The parish of Brook, which nestles below the North Downs adjoining the chalkland nature reserve, is surrounded by farmland belonging mainly to the Wye College Estate. Brook Agricultural Museum is now run by the Wye Rural Museum Trust and is based in a 14th century tithe barn and 19th century oast house and contains a fine collection of farm tools and implements. The museum is open between June and September on Wednesday afternoons and on Saturday afternoons in August. The village church contains some fine examples of Norman architecture still having the basic unaltered design of nave, chancel and tower.

Brook Parish Clerk:
Mrs. Tracey Block
The Briars,
Hastingleigh,
Ashford,
Kent,
TN25 5HU.

History: The village that comprises Hastingleigh was in existence prior to the Domesday Book and, considering its geographical position atop the North Downs, is quite likely to have been on the travellers' route from the continent and the high ground from what is now Dover.

For well over a thousand years all the evidence points to the community being small and, although the number of dwellings has grown today to comprise some 96 houses, demographic changes have ensured a relatively stable total population and it remains one of the less densely populated rural Parishes in the area. In earlier times land ownership was in the hands of a few landlords, notably St. Thomas' Hospital in London, resulting in many villagers living in tenanted houses. In contrast today farms, holdings and houses are almost exclusively owner-occupied. For the last 100 years local democracy has been served by the Parish Meeting and the Parish Council operating within the jurisdiction of Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council.

Hastingleigh Parish Clerk:
Mrs. Tracey Block
The Briars,
Hastingleigh,
Ashford,
Kent,
TN25 5HU.

Population: 800. Facilities: Mobile library, St. Mary Magdalene Church, Methodist Church, various clubs and associations. Distance from Ashford: 7 miles. To download the Ruckinge Wish List click here

History:
The village stands on high ground bordering Romney Marsh. A belt of woodland divides the parish into Lower and Upper Ruckinge with the Royal Military Canal running through the lower part of the parish. The church is Norman and early English and the register dates back to 1549. The old school is now used as the village hall and the Blue Anchor pub, which had close association with gangs of local smugglers, dates back to 1765.

Population: 800. Facilities: County Primary School, Post Office, pub, village hall, recreation ground, mobile library, St. Mary's Church, Bethel Baptist Church. Distance from Ashford: 5 miles.

History:
To the north Smeeth parish adjoins the parish of Brabourne with which it shares many of its facilities. To the south the parish borders the parish of Aldington. Smeeth parish is dissected east to west by the M20 motorway and the Channel Tunnel high-speed rail link. The parish church of St. Mary contains some Norman work such as the south doorway, tower archways and chancel.