by Janis / 0 comments - Orginally published:29th June 2021
Exploring the streets and lanes of a historic Kent market town
The moment you arrive at the picturesque town of West Malling, you’ll be charmed by its appealing historic High Street. West Malling’s intriguing prosperous past mingles effortlessly with the cafés, restaurants, independent boutiques, and welcoming old inns that you’ll discover today.
Like so many fascinating towns and villages in Kent, the centuries of country life and its surrounding landscape play a significant role in the community, especially in West Malling. You’ll find a delightful Farmers' Market selling local produce here on the 4th Sunday of the month to tempt your tastebuds.
Don’t let me fool you into believing that West Malling is just about the High Street. We discovered beautiful historic homes during our few hours exploring West Malling, an unusual waterfall, quaint little courtyards, and an ancient Norman tower built in the early 12th-century.
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We arrived at West Malling by car, so our visit starts from the centrally located car park in town. Note that the car park is Pay and Display; however, to make life easier, download the RingGo app so that you don’t have to worry about loose change.
West Malling is accessible by train direct from London; we’ve popped in a link below regarding the Southeastern train options.
So, let’s head off on a little self-guided tour of West Malling to see what we found and discover the RAF connections at nearby Kings Hill.
How to get to West Malling
By Train - You can catch a direct train from London Victoria to West Malling Station, which takes around 50 minutes. It's then a 10 minute walk to the centre of town.
By Car – West Malling can be easily accessed from the M20 (jct. 4).
Swan Street, West Malling
Striking architecture and a tumbling ‘Cascade’We head in the direction of Swan Street, full of beautiful homes, tempting pubs and a Benedictine abbey.
We first pass by the Mill Yard, a delightful courtyard now home to independent shops, a gallery and a tearoom. Dating from the 16th-century, this historic yard would have certainly been welcoming a different style of clientele back in the day.
Mill Yard
Historic buildings
Swan Street is full of so much character; every charming building feels like it has a tale to tell. Strolling down Swan Street, you’ll spot The Swan, a stylish bar and restaurant; during the 18th-century, this old pub was a coaching inn.
The Swan
Hiking the Kent Countryside
West Malling is located Just south of the North Downs (AONB), an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. To explore the hiking trails in this region of Kent, the Ordnance Survey map that will help you along the route is no. 148, ‘Maidstone and the Medway Towns’.
St Mary’s Abbey, West Malling
Home to a community of Benedictine nunsOn the right-hand side of Swan Street is the ancient 11th-century St Mary’s Abbey. Malling Abbey was home to a community of Benedictine nuns founded by Gundulf, the Bishop of Rochester, in around 1090.
The Entrance to St Mary’s Abbey
The Benedictine nuns continued to live at the abbey until the Dissolutions of the Monasteries in 1538. It wasn’t until 1916 that the Anglican Benedictine nuns moved back to Malling Abbey and have resided there since. Unfortunately, the abbey isn’t open to the public for day visits; it would have been wonderful to see the historic buildings inside.
Swan Street’s charismatic architecture
A stroll through historyAs we continue down Swan Street, there is one gorgeous home after another and so lovingly kept and many from the Georgian period.
Also, along Swan Street, Abbey Brewery once stood, a bustling factory supplying ale to West Malling and its many taverns. Today the character of the brewery sympathetically remains in places along with Abbey Brewery House and cottages.
Abbey Brewery House, Swan Street
Nearing the bottom of Swan Street is Went House, a stunning Queen Anne styled home on the corner of Frog Lane. Went House was built circa 1710 and is now a Grade II Listed Building. The elegant style, symmetrical lines of the brickwork and eye-catching window shutters really are striking.
Where to stay in West Malling
The Farm House – This charming 4-star B&B is located in the centre of West Malling and has an on-site restaurant and bar. The rooms are well-equipped and charming décor throughout.
Went House on Swan Street
Malling Abbey Cascade
A surprising Georgian waterfallOne of West Malling’s unusual landmarks is The Cascades, a bizarre water feature in town that really still remains a bit of a mystery to historians.
