﻿KENT. 



KENT. 



370 



Ooudhurst, Lenham, Town Malliso, Queenborough, SmardeD, 

 Wrotham, and Wye. Of the places printed in small capitals an 

 account is given under their respective titles. The other towns, with 

 the town of Whitatable, the port of Canterbury, we shall notice here, 

 with their respective populations in 1851. 



BroafUtttirs, 20 miles E.N.E. from Canterbury, population of the 

 parish 2975, a watering-place on the eastern coast of the Isle of 

 Thanet, is much resorted to in the summer for sea-bathing. In it are 

 a chapel of ease (a handsome gothic structure), chapels for Wesleyan 

 Methodists, Baptists, and Independents, National schools, and an 

 Infant school. At Broadstairs is a station of the coast-guard. The 

 harbour has a wooden pier. Two batteries defend the town. There 

 are remains of a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Hary, once held in 

 great reverence by seamen. 



EUham, 30 miles N.W. by W. from Maidstone, 8 miles E. by S. 

 from London, population of the parish 2568, is situated at the foot 

 of Shooter's Hill. Eltham formerly possessed a royal palace, in which 

 Edward II. and other sovereigns resided. After the reign of 

 Henry VIII. Eltham palace was not used as a royal residence, though 

 it was visited by Elizabeth and James I. The Rreat hall, erected by 

 EdwanI IV. is the only portion remaining : it is a very noble room, 

 100 feet long, 36 feet broad, and 55 feet high, and has a remarkably 

 fine carved wooden roof. A few years back it was repaired. The 

 parish church is a neat structure with a spire. There are National 

 and Infiint schools, and a preparatory pchool for pupils intended for 

 the military profession. Eltham gives the title of earl of Eltham to 

 the Prince of Wales. 



GoudhmrH, 13 miles S. by W. from Maidstone, population of the 

 parish 2594, stands on a hill about two miles from the Sussex border. 

 The church, a handsome structure with a massive tower at the west 

 end, contains some interesting monuments. There are here an 

 Endowed Free Orammar school, aud National and Infant schooU. 



Lenham, 10 miles E. by S. from Maidstone, population 2070, a small 

 town in a valley at the foot of the chalk hills, has very Uttle traile. 

 The church is partly of the decorated aud partly of the perpendicular 

 style. Sixteen stalls, eight in each chancel, were for the use of the 

 monks of St. Augustine, who had an estate here. At the entrance to 

 the churchyard is an ancient lich-gate. There are a chapel for Inde- 

 pendents, new National schools, and some almshouses. Fairs are held 

 on June 6th and October 23rd. Emigration has caused a decrease in 

 population. 



I/ydd, 33 miles S.E. from Maidstone, population of the parish 1605, 

 on the edge of Romney Marsh, and about 3 miles from the sea, is 

 included in the cinque port of New Romney. The parish church is 

 chiefly of the perpendicular style, but it has been much disfigured by 

 injudicious repairs. It has a lofty square tower with pinnacles. 

 There are a chapel for Wesleyan Methodists, and National schools. 

 The inhabitants are chiefly occupied in fishing. A market is held 

 weekly on Thursday, and a pleasure fair on the last Monday of July. 

 The shingle headland of Dungeness, some six square miles in extent, 

 i-uns out from near Lydd. At the extremity of it is a lighthouse 

 110 feet high. On the Ness is a coast-gnard station. 



New Homncy, 31 miles S.R by 3. from Maidstone, population 1053 ; 

 a member of the cinque ports, and once a flourishing sea-port, but 

 now about a mile and a half distant from the coast Previous to the 

 Reform Act New Romney sent two members to Parliament. The 

 church is a magnificent structure of the 12th century : the lofty 

 square tower is a rich example of the later Norraan architecture. 

 The Baptists and Wesleyan Methodists have chapels, and there are 

 National schools. Qrazing is extensively carried on in the district, 

 which forms a part of Romney Marsh. Saturday is the market-day. 

 A yearly fair, chiefly for sheep and lambs, is held on August 21st. 

 Southland hospital, for the maintenance of a governor and four poor 

 men and the education uf two poor boys, was founded in 1610 by 

 John Southland, Esq. 



Qaeenburough, a decayed borough in the Isle of Sheppey, 17 miles 

 N.E. from Maidstone : population of the parish, 722. The present 

 name of the town appears to have been given to the borough by 

 EdwanI III. in compliment to his queen I'hillipa. Edward built a 

 castle here, which was destroyed in the period of the Commonwealth : 

 the moat is still traceable. The parish church, built about 1347, 

 consists of a nave and chancel, and has a western tower. The Inde- 

 pendents have a chapel. The oyster fishery afibrds occupation to 

 some of the inhabitants, and there is a copperas manufactory in the 

 town. The whole of the parish, about 500 acres, is an uninclosed 

 grazing tract of land. Queenborough, till the passing of the Reform 

 Act, returned two members to Parliament. A fair is held on August 

 5th and Cth. 



St. Mary Croj/, 22 miles N.W. by W. from Maidstone, population 

 1400, had onco a market, which was discontinued in 1703. Besides 

 the pariah church there are chapels for Wesleyan Methodists and 

 Independents, and National schools. There is an extensive paper-mill 

 in the neighbourhood. 



Sittingboume, 11 miles N.E. from Maidstone, population 2897, 

 situated on the main road from London to Canterbury, near the head 

 of Milton Creek. The church is a spacious edifice, rebuilt, except 

 the tower and the external walls, since 1762, when it was accidentally 

 bonit. The parish possesses National schooK Queen Elizabeth 



0X00. DIT. TOL.. Ut. 



Granted a weekly market and two fairs. The weekly market has been 

 long discontinued ; the fairs remain. A market is now held monthly. 

