HALSTOW (LOWER), a parish in the hundred
of MILTON, lathe of SCRAY, county of KENT, 4 miles
(W. N. W.) from. Milton, containing 220 inhabitants.
The living is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry
and diocese of Canterbury, rated in the king's books at
£8. 2., and in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter
of Canterbury. The church is dedicated to St. Margaret.
Halstow is situated at the upper end of Stangate creek,
by which it has a communication with the Medway
a little above Sheerness. Here vessels from foreign
countries, that cannot produce clean bills of health, are
compelled to perform quarantine, and to remove their
cargoes into two large vessels, called Lazarettos, constantly
stationed for the purpose of receiving them. The
road from Chatham to Sheerness, by King's ferry, crosses
the creek at a ford called the Stray, south of the church.
It is stated that several ships and boats belonged to this
place in the reign of Elizabeth.