Retirement Properties Spotlight in West Malling

West Malling: West Malling is an historic small town on high ground close to the foot of the North Downs. It is about four and a half miles west of the county town of Maidstone and close to the attractive villages of Hadlow, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Offham and Addington. The countryside is some of the most attractive in Kent and includes the extensive Mereworth Woods to the west. Farming predominates with apple orchards, hop fields, soft fruit and arable land.

The town has several claims to fame, most recently for its fighter station which played an important role in the Battle of Britain. Prehistoric coins and Roman urns have been found at St Leonards Street and Roman pottery at Rathshan. The first recorded mention of West Malling was in a charter of 945 AD when King Edmund gave land here to the See of Rochester. Later Henry III granted West Malling Abbey a market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, while King John granted three annual fairs.

Early industries included tanning, brewing, quarrying, lime-burning, milling, glass-blowing, clock-making and the manufacture of straw hats. The town has a notable cricket tradition, the first recorded match being in 1705. The original West Malling Abbey was destroyed by fire in 1190 as was the village. It was re-established for Benededtine nuns by the Bishop of Rochester, being one of the first nunneries in England after the Normans came.