Ashford

Ashford is a Town in the county of Kent.

Retail in Ashford

There are great places to visit near Ashford including some great towns, historic buildings, beaches, parks, museums, castles, shopping centres, cities, ruins, country parks, lakes, coastal parks and airports.

The area around Ashford features a number of interesting towns including Faversham, Broadstairs, St Peter's, Ramsgate, Chatham, Margate, and Dover.

Don't miss Nuckell's Alsmshouses, The Old Curiosity Shop, The Palace Cinema, Clock Tower Broadstairs, The Look Out House, Bleak House, and Home for Smack Boys's historic buildings if visiting the area around Ashford.

There are a several good beaches in the Ashford area like Viking Bay, and Dumpton Gap.

Ashford is near some unmissable parks like Victoria Gardens,

Ramsgate Maritime Museum is a great place to visit close to Ashford if you like museums.

The area around Ashford features a number of interesting castles including Dover Castle, Rochester Castle, Leeds Castle, and Tonbridge Castle.

Royal Victoria Place, and Bluewater Shopping Centre are some of Ashford best shopping centres to visit near Ashford.

Ashford is near some unmissable cities like Canterbury,

The area around Ashford's best ruins can be found at Tonbridge Castle.

The area around Ashford boasts some of the best country parks including Haysden Country Park, and Barton's Point Coastal Park.

Barden Lake is a great place to visit close to Ashford if you like lakes.

The area around Ashford's best coastal parks can be found at Barton's Point Coastal Park.

Lydd Airport is a great place to visit close to Ashford if you like airports.

Ashford History

There are some historic monuments around Ashford:

Places to see near Ashford

History of Ashford

The present town originates from an original settlement established in 893 AD by inhabitants escaping a Danish Viking raid, who were granted land by a Saxon Lord for their resistance. The name comes from the Old English ascet, indicating a ford near a clump of ash trees. At the time of the Domesday Book of 1086 it was still known by its original Saxon name of Essetesford (or Eshetisford, Esselesford, Asshatisforde, Essheford). The manor was owned by Hugh de Montfort, Constable of England and companion of William the Conqueror, and had a church, two mills and a value of 150 shillings (£7.50) at the time. One of the earliest houses in the area still in existence is Lake House at Eastwell Park to the north of the town, which contains the grave of Richard Plantagenet. Ashford’s importance as an agricultural and market town grew in the 13th century, and in 1243, King Henry III granted the town a charter to hold a market for livestock. The pottery industry expanded in the 13th and 14th centuries, with the main works based at what is now Potter’s Corner, a few miles west of the town centre. Later evidence from examining waste suggests that production was on a large scale. The Kent Archaeological society have discovered sandy ware at this location dating from around 1125 - 1250. Jack Cade, who led the Cade’s Rebellion against corrupt Royal officials in 1450, is believed to be from Ashford. In William Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Part 2, Cade is shown conversing with “Dick, the Butcher from Ashford”.

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Lakes near Ashford

    Where to Eat in Ashford