Maidstone is the county town of Kent, is advantageously situated on the eastern banks of the river Medway. It is doubtful whether the antiquity of this town can be traced beyond the time of the Anglo-Saxons, although some antiquaries have considered it as the Vagniacae of Antoninus. The Saxons termed it Medwegestun, from its situation on the Medwege, or Medway. In the record of Domesday the name is written Meddestane. The town is pleasant, large, and populous. There is a stone bridge of sever arches over the river, supposed to have been first erected by some of the archbishops, lords of the manor. It was repaired in the reign of King James I. by an assessment on the town and parish, but it still remains narrow and inconvenient. Maidstone consists of four principal streets, which intersect each other near the site of the ancient Market Cross. This fabric was taken down about 20 years ago, and in its place is erected a commodious fish market, where is a reservoir of spring water, conducted from a spring on the opposite side of the river (beneath which it is conveyed); and the town is supplied with water by means of the same pure and abundant spring.

The town of Maidstone was anciently governed by a portreve and twelve brethren, and continued so till Edward VI. in his third year, newly incorporated the town by the style and title of the mayor, jurats, and commonalty. These privileges were soon afterwards forfeited by the rebellion of this town in the 1st year of Queen Mary. Queen Elizabeth, in her second year, again incorporated it, by the title of mayor and aldermen; and granted some other additional privileges. A third charter of incorporation was granted in 1604 by James I., by the name and style of "the mayor, jurats, and commonalty, of the king's town and parish of Maidstone," wherein all the privileges of the former were confirmed; and new ones granted.—The same king granted a fourth charter in 1619. King Charles II. in his thirty-fourth year, incorporated this town anew by the style and title as before; which charter was made use of in the government of this place, until the revolution in 1688, after which it was laid aside entirely.

In the reign of King George II. this corporation being dissolved by judgement of ouster against its principal members, a new charter was granted by that king in 1748, in which it is recited, that divers disputes having arisen of late within this town and corporation, and informations in nature of quo warranto having been prosecuted in the King's Bench, and judgement of ouster obtained against all the acting jurats, so that the corporation was then dissolved, and the town incapable of enjoying their liberties and franchises, the king therefore for the causes therein mentioned, upon the petition of the freemen, freeholders, and other inhabitants, granted that Maidstone should be a free town and parish of itself; and that the inhabitants of the same should be one body politic and corporate, by the name of "the mayor, jurats, and commonalty, of the king's town and parish of Maidstone, in the county of Kent," and by that name to have perpetual succession, and to acquire and hold lands, &c. and to alien the same; and by the aforementioned name to plead and be impleaded; and that they and their successors might have a common seal, and might break, change, and new make the same at their liking; and that the same town and parish, and the liberties and precincts thereof, should extend according to the ancient boundaries; and that there should be thirteen inhabitants of the town and parish, who should be chosen jurats of the same, one of whom should be chosen mayor; and that there should be forty of the remaining principal inhabitants chosen common council men, all of whom, viz. mayor, jurats, and common council men, duly assembled, should have power upon public summons to make bye laws. By the above charter the corporation act at this time.

Queen Elizabeth, in her second year, granted to the mayor, &c one market on a Thursday weekly, with all tolls, customs, and other profits, and also four fairs.

King James, in his second year, re-granted and confirmed the fairs and markets, and other liberties and privileges granted as aforesaid; and in his 17th year, did ratify and confirm the said markets, fairs, courts of Pyepowder, tributes, customs, tolls, &c. and further granted that it should be lawful for the mayor to extend the market beyond the market place, or to hold it in any other place within the town: therefore the king being willing to shew further grace and favour to the mayor, &c. ratified and confirmed the said markets, and granted them to the mayor, &c. and their successors, de novo.

Queen Elizabeth granted to the mayor, jurats, and commonalty, full power to hold a court before the mayor in the town, from 14 days to 14 days, on a Tuesday, for pleas, as well of assize of novel disseisin, as other pleas, actions, and suits, concerning lands, &c. in the town and parish, although they should or should not exceed the sum of 40 shillings. The mayor and jurats, and the recorder, as steward, annually hold a court leet, or law day, formerly called the portmote, at which among other business the peace officers are chosen, viz. a high constable for the town and parish, and a borsholder for each of the three boroughs of Week, West Street, and Stone, into which the town and parish are divided.

This town and parish, with others in the neighbourhood, were formerly bound to contribute to the repair of the fifth pier of Rochester-bridge. The chief source of the wealth of this prosperous town has arisen from the cultivation of hops, in which pursuit most of the principal inhabitants are engaged. Great fortunes have been raised by the growth of this useful article; but so precarious is the speculation, that it is locally remarked the fortunes thus raised are seldom durable. No species of natural produce is, indeed, subject to such abrupt and decisive vicissitudes.—The manufacture of linen thread was introduced to this place from Flanders, in the reign of Elizabeth, and is still continued here. A more profitable branch of trade, has been discovered, within the last 30 years, in the distillation of a spirit termed Maidstone Geneva. This distillery lately lay dormant, but is now revived, and cultivated to a considerable extent.

