History, tourist information, and nearby accommodation
HERITAGE HIGHLIGHTS: The lovely old parish church of St Mildred's has a 15th century tower 100 feet high.
History of Tenterden
The earliest known settlement at Tenterden was in the Saxon period. Before then the thick forests of the Weald did much to discourage permanent settlement. The name of the settlement was Tenet Waraden, an Old English term which loosely translates as a forest clearing belonging to the men of Thanet.
The connection with Thanet goes back at least the 7th century. At that time there was a nunnery at Minster-in-Thanet, founded by a Kentish princess named Domneva. Domneva's daughter was Mildred, who became abbess in 669 AD. At about that time the manor of Tenterden was granted to Minster. Mildred was cannonized following her death, but her name lives on in Tenterden's parish church, which is dedicated to St Mildred.
Tenterden's rise to prosperity was founded on the back of the medieval wool trade. That prosperity is reflected in the imposing tower of St Mildred's church, a striking 15th century addition to an earlier 13th century building.
A fascinating old story says that the building of the church tower is responsible - albeit in a roundabout way - for the loss of the Earl of Sandwich's estates. It seems that stones earmarked for repair of a seawall near Deal were diverted to Tenterden church by order of the Abbot of St Augustines, Canterbury. As a result, the seawall broke, and the Earl of Sandwich's estates were flooded and are now lost beneath the sea.
When looking at Tenterden today it is hard to imagine that it was once a busy sea port. In the medieval period what is now Romney Marsh was largely under water, and seagoing ships docked at Smallhythe, just to the south of Tenterden. Wood from the Kentish Weald was used to build ships, and Tenterden was incorporated into the powerful Cinque Ports as a limb of Rye. That meant that Tenterden was exempt from regular taxation, was largely self-governing, and was entitled to have a representative at royal coronations. This association with the Cinque Ports is remembered in the town crest, which incorporates the Cinque Ports coat of arms.
Over time the sea rose and navigation pathways silted up, and by the 16th century Tenterden lost all connection to the sea.
Tenterden is proud of its association with William Caxton, the 15th century pioneer of printing who is thought to have been born in or near the town. Indeed, one of the local pubs at the end of High Street is called the Caxton Arms. There is some debate as to whether Caxton was actually a native of Tenterden - a more widely accepted view is that he was born somewhere in the Kentish Weald.
Today, Tenterden is best known for its lovely, wide High Street, lined with weatherboarded buildings, Georgian, Jacobean, and Victorian shops, and overlooked by tall, leafy trees. Many of the buildings date from the 18th century, when Tenterden enjoyed a Rennaisance due to a resurgent wool and cloth industry. In the centre of High Street is a lovely 15th century coaching inn called The Woolpack.
Address: Tenterden, Kent, England
Attraction Type: Town
Location: On the A28 5 miles east of Cranbrook. Plenty of free and paid parking available around the town centre.
We've 'tagged' this attraction information to help you find related historic attractions and learn more about major time periods mentioned.
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12th century (Time Period) - 13th century (Time Period) - 14th century (Time Period) - 15th century (Time Period) - 16th century (Time Period) - 18th century (Time Period) - 7th century (Time Period) - Cinque Ports (Historical Reference) - Georgian (Time Period) - Medieval (Time Period) - Saxon (Time Period) - Victorian (Time Period) -
NEARBY HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS
Heritage Rated from 1- 5 (low-exceptional) on historic interest
Tenterden, St Mildred - 0.1 miles (Historic Church)
Kent and East Sussex Railway - 0.2 miles (Family Attraction)
Tenterden and District Museum - 0.2 miles (Museum)
Smallhythe Place - 2.1 miles (Historic Building)
Rolvenden, St Mary the Virgin - 2.8 miles (Historic Church)
Hole Park - 3.4 miles (Garden)
Horne's Place Chapel - 4.8 miles (Historic Building)
Benenden, St George's Church - 5 miles (Historic Church)
Nearest Accommodation to Tenterden:
Nearest Self Catering Cottages
Nearest Bed and Breakfasts