Pictures of Brenchley

About Brenchley

Brenchley is a beautiful "showpiece" village full of picturesque Tudor cottages, complimented by houses from the Regency and Victorian periods. It's history stretches back to the days of the Norman Conquest, when the surrounding lads were given to William Fitzgilbert, cousin to William the Conqueror. Most periods of history have some association with Brenchley, the most recent being the fact that the wife of Prince Edward, Sophie Rhys-Jones came from here. Another is the magnificent Lych-gate standing behind the church, this commemorates Queen Victoria's glorious 60 year reign.

All Saints Church, standing on the spot of an earlier church, has an gracious avenue of four hundred year old yews leading to its doors. The church, built of local sand-stone, dates from around 1233, it is Early English in design with a square tower which can be viewed from many parts of the High Weald. The church interior is calm and very beautiful, amongst its chief glories is a screen of 1536. It also has impressive windows of the 14th-century, although these may have been part of restoration work in the mid-19th-century. In its churchyard are tombs and gravestones of centuries. The Old Vicarage, is a lovely building from the 14th-century.

Part of The Old Palace, is now a row of pretty cottages. This was where Nell Gwynn's son by Charles II, George, Duke of St.Albans once lived.

This is superb agricultural country where hops have been grown for decades. At one time it was said the surrounding orchards stretched almost to Brenchley's main village street! The hop variety known as "Fuggles" was developed here late in the 19th-century. There are still spectacular long vistas over stunning Wealden countryside. Brenchley Wood is ancient woodland, mostly covered by beech and oak, it is a lovely place to visit, with pleasant walks amongst heathland that is being restored by Kent Wildlife Trust.

In Brenchley you will find a few pleasant shops and a couple of warmly welcoming country pubs. The village is ideally situated for Marle Place, Owl House and many other places of interest.