Chilham: Village Square, Architectural History and Walks

Chilham combines historic buildings with walking routes that differ in their destinations and landscapes. Chilham Square, Chilham Castle and the Church of St Mary provide concrete points of reference for its architectural history. Gardens, parkland and paths add to these themes. When planning your trip, you can first decide whether architecture, landscape or a particular activity should be the focus.

The Square and Historic Buildings

Chilham Square is a picturesque medieval village square, bordered by Chilham Castle, a church and timber-framed buildings. Chilham Castle is a Grade I listed house, built in 1616 for Sir Dudley Digges. The square therefore brings together the medieval village setting and a precisely dated house from the early 17th century as distinct historical points of reference.

The Church of St Mary is also a Grade I listed building. Its transepts date from the 14th century, and its nave from the 15th century. The west tower dates to 1534; the chancel, built in 1863, is the work of David Brandon. The building phases concern different parts of the church and span several centuries. The Church of St Mary also contains a freestanding monument to Mary Kemp, Lady Digges, who died in 1631.

Gardens and Parkland

Chilham Castle has formal and ornamental gardens dating from the 17th century, set within a park of medieval origins. The areas can be considered separately: the grounds include about 10 hectares of formal and ornamental gardens and a park of about 130 hectares. The garden areas are therefore a distinct part of the larger parkland. Those interested in historic landscapes can take in both the gardens’ design and the park’s earlier origins.

Walking Routes with Different Highlights

The Chilham Loop leads to the village square and continues along Church Hill as the North Downs Way. The 4.5-mile Chilham West Lost Landscapes Walk heads west through Shottenden to the landmark Mount and old Perry Wood; the return route passes through orchards. Its specific distance, named places and change of landscape on the return journey are the main highlights.

A section of the North Downs Way runs from Chilham to Canterbury. The route passes through Old Wives Lees and surrounding orchards, wooded areas and farmland. The route descriptions offer different points of reference: the village square for the Chilham Loop, several named places along the West Lost Landscapes Walk, and Canterbury as the destination for the North Downs Way section. This makes it easy to compare the routes by their course and landscapes.

Another Activity and Finding a Hotel

Chilham also offers a creative activity: Creative Glass Classes are held in a purpose-designed glass studio. This adds glass classes to the choice of things to do, alongside architectural history, gardens and walking.

If you are looking for a hotel in Chilham, first consider what you want to focus on during your stay: the historic buildings and gardens, one of the named routes or the Creative Glass Classes.

For the broader travel overview: Kent.