High Halstow

High Halstow
The 10th-century St Margaret's Church, High Halstow, looking east
High Halstow Location within Kent
Population	1,807 (2011)[1]
OS grid reference	TQ780754
Civil parish	High Halstow
Unitary authority	Medway
Ceremonial county	Kent
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ROCHESTER
Postcode district	ME3
Dialling code	01634
Police	Kent
Fire	Kent
Ambulance	South East Coast
UK Parliament	Rochester and Strood
List of places UK England Kent 51°27′00″N 0°34′30″E / 51.45°N 0.575°E / 51.45; 0.575

High Halstow is a village and civil parish on the Hoo Peninsula in the unitary authority of Medway in South East England. It was, until 1998,^[2] administratively part of Kent and is still ceremonially associated via the Lieutenancies Act.^[3] The parish had a population of 1,781 according to the 2001 census, increasing to 1,807 at the 2011 census.^[1]

Originally known as Hagelstowe (in Textus Roffensis), Hagelsto or Agelstow,^[4] it was named from an Old English word denoting a high, holy place. The area has been occupied by Romans, Saxons and Normans.

The village lies on the junction of the ancient roads from Hoo and Cliffe to the Isle of Grain, now a crossroads to the north of the A228 road. One of the highest points on the Hoo peninsula, at 30 to 50 metres above sea level, the modern village consolidates into a single community the four hamlets of Clinch Street, Fenn Street, Sharnal Street and High Halstow Street.