The village of South Darenth is a quaint rural area nestled just above historic Eynsford. One of Kent’s best kept secrets, the neighbourhood has more than just picturesque Victorian terraced houses. A tight knit community made up mostly of families, residents are spoiled by the neighbourhood’s plethora of wonderful schools. Although the area is easily accessed via Farningham Road station, most residents stay put as much as they can. There’s more than enough to enjoy locally. Between jogging along the River Darent, going for a Sunday roast at the historic Fighting Cocks, or just a pint at The Jolly Millers, it’s no surprise that residents are so attached to South Darenth.

South Darenth is believed to have had settlers as far back as 5000 years ago. Later on, the Romans settled there. The area eventually developed into a village, and by the late 18th century, the neighbourhood was home to a handful of buildings, farms and flour mills. It wasn’t until the Victorian Era in the 19th century that the neighbourhood really grew though. This was thanks to the paper mills in the area, as well as the arrival of the railway. While many of the original buildings are no longer, the neighbourhood has managed to retain its rural and historical feel.

Local favourite, The Fighting Cocks, is a pub nestled along River Darent. Before it was a pub though, it was an 18th century farmhouse and later on, in the 19th century, it was converted into an alehouse. The owner of the alehouse was infamous for leading cock fights there - hence the pub’s current name.

Unfortunately, the only rail line in the neighbourhood is run by Southeastern Railways. Their delays and lack of reliability have left passengers very frustrated. Despite this, residents are happy to have a rail station so close, and don’t mind driving to Thameslink in nearby Eynsford if necessary.

Since a good portion of South Darenth sits within a conservation area, there is little new development going on in the neighbourhood. However, this doesn’t mean that the community isn’t constantly looking for ways to improve the existing buildings. Dartford’s historic mills, including the Darenth Mill, have attracted the attention of locals and community groups in recent years. Concerns over the maintenance and preservations of theser historic structures became a major point of interest for these communities, with some organisations like The Darent Valley Landscape Partnership becoming more involved in such activities.