SMARDEN, a parish (formerly a market-town) in
the hundred of CALEHILL, lathe of SCRAY, county of
KENT, 8 miles (N. E. by E.) from Cranbrooke, and 46
(S. E. by E.) from London, containing 1038 inhabitants.
The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese
of Canterbury, rated in the king's books at £24. 2. 6.,
and in the patronage of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The church is dedicated to St. Michael. There are
places of worship for Baptists and Wesleyan Methodists:
the former has a school attached. A free school was
founded, in 1716, by Stephen Dadson, who endowed it
with property now producing upwards of £45 a year,
for which from forty to fifty children are instructed;
six of the parish of Bethersden have the privilege of
admittance here. The market has fallen into disuse,
but the market-house is still standing: a fair is held,
on October 10th, for toys and pedlary.