This town derives great advantage from the navigation of the river Medway, as a considerable traffic is carried on by it from hence to Rochester, Chatham, and London; and, from the many large corn mills here, abundance of meal and flour is shipped off for the use of the above towns, as well as great quantities sent to London weekly. The fulling, and paper-mills, in and near this town, have all their manufacture transported from hence by water to London. Great quantities of timber brought hither from the Weald of Kent, and its neighbourhood, by land carriage, are conveyed from hence by the navigation of the Medway to the dock at Chatham, and more distant parts., Besides which there are several large hoys which sail to and from London weekly, for the convenience of this town and the neighbouring country.

The church stands at the western part of the town on the bank of the river Medway. It is a very spacious and handsome structure, formerly collegiate, consisting of a nave, chancel, and two side aisles, with a handsome well-built tower at the west end. This is one of the largest parochial churches in the kingdom, and was chiefly erected in the reign of Richard II., by Archbishop Courtenev. The stalls for the warden and fellows of the college are still remaining in the chancel.—This church anciently contained many inscriptions on brass plates, most of which have been removed. In the middle of the great chancel there is a tombstone, raised a little above the pavement, with the marks of the portraiture of a bishop in his mitre and robes, and an inscription round it; but the brass of the whole is torn away. This is supposed to be the cenotaph of Archbishop Courteney, the re-builder of the church.

The College founded by Archbishop Courteney was an extensive pile of stone, and most of the buildings, with the great gate, are yet standing, on the south side of the church, and are now occupied by a person concerned in the hop-trade, who uses some of the apartments as an oasting house. There are, also, many other vestiges of ancient religious buildings in this town and its immediate vicinity.

Amongst the public buildings of Maidstone, its gaol stands mournfully pre-eminent. This ponderous and extensive fabric was commenced in 1811, and was completed in the year 1818. It is intended as a prison for the use of the county at large; and, also, to supersede the present gaol and house of correction in Maidstone. The ground comprised within the walls is between 13 and 14 acres in extent, and the building is capable of holding about 450 prisoners. The structure is composed of brick, faced with rag stone, chiefly dug from the site which it occupies. The plan on which it is arranged would appear to be extremely judicious. Each class of prisoners has a distinct airing-yard, and each prisoner a separate sleeping-cell. The expense of the erection, as we are informed from the best authority, was about 180,000l.; a sum inferior to the apprehensions of some persons, but which is still a burthen sustained with difficulty by many who are under the necessity of contributing to this stupendous county-establishment.

In the vicinity of the New Gaol are extensive Barracks, and a Cavalry-Depot, in which are trained all the cavalry destined for service in the East Indies.

The chief part of this town has been greatly improved since the year 1791, at which time an act was obtained for the purpose of lighting and newly paving the principal streets.

Among the many charitable institutions for the benefit of the poor, are a Grammar School and two Charity Schools.

Maidstone sends two members to parliament, who are elected by all freemen not receiving alms or charity.

In the year 1648 the town held out some time for Charles I. but at last General, Fairfax took it by storm.

According to the returns under the population act in 1811. Maidstone then contained 3575 houses, and 9443 inhabitants.

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MAIDSTONE is a municipal and parliamentary borough, the assize town of Kent and the capital of the Mid division of the county, as well as a polling place and election centre for that division, being also the head of a hundred, union and county court district, in the lathe of Aylesford, rural deanery of Sutton, archdeaconry of Maidstone and diocese of Canterbury; it is pleasantly situated on a gentle declivity at the foot of a range of chalk hills, on the eastern bank of the river Medway and on the London and Ashford highway and is by road 34 miles from London, 27 west from Canterbury, 32 ½ north-west from Rye, 18 east from Sevenoaks, 8 ¾ south from Rochester and Chatham, 11 south-west from Sittingbourne, 18 north-west from Tenterden and 15 east-by-north-east from Tonbridge and by railway 43 from London, 10 north-east from Paddock Wood junction, 32 north-west from Ashford, 46 west from Canterbury, 52 north-west from Dover, 35 north-west from Folkestone, 66 south-west from Margate, 62 south-west from Ramsgate, 12 south from Strood and 20 north-east from Tunbridge Wells. The South Eastern and Chatham Railway Company has four stations here, Maidstone West, Maidstone East, Maidstone Barracks and Tovil; Maidstone West is in communication with the main line, Hastings and Reading branches; also the North Kent to London, via Strood and Gravesend. From Maidstone East is the direct route to East Kent &c. via Ashford, and also with Victoria, Holborn &c. via Sevenoaks and Swanley. Goods traffic is dealt with at all stations excepting Maidstone Barracks. The stone bridge over the Medway, of three arches, was built in 1878—9, replacing an earlier structure. The town was incorporated by Edward VI. but disfranchised by Queen Mary for the part it took in Sir Thomas Wyatt's insurrection in 1554. It was again incorporated by Queen Elizabeth and subsequently, in 1748, by George II. Under the “Municipal Corporations Act, 1835” {5 and 6 Wm. IV. c. 76), the borough was divided into four wards, but in Nov. 1898, it was reconstituted, and now has six wards, with a mayor, six aldermen and eighteen town councillors; there are separate quarter sessions for the borough, at which a recorder, elected by the Corporation, presides; these courts are held in the Town Hall, where also the borough magistrates hold their petty sessions. The town is lighted with gas by a company formed in 1823, and electricity is provided by the corporation, and water is supplied partly by pumping and partly by gravitation from works at East Farleigh, the property of the Maidstone Water Company, established in 1860. The reservoirs are at Barming and Boarley, in the parish of Boxley, their storage capacity being 500,000 and 200,000 gallons respectively. A complete system of drainage was carried out in 1878. Queen Elizabeth granted the privilege of sending two members to parliament, which the borough enjoyed until the passing of the “Redistribution of Seats Act, 1885” (48 and 49 Vict. c. 23), by which the number was reduced to one. During the Civil war Maidstone sided with the King and in 1648 held out for some time against the Parliamentary forces, but was eventually stormed and taken by Fairfax.

