Walks in Lenham Three delightful walks in and around Lenham from 0 minutes to 90 minutes with map and photographic guides l l l ABOUT LENHAM The medieval village of Lenham, in the Borough of Maidstone, is found nestling at the foot of the North Kent Downs. Lenham s springs, fed by chalk aquifers in the Downs, in turn feed the River Stour, as well as the River Len, which also rises here. The village has many interesting features including recently found artefacts which support the serious possibility that there was a Roman settlement in the Parish. An iron age settlement has been found in Lenham Heath. Saxon remains have been recorded, notably the graves of Saxon Warriors uncovered in 9 under the floor of the present chemist s shop. The Saxon church has early documentary evidence as far back as 0AD. In 97 part of the church and one of the neighbouring tithe barns was burnt down by an act of arson, another tithe barn was burnt down again through arson in 9 leaving only one remaining very fine example of a medieval tithe barn. Moving on to more recent times, there is an eighteenth century lock-up where locals or passing travellers that had misbehaved or had tasted too much excellent Kentish ale were locked up, awaiting transportation to the Court in Maidstone. There are plans in hand to turn this building into a small museum and tourist office. The Square is a good place to stop for a meal in one of the two pubs, the tea shop, the hotel restaurant, a fish and chip shop or well established Chinese restaurant and take away. There is a good range of shops with car parking available in the square - limited to hours - or in the long term car park adjacent to The Square. Lenham railway station (on the main line to London Victoria) is within walking distance of the village square and a bus service connects with Maidstone and Ashford. If you wish to stay for a night or longer there are a number of hotels, bed and breakfast establishments and self-catering accommodation. A Farmers Market is held in The Square on the second Sunday of every month selling locally produced food products and other items such as plants, earthenware containers, crafts and gifts. A recent major development has been the building of a Village Community Centre, Medical Centre and ten Housing Association homes. This development is in Groom Way off the Old Ashford Road. It is hoped that you will walk on all three of the routes in this leaflet and enjoy the history of Lenham and the countryside surrounding the village.
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l LENHAM VILLAGE WALK (Time 0-0 minutes) l Follow the blue route on the map If you are a visitor to our village welcome! Lenham is in an area designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Hopefully you will be staying with us for a few days to explore the wonderful scenery and villages of the surrounding area, and Lenham in particular. Whether your stay with us is short or long, do try and find time to have a wander around. This short walk has been designed to give the traveller an insight to our village and its history. From Lenham Square, walk along the Faversham Road, past Lurcocks to () the Lock Up. Note the delightful row of Alms Houses adjacent to the Lock Up. Retrace your footsteps, turning left by Pippa s Tea Rooms and The Limes Restaurant to () The Old Village Hall now converted to Luxury Apartments. Cross the road to () St. Mary s Church. Turn left into Church Square and walk to the Five Bar gate which will allow you to catch sight of () the magnificent Old Tithe Barn. Re-enter The Square and you will notice on the corner of Headcorn Road and Maidstone Road a half-timbered building () The Saxon Warrior. Continue along the High Street past the fire station until you reach () Honywood House. Re-trace your footsteps, back down the pretty High Street to the Village Square. Information about the buildings you will see. LOCK UP Built in the early 9th century, as the name suggests, this was once used as a local gaol to accommodate late night revellers. When it ceased to be a lock-up, sometime after the first world war, it was used as a mortuary for anyone dying in an accident or strangers to the village who died whilst visiting. During world war two, it served as an air-raid shelter. Note also the Douglas Alms houses originally endowed by J.S.Douglas of the Chilston Estate. OLD VILLAGE HALL Until the opening of the very impressive Community Centre Dylan Woolf in Groom Way, for many years this hall was the centre for entertainment in the village, with plays, dances, film shows and diverse forms of activities. It has now been converted into luxury apartments. ST. MARY S CHURCH Originally of Saxon and Norman origin but extensively damaged by fire in 97. Adjoining the chancel the oldest part of the building is the Chapel of St. Edmond. The altar is of Bethersden Marble and is believed to be the tomb of Sir Thomas Hone d.7. The Tower was constructed towards the end of the th Century. TITHE BARN A great example of a medieval timbered frame barn. There were originally two tithe barns but sadly one was burnt down in 9. SAXON WARRIOR Named after the discovery of a grave in in 9 which contained bodies, believed to be of Saxon origin together with military regalia also of the same period. HONYWOOD HOUSE Built in by Anthony Honywood this is a beautiful example of Jacobean architecture. Pay particular attention to the fine carvings. This walk is really a thumbnail sketch of Lenham village. There are many other walking opportunities in the parish of Lenham, including along the North Downs Way. For further information contact North Downs Way National Trail Office 0- or go to www.nationaltrail.co.uk/northdowns.
