Pictures of Cranbrook

in the county of Kent

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About Cranbrook

Cranbrook is an old rural town of numerous streets and alley's, all still true to their medieval layout. It is a real "showcase" for a rich variety of properties displaying typical Wealden features, weatherboarding, stucco and timber framing, with the origins of many of the buildings lying deep in 15th century England.

The town is sheer bliss, its main streets are lined with enchanting individual shops where the owner greets you in a friendly welcoming fashion. The diverse range of shops covers from delicatessens to antiques, with boutiques specialising in art and jewellery, even an old fashioned iron-mongers. Thus the shopper is guaranteed to always find something that little bit special.

Historically, the history of the town lies lost with the Roman Empire and beyond. The town received its market charter from Edward I, and two weekly markets and twice yearly fairs continued well into the 19th century. In the 14th century Cranbrook flourished as a centre for cloth, but this had begun to decline at the turn of the 17th century and the 19th century saw the demise of cloth and the population fell as people transferred to other regions in search work. Fortunately other industries set up, rope making became popular and a carrier business operated from within the town. These industries are celebrated today by street names such as Rope Walk, Carrier's Road and the Tanyard.

By Victorian times Cranbrook had once again become a busy market town, but the arrival of the railways made it easier to obtain cheaper goods and again the town fell into decline. Agriculture steadily continued with a ready market for hops and fruit. This period also saw the inception of Cranbrook Boarding School which headmaster Charles Crowden developed out of the old Tudor Grammar School. Another plus for the picturesque village was that it attracted a number of artists.

Today, with its impressive buildings, inns from a by-gone era, cafe's and restaurants Cranbrook has become a popular inland resort town, it is an ideal place for that perfect weekend spent in an ambience of rural charm that despite the onslaught of World Wars One and Two, shows little sign of change. It lies in close proximity to several other pretty Wealden villages such as picturesque Benenden, Wadhurst with its interesting Church and glorious Tenterden with its wealth of weather boarded properties and gentile atmosphere.

Cranbrook is easily accessible for a number of tourist attractions, these include the famous Union Mill built in 1814 which stands as a landmark overlooking the town, and the close by historic gardens of Sissinghurst, administered by the National Trust. For anyone seeking breath of sea air the old harbour of Hastings lies around 30 miles to the south, this can be easily reached in around forty minutes via a couple of excellent roads.

Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Cranbrook

Sissinghurst Castle Garden	(1.9 miles, 3.1 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Hole Park Gardens	(4.1 miles, 6.6 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Scotney Castle	(5.2 miles, 8.3 km, direction W)	Pictures
Great Maytham Hall	(5.6 miles, 9.1 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Marle Place Gardens	(6.5 miles, 10.4 km, direction W)	Pictures
Bodiam Castle	(6.5 miles, 10.5 km, direction S)	Pictures
Bayham Abbey	(7.9 miles, 12.7 km, direction W)	Pictures
Darwell Reservoir	(9.8 miles, 15.8 km, direction S)	Pictures
Bateman's	(10.2 miles, 16.4 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Leeds Castle	(11.2 miles, 18.1 km, direction N)	Pictures
Archbishops Palace	(12.0 miles, 19.4 km, direction N)	Pictures
Lamb House	(12.4 miles, 19.9 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Buckleys Yesterday's World	(13.0 miles, 20.9 km, direction S)	Pictures
Battle Abbey	(13.3 miles, 21.4 km, direction S)	Pictures
Rye Castle Museum	(13.5 miles, 21.6 km, direction SE)	Pictures

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Recommended towns near Cranbrook

