MILTON-next-SITTINGBOURNE, a market-town
and parish in the hundred of MILTON, lathe of
SCRAY, county of KENT, 12 miles (N. E. by E.) from
Maidstone, and 40 (E. by S.) from London, containing
2012 inhabitants. This town was anciently
called M'iddletun, a Saxon appellation, indicative of
its central position in the county, and also "the kings
town of Milton," having probably been, in early ages,
the place of residence of the kings of Kent, as well
as a part of the demesne of the crown. Its proximity
to the Swale, which separates the Isle of Sheppy
from the main land, rendered it easily accessible to
the invading Danes, by whom it was frequently plundered
in the ninth century. Here their veteran chief,
Hastings, attempted to establish himself in the time
of Alfred; and the remains of his encampment, or tortress,
in the marshes of Kemsley, between Milton churcn
and the north end of the creek, are still visible. The ancient
town, together with the palace of the Kentisd
kings, was burnt by Earl Godwin, about the year 1UWMilton
appears to have been rebuilt, and to have become
a place of importance in the time of the Conqueror,,vrw
according to Domesday-book, held the manor, whicn, ior
a long while afterwards, was vested in the crown, an
frequently granted in dower to the queens of
From Isabella, the consort of Edward II., the grant of
a market and an annual fair for four days was obtained.
In the reign of John the right of the fishery in the manor
and hundred of Milton was granted to Faversham
abbey, but at the dissolution, becoming again vested in
the crown, the manor continued to be royal property
till it was finally alienated by Charles I. The town is
situated about half a mile from the high road from London
to Dovor, on a hill sloping, down to a small creek, or
channel, which separates it from the Isle of Sheppy; the
streets are narrow and badly paved. The commercial business
consists chiefly in shipping, for the London market,
the agricultural produce of the neighbourhood, and
in bringing goods in return. The oyster fishery affords
employment to a great number of the inhabitants;
the right of this fishery is now held on lease by a company
of free dredgers, about one hundred and forty in
number, who are governed by laws made in the court
baron of the manor; the oysters, under the name of native
Milton oysters, are very fine and in great request.
There are extensive yards for making bricks, of a very
superior quality, which, together with flints dug in the
neighbourhood, and wild fowl, of which there is a decoy
in the marshes, are sent to London. The market
is on Saturday; and a fair for cattle is held on the.24th
of July: the market-house and shambles are near the
centre of the town. A portreeve for the hundreds of
Milton and Marden, who is supervisor of weights and
measures, is chosen, with a warden, on the 25th of
July, at a court baron held before the steward of the
manor, by such of the inhabitants as pay church and
poor rates. The manor courts and public meetings are
held at the market-house, under which is the town gaol.
The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry and
diocese of Canterbury, rated in the king's books at
£13. 2. 6., and in the patronage of the Dean and
Chapter of Canterbury. The church, which is dedicated
to the Holy Trinity, is large and handsome, with
portions in;the decorated style of English architecture:
it consists of a nave, south aisle, and two chancels, with
a heavy embattled tower at the west end, built of square
flints; in the south chancel, or chapel, which belonged
to the ancient family of Northwood, are a piscina and
two stone seats; it also contains several ancient monuments.
There are places of worship for Independents
and Wesleyan Methodists. A free school is endowed
with £10 per annum from benefactions by Elizabeth
Morley, in 1714, and John Knotts, in 1718, for which
ten children are educated; both the master and the
children are appointed by the minister and churchwardens.
National schools, for more than two hundred
children of both sexes, are supported by voluntary
contributions. In the western part of the parish is a
coppice of several hundred acres, and one adjoining it
extends five miles southward: these woods are noted
for chesnut trees, many of which are very ancient, and
serve as "termini" or boundaries, as well for private
property as for parishes. The remains of the Danish
fortress at Kemsley-down form a square, surrounded by
a high vallum and a broad ditch; and being overgrown
by trees and underwood, it has received the appellation
of Castle-rough:, a raised causeway, leading from it to
the sea-shore, may be distinctly traced.