Rolvenden is three miles south west of Tenterden on the A28. It was first mentioned in the Domesday book as Rovindene. This was changed to Riolvinden in the reign of Edward III. Then changed again to Rounden in the late 17th century. It is a busy little village with an unusually wide high street. The C.M.Booth Motor Museum is to be found in the High Street. Here you may view a unique collection of Morgan 3 wheelers, along with other various vintage cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and displays of toy and model cars, signs and other automobilia. Great Maytham Hall which was the inspiration for Frances Hodgson Burnetts 'The Secret Garden' can be found by taking the Wittersham road by the church. If you travel about 1 mile away from the village also on the Wittersham road you find the small station of Wittersham Road, which is on the Kent and East Sussex steam railway, with trains travelling to Tenterden , and Northiam . The church of St Mary the Virgin, lies on a low mound on the southern end of the village. The earliest surviving part of the church may be seen in the chancel, and dates from around 1210. Most of the church is 14th and 15th century, and has remained structurally the same since 1470. The church has 8 bells, which date from 1819, and were made by Thomas Mears II of London. The clock on the north side of the tower dates from 1810, and bears the name 'Thomas Ollive of Cranbrook'. There are many unusual and attractive memorials to be seen in the churchyard. The War Memorial was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and was dedicated to the Archbishop of Canterbury on November 11th 1922. The font stands at the western end of the South Aisle. It is of an uncommon shape, being hexagonal. It dates from the 14th century and is emblazoned with the arms of Guldeforde and Culpepper. The wooden cover is 18th century. Part of the hasps for securing the font cover with a lock can be seen on two sides. This was for securing the Holy Water from being stolen by Witches.

Services

Rolvenden has the usual small village shops and public houses. The nearest shopping centre is a Tenterden , which has a wide range of shops servicing the local villages. The nearest train service runs from Battle to the south east, which is on the London to Hastings line.

Views

Rolvenden is on a hill, and has some pretty views south towards Sandhurst . There is an old mill on the Cranbrook road, and the high street and church are very attractive. For steam enthusiasts a visit to Wittersham Road station is a must, with the steam trains from the Kent and East Sussex Railway running regularly. The flat land surrounding the station is beautiful when the corn is ripening and there is also a picnic area if you wish to take your children.