Borden

Borden is an extensive  parish, the village being situated about one-and-a-half miles in a westerly direction from the town of Sittingbourne.



The history of the name is questioned. It may be derived from bor (hill) and then either from denu (valley) or denn (woodland pasture). It may also derive from "boar" "den", as it was known that the wild animals were found in the surrounding areas. Borden was first recorded in the twelfth century as Bordena. It may also stem from the settlement there of the de Bourdon (now Borden) family which came from Bourdannay, in Normandy, France with William the Conqueror in 1066. A similar contention surrounds the origin of the surname, so perhaps there lies the connection.

Within the parish are several hamlets, including Heart's Delight, Chestnut Street and Oad Street. Farming in the area is the main industry, although this has been in decline for many years due to the "scrubbing" of most of the cherry and other fruit orchards.