This small, but busy town, is situated in a narrow valley, on a Ford of the river Darent, from whence arises its name. At the time of making the Domesday survey it is described as having "a church worth sixty shillings, and three chapels." Here were, also, "two caracutes in demesne, and 142 villeins with ten borderers, having fifty-three caracutes; two hiths, or havens, a mill, &c held in ferme by a reve." In the year 1235, Isabella, the sister of Henry III. was married at Dartford by proxy to the emperor Frederic. In 1331, Edward III. held a tournament here, on his return from France. The most remarkable historical event, however, connected with this town, was the insurrection under Wat Tyler, in the fifth year of King Richard II. which began at this place. In the year 1355, Edward III. founded a nunnery at Dartford, and endowed it with various manors and estates for its support. At the Dissolution its annual revenues amounted to 3801. 9s. 1/2d. The buildings were newly fitted up by Henry VIII. as a palace for himself; and Queen Elizabeth, during her progress into Kent, resided in ‘ her palace at Dartford,' two days. What remains of the conventual buildings is composed of brick, and consists of a large embattled gateway, with some adjoining buildings on the south, now used as a farmhouse. The garden and farmyard occupy the remaining part of the site of the priory, which appears to have been of great, extent, from the numerous drains and foundations of walls that have been discovered. In the eighth year of Queen Elizabeth, Dartford was stated to contain, "182 inhabited houses, six persons lacking habitation, four keys, or landing places; seven ships and boats, viz. three of three tons, one of six, two of ten, and one of fifteen, and persons for carriage from Dartford to London, and so back again, fourteen." Dartford at present consists of one principal street, through which the high road passes, and two smaller ones, branching off at right angles., According to the returns under the Population Act in 1811, it then contained 531 houses, and 3177 inhabitants.

The Church is situated near the river, in the eastern part of the town, and is a spacious edifice, consisting of a nave, chancel, and aisles, with an embattled tower at the west end. It contains many ancient memorials, among the more interesting of which may be mentioned a mural monument in the chancel on the north side, commemorating Sir John Spielman, a German, who was the first that introduced the manufacture of paper into this kingdom : he died in the year 1607. In the pavement, near this monument, is a slab inlaid with brasses of Richard Martyn and his wife, under a rich canopy, with labels proceeding out of their mouths, and au imperfect inscription at their feet.

There are several other inlaid slabs in different parts of the church, and some are very curious. A new cemetery, or burial-ground, has lately been formed on the northeast of the church, and entirely disjoined from that edifice.

The charitable benefactions for the use of the poor of Dartford are numerous.

The bridge, which was altered, and repaired about forty years ago at the expense of the county, is now a commodious structure. It is supposed to have been originally built in the reign of Edward III.

At the same time that the bridge was repaired, a new market house was erected, the road through the town amended, and new pavements made.

The market is held on Saturday, and is abundantly supplied with articles of provision.

The establishment of the different mills on the river Darent, in the neighbourhood of Dartford, has greatly contributed to the present flourishing state, of the town. The original paper mill, erected by Sir John Spielman, occupied the site of the present gunpowder mills. At a short distance below these is a mill for the manufacture of paper, on the site of a mill for slitting iron bars into rods, &c. supposed to be the first of the kind constructed in England. These mills afford employment to great numbers of the inhabitants of Dartford.

