Ten good reasons to visit Ashford

1. The History
Originally a market town, Ashford’s reputation as a local communications hub continues right to this day.

Lying on the fringe of the ancient Andredsweald forest, it is thought that the town of Ashford was established in 893AD by inhabitants attempting to escape a Danish Viking raid on nearby Great Chart. Listed in the 1086 Domesday Book as having a church, two mills and a value of 150 shillings, the manor was owned by Hugh de Montford.

The origin of the town’s name has been disputed over the years, with various writers suggesting it to be either ‘ash trees growing near a ford’, or ‘a ford over the River Eshe’.

Either way, by the 16th century Ashford’s proximity to London had seen it grow into a prominent market town, primarily based around livestock.

The market would have been held in the High Street until 1865 when it was relocated to Elwick Road, forming a company that claims to be the oldest surviving registered company in England and Wales.

In 1994, the Ashford International Station opened with the Channel Tunnel, serving Eurostar trains to London, Lille and Paris. In 2007, direct services to Brussels were withdrawn and trains to Paris were reduced to three a day as the Ebsfleet International Station opened.

With the 2009 introduction of domestic train services on a new line to St Pancras, it is expected that journey time to London from Ashford will be reduced from 83 to less than 40 minutes, sealing Ashford’s reputation as a vital communication centre between England and Europe.

2. Godinton house and gardens
One of the most important houses in Kent, Godinton House, was the seat of the Toke family for around 455 years and is now open to the public to marvel at its architectural puzzle.

Brick built with a Jacobean architectural style, the house incorporates Dutch-influenced compass gables and also houses an eclectic mix of rooms, each added by different generations of the same family.

With great halls, grand staircases and more themed rooms than you can shake a stick at, you’ll almost run out of time before you’ve had a chance to see the gardens. Which would be a shame, because outside there’s 12 acres of tranquil green space to be explored.

Terraced lawns are surrounded by one of the world’s longest Yew hedges, and curves herbaceous borders and gravel paths lead you to ornamental tree and shrub planting and sweeping parkland studded with stately oaks and chestnuts. And there are no Keep Off The Grass signs. Bliss.

Tel: 01233 620773

3. Willesborough windmill
This white smock mill was built in 1869, and features patent-type shutters in the sweeps, instead of canvas and sails. Producing enough power to turn four sets of mill stones, as well as the crushing and cutting machines, the mill replaced a smaller smock mill on the same site.

In 1872, a steam engine was added to allow the mill to continue when the wind dropped, but by 1911 it was removed and replaced with a gas-oil engine which, in turn, was replaced by an electric motor in 1938.

Under pressure from local roller flour mills, the Willesborough windmill was stopped shortly after and turned to producing animal feed, grinding peas and beans and crushing oats and maize.

After several periods of decline and restoration, the mill was eventually bought by Ashford Borough Council and is today looked after by the Willesborough Windmill Trust, which has taken on responsibility for further restoration. It now has a new cap and sweeps and is working, producing bread flour ground from local grain.

Tel: 01233 661866

4. The Stour Centre
Opened a year ago, the centre benefited from a £15m makeover by Ashford Borough Council, and now amply serves the sport and leisure needs of Ashford’s residents and visitors to the town.

With three pools, a 100-station health club and a luxury spa, the centre boasts a low-carbon footprint and offers eco-friendly features such as exercise machines which generate their own power, energy recycling features and an iconic design to maximise natural light.

Tel: 01233 625801

5. Famous residents
Ashford has a healthy back catalogue of famous people from its past. From the musical side, singer Kate Bush attended Ashford School, and Mungo Jerry founder Ray Dorset, organist Sir Sydney Nicholson and composer Sir Malcolm Sargent are also from the area.

Actors Patsy Byrne and Mark Rylance were born in the area, and John Wells and presenter Bob Holness can also claim links. Scientifically, internationally recognised mathematician Dr John Wallis (credited by Sir Isaac Newton as being the founder of his theory of gravity) was born in the town, and today comedian Paul O’Grady and TV presenters Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer all live locally.

6. Shopping
If retail is your thing, there’s certainly plenty to keep you occupied in Ashford. The newly revamped County Square shopping centre in the town has almost doubled in size, and now houses many new stores, including a Debenhams, the town’s only department store.

The well-known Ashford Designer Outlet with its distinctive tented-roof, incorporates more than 80 famous designer brands, including fashion, sports, jewellery and food.

Bybrook Barn, a few minutes’ drive from the town centre, cleverly disguises a labyrinth of unique mini stores as a large garden area and the town centre itself houses a diverse range of independent specialist shops mixing with well-known high street names.

7. Eastwell Manor
This luxury four-star hotel is set in beautiful landscaped gardens and, with its ivy covered turrets, oak-panelled walls and stone fireplaces, is quintessential Kent at its finest.

With 23 individually designed and named rooms, the hotel also houses an excellent fine dining restaurant and Dreams, the manor’s beauty spa for men and women.

If that sort of mudpack isn’t your style, then just up the road is Land Rover’s off road centre making Eastwell Manor a tremendous venue for a weekend away.

Tel: 01233 213000.

8. Green spaces
Luckily, given the huge shopping potential of Ashford, there are plenty of places to relax in calm greenery when you’ve had enough of spending.

The Memorial Gardens are a great place to sit and reflect, and nearby Victoria Park is worth visiting to see the Hubert Fountain, which was made in France for the Second Great International Exhibition in London in 1862. Bought in 1910 by George Harper to go in his Wye garden. Presented to the town in 1912, one of the conditions was that it should be turned on each year on his birthday.

The Queen Mother’s Park is another pretty area, set aside for informal relaxation with a pleasant riverside walk. Native wildlife and a natural habitat make this an important part of the Green Corridor, and with its mix of meadow grass and shrubbery, it’s yours to enjoy.

9. Port Lympne Wild Animal Park
Set up by the late John Aspinall, Port Lympne (and sister park Howletts) aims to protect and breed rare and endangered species, returning them to safe areas in their native homeland.

Home to the largest breeding herd of Black Rhinos outside Africa, the park also houses Siberian and Indian Tigers, African Elephants, small cars, monkeys, Barbary lions and hundreds of other rare and endangered species.

The Palace of the Apes is also the world’s largest gorillarium, home to a family group of Gorillas and if these aren’t your cup of tea, take the African Experience – a full-day safari in the heart of Kent. A cracking family day out.

Tel: 01303 264647

10. Ashford Borough Museum
Next to Ashford’s historic churchyard is the town’s museum, originally built to house the local grammar school in 1635. Retaining much of the original schoolroom features, there is a wide range of the town’s memorabilia on show as well as poignant reminders that Ashford was once a frontline town in the Second World War.

Tel: 01233 631511

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