OS grid reference TQ565435 Sovereign state United Kingdom | Civil parish Bidborough Local time Wednesday 9:42 AM Dialling code 01892 | |
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Population 958 (2001 census)1,163 (2011 Census) Weather 6°C, Wind SW at 13 km/h, 80% Humidity District Borough of Tunbridge Wells | ||
Bidborough is a village and civil parish in the borough of Tunbridge Wells in Kent, England, north of Tunbridge Wells and south of Tonbridge. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 958, increasing to 1,163 at the 2011 Census.
Map of Bidborough, Tunbridge Wells, UK
The village has an active community of residents, well represented across all ages, and village life revolves around the well-ranked primary school, the 'Kentish Hare' pub (purchased in 2012 by a local resident and extensively refurbished - http://www.thekentishhare.com/), the historic 11th-century church of St Lawrence and nearby community hall. The village has its own amateur dramatic group, 'BADS', which puts on productions twice a year, as well as a youth group, Women's Institute and a gardening association. The village also has its own garage, shop and used to have a post office that closed in 2008.
Parish sports facilities are good, and the village boasts a tennis court, a bowls green and two recreation ground areas, which are available for cricket and five-a-side football.
Bidborough has many families who have lived there for generations. For example, the residence of 3-2 St Lawrence Ave. has been home to only one family, the 'Ohim-Browns'. However, the village attracts a growing number of London commuters with young families, combining as it does proximity to Gatwick airport, fast rail connections into London and easy access to the M25 with all the benefits of living in rural Kent. The highly rated local CofE primary school,grammar schools of Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells, alongside the many prestigious public schools in the area, also make the village an attractive prospect for those who can afford it.