Maidstone, the county town of Kent, is situated on a pleasant declivity, chiefly on the right bank of the Medway. In the vicinity are very extensive hop plantations, and the town is surrounded by gardens and orchards. Maidstone has an extensive and flourishing trade in hops, grain, fruit, stone, &c. The papermills employ upwards of 800 hands. The Archbishop's palace is a Gothic structure, rebuilt about the middle of the fourteenth century. It has undergone considerable alterations since that period, but is still a pleasant and convenient residence. Among the other buildings worthy of notice are, the County Hall, County Gaol, Chapel of Newark Hospital, All Saints Church, and a very ancient stone bridge. The town contains a grammar school, a proprietary school, 4 charity schools, 19 alms houses, and 9 Dissenting meeting-houses. The county gaol was erected in 1818, on the improved radiating plan, at an expense of

£200,000. Maidstone has returned two members of Parliament since the reign of Edward VI. It formerly contained a college, founded by Archbishop Courtenay in the reign of Richard II.; but it was suppressed by Edward VI. Population in 1841, 18,086. About 1 miles north-east of the town is Pennenden Heath, where the county meetings have been held from a period prior to the Conquest. Roads lead from Maidstone to Hythe, Folkstone and Dover, Canterbury, Rochester, Tenterden and Romney, Tunbridge and Tunbridge Wells, and to Westerham.

Leeds Castle (S. W. Mar-301 tin, Esq.) a fine old mansion, situated in a wild park. Leeds village has an air of 25 remote antiquity; and farther to the right East Sutton Place, Sir E. Filmer, and Ullcomb, Brad

shaw, Esq. Opposite Lenham, Chilson House, G. Douglas, Esq; Cale Hill, H. Darell, Esq.; and further to the right, Surrenden, C. Dering, Esq.

Park Gate Inn,

39

At a little distance Hol

lingbourn.

Harrietsham.

41

To Feversham 10 miles.

221 Charing on the left. 47 To Canterbury 13 miles.

Pett Place, wick, Esq.

Wight

At a distance, Eastwell

Hothfield Place, Earl of 19 Hothfield Common. 50 Park, Earl of Winchelsea.

Thanet.

Folkstone was at one time a flourishing place, but is now much decayed. It is much resorted to, however, during the summer months, the adjacent country being very beautiful. It has a charity school, founded by Dr Harvey, (famous for his discovery of the circulation of the blood,) who was a native of this town. Population in 1841, 4413.

III. LONDON, TUNBRIDGE, ASHFORD, FOLKSTONE, AND DOVER BY RAILWAY.

ON RIGHT FROM LOND.

From

Dover.

From

London.

ON LEFT FROM LOND.

Enter Kent. Edenbridge. Chiddingstone, H.Streatfield, Esq. Near it the remains of Hever Castle, erected in the reign of Edward VII., once the property of the Boleyn family.

Penshurst, the seat of Lord de Lisle, was the ancient seat of the Sydney family, who became possessed of the manor in the reign of Edward VI. Here Sir Phi

lip Sydney was born in 1554. 46
It is a fine old mansion, of
quadrangular form, enclos-
ing a spacious court. The
state apartments are adorn-|
ed with rare portraits and
paintings by eminent mas-
ters. Penshurst was also the
birth-place of the famous
Algernon Sydney.
Tunbridge Wells.
Capel.

431

Smarden.

Nutfield.
Bletchingley.

Hall Place, F. Bailey,

Esq.

Leigh.

Hadlow.

The Railway here runs nearly parallel with the Medway.

Yalding.

Headcorn.

East Sutton, Sir E. Fil

mer.

Pluckley.

Selinge.

Stanford.

Cheriton.

Folkstone. Here is

a viaduct 100 feet high.
DOVER.

86

IV. LONDON, SEVENOAKS, TUNBRIDGE, RYE, AND WINCHELSEA, 65 Miles.

Bromley derives its name from the quantity of broom with which it was formerly surrounded. It is pleasantly situated on the Ravensbourn, and possesses a spring whose waters afford great relief in a variety of infirmities, from the chalybeate with which they are impregnated. The church contains a monument to the memory of Dr Hawkesworth, (the author of the Adventurer,) and the tomb of the wife of Dr Johnson. Bishop Warner, in 1666, here founded a college for 20 clergymen's widows. Population in 1841, 4325.