Bethersden

Bethersden
Bethersden
	St Margaret's Church
	Bethersden Location within Kent
Area	26.1 km2 (10.1 sq mi)
Population	1,481 (Civil Parish 2011)
• Density	57/km2 (150/sq mi)
OS grid reference	TQ927402
District	Ashford;
Shire county	Kent;
Region	South East;
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ASHFORD
Postcode district	TN26
Dialling code	01233
Police	Kent
Fire	Kent
Ambulance	South East Coast
UK Parliament	Ashford;
	List of places UK England Kent 51°07′44″N 0°45′12″E / 51.1290°N 0.7533°E

Bethersden is a village and civil parish in the borough of Ashford in Kent, England, 5 miles (8 km) west of the town of Ashford. Located on the main road, A28, between Tenterden and Ashford.

The village has an active community, including a small primary school, football team, cricket team and tennis club by the park.

Bethersden was formerly the centre of the Kentish wool trade.

Bethersden was the seat of the Lovelace family,^[2] at what is now Lovelace Court, which included William Lovelace (MP), and the 17th-century poet Richard Lovelace.

The Bethersden Parish Records Society holds the original parish register, maps, books, photographs and other records relating to the village.

Bethersden Marble

Bethersden has long been associated with the material known as Bethersden Marble which was quarried until the 19th century and used in many of Kent's churches and cathedrals. The name 'marble' is misleading because it is a limestone packed with fossilized gastropod shells which polish well, hence the use of the term.

Churches

St Margaret's Church, built in the early 15th century.
Baptist church (Union Chapel).

Economy

Several successful businesses have operated from the village: Stevenson Brothers, who produce high-quality handmade rocking horses; W & D Cole, who make iron gates and railings; and the former Colt Houses, who sold prefabricated timber homes.

The village has three public houses, The Bull, The George and The Pig & Sty. The George had closed in 2020, but was purchased and re-opened in May 2023 by a community group The George Community after they raised over £300,000 with locals buying shares.