Growth of the Parish 1820-2020
GROWTH OF THE PARISH 1820-2020
The list of houses which follows was compiled over several years by our President Chris Rowley, helped by Joyce Field. It does not pretend at present to be a complete list; and we know that some dates are inexact and some may be inaccurate. However, we thought it would be interesting to try to compile a contemporary Domesday Book on houses in the Parish.
We are publishing it here on the website, along with the graphs below, as we think it is of historical interest. The graphs – compiled by Chris Scott in 2023 – give an indication of how the village has grown over time.
The information was collated from sources held by the Society or obtained elsewhere, including from local residents or from Lawrence Biddle’s Book (Leigh in Kent 1550-1900). Biddle’s book also has a lot of detail on some of the older houses in the village.
Relatively few houses in the main village are as they were before 1820 and have subsequently had major extensions. Only sixteen houses in the main village pre-date the 1841 Tithe Map: these are listed in Lawrence Biddle p. 41.
There were numerous other houses in the parish before 1841 and often newer houses have replaced original, similar houses, such as Church Hill House replaced a former house and shop, Forge Square replaced Forge Row and The Square replaced a block of six cottages and a property known as Brights (which in 1872 consisted of three cottages). Saxby Wood replaced the former Poor House and 3 pauper tenements.
There were some houses, cottages and farms within the Parish but outside the main village but are not included in the list.
In 2020 there were 768 households in the parish (source: 2020 Electoral Register)
We would welcome further suggestions on how to improve this list. If readers are aware of any houses that have been omitted or if anyone has information on more precise dates of construction, please let the Society know by contacting the society here LINK
Click on the following two documents to view the growth of the village in graph form.
Houses In Leigh Total Number By Century
Houses In Leigh Average Number Built Per Year By Century
Below is the list of houses in the village in alphabetical order plus the number of houses.
Date No. Name of Property
1890? 1 Alders Cottage, Ensfield Road
2000? 1 Appleby’s Cottage, Chiddingstone Causeway (conversion)
2000? 1 Appleby’s Coach house, Chiddingstone Causeway (conversion)
1579 – pre Applebys, Chiddingstone Causeway
1933 1 Applegarth, powder Mill Lane
1930s? Ardullie, Penshurst Road
1950s? 1 Arthreda, Hollow Trees Drive
1900 ca. 1 Bakery The, Charcott
1856 4 Barden Cottage, The Green
1934 1 Barnetts Mead, powder Mill Lane
2005 5 Barnetts Road (in-fill houses)
1920s 22 Barnetts Road
1600-1700s 1 Bat & Ball and Shop
1930s? 1 Beeches The, Powder Mill Lane
1840s 1 Bell Cottage, Church Hill (originally part of Great Brookes)
1930s 1 Birchdene, Penshurst Road
1860s 2 Blackhoath Cottages, Chiddingstone Causeway Road (formerly Penshurst
Estate)
1600s 1 Bombers Cottage
1965 1 Bradbourne, Lower Green: replacement of parish cottage (next to Bridge House)
1900? 1 Brampton House, Scabharbour Road
1930s 1 Briarways