The parish church of All Saints is of stone in the Perpendicular style, and has a tower containing a clock and 10 bells: there is some wood screen work, an altar tomb, several brasses and stained windows: the church was restored and reseated in 1844 and further restored, at a cost of nearly £11,000, in 1885—6; and in 1897 the north chantry chapel was restored and a rood screen erected and dedicated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and now affords about 2,000 sittings. The register dates from the year 1509. The living was declared a vicarage Aug. 14, 1866, neb yearly value £240, with residence, in the gift, of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and held since 1883 by the Rev. Samuel Joy M.A. of Worcester College, Oxford, honorary canon of Canterbury, rural dean of Sutton and surrogate. On the south side of the churchyard are the remains of the College of All Saints’, founded by William Courtenay, Archbishop of Canterbury in 1395; portions of the building still remain, including a gateway tower with two entrances. On the north side of the churchyard, and close to the river Medway, stands the ancient archiepiscopal palace, a fine building of stone of the Elizabethan period, with large square mullioned windows and dormers in the roof.

The ecclesiastical parish of Holy Trinity was formed June 1st, 1841; the church, erected in 1826 and consecrated in 1828, is of stone, in the Classic style, and has a tower with spire containing one bell; the church was reseated in 1877 and since restored at a cost of £5,000; there are 1,450 sittings, 800 being free. The register dates from the year 1842. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £200, chiefly from pew rents, with residence, in the gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and held since 1901 by the Rev. Walter Lighton Greene M.A. of Exeter College, Oxford.

The ecclesiastical parish of St. Faith was formed 1 Aug. 1871, out of the parish of Holy Trinity: the church, in Station road, consecrated in 1872, is of stone in the Early English style; it was completed in 1881—2, and has a tower containing one bell and a clock; there are sittings for 650 persons. The register dates from the year 1872. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £280, with residence, in the gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and held since 1889 by the Rev. Henry Frederick Rivers M.A. of Trinity College, Cambridge.

The ecclesiastical parish of St. John the Evangelist, Mote Park, was formed 19 April, 1861, out of the parish of All Saints; the church, erected in 1861, is of stone in the Gothic style, and has a turret containing 2 bells; there are 200 sittings. The register dates from the year 1862. The living is a vicarage, gross yearly value £250, with residence, in the gift of trustees, and held since 1892 by the Rev. Henry Robert Hughes M.A. of St. Peter's College, Cambridge. The vicarage house was built in 1875.

St. Michael and All Angels was formed into an ecclesiastical parish from that of St. Peter, by Order in Council, 20 July, 1877; the church, in Tonbridge road, is of Kentish ragstone, in the Decorated style, and has a tower, containing a clock and 6 bells; there are 580 sittings. The register dates from the year 1876. The living is a vicarage, yearly value £285, with residence, in the gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and held since 1882 by the Rev. George Bohun Coulcher M.A. of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

In connection with S. Michael’s church are two Mission buildings, in Milton street and Queen’s road respectively. Divine service is also held at the Heath school.

The ecclesiastical parish of St. Paul was formed 16 April, 1861, out of that of Holy Trinity; the church, in Perryfield, begun in 1859, and completed at a cost of upwards of £5,000, is of stone, in the Gothic style of the 14th century, and has a tower containing one bell; the church was decorated in 1893 at a cost of £4,000, and in 1898 underwent extensive alterations; it will seat 802 persons, 423 sittings being free. The register dates from the year 1861. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £340, with residence, in the gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and held since 1902 by the Rev. William Hunter Denovan M.A. of Trinity College, Dublin.

