Local Area

The Schools serve three very distinct communities. Below is some information about these communities.

The earliest reference to Eythorne dates from the 9th Century; Haegythethorne – Thorn tree of a woman called Haehgyth.  By the 16th century Eythorne was the location of one of the first Baptist Chapels in England. Eythorne has 2 churches, St Peter and St Pauls and the Baptist Chapel. In addition to the primary school there is a village shop, a garage and the Crown Public House. 

Elvington was originally a Pit Village. The houses were built for the miners and their families. The name Elvington derives from the Old English meaning "farmstead of someone named Ælfwine". Miners walked from Elvington to the local Tilmanstone Colliery. The pit closed in 1986. Today the site is an industrial estate. Elvington has a Community Centre, a recreation ground and Multi Use Games Area. There is a Sports ground and pavilion which is run by the Tilmanstone Miners’ Welfare Institute adjacent to the school. 

The village of Shepherdswell has about 2000 residents. The ancient name of the village, which means Siberts Wood, has had various spellings – Sibertswalt, Sibbertswold, Shebbertswell, Sibertswold - and is mentioned in the Doomsday book. It is the latter name by which the school is known. Village social life centres on the local Grade I listed Church of St Andrew and the village hall which hosts numerous village societies and a pre-school. The village pub is on the village green, near to the church and the school. Additionally the village has a Co-op mini-supermarket. 

Shepherdswell is significant for the East Kent Railway, whose terminus is sited there. This was originally one of Colonel Stephens's lines and ran to Wingham. This now a privately owned railway which is managed and run by volunteers. It operates between Shepherdswell and Eythorne.
  
Transport links are good. The mainline from Shepherds Well has direct trains to Dover and London via Faversham. The villages are situated approximately 6 miles from Dover and about 10 miles from Canterbury.

The whole area is steeped in history which both schools use extensively.

Elvington and Shepherdswell are on the Miner's Way Trail which links the coalfield parishes of East Kent.  The Romans once marched through this area of Kent using the path across the downs and along what is now Roman Way in Elvington. In the village it links with the North Downs Way and the Via Francigena, the pilgrimage path between Canterbury and Rome. 

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