Historic towns and villages in Kent

A village on the edge of Romney Marsh, Appledore overlooks the historic Royal Military Canal, built in 1804 as a measure against French invasion. The village used to be on the banks of the Rother, but the river changed course. An earlier waterway is the 13th-century Rhee Wall, built to carry away silt from the marshes.
Appledore, Kent, England

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Heritage Highlight: 13th century St Peter and St Paul's church
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A market town in central Kent, Ashford was likely settled in the late 9th century and was incorporated as a town in 1423. Ashford was the home of Jack Cade, leader of the uprising known as Cade's Rebellion. The parish church is largely 13th century, with 15th-century additions.
Ashford, Kent, England

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Aylesford is a large village on the River Medway, accessed via a medieval five-arched bridge. There has been human settlement here since Neolithic times, as evidenced by the long barrows of Kits Coty to the north of the village. Today Aylesford retains its historic core, but the settlement has spread along the river in both directions, with railroad works and a busy shopping outlet bringing a modern bustle further from the historic centre.
Aylesford, Kent, England

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The village of Barfreston was a stopover place during the Middle Ages for pilgrims visiting the shrine of St Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. Today, this once important place is little more than a peaceful hamlet set in quite attractive wooded lanes and fields.
Barfreston, Kent, England

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Heritage Highlight: 12th century church of St Nicholas is known for its superb carvings
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A lovely Wealden village near Tenterden, with a long, broad village green where cricket is played in the summer. There are two excellent pubs, the Bull Inn and the Duke of Wellington, located near the large village green, which is lined with attractive half-timbered houses. At the top of the green is the parish church of St George.

Benenden, Kent, England

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Heritage Highlight: Benenden School, formerly Hemsted House, stands on the outskirts of the village
Photos of Benenden
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A village famous as the birthplace of the Biddenden Maids, a pair of Siamese twins who were joined at the hip and shoulder. Marie and Eliza Chulkhurst were born in Biddenden in 1100 and lived here to a respectable age (for that era) of 34. When they died they left 18 acres of land, the income from which was to provide an annual dole of bread and wine to the poor of the parish.

Biddenden, Kent, England

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Heritage Highlight: The 12th century Siamese twins called the Biddenden Maids are still remembered in the town sign, and the dole they established is still distributed annually
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A seaside town on the Isle of Thanet, in northeastern Kent, Broadstairs was settled as early as the Roman occupation. The village was initially a fishing port, but later became prosperous a centre of shipbuilding.
Broadstairs, Kent, England

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Heritage Highlight: St Mary's Chapel
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One of the most historic of English cities, Canterbury is famous for its medieval cathedral. There was a settlement here before the Roman invasion, but it was the arrival of St Augustine in 597 AD that was the signal for Canterbury's growth. Augustine built a cathedral within the city walls and a new monastery outside the walls. The ruins of St Augustine's Abbey can still be seen today.
Canterbury, Kent, England

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A small village of attractive cottages and the remains of an 11th-century palace used by the Archbishops of Canterbury. Charing was a stopover place on the major pilgrim trail to the shrine of Thomas a Becket at Canterbury. The village has a wealth of historic buildings, and these are outlined in a Village Trail leaflet put out by the Charing and District Local History Society, and available at a number of local outlets. In addition, there is a village tourist map detailing many of these historic buildings.

Charing, Kent, England

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Heritage Highlight: The remains of an 11th century palace favoured by Thomas a Becket.
Photos of Charing
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A historic port town on the Medway River in eastern Kent, Chatham grew up around a naval dockyard. The dockyard was established by Elizabeth I in 1568 and closed in 1984. It is today one of the most popular visitor attractions in south-east England.
Chatham, Kent, England

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Heritage Highlight: The Historic Royal Dockyards
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