Kent | England, United Kingdom, & Map

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class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kent-county-England">Kent</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <span class="toc-extra-link selected link-gray-900 mt-15"> Introduction </span> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kent-county-England/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Kent-county-England">Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kent-county-England/images-videos">Images</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/57/115657-050-46535612/St-Augustine-Canterbury-Abbey-England-Kent.jpg" data-href="/media/1/314972/111819" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/57/115657-004-084E07B6/St-Augustine-Canterbury-Abbey-England-Kent.jpg" alt="St. Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury, Kent" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/78/148778-050-D9FB85E8/Tonbridge-Castle-gatehouse-mansion-and-Malling-England.jpg" data-href="/media/1/314972/154905" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/78/148778-004-5C43DE2C/Tonbridge-Castle-gatehouse-mansion-and-Malling-England.jpg" alt="Tonbridge Castle" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/08/121808-004-6908566D/Romney-Marsh-Kent-England.jpg" data-href="/media/1/314972/115177" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/08/121808-004-6908566D/Romney-Marsh-Kent-England.jpg" alt="Romney Marsh" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/07/121807-004-3FA3F91F/Ruins-fort-grounds-Roman-Richborough-Castle-Kent.jpg" data-href="/media/1/314972/115176" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/07/121807-004-3FA3F91F/Ruins-fort-grounds-Roman-Richborough-Castle-Kent.jpg" alt="Roman fort near Richborough, Kent" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/153481-050-0B31FE9A/cathedral-Canterbury-Kent-England.jpg" data-href="/media/1/314972/162558" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/153481-004-C0AC1914/cathedral-Canterbury-Kent-England.jpg" alt="Canterbury Cathedral" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/122371-004-C4E8B75A/Deal-Castle-Kent-England.jpg" data-href="/media/1/314972/116264" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/122371-004-C4E8B75A/Deal-Castle-Kent-England.jpg" alt="Deal Castle" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/241497-050-A6ABB791/Locator-map-Kent.jpg" data-href="/media/1/314972/281828" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/241497-004-00F8AADA/Locator-map-Kent.jpg" alt="Kent, England" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/76/122376-004-579FC2AF/Harbour-Folkestone-Kent-England.jpg" data-href="/media/1/314972/118022" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/76/122376-004-579FC2AF/Harbour-Folkestone-Kent-England.jpg" alt="Folkestone" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/06/148406-050-A6E5CABF/Church-Sandwich-St-Clement-Eng-Kent.jpg" data-href="/media/1/314972/154482" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/06/148406-004-2DFC5E4D/Church-Sandwich-St-Clement-Eng-Kent.jpg" alt="Sandwich: Church of St. Clement" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/148373-050-4C7B2A0B/Elmley-Marshes-Isle-of-Sheppey-Eng-Kent.jpg" data-href="/media/1/314972/154449" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/148373-004-A1504B9D/Elmley-Marshes-Isle-of-Sheppey-Eng-Kent.jpg" alt="Sheppey, Isle of" height="50" /> </a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span 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ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/10-best-sports-rivalries-of-all-time" >10 Great Sports Rivalries</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/you-ought-to-be-in-pictures-8-filming-locations-you-can-actually-visit"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/44/191244-131-50EB6F02/Set-The-Hobbit-An-Unexpected-Journey.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Bag end on Bagshot row from the movies Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit in Hobbiton, New Zealand, Australia" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/you-ought-to-be-in-pictures-8-filming-locations-you-can-actually-visit" >You Ought to Be in Pictures: 8 Filming Locations You Can Actually Visit</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <button class="drawerToggle btn position-sticky border btn-xs btn-white btn-circle rounded-sm d-none d-lg-flex " type="button" aria-label="Toggle Drawer"> <em class="material-icons font-18 text-blue" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="h-100 ml-0 pr-lg-0 "> <div class="h-100 grid gx-0 gx-lg-20"> <div class="h-100 col-sm"> <div class="h-100 infinite-pagination-container d-flex flex-column position-relative"> <div class="position-absolute top-0 h-100 w-100"> <div class="toc-sticky-header d-none d-lg-none bg-gray-50 px-10 px-sm-30 position-sticky w-100 "> <div class="toc-sticky-header-inner-container align-items-center d-flex mx-auto h-100 w-100"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-sm btn-white text-blue border-2 border-gray-100 gtm-mobile-toc-header-button js-sections-button d-lg-none p-10"> <em class="material-icons my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> 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srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/57/115657-050-46535612/St-Augustine-Canterbury-Abbey-England-Kent.jpg?w=300"> <img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/57/115657-050-46535612/St-Augustine-Canterbury-Abbey-England-Kent.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop" alt="St. Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury, Kent" loading="eager" /> </picture> <button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"> <em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </button> </a> </div> <figcaption class="card-body"> <div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"> <span> <a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/57/115657-050-46535612/St-Augustine-Canterbury-Abbey-England-Kent.jpg" data-href="/media/1/314972/111819">St. Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury, Kent</a> <span><span>St. Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury, Kent, England.