Harrietsham

Harrietsham
Harrietsham  Harrietsham shown within Kent
Population	1,500
OS grid reference	TQ8657152803
District	Maidstone
Shire county	Kent
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Maidstone
Postcode district	ME17
Dialling code	01622
Police	Kent
Fire	Kent
Ambulance	South East Coast
EU Parliament	South East England
List of places: UK • England • Kent

Harrietsham is a rural village and civil parish in the Maidstone District of Kent, England. According to the United Kingdom Census 2001, it has a population of around 1,504. The parish is located on the slope of the North Downs, east of Maidstone. Within its boundaries are settlements at Marley, Pollhill and Fairbourne.

The village, six miles (6.4 km) from the town, is bypassed by the A20 road between Maidstone and Ashford, although at one time all traffic passed through it. It is noted in the Domesday Book.

The village contains a number of listed buildings, the most important of which architecturally are The Old House in East Street and the Saxon Church of St John the Baptist, which are both listed Grade I. The village also includes a church dedicated to St Peter, a Roman Catholic church and several nonconformist churches.

Harrietsham railway station serves the village. Both the M20 motorway and High Speed 1 pass through the parish.

History

In medieval times, the manor of Harrietsham passed through a succession of families, including the Adam family of Essex. The manor subsequently passed from Stephen Adam to his sister Eve, wife of John Levett of Hollington, East Sussex. On Levett's death, his widow remarried Laurence Ashburnham, Gent., of Broomham, Sussex, ancestor of the Ashburnham Baronets, bringing the manor of Harrietsham into the Ashburnham family.

External links

• A comprehensive website on the village including historical information
• A Harrietsham blog with up to date pictures and news.