OTHAM, a parish in the hundred of EYHORNE,
lathe of AYRESFORD, county of KENT, 2 miles (S. E.
by E.) from Maidstone, containing 337 inhabitants.
The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese
of Canterbury, rated in the king's books at £,9. 17 fy,
and in the patronage of the Rev. W. Home.. The church
is dedicated to .St. Nicholas. The small river Lenham
forms .the northern boundary .of the parish, in which
there is an abundance of what is called Kentish ragstone.
A.n abbey of Premonstratensian caiions was founded here,
and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and St. Lawrence,
about the time of Henry II.; but, in the reign of John,
they removed to a more convenient situation at Beaulieu,
in the parish of Frant. Bishop Home was born in
this parish in 1730; he died in 1792.