The ancient town of Ashford is one the most important towns in Kent and has been a vital hub for transport and communication in surrounding area, Kent and Southern England for over two thousand years. The town is one of the fastest growing areas in England has also been identified by the UK Government as a key future growth centre.

Origins and Early History
The orgins of the town can be found in its name. In old English Ashford, or Aesect, means "a ford near a clump of ash-trees", no doubt referring to its location¹. Ashford sits at the strategically important confluence of two rivers - the Upper Great Stour and East Stour - and on the edge of the ancient forest Anderida (which stretched across Kent and into Hamshire). It is generally believed the origins of the town date to when settlement in 893AD when villages from nearby Chart and Appledore fled a viking invasion although flint tools dating to the Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods (9000BC) have been found at Kingsnorth - now a suburb of the town. Iron and Brownse age (2500BC) fields and a Warrior-burrials have also been found nearby².

Ashford in the Middle Ages and the Farmers Market
In the middle ages Ashford's prime location on two rivers, proximinity to the channel and at the time major English ports of Romney, Rye, Hythe and the within easy reach of huge sheep farms of Romney Marsh and nearby population centres of London, Canterbury and Chatham saw it develop in a significant market town. It was in mentioned in the Doomsday book of 1066AD and had a significant market town in 1243AD when Henry III granted a charter to the Mayor of Ashford to hold a market. This market survived in the Lower High Street until 1856. 

At this point local farmers and businessmen moved the market to Elwick Road in Ashford and formed a registered company - Ashford Cattle Market Company Ltd - which now claims to be the oldest surviving registered company in England and with a turnover of £20million  is one of most significant farmers markets in Europe³.

the most significant events in the history of Ashford was the arrival in 1842 of a railway line and station, followed in 1846 by a large railway works operated by The South Eastern Railway and spanning some 185 acres of land which further cemented Ashford's status as a key communications hub in Kent and the South East. Ashford was chosen over Maidstone and Tonbridge as it was central to operation of South Easter Railways. The works themselves, complete with workers cottages, schools, shops, bathhouse and tavern (built around a village green) and named Alfred Town - which occupies the area now called New Town. The pub was originally called the Locomotive, later becoming the Alfred Tavern. The influx of workers to support the engineering works saw the town double in size from 3,000 to 7,000 people between 1841 and 1866.⁴

In years following, the original Dover to London line joined by a line to Margate in 1846; a line linking Ashford, Rye and Hasting in 1850 and a line to Maidstone in 1884.

The original railway works were closed in xxx but since then the Eurostar service has been constructed for which Ashford is one of two UK stations and most recently the High Speed 1 train service carrying passengers from Ashford to London in just 34 minutes has been unveilved.

In the latter half of the 18th Century a road network sprang up, with roads linking London, the channel ports, Hastings and Canterbury all meeting at the town. Since then further roads main throughfares joining Kent towns and London (the M20) have been built, again all joining Ashford.

The Future of Ashford

In March 2001 the Government identified Ashford as one of four key growth areas in the South East, alongside the Thames Gateway, Milton Keynes and Stansted/M11 corridor.  To achieve this thousands of new homes and jobs, improved education facilities, new shops, restaurants, offices and community facilities are all planned and supported by huge Government investment. 

In December 2002 a study to assess how this growth could be achieved was completed. Halcrow's The Ashford’s Future Study concluded that by 2031, an additional 31,000 homes and 28,000 jobs could be created around the town.

In February 2003 these recommendations were included in the Government's Sustainable Communities Plan. The plan set out how housing needs in the South East would be met by providing long-term sustainable communities⁵.

Famous Residents

As one of the major towns in South East England it's no surprise Ashford has been home to many notable people⁶,  including:

• Ray Dorset founder of the band Mungo Jerry.
• Frederick Forsyth - British author and occasional political commentator. 
• Alfred Austin - English poet and Poet Laureate in 1896
• Kate Bush - pop singer.
• Sir John Furley - one of the founders of St. John Ambulance Service
• Patsy Byrne - actress, probably the most famous as Nursie in the popular BBC sitcom Blackadder II.
• Bob Holness - Television presenter
• Dr John Wallis - Internationally recognised as one of the greatest mathematicians, credited by Sir Isaac Newton as being the founder of his theory of gravity.
• Simone Weil -  French philosopher and mystic is buried in the town's Bybrook Cemetery.

References

1: An alternative meaning was put forward by historian in the 16th century who suggested
Aesect mean ford over the river Eshe or Eshet - an old name for the tributary of the Stour
that runs between the town and nearby village of Lenham.

2: http://www.kingsnorthparishcouncil.gov.uk/village-history.html

3: http://www.hobbsparker.co.uk/cf/bulletin.cfm?Link=BulletinRelated&BulletinId=158

4: http://www.ashford.gov.uk/about_the_borough/history_and_heritage/ashfords_railway.aspx

5: http://www.ashfordbestplaced.co.uk/the_ashford_story/the_story.aspx

6: http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/List-of-people-from-Ashford,-Kent

Extra: Romney Marsh Times: Kent, Romney Marsh & Shepway News; Kentonline

Last update: 22-02-2009 14:15