SSSI (Sites of Special Scientific Interest):Hastingleigh.com A Genealogy Website /One Place Study contact e-mail
Listed Buildings in Hastingleigh
There are 21 listed structures or buildings in the Parish, 3 sites of special scientific interest
and just one protected woodland.
The entire parish is within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB.)
1. The Church of St Mary The Virgin (Click to go to Church pictures) formerly known as 'Our Lady of Hastingleigh' in the 15th century.
This is an ancient building probably of a Saxon foundation (if not earlier) and certainly of Norman design.
It has many rare features for a church in Kent and has been the focal point of recorded Parish life and history
for centuries. The church is commonly refered to as an 11th century church, the tower and the chancel are said to date from
the 13th century as does the church's oldest window. The porch dates from the 14th century and has protected the door jambs
from weathering. 15th and 16th century carvings in the door jambs have been a source of mystery and speculation for many years
and I have identified a few of them. The church shows evidence of being colourfully decorated in mediaeval times. Some murals
uncovered in the 1960's are visable on the south east corner walls inside the church.
2.and 3. Are two structures within the grounds of the church which are also listed as of historic interest.
4. The Old Rectory (private residence)and5. The Tithe Barn
6. South Hill Farm House (private residence) Grade II(Photo circa 1993)
and 7. The Walls of the walled garden at South Hill.
(The Old Rectory is in the background.)
8. and 9. Court Lodge Farm has two barns which have listed status.
10. Crabtree Farm House (private residence) built by Thomas Newport in the 18th century.
11. Vigo Farm House (private residence)
12. The Bowl Inn and13. Adjacent building formerly The Skittle Alley. (Click for The Bowl Inn website)
14. South View House (private residence) formerly Leese Farm, (in 1881 it was No.1 The Street, in 1891 it was
called Cubison Villa after Cubison Stickles, the house dates from the 18th century and overlooks the Village Pond.
Until recently it was the home of Gordon Davis the late sculptor & artist.)
15. Lyddendane Farm House, Waltham Rd. was built in the mid 18th century by Thomas Pilcher, the farm
estate had existed there for centuries, records date back to the late 13th century.
16. Hazel Tree Farm House, Hassell Street (private residence) built in the 15th century.
17. The Woodmans [Arms], Hassell Street built 1698 formerly a public house /Inn -
at one time occupied by the actor Gerald Campion, best known for his role as 'Billy Bunter'.
18. Kingsmill Down Farm House (private residence) predates 16th century.In 1973, a pit was uncovered during
ploughing which revealed pieces of Belgic and Romano-British Pottery
19. - 21. Coombe Grove buildings (private residence.) The buildings contain elements which date to the early 1400's
Coombe Grove was the site of a WWII anti-aircraft gun placement for defence against flying bombs. It contained a 40mm
gun manned by the 4th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment of 27 Brigade. There was also a searchlight in place manned by the
502 Searchlight Battery of 79 Searchlight Regiment.
Protected Woodland:Moorlands Wood, which on an 1839 map was refered to as 'Planted Wood' for the left hand side and was a hop
garden to the right hand side. So the wood is not very old.
1. Richard's Wood, long named as such and still retaining it's boundaries as shown in 19th century maps of the area.
2. Collyerhill Wood, formerly known as Cunning Knowt which was separated from Coombe Grove Farm
by Colvey Hill Field.
3. Land in the far west of the Parish (south of New Barn), currently not named on the maps, but in 1839 part of it was
called Hilly Field, partly in Downs Pasture and includes a chalk pit.
There are several shaws, and woods in the Parish which have existed for a very long time (centuries) without much if any
alteration to their boundaries. These ancient woodlands are not SSSI's but are protected as the whole parish falls within the
Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.Sites of Historic Interest:
1.Brabourne Downs: A large mound on the slopes of Brabourne Downs was ivestigated in 1971, to ascertain if it was made
as a result of ploughing or a deliberate construction. Investigations in 1975 uncovered iron age pottery and Romano-British
pottery as well as flints blades and scrapes.2. A linear row of ringed barrows one 20 meters in diameter are on the top of Brabourne Downs, concentric is a ditch some
29 metres in diametre and 16 meters away is another.3. A broken neolithic axe head and several flint artifacts have been uncovered on land at Smeed Farm.