The ecclesiastical parish of St. Luke was formed in 1896. The church, in St. Luke’s road, erected at a cost of £10,000, and consecrated in 1897, is an edifice of Kentish rag stone, with Monk’s Park stone facings, and has a small turret containing one bell: the organ, with its handsomely carved case, was presented in 1899, as a memorial to Col. Henry Brabazon Urmston and Harriet Elizabeth his wife: the communion table and choir stalls are of carved teak: the church affords 600 sittings. The register dates from the year 1895. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £300, in the gift of trustees, and held since 1895 by the Rev. William Henry Collis M.A. of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

St. Luke’s Mission church, Wheeler street, was erected in 1886 at a cost of £1,200, and will seat 350.

St. Peter’s church, West Borough, formerly the chapel of the hospital of St. Peter and St. Paul, founded by Boniface, Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1244, and known as the “Pilgrims’ chapel,” was recovered from desecration, restored and enlarged in 1836, and had a district assigned to it 22 December, 1840; and in 1859 was reseated; there are sittings for 360 persons, of which 80 are free. The register dates from the year 1840. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £219, derived from pew rents and endowment, with residence, in the gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and held since 1902 by the Rev. Oliver Robert Dawson M.A. of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

The ecclesiastical parish of St. Philip, Kingsley, was formed 16 April, 1861, out of All Saints parish; the church, consecrated in 1858, is a stone building, in the Early English style, and has a tower with spire containing a clock and one bell; the chancel was built in 1878, and the tower and spire were erected at the same time; the church has about 550 sittings, of which 236 are free. The register dates from the year 1858. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £280, chiefly derived from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, with residence, in the gift of the Vicar of Maidstone, and held since 1862 by the Rev. Henry Collis M.A. of Caius College, Cambridge.

The Catholic church, in Week street, dedicated to St. Francis, and erected 1880, is of red brick, with stone dressings, in the Gothic style; the old building is now used as schools. There are also Baptist, Congregational, Primitive Methodist, Unitarian and Wesleyan chapels; a Society of Friends’ meeting house, an Undenominational chapel and several Mission chapels.

The Cemetery, on the Sutton road, about 1 mile south from the town covers 26 acres, and has two mortuary chapels; it is under the control of a burial board of 9 members.

The Town Hall, in High street, erected in 1764, is a large and plain building, and will hold 250 persons.

The Corn Exchange, built in 1835 and erected over the market, contains a large room suitable for entertainments.

The County Club is in Week street; the Maidstone and Mid-Kent Conservative Club, erected in 1883, and the Maidstone Club, in Earl street; the Maidstone and Mid-Kent Liberal club, in Stone street, and working men’s clubs in Brewer street, and Bower lane.

The market, one of the most largely attended in the county, is held on Thursday for corn, seeds and hops. The stock market is held weekly on Tuesday at the Fair meadow, and annual fairs on the 13th of February, the 12th of May, the 20th of June and 17th of October, which latter is the great hop fair.

There are three banking establishments in the town, the Kentish Bank (Wigan, Mercer, Tasker & Co.), Bank street, a branch of the London and County Banking Co. in High street and one of Lloyds Bank Lim. in Week street.

His Majesty’s Prison, at the end of Week street, was begun in 1811 and completed in 1818, at a cost of £200,000, and is authorised to receive 224 males and 68 females, but is further available for 128 additional inmates. New quarters for officers have been erected and the old gateway pulled down and part of it converted into quarters. The Sessions House, forming the front portion of the prison, in which assizes are held and the county business transacted, was commenced in 1825 and opened at the winter assizes of 1827—8, the cost of erection being £40,000; there are convenient rooms for solicitors, witnesses, and also offices for the Clerk of the Peace for the county and for the County Council.

The head quarters of the County Constabulary, at Wren’s Cross, include barracks for 40 men and a stall of officers.

Maidstone is the head quarters of a military district, No. 50. The barracks, in the Sandling road, are occupied by the depot of the 1st and 2nd Battalions The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) (50th and 97th Foot) and of the 3rd battalion of the regiment (West Kent Militia). There are also four Volunteer Battalions attached to the regiment, and four companies (A, B, F and L) of the 1st Volunteer Battalion have head quarters in the town. The West Kent (Queen’s Own) Imperial Yeomanry, also have their head quarters here.

