For nearly 1000yrs Bearsted and Thurnham had hardly changed then about 100yrs ago with the building of the railway rapid change began. At this time the main population centred around The Street, the Green, Roseacre Sutton Street, and Ware Street. Surrounding this area were farms and estates such as Howe Court and Barty, Cobham Manor, Milgate, Spot and Maginford.

The Green has changed considerably since 1800. The School (now the library) and oasts did not exist or many of the surrounding houses. The Green itself was rough pasture and there was a second pond.