MALLING (WEST), a parish (formerly a market
town) in the hundred of LARKFIELD, lathe of AYLESFORD,
county of KENT, 5 miles (W.N.W.) from Maidstone,
and 29 (S.B. by E.) from London, containing
1205 inhabitants. In the year 1090, a Benedictine nunnery
was founded here, by Gundulph, Bishop of Rochester,
in honour of the Blessed Virgin; about»a
century afterwards, the town and the nunnery were
nearly destroyed by fire, but soon restored; the revenue
of the latter, at the dissolution, was estimated at
£245. 10. 2.; the west front of the abbey, which
is of Norman architecture, with later insertions, still
remains, forming an interesting ruin. Stone coffins
have been dug up here, and rings, with other relics of
antiquity, have been discovered. The town is neat
and clean and the surrounding walks and scenery are
pleasing and picturesque. The market, granted, together
with the fairs, to the abbess, in the reign of
Henry III., was held on Saturday; fairs are held on
August 12th and October 2nd for pedlary, and November
lth for cattle. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry
and diocese of Rochester, rated in the king's
books at £10, and in the patronage of - Bates, Esq.
The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is an ancient structure,
with a fine Norman tower at the west end; the
roof having fallen in 1778, through the decay of the
main columns, the whole of the nave was rebuilt. In
1693, Francis Tresse bequeathed land on which to build
a school-house, and £40 towards its erection; he also
gave a small rent-charge for repairs; it is now conducted
on Dr, Bell's system.