Burham

Burham was once a distinct, seperated community, having very different traditions and peculiarities from it's neighbouring villages, despite their shared farming heritage.

During the 18th and 19th century, the parish of Burham developed close ties with Aylesford,  as well as Ditton, Allington. Boxley and Maidstone.

During the industrial revolution, brickyard workers were recruited into Burham from the under-employed agricultural labourers of the locality. Skilled foremen were then bought in from fruther afield.

Housing shortages meant that in 1861, 11.8 per cent of the parish population in Burham were either boarding or lodging. These shortages also meant that many workers had to travel long distances to the cement and bricker works from surrounding rural parishes or nearby towns in the 1850s and 1860s. According to the Revd S.Hornibrook, many working in Burham came from as far afeild as Maidstone. Twelve-year-old Thomas Fowler lived at East Malling, four miles from his workplace at the Burham brick and cement works. He got up at 4.30am each day and was not usually home by 8pm.