The Museum, in Faith street, opened 20 Jan. 1858, was originally Chillington Manor House and belonged to the late Mr. T. Charles, an antiquary, who, at his death bequeathed his Roman and other antiquities, fossils, library and pictures to the Corporation, and these formed the nucleus of the collection; the fine art and ethnographical collections were presented by Mr. J. L. Brenchley M.A., F.R.G.S, a native of the town. The hours of opening are from 10 a.m. till sunset in the summer, and till 6 p.m. in the winter; it is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays, throughout the year till 9 p.m. Chief curator and librarian, Mr. Frederick V. James. The Manor House itself, in respect of the older portions, comprising the entrance porch, the large hall and range of timber-framed buildings facing the garden, together with the cloister or gallery leading to the supposed chapel, is an excellent specimen of domestic architecture of the Elizabethan period, of which there are many examples in the county. The date of erection of these parts may be assigned to a period about A.D. 1560, when the Manor was held by Nicholas Barham, sergeant-at-law to Queen Elizabeth When the west wing was restored in 1871, fragments of an older building, consisting of rag-stone jambs and an arch, were found in situ, the spandrels bearing the initials “L M.” and “P. M.” respectively, probably those of John and Peter Maplesden, who occupied the house temp. Henry VII. and VIII. These relics, which afford architectural evidence of a structure of earlier date than that assigned to the main building, now form part of the fireplace in the Brenchley Room. Towards the end of the 16th century extensive alterations were evidently made to the building, and the west and north-west angles; and again about the year 1698, when the property was bought by Mr. Robert Southgate, who used it for the purpose of carrying on the trade of cider making. Mr. Edw. Pretty F.S.A, and some time curator of the Museum, who died in 1865, left to it his extensive library and collection of antiquarian relics, as well as a large series of pencil and water-colour sketches, executed by himself, of churches and historic buildings, mostly in Kent. The east wing was erected in 1868, by the late Mr. Alexander Randall, banker, of Maidstone, who purchased the site at the cost of £500, subsequently handing it over to the Corporation and giving a like amount as a contribution towards the rebuilding. This, together with the adjoining room in the Bentlif Gallery, is now occupied by the Public Reference Library. The west wing of the Museum (originally belonging to Chillington Manor House and then known as the “Rookery”) was purchased in 1870; the rebuilding and restoration began in 1871, and the building was opened in September 1873. In 1874 the south front of the old Manor House was restored and the present iron railings, gates and pavement completed by the late Mr. William Laurence, J.P. Various other important alterations and improvements have been made from time to time, including the erection of an entrance staircase and the rebuilding of the chimney stacks; adjoining the “cloyster,” has been re-erected the half-timbered south wing of the old Court Lodge, formerly standing at East Farleigh, near Maidstone. This interesting relic of the time of Henry VIII., on being demolished in 1874, was rebuilt here at the expense of several gentlemen.

The Bentlif Art Gallery was given to the town by Mr. S. Bentlif, 29 Sept. 1890; the building comprises on the upper floor, two picture galleries, on the ground floor is an art exhibition room, filled with cases containing a series of objects lent from the Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, and a room at present reserved for the reference department of the Public Library.

The Public Library, in connection with the Museum, comprises reference and lending departments, containing nearly 15,000 volumes, and is open from 10 a.m. till sunset in summer, and from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m. in winter. The lending department, established in November, 1890, is open from 10 a.m. till 9 p.m. A wing to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria was erected in 1897—8 and opened in June, 1899. It adjoins the west wing of the Museum, and constitutes, on the ground floor, the lending department of the Public Library. The upper floor (which communicates with the Museum) is generally known as the “County Room” and contains exhibits illustrative of the County of Kent, chiefly of Natural History. The total attendance of visitors to all departments of the Museum for the twelve months ending Dec. 31st, 1901, was 89,616, and for the corresponding period of 1900, 70,082.

The Kent Archaeological Society, whose meetings are held at the Museum, was founded in 1857; it now comprises about 900 members, and has a fine collection of antiquities illustrative of the archaeology of Kent. Annual meetings are held in the months of July or August at different places of antiquarian interest in the county.

The Freemasons’ Hall, in Brewer street, was formerly a Presbyterian chapel.

The Church Institute, Union street, opened in November, 1882, and greatly enlarged in 1890, contains two reading rooms and a library of nearly 4,000 volumes, recreation and class rooms, a gymnasium, and an assembly room known as the “Hollingworth Hall.” There are now (1902) 800 members.

The West Kent and General Hospital, in Marsham street, established in 1832, is a building in the Italian style. During the year 1901 there were received 707 inpatients, 4,704 out-patients and 1,319 casualty cases. The children's ward, added in 1883, holds 12 cots and 2 cradles, and an isolation ward was added in 1893. Late Dowager Lady Howard de Walden, of Mote Park, Maidstone, gave a donation of £10,000. The Hollingworth memorial wing was opened on July 18, 1889, by H.R.H. Princess Louise, and a Jubilee memorial wing, including a department for out-patients and a chapel, was added in 1898, at a cost of £3,000. The Stephen Monckton Nurses’ Home, is now incorporated with the West Kent General Hospital; hospital-trained nurses are provided for private families; applications to be made to the lady superintendent.

Maidstone Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Fantlane, built in 1884, at a cost of £4,000, comprises 2 pavilions, each consisting of two wards for six beds and four beds respectively, and a building for administrative purposes.

