Ashford’s history is based on its location between Dover and London and this looks to be important in the future with the international station and the high speed train service from London to Europe through the Channel Tunnel. There are different views as to how the name Ashford came about. Records show that for several centuries the settlement or town in Ashford was known as "Essetesford". Some people believe that "Essetesford" stands for "ash trees growing near a ford", while others suggest that it meant "a ford over the river Eshe or Eshet", which was the old name for the tributary of the River Stour which rises at Lenham. No one can be quite sure when people first settled in the Ashford area. Roman remains have been found at Westhawk, and a road, built to transport iron ore from the Weald of Kent to the north Kent Coast, went through Ashford, following what is now Kingsnorth Road and Beaver Road in South Ashford and Station Road and Wellesley Road through to Kennington. It is believed that Ashford’s origins lay in the 1800’s when England was invaded by the Danes in 893. At this there were settlements at Great Chart and Appledore, and as the Danes raided these settlements the people fled to the forests for safety. It is thought that many of the survivors settled either in nearby forest or in the "Royal Ville of Wye". As a reward for their services in battle a group of people are thought to have settled on land in what is now Ashford, given to them by the Saxon Lord. Before the Norman invasion, it is known that part of Ashford was owned by St. Augustine’s Abbey at Canterbury, the other part belonged to King Edward the Confessor and some belonged to Earl Godwin, the father of King Harold. After the Conquest, St Augustine’s kept its land, but the rest was given to Hugh de Montfort, one of the Conqueror’s commanders, as a reward for his services in battle. The Doomsday Book, which was made by William the Conqueror in 1086 to assess the extent of the land and resources being owned in England at the time, and the extent of the taxes he could raise, states that Ashford has a church and two mills. By 1600 Ashford was well established as an important and thriving market town. Ashford was aided in this by its location, with roads to the port of Faversham and to Canterbury, Hythe, Romney Marsh and the Weald. Just as important was the number of large estates in the district owned by the nobility.
Attraction
Ashford Borough Museum
Beech Court Gardens
Godinton House and Gardens
Harbourne Vineyard
Lashenden Air Warfare Museum
South of England Rare Breeds Centre
Stour Valley Arts Sculpture Walk
Willesborough Windmill
Woodchurch Windmill
Budget
Cornerstone B&B *book online*
Holiday Inn North A20 Ashford *book online*
Premier Inn Ashford Central *book online*
Premier Inn Ashford Eureka Leisure Park *book online*
Premier Inn Ashford North *book online*
Ryemore Guest House *book online*
Travelodge Ashford *book online*
Camping
Care Home
Charity
International Glaucoma Association
Wildlife Heritage Foundation
Cinema
Classes
Club
Council
Doctor
Musgrove Park Medical Centre
New Hayesbank Surgery
The Northside Clinic
The Surgery
The Willesborough Health Centre
Estate Agent
Gregory Brown Estate Agents
Saddlers
The Frost Partnership
Golf Club
Ashford
Homelands Bettergolf Centre
Health and Fitness Club
Bannatynes Ashford
Fitness First Ashford
Green Health Club
Kingsnorth Recreation Centre
Holiday Park
Inn
New Flying Horse InnMarket
Ashford Football Club Car Boot
Ashford Street Market
Pub and Bar
Crusader
Dering Arms
Dukes Head
Fat Fiddler
Flying Horse Inn
Hare & Hounds
Hooden On The Hill
Locomotive
Man Of Kent
Nelson
Oranges Cafe Bar
Queens Arms
Tufton Bailiffehouse
Wagon & Horses
Restaurant
Crown Coffee & Gifts
Dering Arms
Devils Kneading Trough
