HARTLEY BRANCH
Ash is a small village located in the Sevenoaks district in Kent. It shares the parish of Ash-cum-Ridley with the nearby village of Ridley. The London Golf Club is located in the village, which hosts the European Open on the PGA European Tour. The village offers a church, public house yet within easy driving distance of shops and schools at New Ash Green, Hartley and Longfield which also offers mainline railway station to London Victoria. The A2, M25 and M20 provide links to both Gatwick and Heathrow airports, London, Bluewater, the channel ports and new international railway station at Ebbsfleet providing a 20 minute link to London St Pancras.
Fawkham, the name Fawkham goes back as far as the tenth century, where it appears as Fealcnaham. The word 'ham' is Saxon meaning 'village or homestead', and the first element seems to represent a personal name, Fealcna. The village is set in a quiet location bordering the village of Longfield offering superb primary school and village church and Rising Sun public house. Longfield is a short drive away which provides excellent shopping facilities and main line railway station with services to London Victoria and the A2 and M25 motorways providing links to both Gatwick and Heathrow airports, London, Bluewater and Ebbsfleet International railway station providing a 20 minute link to London St Pancras. For equestrian enthusiasts there is access to good local hacking and Speedgate Equine Centre with cross country course.
Hartley lies in the northern side of the North Downs between Sevenoaks, and Dartford/Gravesend. The thriving village offering local shops and two excellent primary schools, Black Lion public house and superb Hartley Country Club offering a variety of sporting activities. The village of Longfield offering further shopping facilities and mainline railway station with services to London Victoria. Road links from the area give access to A2/M2, A20/M20, M25 and Dartford Tunnel as well as the Bluewater Shopping Complex and Ebbsfleet International station providing a 20 minute link to London St Pancras
Istead Rise was a pig-farming community in the 1860s, situated in the North Downs pathway Indeed, a pig farm used to exist on what is now the site of Istead Rise Primary School. As well as pig farm on Downs Road, there were orchards on what is now the Community Centre field and the surrounding housing area. There was also a flower farm with large greenhouses around what is now Flower Hill House and Flowerhill Way. Edward & Kenneth Crush used to deliver coke to heat the greenhouses. Frog Island is on the site of what is now Istead Rise Parade. Frog Island is also the name of the local Morris Men group. Istead Rise offers everyday facilities doctors and primary school. Gravesend town centre is close by with the commuter being served by a railway station at Meopham and Gravesend on the Victoria and Charing Cross lines respectively.
Longfield is recorded as 'Langanfelda' in the Saxon Charters of 964-995, and as 'Langafel' in the Domesday Book of 1086.[1]. The bustling village offers excellent shopping facilities, excellent primary school and recently constructed Longfield Academy senior school. There is thriving village life and large village hall and superb recreational facilities for the family together with main line railway station for the commuter to London Victoria and the A2 and M25 motorways providing links to both Gatwick and Heathrow airports, London, Bluewater and Ebbsfleet International railway station providing a 20 minute link to London St Pancras.
Meopham, the name of the village derives from Meapaham (Meapa's village): it is first recorded in 788, in the time of King Offa. The historic windmill at Meopham was built by James Killick, a millwright from Strood, in 1801. The Killicks lived in Strood where the family also owned mills and were reputed to walk the eight miles to Meopham each day. The mill worked by wind until 1929 and then by engine until 1965. It has been fully restored and is now in full working order. The village offers shopping facilities and a main line link to London, road links give access to A2/M2, A20/M20, M25, Bluewater and Ebbsfleet International Station. Meopham village also benefits from schools going up to senior levels, a library and churches. The recreational facilities include a leisure centre and cricket on the green opposite the historic windmill.
New Ash Green was developed as a 'green fields' site in the 1960s, borrowing its name from the nearest existing village of Ash. Set in attractive North Downs countryside between Gravesend and Wrotham and covering an area of around 430 acres it is designed in neighbourhoods, separated by green areas linked by footpaths. The area offers everyday local facilities including primary school, doctors and dentist surgery and commuter coach service to London. The village of Longfield offers further facilities including main line railway station with services to London Victoria and the A2 and M25 motorways providing links to all major routes together with Bluewater and Ebbsfleet International Station providing a 20 minute link to London St Pancras.
New Barn is ideally situated within easy reach of Longfield shopping centre offering co-op and Waitrose supermarkets and variety of other shops, doctors and dentist’s surgeries and main line railway station to London Victoria. The A2/M2 motorways provide links to both Gatwick and Heathrow Airports, London, Bluewater shopping centre and the Channel ports. Within ten minutes drive is Ebbsfleet International Station providing a 20 minute link to London St Pancras.
Shorne is a picturesque tucked away village offering local shops, public houses, church and primary school. Adjacent to Shorne village there is Shorne Wood Country Park an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its wildlife value. The village is within easy reach of Gravesend and Medway town providing further excellent schooling with the M2 and M25 motorways linking to both Gatwick and Heathrow airports, London, Bluewater and the International railway station at Ebbsfleet offering a 17 minute link to London and the Channel Ports. The commuter is well served by coach service running from the area to London together with main line railway station at Sole Street and Higham on the Victoria and Cannon Street line respectively.
Southfleet takes its name from the River Fleet (a minor tributary of the River Thames). The water that supplied the river came from a place called Springhead, where there were watercress and oyster beds; the river then ran on through Southfeet, Ebbsfleet and Northfleet.
The area is a delightful semi-rural village offering local primary school, church and public houses, ideally situated with easy access of the village of Longfield and Gravesend town centre providing further shopping recreational and educational facilities including mainline railway station to London on to Victoria and Charing Cross lines respectively. The A2 and M25 motorways together with Bluewater, the Channel Ports and Ebbsfleet International station providing a 20 minute link to London St Pancras are also within access.
West Kingsdown is a Kentish village close to Sevenoaks and in easy reach of Brands Hatch motor racing circuit. The village has recently introduced a skate park and Lullingstone Castle is within easy visiting distance, being only three miles away. The area offers everyday local facilities including doctors surgery with M20/M25 motorways within easy access providing links to both Gatwick and Heathrow airports, London, Bluewater and Channel ports. Local primary schools are available within the area with senior schools available in Longfield, Dartford, Hextable, Swanley and Sevenoaks. Main line stations can be found in the adjoining villages of Farningham Road and Eynsford.
Wrotham is a village situated on the Pilgrim’s Way in Kent, at the foot of the North Downs. It is located one mile north of Borough Green and approximately five miles east of Sevenoaks. The area has shops, post office, public houses, hotel and recreation ground. Borough Green is approximately one and a half miles from Wrotham and has shopping facilities, banks and train station. There are schools at Wrotham and Borough Green with further schooling within the Sevenoaks area. Sevenoaks is approximately 8 miles away and has a variety of shopping facilities, restaurants, main library, swimming pool and leisure centre as well as trains services on the Charing Cross/Cannon Street line. There is also access to M20, M26 and M25 links at Wrotham Heath.
Borough Green is a large village situated on the A25 road between Maidstone and Sevenoaks. The historic village of Wrotham is approximately a mile to the north. Borough Green’s village name describes what it originally was - the green to which the people of what was then the borough of Wrotham went for recreation. The village in more modern times now offers many facilities including local shops, pubs, restaurants and schools. It’s popularity for commuters is that is has its own mainline railway station with regular services to London and local road links giving access to M20, M26 and M25.