A proper Kent village three miles south of Maidstone, perched on a ragstone ridge with views across the Weald. Here since 1086 and still going strong.
Boughton Monchelsea sits on the greensand ridge south of Maidstone, looking out across the Low Weald towards the South Downs. The village has been here since at least 1086, when it appeared in the Domesday Book as a small farming settlement. Nine centuries later, it's still recognisably a village rather than a suburb, which is no small thing three miles from a county town.
The "Monchelsea" part comes from the de Montchesney family, Norman lords who held the manor after the Conquest. The ragstone that gives the ridge its name runs through much of the local architecture, from the church walls to the older cottages along Heath Road.
Around 3,000 people live here. The village has a primary school, a church (St Peter's, parts of which date to the 12th century), a village hall that stays busy most weeks, a recreation ground, and a handful of local businesses. The Cock Inn on Heath Road is the village pub.
Boughton Monchelsea Place, the Elizabethan manor house near the church, is a local landmark. Its deer park is visible from several footpaths around the village, and the grounds are occasionally open for events.
The parish council meets monthly and handles the kinds of things parish councils handle: planning applications, footpath maintenance, the recreation ground, and making sure the village doesn't get quietly absorbed into Maidstone's urban sprawl.
One of the things that sets Boughton Monchelsea apart is the BMAT (Boughton Monchelsea Amenity Trust) land. Around 300 acres of woodland, meadow, and farmland held in trust for the village. It's open to everyone and crisscrossed with walking paths. Most residents use it regularly, whether for dog walks, running, or just getting out of the house for half an hour. You can read more in our guide to the BMAT land.
Maidstone is a ten-minute drive north. The M20 is about fifteen minutes away, connecting you to the Channel Tunnel, Ashford, and London-bound routes. Maidstone East and Maidstone Barracks stations run services into London Victoria and St Pancras. The bus service through the village runs to Maidstone town centre, though the timetable thins out in the evenings.
Most people drive. There's no getting around that in a rural village. But the location is good if you need to be in Maidstone for work or want access to London without living in a town.
This website is a community project, not run by the council or any official body. The aim is simple: one place where you can find out what's happening in the village, look up a local tradesperson, check upcoming events, or get the basics if you're thinking of moving here.
The local directory and events calendar are community-submitted. If you run a local business or know about an upcoming event, you can submit a listing and it'll appear once it's been checked. The articles and guides are written by locals, and we try to keep them accurate and up to date.
If something's wrong, missing, or you'd like to contribute, get in touch via the listings form.