</span></span> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <span class="link-blue">(more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </figcaption> </figure> </div><div class="topic-header"> <div class="d-flex align-items-top justify-content-between"> <div class="d-flex flex-column"> <div> <div> <h1>Kent</h1></div> </div> <div class="topic-identifier font-16 font-md-20">county, England, United Kingdom</div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-flex flex-row"> <div class="mr-10 mb-15"> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-block md-topic-tools qa-action-buttons mb-15" data-topic-id="314972"> <button class="js-tooltip btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border pr-10 border-2" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="more_vert"></em> More Actions </button> <div 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They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-11-29T00:00:00CST" >Nov 29, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kent-county-England/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy4299v820o" rel="nofollow">Kent: Mother to launch craft foundation in memory of son</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 25, 2024, 12:12 AM ET (BBC) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly25wz7rgdo" rel="nofollow">Kent travel disruption and power outages as Storm Bert uproots trees</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 24, 2024, 6:15 PM ET (BBC) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy9e7gj23zo" rel="nofollow">M2 delays expected in Kent after pedestrian dies in crash</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 22, 2024, 10:05 AM ET (BBC) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx281yjrx0po" rel="nofollow">Kent: Over 80,000 people using illegal drugs in the county</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 22, 2024, 2:18 AM ET (BBC) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz0mpr03pm0o" rel="nofollow">Kent: Dockyard searching for chief scorpion wrangler</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 17, 2024, 5:36 AM ET (BBC) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="154905" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/78/148778-050-D9FB85E8/Tonbridge-Castle-gatehouse-mansion-and-Malling-England.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/314972/154905"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/78/148778-050-D9FB85E8/Tonbridge-Castle-gatehouse-mansion-and-Malling-England.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/78/148778-050-D9FB85E8/Tonbridge-Castle-gatehouse-mansion-and-Malling-England.jpg?w=300" alt="Tonbridge Castle" data-width="1600" data-height="1272" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/78/148778-050-D9FB85E8/Tonbridge-Castle-gatehouse-mansion-and-Malling-England.jpg" data-href="/media/1/314972/154905">Tonbridge Castle</a><span>Tonbridge Castle gatehouse (left) and mansion, Tonbridge and Malling, Kent, England.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref174100"></span>Kent</strong>, administrative, geographic, and historic <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/county" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">county</a> of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">England</a>, lying at the southeastern extremity of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Great-Britain-ship" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Great Britain</a>. It is bordered to the southwest by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/East-Sussex" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">East Sussex</a>, to the west by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Surrey-county-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Surrey</a>, to the northwest by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Greater-London" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Greater London</a>, to the north by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Thames" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Thames</a> estuary, to the northeast by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/North-Sea" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">North Sea</a>, to the east by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Strait-of-Dover" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Strait of Dover</a>, and to the southeast by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/English-Channel" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">English Channel</a> The north-central town of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Maidstone-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Maidstone</a> is the county seat.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The administrative, geographic, and historic counties occupy somewhat different areas. The administrative county has 12 districts: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Dover-district-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Dover</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sevenoaks-district-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sevenoaks</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Shepway" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Shepway</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Thanet" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Thanet</a>, the boroughs of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ashford-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ashford</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Dartford-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Dartford</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Gravesham" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Gravesham</a>, Maidstone, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Swale-district-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Swale</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tonbridge-and-Malling" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tonbridge and Malling</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tunbridge-Wells-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tunbridge Wells</a>, and the city of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Canterbury-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Canterbury</a>. The geographic county <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="comprises" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comprises" data-type="MW">comprises</a> the entire administrative county plus the unitary authority of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Medway-unitary-authority-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Medway</a>. The historic county includes the entire geographic county as well as eastern portions of Greater London, including all or most of the boroughs of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Bexley-borough-London" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Bexley</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Bromley-borough-London" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Bromley</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Greenwich-borough-London" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Greenwich</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Lewisham" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Lewisham</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="115177" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/08/121808-004-6908566D/Romney-Marsh-Kent-England.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/314972/115177"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/08/121808-004-6908566D/Romney-Marsh-Kent-England.