The weathered plaque on the Georgian waterfall refers to a date of 1810; however, research has identified it to be older than early the 19th-century, and the plaque was added later.
The Malling Abbey Cascades
Another discovery was a watercolour painted by the famous artist J.M.W. Turner, dating from 1791-2, is of St Mary’s Abbey and Cascade. Curiously though, the sketch by Turner was only officially identified by Tate Britain Gallery in 2005, after a resident of West Malling recognised the scene when visiting the gallery.
The mystery continues.
Escape for a few days
Are you looking for that ‘perfick’ holiday hideaway to relax in while you discover the Garden of England?
After a day exploring the Kent coast and its many historic castles enjoy one of the handpicked properties and unique retreats at Holiday Cottages.
Discovering West Malling High Street
Full of character and charmWe head back up to West Malling’s Georgian High Street and continue to explore more of this charismatic Kent Market Town.
There’s such a delightful fusion of architecture in West Malling. From the eye-catching timber-framed buildings, the double-fronted Georgian homes with box sash windows to the picturesque country cottages with manicured gardens.
Charming homes along West Malling High Street
Towards the northern end of the High Street are the 600-year-old Ford House and a 17th-century schoolhouse.
West Malling High Street is a hive of activity all year round. Individual local stores and boutiques, interior design shops and antique jewellers, all interwoven within a vast array of welcoming inns and restaurants serving cuisine from the four corners of the world.
If you're intrigued by Kent's weird and wonderful history, or all unusual stories around the county, then take a peek at "Kent's Strangest Tales".
You won't be able to put it down, you can pick it up for your Kindle or in good old paperback.
West Malling High Street
Strolling from one end of the town to the other, you’ll discover so many little interesting snippets of history. Seek out the beautiful sculpture on West Malling Village Green named ‘Hope’. This delightful bronze sculpture is of a lady wearing a cloak which depicts the story of West Malling’s rich history.
‘Hope’ sculpture
More of the ‘Hope’ sculpture
At the southern end of the High Street, leading onto St Leonard’s Street, is the Norman Church of St Mary the Virgin. This ancient church was built almost 1,000 years ago by Bishop Gundulf, who also erected St Mary’s Abbey.
Church of St Mary the Virgin in West Malling
Kent Downs Road Trip
We’ve created a charming road trip in and around the Kent Downs (AONB), which incorporates quaint Kent villages, historic market towns and beautiful rolling countryside.
A charming road trip in and around the Kent Downs (AONB), UK
by Janis on 15 Sep 20
Exploring more of West Malling
The charming King StreetThe street in West Malling that we especially enjoyed was King Street. This picturesque lane was lined with striking timber-framed homes and quaint little cottages all along the cobbled pathway.
Timber-framed homes in West Malling
One attractive building that will undoubtedly catch your eye is the half-timbered Prior’s House. This stunning dwelling with tiny lead windows was once a residence for those who suffered from leprosy.
The Priors, King Street
Although King Street isn’t a long road, there are so many interesting homes with so much character. We stroll further along and stumble upon King Street Motors, a specialist garage for your classic Morris Minor.
King Street Motors, specialist for Morris Minors
Medway Valley Road Trip
We’ve created A Scenic Medway Valley, Kent Road Trip, which incorporates Aylesford Priory, some of Kent’s nautical history and charming rural villages. So why not take a peek?
A Scenic Medway Valley, Kent Road Trip
by Janis on 13 Apr 21
Historic St Leonard’s Tower
And a Cricket Ground with a storyNext, we turn right down West Street, onto Norman Road and wander down to West Malling Cricket Ground; we’ve heard that this historical ground has a tale to tell.
The corner of King St & West St
West Malling Old County Cricket Ground is understood to be where the first-ever recorded cricket match was held in Kent in 1705. It is believed that it may have inspired Charles Dickens while writing Pickwick Papers, with its famous match between All Muggleton and Dingley Dell. But who knows for sure!
