Tyler Hill, Kent

Tyler Hill
Tyler Hill is located in Kent
Tyler Hill
Tyler Hill
Location within Kent
Population715 [1]
Civil parish
  • Hackington
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townCanterbury
Postcode districtCT2
Dialling code01227
PoliceKent
FireKent
AmbulanceSouth East Coast
UK Parliament
  • Canterbury

Tyler Hill is a small village on the northern outskirts of Canterbury, Kent in England. The population is included in the civil parish of Hackington.[2]

Demographics

Though numbers are mostly even in the area, there is a slightly higher amount of men than women in the area. In Tyler Hill, around 52.6% identify as male, while 47.4% identify themselves as female. Those from ages 10-19 make up an overwhelming majority in the area. Around 241 people are from this age bracket. The second largest aged 0-9 at 92 people. The third largest tie together, 60-69 and 70-79 have 80 people within them. At around 87.6% of  people are born in the United Kingdom. Of the non British births Europe is the highest at 29 people; 28 of those people coming from the European Union. Most the people of Tyler Hill identify as white, at 89% percent of people. There is a 4.4% Asian and the number of black and mixed people are both 2.7%. The population saw a 6.2% increase. [3]

Etymology

The first half of 'Tyler Hill' comes from the old french word “tieuleor, tieulier” It is an occupational name, referring to the area's notable tiling and brick making industry.[4][5]

Tiling and pottery

A fragment of pottery from a Medieval vessel. This is a complete base with parts of the wall. This is a wheel thrown vessel, with a flat base and sides at a slight obtuse angle. It is made of a hard, red fabric with a reduced core. There are frequent course sand and quartz inclusions, mainly sub rounded, and not well sorted. The outer edge has been smoothed, although now is well weathered. The inner edge still retains the throwing circles, and has a gritty feel. This is likely to have been the base to a jug, had have dated to 1200 - 1500 AD. It is possible this is Tyler Hill pottery, a common fabric type produced in Kent during this period.

Tyler Hill was at the centre of a thriving tiling and pottery economy in Kent. The area had abundant a large supply of timber and london clay in the area. The most commonly accepted start date for Tyler Hill's market is around 1150, to produce items for the market: bowls, jugs and cups. Tiles from across Canterbury can be traced back to a kiln in Clowes wood.[6] It is believed a fire in Canterbury in 1174 boosted production in Tyler Hill, as many of the timber buildings were destroyed; this created demand for a more durable, less flammable alternative. This came in the form of tiled roofs.[6][7]

An example of Tyler Hill's tiles is behind the altar of the crypt in Canterbury Cathedral. Parisian tilers arrived in the area at around 1280-1285, and brought more decorated tiling styles to the local area.[8][9] In 1325, tile production began to be exported to Buckinghamshire. The industry did not fully begin to waiver until 1350. Aspects such as pottery did not stop until the 1500s, however bricks would be made at large scale during this time.[7][6]

It took until the 1900s for roof tile production began to slow. On 1 June 1942, a German aircraft dropped bombs near Cheesecourt Gate in Tyler Hill. The bombs created massive 30-metre craters; these revealed the ancient pottery and kiln sites. Throughout the centuries, the area was one for continuous excavation and fieldwork.[10] In 2000, the site was excavated on the Time Team television programme. A large kiln was uncovered, believed to have been last fired in the 13th century. The near-intact kiln is currently one of the best-preserved mediaeval tile kilns found in England.[6][9]

Tyler Hill Tunnel

Tyler Hill Tunnel entrance This is one of the oldest railway tunnels in the world. Build in the early 1830s on the Crab & Winkle line

The Tyler Hill tunnels are around 170 years old and one of Britain's first purpose-built tunnels. The area is closed off with iron gates. Within the tunnel, the mortar is in slow decay. Due to the growing bat population, someone holding a bat licence may be needed to visit the tunnels.[11] The tunnels end at Archbishop's School grounds, which since has been fully bricked up.[12] Construction began in 1826, with half a mile in length being completed. Low egg-shaped ceilings and narrow walls. Rolling stock had to be modified, with trains along the tracks covered in soot.[13] In 1835, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and four of his colleagues demonstrated the safety of tunnel despite concerns over the 1 in 50 gradient slope.[14] In 1953, operations closed on the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway. Construction of the new Kent University in the 1970s would cause the tunnels to partially collapse. The area was plugged in with a mix of concrete, ash and cement. 150 metres is still accessible.[13][15]

References

  1. ↑ "Tyler Hill in Kent (South East England)". Citypopulation.de. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "Tyler Hill, Kent". Gazetteer of British Place Names. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  3. ↑ "City Population: Check for Humans". Citypopulation.de. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  4. ↑ Dunkling, Leslie (1993). The Guinness Book of Names. Guinness. ISBN 978-0-85112-595-4.
  5. ↑ Hanks, Patrick (10 January 2013). An A-Z of Baby Names. OUP Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-966985-1.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Part of the Tyler Hill medieval pottery and tile industry, Hackington - 1426019". Historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  7. 1 2 "Tyler Hill pottery | The Blean". Theblean.co.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  8. ↑ Artistes, Artisans et production artistique au moyen age. Internet Archive. Picard, Picard. 1986. ISBN 978-2-7084-0302-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  9. 1 2 "Tyler Hill Pottery Industry" (PDF). Explorekent.org. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "A Pottery Kiln Site at Tyler Hill, Near Canterbury". Kent History & Archaeology. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  11. ↑ "Visiting the Tyler Hill Tunnel at the South Portal | The Crab and Winkle Line Trust". Crabandwinkle.org. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  12. ↑ "Geograph:: Railway tunnel © Dan Bartlett". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Past | The Crab and Winkle Line Trust". Crabandwinkle.org. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  14. ↑ "Brunel's Experiment in Tyler Hill Tunnel" (PDF). Tceparticles.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com.
  15. ↑ "Tyler Hill Tunnel". Kentrail.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
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