Bekesbourne

Bekesbourne
Population	868  (Parish)
OS grid reference	TR191559
Civil parish	Bekesbourne-with-Patrixbourne
District	Canterbury
Shire county	Kent
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CANTERBURY
Postcode district	CT4
Dialling code	01227
Police	Kent
Fire	Kent
Ambulance	South East Coast
UK Parliament	Canterbury

Bekesbourne is a village, within the civil parish of Bekesbourne-with-Patrixbourne, near Canterbury in Kent, South East England.

Located approximately three miles south-east of the city boundary the village has a church, St Peter's Parish Church which has a Norman doorway, a 13th century chancel and the first recorded example of brick mathematical tiles.

Howletts Wild Animal Park is in Bekesbourne, the home of many endangered species and the world's largest breeding gorilla colony in captivity.

Bekesbourne railway station serves the area, on the line between Canterbury East and Dover Priory railway stations.

Bekesbourne was the site of an aerodrome, built during World War I, and which thrived as the home of the Kent Flying Club until World War II, when it was closed. One large hangar remained. It was severely damaged by and rebuilt after the hurricane of 1987. It was then demolished in the early 1990s and the site developed with 10 large detached houses. The road on which they are situated was named De Havillands.

Bekesbourne was the birthplace of celebrated film director Michael Powell.