Rolvenden, in the county of Kent (5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction SE)
Surrounded by a well-wooded landscape, this delightful village was first mentioned in the Doomsday Book, so we are assured of its long history.
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Ticehurst, in the county of East Sussex (6.4 miles, 10.2 km, direction SW)
For a village worthy of a picture postcard, Ticehurst would be hard to beat. It is all enchanting white weatherboarded cottages hidden beneath russet tiles interspersed around a pleasant square with a church.
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Tenterden, in the county of Kent (7.0 miles, 11.2 km, direction E)
The town is located on slightly rising ground looking out over the vast agricultural landscape of the Rother Levels, which sweep down to the Romney Marshes and finally, the sea.
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Brenchley, in the county of Kent (7.0 miles, 11.3 km, direction NW)
Brenchley is a beautiful "showpiece" village full of picturesque Tudor cottages, complimented by houses from the Regency and Victorian periods.
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Smallhythe, in the county of Kent (8.1 miles, 13.0 km, direction SE)
Between the 14th and the 16th-centuries this lovely Wealdon hamlet was a flourishing port and famous ship building centre where one of Henry VIII war-ships was built.
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Burwash, in the county of East Sussex (9.3 miles, 15.0 km, direction SW)
It is from his home in this very English village that Rudyard Kipling penned the wise and wonderful words of his poem 'If'.
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Leeds, in the county of Kent (10.9 miles, 17.5 km, direction N)
For a romantic day out and a trip into England's rich historic past you can do no better than visit the pastoral village of Leeds.
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Pluckley, in the county of Kent (11.1 miles, 17.8 km, direction NE)
The village, which is scrambled on a ridge above the scenic River Beult, is said to be the most haunted village in England.
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Brede, in the county of East Sussex (11.6 miles, 18.7 km, direction S)
The delightful village stands on the southern slopes of the Brede River. It is but a short distance from the town of Battle, famous for the Battle of Hastings.
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Appledore, in the county of Kent (12.1 miles, 19.5 km, direction E)
This picturesque village with its wealth of attractive architectural properties sits quietly on the edge of Romney Marsh.
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Tunbridge Wells, in the county of Kent (12.3 miles, 19.8 km, direction W)
Also known as Royal Tunbridge Wells and only a short distance from London, this popular spa town gained a reputation as the place to see and be seen during Georgian Times frequented by royalty and fashionable members of aristocracy. It also happens to be surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside in England.
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Playden, in the county of East Sussex (12.6 miles, 20.3 km, direction SE)
Playden is situated just north of Rye. It is most noted for its beautiful Norman Church dedicated to St. Michael which dates from around 1190.
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Battle, in the county of East Sussex (12.8 miles, 20.6 km, direction S)
Battle is a unique town in the county of Sussex built on the very site where William the Conqueror defeated king Harold of England and his Saxon army in 'The Battle of Hastings' in 1066.
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Mayfield, in the county of East Sussex (13.0 miles, 20.9 km, direction SW)
This is a tranquil, historic village lying close to the beautiful River Rother. The village stands on a ridge in a lovely rural location with panoramic views over the valley.
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Tonbridge, in the county of Kent (13.2 miles, 21.2 km, direction NW)
Fine streets show a rich variety of architecture including typical Wealden tile-hung properties, and handsome Georgian and Victorian buildings dominating the river scene.
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Nearby travel help

Staplehurst Station	(5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction N)
Marden Station	(5.8 miles, 9.3 km, direction N)
M20 Junction 8	(12.1 miles, 19.4 km, direction N)
M20 Junction 7	(13.5 miles, 21.7 km, direction N)
Lydd Airport	(20.4 miles, 32.9 km, direction SE)
London Gatwick Airport	(31.3 miles, 50.3 km, direction W)
Cranbrook to London	(40.4 miles, 65.0 km, direction NW)

Hotels & Accommodation in Cranbrook

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Cranbrook center
The George Hotel	(0.1 miles, 0.1 km)
Dale Hill Hotel	(5.9 miles, 9.5 km, direction SW)
Best Western London Beach Country Hotel & Golf Club	(6.7 miles, 10.8 km, direction E)
Headcorn Lodge Hotel	(6.8 miles, 10.9 km, direction NE)
Little Silver Country Hotel	(6.8 miles, 11.0 km, direction E)
Ringlestone House	(9.8 miles, 15.8 km, direction N)
Leeford Place Hotel	(11.0 miles, 17.7 km, direction S)
Chilston Park Country House Hotel	(11.2 miles, 18.0 km, direction NE)
The Brickwall Hotel	(11.4 miles, 18.3 km, direction S)
Stone Court	(12.1 miles, 19.5 km, direction N)
All hotels in Cranbrook