The parish of Benenden is in the heart of the Kent countryside. The main part of the village is focussed around the green where cricket is played in the summer months and is bounded by the St George's Church, the village school, the gloriously fronted memorial hall, and the Bull public house.

The parish includes Iden Green, East End, Standen Street and Dingleden.

The parish has a splendid war memorial where the loss of the armed forces personnel during the two world wars are recorded (see this page for full details).

Ernest Pollard and Hazel Strouts have written a major piece of work about the village - 'Benenden Landscape' - read more about it and get a free copy from this site by clicking here. You can also find 4 walks around Benenden described on that same page.

At the centre of the village is the primary school. However the quaint school buildings on the village green are to be replaced. The site has been chosen as the field adjacent to the Glebe Field and the Recreation Ground and the planning process is moving forward. The primary school website contains more details.

Click to see more

As recorded in Michael Davies' splendid and extensive 'Benenden - A Pictorial History' the village was one of the few places in the area known as the Weald (of Kent) that was named in the Domesday book. Benenden has largely escaped the development sprawl that has overtaken many a local village and is fortunate in retaining a number of small independent shops and thriving pubs

A commemorative book "The Schools on Benenden Green 1609-2009", written especially for the 400th anniversary of the primary school is now available. Information is available from the primary school web site

A number of regular events fill the Benenden year including the fete in June the Iden Green BBQ and Rounders competition. For more information available from local web sites click the links on the left hand side.

Some Benenden events from years gone past ......