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/08/121808-004-6908566D/Romney-Marsh-Kent-England.jpg?w=300" alt="Romney Marsh" data-width="550" data-height="263" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/08/121808-004-6908566D/Romney-Marsh-Kent-England.jpg" data-href="/media/1/314972/115177">Romney Marsh</a><span>Romney Marsh, Kent, England.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">A line of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/chalk" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">chalk</a> hills (the North <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Downs" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Downs</a>) running from west to east forms the spine of the county. North of the ridge the land falls to the marshy and low-lying shore of the Thames estuary, and to the south there is an area of clays and sands forming a rolling wooded region known as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/The-Weald" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">The Weald</a>. The long coastline of Kent is alternately flat and cliff-lined. The low Thames coast is bordered by marshes and islands (Grain and Sheppey), and farther east the former <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Isle-of-Thanet" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Isle of Thanet</a> now forms part of Kent. There are chalk cliffs at Thanet at the North Foreland and again between Dover and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Deal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Deal</a>, but farther south is the low-lying area of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Romney-Marsh" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Romney Marsh</a>, which has emerged from the sea, in part by reclamation, since Roman times. In the extreme southeast is the shingle promontory of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Dungeness-promontory-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Dungeness</a>.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/another-great-british-vocabulary-quiz-innit" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/20/254320-131-65DA7509/English-language-school-promotion.jpg" alt="English language school promotion illustration. Silhouette of a man advertises or sells shouts in a megaphone and emerging from the flag of the United Kingdom (Union Jack)." class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Another Great British Vocabulary Quiz, Innit?</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="115176" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/07/121807-004-3FA3F91F/Ruins-fort-grounds-Roman-Richborough-Castle-Kent.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/314972/115176"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/07/121807-004-3FA3F91F/Ruins-fort-grounds-Roman-Richborough-Castle-Kent.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/07/121807-004-3FA3F91F/Ruins-fort-grounds-Roman-Richborough-Castle-Kent.jpg?w=300" alt="Roman fort near Richborough, Kent" data-width="550" data-height="338" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/07/121807-004-3FA3F91F/Ruins-fort-grounds-Roman-Richborough-Castle-Kent.jpg" data-href="/media/1/314972/115176">Roman fort near Richborough, Kent</a><span>Ruins of a Roman fort on the grounds of Richborough Castle, Richborough, Kent, England.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Because of its position facing the continent of Europe across the Strait of Dover, Kent has been subjected to numerous invasions and has attracted successive waves of settlement. Evidence of early Continental invaders is seen at Kits Coty House near Aylesford, a long <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="barrow" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/barrow" data-type="EB">barrow</a> at Chilham, and Bigbury (a Belgic hill fort). Roman settlement began with the subjugation of the area in 43 <span class="text-smallcaps">ce</span>. The chief Roman supply port was <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Richborough" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Richborough</a>, and the administrative centre was at <span id="ref703913"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Canterbury-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Canterbury</a>, where Roman baths and a theatre have been unearthed. Early in the 5th century Kent was invaded by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jute-people" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Jutes</a> and Saxons, and it became one of the seven kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon Britain. In 597 the king of Kent welcomed the Christian mission of Augustine (later <span id="ref703914"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Augustine-of-Canterbury" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">St. Augustine of Canterbury</a>). Augustine founded an abbey outside the walls of Canterbury, a monastery inside (where the cathedral now stands), and a second diocese (604) at <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Rochester-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Rochester</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="162558" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/153481-050-0B31FE9A/cathedral-Canterbury-Kent-England.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/314972/162558"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/153481-050-0B31FE9A/cathedral-Canterbury-Kent-England.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/153481-050-0B31FE9A/cathedral-Canterbury-Kent-England.jpg?w=300" alt="Canterbury Cathedral" data-width="1600" data-height="1200" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/153481-050-0B31FE9A/cathedral-Canterbury-Kent-England.jpg" data-href="/media/1/314972/162558">Canterbury Cathedral</a><span>The cathedral at Canterbury, Kent, England.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">After the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Norman-Conquest" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Norman Conquest</a> (1066), the Normans rebuilt Rochester and Canterbury cathedrals and constructed a number of castles, of which those at Dover and Rochester survive. In 1170 <span id="ref703915"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Canterbury-Cathedral" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Canterbury Cathedral</a> was the scene of the murder of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Thomas-Becket" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Thomas Becket</a>, the archbishop. Many pilgrims subsequently visited his shrine, and those of the 14th century were immortalized by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Geoffrey-Chaucer" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Geoffrey Chaucer</a> in his <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Canterbury-Tales" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true"><em>The Canterbury Tales</em></a>.