Buckland is first mentioned in a Charter of 898 A.D., found by Wallenberg. The small farmstead settlements of Great and Little Buckland may have existed by C13. The area is better identified as 'de Borland' in 1226 and as 'de la Bokeland' in 1240. The site remained unchanged until 1930 when it was sold to Sharps for use as a Sports Ground. The buildings are substantially unchanged, but modifications did take place to convert them from residence to a Sports Pavilion.(1)
The attribution of Great Buckland to this location is shown to be incorrect by an early nineteenth century estate atlas with maps and estate reports for Great and Little Buckland Farms. According to these, this parcel of land was " Lord Vane's Land" in 1804. Great Buckland Farm in 1804 comprised almost 79 acres of mixed use, including orchards, hops and mowing ground, surrounding the site of the now demolished Great Buckland House lying to the south-east, (see TQ 75 NE 407). (2)

<1> Lawson-Price Environmental, 1997, Desk Based Assessment of Land off London Rd, Maidstone (Unpublished document). SKE7163.

<2> Anon., 1804, 1825, Earl of Aylesford's Estate Atlas, Maps nos. 11 and 14 (Cartographic materials). SKE13067.