Kingsnorth, Kent

Kingsnorth is a village and civil parish located in the Borough of Ashford, Kent, adjoining the town of Ashford. The village is known for its historic parish church, St Michael and All Angels, which features a nave dating back to the fourteenth century and a stained glass window depicting Saint George and the Dragon, believed to be from around 1400.

The Greensand Way, a long-distance footpath running from Surrey to Kent, passes through Kingsnorth, offering scenic walking routes. Nearby is the hamlet of Stubbs Cross. The parish includes housing estates such as Park Farm, which hosts a large supermarket, contributing to the village’s sizeable population.

Kingsnorth has a rich history, with a Roman settlement discovered at Westhawk Farm where two Roman roads crossed. Excavations revealed timber buildings, ironworking evidence, a shrine with 2nd-century coins, a Roman cemetery, and an Iron Age burial. The village name may derive from Old English or Jutish origins, and a moated medieval manor house once stood near the church, its moat still visible today.

During World War II, RAF Kingsnorth airfield was used by the RAF and USAAF, and a well-preserved Type 24 pillbox near Westhawk Farm remains as a historic reminder.