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DARTFORD, a market town and parish and the head of a union, petty sessional division and county court district, lying in one of the valleys of north-west Kent, with a station on the North Kent section of the South Eastern and Chatham railway, which is also a junction for the Dartford loop line, and the Bexley Heath line; it is 15 miles from London by road and 17 by railway, 2 from the Thames, 7 west from Gravesend and 3 south-east from Erith in the North Western division of the county, Dartford and Wilmington hundred, lathe of Sutton-at-Hone, rural deanery of East Dartford, archdeaconry of Maidstone and diocese of Canterbury. The town, which has been a place of consideration from the time of the Roman occupation, derives its name from its situation on the river Dart or Darent, on which it was an important station at the point where the great Watling Street from London to Dover crossed the stream by means of a ford. Dartford is frequently mentioned in history and has been the scene of many important events. At the time of Domesday Book it had a church and three chapels. Isabella, sister to Henry III was married here in 1235 to the Emperor Frederick III. Edward III. held a grand festival here on his return from France, and in 1355 he founded a Dominican nunnery on this spot to commemorate the victory of Cressy (26 Aug. 1346) and surrender of Calais (29 Aug. 1347); a portion of the buildings of the convent, which was dedicated to SS. Mary and Margaret, and now occupied as a farm house, yet remain, as well as the brick embattled gateway; the convent was also used as a palace by Henry VIII. and by Anne of Cleves, his queen, as well as by Queen Elizabeth its gardens and orchards then covering 12 acres; on its dissolution the yearly revenue of the house was estimated at £408. In 1381 an insurrection broke out here, arising from the unpopularity of the poll-tax; this movement was headed by Wat Tyler, a smith of Dartford, who led the insurgents to Blackheath and there encamped 12 June: next day he proceeded with his followers to London, seized the Tower and marched to Smithfield, where he was killed by Sir William Walworth and the insurgents were dispersed by the courage and address of Richard II. On the 17th July, 1555, Christopher Waid was burnt at the stake on Dartford Brent: a costly monument has been erected to this martyr in the old burial ground on the spot where anciently stood a chapel dedicated to St. Edmund the Martyr. The town was governed by a Local Board of nine members, formed in 1850, but under the “Local Government Act, 1894” (56 and 57 Vict. c. 73), it has now an Urban District Council, elected Dec. 1894. It is lighted with gas by a company established in 1880, and supplied with water from works in the parishes of Crayford and Wilmington, the property of the Kent Water Works Company.

The parish church of the Holy Trinity is a venerable and stately edifice of flint and brick, in the Early English and later styles, with a clock and 8 bells, and contains some very fine brasses, dating from the 15th century, and several stained windows: the nave and aisles were restored in 1877, considerable repairs having previously been made in 1863; and the west porch was restored in 1869; the south aisle has also been almost entirely rebuilt: the communion plate includes a silver flagon of 1712, an alms dish given by Mr. Joseph Allen in 1749, and other pieces of similar date: there are 820 sittings, 200 being free. The register dates from the year 1561. The living is an endowed vicarage, net yearly value £469, with 12 acres of glebe and residence, in the gift of the Bishop of Worcester, and held since 1893 by the Rev. Percy Edward Smith M.A. of Trinity College, Dublin, and surrogate.

Christ Church, on the Dartford road, opened in May, 1870, is an iron structure, with about 250 sittings; the Rev. Walter Cole Greenaway M.A. of Downing College, Cambridge, has been curate in charge since 1899.

The church of St. Alban, in St. Alban’s road, East Hill, occupies a site given by Mrs. Sankey, a landowner in this parish, and was erected at a cost of £2,1850, and consecrated in 1902, by the Archbishop of Canterbury; it is in the Early English style, and has 450 sittings; the, Rev. John Brand B.A. of Trinity College, Cambridge, has been curate in charge since 1902.

The Catholic church in Spital street, dedicated to St. Anselm, was built in 1900, and affords 250 sittings, and a Baptist chapel, in Highfield road, erected in 1867, seating 350, a Congregational chapel, erected in 1819, with 300 sittings, also a Particular Baptist chapel, in Priory road, and Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist chapels.

The Cemetery, on the East Hill, originally consisting of about 4 acres, was enlarged in 1881 by the in-closure of two more acres, and has two mortuary chapels; it is under the control of a burial committee off the Urban District Council. A new cemetery is now (1902) being laid out at Watling street.

