Harrietsham

Harrietsham is a rural village and civil parish in the Maidstone District of Kent, England. According to the United Kingdom Census 2001, it has a population of around 1,504. The parish is located on the slope of the North Downs, east of Maidstone. Within its boundaries are settlements at Marley, Pollhill and Fairbourne.

The village, six miles (6.4 km) from the town, is bypassed by the A20 road between Maidstone and Ashford, although at one time all traffic passed through it. It is noted in the Domesday Book.

The village contains a number of listed buildings, the most important of which architecturally are The Old House in East Street and the Saxon Church of St John the Baptist, which are both listed Grade I. The village also includes a church dedicated to St Peter, a Roman Catholic church and several nonconformist churches.

Harrietsham railway station serves the village. Both the M20 motorway and High Speed 1 pass through the parish.

History
In mediaeval times the manor of Harrietsham passed through a succession of families, including the Adam family of Essex. The manor subsequently passed from Stephen Adam to his sister Eve, wife of John Levett of Hollington, East Sussex. On Levett's death, his widow remarried Laurence Ashburnham, Gent., of Broomham, Sussex, ancestor of the Ashburnham baronets, bringing the manor of Harrietsham into the Ashburnham family.

The Olympic Torch of London 2012 travelled through Harrietsham.