Two estates existed near the village. The Bedgebury Estate was mentioned in an 814 charter and was a known home to the Culpeper family in the 16th century. The estate contained two Iron Furnaces to help defeat the Spanish Armada in 1588.
Kilndown first appears on Hasted's map in 1778 but was referenced as "Killdown"; the "Kiln" in the current name may have come from the kiln oasts harvested in the area, or that the area produced bricks.