Visit Sutton Valence Places

Welcome to Visit Sutton Valence Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Sutton Valence

  

Sutton Valence Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Sutton Valence

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Sutton Valence history

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Iron Age and Roman artefacts have been found in the area. The Roman road from Maidstone to Ashford and Lympne passed through the village.

Saxon era – Before the Battle of Hastings

The earliest mention of a settlement at Sutton Valence was in 814, when Coenwulf mentioned Suinothe in a charter. Before the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the manor was owned by Leofwine Godwinson, brother of Harold.

After 1066

In 1086 the village is recorded in the Domesday Book under the name of Sudtone (South Town, or Sutton) granted to Adam FitzHubert who held it from Odo Bishop of Bayeux, the half-brother of William the Conqueror. The manor was then granted to the Count of Aumale, Baldwin of Bethune, who built a castle, the remains of its keep or tower can be seen on the east side of the village. The village of Sutton then became known as Sutton Valence after the town in France where William de Valence was born.

15th–16th centuries

In 1401, the manor was one of those sold to provide a ransom for the release of Baron Grey of Ruthin. Owain Glyndŵr the Welsh leader who rebelled against King Henry IV is mentioned in the Shakespeare play of that name. In 1578, William Lambe built a free grammar school in the village, allowing the Master £20 per year with “a good house and garden to reside in”, and a person called “the Usher” was allowed £10 per year.

18th and 19th centuries

The Filmer family lent money for the construction of the turnpike road from Maidstone to Tenterden. Many of the older buildings in the village are constructed from “ragstone” which was quarried locally at Boughton Monchelsea between the village and Maidstone.

Local Windmills

Sutton Valence Town Mill was a Smock mill built about 1720. In 1796 it was rebuilt and raised a storey following gale damage in which the cap and sails were blown off. In 1918 it was again damaged in a gale, and was worked into the 1930s by an engine rather than its sails. In 1945 it was demolished, leaving the base standing.

St Mary’s Church

In 1825 an earlier church was rebuilt, the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers contributed the sum of £20 towards the rebuilding. 1827 – the Clothworker Company gave £20 to a gallery at the west end, in the front of which the pupils of the grammar school had seats. 1866 – the company contributed £10 towards a memorial window at the east end in memory of Rev. F. Walter. 1872 – the firm gave £21 towards an organ on the north side of the chancel. 1874 – the group gave what was called at the time a “munificent sum” towards further alterations.

World War I and after

In 1916 the Filmer family connection with Sutton Valence ended when Robert Filmer was killed in France. Following his death, property in the town was sold at auction. East Sutton Park was kept until 1939.

World War 2

The residents of Watts’ Almshouses, Rochester were evacuated to a Georgian house in the village called Eylesden. During the Second World War, residents of the village were evacuated from Watts’ almshouses. The residents lived in the Georgian house, which is now called the Pilot Officer Shaw Memorial.

You can visit Sutton Valence places with Walkfo Sutton Valence to hear history at Sutton Valence’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Sutton Valence has 14 places to visit in our interactive Sutton Valence map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Sutton Valence, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Sutton Valence places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Sutton Valence & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 14 audio facts unique to Sutton Valence places in an interactive Sutton Valence map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Sutton Valence Places Map
14 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Sutton Valence historic spots	Sutton Valence tourist destinations	Sutton Valence plaques	Sutton Valence geographic features
Walkfo Sutton Valence tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Sutton Valence

  

Best Sutton Valence places to visit

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Sutton Valence has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Sutton Valence’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Sutton Valence’s information audio spots:

HM Prison East Sutton Park HM Prison East Sutton Park is a women’s open prison and young offender’s institute. It is located in the Parish of East Sutton, near Maidstone in Kent. The prison is operated by Her Majesty’s Prison Service.

All Saints Church, Ulcombe All Saints is a parish church in Ulcombe, Kent. It was begun in the 12th century and is a Grade I listed building.

Visit Sutton Valence plaques