1930s 1 Briarwood House, Penshurst Road
1978 1 Bridge House, Lower Green
1960s 1 British Legion Flat (occupied as dwelling)
1800s-pre 1 Brook Cottage, off Powder Mill lane
1930s 1 Brookside Cottage, Eggpie Lane
1930s 1 Buckhurst, Penshurst Road
1620-post 2 Budgeons Cottages
? 1 Bungalow, Church Hill renamed the Croft in 2012
1930s? 1 Bungalow, lower Green (formerly stables to The Bakery)
1960s 1 Bungalow, Prices Wood
1897 2 Bungalows, 1 & 2 The Green (formerly almhouses/Jubilee Cottages)
1950s-late 3 Bungalows, 1, 2, 3, Green Lane
1930s 1 Burstock, Penshurst Road
1970s 1 Cedar Court – formerly Shoe House, Chiddingstone Causeway Rd
1980s 4 Charcott Farm Granary, Oast House, old Barn, Old Stables (conversions)
1700- pre 1 Charcott Farm house
1860s 4 Charcott Green Cottages
1890s 1 Charcott Place
1961 5 Charlotte Cottages, 1-5 (replaced Rose Cottage)
1920s 1 Cherry Oak, Powder Mills
1950s 1 Cherry Tree Cottage, Kiln Lane
1830s 2 Cherry Tree Cottages, The Green
1930s 1 Cheriton, Penshurst Road
1913 ca 1 Chestnuts, The Green
1832 1 Chilling House (formerly The Limes)
1800s 2 (now 1) Church Hill Cottages (2 weatherboarded, part of Great Brooks, date u/k
But now replaced by The Croft (formerly known as the Bungalow)
1855 1 Church Hill House (replaced former house with shop)
1600s 1 Cinder Hill Farm
1888 4 Cinder Hill Farm Cottages
1830s 1 Coach House, The Green (built 1830s? converted into house 1960)
1930s? 1 Coombe Firs, Powder Mill Lane
1930s? 3 Collins Bungalows, Kiln lane
1600s Collins Farm, see upper Kennards
1886-pre 11 Compasses, The (freehold sold in 1886)
1960s 2 Coppins Brook Cottages
1700s late 2 Coppins Brook Cottages
1960s? 1 Coppins Bungalow, Hollow Tree Drive
1980s 1 Coppins Cottage (formerly The Bothy)
1760s 1 Coppins Farm House
1873? 1 Corawell, Kiln Lane
1876 2 Cottage The, High Street
1910? 1 Cottage The, Powder Mill Lane
1970 1 Croft The, Church Hill (replaced 2 Church Hill Cottages see above) (formerly the Bungalow, sold 2012 and renamed The Croft)
1970s 13 Crandalls
1902? Cricket Pavilion
1930s 1 Cul-na-Greine, Powder Mill Lane
1920s 1 Dairy, Green View Avenue
1950s 1 Domicillo, Kiln Lane
1967-68 5 Donkey Field
1800 early 1 East Lodge, Hildenborough Road (rebuilt 1852)
1873-74 2 Eastern and Western Bungalows, Penshurst Road
1890s? 1 Eastwood Farm, Scabharbour Road
1930s? 3 Eggpie Lane: Hawthorne, Manonville, Ringetts
1853 1 El Vanin, Lower Green
1600s 1 Elizabeth Cottage, The Green
1840s?? 1 Engineers Cottage, High Street
1870s ca 2 Ensfield cottages
1579 – pre 1 Ensfield Farm (bungalow replacement 1990s)
1928 1 Fair Acres, powder Mill Lane (see Kenbar below)
1980s? 1 Fairlawn, Chiddingstone Causeway Road
1960s? 1 Fairlawn, Hollow Tree Drive
1890 1 Field cottage, Prices Farm
1930s 1 Firfield, Penshurst Road
1879 1 Firs The, High Street
1855 2 Fleur de lis cottages, High Street (former 4, now 2)
1870/71 1 Fleur de Lis pub (formerly 2 Fleur de lis cottages)
1600s-pre 1 Forge, The Green
1880ca 1 Forge Cottage, The Green
1600-pre 1 Forge Cottage/House Charcott (formerly Forge Cottage)
1887-1888 7 Forge Square, The Green – replaced Forge Row
2001 4 Forstall, The (additional homes)
1949 10 Forstall, The (formerly Airey houses built 1949, replace 1983)
