Kentish Villages and Towns

Traditional Kentish Oasthouses

The Village of Vigo

Vigo began as a squatters' camp in the aftermath of WW2 when abandoned Army camps were simply taken over by families who, made homeless by the war, moved into huts and created 'villages' for themselves. In the case of Vigo, the area had been used as a wartime training camp - one of the largest in Kent, covering about six and a half square miles - for D-Day infantry commanders. The 800-plus huts had electricity and water connected, and there were concrete roads and walkways.

When the squatters moved in, in August 1946, rather than enforce evictions, the local authorities accepted responsibility for them and acknowledged the new community, which became known as Squatterbury. Gravesend borough, together with Strood, Malling and Northfleet urban councils, used the 'new town' to house their own overspill populations.

Since then, the area has been developed in a series of woodland enclaves comprising some 780 homes. The 165 acre estate was originally advertised as 'a new concept for living', being designed to discourage a lot of traffic movement, and it had become a North Downs commuter village whose residents seem to be generally agreed that it is a great place to live, especially for young families. The first families took up residence in October 1965 and now there is a purpose-built village centre, with shops and the Villager pub and a primary school with about 230 pupils.

The whole village is on the edge of one of the county's most spectacular country parks, Trosley Park, which tumbles down the southern slopes of the North Downs towards the village of Trottiscliffe below.

At present, Vigo is part of neighbouring Meopham parish, but is pressing for independent status. It takes its name from the Vigo Inn, which has stood since 1471 but was renamed by a man who bought it after service at Vigo Bay in 1702, when the British navy won a great victory over a combined French and Spanish fleet.