Kilndown

Kilndown
Christ Church, Kilndown
Kilndown Location within Kent
Civil parish	Goudhurst
District	Tunbridge Wells
Shire county	Kent
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Cranbrook
Postcode district	TN17
Police	Kent
Fire	Kent
Ambulance	South East Coast
UK Parliament	Tunbridge Wells

Kilndown is a village 5 miles (8 km) west of Cranbrook in Kent, England. It is in the civil parish of Goudhurst.

History

Two estates existed near the village. The Bedgebury Estate was mentioned in an 814 charter and was a known home to the Culpeper family in the 16th century. The estate contained two Iron Furnaces to help defeat the Spanish Armada in 1588.

The Combwell Estate was formed during the reign of King Henry II by Robert de Thurnham, who founded a Premonstratensian Abbey, which became an Augustinian Priory, Combwell Priory, in 1220.[1]

Kilndown first appears on Hasted's map in 1778 but was referenced as "Killdown"; the "Kiln" in the current name may have come from the kiln oasts harvested in the area, or that the area produced bricks.

Kilndown was established in the 1840s by the British general and politician, William Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford,[2] who purchased the estate in 1834. This led to its development, including craftsmen, shops, a public house. Christ Church, Kilndown was built in 1841.[3]

References

1. "Combwell Priory and walled garden". Historic England. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
2. "Summary of the Bedgebury Forest archaeological survey". Forestry Commission. Archived from the original on 3 November 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
3. Christ Church. gkchurch.org.uk.