Borough Green, Kent

Borough Green in Kent is a village with a rich history dating back to prehistoric times, evidenced by Paleolithic rock shelters at Oldbury Hill. Roman remains, including a cemetery of cinerary urns from around 100 CE, have been discovered near the railway station, hinting at the area’s ancient significance.

The village’s name, first recorded in 1575 as Borrowe Grene, likely refers to a village green used for sports and games, or possibly to nearby Roman barrows. Borough Green’s position at a crossroads encouraged the establishment of several historic inns, such as the Black Bull (now The Black Horse) dating from 1592, and the Bull from 1753. Some former inns like the Red Lion and Fox and Hounds have been converted into housing.

The arrival of the railway in 1874 spurred growth, with the station originally named Wrotham and Borough Green before being renamed to reflect Borough Green’s expansion. The village developed further in the 19th century with new roads, gas supply, and schools. The River Bourne runs through the parish and once powered a paper mill at Basted, a site with milling records back to 1438. The mill, rebuilt several times, produced paper for postage stamps before closing in 1968.

Borough Green is home to the Church of the Good Shepherd, consecrated in 1906, and the Baptist Church established in 1817. St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church opened a new building in 2017. The village also honours Polish Air Force ace Ludwik Paszkiewicz with a memorial near where he was shot down in 1940.

Nearby Basted Mills Public Open Space offers woodland walks and picnic areas on the site of the former paper mill, preserving a link to the village’s industrial heritage.