Crockham Hill, Kent

Crockham Hill is a small village in Kent, located about three miles south of Westerham. The village sits on the route of an ancient Roman road, the London to Lewes Way, hinting at its long history. Its name derives from Old English, meaning a ‘quarry village on the hill’, reflecting the area’s chalk-pit origins.

At the heart of the village stands the Royal Oak pub, a building with at least 500 years of history. Originally a cider house and inn, it features a 35-foot well once used by pilgrims travelling to Thomas Becket’s tomb in Canterbury. During the 1950s, this well was noted as a potential safe water source in the event of atomic warfare.

Holy Trinity Church, built in 1842 in the Gothic Revival style, is a Grade II listed stone building with a distinctive hammerbeam roof. Nearby, the village school was established in 1867 and expanded in the early 20th century, reflecting the community’s growth.

Crockham Hill has been home to several notable figures, including Octavia Hill, co-founder of the National Trust, whose remains lie in the churchyard. The village also attracted literary and artistic residents such as Constance Garnett, famed for translating Russian literature, and her husband Edward Garnett. The house known as “The Cearne” was a creative hub, hosting visitors like D. H. Lawrence, who penned a poem inspired by his stay. Composer Pamela Harrison and conductor Harvey Phillips also lived here, with a musical piece named after their home.