HARBLEDOWN (ST-MICHAEL), a parish in the
hundred of WESTGATE, lathe of ST-AUGUSTINE, county
of KENT, 1 mile (W. S. W.) from Canterbury, containing
678 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry
and diocese of Canterbury, rated in the king's
books at £9. 2. 6., and in the patronage of the Archbishop
of Canterbury. The church, dedicated to St.
Michael, has lately received an addition of two hundred
and eighty-four free sittings, the Incorporated Society
for the enlargement of churches and chapels having
granted £250 towards defraying the expense. In this
parish is a very ancient hospital, called originally the
hospital of the Forest of Bleane, and subsequently of
St. Nicholas of Harbledown, which latter name it
still retains. It was founded by Archbishop Lanfranc,
in 1084, for the reception of lepers of both
sexes, for whom there were separate establishments, and
so remained till the dissolution, when its revenue was
valued.at £-109. 7. 2.; but being continued, it became,
in the reign of Edward VI., as it now is, a college,
or asylum for decayed persons, under the patronage
of the Archbishop of Canterbury, with a revenue
increased by various donations to about £250.
The establishment is for a master, fifteen in-brothers,
who enjoy the privileges of freeholders, and as many
in-sisters; they have each about six guineas a year,
and elect a prior and prioress from amongst their own
body; there is the same number of out-brothers
and sisters, with an allowance £1. 4. a year each, also
a readers who is a clerk in orders. At the time they
lived in -a conventual state the inmates were accustomed
to carry out into the road the upper part of a shoe set in
copper and chrystal, said to have belonged to Thomas
a Becket, for passing travellers to kiss. The hospital
was rebuilt in the reign of James II., and is chiefly ot
brick; the chapel, dedicated to St. Nicholas, which waS
formerly parochial, is a curious ancient edifice in the
Norman style, with a square tower at the south-west
angle.