View source for St Nicholas-at-Wade

{{Short description|Village in Kent, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place 
|country =                 England
|official_name=             St Nicholas-at-Wade
|civil_parish=             St Nicholas-at-Wade
|static_image_name   = Church of St Nicholas, St Nicholas at Wade.jpg 
|static_image_caption= The Street, St Nicholas-at-Wade
| population = 853
| population_ref = (2011)<ref name=ONS>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11128902&c=CT7+0LT&d=16&e=62&g=6439292&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1443865373016&enc=1|title=Civil Parish population 2011|accessdate=3 October 2015|publisher=Office for National Statistics |work=Neighbourhood Statistics}}</ref>
 |shire_district=          [[Thanet district|Thanet]]
|shire_county =            [[Kent]]
|region=                  South East England
|constituency_westminster= [[Herne Bay and Sandwich (UK Parliament constituency)|Herne Bay and Sandwich]]
|post_town= [[Birchington]]
|postcode_district =CT7
|postcode_area =CT
|dial_code= 01843
|os_grid_reference=    TR2666
|coordinates  = {{coord|51.354|1.252|display=inline,title}}
|label_position= left
| module = {{Infobox mapframe|stroke-width=1|zoom=11|width=240}} 
}}
'''St Nicholas-at-Wade''' (or '''St Nicholas''') is both a village and a [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in the [[Thanet District]] of [[Kent]], England. The parish had a recorded population of 782 at the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]], increasing to 852 at the 2011 census.<ref name=ONS/> The village of [[Sarre, Kent|Sarre]] is part of the civil parish.<ref>[http://www.stnicholasatwade.org.uk/ St. Nicholas-at-Wade Parish website]</ref>

The village is best known locally for the local custom of [[Hoodening]], a type of [[mumming]], as well as for its prolific potato production. The village continues to play host to several folk groups, including Offcumduns Border Morris Dancers.

==History==
The name derives from its location on the western border of the [[Thanet District|Isle of Thanet]] (originally separated from the Kent mainland).  Before the channels of the [[River Wantsum]] and [[River Stour, Kent|River Stour]] silted up, one would have been able to '[[wikt:wade|wade]]' at this point, over a [[Ford (crossing)|ford]].  In Roman times the channel was navigable and the site likely very busy with the [[Saxon Shore forts]] of [[Regulbium]] ([[Reculver]]) and [[Rutupiae]] ([[Richborough]]) both close by.  Remains of Roman shipbuilding yards are said to have been found between St. Nicholas-at-Wade and the nearby village of [[Sarre, Kent|Sarre]]<ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=63621&strquery=St%20Nicholas%20at%20Wade Historical notes: British History Online]</ref>

==Village==

The village can be entered from either the A299 (Thanet Way) or the A28 (Canterbury Road).  These approaches to the village stand out with their colourful planters welcoming visitors.  St John's Green at the A28 entry point displays several items including a 1919 restored cultivator in its original makers colours.

There are two public houses, 'The Bell' and 'The Sun'. There is also a post office, an antiques shop and a farm marketing office. One of the main potato suppliers in the country used to have its headquarters near St Nicholas Court in the northwest of the village, but the site closed in late 2015. Hedgend Industrial Estate is on the northern outskirts. There is the local St Nicholas CE Primary School.<ref>[http://www.schoolsnet.com/uk-schools/school-details-reviews/kent/st-nicholas-wade-church-england-primary-school/16180339/0/196569.html St Nicholas-at-Wade Primary School]</ref>

The village hall (dating from 1930) houses weekly events including various dance classes, keep fit, Art groups and senior citizens coffee mornings and is also used as a [[polling station]]. There is a static caravan park at Frost Farm and a camping site at Streete Farm.

A sports field in Bell Meadow plays host to [[association football|football]] and [[cricket]] matches, the cricket pavilion was constructed in the 1980s with the aid of [[Thanet District Council]].

==Churches==
The 13th-century parish church of St Nicholas, after which the village and parish are named, was a [[chapel of ease]] for [[St Mary's Church, Reculver|St Mary's Church]] at [[Reculver]]. The first [[Rector (ecclesiastical)|rector]] is recorded as Adam de Brancestre in 1294. Built in flint, the church houses some fine 16th-century brasses, a carved oak [[pulpit]] dated 1615, and a [[coat of arms]] of [[King George III]].<ref>[http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Libr/VisRec/S/SAW/02.htm Drawing of the church exterior]</ref> The parish has twice been enlarged, firstly in medieval times, when it was separated from the parish of Reculver and joined with the little-known [[chapelry]] of [[All Saints' Church, Shuart|All Saints, Shuart]] in 1310, and again in the mid-16th century, when it was joined with the parish of St Giles, [[Sarre, Kent|Sarre]].<ref>{{citation|last=Hasted|first=E.|authorlink=Edward Hasted|chapter=St. Nicholas.|title=The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent|volume=9|location=Canterbury, Kent|publisher=Bristow|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=63621|year=1800}}.</ref> The church is currently part of the [http://www.wantsumchurches.org/ Wantsum Benefice].

St Nicholas Court has a fine example of a medieval underground chapel; however, little is known about the origins or past use of this building. The chapel is on private land but has been opened to visitors on some important local occasions.<ref>[http://www.undergroundkent.co.uk/st_nicholas_court_farm_chapel.htm St Nicholas Court Farm Chapel] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114212025/http://undergroundkent.co.uk/st_nicholas_court_farm_chapel.htm |date=14 November 2007 }}</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{Commons category|St Nicholas at Wade}}

{{Thanet}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in Kent]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Kent]]