Radfall

Radfall
Bluebell Cottage
Radfall is located in Kent
Radfall
Radfall
Location within Kent
Civil parish
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
PoliceKent
FireKent
AmbulanceSouth East Coast
List of places
UK
England
Kent
51°20′23″N 1°3′48″E / 51.33972°N 1.06333°E / 51.33972; 1.06333

Radfall is a hamlet between Chestfield (1.05 mi) and Canterbury (5.8 mi). Radfall lies between the Thanet Way and Thornden Wood, in the civil parish of Chestfield, in the Canterbury district of Kent, England.

History

Early History

The Hamlet is likely named after an ancient droveway that cuts through Blean known as ‘The Radfall’. The name derives from the Old Kentish word ‘Rodfall’ and means ‘A rod’s clearance of woodland.’ Nearby findings of Belgic ceramics in pits have been used to date the track to the Late Bronze to Early Iron Age. During the early mediaeval period, wooden banks were placed on either side to keep animals from roaming off. The droveway was likely used to transport livestock from pastures in Blean to markets in Canterbury. Surfaced under gravel, parallel grooves known as cart ruts sit along the drove way, and were formed by the wheels of passing carts and wagons. Now demolished, there was once a farmstead near Radfall Cottage.

Late History

Radfall is first recorded in 1820 as ‘The Radfall.’ The Mockett family is present in the 1881 census as agricultural labourers. Gerorge Mockett of Radfall Cottages is recorded by newspapers as working at a farm until an accident in 1899. In 1916, St Augustine's Battalion marched through Radfall Corner. A complex of military trenches were built north of Radfall in the First World War. During the Second World War, slit trenches were constructed overlooking a roadblock. By the 1970s, Radfall had a local cricket club.

Travel

Radfall has few local amenities, and is reliant on the nearby Chestfield (1.05 mi) along Chestfield Road and Canterbury (5.8 mi) along Hackington Road. The area suffers from road closures. Nearby Clowes Wood and Dogs Trust Canterbury Rehoming Centre are along Radfall Road. Radfall has 6 bus stops that are active from Monday to Friday. The main bus operator is Stagecoach South East and YMS Travel. Routes through Radfall are: 5, 914, 915, 916, 917. The earliest bus station is Broomfield Gate (Southbound) on 5 route at 07:09 AM.

Water Supply

On May 2026, disrupted water supplies have affected the Hamlet. For around a week, 60 residents were without water due to a ‘technical issue with boosters’ During August, 64 residents experienced low water pressure or no supply at all.

References

  1. 1 2 "UK Driving Distance Calculator, Distance Between Cities, Driving Directions". distancecalculator.globefeed.com. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Canterbury's Forgotten Iron Age Fort, Camp Cunliffe: Knockhimdown Hill, Canterbury, Kent". Kent History & Archaeology. Retrieved 11 October 2026.
  3. ↑ "Dictionary of the Kentish dialect". Kent History & Archaeology. Retrieved 11 October 2026.
  4. ↑ "Monument record TR 16 SW 29 - Pit of Late Bronze - Early Iron Age, Brooklands Farm". 2008.
  5. ↑ Mercer, James (22 May 2015). "THE RADFALL". Canterbury Museums & Galleries. Retrieved 11 October 2026.
  6. ↑ "The Radfall". Kent Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 11 October 2026.
  7. ↑ "Monument record TR 16 SW 27 - South Street Late Bronze Age/ Iron Age settlement site". 2025.
  8. ↑ "Farmstead record MKE86231 - Radfall Cottages".
  9. ↑ Friday, 7 January 1820 Kentish Weekly Post or Canterbury Journal (Page 3) Canterbury, Kent, England https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.com/
  10. ↑ Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1881.
  11. ↑ Saturday, 17 June 1899 Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald (Page 8) Whitstable, Kent, England https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.com/
  12. ↑ Saturday, 15 April 1916 Herne Bay Press (Page 2) Herne Bay, Kent, England https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.com/
  13. ↑ "Monument record TR 16 SW 153 - First World War military trenches seen on 1940s aerial photographs, Convicts Wood and Chestfield Golf Course, near Radfall". 1940.
  14. ↑ "Monument record TR 16 SW 170 - Former site of Second World War slit trenches overlooking a road block".
  15. ↑ Friday, 27 June 1975 Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald (Page 3) Whitstable, Kent, England https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.com/
  16. ↑ "Radfall Road closure – Hackington Parish Council". 3 September 2026. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  17. ↑ "Road Closures – Thornden Wood Road, Chestfield Road, Molehill Road and Radfall Road Chestfield, Kent". 18 March 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  18. ↑ "Clowes Wood". www.forestryengland.uk. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  19. ↑ "Dog Rescue, Rehoming & Adoption Canterbury | Dogs Trust". www.dogstrust.org.uk. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  20. ↑ "Stops in Radfall, Kent". www.livebus.org. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  21. ↑ "Radfall Buses — Routes & Stops | GeoPunk". www.geopunk.co.uk. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  22. ↑ "Radfall, adjacent to Broomfield Gate – Bus Times". bustimes.org. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  23. ↑ "Week-long Kent water supply issues sorted, says South East Water". BBC News. 2 June 2026. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  24. ↑ "New boss of South East Water to meet town's angry residents amid supply crisis and leaks". Kent Online. 13 August 2026. Retrieved 12 October 2026.

Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Radfall at Wikimedia Commons