LEYBOURNE, a parish in the hundred of LARKFIELD,
lathe of AYLESFORD, county of KENT, 5 miles
(N. W. by W.) from Maidstone, containing 300 inhabitants.
The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and
diocese of Rochester, rated in the king's books at
£17.13.4. Sir Henry Hawley, Bart, was patron in
1798. The church is dedicated to St. Peter and St.
Paul. The Rev. Edward Holme, in 1775, conveyed to
trustees a school-room and a dwelling-house, in this
parish, with the interest of £1000 four per cent, consols.,
for the education of fifty poor children. Here are
considerable remains of an ancient castle, consisting of
a gateway, flanked by circular towers, various arches,
walls, &c., and traces of the moat by which it was surrounded;
part of the ruins has long been converted
into a dwelling-house.