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Welcome to Horsmonden!
Horsmonden has played a central part in the Weaving Industry, the Iron and Gunfounding Industry and the Hops industry in the past. Horsmonden is also famous for its annual Gypsy Horse Fair held on the second Sunday in September.
Get directions to Horsmonden on Google Maps
The Parish
The Parish of Horsmonden stretches from Gaffords Bridge and August Pitts in the North, Spelmonden in the south, Shirrenden Woods in the west and the River Teise forming the eastern border. The parish comprises of the village itself, hop gardens, orchards and farmland, numerous ponds and woodlands and is about 9 square miles in total.
The Village
The village has a large village green, known as The Heath, and is surrounded by the village shops and pubs. The shops are Heath Stores, Heath Pharmacy, and Haircraft Unisex Hairdressers.
Our Public House is the famous Gun and Spitroast and there is also a thriving Horsmonden Social Club both on the Green.
Other village amenities include Horsmonden Primary School, Horsmonden Kindergarten, Horsmonden Village Hall, St. Margaret’s Church, Horsmonden Methodist Church, Horsmonden Sports Ground, Horsmonden Lawn Tennis Club, amongst others.
If you want to visit Horsmonden there are various Bed and Breakfasts and Holiday Cottages. See Tourist Information.
Horsmonden is in the heart of the Weald of Kent and in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Village Life
There is plenty going on in Horsmonden, have a look at Clubs & Societies and the Village Diary.
Local Business
Horsmonden is surprisingly diverse for business – Farming forms a large part of the local economy with several rural business centres scattered throughout the Parish. We have good broadband in the village.
Local Schools
We have a primary school in the village as well as many other schools close to Horsmonden.
Public Transport
The nearest railway station to Horsmonden is Paddock Wood. Horsmonden Station closed in 1961. There are numerous bus routes serving Horsmonden giving access to Tunbridge Wells, Cranbrook, Tenterden to name a few.
Local Attractions
There are many places to visit from Horsmonden whether you are a resident or visitor.
Horsmonden Village Sign
The CANNON represent the great iron foundry, which once supplied guns for the English and Dutch navies and for King Charles I’s army and later, during the English civil war, for Parliament. In 1613 two hundred men were employed in the foundry. More…
The TREE represents Horsmonden’s great oaks and other local woods used for building, for gun carriages and for fueling John Browne’s great blast furnace.
The OASTHOUSE represents agriculture and the once thriving hop industry.
The CHURCH is the 14th century parish church of St Margaret’s two miles away from the main village. More…
Events
Horsmonden has an annual Summer Festival with marquee event, free live music, fete and church service, an Easter re-enactment and an annual Gypsy Horse Fair. There are also an Autumn and Christmas Festival, Nostalgia Show and various events.
Horsmonden Summer Festival
Regular summer event since 2012 which features a Comedy Night, a Summer Ball, a fete, music festival, church service, classic car show and a village tea party.
Horsmonden Gypsy Horse Fair
Our famous horse fair takes place the second Sunday in September every year. See the Gypsy Horse Fair page.
Weald of Kent
Horsmonden is located in the Weald of Kent or Kentish Weald. The name Weald is derived from the Old English weald, meaning ‘forest’. The adjective for ‘weald’ is ‘wealden’.
Maps of Horsmonden
Google Maps is a favourite for online mapping. Ordnance Survey Maps cover Horsmonden both digitally in App format or as a hard copy map.
Highlights
Here’s a quick look at some of the interesting pages on this website…
1st World War fallen soldiers…
Lambert Steam Engines…
Horsmonden Cannons…
Oral History…
Featured Page…
Horsmonden Station Model
See the latest of Chris Cooper’s model of the station. Visit page…