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