Eastchurch, Kent

Description
Eastchurch, a hamlet and a parish in Kent. The hamlet lies on Hensbrook, on the north side of Sheppey Isle, 5 miles E by S of Queenborough station on the L.C. & D.R., and 6 from Sheerness. It has a post, money order, and telegraph office under Sheerness. The parish comprises 7006 acres of land and 954 of tidal water and foreshore; population, 854. Shurland manor here belonged to a family of its own name before the time of Henry III.; passed in 1323 to the Cheneys, and went afterwards to the Herberts. A mansion was built on it in the time of Henry VIII. with materials from Chilham Castle, and is now a farmhouse. Eastchurch living is a rectory and a vicarage in the diocese of Canterbury ; value, £650. The church is Perpendicular English, has a conspicuous tower, belonged early to the Cistercian convent of the Dunes in Flanders, and was transferred to Box-ley Abbey in Kent. It was well restored in 1871 and 1872. There are Primitive Methodist and Wesleyan chapels.