Warehorne, Kent

Warehorne is a scattered village in Kent, centred around the B2067 road between Hamstreet and Tenterden, approximately seven miles south-southwest of Ashford. The Royal Military Canal runs through the southern part of the parish, adding a historic waterway to the landscape.

The village’s history dates back to at least 820 AD, when it was recorded as Werehornas in an Anglo-Saxon charter. It also appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which notes the existence of a church. The current St Matthew’s Church, a Grade I listed building, shows no visible Saxon or Norman features but remains a focal point of the village.

Warehorne is divided into four main areas. The central village green hosts St Matthew’s Church and The Woolpack Inn, connected by a tunnel said to have been built by smugglers. The Leacon, located at a crossroads on the B2067, includes the former schoolhouse and an abandoned cricket field. The northern half is largely forested and contains the site of the former World’s Wonder pub, bordering the village of Kenardington.

The Saxon Shore Way footpath links Warehorne with nearby Hamstreet, where visitors can find shops and a railway station. The village also has literary connections, having been home for a time to Reverend Richard Harris Barham, author of The Ingoldsby Legends.