A227 road
Encyclopedia
The A227 road in England
runs from Gravesend
in Kent
in a generally south-south-westerly direction to Tonbridge
. It is about 12.5 miles (20.1 km) in length.
about halfway along that length. At this point there are at present (2007) large scale earthworks where the major is being moved southwards nearer High Speed 1. Just before entering Meopham
, and while passing through the village, the road becomes less straight, and begins the climb up the slope that ends at the North Downs
; at about 6 miles (9.7 km) the road slopes steeply down the southern edge of the Downs, meeting the A20 and crossing the M20
at the foot of the hill.
For a short distance the A227 and the A20 share the same path, but then the former turns right and a roundabout
to resume its SSE journey. The original road at this point went through the village of Wrotham
, but the bypass on which the A227 now is routed crosses the M26
to the east of that village. Half a mile (0.8 km) further on, Borough Green
is reached, and once through it the road again joins another road, losing its identity as it did earlier: this time the A25
. A left turn sees the road re-emerge, and it now enters the village of Ightham
; once through here the road begins a steady climb on the slope of the Greensand Ridge
, and after reaching the top to the west of Plaxtol, it begins to descend steeply passing through Shipbourne
.
Beyond Shipbourne the road takes a very sharp right-hand bend and soon begins to enter the northern edge of Tonbridge
. At the northern end of the High Street, the A227 comes to an end where it joins the B245 (the erstwhile London Road).
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
runs from Gravesend
Gravesend, Kent
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
in a generally south-south-westerly direction to Tonbridge
Tonbridge
Tonbridge is a market town in the English county of Kent, with a population of 30,340 in 2007. It is located on the River Medway, approximately 4 miles north of Tunbridge Wells, 12 miles south west of Maidstone and 29 miles south east of London...
. It is about 12.5 miles (20.1 km) in length.
Overview
It begins in Gravesend town centre and its initial 2.5 miles (4 km) follows a relatively straight line, passing under the A2 roadA2 road (Great Britain)
The A2 is a major road in southern England, connecting London with the English Channel port of Dover in Kent. This route has always been of importance as a connection between the British capital of London and sea trade routes to Continental Europe...
about halfway along that length. At this point there are at present (2007) large scale earthworks where the major is being moved southwards nearer High Speed 1. Just before entering Meopham
Meopham
Meopham is a large linear village and civil parish in the Borough of Gravesham and ceremonial county of Kent, in England, and lies to the south of Gravesend. The parish covers , and comprises two villages and two smaller settlements; it has a population of 6,427...
, and while passing through the village, the road becomes less straight, and begins the climb up the slope that ends at the North Downs
North Downs
The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England that stretch from Farnham in Surrey to the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent. The North Downs lie within two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty , the Surrey Hills and the Kent Downs...
; at about 6 miles (9.7 km) the road slopes steeply down the southern edge of the Downs, meeting the A20 and crossing the M20
M20 motorway
The M20 is a motorway in Kent, England. It runs from the M25 motorway to Folkestone, providing a link to the Channel Tunnel and the ports at Dover. It is long...
at the foot of the hill.
For a short distance the A227 and the A20 share the same path, but then the former turns right and a roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
to resume its SSE journey. The original road at this point went through the village of Wrotham
Wrotham
Wrotham is a village situated on the Pilgrims' Way in Kent, at the foot of the North Downs. It is located one mile north of Borough Green and approximately five miles east of Sevenoaks. It is within the junction of the M20 and M26 motorways....
, but the bypass on which the A227 now is routed crosses the M26
M26 motorway
The M26 is a motorway in Kent, England. It provides a short link between the M25/A21 at Sevenoaks and the M20 near Wrotham.-Route:The motorway starts at junction 3 of the M20 and heads west, encountering almost immediately the single junction along its length where it has an interchange with the A20...
to the east of that village. Half a mile (0.8 km) further on, Borough Green
Borough Green
Borough Green is a large village and civil parish in the Tonbridge and Malling District of Kent, England. The main village is situated on the A25 road between Maidstone and Sevenoaks in Kent.-History:...
is reached, and once through it the road again joins another road, losing its identity as it did earlier: this time the A25
A25 road
The A25 road is one of the three cross-country two-digit numbered roads in the southeast of England, the others being the A26 from Newhaven to Maidstone and the A27 along the south coast. It carries traffic from Guildford in Surrey through Dorking, and thence eastward along the southern edge of the...
. A left turn sees the road re-emerge, and it now enters the village of Ightham
Ightham
Ightham is a village in Kent, England, located approximately four miles east of Sevenoaks and six miles north of Tonbridge. The parish includes the hamlet of Ivy Hatch....
; once through here the road begins a steady climb on the slope of the Greensand Ridge
Greensand Ridge
The Greensand Ridge is an extensive, prominent, often heavily wooded, sandstone escarpment and range of hills in south-east England. It runs in a horseshoe shape around the Weald of Surrey, Sussex and Kent. It reaches its highest elevation, , at Leith Hill in Surrey—the second highest point...
, and after reaching the top to the west of Plaxtol, it begins to descend steeply passing through Shipbourne
Shipbourne
Shipbourne lies in the English county of Kent, in an undulating landscape traversed by the small streams of the River Bourne, set in a clay vale at the foot of the wooded Sevenoaks Greensand Ridge....
.
Beyond Shipbourne the road takes a very sharp right-hand bend and soon begins to enter the northern edge of Tonbridge
Tonbridge
Tonbridge is a market town in the English county of Kent, with a population of 30,340 in 2007. It is located on the River Medway, approximately 4 miles north of Tunbridge Wells, 12 miles south west of Maidstone and 29 miles south east of London...
. At the northern end of the High Street, the A227 comes to an end where it joins the B245 (the erstwhile London Road).