Lenham, which gave its name to the River Len rather than vice versa, goes back to the Saxon word 'ham', meaning 'homestead or village'. It seems originally to have indicated 'Leana's village', Leana being a man's name. It first appears in the records in 858 as Leanaham.
The church is dedicated to St Mary, and although built in the 14th Century there is evidence of a Saxon church on the site in 804AD. A fire in 1297 destroyed most of the Norman building with the exception of a piece of the wall in the corner of The Chapel of St. Edmund, on the North east corner of the building, and a column between this Chapel and the West end of the Chancel.
In 1619 a bell by the Kentish founder, Joseph Hatch, was installed, followed, at intervals, by seven others.
The Railway station came into use on 1st July 1884 with the whole of the 18 mile 'Maidstone & Ashford Railway's' line.
Mentioned in the Domesday Book, Lenham market dates back to 1088, when the village was an important crossroad settlement. Technically the fact that Lenham is allowed a market makes it a town; however, the community have always desired to maintain its village status.
