Brenchley

Brenchley is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.

History
The name is historically derived from Branca's Leigh. The parish is located 8 mi east of Tunbridge Wells, and 3 mi south of Paddock Wood, and includes the neighbouring village of Matfield. Brenchley & Matfield CoE primary school is located in Brenchley.

Brenchley parish church is dedicated to All Saints; there is an avenue of yew trees leading up to it. The village earns some historical fame by being one of the villages that was closely involved in medieval iron making. The site of the furnace lies within the parish of Horsmonden now.

Notable people.

 * John Browne, (d1653), the first holder of the office of King's Gunfounder.
 * Hamo de Crevequer (d 1263), Norman nobleman who possessed Brenchley and established a market.
 * Gordon Giltrap (b 1948), musician, was born in Brenchley.
 * Edward Martin (1814–69), English cricketer who was born in Brenchley.
 * Richard Philpott (1813–88), English cricketer who resided in Brenchley at the time of his death.
 * Sophie Rhys-Jones (b 1965), wife of Prince Edward, lived in Brenchley.
 * Thomas Thornycroft (1815–85), sculptor, lived in Brenchley at the time of his death.
 * Wat Tyler (1341–1381), leader of the Peasants' Revolt, is reputed to have been born in Brenchley.
 * Siegfried Sassoon.