Throwley Forstal: Paths and Building History

Landscape, paths and getting there

Throwley Forstal is in the Kent Downs National Landscape. Public paths, travel connections and historic buildings offer different points of reference for a stay.

A local information guide from December 2024 lists no buses serving Throwley Forstal and no shops or other services in the village. The nearest bus stop to Throwley Forstal is in Badlesmere; from there, services run to Faversham or Ashford. As travel conditions can change, check the latest timetable before your trip.

The network of public rights of way connects Throwley Forstal with nearby hamlets and villages. If you are planning a walk, check the path conditions before setting out. An annual fête is held on the village green in Throwley Forstal. If this event is important to your trip, it is advisable to check the date in advance. Residents also cycle in Throwley Forstal for occasional journeys and recreation. The local walking routes and residents’ cycling therefore offer two distinct ways to get around.

Local history and buildings

Throwley Forstal Conservation Area was designated on 20 April 1973. Throwley Airfield was established towards the end of 1916 and operated until early 1919. It was located between Bells Forstal and Throwley Forstal. Very few remains survive today, including the Officers' Mess and the Guardroom.

South Forstal Farmhouse dates from the 16th century and was refaced in the 18th century. The timber-framed building has painted brickwork on the ground floor and weatherboarding on the upper floor. The agricultural buildings about 10 metres southeast of the farmhouse date from the 18th century. Because of their group value, they are listed along with the farmhouse. This makes it possible to distinguish different building phases: the farmhouse dates back to the 16th century, while the agricultural buildings are attributed to the 18th century.

Forge House retains an integrated smithy in its rear catslide-roofed extension. At the Windmill Inn, the walls are made of painted brickwork; the roof is plain and tiled. These details record different building forms without reducing them to a single architectural period.

The Church of St Michael and All Angels in Throwley is a 12th-century parish church. Its north chapel dates from the 13th century, its south chapel from the 14th century and its nave arcades from the 15th century. In 1866, the church was restored and the tower raised. The sequence thus spans the medieval church building through to the changes of the 19th century.

Discover more destinations: Southborough, Lympne, Womenswold, Sturry, Doddington, Kingsdown, Longfield, Five Oak Green.

For the overview of the wider area: Kent.