1850s 1 Foxwold, Cinder Hill
1980s? 1 Fundindelve, Powder Mill Lane
1500s 1 Gales, Powder Mill Lane
? 1 Garden Cottage Penshurst Road
1906-1914 26 Garden Cottages
1863 1 Gardeners Cottage, Hall Place (also Chauffeurs Cottage)
2000s 9 Gibbs Field
1990? 1 Gowers, The Green
1970 1 Great barn, Old Barnetts Conversion
1500s-late Great Barnetts
1400s 1 Great Brooks (original building was added to)
Great Coppings Farm (see Coppings Farm)
1860s 1 Greyhound, The – Charcott
2010 4 Green Cottages, 5-8 Charcott
1960s 2 Green View Avenue (further houses/infill)
1926-1938 20 Green View Avenue
1550s 1 Greenacres, Philpots Lane (formerly Blue Anchor pub)
1500s 1 Greenways, Powder Mill Lane (extended 1929)
1920s 1 Hawthorns, Powder Mill Lane
1930s 1 Hawthornes, Eggpie Lane
1800s? 1 Hale Oak Cottage, Hale oak Road
1300-1400s 6 Hall Place and houses around it – medieval building/1780 rebuilt/1870 rebuilt
1930s 1 Hazeldene, Penshurst Road
1934 1 Hillcrest
1579-pre Hollanden Farm and other small farms in area (formerly in parish)
1935 1 Hollies, The, Green View Ave
19050? 1 Hollow Trees (formerly The Bungalow)
2005-2010 9 Hollow Trees Close
1990? 1 Homelands, Powder Mill Lane
1963/64 1 Hedgerows, Powder Mill Lane
1930s 1 Holly Lodge
1500s 2 Home Farm – formerly Clarkes Farm
1950s & 1996 10 Home Farm Close conversions
2005 17 Hunter Seal, powder Mills
1961 1 Inglenook, Powder Mill Lane (converted) : 1870s formerly Old Vicarage stables
1872-73 1 Institute Cottage, High Street
1700s late 2 Iris Cottages, Charcott
2015 1 Ivy Lodge, Powder Mill Lane
1965 1 Ivydale, replacement of parish cottage (near Bridge House)
1389 1 Jessops, Charcott
1897 2 Jubilee Almshouses (see 1&2 Bungalows, The Green
2000? 1 Keepers, Powder Mill Lane
1928 1 Kenbar, see Fair Acres, Powder Mill Lane
1842 1 Kennards (aka Kennards cottage)
1950s Kennels, Redleaf – see Woodside
1930s 1 Kerang, Penshurst Road
1500s 3 Killicks Bank (Old Farmhouse, Cottage, Merrywinds)
1963-64 3 Houses (already listed under names)
1953 1 Kiln Mere, formerly Ensleigh, Lower Green
1859 10 Knotley Hall (Little Knotley x2: N.S.E. Wing Carpenters; Stable x2;
Headmaster’s House; Baffins)
1970s 8 Knotley hall Cottages 1-9
1940s &50s 23 Lealands Avenue
1579 – pre 1 Leigh Park Farm – formerly North Parke
1940s? 3 Leigh park Farm cottages
1860s 3 Lightfoot Cottages ( built by Penshurst Estate)
1832-33 Limes, The – see Chilling House
1600s early 1 Little Barnetts Old Farm House
1950 1 Little Barnetts Farm, powder Mill Lane
1600-pre Little Boydens (where Forge Square is now)
1930s 1 Little Bradbourne, Penshurst Road
1600-pre 1 Little Brooks (where Forge House is now)
1800s 1 Little coppings
1490 1 Little Keeper, Charcott (amalgamation of 2)
1800-pre 1 Little Lucy’s Farm
1579-pre 1 Little Moorden Farm – formerly Blackhothe
2000? 1 Log Cabin, Moorden
1990 7 Loughrigg, Ramhurst
1950s 1 Low Croft, Powder Mill Lane
1963-64 4 Lower Green nos. 3, 5, 7, 9
1970s Lower Green Kiln Lane
2021 7 Lower Green: Kiln Lane development
1879 1 Lower Mead Cottage, High Street
1300s-pre 1 Lower Street Farm
1930s? 1 Manderville, Eggpie Lane
1920s? 1 Manor Farm, Powder Mill lane
1930s 1 Manor Cottage, Powder Mill Lane
1930s 1 Meadow Bungalow, Wier Lane (replaced 2020 by ?)
