Brabourne

Brabourne is a village and civil parish in the Ashford district of Kent, England. The village centre is 4.5 miles (7.2 km) east of Ashford town centre. The population fell by 133 between 2001 and 2011.

Brabourne
Brabourne Location within Kent
Area	14.77 km2 (5.70 sq mi)
Population	1,309 (Civil Parish 2011)[1]
• Density	89/km2 (230/sq mi)
OS grid reference	TR085405
District	Ashford
Shire county	Kent
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ASHFORD
Postcode district	TN25
Dialling code	01303
Police	Kent
Fire	Kent
Ambulance	South East Coast
UK Parliament	Ashford

The centre of the modern village of Brabourne is now in Brabourne Lees. The original village grew up some way to the east of this, around the ancient village church; this area is now usually referred to as East Brabourne. The original village has been outgrown by Brabourne Lees, in the civil parish a development of former common land, nearer to the A20 and M20 roads. The western part of the parish is a rural area with scattered farms.

St Mary the Virgin's Church

The parish church is dedicated to St Mary the Blessed Virgin; there is also a Zion Strict Baptist Chapel in Brabourne Lees. The church of St. Mary is an ancient building of stone, in the Norman and Early English styles, and has a tower which was restored in 1923-4, containing 6 bells, augmented to 8 in 2002. There are numerous monuments to the Scott family, some brasses and several stained glass windows, one of which contains very early glass; the church affords seating for 200. The restoration was carried out by Sir Gilbert Scott.[2]