The Kent County Ophthalmic Hospital, Church street, founded in 1847, is entirely supported by voluntary contributions; since 1891 it has been much improved, an operation room added, and a chapel built; during the year 1901, 250 in-patients and 3,520 out-patients were received, and the total expenditure for that year was £1,620. The building is capable of receiving 42 inpatients.

The Howard de Walden institute and residence for governesses, and lady students &c. in Marsham street, built at the expense of the Dowager Lady Howard de Walden, was opened in November 1891. Practical cookery classes are held and classes for ambulance instruction, nursing, dress making, drawing, French and Binging. Entertainments and lectures are given during the winter months.

The County Lunatic Asylum, opened 1st January, 1833, and since greatly enlarged, comprises an extensive range of stone buildings, situated at Barming Heath 250 feet above the river Medway and about 2 miles from the town; it now (1902) contains 1,368 inmates (634 men and 734 women).

The almshouses include Sir John Banks’s, consisting of six houses in Faith street, with an endowment of £10 for each house yearly, for six poor men and women; John Brenchley’s, comprising four houses in King street, for decayed housekeepers of this town, and endowed with a donation of £12 yearly to each for ever; Mrs. Duke’s, of four houses in King street, for females. Corrall’s charity, comprising six houses in College walk, for three men and three women, with £15 yearly for each house; E. Hunter’s, twelve houses in Mote road, for twelve poor men and women; and Cutbusih’s, consisting of six houses in Church street, erected in 1865 by Thomas Robert Cutbush in memory of his brother, the late Robert Cutbush, for aged and decayed trade smell of the town, who live rent free and receive a weekly stipend of £1; in addition to these pensioners, twelve widows and spinsters receive a weekly stipend of 10s. from Cutbush’s charity. The endowed charities for distribution amount to about £450 yearly, and about £205 yearly is also distributed in bread.

The Palace, once the residence of Archbishop Courtenay, was purchased for the town in 1887, and is used for the purposes of the School of Music, the Maidstone Companies of the Royal Army Medical Corps (Volunteers), and as a girls’ high school.

The Mote, a large and well-built mansion, occupying an elevated position, one mile south-east from the town and surrounded by an extensive and well-wooded deer park of 558 acres, is now the property and residence of the Rt. Hon. Sir Marcus Samuel D.L., J.P. Alderman and Lord Mayor (1902—3) of the City of London: in the park is a lake of 40 acres.

The water traffic on the Medway, once of considerable tonnage, is now comparatively small. In the parish and immediate neighbourhood are several large paper mills and an oil mill: there are also paper mould works, extensive breweries, maltings, a distillery, iron foundries, agricultural implement manufactories, coach factories, a tannery, hop bag, matting, sacking, rope and twine manufactories, Roman cement and lime and brick works, and artificial stone manufactories. There are also numerous and extensive, stone quarries, producing the Kentish rag, so much used for general building purposes. The celebrated fossil iguanodon, now in the British Museum, was discovered in a stone quarry here. The parish and neighbourhood abound in hop gardens and fruit is largely cultivated for the London market.

Part of Maidstone parish, 568 acres in extent, detached and situated at Loddington, 5 miles south was transferred to Linton parish under the provisions of the “Divided Parishes Act,” by Local Government Board Order 14,186, dated 25th March, 1883. The Maidstone union workhouse is at Linton.

The area of the parish is 4,008 acres of land and 66 of water; rateable value, £ 157,547; the population of borough and parish in 1901 was 33,516, which includes 1,584 in the Kent County Lunatic Asylum, 436 in the barracks, 302 in H. M. Prison, 59 in the General Hospital, and 27 in the Kent Opthalmic Hospital.

The population of the municipal wards in 1901 was: Bridge, 4,703; Heath 6.195; High Street, 3,724; King Street, 7,078; North 6,426; Stone Street, 5,390. The population of the ecclesiastical parishes in 1901 was All Saints (parish church), 3,772; Holy Trinity, 4,923; St. Faith 1,578; St. John the Evangelist, 311; St. Michael and All Angels, 8,205; St. Paul, 5,394; St. Peter, 2,693; St. Luke, 2,962; St. Philip, 3,003.

The number of electors on the parliamentary register in 1902 was 5,358.

PENENDEN HEATH a large open space, where county meetings have been held for centuries, is a mile and a half north-by-north-east from the town, in the parishes of Maidstone and Boxley; by arrangement, in 1882, the Maidstone Urban Sanitary Authority was empowered to inclose the heath for the use of the public; and it is now a recreation ground.

The Maidstone Athletic Ground, in London road, consists of 10 acres.

BARMING HEATH is about 2 miles west, in the parish of Barming; it was inclosed in 1865, four acres being reserved as a place for public recreation. By arrangement with the Corporation of Maidstone, it was fenced in and levelled in 1885 by subscription.

