West Malling - a thriving Kent village

On a sunny but breezy day we decided to have a look at West Malling which was the place when we lived on the edge of the Medway Towns was our council There is still a council presence but we were not aware of it. In fact we went to Manor Park country park and walked from there to visit the town ship. We picked a beautiful day with clear skies and enough wind for people to fly kites and a cooling breeze to fend off the otherwise hot sunshine. We walked the perimeter from the car parking area where new building is going on to construct a toilet block, kiosk and a visitor's centre. The sign informed us that cattle grazed the meadow land but we saw none and instead enjoyed the buttercups and clover that peeped out of the grass creating a glow that complimented the fresh green of the trees and shone like golden butter in the sunshine.

Imagine our delight when walking beside the lake we saw a pair of Swans and six cygnets on the opposite and protected bank that a few minutes later began to swim majestically back to their nest ushering their brood along like a flotilla of small ships. We also had the treat of watching a mother with her boy and a baby girl feeding the ducks and a friendly squirrel and a pair of water voles who decided to partake of the treat.

The country park is a mixture of easy walking, play area for children and will give families a chance to get together and play games of have a picnic. The family we met are regular users of the
park and told us much about the Swans' progress with their family - the boy told us about how to feed the ducks and the cheeky squirrel. Most enjoyable.

Wildlife - and many birds singing and tweeting in the trees. Luverley! (Noisy little ---) here the squirrel poses for the camera

From the park we crossed the road to look at St Leonard's Tower - he wasn't in but we heard his pigeons calling. This is a Norman tower keep that was used as an administration centre that could also be defended if need be.

St Leonard's Tower

We wandered from there along the road past Malling house and Douce manor to the church that domintaes the high point of the town. From there we walked down the pathway past a school and past a delightful row of houses which led us to the Frightened Crow pub which we walked on past to Norman road and West Street where we had a sandwich lunch at Ragamuffins Craft Cafe. I can recommend this place. It is not flashy and at first glance you might want to pass it by but the sandwiches were excellent and the tea tasty so pop in and eat. The service was good too - cheerful people with a local identity. From there we walked back up to the church along the high street and back down again to turn right and head toward the Abbey.

The centre of West Malling is attractive with Tudor buildings and many others of later eras that track the progress of the main street from earlier times to the twentieth century. Some buildings have Georgian and Victorian facades built on to early buildings. A pleasant mixture of ancient and almost modern.

A Tudor house in King Street

Like many Kent villages there is always something of interest to surprise you and as we walked into the area before the Abbey gates we met a person who was tending the garden. She told us much about the Abbey and explained that it was a working Abbey with Nuns in residence who run retreats (allowing visitors to have respite time) and she told us of the gardens and the cascade further along the road.

The stream cascades from an arch in the wall of the Abbey.

It was there we discovered that West Malling must have had a brewery. The old buildings are now apartments and further along the road there is a delightful cottage once attached to the brewery. We saw the water fed by the stream that runs through the country park and headed out of the village to turn right following the perimeter of the Abbey wall into Water Lane. Gluttons for punishment we retraced our steps down the High Street to see the London Road end.

A general concensus (we polled each other and the person working at the Abbey and the old gentleman we met ) was that the village was crowded with vehicles. We learned that medieval gates were likely to be short lived simply because cart drivers would crash into them and cause damage. Speeding carts seemed to match the excessive speed of those drivers who negotiated the narrow confines of West Street with a few exceptions, namely the police patrol car and a motorcyclist who drove carefully past the cafe. The speed limit is 20mph in the precincts.

Again there was a delightful garden with the statue of Hope standing under trees and below the old houses of King Street by which we returned to West Street after first taking a short excursion down a side road. We had a pleasant chat with an 89 year old resident who recommended the Bull Inn across the road for a decent pint; which was only right, he should know.

A view along King Street

We completed the walk from King Street back up the high street and turning into the Manor Park and across the meadows back to the car. On the whole a pleasant stroll and although we missed the opportunity to have lunch in one of the many West Malling pubs we did finish off the day with a slice of cake and a cuppa in the Old Mill tea rooms.

The place was busy despite the FA cup final on the goggle box - maybe the residents are more interested in outdoor pursuits than silly games. The downside of the place is the prolific number of cars and the narrow roads they have to negotiate; and the reluctance of some drivers to drive to the speed limits.