The parishes and greens that huddle around the primary village of Meopham come together to make a widespread community within an idyllic rural setting in Kent. Nestled within the greenbelt, and with a history stretching back to the Stone age, the neighbourhoods are as pretty as they are old; however, with transport utilities such as Meopham Station, and the A2 close at hand for a short journey to the heart of the city, these villages offer modern rural living. Plentiful schools, local activity centres, and independent businesses complement the strong sense of neighbourliness. Meopham, considered Britain’s longest village, is the kind of place where playing a game of cricket on the 300-year-old grounds, before having a warm ale in the Cricketeer’s Inn below the village’s very own windmill - an iconic local landmark - is a weekly routine.

The history of each village on these grassy plains of Kent is unique, but a few tales warrant special merit. Meopham has been home to humans since the stone age, but became known as the birthplace of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Simon de Meopham, in 1272. Battered but unbroken by the black death, and even an earthquake, the village thrived as a milling industry grew in the 1700s. Meanwhile, the little village of Vigo - named after the 18th century naval battle of Vigo Bay - remained sleepy and small, until the Second World War, when it evolved into military training grounds, which the majority of British officers would have gone through. Lastly, little Luddesdown is home to the oldest continually occupied house in the country.

Meopham produces its own wine! Meopham Valley Vineyard started growing grapes 20 years ago, and their collection, which holds four still and two sparkling vintages, have even won awards! The 2015 fine white and 2015 rosé are both big hits.

Whilst Meopham, being a large village, has a relatively strong number of local amenities, the smaller parishes can be seen as lacking when it comes to reliable or well-stocked shops. These villages also suffer from a lack of public transportation – meaning that a car is essential for getting around.

Due to their rich histories, architecture and green space, these villages are well protected under heritage and ecological conservation rules. Thus, there are very limited developments in the vicinity of the neighbourhood itself. However, big changes in the broader Borough certainly introduce the possibility of spillover effects. One such development is that of Ebbsfleet Garden City, a project that began in 2014. The new community is set to be made up of 15,000 new homes, and will encourage new residents to move to this area, which in time will undoubtedly result in greater attention for these particular surroundings. The development promises to vastly boost local employment and the economy, with an estimated 32,000 new jobs created for residents by 2035. While the project is still young and only a few homes and spaces have been developed, it’s set to reshape the area in the next decade.

More locally significant, the former unused Meopham Police Office has been redeveloped into nine three-bedroom terraced homes. Sustainability was also a key consideration in the conversion: the redevelopment includes electric car charging spaces and homes powered through air source heat pumps. Additionally, in 2021, Meopham School launched a new two storey building expansion bid, aiming with the project to increase its intake of students from 849 to 1,156, with 150 staff members.