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Ash
is situated between Canterbury
and the old Cinque Port of Sandwich.
The parish is one of the largest in Kent and as well as the village of
Ash it contains a number of smaller hamlets including Westmarsh, Ware,
Goldstone, Weddington and Richborough. The population of the parish is
approximately 2,800.
 Sitting
on a low ridge with the marshes of the River Stour on one side and gently
sloping downland on the other, the village is dominated by the tower and
spire of St.Nicholas Church,
which is visible for many miles - an important local landmark.
There
are a selection of shops and services including
a Post Office, two grocers' shops, a newsagents, pharmacy and two hairdressers.
Three pubs are located in the village of Ash and another at Westmarsh.
Unusually for a village of this size, we have two primary schools - Cartwright
& Kelsey Church of England (Aided) Primary School and St Faith's at Ash
Independent Preparatory and Primary School. For older children there is
a Grammar School and a Technical Secondary School in Sandwich.
Other secondary schools are in Canterbury,
Deal, Dover
and Ramsgate.
The Parish Council is particularly
proud of the village Recreation Ground which contains a soccer pitch,
a separate rugby union pitch, a cricket pitch, two hard tennis courts,
play equipment for older children and an enclosed play area and suitable
swings and other equipment for younger children. 
Agriculture remains an important part of the local economy with a good
deal of 'Grade 1' land within the parish. Market gardens, fruit orchards
and soft fruit plantations are numerous. There are also areas of sheep
and cattle grazing, particularly on the low lying ground in the north
of the parish. There are more than 100 miles of public footpaths in the
parish.
East Kent is rich in history and Ash has its full share. There have been
numerous Roman and Anglo-Saxon archaeological finds and in the north-east
of the parish, Richborough Roman Fort is one of the most extensive roman
remains in the country. The site is owned by English Heritage and is open
to the public. (See directory for times). St
Nicholas Church dates from the 13th century and contains one of the
best collections of medieval stone effigies of any parish church in Kent.
There is also a fine range of monumental brasses.
The village has three conservation areas and there are a number of old
manor houses and listed buildings within the parish.
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Pine
and Period Furniture