Kent Martyrs’ Memorial Hall, West Hill, erected in 1890, at a cost of £1,600, contains a library, reading and refreshment rooms, a gymnasium, and a hall seating 500 persons: the Dartford Young Men’s Bible Class, numbering about 350 members, meets here; an addition has been made as a memorial to the late Sir Stevenson Arthur Blackwood K.C.B. and is used as an institute for lads, and on Sunday as a sunday school.

The Dartford Church House and Institute, opened in 1899, at a cost of £3,500, is a structure of brick and stone, in the Early English style.

The Police Station is in Highfield road.

A Masonic lodge (No. 299) meets at the Bull hotel or the last Tuesday in the months of January, February March, April, June, September, October and November, and on the third Tuesday in the month of May.

The Cattle Market is held every Tuesday in rear of the Bull hotel. Dartford is a great provision market for the neighbouring district. A fair is held on the 2nd of August in each year.

The 16th century was particularly remarkable and important as regards the manufacturing interests of Dartford, for in 1590 the process of rolling and slitting iron was first established in England in this town by Godfrey Box, a native of Brabant; and in the same century Sir John Spielman knt. introduced at this place the process of paper making. Associated with this town is the name of the celebrated engineer, Richard Trevethick, inventor of the locomotive steam engine, who was for a short time a resident, and died here 22nd April, 1833, and was, also here buried. A large amount of steam power in combination with the natural fall of the river is employed in the extensive manufacturing operations of the place, and its navigable creek which affords an easy access to the Thames, greatly facilitates the exportation of manufactured and agricultural produce. The important gunpowder manufactory of “Pigou, Wilks and Laurence Limited,” is on the river Darenth; and the construction of steam engines and general machinery is extensively carried on here by Messrs. L. J. and C. Seager. Messrs. J. and E. Hall Limited, are manufacturers of refrigerating machines used principally in the importation of frozen meat from the Australian colonies and the River Plate; here also are Messrs. Burroughs, Wellcome and Co.’s chemical works, Messrs'. Hepburn tan works, the London Daily Telegraph paper mills, and the London Paper Mille Cor Limited, whose works employ over 300 hands; the works of the Dartford Portland Cement Co. Limited, erected in 1893, are on the east bank of the Creek. There are bandana silk printing works, corn mills, breweries, malt-houses and brickfields.

The Constitutional Club in Spital street, opened on Wednesday, 17 Jan. 1894, is built on the site of the old club house premises, acquired by the Conservative party in 1884, and opened in April, 1885. The new building was erected at a cost of £4,000. The Conservative Hall is used for meetings and also for concerts, dramatic entertainments &c. and will hold 600 persons.

The “Livingstone” Cottage Hospital on East Hill, for Dartford and the district, was built in 1894, at a cost, including site, of about £3,100, of which £1,000 was contributed by Mr. S. M. Burroughs, of Dartford. The foundation stone was laid by Sir H. M. Stanley, the distinguished African explorer, on the 21st April, 1894, and the hospital opened 1 Dec. 1894. In, 1901 the number of inpatients was 157.

The Dartford and District Infectious Diseases Hospital, in Bow Arrow lane, built in 1893, and since extended, is a structure of corrugated iron, the administrative quarters being of brick: it was erected jointly by the late Dartford Local Board and the Rural Sanitary Authority, and has at present 40 beds; the management is entrusted to a Joint Committee, of which John Camden Hayward, Sessions house, Lowfield street, is clerk.

Bexley Lunatic Asylum, situate on Dartford Heath erected by the London County Council, at a cost of over £400,000, was commenced in 1896, and opened Sept. 19Th 1898, and will hold 2,000 patients.

The Metropolitan Asylums Board Small Pox Hospital Ships are situated at Long Reach, on the river Thames, and have beds for 300 patients; additional temporary accommodation has been provided on the shore close by, and a large permanent hospital as now (1902) in course of erection at Joyce Green.

