History of Kidbrooke
The name 'Kidbrooke' comes from the Anglo-Saxon phrase meaning “the brook where the kites were seen.”
Its name suggests it was originally an unsettled area, made less favourable for early development due to its three streams and heavy clay soil.
By the late 11th or 12th century, Kidbrooke had a church and likely a small population.
However, the settlement didn’t last. By 1428, the church no longer had a priest, and by 1494 it had fallen into disrepair.
Growth and development
Kidbrooke remained largely rural until the opening of Kidbrooke Station in 1895.
Farming continued to dominate the area until the 1930s, when development began to accelerate, especially following the construction of the Rochester Way.
Kidbrooke today
Today, most of the original farmland has been built over. The only remaining green space from the area’s rural past is a sports field and a section of the old village green.