West Malling cricket ground
We’re now off to visit the ancient English Heritage site of St. Leonard’s Tower. Little appears to be known about the history of the Norman Keep, which was built around the early 12th-century.
The tower which stands alone may have formed part of a defensive castle and is believed to have been built by Bishop Gundulf, the Bishop of Rochester.
Bishop Gundulf, a monk from Bec Abbey in Normandy, arrived in England in 1070 and built Rochester Cathedral, the White Tower of the Tower of London, St Mary’s Abbey in West Malling and Colchester Castle.
St. Leonard’s Tower
Our video of West Malling
We have created a little YouTube video of West Malling. Why not take a look?
Also, why not subscribe to our YouTube channel and get the latest clips as we post them?
The Blue Plaques in West Malling
Discover the trail of The Beatles, JMW Turner, George Orwell and many moreWest Malling has created its own Blue Plaque Trail; you can follow the route of its 18 notable citizens. Discover the achievements of the individuals and their connections with West Malling.
Here are a few Blue Plaques we stumbled upon and their historical stories.
Bishop Gundulf, a monk from Normandy, was the architect of West Malling Abbey, the White Tower of the Tower of London, to name just a few.
Aretas Akers-Douglas spent his early childhood in St Mary’s Abbey, had a notable political career and was Home Secretary from 1905-1908.
Blue plaque to Gundulf and Aretas-Akers Douglas
J.M.W. Turner, the renowned English painter famous for his landscapes, painted The Cascades and St Mary’s Abbey in 1792.
John Downman, a portrait artist during the 18th-century, painted many notable people, including Queen Charlotte and Horatio Nelson and lived at Went House.
Another prominent resident at Went House was William Locker, who had a prestigious career in the Navy, and Horatio Nelson served as one of his lieutenants.
Blue plaque to JMW Turner
Blue plaque to John Downman & William Locker
The Beatles came to West Malling, yes, you heard it correctly. The album the Magical Mystery Tour was also released as a film. It was primarily filmed at the then West Malling airfield. Near the beginning of the movie, Ringo Starr is seen entering a newsagent where he buys tickets for the Magical Mystery Tour. The newsagents at 90 High Street, West Malling is now a takeaway.
Blue plaque to The Beatles
Why not?
Extend your trip and head to the historic town of Rochester in Kent, where you can visit its striking Norman castle and the beautiful Rochester Cathedral.
10 reasons to unearth Rochester, Kent, UK
by Janis on 13 Sep 17
RAF West Malling today Kings Hill
Tributes to WWII fighter pilotsJust a short hop from West Malling is Kings Hill, a bustling community built on the airfields of RAF West Malling. During World War II, this little region of Kent was a hive of activity with brave young fighter pilots heading off from West Malling on aerial battles.
Douces Manor on the hillside
The headquarters and mess for the officers at RAF West Malling were based at Douces Manor nearby St Leonard’s Tower. Amongst its many ace pilots based here were Wing Commander John ‘Cat’s Eyes’ Cunningham, with his navigator Jimmy Rawnsley. They became the most successful defensive night fighter team, flying Mosquito aircraft. Wing Commander Peter Townsend and Squadron Leader Guy Gibson of Dam Busters fame.
If you're interested in the story of RAF West Malling then why not pickup a copy of the story of the airfield?
A great read; you can pick it up for your Kindle or more traditional hardback.
The Control Tower at RAF West Malling
When you visit Kings Hill today, you’ll spot the original Art Deco control tower, which has now been lovingly refurbished into a community centre. In front of the old control tower are touching quotes and acknowledgements to the brave folk at RAF West Malling.
The 'running Airman' Memorial
Stone tablet honouring RAF West Malling
Just a short stroll from here, you’ll discover other tributes to the fighter pilots of RAF West Malling. An Airman memorial sculpture and stone tablets are honouring their dedication to protecting the home counties.
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