Kenton (1870)
Kenton as an isolated rural village is somewhat hard to grasp. Kenton Farm was long one of the only buildings there.
In 1852, Kenton village consisted only of Kenton Farm, four houses, 11 cottages, the 'Plough' inn, the smithy and the National School.
The village must have had a wide hinterland since 16 residential buildings would not usually support both a pub and a school.
Travel around the area was quite difficult in the days before tarred roads and it was normal to walk.
Many of the local lanes were notoriously muddy due to the heavy clay. There was an old country saying: 'Stuck like bees on a honeypot'. Honeypot Lane to the east was almost impassable during wet weather.
The arrival of the railway changed everything and Kenton expanded. Especially during the interwar years. the area was covered in almost identical housing.