 Paper-mills, a coach-factory, oil-raills, aud flour-mills are in the parish. 

 Malting, brewing, and brick-making are carried on. 



Smardai, li Ta'dea S.E. by S. from Maidstone, population 1206, a 

 small market-town, on the right bank of the Medway, has a large and 

 handsome church with a square tower, two Baptist chapels, and a Free 

 school with a small endowment. Some corn-mills are in the vicinity. 

 The market-day is Friday; a pedlery fair is held October 10th. 



miitataile, 7 miles N. by W. from Canterbury, population of tho 

 town 3086, at the mouth of the river Swale, is the port of Cauterbury. 

 There is here an extensive oyster-fishery under the direction of the 

 Incorporated Company of Dredgers. A considerable traffic is carried 

 on in coals. There are copperaa-works, breweries, rope-walks, aud 

 boat-building yards. A branch of the South-Eastern railway connects 

 Whitstable with Canterbury. Besides the p.irish church, which has 

 been recently erected, there are chapels for Wesleyan Methodists and 

 Independents, and National schools. Roman pottery has been taken 

 up from some of the oyster-beds, indicating the probable site of a 

 former Roman station, now under low-water mark. 



Wrotham, 11 miles W.N.W. from Maidstone, population 3184, at 

 the base of the chalk hills, on the road from London to MaMstone, 

 has a small market which is held on the fifth Tuesday of the mouth, 

 when the month happens to have five Tuesd-iys. The church is a 

 commodious edifice in various styles. There are National schools and 

 four almshouses. Hops are largely cultivated : fruit for market ia 

 grown in orchards in the neighboiurhood. At this place the archbishops 

 of Canterbury had formerly a palace. 



Wye, 10 miles S.W. from Canterbury, population of the town 1095, 

 occupies a pleasant site in tho vale of the Stour. The church is a 

 fine old structure. There are a chapel for Wesleyan Methodists ; the 

 College Grammar school for boys, founded in 1434, which had 32 

 boarders and 9 day scholars in 1852 ; and National schools. Fairs aro 

 held on May 1st and October 14th. A commodious station and goods 

 depdt of the South-Eastern railway is at Wye. 



The following are some of tho more important villages in the 

 county, with the population of the respective parishes in 1851, and a 

 few other particulars : — 



Appledore, 26 miles S.E. by S. from Maidstone, population 021, 

 occupies an elevated site in the marsh district. The parish church 

 is an ancient building with a beautiful porch. The Royal Military 

 Canal between Hythe and Rye passes through Appledore. Barkam, 

 6 miles S.E. from Canterbury, on the road to Dover : population, 1105. 

 The church, an ancient buUding, is handsome, and has a lofty spiro 

 at the west end. In Barham are National and Infant schools. On 

 Barham Downs are held the Canterbury races. Beckcnham, 10 miles 

 S.S.E. from London : population, 1688. The church is partly of tho 

 decorated style, but the larger part is more recent. At tho entrance 

 of the churchyard is an old lich-gate. There are National and Infant 

 schools, and three almshouses. Beckenham has numerous residences 

 of wealthy London merohanti. BeiUy, 11 miles E.S.E. from London, 

 population 4490, is situated on both sides of the river Cray. Tho 

 church, which is ancient, contains some interesting bra.sses and monu- 

 ments. There are National schools and some almshouses. Bexley 

 manor was in the possession of Camden, the celebrated auticpiary, 

 and was bequeathed by him for the foundation of a chair of history 

 in Oxford University. Bexley Healh, or Bexley New Town, about a 

 mile N.W. from Bexley, is on the London and Dover road. A market- 

 house is in the middle of the village. There are a neat gothic chapel 

 in connection with the (Established Church, chapels for Baptists and 

 Wesleyan Methodists, schools for boys and girls, aud many good 

 dwelling-houses and shops. Numerous market-gardens are in the 

 vicinity. A market is held on Saturday. //iV/t^em^en, 14 miles S.S.E. 

 from Maidstone : population, 1457. The church is a neat building in 

 the perpendicular style. There is a Free Qraniniar school, founded 

 in 1566 for tho education of 10 poor boys, which had 52 scholars in 

 1851. Blackheath, 5 miles E.S.E. from London, population included 

 with Greenwich, Charlton, and Lewisham parishes. The heath is an 

 extensive open common, on the margin of which are numerous hand- 

 some residences. [Gbee.nwich.] Blackheath possesses a district 

 church, an elegant structure in the pointed 8tyl>>, with a lofty spire; 

 two chapels of ease ; chapels for Wesleyan Methodists and Baptists ; 

 National schools ; a Wesleyan day school ; a Proprietary school in 

 connection with King's College, London, which had 127 scholar.^ in 

 1853; another Proprietary school ; a literary institute ; a subscription 

 library ; the Blackheath and Lewisham Benevolent Society ; and other 

 benevolent institutions. Morden College, founded in 1695, rrovidos a 

 residence and support for decayed merchants, those in the Levant 

 trade having the preference. The number of inmates was orii-inally 

 30, but it has been more than doubled. The heath is a favourite 

 rendezvous for holiday parties in summer. At Blackheath is a station 

 of the North-Kent railway. Boxley, 2i miles N.E. from Maidstone, 

 population 1508, has an ancient church in which aro several interest- 

 ing monuments. Boxley Abbey, now a private residence, was fonuerly 

 the site of an establishment for Cistercian monks. In this parish is 

 Penendon Heath, where large county meetings have been held ou 

 remarkable occasions. Brenchley, 12 miles S. by W. from Maidstone, 

 population 2093, near the small river Teiso, a feeder of the Medway. 



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