*MAIDSTON, (Kent) on the Medway, 10 m. S.E. of Rochester, 27 cm. 36 mm. from London, is the Co.-T. It was in the Britons
time reckoned their third chief city, was a station of the Romans, has been a considerable T. in all ages since, and is
pleasant, large, and populous. It was governed by a portreeve, till Edw. VI. made it a mayor-T. It was disfranchised by Q.
Mary, for its adherence to Sir Tho. Wyat; but Q. Eliz. reincorporated it, by the name of mayor, jurats, and commoners, and
allowed it the privilege of sending members to Pt. It was again incorporated in 1747, by the stile of the mayor and
commonalty of the K's.-Town and p. of Maidston. Its chief trade, besides linen-thread, which it makes to great perfection,
is in hops; of which there are great plantations about the T. as well as orchards of cherries. The tide flows quite up to
the T. and brings up barges, &c. of 50 or 60 tons. It has a fine stone bridge, erected by an Abp. of Canterbury. A little
r. falls here into it from Lenham. One of the publick gaols for the Co. is kept in this T. and the custody of weights and
measures, renewed by the standard of K. Hen. VII. was committed to it by Pt. as being in the centre of Kent; for which
reason, the Knts. of the shire are always elected, and the courts of justice are always held here, and generally the
assizes. The Abp. of Canterbury is constant parson of this parish, which is his peculiar, and served by his curate. Here
are 4 ch. scs. in which are above 100 boys and girls, who are visited once a week, and catechised by the minister. This is
such a plentiful country, and the lands hereabout are so rich, that London is supplied with more commodities from hence,
than from any Mt.-T. in England; particularly with the large bullocks, that come from the Weald of Kent, which begins but
6 m. off; with timber, wheat, and great quantities of hops, apples, and cherries; with a sort of paving stone, 8 or 10
inches square, that is exceeding durable; and with the fine white sand for glass-houses, and stationers. There are some
Dutch inh. who have divine service in the old p. Ch. called St. Faith's. There are so many gentlemen's seats within 10 m.
that it is rare to find a T. of so much trade and business so full of gentry and good company. The Mt. here, which is the
best in the Co. is on Th. and Fairs on Feb. 2, May 1, June 9, (called Garlick-Fair) and Octob. 6. In 1648 this T. made
such a stand for K. Cha. I. against general Fairfax with near 10,000 men, that he could not take it, till he had stormed
it twice. The manor bel. anciently to the family of Cornhills, who gave it to the see of Canterbury; one of whose Abps.
built a palace, &c. here; Tho. Cranmer changed it with K. Hen. VIII. who gave it to his servant Tho. Wyat, Esq; whose son,
Sir Thomas, forfeiting it to the crown, by his treason against Q. Mary, K. Ja. I. gave it to the Lady Finch, Viscountess
of Maidstone; from whom it is descended, with the title of Visc. to the present E. of Winchelsea and Nottingham. Here was
a college or hos. erected by Abp. Boniface, and a chantry by Abp. Thomas Arundel, which is now the free sc. About the year
1720, several canoes were dug up in the marines of the Medway above this T. This p. was anciently taxed towards the repair
of the fifth arch or pier of Rochester bridge.