High Street, Cranbrook

High Street
A 2024 view
Length0.62 mi (1.00 km)
LocationCranbrook, Kent, England
East endCarriers Road and Stone Street
West endHartley Road

High Street is the main thoroughfare of the English market town of Cranbrook, Kent.[1] It runs for 0.62 miles (1.00 km), from a merging of Carriers Road and Stone Street in the east to Hartley Road (the A229) in the west.[2] Many of its buildings date to the late medieval period, with over fifty of them now being listed.[3]

A market has been held in High Street since 1290, when Archbishop Peckham granted the town a charter.[4]

Notable buildings on the northern side of High Street include:[5]

  • The Vine, a former coaching inn dating to the early 17th century
  • Vine Cottage, adjacent to the Vine
  • The Pharmacy and Pharmacy Cottage. The cottage was once part of a range of buildings that have since been demolished
  • Manor Cottage
  • Goudhurst House, dating to the 17th century
  • Church House and Church Cottage

Southern side:

  • Chilworth
  • The Star and Eagle, dating to the 15th century
  • Beeching house, adjacent to the Star and Eagle
  • The Eight Bells, dating to the 15th century, adjacent to the Beeching house
  • Spyways, dating to the 14th century
  • Trundles
  • Alexandra House
  • Bank House, dating to the early 16th century
  • Fountain House
  • Burton House and Burgess Stores

Artists Frederick Daniel Hardy and Thomas Webster formerly owned a studio on High Street.[2]

References

  1. ^ Holmwood, Chloe; Smiles, Mieka (17 August 2024). "Kent's charming town that's home to one of the UK's prettiest high streets". Kent Live. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  2. ^ a b "A wander around Cranbrook". Great British Life. 29 March 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  3. ^ "The List Search Results for Cranbrook, kent | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  4. ^ "The Official Website of Cranbrook Kent England UK - Near Sissinghurst Castle Gardens - The Weald of Kent - Homepage". www.cranbrook.org. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  5. ^ "High Street – North Side - The Goudhurst & Kilndown Local History Society". 26 April 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2025.