﻿37S 



KENT. 



KENT. 



37i 



population 1502, is situate 1 in the.Isle of Thaiiet According to eai-ljr 

 legenila, it was at lliuster that the first Christian establiahment was 

 founded in Britain. The village occupies an elevated site along the 

 edge of the marsh grounds, and contains several old half-timber 

 houses. The parish church is ancient; the chancel, which is vaulted 

 with stone, has been recently carefully restoivd. At the west end is 

 a tower. There are here a chapel for Wealeyan Methodists, and 

 National and Infant schools. Northjleet, 15 miles W.N.W. from 

 Maidstone, population 5038, on the right bank of the Thames, is 

 properly a suburb of Gravesend. There are at Northfleet exten- 

 sile chalk and lime-works; ship-building and brick-making are 

 carried on, and there are some market -gardens in the vicinity. 

 The parish church is a fine ancient edifice, with a large and hand- 

 some chancel, and a richly carved screen. The Independents 

 have a place of worship. Huggins's Hospital is a recent foundation, 

 affording residences for 40 decayed tradesmen, to whom a weekly 

 allowance in money is also given. A handsome church has been 

 erected by Mr. Huirgine, in connection with the hospital. The church 

 and hospital buildings occupy a commanding site. A high causeway 

 and flood-gates protect the north-west marsh from the incroach- 

 menta of the Thames, by which it was at one time covered. 

 (Xfurd, 17 miles W. by N. from Maidstone, population 837, has a 

 church which was rebuilt about 200 years ago, on which occasion 

 wooden pillars were inserted to separate the aisles : the eastern 

 window was designed in imitation of that of the previous church, 

 which bad been burnt down. The Wealeyan Methodists have a 

 place of worship. Malting, btick-making, and lime-burning are 

 carried on, and some corn-mills are in the vicinity. A few fragments 

 still remain of an ancient and splendid palace of the archbishops of 

 Canterbury. Petuhurft, 19 luilee S.W. from Maidstone, (mpulation 

 1628, has a fine castle, noticed near the end of this article. Thii 

 castle, which is situated in a finely-wooded park, contains aome rich 

 old furniture, tapestry, and numerous portraits and other paintings 

 by celebrated masters. It is open to the public. The paper manu- 

 facture employs some of the population. Recuivtr, 11 miles K.El by K. 

 from Canterbury, population 273 ; the village is about a mile and a 

 quarter from the site of the Roman station Regulbivun. A monastery 

 was founded here in 679, Two ancient towers formerly belonging 

 to the pariah church were purchased by the Tiinity House in 1810 

 and repaired, that tlieir use as landmarks might be continued. Coast- 

 guard stations are at Regulbium Camp and Biahopstone. St.-Uargaret- 

 at-Cliffe, on the coast, 3 milea N.EI. from Dover, population 763, 

 ia visitead iii summer for sea-bathing. It has a fine church of Norman 

 date, which was repaired and restored in 1836. There is here a 

 station of the coast-guard. SandgaU, 1 6 milea 8. by E. from Canter- 

 bury, population included with the parishes of Folkestone and 

 Cheriton, is a favourite resort for sea-bathing. Sandgate Caatle was 

 erected in defence of the coast in 1539. About 1804 it wai repaired 

 and converted into a circular redoubt, having in the centre a martello 

 tower with three guns. About the same time, also, a large encamp- 

 ment was formed on the heights above the village, anil some time 

 after, exteuaiva barracks were erected on the same site. Along the 

 ridge of the cliffs six martello towers were placed at convenient 

 diatsnoeo, and at a short distance inland the Royal Military Canal 

 from Sandgate to the river Rother, a few miles above Rye, was con- 

 structed. A fair is held annually on July 23rd. There are bathing- 

 rooms, a public dispensary, numerous lodging-houses. National schools, 

 and an Infant school. Soalhborough, 15 miles S.W. from Maidstone, 

 about midway between Toubridge and Tonbridge Wells, population 

 of the eccleaiaatical district 1327, has a convenient modem church, 

 finely situated, and a National school. Many handsome private 

 dwellings are in the village, it being much used as a place of residence 

 by visitors to Tonbridge Wells. There are some cora-milla in the 

 vicinity. SoiUhJleel, 8 milej S.W. from Oravesend, and 18 miles N.W. 

