A large village with a long history-Ash was very likely the site of King Ethelbert's historic meeting with St Augustine in AD 596. Originally part of the Archbishops of Canterbury's great manor of Wingham, Ash achieved its 'independence' in 1292. Over the centuries it has seen its share of wars, religious dissension and poor-law problems against a background of prosperous farming with rich grazing on the Ash Level and heavy arable crops. Every aspect of life in the village is explored in this authoritative, gripping and very readable narrative.