Horsmonden Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Furnace Pond: Horsmonden's 17th century iron foundry The north-east end of Furnace Pond. The head of water from this 16 acre lake once powered the giant hammer of John Browne's forge, the flames of which could be "seen about the country at 10 miles distance". With the abundance of iron ore in the local clay and of wood to fuel the blast furnace, Horsmonden in 1613 had 200 men employed in its iron foundry under John Browne. Such was Browne's skill in casting and proving guns that he was later granted a monopoly as "Gunfounder for the King's Service". In 1638 Charles I himself was here to watch a gun being cast. Browne also supplied guns to the Dutch, at that time the greatest sea power. Then, on the arrival of Cromwell and the Commonwealth, he was quick to switch his allegiance and was casting guns for Parliament until his death in 1651. When this former King's Gunfounder was buried, an impressive alabaster and black marble monument was erected to him in Horsmonden parish church 917323. But it stands there no longer. A 19th century Rector, an ardent Royalist, could not abide to see a memorial in his church to a man who had turned his coat for Cromwell, and removed it! See other snippets from the surprising history of Horsmonden at: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=2_ZstVBZSfIC&lpg=PA1&pg=PA99#v=onepage&q=&f=true There is little now to show for this once great industry apart from such local names as Flightshot Farm TQ6840, Furnace Pond, and the old Gun Inn, and several chalybeate springs. See also Gallery at: https://www.geograph.org.uk/gallery/the_history_of_horsmonden_8738
Photo by D Gore (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)
Furnace Pond: Horsmonden's 17th century iron foundry The north-east end of Furnace Pond. The head of water from this 16 acre lake once powered the giant hammer of John Browne's forge, the flames of which could be "seen about the country at 10 miles distance". With the abundance of iron ore in the local clay and of wood to fuel the blast furnace, Horsmonden in 1613 had 200 men employed in its iron foundry under John Browne. Such was Browne's skill in casting and proving guns that he was later granted a monopoly as "Gunfounder for the King's Service". In 1638 Charles I himself was here to watch a gun being cast. Browne also supplied guns to the Dutch, at that time the greatest sea power. Then, on the arrival of Cromwell and the Commonwealth, he was quick to switch his allegiance and was casting guns for Parliament until his death in 1651. When this former King's Gunfounder was buried, an impressive alabaster and black marble monument was erected to him in Horsmonden parish church 917323. But it stands there no longer. A 19th century Rector, an ardent Royalist, could not abide to see a memorial in his church to a man who had turned his coat for Cromwell, and removed it! See other snippets from the surprising history of Horsmonden at: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=2_ZstVBZSfIC&lpg=PA1&pg=PA99#v=onepage&q=&f=true There is little now to show for this once great industry apart from such local names as Flightshot Farm TQ6840, Furnace Pond, and the old Gun Inn, and several chalybeate springs. See also Gallery at: https://www.geograph.org.uk/gallery/the_history_of_horsmonden_8738
Photo by D Gore (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)
Footpath junction in Sprivers Garden land The High Weald Landscape Trail (long distance path) follows the National Trust House drive, then it turns right towards Brenchley Road. A footpath also heads straight on towards Horsmonden Road, near Burrs Hill.
Photo by David Anstiss (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)
Kissing Gate in Sprivers Garden Woodland This gate is leads from the National Trust land towards Marle Place Road. The High Weald Landscape Trail heads right along the Garden's drive towards Hazel Street from Horsmonden.
Photo by David Anstiss (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)
Oasthanger, Lamberhurst Road, Horsmonden, Kent
Photo by Oast House Archive (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)

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ORIDA Maidstone Hotel

ORIDA Maidstone Hotel

3 out of 5
Bearsted Rd Maidstone England
Stay at this hotel in Maidstone. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in their reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,257 reviews)
Brilliant hotel, with great service from start to finish.

Reviewed on 6 Mar 2026

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ORIDA Maidstone Hotel
Spring River Ebbsfleet by Marston's Inns

Spring River Ebbsfleet by Marston's Inns

3 out of 5
Talbot Lane Gravesend England
The price is AU$93 per night from 22 Mar to 23 Mar
AU$93
22 Mar - 23 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Gravesend. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,004 reviews)
Big, clean rooms with comfortable beds. Friendly, helpful staff.

