Discover Hartley

When choosing a hotel destination, you can first consider whether you are particularly interested in architectural history, religious sites, or outdoor activities and landscapes. Hartley offers clearly distinct points of interest: the Church of All Saints is shaped by building elements from different centuries, while the Church of St Francis de Sales is now housed in an old barn. Hartley Wood, the Hartley Health Walks, and the Northfield Ride add landscapes and different activity options to these themes. This makes it possible to understand Hartley through specific areas of interest.

Churches with Different Building Histories

The nave of the Church of All Saints dates from the 12th century, and the chancel from the 14th century. The dates refer to different parts of the church and provide an opportunity to compare two periods of construction.

There are two Norman windows in the nave. The fittings on the south door probably date from the 12th century. Different architectural details can therefore be seen side by side: the windows in the nave and the fittings on the south door. The date of the latter is explicitly given as probable, while the windows are described as Norman.

The churchyard is also among the historic features of All Saints. It contains fine 18th-century tombstones with cherubs. These tombstones add another perspective on the church’s history: alongside the building’s structural elements, the gravestones and their figurative motifs come to the fore. The architecture and churchyard thus offer different points of interest for those interested in the history of the place.

A Barn as a Church Today

The Roman Catholic Church of St Francis de Sales is now housed in a multi-bay timber barn at Middle Farm, which probably dates from the 17th century. The relationship between the barn’s former use and its present use as a church is the central architectural point of interest here. This distinguishes the church from All Saints, where several building elements and their different dates stand out.

The Church of St Francis de Sales is also home to the Shrine of Our Lady of Hartley. This gives the church a specific religious place of interest. The two churches offer different points of focus for understanding Hartley: at All Saints, the building elements, windows, door fittings, and gravestones stand out; at St Francis, the barn’s conversion and the shrine are additional features.

Landscape and Activities

Hartley Wood is the largest wood in Hartley and provides a distinct connection to the landscape. The Parish Council provides a list of the Hartley Health Walks for walks. As route details may change, check the information before planning a walk. The list of walks and the wood are different points of interest for planning a trip.

The Northfield Ride enables local riders to ride away from public roads. Membership rules may change; check them before making plans. The Ride is for local riders, while the Hartley Health Walks are walking routes listed by the Parish Council. This distinction helps avoid confusing the different activity options.

Considering Hartley as a Hotel Destination

If you are considering Hartley for a stay, you can base your decision on the themes that matter to you. The churches offer specific architectural and religious points of interest; Hartley Wood and the available list of Health Walks provide a different perspective, while the Northfield Ride offers local riders an opportunity to ride away from public roads.

Discover more destinations: West Peckham, Broad Oak Brede, Waldershare, Linton, Barham, Willesborough, Leaveland, Yalding

For the main travel overview: Kent.