MAPS of MARDEN
During the Dark Ages, at the time of the original "dens" or clearings in the forest where herdmen brought their animals to feed, Marden was not "on the map". However the names of those dens still persist today and a modern map "The Dens of Marden", drawn by Bob Highwood of Marden, shows their positions.
The first large scale map of Kent map first published in 1569 by Philip Symonson, another first published in 1611 by John Speed and one engraved a hundred years later by Samuel Parker in 1719 show Marden as little more than the Church surrounded by woods.
By 1769 much more detail appears in Andrews and Dury's map of Kent, where the pattern of roads looks very familiar to us today, and dwellings are shown as well as outlying areas like Marden Beech and Marden Thorn. A Map of the Hundred of Marden first published in 1778 by Hasted shows the Vicarage.
"An entirely new and accurate Survey of the County of Kent" by Captain William Mudge of the Royal Artillery published in 1801 outlined the pattern of fields. Even more detail of the surrounding farms was shown in a map which is probably by Christopher and John Greenwood, first published in 1821.
A map of 1866 (NOTE: this is a big file so will take some time to load) shows the arrival of the railway, the station, and Railway Cottages. However, interestingly, it still shows the turnpikes (TP) at the Maidstone Road and Pattenden Lane. The Church has been supplemented by the Wesleyan Chapel and the Congregational Church (Independent Church) and there is a Parsonage opposite the graveyard, as well as the Vicarage in Maidstone Road. The Post Office appears to be in Maidstone Road and the circle of the Cockpit can be seen though it is not marked.