Copyright Kent Past 2010
Kent Past
The History of Kent
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History of West Langdon
West Langdon comes from the Old English ‘lang’ meaning ‘long, tall’ with ‘dūn’ as a ‘hill’; therefore, a ‘long hill or down’. The prefix ‘west’ distinguishes it from East Langdon.
West Langdon parish church is dedicated to Saint Mary the Virgin. Monks from the
Abbey of West Langdon built the first church early in the 12th century. Following
the dissolution, the church received little attention as it passed from crown to
manor. By 1660, it required restoration, and Sir Thomas Peyton set about the repairs,
although thieves stole the timber, purchased for the project, together with the pews
and pulpit, putting pay to the renovations. In 1800, Edward Hasted described the
West Langdon church as having ‘been long in a ruinated state’. By 1869, the Victorians
built a new church as a Chapel-