Kent Village # Kemsing

Kemsing is a small village at the foot of the North Downs in Kent.

In the centre of the village is a well dedicated to St Edith, the daughter of King Edgar. She was born in Kemsing in AD961 and this area was where she spent her childhood. It was said that the water from the well had healng powers.

The Bell is the only remaining pub in the village.

The old Blacksmiths yard.

This is St Edith's Hall which has a statue of the saint and a clock which chimes on the hour.

Below the clock is the inscription:
'Tis mine
Each passing hour to tell
'Tis thine 
To use it ill or well

This is the church of St Mary the Virgin, the oldest parts of the church date back to the 12th cent,

The porch is over 500 years old and still has some of the original woodwork including the door.

The indentations on the door were possibly made by pilgrims banging their sticks on the door to gain access.

A lych (Anglo-Saxon for corpse) gate was added in 1894 through which the dead could be received into the grounds of the church.

The Post Office also doubles as a small tea shop which was a welcome place to visit after a walk up on the Downs.