When planning a stay in Petham, you can focus on two themes: the history of the construction and use of the Church of All Saints, and walks that start in the village. Petham House adds to the historical points of interest; on the 11-mile circular walk, it lies on the return journey to Petham. When planning, you can therefore decide whether the village church and its history or a particular route is your main consideration.

The Building History of the Church of All Saints

The Church of All Saints has a Norman nave and a Norman porch on the north side. The nave is the main space of the church building; the porch is another clearly defined part of the building. The upper part of the tower was added in 1760. After a fire in 1922, the church was restored. These details reveal different historical periods: the Norman features, an addition to the tower in 1760, and a restoration following the fire of 1922. The building’s history cannot therefore be reduced to a single period.

The history of its use also spans a long period: Christian worship has taken place on the grounds of All Saints in Petham for more than 800 years. This period adds a continuing tradition at the same site to the individual building changes. Glass from the chancel of the Church of All Saints dates from the 13th century and is preserved at Canterbury Cathedral. This adds a specific medieval detail that is preserved in Canterbury. The architecture, the history of worship and the surviving glass offer different, interconnected ways to explore the history of All Saints.

Petham House is also a historical point of interest in its own right: it is a Grade II listed building. This designation gives the house a specific listed-building category and complements the building history of the village church with another named building in Petham.

Walks from Petham

An 11-mile circular walk starts in Petham and passes the Church of All Saints as the Petham walk. On the return journey, it goes via Petham House back to Petham. The starting point, circular route and return point are therefore specified, and two particular buildings are also part of the route. If you are planning the walk, you can consider the church and the house as landmarks on a single walk, rather than viewing them only as separate points of interest. The length of 11 miles gives a specific indication of the extent of this route.

Another walking route from Petham runs mainly along footpaths through open grassland, fields and woodland. Here, the route and the mix of open spaces, fields and woodland are the main focus. The two walk descriptions therefore offer different points of reference for planning: the circular walk gives its length, passes All Saints and returns via Petham House; the other describes mainly the types of paths and the landscape. You can make your choice according to whether you prefer a measured circular route with named landmarks or the described character of the route.

Discover more destinations: Tunbridge Wells, Newchurch, Plaxtol, Camber, Linton, Greenhithe, Staplehurst, Wingham.

For the main travel overview: Kent.