Hollingbourne

Located along the southern slope of the North Downs in Kent is the small village of Hollingbourne. With just over one thousand inhabitants, Hollingbourne is most definitely among the smallest of all Kentish villages. However, the fact that the village is just four miles from the large town of Maidstone means that the population of Holingbourne maintain both the appeal of small village life and the close proximity to big city amenities. More recently the development of the high speed train network to France, in combination with the fact that Ashford International Station is easily accessible from Hollingbourne has also meant that as well as being well connected to the larger cities of Maidstone and London, the continent is also now within easy reach.

On the one hand, the residents and visitors to the area are able to enjoy the very traditional aspects of village life. The local parish, dedicated to the All Saints stands pride of place, close to a natural spring in the village. The history of this site spans centuries, with a church being documented as an entry in the Domesday book, as early as 1086. However the more particular history of the church that now actually stands on the site is dated from the fourteenth century. Previous to thus, the older structure was destroyed and demolished by an earthquake.

Due to the exceptionally small population of the Hollingbourne, there is a very heightened sense of community, with the local village store and annual village fete acting as cornerstones of local life. The village itself has enjoyed a particularly prosperous history, benefiting from its physical and geographical location at the North Down springs, which has enabled the area to flourish in terms of agriculture and farming. The fact that moving water was available so close by meant that the village had direct access to a very valuable power source. Up until the mid nineteenth century the village had three mills. Up until the industrial revolution Hollingbourne was a very prosperous and wealthy area, with three very respected and powerful families living in the village- the Culpepers, Duppas and Thomases.

As the industrial revolution saw the development of more efficient and modern power sources and production methods, Hollingbourne's economy took a short term dip, as the mill production methods suddenly became obsolete without better transport connections. However, this all changed with the creation of Hollingbourne's local railway station and its connection to the wider reaching south eastern railway network. The works were finally completed in 1883 and saw Hollingbourne's economy prosper once more.

Aside from its flourishing agricultural economy, there is also much to enjoy and admire in Hollingbourne, in terms of landscape, architecture and lesiure activities. The area is actually designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with plenty of green space and quaint country lanes which appeal to the locals and tourists alike. Tourists are often to be found in the area, due to Hollingbourne's close proximity to the world famous Leeds Castle in Maidstone. Whereas the majority of tourists visiting the area do indeed come to admire the grandeur and impressive architecture of Leeds Castle, it must also be pointed out that many do also journey to experience the more traditional and picturesque aspects of village life that are to be found in the parish of Hollingbourne. There are a number of local restaurants and traditional village pubs, such as the Windmill and the Dirty Habit. There is also a vast number of local societies which are always organising local events and a large expanse of public walkways, which are very popular with walking and rambling societies in Hollingbourne itself and also from further afield.