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River Stour at Flatford

Flatford

in the county of Suffolk

Pictures of Chiddingstone

a Picturesque Village in the county of Kent

About Chiddingstone

Fascinating village, owned by the National Trust which is crammed with beautiful properties from the 16th and 17th-century probably built with iron-industry money.

The village takes its name from the Chiding Stone, a large sandstone rock which is located beside a footpath in the park of Chiddingstone Castle. Legend has it that centuries ago nagging wives were brought to the stone to be chided by the village population.

Close to St.Mary's church which was built mainly in the 17th-century, you can see a fabulous group of houses which are characteristic of Kentish architectural style, with half-timbering, colour-washed plaster-work, tile hangings, wide eaves, gables, steep pitched roof and tall chimneys. Sadly, the houses we see today are all that is left of a larger village which was demolished to make way for the romantic parkland surrounding Chiddingstone Castle. For centuries the castle and the village was owned by the Streatfield family until the death of Denys Bower in 1977. The castle and park are open to the public, and although you can take pleasure in admiring much of the village, none of the houses are open to public view.

The village is set in outstanding Kent countryside within easy reach of Hever Castle and Penshurst Place. Hever Castle was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII and Penshurst Place is a handsome 14th-century manor house which has been the home of the Sidney family since 1552. Both properties are open to the public and make a worthy addition to a day visiting Chiddingstone.

Interesting & Historical Facts about Chiddingstone

Legend has it that during the Medieval times, nagging wives were taken to the chiding Stone in Kent, where they were 'Chided' as punishment by local villagers. This is possibly how the village of Chiddingstone got its name.

Chiddingstone facts | Kent facts

Recommended towns & villages near Chiddingstone

A picture of Groombridge

Groombridge (9 Pictures) in the county of East Sussex

(5.6 miles, 9.1 km, direction S of Chiddingstone)

In an area of attractive, outstanding villages, Groombridge with its 18th-century tiled cottages against the back-drop of a beautiful village green, stands out as being the very epitome of the perfect English village...

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Tonbridge (32 Pictures) a Historic Market Town in the county of Kent

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Tunbridge Wells (67 Pictures) in the county of Kent

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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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Oxted (14 Pictures) in the county of Surrey

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Marle Place Gardens, Brenchley, Kent - TN12 7HS

Brenchley (10 Pictures) in the county of Kent

(11.6 miles, 18.6 km, direction E of Chiddingstone)

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All towns & villages in Kent
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Nearby attractions..

Chiddingstone Castle in Kent. taken in 1987

Chiddingstone Castle (28 Pictures)

(0.4 miles, 0.7 km)

..

Hever Castle - UK_flag

Hever Castle (317 Pictures)

(1.2 miles, 1.9 km, direction W)

The very mention of Hever Castle conjures up memories of Anne Boleyn, the bewitching young girl for whom Henry VIII divorced.....

Penshurst Place, Kent

Penshurst Place and Gardens (93 Pictures)

(2.2 miles, 3.5 km, direction SE)

A beautiful Medieval Manor House set in 11 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, which date back to 1346. The manor House has.....

Chartwell- The home of Sir Winston Churchill. Kent

Chartwell (53 Pictures)

(4.4 miles, 7.1 km, direction NW)

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Emmetts Garden (86 Pictures)

(4.7 miles, 7.5 km, direction N)

This must be the most perfectly positioned of all the gardens in the care of the National Trust. It occupies a majestic hill-top.....

Tonbridge Castle

Tonbridge Castle (16 Pictures)

(5.7 miles, 9.2 km, direction E)

A fire in 1088 destroyed the first castle at Tonbridge, and the evocative remains we see today are of a later castle which was.....

Knole House

Knole House & Deer Park (64 Pictures)

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This is one of England's most glorious houses. Set as it is in the midst of a magnificent park studded with ancient trees, the.....


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