Tunstall, Kent

In 1798, Edward Hasted records it was once called Dunstall. This comes from the Saxon words dun, or dune, meaning a hill, and Stealle meaning a place. It was recorded in the Domesday survey, mistakenly as Stealle.[2]

The parish covers nine hundred acres of land, of which about one hundred and forty are woodland.[2]

In 1042, the manor was held by Osward (a Saxon chief) before being given to Odo, Earl of Kent, (as the Bishop of Bayeux). After Odo's trial for fraud, the parish then passed to 'Hugo de Port'. In the reign of King Henry II (1166), it passed to Manasser Arsic. In 1206, it was sold to Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent. His daughter Margaret (who was married at one time to Richard de Clare) inherited and she then passed it to her eldest son 'John de Burgo'. In 1280, his son John died and his daughter, Margerie (who was married to Stephen de Pencester) inherited the parish. When Stephen died in 1303, Margerie then married to Robert de Orreby, with whom she had a son John de Orreby (a clerk). In 1347 it was sold to Sir Walter Manny. His only daughter Anne (inheritted it after he died), the wife of John Hastings, 2nd Earl of Pembroke. His son, John Hastings, 3rd Earl of Pembroke later became the owner of the parish. It then passed to his cousin Reginald Grey, 3rd Baron Grey de Ruthyn. He then sold this manor to John Drue, rector of Harpley, and John Seymour, citizen of London. Who later sold it to Sir William Cromer (who was Lord Mayor in 1413 and 1423). His son William Cromer (who was in 1444 High Sheriff of Kent). His son Sir James Cromer (was also a High Sheriff). When he died in 1613, it passed to Christian, his youngest daughter, who carried it in marriage to John Hales (the eldest son of Sir Edward Hales, knight and 2nd baronet, of Tenterden). Then Sir Edward Hales inherited the manor and it passed through various members of his family.[2]

Also within the parish is Ufton, which was the family home of Sir Robert de Shurland (who also held Shurland Hall on the Isle of Sheppey). He possessed the manor in the reign of Edward I. After he attended the prince in Scotland, to the siege of Caerlaverock, where he was knighted, and in 1300, he then obtained a charter of free warren for his manor of Ufton.[2]

Another estate in the parish is Gore Court. This passed through many generations of the Gore family.[2]

Another small manor, is Pitstock. Which changed to 'Woodstock'. Thomas Cheney (Treasurer of the Household) was a previous owner in 1572.[2]

The church of St. John Baptist is in the diocese of Canterbury, and deanery of Sittingbourne.[2] It is Grade I listed.[3]

Notable sights include Tunstall Church of England primary school and large village manor house, and a former police house which is now a private residency. Unusually for an English village there are no shops or pubs within the village boundaries, these have been prohibited since the middle-ages. Due to the small nature of the village, the only amenity is a telephone box.

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