GOUDHURST, a parish partly in the hundred of
CRANBROOKE, but chiefly in the hundred of HARDEN,
lathe of SCRAY, county of KENT, 13 miles (S. by W.)
from Maidstone, containing 2579 inhabitants. The
living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry and diocese of
Rochester, rated in the king's books at £26. 19. 2., and
in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester.
The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a handsome
structure, situated on the declivity of a lofty hill; which
commands a fine view over the counties of Kent, Surrey,
and Sussex. There is a place of worship for Wesleyan
Methodists. Goudhurst consists mostly of large wellbuilt
houses, erected on five different roads, uniting
near a large pond in the centre of the village: it
had formerly a -market on Wednesday, and a considerable
business in the manufacture of cloth, both
which have decayed, but -wool-stapling is still carried
on to a small extent. There is a fair for cattle on
the 26th and 27th of August. John Horsemonden, in
1670, bequeathed a rent-charge of £40; and Thomas
Bathurst, in 1718, gave another of £6, which sums are
applied to the instruction of children.