Copyright Kent Past 2010
Kent Past
The History of Kent
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History of Hildenborough
Hildenborough comes from the Anglian ‘hyll’ meaning a ‘hill, natural eminence or
elevated piece of ground’ and the Kentish word ‘denn’ as ‘woodland pasture’ with
the Old English ‘borg’ for a ‘pledge, security’; therefore, a ‘woodland-
Hildenborough parish church is a Grade: II listed building, dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist. The Victorian architect Ewan Christian built it in 1834, following the creation of the parish due to the population growth in Tonbridge. In 1846, F W Hunt carried out additional works and addressed the seating issues.
Hildenborough railway station opened on the South Eastern Railway’s Tonbridge cut-