Maidstone West via Cuxton

Cuxton is one of the Medway villages that boomed with the cement industry during the 19th century. It has an attractive mock-Tudor station with a hand-operated level crossing and an old-fashioned signal box, however the Stategic Rail Authority is thinking of curtailing the service in the future. Some of the houses are Victorian terraces suitable for first-time buyers, selling for around £120,000 for two bedrooms.

On the borders of Cuxton, Halling is dominated by the large riverside cement works. This part of north Kent is not very popular, but it does offer the prospect of affordable housing. A detached family house can be bought for £240,000. Snodland, too, has been stigmatised by association with the cement industry. Blue Circle and the area around the cement works is plagued by dust and lorries. Snodland has a plain Victorian centre where terraced houses sell for about £130,000. Or you could pay around £160,000 for a three-bedroom semi.

New Hythe is very close to the old Aylesford paper mills, which have now been converted to light industrial use. Victorian and Thirties’ semis start at about £140,000. Aylesford is marginally more appealing and is thought to offer good value for money. Nearby is a retail park with a Sainsbury’s, Comet, Homebase and so on. It has a 14th-century ragstone bridge and some very old houses overlooking the River Medway. These might sell in the region of £140,000 and upwards for two bedrooms. There are also lots of old terraced properties with two or three bedrooms, selling in the £75,000 to £80,000 range. For Maidstone West see Victoria to Ashford International line via Maidstone.