High Halden, Kent

High Halden is a village and civil parish located in the Ashford District of Kent, England, situated on the A28 road between Ashford and Tenterden. The parish includes the Tenterden suburb of St. Michaels and had a population of 1,584 according to the 2011 census.

The village is notable for St Mary the Virgin Church, a Grade I listed building dating back to before 1286. Its timbered tower, likely constructed in the late 13th century, features an octagonal ground floor and an 80-foot octagonal spire clad in shingles. The structure is supported by massive oak pillars and beams, with the south porch boasting a natural arch made from two halves of a colossal oak trunk. Inside, visitors can find a 13th-century font.

High Halden’s history is also reflected in The Chequers on the Green, a large pub dating from around 1620. This establishment was once frequented by smugglers and gangs such as the Hawkhurst and Cranbrook gangs during the mid-18th century. The parish itself is recorded in the Domesday Book, and remnants of a Norman manor house remain visible at Tiffenden Farm.

Nearby, the former RAF High Halden served as a Royal Air Force Advanced Landing Ground during its operational period, adding a layer of 20th-century history to the area.