WINGHAM, a parish (formerly a market-town) in
the hundred of WINGHAM, lathe of ST-AUGUSTINE,
county of KENT, 34 miles (E.) from Maidstone, containing
1085 inhabitants. The living is a perpetual
curacy, in the peculiar jurisdiction of the Archbishop of
Canterbury, and in the patronage of Sir B. W. Bridges,
Bart., and others. The church is dedicated to St. Mary.
There is a place of worship for Independents. This place
is situated on the high road from Canterbury to Deal,
in a neighbourhood abounding with genteel residences.
The market has been disused, but considerable fairs for
cattle are held on May 12th and November 12th. The
petty sessions for the division are also held here. A college
for a provost and six canons in the church was
founded, in 1286, by John Peckham, Archbishop of Canterbury,
which at the dissolution had a revenue of £84,
and was granted by Edward VI. to Sir Henry Palmer: on
or near its site a stone coffin and some other relics of
antiquity have been found. Sir James Oxendon, Bart., in
1686, founded a free school, and endowed it with £ 16
per annum, which is paid for the instruction of twenty
boys in reading, writing, and accounts. William de
Wengham, Bishop of London, and Chancellor in the
reign of Henry III., was a native of this parish.