{"id":"69394e567202e9abd62bd0b5","title":"Benenden Short Circular","path":"walks/routes/recommended/benenden-short-circular","contentMarkdown":"# Kent Ramblers: Walk 81\n\n![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_081.jpg)\n\n## Points of Interest\n\n### Benenden\n\nThis secluded, very pretty, \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tvillage, set among Kent's hop fields, has a fine green \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tand some exquisite timbered houses.\n\n### Benenden School\n\n![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P081a.jpg)\n\nKnown as Hemsted Manor, an \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tearlier house on the site was visited by Queen Elizabeth \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tI in 1573. The house was rebuilt in 1860 by \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tGaythorne Hardy (later Lord Cranbrooke). It \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbelonged to Lord Rothermere from 1912 until 1924 when \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tthree teachers from Wycombe Abbey School established a \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tnew boarding school for girls here. The Princess \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRoyal, amongst other members of the current royal \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tfamily, was educated here.\n\n### The Grange\n\n... now a home for people with \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tlearning disabilities, has an informal shrubbery and \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\twoodland garden with a notable Japanese cherry tree \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcollection laid out from 1919 by the horticulturalist, \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tplant collector and hybridist Collingwood Ingram \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t(1880-1981) around a late-19th-century house. \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPrior to Covid the gardens were open once a year, \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tusually in April, but it is not clear whether opening \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\thas yet resumed.\n\n### Public Transport\n\nBenenden is served by the 297 \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbus from Tunbridge Wells to Tenterden which runs every \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcouple of hours except on Sundays when there is no \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tservice.\n\nAutomatically migrated from https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_081.htm on 2025-12-11 08:55","contentHtml":"

Kent Ramblers: Walk 81

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Points of Interest

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Benenden

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This secluded, very pretty, \n\t\t\t\t\t\tvillage, set among Kent's hop fields, has a fine green \n\t\t\t\t\t\tand some exquisite timbered houses.

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Benenden School

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Known as Hemsted Manor, an \n\t\t\t\t\t\tearlier house on the site was visited by Queen Elizabeth \n\t\t\t\t\t\tI in 1573. The house was rebuilt in 1860 by \n\t\t\t\t\t\tGaythorne Hardy (later Lord Cranbrooke). It \n\t\t\t\t\t\tbelonged to Lord Rothermere from 1912 until 1924 when \n\t\t\t\t\t\tthree teachers from Wycombe Abbey School established a \n\t\t\t\t\t\tnew boarding school for girls here. The Princess \n\t\t\t\t\t\tRoyal, amongst other members of the current royal \n\t\t\t\t\t\tfamily, was educated here.

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The Grange

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... now a home for people with \n\t\t\t\t\t\tlearning disabilities, has an informal shrubbery and \n\t\t\t\t\t\twoodland garden with a notable Japanese cherry tree \n\t\t\t\t\t\tcollection laid out from 1919 by the horticulturalist, \n\t\t\t\t\t\tplant collector and hybridist Collingwood Ingram \n\t\t\t\t\t\t(1880-1981) around a late-19th-century house.
\t\t\t\t\t\tPrior to Covid the gardens were open once a year, \n\t\t\t\t\t\tusually in April, but it is not clear whether opening \n\t\t\t\t\t\thas yet resumed.

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Public Transport

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Benenden is served by the 297 \n\t\t\t\t\t\tbus from Tunbridge Wells to Tenterden which runs every \n\t\t\t\t\t\tcouple of hours except on Sundays when there is no \n\t\t\t\t\t\tservice.

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Automatically migrated from https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_081.htm on 2025-12-11 08:55

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