COWDEN
A VILLAGE ON THE KENT SUSSEX BORDER
CUDENA---CUDEN--COUDENNE
Cowden is a very beautiful village hiding in a valley on the very edge of Kent. In which we also touch the borders of Sussex and surrey.
We are known for our picturesque buildings, church with a crooked steeple
And sadly also the train crash that happened on the 15th October 1994

The earliest occupation was just out side of the present village at Dry Hill,
this part of the country being held then by the British Celts, they were driven out by the Jutes.
There is little evidence of the Romans living in the area although they would have passed through it on the way to London from the coast. And the remains of the roman road are still visible at Holtye. Spood lane, now more often called Spode Lane may well of been part of that road as the name according to Guy Ewing comes from the Latin word meaning refuse, Roman roads were often covered with the slag from the iron workings.
It was way back in history when the Lords of the manor were paid for services rendered with land.
On this land they would build a church to minister to all their servants and tenants.
they then made arrangements with the church authorities to administer and discipline the area around that church
The church in exchange collected thyths and produce from the tenants.
In this way both the Church and the Manor ran smoothly and to each others advantage.
The area around the church became known as a parish
and Cowden ,on the borders of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey is one such parish.
The Iron Industry was the centre of village life in the time of Henry eighth
but little is known as records do not seem to have been kept.
There are many theories as to how the village got its name. Some believe the Den comes from the word Denne meaning a forest clearing.
And Cow from the animals that grazed there. But others say that Cow is from the word cove meaning a hollow, and the Village does lye in a Hollow so we may never know for sure which is true.
COWDEN CHURCH
THE VILLAGE
HISTORY
LINKS PAGE & GUEST BOOK (Please leave feedback )
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