History of Ashurst
Ashurst is a village and former Civil Parish five miles (8 km) west of Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent and is now in the Parish of Speldhurst.
Ashurst comes from the Old English ‘æsc’ meaning ‘Ash-tree’ and ‘hyrst’ as a ‘wooded hill’; therefore, a ‘hill wooded with Ash-trees’.
The 10th-century parish church is dedicated to St Martin of Tours. The Saxons built the Ashurst church between 921 and 927AD and dedicated it to Saint Martin of Tours. The Normans partially rebuilt it in 1230. They rebuilt it again in 1240, following a fire.
Between 1860 and 1882, the new Rector Reverend H Polhill carried out major restoration work and during these works Rev Polhill discovered the original Saxon stone altar, which he re-instated.
The parish is located on the border between Kent and East Sussex; the River Medway forms the border between the two counties. There were two watermills located here and there is still a weir on the river.
Between 1860 and 1882, the new Rector Reverend H Polhill carried out major restoration work and during these works Rev Polhill discovered the original Saxon stone altar, which he re-instated.
The parish is located on the border between Kent and East Sussex; the River Medway forms the border between the two counties. There were two watermills located here and there is still a weir on the river.