What draws people to Chartham?
A beautiful City full of history is on the doorstep, a train station to Charing Cross is moments away and you can change trains at Ashford to join the High Speed to St Pancras for a total journey of just one hour. Head East and one train stop brings you into Canterbury West Station.
Footpaths meander through glorious countryside on the edge of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, walks and popular cycle path take you along the river Stour, jump in a car and you can be walking West Parade in Hythe around thirty minutes later.
Looking toward the playing field and Chartham Village Hall is The Shop on The Green. There is a bus service that connects you to Ashford and Canterbury. A primary School is located at Shalmsford Street where a newsagent and a Premier Stores manage to be both close enough if needed and far enough away if not. Doctors’ surgeries are on hand.
On Rattington Street, within a seven hundred year old timbered building, you will find The Artichoke. Back in the 1650’s one Richard Marsh turned it into a brew house before going on to found Shepherd Neame, our country’s oldest brewer.
By The Green stands the Grade I Listed Church of St Mary, with thirteenth-century origins. It is understood to have some stained glass dating back to 1294! The church also houses one of the oldest brasses in the country, that of Sir Robert de Septvans.
It is thought the gardens of De L’Angle Terrace, facing the green, were once allotments for former millworkers’ cottages. Those of a certain age may remember the name of Wiggins Teape, tracing paper was made here in Chartham for many years.
Chartham is like a venerable elder, it wears the passing of the years openly, charming cottages, historic church, railway line with more modern homes interspersed. It is somewhere most people don’t know exists and, if you are looking for a location within which to make home, it is well worth exploring.
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