FRANT, or FANT, a parish partly in the hundred of WASHLINGSTONE, lathe of AYLESFORD, county of KENT, but chiefly in the hundred of ROTHERFIELD, rape of PEVENSEY, county of SUSSEX, 2 miles (S. by E.) from Tunbridge Wells, containing 1727 inhabitants. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Lewes, and diocese of Chichester, rated in the king's books at £8. 5. 5., and in the patronage of the Rector of Rotherfield. The church, which is partly in the early and partly in the decorated style of English architecture, has lately received an addition of four hundred and ninety sittings, two hundred and eighty of which are free, the Incorporated Society for the enlargement of churches and chapels having granted £350 towards defraying the expense. This parish, which is within the liberty of the duchy of Lancaster, is bounded on the north and south by two branches of the river Medway; it contains some mineral springs, and vestiges of several iron-works. In that part of it which is in the county of Sussex are the ruins of Beigham, or Bayham, abbey, founded by the Premonstratensian canons of Brockley, at the instance of Robert de Turneham, or Thornham, who, about the year 1200, gave all his lands at this place for that purpose: it was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and was originally established at Beaulieu, near Brock- ley; but the monks removed, with .those at Otteham, to this place; the monastery was one of those which Cardinal Wolsey obtained for the endowment of his intended colleges: its revenue, in the 17th of Henry VIII., was £152. 9. 4. The ruins, consisting of portions of the walls of the nave and transepts of the abbey church, are situated in the gardens of Bayham Park, a seat belonging to Marquis Camden, to whom it gives the title of viscount.