DARENTH, a parish in the hundred of AXTON-DARTFORD-AND-WILMINGTON,
lathe of SUTTON at HONE,
county of KENT, 2 miles (S.E. by S.) from Dartford,
containing 574 inhabitants. The living is a discharged
vicarage, in the peculiar jurisdiction of the Archbishop
of Canterbury, rated in the king's books at £9. 18. 11.,
and in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester.
The church, dedicated to St. Margaret, is
principally in the early style of English architecture,
and possesses several interesting specimens of the period
of its erection, particularly the font, which has attracted
much attention. The river Darent passes through the
parish, and gives name to it. In 1195, Archbishop
Hubert gave this manor to the prior and convent of
Rochester, by whom a monastery, dedicated to St. Margaret,
was founded here, of which there are still some
remains. There are also vestiges of various tumuli, or
barrows.