1950s Meadowbank area (pre-fabs demolished 1960s)
1970-80 15 Meadowbank (replacing pre-fabs)
2000s 5 Meadowbank (additional houses)
2010 3 Meadowbank (extra houses far end)
2015 1 Middlewood, Gaza
1970s-mid 1 Moat Farm Cottage
1970s-mid 1 Moat Farm Granary (built late 16th century)
1970s-mid 1 Moat Farm Great Barn (conversion from mid-12th century)
1800s-early 1 Moat Farm House (and Oast)
1980? 1 Moorden Farm Barn
1950s 10 Moorden Cottages
1632 ca 1 Moorden Farm
1893 2 Moorden Farm Cottages (Penshurst Estate)
2000? 1 Moorden Farm Granary (conversion)
2000? 1 Moorden Oast (converted)
1980s 1 Moorden Old Stables
1980s 1 Moorden Watermans
1934 1 Netherfield, Powder Mill Lane
1939 1 New Cottages, Charcott
1860s 4 Newtown Cottages, Charcott
1870s? 1 North Lodge, Redleaf
2015 1 Oak Cottage, Powder Mill Lane
1500s 1 Oak Cottage, The Green (extended 1980)
1879 3 Oak Cottages, High Street,
1990 1 Oak Lodge, Powder Mill Lane
1970 1 Oakfield Farm, powder Mill Lane
2015 1 Oakguard, Powder Mill Lane (formerly Medlars)
1930s 1 Oaklea, Penshurst Road
1900s 1 Old Bakery, Charcott
1853 1 Old bakery, Lower Green (originally 2 cottages)
1841 1 Old Brickmakers (formerly beerhouse)
1500 1 Old Chimneys (formerly 1 and 2 The Green)
1400s? 1 Old Kennards (formerly part of Parsonage Farm: 2 cottages)
1855 2 Old Laundry and Laundry Cottage (Bid Brook)
1852ca 1 Old Lodge aka (Pepperpot, Pinnacles, Penshurst Lodge)
1893 1 Old Lucks Cottage, moorden
1970s 22 Old orchard houses, Charcott (replacing 1950s pre-fabs)
1948 Old orchard pre-fabs (Charcott) – replaced
1812 1 Old Powder Mills Manager’s House
1830/1960 1 Old School House, Powder Mill Lane – school plus cottage until ca. 1900:
used solely as house by mid-20th Century
1880? 1 Old Vicarage, Chiddingstone Causeway
1877 1 Old Vicarage – replaced original moated vicarage
1600s 1 Old Wood Cottage, The Green (formerly no.3 and 4 The Green)
1970? 1 Onival Powder Mill Lane
1400s? 1 Orchard House, High Streeet (extended 1703) formerly Clements Farm
1988 1 Orchard Lodge, The Green
1930s 1 Oakfield, Penshurst Road
1930s 1 Pantiles, Penshurst Road
1865 1 Park Cottage (attached to Stone House) High Street
1856 1 Park Holt, Redleaf (built by Penshurst Estate)
1865 1 Park House, Hildenborough Road (formerly Park Cottage and Upper Park Cottage)
1850s 1 Park View, plus current shop High Street
1700s? 1 Park View Cottage, High Street (formerly 2 cottages) see also West cottage
? 1 Park Farm (where)
Parsonage Farm (see Kennards)
1800-pre 1 Paul’s Farm (originally Pole’s Farm) (sold by Penshurst estate in 1985 to private ownership)
1990s 1 Pauls Farm Barn (conversion 1990) (sold by Penshurst estate in 1985 to private ownership)
1870s 1 Paul’s Farm Cottage (sold by Penshurst estate in 1985 to private ownership)
1986 1 Paul’s Farm Oast (conversion 1986) (sold by Penshurst estate in 1985 to private ownership)
1900s? 1 Paul’s Hill House
1950 7 Penshurst Road nos. 31, 33, 35, 37, 39,41,49
1930s? 1 Pheasant House, Hollow Trees Drive (rebuilt)
1930s 1 Pinfarthings, Penshurst Road
1852 1 Pinnacles (see Old Lodge)
1961 1 Pippin Cottage, The Green
1950/2012 1 Podium House (replaced former bungalow) The Green
1957 1 Police House, Green Lane
1930s? 1 Pond Cottage, Eggpie Lane
1500s ca 1 Porcupine House (formerly Goat’s Head Coaching Inn)
1830s 24 Powder Mill Cottages
2015 80 Powder Mills new development
1850? 1 Prices Farm
1950s 2 Prices Wood Cottages
1950s 1 Primrose House, Charcott
1900s ca 1 Priory Barn
1500s 1 The Priory
1930s 1 Priory Farm Bungalow
1930s 1 Priory Farm Cottage
1950s 1 Priory Oasthouse (converted into a house)
1840s 1 Pump Cottage, High Street (formerly Ivy Cottage/House)
