England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Darenth St Margaret

The Parish

The parish of Darenth lies in northwestern Kent not too far from its northern coastline with the outer Thames Estuary. Darenth is located about 3 miles southeast of the town of Dartford and sits just over a quarter of a mile west of the B260 road which links Dartford with Meopham. Darenth is a small village lying along the eastern banks of the River Darent to which is grants its name, most properties lie parallel with the river either side of Darenth Hill which descends to cross the river from the B260. To the south lies the larger village of South Darenth which traditionally was shared between Darenth and Horton Kirby, that village has grown larger with the arrival of a railway. The river valley's flood-plain gave good pastureland for mainly cattle whilst on the chalk-rich higher ground arable would have dominated, in addition early gazetteers estimated almost 16% of the parish acreage as woodland which would have been managed for typical products such as poles, hurdles and brush, even today the marge green areas on the Ordnance Survey mapping of the parish. Darenth is almost swamped by modern developments which surround the parish, the railway line from London to Rochester arrived first and passes through the southern edges of South Darenth (actually Horton Kirby territory), to the north the A2 road from London to Rochester has been upgraded to fast dual-carriageway highway whilst to the west runs the modern M25 motorway part of London's ring of motorways. Darenth is drained northwards by the Darent which passes through Dartford to reach the Thames Estuary at Crayford Ness, the estuary carries water eastwards to the North Sea. Darenth is sited on rising ground between 10 and 40 metres above the sea, land continues rising eastwards away from the river and few spots reach in excess of 80 metres close to Darenth Wood. Darenth parish was typically sized for its area covering a little under 2,200 acres and supporting a population of close to 700 parishioners. In Domesday times Darenth was recorded  as having 59 households which was sufficient to place today's small village into the top 20% of settlements in the book at that time, shared between Bishop Odo of Bayeux and the Archbishop of Canterbury Darenth had assets of 10 ploughs backed by typical meadows & woodland and no fewer than 5 mills.

The Church

St Margaret's church sits south of Darenth Hill from where it is usually accessed through the C of E cemetery by footpath. Pevsner opens his account in typical acerbic manner stating that the church is "archaeologically important but visually rather charmless", many would dispute the latter half of that sentiment. Of the 1st part there is no doubt as St Margaret has fabric dating back to the very earliest times and probably before the Norman Conquest. The nave is the earliest portion with Roman tiles and with Late Saxon work that Pevsner chooses to date as being from the early to mid 11th century. The chancel, too, is early but from the 12th century Norman Romanesque period, that chancel replaced an earlier Saxon version enlarging it. Completing the 12th century fabric is the northern doorway to the nave (only the arch survives) and the southern chancel chapel's 2-bay arcade. The 13th century Early English Gothic era is represented by the unbuttressed tower which sits in a southwestern position rather than the traditional western place. The southern aisle, also 13th century, was remodelled in the 14th. Several phases of restoration are recorded from both the 19th century, a thorough affair of 1866-1868 plus the northern porch of 1899, and from the 20th century with the western vestry added in 1922 and the church hall of 1972. A prominent sign points the way from Darenth Hill, a triangular parking area allowing a leisurely visit, wooden gates give way to the large C of E cemetery with paths leading through to the original churchyard beyond. The church sits within a well-wooded area and backing closely onto a large farm complex, both reduce the angles available for the photographer markedly, some searching is required to find acceptable views.