Copyright Kent Past 2010
Kent Past
The History of Kent
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History of Throwley
Throwley comes from the Old English words ‘þrūh’ meaning a ‘water pipe, conduit’ and ‘lēah’ as a ‘forest, wood, glade’; therefore, a ‘wood/clearing at the trough’. The Domesday Book chronicles Throwley as Brulege.
Throwley parish church is a Grade: I listed building, dedicated to Saint Michael and All Angels. The Saxons built the first wooden structure in the 9th century, although, replaced with a stone building in the 11th century. Additions and extensions followed throughout the next 300 years. In 1780, Pack and Chapman cast and hung a ring of six bells. Edward Hasted described the church in his 1798 topographical survey as consisting ‘of three isles and three chancels. The steeple is a square tower, and stands in the centre of the south side of it, in which there is a peal of six bells, given in 1781, at the expence of Mr. Montresor, of Belmont.’ In 1866, the Victorians heavily restored the Throwley church including heightening the tower. In 1933, Mears and Stainbank added two treble bells to complete the ring of eight.