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Preston Hill Country Park

Country parks in KentSites of Special Scientific Interest in Kent
Bench on Preston Hill geograph.org.uk 1349897
Bench on Preston Hill geograph.org.uk 1349897

Preston Hill Country Park is in Eynsford, in Kent, England. It is a woodland and former military firing range. Within the site of the park and woodland, stood Preston Hill farmhouse. This was then damaged in 1944 after a 1000 kg parachute bomb or mine was dropped, in the early hours of 22 January 1944. Three of the farmhouse occupants were killed and 8 others were injured, later the ruined farmhouse was demolished. The site was then used as a Ministry of Defence firing range (up to the 1940s); the remnants of the range can still be seen.Since 1951 it has been a Site of Special Scientific Interest (part of 363.7 acres (1,472,000 m2) Otford To Shoreham Downs site).Preston Hill has extensive views across the countryside from the Darenth Valley (following the River Darent) to Lullingstone Country Park. The site has 232 acres (940,000 m2) of chalk grassland and woodland with many wild flowers and rare butterflies at this site of outstanding natural beauty located within the Kent Downs.On the grasslands, a variety of butterflies including chalkhill blues and dark green fritillaries can be seen. Since the site is relatively quiet, common adders and grass snakes can also be found. The grassland is grazed occasionally by a herd of feral goats, which came from the Great Orme, near Colwyn Bay in North Wales.These are used to further encourage the growth of wildflowers.There are paths through the woodland (called 'Preston Plantation') at the top of the hill although they are steep in places and some have become overgrown.The park also is acreddited with a Green Flag Award by Natural England (linked with Lullingstone Country Park).

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Preston Hill Country Park (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Preston Hill Country Park
Shoreham Road,

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Wikipedia: Preston Hill Country ParkContinue reading on Wikipedia

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Latitude Longitude
N 51.3493 ° E 0.1948 °
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The Hop Shop

Shoreham Road
DA4 0HP
England, United Kingdom
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Bench on Preston Hill geograph.org.uk 1349897
Bench on Preston Hill geograph.org.uk 1349897
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Lullingstone Roman Villa
Lullingstone Roman Villa

Lullingstone Roman Villa is a villa built during the Roman occupation of Britain, situated in Lullingstone near the village of Eynsford in Kent, south eastern England. The villa is located in the Darent Valley, along with six others, including those at Crofton, Crayford and Dartford. Constructed in the 1st century, perhaps around 80-90 CE, the house was repeatedly expanded and occupied until it was destroyed by fire in the 4th or 5th century. The villa was occupied over various periods within the Romano-British period, but after its destruction, it is only thought to have been reoccupied during the Medieval Times. The occupants were most likely wealthy Romans or native Britons who had adopted Roman customs. Some evidence found on site suggests that around 150 CE, the villa was considerably enlarged and may have been used as the country retreat of the governors of the Roman province of Britannia. Two sculpted marble busts found in the cellar may be those of Pertinax, governor in 185-186, and his father-in-law, Publius Helvius Successus. In the 4th century a room, probably already in religious use, was converted to a Christian chapel or house church, much the earliest known in the British Isles. In the Anglo-Saxon period, the ruins of a Roman temple-mausoleum on the site of the villa were incorporated into a Christian chapel (Lullingstone Chapel) that was extant at the time of the Norman Conquest, one of the earliest known chapels in the country. In addition to the pagan shrine in the villa's chapel and the dining room mosaics, the villa produced significant artistic finds including the Lullingstone Victory Gem and the busts.

Shoreham Aircraft Museum
Shoreham Aircraft Museum

The Shoreham Aircraft Museum is located in the village of Shoreham near Sevenoaks in Kent, England, on the south-east edge of Greater London. It was founded by volunteers in 1978 and is dedicated to the airmen who fought in the skies over southern England during the Second World War. The museum houses aviation relics excavated by the Shoreham Aircraft Preservation Society over 30 years. These relics come from crashed RAF and Luftwaffe aircraft and are displayed alongside personal accounts of those involved. A particular focus is the Battle of Britain period. Many aircraft types are represented in the collection, including recovered engine examples from the following: Supermarine Spitfire Hawker Hurricane Bf 109 Dornier 17 Fw 190 Junkers 88The museum has collections of flying helmets, uniforms, insignia and Home Front memorabilia, along with photos and other items which have been donated by ex-pilots and private individuals. The museum also holds a collection of original paintings and prints by the aviation artist Geoff Nutkins. Other examples of his work can be seen at the RAF College in Cranwell, the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon and The RAF Club in Piccadilly, London. There is also a tearoom and garden serving cream teas and homemade cakes. The museum is open from 10am to 5pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays from Easter until the end of October each year. The tearoom and garden only is also open on Saturdays and is free to enter. All current and ex-military service personnel can enter the museum free of charge.