Ashford, a town located in Kent, England was voted the 4th best place to live in the entire United Kingdom in 2005. Ashford is the center of five railway lines and has been a long standing communication center for the villages that surround it. The town is located on ancient forest of Andredweald's eastern edge.

It is believed that the town started from an original settlement that was started in 893 AD but people who were fleeing a Danish Viking raide that happened in the village of Great Chart near by. There is a listing of the town in the Domesday Book that was published in 1086, using its original name of Esetesford. It is listed as having two mills, a church and its value was set at 150 shilling.

Since it is in close proximity to London, Kent has a major influence on the capital and London on Kent. So by the ending of the 16th Century William Shakespeare's play Henry VI listed the home town of the character of Cade as Ashford. Also included in the play is a butcher by the name of Dick who is from Ashford as well.

In 1243 Ashford's influence as a major agricultural and market town was solidified when the town got its incorporation. Then by the end of the 16th Century it has risen to be a market town well known for livestock. Until 1856 the market took place on the High Street. It was then relocated to Elwich Road but with local businessmen and farmers alike.

They then formed a market company that states that it is the oldest registered company that England and Wales have. Today a regular street market is still held with in the town even though the market company has been relocated outside of the town. There are around 5000 farmers who utilize the market.

The parish church has sections that date back to the 13th Century but in the 15th Century it had major restorations done plus several alterations over the years. There was a free grammar school started in Ashford in 1638 that was built on the church's west side. The school was used until 1846 and is now a museum.

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