Reviewed on 4 Mar 2026

Spring River Ebbsfleet by Marston's Inns
Delta Hotels by Marriott Tudor Park Country Club

Delta Hotels by Marriott Tudor Park Country Club

4 out of 5
Ashford Road Maidstone England
The price is AU$160 per night from 15 Mar to 16 Mar
AU$160
15 Mar - 16 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this spa hotel in Maidstone. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular attractions ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (931 reviews)
We enjoyed an overnight stay. The staff were friendly, the room was spacious and clean, and there was a comfortable bed. We ate in the bar as the restaurant was closed on Sunday evening, but there was a full menu and the food was enjoyable. There was a standard, perfectly nice breakfast offering. ...

Reviewed on 23 Feb 2026

Delta Hotels by Marriott Tudor Park Country Club
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Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
The Lower Bell

The Lower Bell

3 out of 5
201 Old Chatham Road Aylesford England
Stay at this apartment in Aylesford. Enjoy free parking, a business centre and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Oare Marshes Nature Reserve and Kent Life ...
The Lower Bell
Extraordinary Huts

Extraordinary Huts

3 out of 5
2 Nicole's Cottages Rye England
Stay at this cabin in Rye. Enjoy free parking and a garden. Popular attractions Camber Sands and St. Thomas the Martyr are located nearby.
Extraordinary Huts
Character Beamed Country Retreat with self check in/out in historic 1066 country

Character Beamed Country Retreat with self check in/out in historic 1066 country

Broad Oak ENG
Stay at this cottage in Rye. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a garden and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Great Dixter House and Gardens and Carr Taylor Vineyard are ...
Character Beamed Country Retreat with self check in/out in historic 1066 country
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Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Penshurst Place and Gardens which includes a fountain and a garden

Penshurst Place and Gardens

Explore this 14th-century Elizabethan manor with its long history, walled gardens, children’s playgrounds and scenic picnic areas.

Penshurst Place and Gardens
Hop Farm Family Park which includes zoo animals and land animals

Hop Farm Family Park

Let the kids enjoy a blend of adventure, magic and wildlife with a scenic backdrop of rolling hills and forests at this park east of Tonbridge.

Hop Farm Family Park
Tranquil river boat trip

Tonbridge Castle

Tonbridge Castle is just one of the places to see in Tonbridge, so why not enjoy the other things to explore during your travels? Make time to visit the area's spas or simply enjoy its lively bars.

Tonbridge Castle
Dog walking and cycling park with lakes, rivers, woods, fields and a great little cafe that sells homemade burgers

Haysden Country Park

Explore the great outdoors at Haysden Country Park, a lovely green space in Tonbridge. Make time to visit the area's spas or simply enjoy its top-notch restaurants.

Haysden Country Park

Balfour Winery

You can enjoy a tasting or tour at Balfour Winery during your travels to Staplehurst.

Balfour Winery

The Hop Farm Country Park

Explore the great outdoors at The Hop Farm Country Park, a lovely green space in Yalding. Visit the spas and lively bars in this quaint area.

The Hop Farm Country Park

Activities

Leeds Castle, Canterbury & White Cliffs

Leeds Castle, Canterbury & White Cliffs

AU$1,750
per traveller
Leeds Castle, Canterbury & White Cliffs
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Cities near Horsmonden

Pantiles

Royal Tunbridge Wells

Scotney Old Castle on a Super afternoon

Lamberhurst

The Top Oast House, Little Cheveney, Sheephurst Lane, Marden, Kent. Three square kilned oast house. Converted 2007. Grade II listed http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=174682 Also see before conversion 576684 during conversion 439122
Photo by Oast House Archive (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)

Collier Street

September 2013 Taking our boat out from Hampstead Marina in Yalding, Kent where she's moored. There's nothing better than a gentle cruise along the River Medway, mooring up along on the bank and having a picnic before returning back.

Yalding