Did You Know?

Ashford's history goes back thousands of years. There is evidence of settlement dating back as far as prehistoric times. The town was first recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086. Here it was described as having a church, two mills and 21 'households', which was large by medieval standards.

Ashford is a town in the county of Kent, It lies on the River Great Stour at the south edge of the North Downs

The very first white road lines were painted on the London to Folkestone Road at Ashford, in 1914.

The village of Pluckley, near Ashford, had an entry in the 1989 Guinness Book of Records for being "the most haunted village in Britain", with 12 different ghosts reported.

During the reign of Mary 1553-1558 Protestants were persecuted in England. At that time 5 men from Ashford were executed at Canterbury while 2 men from Tenterden were executed Ashford in 1557.

By the early 18th century Ashford still had a population of only about 1,500. To us it would seem tiny but by the standards of the time it was a little market town..

St Mary's Church in Ashford has been a local landmark since the 13th century, and expanded in the 15th. Today, the church functions in a dual role as a centre for worship and entertainment.

By the 1780s, local farmers in Ashford had begun to hold informal market days, and advertised the town's ideal location between London, Chatham and the Kent Coast. The market was held in the High Street until 1856 when local farmers and businessmen relocated to Elwick Road.

With origins dating back to the 13th century, magnificent Castle has witnessed a rich and storied history, evolving from a medieval fortress to a grand retreat.

The old town of Ashford was granted a market in the 13th century that later became a stock market for the pastoral farms on nearby Romney Marsh. Modern Ashford developed as a railway centre with a locomotive works, and it manufactures agricultural implements, beer, and bricks.

It's history goes back thousands of years. There is evidence of settlement dating back as far as prehistoric times. The town was first recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086

Ashford sets a remarkable example of inward investment success – capitalising on its highly accessible location through bold investment and a proactive attitude, to create a thriving place to work, live and do business.