The delightful village of Westerham is situated due west of Sevenoaks in the heart of Kent, and is surrounded by gently rolling, open countryside and woodland areas. The village is home to 5,000 residents and is formed around the original village green, the shops and the 13th century Church of St Mary the Virgin. The village green, which was once used as the local market place, lies on the south-eastern outskirts of the present community and is where some of the heritage of Westerham can be seen. The green is overlooked by the ‘Grasshopper on the Green’, which dates from the 13th century and was at one time a popular coaching station. The Grasshopper provides visitors with an excellent view of the green and the statue of General Wolfe, a son of Westerham, and the statue of Sir Winston Churchill, who also lived here. Westerham has several properties, houses and pubs, which date back many centuries and if time permits it is possible to see the highlights of the village through a short walk which is clearly explained on the local community website.
Westerham is a popular tourist destination as it ideally placed to visit Chartwell, Sir Winston Churchill’s last residence, the historic Hever Castle, which was once the residence of Queen Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII, and Down House, the last residence of Charles Darwin who discover the theory of evolution and wrote the controversial ‘Origin of Species’. Within Westerham there are also places of interest which include Squerryes Court, an excellent example of a fine 17th century manor house - and Quebec House, childhood home of General James Wolfe who became famous for his success in the Battle of Quebec in 1759.
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