Parish Clerk, All Saints, the vicar; verger, Stephen Shaw, 16 Foster street; sexton, Alfred Ransley, 18 Union street.

Petty Sessions are held at the Sessions house, Maidstone, first & third monday in each month & every other monday if necessary (except Bank Holidays) at the Clerk’s office, 9 King street, Maidstone, at half-past ten o’clock.

The following places are in the Bearsted Petty Sessional Division:-Banning East & West, Bearsted, Bicknor, Boxley, Bredhurst, Broomfield, Boughton Malherbe, Boughton Monchelsea, Chart Sutton, Detling, East Farleigh, East Sutton, Frinsted, Harrietsham, Headcorn, Hollingbourne, Hucking, Langley, Leeds, Lenham, Linton, Loose, Otham, Otterden, Stockbury, Sutton Valence, Thuraham, Ulcombe, Wychling & Wormshill.

MAIDSTONE UNION

Board day, alternate thurs, at Town Hall at 10.30 a.m. The Union comprises the following parishes:-Barming East, Barming West, Bearsted, Boughton Monchelsea, East Farleigh, West Farleigh, Hunton, Linton, Loose, Maidstone, Marden, Nettleshead, Otham, Staplehurst, Teston & Yalding. The population of the union in 1901 was 49,086; area, 39,004 acres; rateable value in 1902, £256,159.

Workhouse, Coxheath Linton, is a structure of brick, & will hold 600 inmates; number in 1902, 375.

PLACES OF WORSHIP, with times of services

All Saints (parish church), Rev. Samuel Joy M.A. vicar; Rev. Percy Claude Joy M.A. Rev. Reginald Jeffcoat M.A. & Rev. Stanley Richards M.A. curates; 8 &10.30 а.m. & 3.15 & 6.30 p.m.; daily prayers, 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m. (winter), & 7 p.m. (summer).

Holy Trinity, Church street, Rev. Walter Lighton Greene M.A. surrogate, vicar; Rev. John Cecil Frederick Grosjean M.A. & Rev. Reginald Frederick Reeves B.A. curates; 11 a.m. & 3.15 & 6.30 p.m.; daily matins, at 8.30 a.m. or noon; evensong, 5 p.m. in winter & 6 p.m. in summer.

St. Michael & All Angels, Tonbridge road, Rev. George Bohun Coulcher M.A. vicar; & Rev. Newcome Reginald Raven M.A. & Rev. Edward Egerton Phillips M.A. curates; 10.45 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; daily matins 10 a.m. & evensong 5 p.m. except wed. & fri. 7.30 p.m.

St. Faith’s, Rev. Henry Frederick Rivers M.A. vicar; Rev. Chas. Walt. Houlston, curate; 10.30 a.m.& 3 p.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. fri. & saints’ days, 11.30 a.m.; thurs. 7.30 p.m.

St. John the Evangelist, Mote Park, Rev. Henry Robert Hughes M.A. vicar; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

St. Luke’s, St. Luke’s road, Rev. William Hy. Collis M.A. vicar; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. & fri. 11.30; wed. 7.30 p.m.

St. Paul's, Fisher street, Rev. William Hunter Denovan M.A. vicar; 10.30 a.m. & 3 & 6.30 p.m.; daily prayer, 10 a.m.

St. Peter’s, West Borough, Rev. Oliver Robert Dawson M.A. vicar; Rev. Sidney Brown B.A. curate; 8 & 10.45 a.m. 3 & 6.30 p.m.; daily, 10 & 5.30 or 6.15 a.m.

St. Philip's, Kingsley road, Rev. Henry Collis M.A. vicar; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 8 p.m.

St. Stephen’s, Tovil, Rev. Thomas Hinkley M.A.; 8 & 11 a.m. & 2.30 & 6.30 p.m.

Mission Rooms, All Saints’, Padsole lane, 11 a.m. & 7 p.m.

Mission Rooms of St. Michael’s; Scrubbs lane, Queen’s road, 7 p.m.; Milton street, even song, 6.30 p.m.; Heath School, 11 a.m. & 7 p.m.

St. Francis Catholic, Week street, Rev. George Le Bosquet, priest; mass, 8.30 & 11 a.m.; devotions & benediction 6.30 p.m.; daily mass, 7.45 a.m. & on holy days mass at 9.30 a.m.; fri. benediction 7.30 p.m.

Society of Friends’ Meeting House, Wheeler street; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 8 p.m.

Baptist (Bethel), Union street (built in 1833; seats 450), Rev. George Walker; 10.45 a.m. & 630 p.m.; mon. 10.45 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; mon. 7.30 p.m.

Baptist (Providence) (built in 1820; seats 300); 10.45 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7 p.m.

Baptist (Calvanistic), Priory road; 11 a.m.. & 6 p.m. tues. 7 p.m.

Congregational, Week street (founded 1745; 800 sittings) Rev. Samuel King; 10.45 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; thurs. 8 p.m.