</p><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="116264" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/122371-004-C4E8B75A/Deal-Castle-Kent-England.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/314972/116264"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/122371-004-C4E8B75A/Deal-Castle-Kent-England.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/122371-004-C4E8B75A/Deal-Castle-Kent-England.jpg?w=300" alt="Deal Castle" data-width="550" data-height="337" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/122371-004-C4E8B75A/Deal-Castle-Kent-England.jpg" data-href="/media/1/314972/116264">Deal Castle</a><span>Deal Castle, Kent, England.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The <span id="ref703916"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/House-of-Tudor" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tudor</a> monarchs established a royal palace at Greenwich, the birthplace of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-VIII-king-of-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Henry VIII</a>. Under the Tudors, in the 16th century, when defense of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Britain’s</a> shores became a preoccupation, coastal forts were built (e.g., at Deal), and naval dockyards were established at Deptford, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Woolwich" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Woolwich</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Chatham-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Chatham</a> and Sheerness. The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Royal-Greenwich-Observatory" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Royal Greenwich Observatory</a> was established in 1675. Sensitivity to the defense of Kent reached a peak in Napoleonic times and again in 1940 during <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World War II</a>, when a German invasion was expected.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="281828" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/241497-050-A6ABB791/Locator-map-Kent.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/314972/281828"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/241497-050-A6ABB791/Locator-map-Kent.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/241497-050-A6ABB791/Locator-map-Kent.jpg?w=300" alt="Kent, England" data-width="2000" data-height="2000" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/241497-050-A6ABB791/Locator-map-Kent.jpg" data-href="/media/1/314972/281828">Kent, England</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">As the neighbouring metropolis of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/London" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">London</a> grew, it expanded eastward into the historic county of Kent. In 1889 the present-day boroughs of Greenwich and Lewisham were incorporated into the new administrative county of London, and in 1965 the boroughs of Bexley and Bromley became part of the metropolitan county of Greater London as well.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=black-friday-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Rural Kent has long been known as the “Garden of England.” Fruits, especially apples and cherries, and hops are grown, mainly in the Medway valley and in north Kent. Market gardening is extensively practiced. Important arable crops include barley, wheat, oats, and potatoes. Romney Marsh, one of the world’s finest natural grasslands, is famous for its sheep, but a section of it has been plowed up for the production of spring flowers and bulbs. Industries include <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/papermaking" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">papermaking</a> along the Darent and Medway, engineering and the production of chemicals along the Thames, and the production of plastics, bricks, tiles, and cement on the Lower Medway and Swale. There are oil refineries on the Isle of Grain and railway workshops at Ashford.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD9 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="118022" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/76/122376-004-579FC2AF/Harbour-Folkestone-Kent-England.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/314972/118022"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/76/122376-004-579FC2AF/Harbour-Folkestone-Kent-England.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/76/122376-004-579FC2AF/Harbour-Folkestone-Kent-England.jpg?w=300" alt="Folkestone" data-width="550" data-height="316" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/76/122376-004-579FC2AF/Harbour-Folkestone-Kent-England.jpg" data-href="/media/1/314972/118022">Folkestone</a><span>Harbour of Folkestone, Kent, England.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The suburbs of London continue to <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="encroach" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encroach" data-type="MW">encroach</a> on the farmlands of northwestern Kent, and such towns as Sevenoaks and Tonbridge lie well within the commuter belt of the capital. Britain’s entry into the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-Community-European-economic-association" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">European Economic Community</a> (now the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-Union" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">European Union</a>) in 1973 greatly strengthened links between the southeastern section of the county and the Continent by increasing Channel trade. The expansion of trade and the opening in 1994 of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Channel-Tunnel" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Channel Tunnel</a>, with a terminus at <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Folkestone" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Folkestone</a>, brought new importance to eastern Kent as a warehousing area and a focus of shipping and other transportation routes. Area administrative county, 1,368 square miles (3,543 square km); geographic county, 1,442 square miles (3,735 square km). Pop. (2001) administrative county, 1,329,718; geographic county, 1,579,206; (2011) administrative county, 1,463,740; geographic county, 1,727,665.</p><span class="marker MOD9 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</a></span> <span class="md-signature">This article was most recently revised and updated by <a href="/editor/Kenneth-Pletcher/6746">Kenneth Pletcher</a>.</span><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":314972,"pageLength":897,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"MEDIUM","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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