Hunton, Kent

Buston Manor

There are 71 listed buildings in the Parish of Hunton. Four buildings are grade listed II*; Stonewall Farmhouse Mounting Block and Garden Wall to East, Buston Manor, Buston Manor Barn and Granary.[13]

St Mary's Church is a Grade I listed building, with a cemetery attached.[14] The Church of St Mary was Listed (English Heritage Legacy ID: 432265) on 23 May 1967. The history provided in that document includes this background information: "Parish church. Late C11 or C12, C13, C14, C15, C16, and 1866. Restored 1876 by Ewan Christian. Uncoursed ragstone rubble with plain tile roof. West tower, nave, south aisle, south porch, chancel with south chapel and north vestry. West tower: C13". Renovations and modifications were completed in subsequent centuries. A marble tablet on the nave wall is dedicated to Sir Henry Campbell- Bannerman who died in 1908.[15]

In 1871 the Liberal politician Henry Campbell-Bannerman inherited the estate of Hunton Lodge or Court Lodge (now Hunton Court)[16] from his wife's uncle, Henry Bannerman,[17] but did not take possession until 1894 on the death of an aunt who was using the mansion.[18] In the meantime, Campbell-Bannerman and his wife used other homes as a country residence, including the nearby house at Gennings Park, living there until 1887. The Lodge/Court was Grade II Listed on 25 July 1952.[19] The property remained in the Bannerman family until 2008.[20] An April 2008 report in The Times stated that the property included "mature parkland peppered with fine trees [and the home] ... which retains the character of a Edwardian stately home. The service courts are highly picturesque, with the stables and coach house in lovely pink and black chequer brick".[21] A report in August 2019, with photographs, indicated that major renovations and modernization had been completed since 2008, "including the restoration and colour-matching of the decorative plasterwork and gilding and the repair and restoration of water-damaged wall murals".[22]

The Hunton Village Club building dates back to the 1800s, originally believed to be a meeting house and school for young ladies and was once owned by the Hunton Court Estate. Today, the club is run by volunteers to hold events for the village and serves drinks.[23]

Hunton Village Hall was built in 1926 and retains many of its original features. The building is used for events such as weddings and parties today.[24] Around 1986 it was reported to be named a "working-men's" club.[5]

Transport in Hunton consists of a bus route through the village, the 26 and 26A Nu-Ventre buses travel to either Maidstone or Goudhurst.[25]

There is no train station in Hunton but there are two nearby; Paddock Wood and Marden station.[11]

The earliest record of Hunton's population was 582, in 1801. The highest population recorded there was 934 in 1891.[31] The population at the 2011 Census was 702, with 342 males and 360 females in the parish.[32] The population time series of Hunton shows this fluctuation over 200 years.

Chart showing Ethnic Groups in Hunton, Kent

The 2011 Census reported that out of the total 702 residents, 654 were White; English//Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British, 21 were White; Other White, 11 White; Gypsy/Irish Traveller, 6 White; Irish, 5 Mixed/Multiple Ethnic Groups; White and Black African and 5 Other. For eight other ethnic groups, no residents were recorded.[33]

According to 1881 census data, the majority of occupations within the parish were agricultural.[34] The different occupations can be seen in the graph below for both females and males. Many female roles were classed as 'unspecified'.

The Occupations of Males and Females in Hunton, Kent, 1881

The 2011 census data shows occupations are much more diverse and similar in numbers today. Female and male occupations are more alike. Females living in Hunton are mainly in professional or secretarial occupations. The majority of males work in managerial, skilled trades and professional occupations.[35]

The Occupations of Males and Females in Hunton, Kent, 2011