| Chilham | |
Chilham Square |
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Chilham
Chilham shown within Kent |
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| Population | 1,595 [1] |
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| OS grid reference | TR065535 |
| Parish | Chilham |
| District | Ashford |
| Shire county | Kent |
| Region | South East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CANTERBURY |
| Postcode district | CT4 |
| Dialling code | 01227 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Ashford |
| List of places: UK • England • Kent | |
Chilham is a parish in the English county of Kent. Visited by tourists worldwide, it is known for its beauty. Chilham has been a location for a number of films and television dramas. In particular it hosted the 1944 film by Michael Powell and Emeric Presburger, A Canterbury Tale (1944).
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Chilham is located in the valley of the Great Stour river, and beside the A28 road 6 miles (10 km) south of Canterbury. It is centered around an erstwhile market square, where until recently, a traditional annual May Day was celebrated; the Square and the village are transformed by market stalls and festivities. At each end of the square are its major buildings: Chilham Castle and the 15th century parish church, dedicated to St Mary. The White Horse Public House dates from the 16th century.
The village railway station is located on the line from Ashford to Canterbury. The part of the village where the station is located is Bagham.
There are three settlements in the parish: Chilham, Shottenden and Old Wives Lees. The Neolithic longbarrow of Julliberrie's Grave is in the parish.
There are two pubs, the Woolpack and the White Horse. Chilham Castle was owned by the Viscounts Massereene and Ferrard until it was sold in 1997. The present owner is Mr Stuart Wheeler.
The Church is a Norman structure and it is believed that Thomas Becket was buried in the churchyard. A walk around the church reveals the beautiful former Vicarage dating from 1742, just one example of the fine period houses in the village.
Other amenities include a restaurant and tea shop, post office and gift shop.
Chilham was also the location for the BBC's 2009 adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Emma[2] In 1965 it was used for part of the filming of The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders starring Kim Novak, Leo McKern and Angela Lansbury.