Dukes Head
Eastwell Manor
Flying Horse Inn
Hare & Hounds
Kennington Tandoori
Little Raj
Queens Arms
The Gourmet's Kitchen
Tin Tin
Wagon & Horses
School
Self-Catering
Ashmead Apartments
Eversleigh Woodland Lodges
Freedom Holiday Homes
Solicitor
Taxi
AFM Cars (Private Hire & Taxis)LTD
Arrow Taxis Ltd
Ashford Minibuses Ltd
Blue Line Taxis
Diamond Taxis
Independent Taxi Service
Phone-A-Cab
Platinum Cars
Prestige Travel
Vet
Sports Clubs
Ashfield Wheelers CC (Cycling)
Ashford Tennis Academy (Tennis)
Etchinghill CC (Cricket)
Great Chart CC (Cricket)
Wye CC (Cricket)
Shops
Glenda's
Bookends
Better Baskets
Boots
Novelty Balloons
Perry Court Farm Shop
Potten Farm Shop
Rymans
Wyevale Garden Centre
Willesborough Pet Supplies
Ashford Pet Supplies
Whittard of Chelsea
Dorothy Perkins
Paydens Ltd
Cargills
Soled Out
C G Earl & Son
Evans
J D Sports
Tim Sutton Sports Massage
Staples
Carphone Warehouse
Halfords
BodyShop
The Headcom Gallery
Mountain Warehouse
Thorntons
PC World
Holland and Barratt
Professional Cookware
Crown Coffee
Burscombe Cliff Farm
H Samuel
Ernest Jones
McArthur Glen Ashford
Mothercare
Gamestation
Game
B&Q
Goldsmiths
Dreams
Homebase
Lloyds Pharmacy
Sussex Stationers
Specsavers
SoleTrader
Phase Eight
Pets At Home
Countrywide Photographic
Outer Limits Discos
Sarah Prescott Photographer
Imagine Play Centre
River Island
Topman
Topshop
BHS
Antiques
CMR International Arms Company (UK)
Activities
Airaffair Adventures Parachuting(Airsports)
Kent Ballooning(Airsports)
Ashford Archers(Archery)
Priory Equestrian Centre(Riding)
Places to Stay near Ashford
Cornerstone B&B (0.14 miles)
This attractive Grade II listed property in Ashford town centre is within walking distance of the Eurostar International station.
Cornerstone is ideal for exploring the delights of the Kent countryside and for ... More
George Hotel (0.14 miles)
Ryemore Guest House (0.63 miles)
An ideal base from which to explore the area’s natural beauty and historic sites, this small guest house is ideally located within easy reach of junction 9 of the M20 and ... More
Holiday Inn Ashford Central (0.69 miles)
Choose the charming Holiday Inn Ashford Central hotel for its 17th-century features, combined with thoroughly modern facilities and easy transport links to Europe. Transformed from a 17th-century barn nestling in the Kent countryside, our Ashford ... More | visit website
Ashford International Hotel (0.88 miles)
Travelodge Ashford (0.98 miles)
There are loads of reasons our customers choose to stay at Travelodge. Our great value clean and comfortable rooms with en-suite provide everything needed for a good night's sleep and are close to where people ... More | visit website
Conningbrook Hotel (1.08 miles)
Newly acquired by Shepherd Neame, the Conningbrook Hotel well situated for business and leisure visitors. Located just one mile from Ashford Town Centre and just minutes away from the historic town, Canterbury. All the rooms ... More | visit website
Boys Hall (1.29 miles)
Boys Hall is a 17th century Jacobean Manor House set in beautifully landscaped gardens. It retains its historical feeling with its low beams and open fireplaces . All the bedrooms ... More
Downsview (1.43 miles)
Downsview Guesthouse is situated in a rural setting, located minutes from Ashford town centre and offers a cosy, comfortable and friendly service. We have a private car park. Accommodation comprises ... More
Premier Inn Ashford Central (1.67 miles)
Within easy reach of Ashford International Railway Station and Eurostar train services to mainland Europe, this modern hotel offers comfortable, great-value rooms and free parking. The Premier Inn Ashford Central is conveniently located, close to Ashford ... More | visit websiteBrit Quote: |
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