 from M;iidstone, population 657, occupies the site of the Roman 

 station Vagniacoj. The parish chtu^h is ancient and contains 

 numerous objects of interest to the antiquary. In the village is a 

 Free schooL Extensive orchards are in the neighbourhood. A great 

 proportion of the water-cresses sold iu London is supplied from 

 gardens near Soutlifleet. The village is much visited in summer. 

 atapUkurtt, 9 miles S. by £. from Maidstone, population 1660, on the 

 high road from Hastings to Maidstone, has a station of the South- 

 Eaatem railway. Several fiuur-mills are in the neighbourhood. 

 Stoat, near the Thames, 2 milea £. from Dartford, population 829. 

 The pariah church is a very fiue example of the early English style 

 and date; at the west end ia an embattled square tower. Stone 

 CasU^ now a private residence, was erected in the reign of Edward III. 

 Of the origin^ structure a small square tower still Btan<U. Slrood, 

 1 mile N. by W. from Rochester, population 3067, of which number 

 29S7 are within the parliamentary city of Rochester, is on the left 

 bank of the Medway ; it consists of one long nanow street, and ia 

 united to Rochester by a bridge. The church, which was rebuilt a 

 Urn jean ago, contains some ancient monuments. There are iu Strood 

 an uidepeudent chapel and National schools. The terminus of the 

 North Kent railway is at Strood; also the North Aylesford Union 

 workhouse. The inhabitants of Strood are mostly dependent on the 

 fisheries and shipping. Sutton Valence, 6 miles S. E. from Maidstone, 

 population 1090. Lambe'a Free Grammar school, founded in 1576, 



free to 21 boys, increased by statutes of 1817 to 30 boys, hns two 

 exhibitions of 10/. each, wliich are not claimed. It is under the 

 patronage of the Clothworkers' Company. Near the village are the 

 remains of Sutton Castle, an ancient fortress, ^wantcombe, 19 miles 

 N.W. by N. from Maidstone, and about 3 miles W. from Gravesend, 

 popubition 1763, is said to have derived its name, originally Sweyna- 

 camp, from Sweyn, the Danish king, having landed and encamped at 

 the place. The church, an ancient edifice, has some portions of 

 Anglo-Siixon date. It is said that at Swauscombe the men of Kent 

 met William the Conqueror and disputed his progress till he had 

 promised to confirm to them their former rights and privileges. 

 Syd^iam, about 7 miles S. by E. from London, popul.itiou 4501 in 

 1851, is pleasantly situated, and contains many genteel residences of 

 London merchants and wealthy families, and many new villa and 

 cottage residences. The Croydon branch of the Brighton and South 

 Coast railway has a station at Sydenham. There are here a hand- 

 some modem church, and an Episcopal chapel, two chapels for Inde- 

 pendents, and one for Wealeyan Methodists ; and there are National, 

 British, and Infant schools. At Sydenham are some springs which 

 in the 17th and 18th centuries were in some repute for their medicinal 

 qualities. From Sydenham Hill and Oak of Honour Hill (on which 

 Queen Elizabeth is said to have breakfasted on one of her iJaying 

 excursions) are very extensive and beautiful prospects, including 

 some fine views of the metropolis. On Penge Hill, near Syden- 

 ham, is the site of the Crystal Palace, which was opened by Queen 

 Victoria on Saturday, June 10th, 1854. Tcynham, 16 miles E.N.E. 

 from Maidstone, population 842 ; the church is a commodious 

 and handsome cruciform stmcture, with an embattled tower at 

 the west end. In the interior are some ancient brasses, and there 

 are some specimens of stained glass. Much attention is paid to 

 the cultivation of fruit-trees, and there are several hopgnrdena. 

