A quick visit to Tonge

It is well known that Sheppey, Sittingbourne and Faversham are historical towns although the emphasis is often placed on Faversham as the home of the Shepheard Neame brewery and that it is an ancient town with much of its old buildings preserved. The centre is always popular with visitors and naturally its connection with the sea is all part of that attraction. However, Sheppey shares that history as the home of a naval dockyard and the famous or infamous Blue Town area and its connection across the Swale with Faversham via the Harty ferry. Sittingbourne has an equal share of that history as a place where Romans stopped and pilgrims to Canterbury rested and can also boast a connection with the sea via the tidal Milton creek.

So, on my wanderings I took a quick visit to a small place outside Sittingbourne on the East that has a connection with the sea and part of the Saxon Way. That is the small settlement of Tonge usually known as Tonge Mill.

Tonge to the east of Sittingbourne has the doubtful privilege of being not far from Sittingbourne yet far enough away to be isolated. Close to the Swale and the inlets where once a ferry crossed the Swale, Tonge has a history that dates back to the Saxons. Fed by a stream of spring water the pond at Tonge is home to ducks and a welcome placid sight for the visitor. Tonge Mill has two parts - neither are used as a mill anymore - one a 19th C industrial building that is functional and from a distance quite attractive but close up shows its drab, practical Industrial Revolution style. It was built for purpose. The earlier building is a little more pleasing with its weather board walls and walled garden that hides the leets that drain the pond.

The 19C Mill and above the old mill building.

Close by there is the Tonge Memorial Walk and a pleasant new planting of trees where people can picnic or wander and sit on the benches. That they are reminded of the war dead does not detract from the scene but rather encourages a reverence that is linked with the past.

It is said that Hengiist built a castle on the hill behind the mill or maybe the hill was built for the castle to stand on? Whatever the story is remains were found of a Saxon dwelling although it was more a fortified house than a regular motte and bailey construction. Also there is no doubt that Romans (the buggers get about everywhere) had a place there as well to take advantage of the fresh water and the access to the Swale which was probably a lot different when they were in residence.

The planting on the Memorial grounds.

Further along the road to the north there is Tonge church which is worth a visit although bereft of gravestones it is a typical example of church buildings in this part of Kent - very much reminiscent of Dickens portrayal of Pip's churchyard and the somewhat grim nature of the flint and rag that was used as building material. The church is surrounded by yew trees and a crumbling brick wall. The building smacks of peaceful neglect as if it is quietly waiting for a congregation to appear and do it service. With more gravestones and given a foggy, dusky evening one might say 'here there be Vampyres.'

On the whole the trip, although brief, was a pleasant interlude in the weekend and as you can imagine also a pleasant surprise to see places of interest that otherwise may have been passed by. The only pity is that Sittingbourne is encroaching on the land around and may possibly extend as far as Tonge as it has already done with places such as Tunstall, Bapchild and Borden. Not a pleasant thought as this is typical Kent marshland countryside - a mixture of agriculture and the memory of a seagoing past. I hope that it remains isolated and as sleepy as it is today.