Primitive Methodist, Brewer street, Rev. William Thornley; 10.45 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; thurs. 8 p.m.

Undenominational Church, King street (founded in 1797; 800 sittings), Rev. William Alexander Hannay Legg M.A.; 10.40 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; thurs. 7.30 p.m.

Unitarian, Earl street, Rev. S. S. Brettell M.A.; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

Wesleyan, Union st.; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7.30 p.m.

Wesleyan, Tonbridge road, 10.45 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7.15 p.m.

Evangelical Mission, Mechanics’ Hall, Market buildings; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

SCHOOLS

The Grammar School, founded in 1549, by the Corporation of Maidstone, and formerly in Earl street, was removed in 1871 to a new building on the Tonbridge road; it has various exhibitions tenable at the school & two scholarships, yearly value £45 each, tenable for four years, at University College, Oxford; the number of scholars is about 80; Rev. Charles George Duffield M.A. of Queens’ College, Cambridge, headmaster.

The Maidstone Municipal Technical School, formerly the Maidstone School of Art, founded in 1867, was originally conducted in the Picture Gallery of the Maidstone Museum, but in September of that year was removed to the Refectory of the old Benedictine College, near to the Church of All Saints, and there carried on, together with science classes, instituted in 1884, until 1887, when, the ancient Palace of the Archbishops having been purchased by the townspeople & presented to the town as a memento of the Jubilee of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria, some of the rooms in it were refitted for art & science teaching. The present handsome building adjoining the Museum in Faith street, opened 16 Oct. 1894 by H.R.H, the Duke of Cambridge K.G. was erected by the Maidstone Corporation, assisted by grants from the Kent County Council Technical Education Committee & the Department of Science & Art at South Kensington, and is a recognised place for instruction under the rules & regulations of the Department of Science & Art South Kensington, & the City & Guilds of London Institute, Exhibition road, London S W. George Ward, art master; Charles Adams, science master; Rev. H. Collis M.A. hon. sec.; Robert William Elfick, sec.

The Girls’ Grammar School. Albion place, was opened in 1888, the buildings having been erected at a cost of nearly £5,000; they comprise a central hall, art studio & lecture room, with class rooms & playground adjoining: it is managed by a governing body.

Woodward Schools, originally the Blue Coat Schools, Knightrider street, founded in 1711, formerly provided clothes & education for 60 boys & 40 girls & are at present carried on as a secondary school for boys, & will hold 120; average attendance, 20.

Sir Charles Booth’s school is abolished & the funds are now expended in continuation classes for scholars attending the national schools in this town.

School Board

Formed 7 Dec. 1870, consisting of nine members Clerk, Stephen Lancelot Monckton, 72 King street School Attendance Officers, John Oxbrow, Union street, & Alfred Burnell, 33 Church street.

National Schools

All Saints, College road, erected in 1866, at a cost of about £3,000, & enlarged in 1894; the school will hold 386 boys, 237 girls & 137 infants; average attendance, 350 boys,180 girls & 109 infants.

Maidstone Heath (mixed), built in 1863 & enlarged in 1885 & 1898, for 290 children; average attendance, 280.

St. Faith’s (boys), Medway street, opened in June, 1876, for 200 children; average attendance, 101.

St. Faith’s (girls & infants), Station road, built in 1871, for 146 girls & 146 infants; average attendance, 124 girls; 60 infants.

St. Luke’s, James street & Foley street (boys), built in 1877, & enlarged in 1886; girls’ in 1898; infants’ in 1877, enlarged in 1886, for 300 boys, 286 girls & 250 infants; average attendance, 150 boys, 204 girls & 130 infants.

St. John’s (mixed), Mote, built in 1861, for 107 children; average attendance, 66.

St. Paul’s, Fisher street & Randall street, for 470 boys, 320 girls & 250 infants; average attendance, 383 boys, 309 girls & 198 infants.

St. Peter’s & St. Michael’s, Fant; boys’ erected about 1875; girls’ in 1866 & infants’ in 1892; for 338 boys, 334 girls & 360 infants; average attendance, 255 boys, 260 girls & 300 infants.

St. Philip’s (girls & infants), Melville road, erected in 1866 & enlarged in 1890, for 150 girls & 227 infants; average attendance, 132 girls & 180 infants.

St. Stephen’s, Tovil, built in 1850, for 97 boys, 75 girls & 46 infants; average attendance, 60 boys, 62 girls & 46 infants.

Trinity or Model, Wyatt street, enlarged in 1871 & again in 1893, for 220 boys, 236 girls & 186 infants; average attendance, 210 boys, 160 girls & 140 infants.

Catholic (St.‘ Francis) i(mixed), Week street, built in 1860, for 100 children; average attendance, 80.

British, Wheeler street, for 135 girls & 105 infants; average attendance, 72 girls & 65 infants.

Wesleyan (mixed), Brewer street, built in 1858, for 272 children; average attendance, 240.