1960s 1 Ramhurst Coach House (conversion)
1960s 1 Ramhurst Lodge
1500s 1 Ramhurst Manor
1870 1 Ramhurst Oast
1853 1 Ranmore, Lower Green
1960 1 Rapparee, Penshurst Road
1930s 1 Rayak, Penshurst Road
1800s-pre 1 Reams Farm
1860ca 1 Redleaf Lodge
1800 pre 1 Remys, abutting Churchyard (replaced by Great Brooks area)
1930s 1 Rise The, Penshurst Road
1930s 1 Rivermead, Penshurst Road
1990? 1 Rookhurst, Ramhurst
1950? 1 Rose Cottage, Lower Green
1930? 1 Rosslyn, Powder Mill Lane
1930s 1 Roughetts, Eggpie Lane
1840s ?later 1 Sandalwood, High Street
1980? 1 St Andrew’s Cottage, Scabharbour Lane
1968 12 Saxby Wood (cottages replacing poor house and other tenements)
1870 School on Green (replacing original charity school on Green)
1876 Schoolmaster’s House, The Green (now part of School)
1930s 1 Searwell, Penshurst Road
1930s 1 Sefton, Penshurst Road
1950s Shoe House – see Cedar Court
1930s 1 Southmead, Penshurst Road
1889-90 1 Southdown House, The Square
1890 1 South View (formerly convalescent home)
1850 1 Southwood Lodge, Scabharbour Road
1850? 1 Southwood, The Knot, Scabharbour Road
1850? 1 Southwood, The Cottage, Scabharbour Road
1980s 1 Spilebank, White Post
1889-90 7 The Square (replaced 1700s houses)
1865 1 Stone House (formerly 2 cottages)
1950? 1 Tanglewood, Scabharbour Road
1880s 1 Tapners Cottage, Ensfield Road
1960s 1 Topfield Cottage, Hollow Tree Drive
1870s ca 1 Upper Kennards, once known a The Parsonage, replaced earlier Collins
Farm
1800s Vestry Cottages, The Green (3 Cottages demolished 1913)
1893 1 Vicarage, The Chiddingstone Causeway (see Old Vicarage)
1354 ca 1 Vicarage, Leigh (replaced 19th entury with ‘Old Vicarage’)
1960 1 Vicarage, New, The Green
1872 Village Halls (built)
1873 1 Waterworks (not originally a house, but converted 1980s)
1873 1 Waterworks Cottage
1970-80 6 Well Close (development: west end) Initial houses
1990s 39 Well Close, main development
2000? 2 Well Close, 2 additional houses replacing 1 cottage
1950? 1 Weir Lane Cottage (replaced ? in 2020)
1700s 1 West Cottage, High Street (part of 3 original cottages – see Park View
Cottages)
1875 1 West Lodge, Penshurst Road (formerly Penshurst Lodge – replacing 2 earlier
cottages)
1964 1 Wheelwrights Cottage, High Street, converted from workshop
1900? 1 White Cottage, Chiddingstone Causeway Road
1500s 1 White House, The Green (medieval origin, early 19th century front)
1960s? 1 Whitecroft, Kiln Lane
1950 ? 1 Whitegates, Hollow Trees Dirve
1800-pre 1 Whitepost Farm
1579-pre 1 Whitepost Farmhouse
1980? 1 Whitepost Farm Studio
1600s 1 Whitepost House (separate from Farmhouse)
1980? 1 Whitepost, Little Barn
1990? 1 Whitepost oast (converted)
1970s 1 Whitepost Studio
1880 4 Wickhurst, E/W, S and N cottages
1871 4 Wickhurst Farm converted buildings (The Old Dairy; Black Barn; S & N
Stables)
1870ca 1 Wickhurst Oast
1892-95 2 Wickhurst Farmhouse and Furrows
1930s 1 Windfalls, Penshurst Road
1579-pre 1 Woods, The (formerly Shymes) Hildenborough Road
1960s ca 1 Woodside (formerly The Kennels) Redleaf
1930s 1 Wychwood, Penshurst Road
1956-57 17 Wyndham Avenue and Wyndham Close
1930s? 1 Yew tree Cottage, Eggpie Lane
Pre-1820
Relatively few houses in the main village are as they were before 1820 – and all of them have virtually all had major extensions.
The White House
The Porcupine
Old Kennards
Gales/Greenways
Old Wood Cottage
Old Chimneys
Oak Cottage, The Green
Elizabeth Cottage
Great Brooks (shop, outbuildings and house)
The Forge
Orchard House
The Bat and Ball
The Shop and cottage adjoining
Bombers
Budgeons Cottages
Park View and West Cottage (formerly 3 cottages)
The Woods
CHRIS ROWLEY (as at Dec 2023)