MEREWORTH, a parish in the hundred of LITTLEFIELD,
lathe of AYLESFORD, county of KENT*, 5
miles (S. E.) from Wrotham, containing 711 inhabitants.
The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese
of Rochester, rated in the king's books at £14.2. 6., and
in the patronage of Lord le Despencer. The church,
dedicated to St. Lawrence, was rebuilt by John, Earl of
Westmorland; it is a very handsome structure, with
a fine Corinthian portico, and surmounted by a lofty
spire: the whole edifice is constructed of different
sorts of stone, and the eastern window is of painted
glass, collected for the purpose by that nobleman. The
grazing land in this parish is supposed to breed the
largest oxen in England, some of them having exceeded
three hundred stone. This parish is bounded on the
north by the Hurst woods.