l A WALK AROUND EAST LENHAM (0-0 MINS) l Follow the magenta route on the map This walk starts from the village churchyard. Walk through the churchyard (), passing the Church, to the kissing gate (). Although a In the corner of the field you will notice a small bridge across a stream () which will lead you to Tanyards Farm. Continue through the farm yard to a clearly visible gate () which takes you into the next field. the far side nestling beneath a line of small trees. Once through the gate and over the stream head for the style () on the left hand side of the field. Keep a look out for sandpipers and snipe. Head towards East Lenham Farm. Do NOT cross the style into Lenham Farm but turn sharp right, keep the fencing (7) on your left as you walk to what looks 7 diagonal footpath is clearly marked, ignore this, ( it will be used on your return journey) keep to the extreme left of this field (Court Meadow). The path is unmarked but it is an established footpath. Walk across the field (again an unmarked footpath) to the gate () at like a sheep penning area (). Climb the stile into a small field (9) walking diagonally to yet another stile by a small stream. You will see on your left a railway arch which is en route but to reach this, walk straight ahead and aim for the stile at the opposite side of the field. The actual footpath is again unmarked (0). Although you are walking away from your objective, this track will intersect with a footpath 0 that leads you back to the railway arch (). Go under the railway bridge and as you exit, turn sharp right following the path at the foot of the embankment (). The flora along this stretch of your walk is very diverse and provides homes to a variety of wildlife. The Buddleia trees attract hundreds of butterflies in the summer months. Cross over a small stream, still keeping the railway embankment on your right until you reach the railway crossing. Exercise extreme care when crossing the track. Follow the footpath () down to another little copse by a stream keeping the large hedge ( a wonderful habitat for birdlife) on your left. At the far end of the field you will see the entrance to Court Meadow and the aforementioned diagonal footpath () which will lead you back to the kissing gate at the churchyard (your starting point). 9 Note: All photographs in this guide are for reference only, conditions will be different to that shown depending on weather and time of year.
l A WALK AROUND SANDWAY, LENHAM (7-90 MINS) l Follow the green route on the map Starting from Lenham Square, leave the village along the Headcorn Road passing the Fire Station. Note the lovely characteristic cottages lining the High Street. Follow the road past Honywood House ( on your right) a beautiful example of 7th century architecture. Onward a further 00 yards or so and you will notice a row of ragstone cottages on your left. These were originally built to house the staff on the Chilston Estate. Keeping to the Headcorn Road, continue over the railway bridge to where the road forks at Leading Cross Green. (not actually marked). Remain on the Headcorn Road and just past this road junction you will note a footpath on your right by a house called The Lodge (). and follow the footpath to another stile () which will take you on to Old Ham Lane. ***( You will make your return journey from this point.) Farm. Keep to the left of the farm houses, past the converted barn development on your right, and follow the footpath down until it meets Sandway Road (7). Turn left on to This leads down to a marsh area which can be quite boggy in w inter months and following rainfall. Follow the pathway, rich in flora and fauna, over a small stream and gently climb until you reach a stile (). Cross the field until you are able to see a stile on the opposite side which leads you into a small area of woodland (classified as a nature reserve)(). Exit the copse () Turn left down the lane for about 0 yards past Lenham Court, until you see a track marked as a footpath and bridle path (). Take this track and follow it along through Boldrewood Sandway Road and after about 0 yards ( before the bridge over the rail link) you will see a footpath clearly marked on your left (). The footpath takes you to the right hand side of the field and as you climb, you will encounter a series of electrified TOUCH THE WEBBING - IT CONTAINS THE ELECTRIFIED FILAMENTS (0). At the top of the hill you should be able to look down into the old sand quarry () and lake which is home quarry provide homes for a multitude of sand martins. From the summit, turn left over the stile keeping the hedgerow on your left. Cross another fence past Keepers Cottage into Old Ham Lane () (). Continue back along Old Ham Lane until you pass 0 7 fences (9) which have to be crossed. Exercise caution but do not be nervous. Simply use the insulated handles provided by the farmer for your use but take care to replace the handles into their loops. DO NOT 9 to a variety of bird-life including heron, sandpipers, snipe and various breeds of duck. The walls of the sand stile and head for the left hand corner of the field. Here you must turn right and, keeping the hedge on your left, continue through another electrified Lenham Court again where you can cross the stile on your right *** which you encountered earlier on your walk and then retrace your footsteps to Lenham Village.
There is a lot to see and do in Lenham Leaflet & pdf design: Custom Marketing Resources 0 0 www.cmr-group.co.uk Accommodation: The Pavilion, Blue House Farm, Warren St self-catering ( star) www.bluehousefarm.co.uk Dog & Bear, Lenham Square inn ( star) www.dogandbearlenham.co.uk The Old Shoppe self-catering ( star) www.freedomholidayhomes.co.uk Lime Tree Cottages self-catering ( star) www.kentcottage.com Chilston Park Hotel hotel ( star) www.handpicked.co.uk/chilstonpark East Lenham Farm B&B ( star silver) www.eastlenhamfarm.co.uk Maidstone Visitor Information Centre, Maidstone Town Hall, High Street T: 0 09 E: tourism@maidstone.gov.uk www.tour-maidstone.gov.uk MARKETING MAIDSTONE T o w n & C o u n t r y ) TOURISM SOUTH EAST www.kentdowns.org.uk Lenham Community Centre Groom Way Lenham Maidstone Kent ME7 QT 0 00 bookings@lenhamcommunitycentre.org.uk www.lenhamcommunitycentre.org.uk When you re walking in the countryside, please respect the Countryside Code: Respect Protect Enjoy The walks leaflet was supported by the s Sustainable Tourism Project with funding from Mid Kent LEADER+, Maidstone Borough Council, Marketing Maidstone and Tourism South East.