The benefactions to the church amount to about £255 per annum, including William Vaughan’s charity, of £25 a year; John Burton and Francis Goldsmith’s, of £15; William Reynold’s and William Harrison’s charity, of £84 16s.; Robert Roger’s, of £16 18s.; Jonathan Brett’s, of £25 8s. 10d.; John Randall’s, of £10 10s. 9d. left by will August 14, 1771, and Miss Pettet’s, of £30. For the poor in the Union House there are charities of £35 14s. 6d. yearly (less Income Tax), left by Grace Say and given to aged inmates recommended by the master; and of £15 yearly, given by will of Edward Pierce, dated October 13, 1809, for the poor in the house. The schools have nearly £3 10s. 3d. from Randall’s charity and £3 9s. 4d. from Chambers' charity.

The Spital Almshouses on West hill, anciently used as a hospital for lepers, provide nine aged widows of the parish with £12 per year each, besides coals and wood; the bequests towards their erection were chiefly made in the 16th century; in 1572 they were rebuilt and reendowed by John Byer esq. and in 1704 were restored at the expense of John Twistleton esq. of Horsman’s place; this charity is managed by the Dartford Charity trustees. The four almshouses in Lowfield street, erected about 1550, were pulled down in 1889, and a new building of red brick, in the Elizabethan style, from designs by Mr. J. Johnson, architect, of 9 Queen Victoria street, London, erected and completed in 1890, at a cost of £1,600, raised by voluntary subscriptions; the houses are now occupied by eight deserving aged females, each of whom receives £13 a year, besides coals; this charity is managed by a body of eleven trustees. The yearly income of each of these foundations amounts to £147 4s. 4d. and is chiefly derived from land and property in Dartford. Richard Tippetts, by his will dated 1870, bequeathed the sum of £500, the interest thereon to be devoted to augmenting the money allowances to the widows of the Spital houses.

Lord Tredegar and Mrs. Temple-Johnson, of Hove, Sussex, are the principal landowners.

The parish contains 4,230 acres of land, 13 of water, 140 of tidal water and 48 of foreshore; rateable value, £89,317; the population in 1901 was 18,644, including 29 officers and 445 inmates in the Workhouse, 212 in St. Vincent’s Catholic Industrial School, 96 officials and 1,886 inmates in the London County Asylum, 47 on the Small Pox Hospital ships, 69 in the Infectious Diseases Hospital.

Overy is a liberty in this parish.

The following places are in the Dartford petty sessional division:-Ash, Bexley, Crayford, Darenth Dartford, Erith Eynsford, Farningham, Fawkham, Hartley, Horton Kirby, Kingsdown, Longfield, Lullingstone, Ridley, Southfleet, Stone, Sutton-at-Hone, Swanscombe, East Wickham & Wilmington.

DARTFORD UNION

Board day on alternate tues, at the Workhouse, 11 a.m..

The Union comprises 21 parishes, viz.:-Dartford, Ash, Bexley, Crayford, Darenth Erith Eynsford, Farningham, Fawkham, Hartley Horton Kirby, Kingsdown, Longfield, Lullingstone, Ridley, Southfleet, Stone, Sutton-at-Hone, Swanscombe, East Wickham & Wilmington. The population of the union in 1901 was 96,051; area, 52,316 acres; assessable value in 1902, £529,606.

The Workhouse, a structure of brick & stone, will hold 460 inmates; a chapel has been added at a cost of £1,500, & will seat 200 persons, & in 1890 a new infirmary was erected, at a cost of over £6,000; a casual ward & other extensions were made in 1900 at a cost of £24,000.

PLACES OF WORSHIP, with times of services

Holy Trinity Church, Rev. Percy Edward Smith M.A. vicar; Rev. W. Cole Greenaway M.A. Rev. John Brand B.A. & Rev. Charles James Armstrong B.A. curates; 8 & 11 a.m. 3 & 7 p.m.; matins daily, 10 a.m.; evensong, 5.30 p.m.; wed. 7.30 p.m.

