If you’re looking to put down roots in a rural location with traditional features and great transport links, buying or renting a property in Hamstreet could tick all the right boxes. Situated off the A2070, just 6 miles from Ashford, Hamstreet, the ‘gateway to the marshes’, offers residents a wealth of opportunities.
This pretty village features country cottage gardens and white weather-boarded buildings and boasts some of the best walking routes in the country. Just beyond the village border is the Royal Military Canal, Hamstreet Woods and Orlestone Forest, all of which provide the perfect setting for a day of rambling, cycling, or simply relaxing and taking in the sights.
Hamstreet village is steeped in smuggling history, with its name coming from the Old English ‘hamm’, meaning ‘land hemmed in by water or marsh’. Once just a hamlet known as ‘Ham’, the village expanded rapidly in the 20th century, and gained some fame when maps of the village were used on a series of postage stamps to mark 200 years of the Ordnance Survey – with an episode of BBCs Countryfile devoted to the occasion.
Lovers of architecture will delight in the churches situated in the village and surrounding areas, including Hamstreet’s central church, The Church of the Good Shepherd, which is a real hub of the community, putting on activities such as coffee mornings for residents to enjoy.
When it comes to amenities, Hamstreet is well resourced with its own post office, local convenience store, bakery, garage and garden centre that sells a variety of good-quality, especially selected plants, garden furniture and sundries, and bird and pet care. Residents of Hamtreet village also benefit from having their own doctors surgery, which is considered one of the best in Great Britain, as well as a primary school – Hamstreet primary Academy. Parents moving into the area with school-age children will be interested to know that the school offers its pupils a first-class, exciting and creative experience, and prides itself on providing the children with the motivation, skills and knowledge needed to succeed in life.
As well as quiet charm, beautiful surroundings and handy amenities, Hamstreet also offers some nice places to eat and drink, both within the village itself and in the surrounding villages, including The Old School House, which offers tasty dishes from Indian heritage that combine fresh, British ingredients with a western twist. The Duke’s head pub is another favourite with locals, providing a selection of draft beers and traditional, home cooked food. The pub shows Sky Sports, making it very popular with the locals when the football’s on, and there are a number of associated activities, including men’s and ladies darts teams, pool teams and a cribs team that plays on Thursday nights.
If immersing yourself in village life means the whole family joining in with local activities, you’ll be pleased to know that if you’re looking to buy or rent a property in Hamstreet, there’s plenty to choose from. The village is home to a dance school, Scouts and Guides groups, and a sports and recreation area and pavilion that hosts cricket, football – and even hot air ballooning. A variety of fitness classes are held in the village hall and include Zumba, line-dancing and Tai Chi.
If you want to take advantage of the stunning surroundings you’re suddenly lucky enough to live among, then make sure you get yourself a bike and make the most of Hamstreet’s mountain-biking club and the amazing trails that wind through Hamstreet Woods and Orlestone Forest.
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