Biddenden Village

Biddenden is a village and civil parish in the Ashford District of Kent, England. The village lies on the Weald of Kent, some five miles (8km) north of Tenterden. It was centre for Wealden iron industry and also of clothmaking. During the reign of Edward III some Flemish clothworkers settled in the area. The ready availability of raw materials led to the establishment of an industry for the production of broadcloth. The Old Cloth Hall is a reminder of the trade that was once carried out in the Village by Flemish weavers. An important cottage industry is established to the west, where wine and cider is produced.
Picturesque and steeped in history, Biddenden is a 'chocolate box', quintessentially English Village with beautiful half-timbered buildings dating from the 15th century flanking the cobbled High Street pavements. The Biddenden Village sign-post depicts the Biddenden Maids, Eliza and Mary Chulkhurst, who were Siamese twins joined at the hips and shoulders, born in 1100. The twins died at the age of 34 and left their 20 Acre plot of land to the poor. The twins are commemorated in the Village by a gift of bread and cheese given to the old age pensioners every Easter Monday. The gift is handed out at the Old Workhouse, which dates from the 15th century. The place name of Biddenden is derived from Old English, meaning Bidda's woodland pasture associated with a man called Bida originally Biddingden (c993) Bida + ing + denn, eventually evolved into the current spelling.

Biddenden is also the trading name of Biddenden's Cider. Biddenden's cider is made by Biddenden Vineyards Ltd. whose premises are close to the village of Biddenden. Biddenden Vineyards have a website.
Transport connections are excellent with a Mainline Station at Headcorn providing fast and frequent trains to London, Ashford International and the South Coast and connections at Tonbridge with Gatwick Airport. From Ashford International one can join the Eurostar train service, bringing Paris and Brussels within about 90 minutes' travelling time. Ashford will also provide a new fast rail link to London, forecast to be finished soon, which promises a rail service into Central London taking approximately 35 minutes. Junctions 8 and 9 of the M20 Motorway are each approximately 12 miles away offering road links to the South Coast and the M25 leading to London, Lakeside, Bluewater, Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted Airports. From the M20 one is connected to the full UK Motorway Network. Eurotunnel, accessed via Exit 11 on the M20, provides an excellent train service for motorists wishing to travel over to Calais in their cars, in a journey time of approximately 35 minutes.

EDUCATION
Kent is renowned for the quality, choice and commitment to excellence of its educational system in both the public and private sector. Noteworthy schools in the area include Ashford, Benenden, Bethany, Cranbrook, Dulwich, Friars, Kings, Marlborough House, St Edmunds, St Ronans, Sutton Valence and Underhill to name but a few.