WROTHAM, (Kent) or WORTHAM, 3 m. 1-half W. of West-Malling, 20 cm. 25 mm. from London, had its name from the herb, wort,
growing hereabouts in great plenty. It has a large Ch. with 16 stalls in it, supposed to have been made for the clergy
attending the Abps. of Canterbury, who formerly had a palace here, till Simon Islip, the Abp. in the 14th century pulled
it down, and carried it to Maidston; but the rectory is reckoned one of the best livings in Kent. The Mt. here, which was
obtained by Walter Reynolds, Abp. of Canterbury in the R. of Edw. II. is on T. and its Fairs April 23. The manor bel. to
the Abps. of that province, till Cranmer changed it with Henry VIII. when it was annexed to the crown; but Edw. VI.
granted it to Sir Will. Mason, who partly sold it, and partly gave it in dower with his daughter to Robt. Bing; whose son
sold it to William James, and his grandson of the same name had it not very long ago. This manor and p. comprehend almost
the whole H. of Wrotham, and contains 6 distinct villas, whose borsholders, as well as the constables for the upper and
lower divisions of the H. are annually chosen at the court-leet of the manor, to which bel. all royal franchises. In the
last century, in the time of Sir Demetrius James, a considerable quantity of old British silver coins was dug up in this
manor; and it is not very many years ago, that many small solid pieces of brass were found in a place, called the Camps,
supposed to have been pieces of the weapons or armour of some military officer there interred.