Five Ashes

Five Ashes is so named for the five ash trees which feature in this rural village and has been home to two different men with government and royal connections.

Sir Austen Chamberlain was a British Statesman who held the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer and Foreign Secretary during the early 1900s. He moved to ‘Twitts Gill’ in Five Ashes as a relief from his work in Parliament and so he could focus on expanding his already vast collection of rock plants. Five Ashes was also home to the engraver and publisher Thomas Kitchin who held the title of Hydrographer to the King. He was responsible for engraving maps of the British and French dominions in North America in the mid 1700s. His work was later used at a peace council once the war finally ended.

Five Ashes is a lovely village to live in with Foxes Copse park in Stonehurst Lane which consists of woodland and ponds as well as some grassland for dog walking and playing. The village also has its own large playing field for games such as football and a skateboarding park. The village hall has a children’s playground attached which is open to use by local residents. There are lots of lovely local walks and rambles for nature lovers to enjoy.