Otford
| Otford | |
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 A view along Otford high street, just along from the central pond |
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 Otford
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| Otford shown within Kent | |
| Population | 3,465 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | TQ525590 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Sevenoaks |
| Postcode district | TN14 |
| Dialling code | 01959 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | |
Otford is a village and civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent. It is on the River Darent 3 miles north of Sevenoaks. The river flows northwards, down its valley from its source in the North Downs. At the village centre is a church, the village pond which is also a roundabout, and multiple pubs and shops.
Otford's earliest history and archaeology shows occupation for at least 3,000 years. Occupants have included iron-age farmers, Romans, archbishops and royalty, and events have included an historic battle or two. The etymology of the village name is disputed: an article in the Kent and Sussex Courier claims that Otford is a contraction of Ottansford, meaning the ford of Otta, a local man of importance.
A Roman villa in what is now Otford was abandoned during the 4th century, approximately 1700 years ago. The remains were re-discovered and excavated during the 1930s, and again in 2015 by the West Kent Archeological Society. It is at least twice the size of nearby Lullingstone villa.
Otford was made part of the Hundred of Codsheath, one of the nine Hundreds making up the Lathe of Sutton at Hone, circa 6th century AD. Lathes were Saxon administrative regions.
From circa 650 to 750, during the Early Medieval period, Polhill Anglo-Saxon cemetery was used as a place of burial. The archaeologist Brian Philp suggested that the community who buried their dead at Polhill likely lived at Otford, noting that from the centre of the village, the cemetery was visible.
The name Otford may be a contraction of Otterford, possibly derived from Offa, the King of Mercia who fought the Kentish Saxons in 776 at the Battle of Otford.The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 3, published 1797, indicates that Otford's Saxon name was Ottanford. It further notes that: "In 791, Offa, king of Mercia, whose gifts to the British churches and monasteries in general were great and munificent, gave Otteford to the church of Canterbury."
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