What is Kent?

Many people think of Kent as the boundaries of Kent County Council, although some include the Medway Unitary Authority.

However, over the years the western boundary has been moving east.

In 1889, the County of London was created and the townships of Deptford, Greenwich, Woolwich, Lee, Eltham, Charlton, Kidbrooke and Lewisham were transferred out of Kent and in 1900 the area of Penge was gained. Some of Kent, notably Dartford, is contiguous with Greater London.

After the Second World War, Kent's borders changed several more times. In 1965 the London boroughs of Bromley and Bexley were created from nine towns formerly in Kent. In 1998, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, and Rainham left the administrative county of Kent to form the Unitary Authority of Medway.


Kent County Cricket Club plays at Beckenham.

Some regard Kent as being the area prior to the 1965 change, so one has to be careful when promoting an activity as being 'Kent-wide'.