Hadlow, Kent

Hadlow is a historic village and civil parish nestled in the Medway valley of Kent, between Tonbridge and Maidstone. Its roots stretch back to the Stone Age, with early settlements recorded in the Domesday Book. The village’s name evolved from Haeselholte in Saxon times to Hadlow today.

A notable landmark is Hadlow Castle, built around 1786 by Walter May, featuring a 153-foot folly added in 1835. The folly, damaged in the Great Storm of 1987, is Grade I listed and was once on the World Monuments Watch List. The village’s main street is brick-paved, lined with historic houses and Tudor inns, reflecting its rich heritage.

Hadlow’s brewing history spans from the early 18th century until the late 1940s, with Kenward & Court brewery once supplying 68 pubs. The maltings buildings have since been converted into flats and are Grade II listed. Another former brewery at Style Place is also Grade II listed and now residential.

St. Mary’s Church, dating back to at least 975, boasts a 13th-century tower and a clock from 1791. The churchyard holds a memorial to 19th-century hop-pickers who drowned locally. Other places of worship include a Baptist Chapel from 1830 and a Catholic chapel dedicated to St. Peter.