Kennington, Kent

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Kennington is a suburb of Ashford in Kent, England. It sits about a mile northeast of Ashford’s town centre, just north of the M20 motorway. The village has the 13th‑century St Mary’s Church and is crossed by the A28 Canterbury Road and the A2042 Faversham Road, with the A251 Trinity Road on the western edge. New housing has been built in Little Burton, Trinity Road, and Conningbrook Lakes, with plans for Conningbrook Park and Eureka Park.

The River Great Stour and the Kennington stream flow through the area. In the late 18th century it was described as a fertile place with gravelly soil. The name may come from Saxon “Cining-tune,” meaning “king’s town.” The village sits on higher ground near Canterbury Road, close to the open heath known as Kennington Lees. An annual fair for pedlary and toys was held on July 5.

St Mary’s Church dates from the 13th century and contains stained glass by Charles Eamer Kempe and a font used since 1236. The church once had a medieval lock to guard against witches.

Kennington was an ancient parish and became a civil parish in 1866, later reorganised in 1894. In 1934 the civil parish was absorbed into Ashford Urban District. In 2019, Kennington gained its own Community Council and new local ward boundaries. Elections for the council are held every four years; the next is on 6 May 2027.

Education in Kennington includes The Towers School (secondary), Kennington CE Academy (junior), and Downs View Infants School. Kent’s grammar school system means some students may attend the grammar schools in Ashford after passing the Kent Test.

There are several pubs and eateries: The Old Mill, The Conningbrook Hotel, The Rose Inn, The Pheasant, Stubbs, and The Kennington Carvery. The annual Kennington Summer Fayre is a not-for-profit event that raises money for local causes.

Two areas near Kennington are designated as Conservation Areas (since 1996), protecting parts of Ball Lane, The Street, Ulley Road, Upper Vicarage Road, and Faversham Road.

Population has grown over time, with thousands of residents living in the area in recent years. Kennington is part of Ashford Borough and has its own Community Council for local representation.