 At Conyer's Quay, in Conyer's Creek, an arm of the river Swale, 

 vessels of considerable size can discharge their cargoes. Watering- 

 bury, 5 miles S.W. from Maidstone, population 1448, has a parish 

 church and well-attended National schools. There is here a station 

 of the Maidstone branch of the SouthEastera railway. Near the 

 village is Wateringbury Cross. Wilmington, 21 miles N.W. from 

 Maidstone, population 915, has extensive orchards and market-gardens. 

 The church is placed on the summit of a hilL There are National 

 schools. In the neighbourhood are some good family mansions. A 

 fair is held on April 23rd. Wingham, 64 miles E. from Canterbury, 

 population 1083, had once a market. The church, an ancient structure, 

 is spacious and has a lofty steeple. The Independents have a chapel, 

 and there are National and Infant schools. Some ancient half-timber 

 houses are in the village. In the parish are several market-gardens. 

 Fairs are held on May 12th and November 12th. WUteraham, 23 miles 

 S.S.EL from Maiilstone, population 987, is situated on the Isle of 

 Oxney, which is surrounded by the river Rother and its branches. 

 The parish church is an ancient edifice, with a tower ; there are a 

 chapel for Wealeyan Methodists and an Endowed Free school. A 

 fair is held on May 12th. Woodneaburough, 12 miles E. by S. from 

 Canterbury, population 813, has a parish church, and a chapel for 

 Independents. The village was anciently called Wodnesbeorh, and 

 was one of the many places in England dedicated to the Saxun god 

 Woden. On Woodnesborough Hill numerous Saxon antiquities have 

 been found. Yalding, 6 miles S.S.W. from Maidstone, population 

 2672, has a parish church, a chapel for Baptists, a Free school for 

 boys, and a Charity school for girls and young children. By the 

 river Medway barges can come up to Yalding. The South-Eastern 

 railway has a station here. 



DivieUmt for Eccletiatlical and Legal Purpotet. — Kent constitutes 

 the larger part of the diocese of Canterbury, within which the whole 

 of the county is included, except the city and deanery of Rochester, 

 which are in the archdeaconry and diocese of Rochester, and some 

 parishes, chiefly near London, which are in the diocese of London. 

 By the PoorLaw Commissioners the county, exclusive of the city of 

 Canterbury, which is managed under a Local Act, is divided into 27 

 Unions : — East Ashford, West Ashford, Blean, Bridge, Bromley, 

 Cranbrook, Dartford, Dover, Eastry, Elham, Faversham, Gravesend 

 and Milton, Greenwich, HolUngboura, Hoo, Lewisham, Maidstone, 

 Mailing, Medway, Milton, North Aylesford, Romney Marsh, Sevenoaks, 

 Sheppey, Tenterden, Isle of Thanet, and Tonbridge. Canterbury 

 city is under a local act in respect to the management of the poor. 

 The whole include 424 parishes and townships, with an area of 

 950,549 acres, and a population in 1851 of 612.385. 



Kent is in the Home circuit, except that part of it which ia 

 within 10 miles of St. Paul's, London, which is in the jurisdiction (in 

 criminal matters) of the Central Criminal Court. The assizes are 

 heltl at Maidstone, where are the county jail and the house of 

 correction. County courts are held at Ashford, Bromley, Canterbury, 

 Dartford, Deal, Faveraham, Folkestone, Gravesend, Greenwich, Margate, 

 liamsgate, Rochester, Romney, Sevenoaks, Shetrness, Sittiugboiirne, 

 Tenterden, Tonbridge, and Tonbridge Wella 



By the Reform Act the county was divided for parliamentary 

 purposes into the divisions of East Kent and West Kent ; each return- 

 ing two members. Two memlwrs each are returned for the cities of 

 Canterbury and RochestiT, for the cinque porti of Dover and Sandwich, 

 and for the boroughs of Greenwich and Maidstone, and one uieraber 



