Headcorn between village history and flying experiences

Headcorn is located in the Low Weald of Kent and combines a rural character with an unusually diverse history. Anyone looking for a mix of walks, historic sites and special experiences for a family holiday will find a variety of themes to include in their daily plans. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home in Headcorn, you can therefore consider whether you want to focus your stay more on local history, walking routes or flying experiences.

Historic traces in the village

The nave and tower of Headcorn Church date from the late 14th century and incorporate older building elements. Another notable historic address is Headcorn Manor, which dates from around 1516. The building is a timber-framed house with plaster infill and is now a well-restored private residence. The area around Headcorn Manor is not open to the public, so it should not be included in your plans as a public visitor attraction.

For a peaceful stroll, Church Walk is a good option, a footpath lined with medieval cottages. A suggested circular route through Headcorn starts and ends in the village and is approximately 4 km long. The approximate distance helps you distinguish a short village walk from longer outings without assuming a specific walking time. A sign beside the path also explains the history of the remains of Headcorn’s great oak.

The village’s development as a centre of cloth production is also visible in several places. Shakespeare House was originally involved in cloth production and is listed in Headcorn’s 1986 register of buildings of architectural or historic importance as a Grade II building. The Old Cloth Hall recalls the boom in woollen cloth production in Headcorn following the arrival of Flemish immigrants in the 14th century. Headcorn’s war memorial commemorates the people from Headcorn who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars.

Walking routes and excursions

Headcorn can also be explored via a variety of walking ideas. The walking route to Brissenden Vineyard begins in the centre of Headcorn and is approximately two miles long. If you would like to combine a longer route with a specific destination, the path from Headcorn station to Headcorn Aerodrome crosses fields and includes bridges and stiles. Headcorn station is also the nearest railway station to the Lashenden Air Warfare Museum and is located 1.5 miles away.

Aviation history and special experiences

Headcorn Aerodrome is a historic airfield with a grass runway. Historic flying experiences in vintage aircraft are offered there; wingwalking is also available. The Lashenden Air Warfare Museum was founded in 1970 by Jack Matthews. It is located at the privately operated civil airfield and parachute centre at Headcorn Aerodrome and complements the airfield’s history with a museum visit of its own.

Anyone looking for an extraordinary experience can also go skydiving in Headcorn, with jumps from heights of up to 15,000 feet. This means that very different options are available within the same general theme: you can explore aviation history in the museum, choose historic flying experiences, plan a wingwalking experience or make a jump from a great height.

More destinations for your plans

For further searches for suitable destinations, you can also explore Pluckley, Smarden, Sheerness, Plaxtol, Langley, Hoath, Whitstable and Broadstairs.

For the overview of the wider region: Kent.