Petham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Petham |
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 Garlinge Green, the village green with old style telephone box Petham village hall |
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 Petham
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| Area | 13.61 km2 (5.25 sq mi) |
| Population | 708 (Civil Parish 2011) |
| • Density | 52/km2 (130/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TR127515 |
| Civil parish |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CANTERBURY |
| Postcode district | CT4 |
| Dialling code | 01227 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Petham is a small, quiet village located in the countryside of Kent, South East England. It's about five miles south of the historic city of Canterbury. Petham is part of the beautiful North Downs, an area known for its rolling hills and green landscapes. It is also a "civil parish," which means it's a local area with its own small government that helps manage local services.
The village is home to the All Saints Church, a very old building that is "Grade I listed." This means it's considered a building of special historical importance and is protected. The church was first built in the 13th century. It had to be rebuilt after a fire in 1922. Petham also has a modern village hall, which was rebuilt in the early 2000s. It sits near Marble Pond in a low-lying area.
Petham is surrounded by lovely hills, ancient forests, and charming old cottages. Some of these homes are very old, built in the medieval or Tudor period with thatched roofs.
Today, Petham includes an area to the north called Swarling. Swarling is famous for its archaeological discoveries. In the Domesday Book, a very old survey from 1086, Swarling was recorded as having about 33 homes. It is also a "type site" for a special kind of pottery from the British Iron Age called "Aylesford-Swarling pottery." This means that important examples of this pottery were first found and studied there. An archaeologist named J. P. Bushe-Fox led the excavations between 1921 and 1925.
Village History
Like many other small villages, Petham used to have many local shops and services. There was once a baker, a cobbler (who fixed shoes), a post office, and even a garage. However, these businesses are no longer in Petham today. The only public places left are the All Saints Church and its graveyard, and a small pub called the Petham Pint. The pub opened during the COVID-19 pandemic to help bring people together.
The decline of these local shops started around the 1940s. This was when more and more families began to own cars. In the early 1940s, most homes (about 90%) did not have a car. But as car ownership grew, it became much easier for people in Petham to travel to Canterbury. This meant they could go to the bigger shops and services in the city, which led to the local businesses in Petham closing down.
Gallery
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Petham Village Hall on Church Lane
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All Saints Petham Graveyard
