Westbere
| Westbere | |
 Village entrance |
|
  Westbere Westbere shown within Kent | |
| Population | <400 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | TR190613 |
| Civil parish | Westbere |
| District | City of Canterbury |
| Shire county | Kent |
| Region | South East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Canterbury |
| Postcode district | CT2 |
| Dialling code | 01227 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Canterbury |
Westbere is a small village in Kent, England, situated some four miles north east of Canterbury city centre along the A28 route to the Isle of Thanet. The parish comprises a preservation area that overlooks Westbere lakes (created by gravel extraction) that teem with birds and wildlife. The village spreads along a steep wooded bank north of the Great Stour between the A28 and the Ashford to Ramsgate railway. With fewer than 130 properties, it is a peaceful rural village with a variety of dwellings including several hall houses built in the 1400s; some historic cottages and barns; a few properties built later for more distinguished residents and some modern houses and bungalows. Because it was for so long a poor farming community, it was not targeted for development in Victorian times and the central part of Westbere, in particular, remains quaint and rural.
The village has no formal centre with shops and other services. All Saints Church presides from the hill slope in Church Lane; there is a much used village hall and the local inn, Ye Olde Yew Tree dating from the 1400s, is popular with locals and visitors.
The rural nature of Westbere derives partly from the fact that it is separated from surrounding villages by green fields. The views across the Stour Valley are breathtaking and Westbere lakes, created when a former quarry was flooded, now form an extensive wetland area with reed beds. Inevitably there has been industrial development in some of the areas beyond the village including the now closed Chislet Colliery and the new Lakesview International Business Park.
There is a strong community spirit within the village and social events are well supported, such as the Annual Summer Picnic, a Christmas lunch, and Carols on the Green. One of the organisations, the Westbere Village Preservation Society, has set up up a Westbere Heritage Trail with a grant from the Local Heritage Initiative. An illustrated and descriptive walking trail leaflet is accompanied by a booklet which contains contributions from many villagers. Subjects documented include the architecture, industry, the lakes, local traditions and treasures, natural and social history, All Saints Church and Ye Olde Yew Tree Inn. The Village Hall houses an album quilt with the theme "Living in Westbere" made entirely by the residents of Westbere parish.
Historic Background: Westbere has been on important transport routes, and the subject of development, for at least two millennia. Given its historical position on these routes it is not surprising that Westbere has had significant archaeological discoveries recorded over the last couple of centuries, including prehistoric artefacts, Romano-British and Anglo-Saxon burials and a large Iron Age Romano-British settlement (now beneath Lakesview International Business Park). Almost all were discovered accidentally; it did not prove possible to assess their full significance properly and they have been sparse in number given the long known history of settlement. All relate to a relatively narrow time period, roughly 700 BC to 700 AD, after which there is a gap until the church appears sometime after the Norman conquest. Much probably remains to be discovered and a full archaeological assessment and history are still waiting to be written.
Ye Olde Yew Tree Inn: The Inn was built in 1348 and it is one of the oldest pubs in Kent. Queen Anne and the Archbishop of Canterbury are reputed to have stayed here, and pub-frequenting Dick Turpin evaded capture from the law hiding out here. The building was used as a hospital to treat wounded soldiers during the civil war and unsurprisingly two Ghosts live here(!), though they prefer to remain in the background. The interior is heavily beamed and features a large inglenook fireplace providing a cozy environment in the winter. The large beer garden offers the perfect setting for a summer afternoon, whether enjoying a beer or a bite to eat.
External links
Media related to Westbere at Wikimedia Commons
