Bethersden

Bethersden
Bethersden
	St Margaret's Church
	Bethersden Location within Kent
Area	26.1 km2 (10.1 sq mi)
Population	1,481 (Civil Parish 2011)
• Density	57/km2 (150/sq mi)
OS grid reference	TQ927402
District	Ashford;
Shire county	Kent;
Region	South East;
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ASHFORD
Postcode district	TN26
Dialling code	01233
Police	Kent
Fire	Kent
Ambulance	South East Coast
UK Parliament	Ashford;
	List of places UK England Kent 51°07′44″N 0°45′12″E / 51.1290°N 0.7533°E

Bethersden is a village and civil parish five miles (8 km) west of Ashford, Kent.

The village has two public houses – The Bull and The George. It has a beautiful church (St Margaret's), built in the early 15th century, and a Baptist church (Union Chapel).

Bethersden was formerly well known for producing Bethersden Marble and was a centre of the Kentish wool trade. Lovelace Place in Bethersden was the birthplace of 17th-century poet Richard Lovelace.^{[citation needed]}

Several successful businesses have operated from the village: Stevenson Brothers, who produce high-quality handmade rocking horses; W & D Cole, who make iron gates and railings; and the former Colt Houses, who sold prefabricated timber homes.

The village has a football team and a cricket team, and a small primary school. The school has a tennis club by the park.

The Bethersden Parish Records Society holds the original parish register, maps, books, photographs and other records relating to the village.