Ide Hill

Settlement in Kent Sevenoaks

England

Ide Hill

Emmetts The House at Emmetts is private, but the gardens are National Trust. Towards East of gridsquare. — Emmetts Credit: Chris Shaw

Ide Hill is a picturesque village located in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, England. Situated on the Greensand Ridge, it offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside and is renowned for its natural beauty. The village is nestled within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.

One of the defining features of Ide Hill is its proximity to Emmetts Garden, a renowned National Trust property. This well-preserved hillside garden showcases an impressive collection of exotic trees and shrubs, providing visitors with a tranquil retreat. The village itself is also home to a number of charming cottages and historic buildings, adding to its traditional and idyllic atmosphere.

In addition to its natural and architectural beauty, Ide Hill boasts a strong sense of community. The village has a local church, village hall, and a well-regarded primary school, providing a hub for social activities and events. The community often organizes festivals, fairs, and other gatherings to bring residents together and foster a sense of belonging.

For those seeking outdoor adventures, Ide Hill offers a range of walking and cycling opportunities. The area is crisscrossed with footpaths and bridleways that lead to nearby attractions such as Bough Beech Reservoir and the nearby villages of Toys Hill and Chartwell.

Overall, Ide Hill is a charming and vibrant village that combines natural beauty, a strong community spirit, and a rich cultural heritage, making it a truly special place to visit or call home in the heart of Kent.

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Ide Hill Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.245758/0.124096 or Grid Reference TQ4851. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Emmetts

The House at Emmetts is private, but the gardens are National Trust. Towards East of gridsquare.

Chris Shaw

Toys Hill signs

On the corner of Puddledock Lane and Toys Hill Lane and close to several footpaths

Nigel Freeman

Looking towards Ide Hill

From Toys Hill you can get some views to the East towards Ide Hill. The spire of Ide Hill church is just visible.

Nigel Freeman

Toys Hill - site of Weardale Manor

At the top of Toys Hill was sited a very grand house built in 1906 for Lord and Lady Weardale and used by them as their summer home. It had commanding views but sadly fell into neglect and was bequeathed to the National Trust and the land flattened. There are a number of footpaths around this spot. Unfortunately the beautiful views are mainly hidden due to the trees and vegetation.

Nigel Freeman

Toys Hill - the road south towards Four Elms

The overhanging trees make an arch

Nigel Freeman

Tanhouse Wood and Fields - Toys Hill

This area consists of woodlands interdispersed with farmland. Tanhouse Wood can be seen along the left boundary of this photograph.

Nikki Mahadevan

Goathurst Common Well

Prior to the sinking of the well in 1901, villagers used water from rainwater storage tanks. When these ran dry, villagers had to walk down a steep hill to the springs south of Stubbs Woods, to collect their water. Piped water was brought to the area during the 1920s.

Nikki Mahadevan

St Mary's Church Ide Hill

The church was built in 1865 and has the distinction of being the highest church in Kent.

Nikki Mahadevan

Woodland footpath to viewing point at top of York's Hill

This mixed deciduous woodland was ravaged by the Great Storm of 1987.

Jean Barrow

Stubbs Wood - Hanging Bank

This view through Stubbs Wood, showing Bough Beech Reservoir in the distant valley, would not have been possible before the Great Storm of 1987. Many of the mature beech and other native trees were flattened overnight.

Jean Barrow

Henden Farm - Looking towards Toy's Hill

Henden Farm, south of Ide Hill village must have started its history as a clearing in the forest made by a swineherd who came to pasture his pigs, perhaps a thousand years ago. Later it became a farm, part of the Manor of Sundridge, although it was soon an independent manor.

Jean Barrow

Henden Manor - Ide Hill

In 1516 Henry VIII gave Henden to Sir Thomas Boleyn, father of the future Queen. The house which stands here now is sixteenth century, but much restored. The moat probably surrounded an earlier house, although it is not certain why a simple Manor house, far from the coast, should have required a moat.

Jean Barrow

Little Norman Street Farmhouse

I am indebted to Jean Barrow of Ide Hill for supplying the name of this attractive house on the north side of Penn Lane about half a mile west of Brook Street, near Sevenoaks, Kent

Dr Neil Clifton

Penn Farm, Penn Lane, near Sevenoaks, Kent

The substantial farm house shown here stands on the west side of Penn Lane, whereas most of the farm buildings are on the other side of the lane, behind the photographer.

Dr Neil Clifton

Road mirrors, Brasted Chart, Kent

Several of the large houses on the east side of Chart Lane have positioned mirrors opposite the exits from their drives, in order to be able to see properly if it is safe to drive their cars out onto the lane. Some three of these mirrors are to be seen in this photograph.

Dr Neil Clifton

Birchwood apartments -Sundridge

Originally built as a Poor Law Institution and later a hospital for people unable to look after themselves. Today there are about 27 apartments plus individual housing.

Jean Barrow

Farm buildings at Penn Farm - Ide Hill

These farm buildings are on the other side of a very narrow road opposite Penn Farmhouse. The name "Penn" derives from the Old English Pynd, meaning an enclosure.

Jean Barrow