East Farleigh, Kent

East Farleigh is a historic village in Kent, situated on the south side of the River Medway, about two miles upstream from Maidstone. Its most notable feature is the Grade I listed East Farleigh Bridge, a 14th-century structure regarded as one of Kent’s oldest bridges. This narrow stone bridge played a strategic role during the Civil War, serving as a crossing point for Parliamentary forces in the Battle of Maidstone.

The village’s heritage is closely tied to hop growing, which flourished in the 19th century. At its peak, hops covered a quarter of the parish’s land, though cultivation ceased by the late 20th century, with the last oast house closing in 1977. East Farleigh is recorded in the Domesday Book under the name Ferlaga, derived from Saxon words referring to a river passage, reflecting its longstanding connection to the Medway crossing.

St Mary’s Church, dating from the 12th century, is a listed building and holds historical significance. It is the final resting place of two sons of William Wilberforce, the famed abolitionist, who also stayed at The Old Rectory in the village shortly before his death. The artist Donald Maxwell lived at East Farleigh House in the 1930s and is buried in the churchyard.

The village retains a traditional character with several historic public houses, including The Bull Inn, The Horseshoes, and the Walnut Tree, all situated within the parish. East Farleigh’s railway station lies just across the river in Barming, providing connections to Maidstone and beyond via the Medway Valley Line.