Historic Charing

Historic Charing. . , The village Key Map gives information about the historic Market Place and the privately owned Archbishop's Palace. Further information on the history of Charing can be gained from the Village Trail leaflet which is available in the Library and the village shops., (1) The Church, the earliest parts of which are the chancel and nave, was built of flint in the early 13th century. The transepts were added in the early 14th century, followed shortly by the vestry. A timber tower was replaced in the 15th century by the stone tower seen today., (2) The Barn is the present Church Hall, moved here from High Halden in 1957., (3) The Vicarage Close has two separate buildings. The left-hand range is the oldest Surviving house in Charing, with an open hall dating from the late 14th century. The other. built about 100 years later, became the Vicarage in the 19th century., (4) The Market Place is in a traditional site outside the lord of the manor's gates. The market, which never needed a royal charter because of its antiquity, flourished in the Middle Ages but declined during the 16th century., (5) The Palace of the Archbishops, reputedly one of Thomas Becker's favourite residences dates from the early 14th century. Henry VIII took the Palace from the archbishops in 1545, and it was sold into private ownership in 1629., (6) Clewards Meadow lies south of the Market Place. It belonged to the lord of the manor, but is now a permanent Village Green., (7) Clewards Garden, with human sundial and restored mediaeval wall, was developed by Charing Parish Council with the help of generous donations and grants (see other board).