Cobham, Kent

Cobham
Administration
Borough:	Gravesham
County:	Kent
Region:	South East England
Nation:	England
Other
Ceremonial County:	Kent
Traditional County:	Kent
Postal County:	Kent

Cobham is a small village with a reputation for being still relatively unspoilt even today. It is located south of Watling Street, the old road from Dover to London, six miles SE of Gravesend. Cobham parish is part of Gravesham Borough.

The church is 13th century, and has brasses which are reputedly the finest in England. Next to the church is Cobham College, a one-time home for secular priests, and now acting as almshouses. Cobham Hall was the former 17th century home of the Earls of Darnley: since 1957 it has been a public school for girls; it opens to the public on some occasions in the year.

Cobham has strong links with Charles Dickens, who used to walk out to the village and set part of Pickwick Papers there. Other personalities to be connected to Cobham include Sir Joseph Williamson, and the insane artist Richard Dadd, who murdered his father near there in 1843. The Hon Ivo Bligh, who became the 6th Earl of Darnley, was the first English cricket captain to attempt to recover The Ashes from Australia in the late 19th century.

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There is also a Cobham in Surrey.