Christ Church, Dartford road, Rev. W. Cole Greenaway M.A. curate in charge; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

St. Albans, St. Albans road, Rev. John Brand B.A. curate in charge; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

Catholic, St. Anselm, Spital street, Revs. John Francis Moynihan & Arthur Mostyn, priests; mass, 8.30 & 11 a.m.; Tosary, sermon & benediction, 6.30 p.m.; holidays of obligation, mass, 7 & 9.30 a.m. & rosary & benediction, 8 p.m.; daily mass, 8 a.m.; wed. rosary & benediction, 8 p.m.

Baptist, Highfield road, Rev. Charles Trim Johnson; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7.30 p.m.

Baptist (Particular), Priory rd. (various), 11 a.m.& 6 p.m.

Congregational, West hill. Rev. Edward Hayward; 11 а.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7 p.m.

Primitive Methodist, East hill, Rev. William C. Rose; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; tues. 7.30 p.m.

Wesleyan, Spital street (Gravesend Circuit), Rev. William John Tucker; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7 p.m.

Salvation Army Barracks, Overy street; services, sundays 6.30 & 11 a.m. & 3 & 7 p.m.; week days 8 p.m.

SCHOOLS

Grammar (Endowed), originally founded in 1576, by Dr. Vaughan & others, and revived in 1866, when new buildings were erected on the West hill & in 1873 a master's house was added; these works were in part carried out & a site purchased from funds acquired in 1865 by the sale of the Grammar School property, consisting of various benefactions left by John Beare, of Swanscombe, in 1680 & others, which produced a capital sum of £830; the school was reorganized in 1876 by the Charity Commissioners, & a wing was added in 1883, at a cost of £500, in order to provide for the reception of boarders; the income amounts to £7 only; the governing body consists of 9 persons.

Dartford Technical Institute, built in 1901, at a cost of £8,300, by voluntary subscriptions, by grant from Kant County Council, & by Tate, is a building of brick, with stone facings, from plans by Messrs. Hesketh & Stokes. It contains, in the basement, rooms for practical instruction in wood-work & carving, & cookery. On the second floor, hall, commercial class room, engineering room, large chemical laboratory, lecture & demonstration room for experimental science. On the third floor, elementary art room, advanced art room, class room, masters’ & secretary's rooms & caretaker’s rooms. It is lighted throughout by electricity, well ventilated & heated. The organising secretary is David F. Brow.

A School Board, originally of 7 members, was formed 8 June, 1874, & increased to 9 members 2 June, 1898; Miss Mabel Lillian Dixon, 8 Hythe street, clerk to the board; Charles Challis, 12 Westgate road, attendance officer.

Board, St. Alban’s road, built in 1875 & enlarged in 1895, & altered for juniors, April, 1902, for 180 juniors, 270 girls & 270 infanta; average attendance, 278 girls & 200 infants.

Board, York road, built in 1900, for 500 boys; average attendance, 390.

Board, Heath street, built in 1876, for 106 boys; 106 girls & 150 infants; average attendance, 107 boys; 110 girls & 125 infants.

Board, West hill, Dartford road, opened in 1890, for 190 boys, 190 girls & 250 infants; average attendance, 240 boys, 175 girls & 117 infants.

National, West hill (boys, girls & infants), with an endowment of £25 yearly, enlarged in 1899, for 270 boys, 202 girls & 170 infants; average attendance, 245 boys, 182 girls & 140 infants.

Wesleyan (girls & infants), Hythe street, erected in 1858, at a cost of £934, for 180 children; average attendance, 122 girls & 65 infants.

Wesleyan (boys), Kent road, built in 1868, at a cost of £1,600, for 160 boys; average attendance, 145.

Catholic (mixed), Hythe street, built in 1898, for 150 children; average attendance, 99; taught by the Sisters of the Convent of S. Ursula.

St. Vincent’s Catholic Industrial school, formerly established at Tanner’s Hill, Deptford, was erected in 1875, on a hill at the east end of the town, & comprises schoolroom, workshops & general offices for 200 boys; & has in connection with it a farm of about 25 acres; it is under the superintendence of the Community of Presentation Brothers.