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The name Knockholt derives from the Anglo-Saxon “ac-holt” which means oak corpse. This area is mostly rural and its layout is mostly unchanged since the Middle Ages. The surrounding fields are part of the Metropolitan Green Belt. In the 19th century, the name was spelled Nockholt. In 1848, the village had 539 residents. In 1934, this TN14 area was part of the Orpington Urban District. In 1965, it was in the borough of Bromley. In 1969, it was removed from this borough and returned to the Sevenoaks district of Kent.
Knockholt railway station opened in 1868. The Radio Intercept station in Knockholt recorded encoded messages during World War II which were decoded at Bletchley Park. Paul Gannon’s book mentions the local Ivy Farm Communications as an important objective during World War II. The part of Knockholt known as The Pound includes the Three Horseshoes pub, some shops, and the Ox in Flames garage. This area also has a village club. The Harrow and Tally Ho are the other pubs in this area.
St Katharine’s Church is a Grade II listed building in Knockholt. A primary school can be found opposite this church. The Evangelical Church dates from the 19th century. It was originally a Methodist chapel. A carnival and music festival are held alternately every year. The fireworks night in November is another local event. The Knockholt Amateur Theatrical Society was established in 1945. This is a charitable society that produces plays and pantomime shows. This area of South London is very popular among cyclists, horse riders, and walkers. The beautiful surroundings draw many people. Knockholt has numerous clubs such as tennis, cricket, and horticulture. The local cricket club took part in the 2009 Kent County Village League without a single loss. This is believed to be the first performance of this kind in the league.