Chilham
Home to Chilham Castle
Many Grade II Listed & Historic Buildings
Chilham sits on a commanding promontory overlooking the Great Stour river valley below. It is 6 miles south of Canterbury along the A28 or by train from Chilham Station, and 9 miles north of Ashford on the same routes. For walkers the North Downs Way arrives at Chilham from the south following the high ground above Godmersham Park skirting Chilham Park and its Castle northwards across the valley floor before climbing up to Old Wives Lees opposite and on to Canterbury. This is an area of steep valleys and spectacular views across hillsides that are now home to the thriving vineyards of Kent including partnerhips with French growers who are following the changing climate conditions north into Kent.
Why Live in Chilham?
Chilham castle has a ancient and still habitable Norman keep from the 1100s and the present manor house around it completed in 1616 for Sir Dudley Digges who became MP for Kent and built it on land from his father in law Thomas Kempe of Olantigh nearby in Wye. The gardens were laid out down to the river below by Capability Brown. The village market place in front of the gates to the castle retain the shop fronts and cafes now used by tourists and residents. There are jousting and cross country horse riding events in Chilham Park.
The cluster of buildings on the steep streets off the market square include historic houses and a thriving school. The village extends extends down the hill, and has shops and other businesses around the A28/ A251 junction and nearby Chilham railway station. Chilham parish includes the rural hamlet of Shottenden to the west and Old Wives Lees across the valley to the north.