West Malling, Kent

West Malling is a historic market town in Kent, known for its rich architectural heritage. Among its notable landmarks is St Leonard’s Tower, a Norman keep constructed by Bishop Gundulf, who also built the White Tower of the Tower of London. The town is home to St Mary’s Abbey, founded around 1090 for Benedictine nuns, featuring buildings from Norman to Georgian periods. The abbey church, dating from 1966, remains in use by Anglican Benedictine nuns.

The High Street showcases mainly Georgian architecture, with historic buildings such as the Swan Hotel, an 18th-century coaching inn, and Went House, built circa 1720 and admired for its elegant brickwork. Ford House, over 600 years old, and the Prior’s House, once a residence for those with leprosy, add to the town’s historical character. Manor Park Country Park lies just south of the town, near St Leonard’s Tower and Douce’s Manor, whose grounds once formed part of the park.

West Malling has a notable connection to cricket history, reputedly hosting the first recorded cricket match in Kent in 1705. The Old County Ground was once the home of inter-county cricket, and the town is linked to Charles Dickens through a cricket match setting in The Pickwick Papers. The nearby Kings Hill golf course, established in 1995, welcomes visitors.

The town’s former RAF airfield, RAF West Malling, played a significant role during the Second World War and later became the site of the Kings Hill development. West Malling also has a history of nursing care, with the Kent Nursing Institute founded here in 1875, providing private nursing services and training.