and BBC London on BBC One & ITV Meridian and ITV London on ITV1. Television signals are received from either the Tunbridge Wells or Crystal Palace TV transmitters.^[22][23]

Local radio stations are BBC Radio Kent, Heart South, Gold and KMFM West Kent.

Edenbridge is served by the local newspaper, Edenbridge Chronicle. ^[24]

• Walter Galpin Alcock (1861–1947), organist and composer, who had the unique distinction of playing the organ at the Coronations of Edward VII, George V and George VI, was born in Edenbridge.
• Ralph Alger Bagnold
  , (1896–1990), desert explorer, lived in Edenbridge in his final years.
• David Henry Bartleet
  (1929–2001), was vicar of Edenbridge.
• Tony Burns (b 1944), football player and manager, was born in Edenbridge.
• Lennox Cato (b 1962), expert on the Antiques Roadshow lives in the town.
• Tom Chatfield (b 1980), author, lives in the town.
• Rob Cross
  (b 1990), professional darts player, lives in the town.
• Norman Fraser (1904–1986), concert pianist and composer lived at Stangrove House in the 1960s.
• Mike Manley (b 1964), CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles^[26]
• Jasper Maskelyne (1902–1973), magician, grew up in Edenbridge.
• John Surtees (1934–2017), world champion motorcycle racer and formula one racing driver, had his workshop in Edenbridge.
• Henry Surtees (1991–2009), racing driver and son of John, lived in Edenbridge.^[27]
• William Taillour (1406–83), Lord Mayor of London in 1468 lived in Edenbridge.
• Tom Tugendhat (b 1973), Conservative Member of Parliament for Tonbridge, lives in Edenbridge, within his constituency.^[28]

• List of places of worship in Sevenoaks (district)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Edenbridge, Kent.

• Edenbridge Town (Parish) Council
• Marlpit Hill community website