{"id":"69394e717202e9abd62bd0c3","title":"Cranbrook And Benenden","path":"walks/routes/recommended/cranbrook-and-benenden","contentMarkdown":"## Kent Ramblers: Walk 126 — Cranbrook and Benenden\n\n![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_126.jpg)\n\n## Points of Interest\n\n### Cranbrook\n\n![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P126a.jpg)\n\nThe smallest 'town' in Kent achieved prosperity in \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe 14th to 16th centuries through the cloth trade.  \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tOften called the 'capital of the Weald' it retains great \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcharm and is dominated by a fine smock windmill built in \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t1814 for Henry Dobell.\n\n### Great Swifts\n\nThere has been a house on this site at least since \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe 15th century when a dwelling was sold by a Stephen \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSwift.  This presumably accounts for the many earlier \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tnames of the house and the estate incorporating the name \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t'Swift' or 'Swifts'.  From 1770 to 1820 the house was \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\towned by the Austen family, relatives of Jane Austen.  \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe present house was built in 1937 by Major Victor \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCazalet, MP for Chippenham.  He died in an air crash in \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t1943 after which the house was first let and then sold \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tto the exiled Queen Maria of Yugoslavia and her sons.  \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe house was renamed 'Oak Hill Manor' in around 1995 \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tand may recently have reverted to the former name of \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t'Great Swifts'.\n\nAutomatically migrated from https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_126.htm on 2025-12-11 08:56","contentHtml":"<h2>Kent Ramblers: Walk 126 — Cranbrook and Benenden</h2>\n<p><img src=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_126.jpg\" alt=\"\"></p>\n<h2>Points of Interest</h2>\n<h3>Cranbrook</h3>\n<p><img src=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P126a.jpg\" alt=\"\"></p>\n<p>The smallest &#39;town&#39; in Kent achieved prosperity in \n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe 14th to 16th centuries through the cloth trade.<br>\t\t\t\t\t\tOften called the &#39;capital of the Weald&#39; it retains great \n\t\t\t\t\t\tcharm and is dominated by a fine smock windmill built in \n\t\t\t\t\t\t1814 for Henry Dobell.</p>\n<h3>Great Swifts</h3>\n<p>There has been a house on this site at least since \n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe 15th century when a dwelling was sold by a Stephen \n\t\t\t\t\t\tSwift.  This presumably accounts for the many earlier \n\t\t\t\t\t\tnames of the house and the estate incorporating the name \n\t\t\t\t\t\t&#39;Swift&#39; or &#39;Swifts&#39;.  From 1770 to 1820 the house was \n\t\t\t\t\t\towned by the Austen family, relatives of Jane Austen.<br>\t\t\t\t\t\tThe present house was built in 1937 by Major Victor \n\t\t\t\t\t\tCazalet, MP for Chippenham.  He died in an air crash in \n\t\t\t\t\t\t1943 after which the house was first let and then sold \n\t\t\t\t\t\tto the exiled Queen Maria of Yugoslavia and her sons.<br>\t\t\t\t\t\tThe house was renamed &#39;Oak Hill Manor&#39; in around 1995 \n\t\t\t\t\t\tand may recently have reverted to the former name of \n\t\t\t\t\t\t&#39;Great Swifts&#39;.</p>\n<p>Automatically migrated from <a href=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_126.htm\">https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_126.htm</a> on 2025-12-11 08:56</p>\n"}