Chalk
Administration
Borough:	Gravesham
County:	Kent
Region:	South East England
Nation:	England
Other
Ceremonial County:	Kent
Traditional County:	Kent
Postal County:	Kent

Chalk is a village lying to east of Gravesend, Kent, and now virtually part of the town area. The name comes from the Saxon word cealc meaning a chalkstone.

One layer of the chalk carries flints, stones embedded in the chalk, and these were used in building and in providing the means of fire for muskets. The stone is often cut to provide a flat edge: to do this requires a craft known as flint-knapping and several workers in the trade worked in Chalk from the 17th century onwards. Gun-flints were also produced here in large quantities until the early 19th century.

Chalk, already known in the 8th century because there was a witan (a Saxon meeting) held here, is mentioned in the Domesday Book. A large Roman villa was discovered here in 1961. Of the farms in the parish, Filborough is the oldest, having historical mention as early as AD 1220. At one time it was owned by Henry VIII. Two of its manor houses were called West Court and East Court. The former now gives its name to one of Gravesend's housing estates.

The parish church of St Mary the Virgin lies at some distance from the village centre. It is largely of Early English date, with a 12th century north aisle

Also within the parish was the one-time Gravesend Airport, from which Amy Johnson began her record flight, and which during WWII became a Royal Air Force figher base. On much of its site is now one of the biggest post-war housing estates, known as Riverview Park.

Chalk's major claim to fame is its connection with Charles Dickens. Here he spent his honeymoon with his new bride, Kate Hogarth; and it was here that he wrote the early instalments of Pickwick Papers. He also used the old forge in the village as a model for Joe Gargery's cottage in Great Expectations: the building still stands as a listed building.

Reference

• A History of Gravesend Robert H Hiscock (Phillimore, 1976)

External link

Village notes http://www.historic-kent.co.uk