If you love history, then you have come to the right place!

History is all around us here at Howfield Manor and our history links on this page will give you enough fascinating information to keep you coming back for more.

You can’t help but imagine times of old when you stay with us. The beautiful Manor hotel, gardens and Old Well restaurant all come with many stories of generations before.

Howfield Manor Hotel is just a ten-minute drive from historic Canterbury - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Add to this the glorious Kent countryside and coastlines all within a short journey time, you can travel the paths of Romans, Kings and Pilgrims to your heart’s content.

A hotel with real history

Howfield Manor Hotel is located in an area that predates even the city, where Roman invasions have been fought dating back to 350BC.

Archbishop of Canterbury Cathedral Lanfranc, (c.1070) bestowed the area of Howfield to the Priory and was a major figure in both the history of Canterbury and the Church of England.

The original building dates from 1181 as a monastic site for the monks of the Priory of St Gregory. The footprint of building would have consisted of a chapel and great hall with the working dairy probably where Howfield Farm now stands, along with mills and fishing rights through the Stour valley.

Howfield Manor itself is believed to have been the working dairy for the Cathedral with the original Chapel (now the Restaurant) dating back to 1181.

Howfield Manor has been owned by key figures in history, to find out more details, read our historic timeline here.

Howfield Manor became a hotel in the late 1970’s and is now a family-owned independent hotel.

Early history – From Ceasar to The Saxons

Church and King – From Pilgrims to Cromwell

Tudors and Influencers – Howfield’s historic owners