SPELDHURST, a parish partly in the hundred of
SOMERDEN, lathe of SUTTON at HONE, but chiefly in
the hundred of WASHLINGSTONE, lathe of AYLESFORD,
county of KENT, 3 miles (N. W.) from Tonbridge-Wells,
containing 2297 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in
the archdeaconry and diocese of Rochester, rated in
the king's books at £15. 5., and in the patronage of
R. Burgess, Esq. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, was
struck by lightning and burned down in 1791  it was
rebuilt in the following year, and has lately received an
addition of one hundred and fifty free sittings, the Incorporated
Society for the enlargement of churches and
chapels having granted £150 towards defraying the expense.
A branch of the river Medway runs through the
parish, upon which there are several mills, and a large
iron-foundry, called Barden Furnace. Iron-ore abounds
here, and, in consequence, the springs are more or less
chalybeate. Tonbridge-Wells, situated partly in this
parish, is the place most resorted to for drinking these
waters; for a detailed account of it, see the article on
that place.