Local History Videos

Kent, A County In England

by

Debbie Death
in ,
Kent England UK

The county of Kent, meeting Greater London’s South East border on one side and enjoying over 350 miles of coastline on the other, has a notable and rich history.

Why Is Kent Called Kent?

During Roman times, a Celtic tribe called the Cantii, or Cantiaci, lived in a district called Cantium. It covered modern Kent and some areas of Surrey, Sussex and Greater London, stretching from the River Thames across to the North Sea.

According to legend, when William the Conqueror marched through Kent en route to London in 1066, the local population rose up with weapons to demand protection of their ancient rights. Having secured this freedom, the Roman term for unconquered – Invicta – later became the motto for the county of Kent.

What Is Kent Famous For?

With thousands of historic buildings, including the Norman Canterbury Cathedral, the castles including the Boleyn’s seat Hever Castle, and the easily spotted oast houses scattered throughout the lush countryside which gave rise to the term ‘Garden of England’, Kent delights visitors and residents alike.  

At the coast, Whistable’s colourful cottages and harbourside fish market allow you to soak up a historic atmosphere, while nearby Margate attracts artists and cultural visitors looking to appreciate both Turners and modern art.

If you’re an enthusiast of Roman Britain, a trip to the Canterbury Roman Museum should be at the top of your itinerary. But anyone who has read Chaucer will want to head straight to Canterbury Cathedral.

The Cities, Towns And Villages Of Kent

Maidstone is the administrative centre of modern Kent, but historically Kent’s only city, Canterbury, was one of the most important towns in England because of its religious standing and focus of long-distance pilgrimages.

Many counties are home to a city of the same, or similar, name. Kent is unusual because it is solely the name of the county.

But its location also presents a modern problem arising from the ever-larger spread of London. Several towns, including Sidcup, can now be described as being located in both London and Kent.

The cities, towns and villages of Kent include:

Local History Videos of Kent

If you see one of the place names above highlighted, you can click on it to be taken to a page focussed on that settlement. There, you will find links to a range of videos which you can access for free.

We’ll keep adding more pages as time goes on.

Local History Facebook Groups And Pages For Kent

  • Margate Local History
  • Old Photos of Rainham Kent
  • Thurrock Local History Society

Have we missed your Facebook Group? Please let us know !

Kent’s Local History Groups and Resources 

Appledore Local History Society

Ashford Arch. & History Society

Ashford Branch, Kent Family History Society

Aylesford History Society

British Association for Local History (BALH)

Barham Downs History Society

Barming History Society

Bearsted & District Local History Society

Bexley Civic Society

Bexley History Society

Biddenden Local History Society

Boughton Malherbe History Society

Brenchley & Matfield Local History Society

Bridge & District History Society

Broadstairs Society

Bromley Borough Local History Society

Canterbury Historical & Antiquarian Society

Capel Local History Society

Charing & District Local History Society

Chatham Historical Society

Chislehurst Society

Cranbrook & District Local History Society

Crayford Manor House Historical Society

Dartford Historical & Antiquarian Society

Friends of Dover Museum

Dymchurch & District Heritage Group

East Kent National Trust Association

East Peckham History Society

Elham History Society

Eltham Society

Farningham & Eynsford Local History Society

Faversham Society

Fawkham & District History Society

Folkestone & District Family History Society

Folkestone & District Local History Society

Goudhurst & Kilndown Local History Society

Gravesend History Society

Great Mongeham Society

Hadlow History Society

Halling History Society

Harrietsham History Society

Hawkhurst Local History Society

Headcorn Local History Society

Herne & Broomfield Local Historical Group

Herne Bay Historical Records Society

Higham Village History Group

Hildenborough History Society

Horsmonden History Society

Horton Kirby & S Darenth Local History Society

Hythe Civic Society

Kemsing Heritage Centre Association

Kent Archives

Kent Archaeological Society

Kent Family History Society

Kent Historic Buildings Committee

Kent History and Library Centre

Kent Museums Group

Lamberhurst Local History Society

Lamorbey & Sidcup Local History Society

Leigh & District History Society

Lenham Heritage

Lewisham Local History Society

Loose Area History Society

Friends of Lydd

Lyminge History Society

Lynsted with Kingsdown Society

Maidstone Area Archaeological Group (MAAG)

Maidstone History Society

Marden Historical Group

Margate Civic Society

Friends of Medway Archives

Meopham History Society

Mycenae House Local History Group

N W Kent Family History Society

Northfleet Historical Group

Otford & District History Society

Otham History Society

Oxney Local History Society

Paddock Wood History Society

Plaxtol Local History Group

Rainham History Society

Rolvenden History Group

Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society

Rusthall Local History Group

Rye Museum & Local History Group

Sandwich Local History Society

Seal History Group

Sevenoaks History Society

Shepherdswell & Coldred History Society

Sheppey Local History Society

Shoreham & District History Society

Shorne Local History Group

Sittingbourne Heritage Museum

Sittingbourne Society

Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne

Smarden Local History Society

St Margaret’s History Society

St Mary’s Platt & District Society

Staplehurst Society

Stelling Minnis & Upper Hardres Local History Society

Strood Fellowship

Studying History and Archaeology in Lympne (SHAL)

Swanley History Group

Tenterden & District Local History Society

Teston History Society

Tonbridge History Society

University of Kent Local History Collection

Wateringbury Local History Society

Weald History Group

Weald of Kent Probus Club

Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre

Whitstable History Society

Wingham Local History Society

Woodchurch Local History Society

Wrotham Historical Society

Wye Historical Society

You can find the contact details for many of these societies on the Kent History Federation website.

More Kent Pages

Thanks for the featured image at the top of this page go to littlepixie from Pixabay.

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