Maidstone

For other uses, see Maidstone (disambiguation).

Maidstone
Population
OS grid reference	TQ765555
District	Maidstone
Shire county	Kent
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	MAIDSTONE
Postcode district	ME14, ME15, ME16
Dialling code	01622
Police	Kent
Fire	Kent
Ambulance	South East Coast
UK Parliament	Maidstone and the Weald

Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, halfway (30 miles) between the City of London and the English Channel. The River Medway runs through its town centre.

Maidstone is in the heart of the so-called Garden of England. Yet the town centre has the largest office centre in the county and the area is a base for the paper and packaging industry. Many high-technology firms have set up on surrounding business parks.

The town is ranked in the top five shopping centres in the south east of England for shopping yields and has more than one million square feet of retail floor space, including the new Fremlin Walk.

History

Early history

Stone Age finds have been made locally, but it was the Romans who first gave Maidstone importance. Their road from Watling Street at Rochester to Hastings across the Weald passed through the site, and two villas have been discovered. They were also among the first to extract stone (the sandstone known as Kentish ragstone) from the area.

This part of the Medway Valley was important too, by the time of Domesday Book. In the Middle Ages there were two hospitals here built for the care of wayfarers, especially those on pilgrimage; and a “college” of secular priests.

Status

File:Arms-maidstone.jpg

Arms of Maidstone Borough Council

Maidstone’s town status was confirmed when, in 1549, it was incorporated. It had originally been governed by a portreeve, 12 brethren and 24 commoners under the direction of the Archbishop of Canterbury. However, when the people of Maidstone rebelled against the crown in support of Thomas Wyatt in 1551, this charter was revoked, although a new charter was established five years later, when Maidstone was created a borough.

The town’s charter was ratified in 1619 under James I, and the coat of arms, bearing a golden lion and a representation of the river, was designed. Recently these arms were added to by the head of a white horse (representing Invicta, the motto of the county of Kent), a golden lion and an iguanodon. The iguanodon relates to the discovery in the 19th century of the fossilised remains of such a dinosaur locally. These remains are now displayed in the Natural History Museum in London.

Industries

The quarrying of building stone around Maidstone has always been important and continues even today. Some of the sandstone is also used in the glass industry.

In the 17th century the Wealden cloth industry reached as far north as the town; for here were deposits of Fuller's earth used for degreasing the wool and, perhaps more importantly, the means of transporting the finished products — the river.

In Maidstone there were many small breweries at the end of the 19th century, the river being useful for transport and water for the beer production. One of the biggest, the Style & Winch brewery, was on the river bank in the centre of the town. It shut in 1965 and the building was demolished in 1976. There were five other breweries; today only a small one — Goachers — remains.

Paper mills, known locally as “the treacle mines”, also grew near the river. Paper was produced at places such as Turkey Mill and Hayle Mill, and what was to become the Reed group had several paper and cardboard milling plants in Maidstone. Today Aylesford (on the northwest side of Maidstone) has the largest paper recycling factory in Europe, manufacturing paper for the newspaper industry.

Until 1998 the Sharps toffee factory of (later part of Cadbury Trebor Basset), makers of liquorice allsorts, was in central Maidstone and provided a significant source of employment.

Loudspeaker manufacturer KEF was founded in 1961 in Maidstone on the premises of a metal working operation called Kent Engineering & Foundry (hence KEF). Today, KEF still occupies the same river-bank site. In the late 1990s KEF manufactured a loudspeaker called “the Maidstone”.

Military tradition

The Civil War

See also: English Civil War

The Battle of Maidstone took place on 1 June 1648.

About 2,000 Royalist forces were defending the town, governed by Sir Gamaliel Dudley, and his lieutenant, Sir John Mainy, who had arranged earthworks and other defences. General Fairfax and a body of dragoons approached in the afternoon, following the Medway Valley from Farleigh Bridge, which had been only lightly guarded, and the first skirmishes took place on the outskirts of the town around 7 o'clock.

The Royalists put up a spirited resistance and managed to repulse Fairfax's pikeman. Reinforcements from the town arrived and heavy hand-to-hand fighting took place. Fairfax was astonished that his disciplined New Model Army soldiers where thrown into confusion. Fairfax himself, who had been observing the action from a carriage a short distance away, took to horse and lead his troops on a charge which, following further heavy close fighting, forced the Royalists to retreat. Fairfax pushed on, and the storming of the town began at 9 o'clock.

By midnight, the remaining Royalists had been driven into the churchyard, and surrendered.

300 Royalists had died in the battle, and 1,300 captured. Between 30 and 80 of Fairfax's men were believed killed.

Army barracks

There have been two Army barracks in Maidstone. The first was built in 1797 as a reaction to the threat of Napoleon and the barracks became the home of the West Kent Regiment. By 1813 the barracks along the Sandling Road were used to train the cavalry’s young horses and 20 years later they became the Army Riding School. It was also a staging post for the colonies and in the 1860s 600 men could be stationed here.

The present Invicta Barracks is home to the Royal Engineers 36 Engineer Regiment, which includes two Gurkha field squadrons.

On 29 September 1975 a local pub serving the barracks - The Hare and Hounds - was damaged by a bomb during the IRA campaign against the English mainland.

Another pub - The White Rabbit - now occupies the listed building that used to be the Officers’ Mess of the original barracks.

Two world wars

Detling, just to the North of the town and now the home of the Kent County Showground, was a Naval Air station during the First World War, and served the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Around 1939, a number of other airfields were developed near the town, including RAF West Malling and RAF Lashenden. Maidstone suffered damage from Luftwaffe bombers dumping their loads when unable to reach their primary targets. V-1 flying bombs and V-2 rockets also fell in the area. In one incident late in 1944, the town was hit by 50 small shells. These came from the South, although the nearest point on the French coast is 60 miles away. The incident has not yet been satisfactorily explained, although there have been suggestions that these were test firings of the German V-3 long distance cannon from Mimoyecques, between Calais and Boulogne, although this complex was destroyed by bunker buster Tallboy bombs dropped from British Lancasters of the No. 617 Squadron, the "Dambusters" on 6 July 1944.

The headquarters of No 1 Group Royal Observer Corps was situated in Maidstone until the organisation was disbanded in 1995.

Communications

River Medway

Improvements had been made in about 1730 to the River Medway, so that barges of 40 tons could get upriver to East Farleigh, Yalding and even Tonbridge. This meant that a good deal of trade, including corn, fodder, fruit, stone and timber passed through the town, where there were several wharfs.

The medieval stone bridge was replaced in 1879 to give better clearance: it was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette. A second bridge was built in 1977.

Today the river is of importance mainly to pleasure-boat owners and the considerable number of people living on houseboats. For many years there has been a river festival during the last weekend in July, and a millennium project inaugurated the Medway River Walk, the Medway Park and a new footbridge linking the former cattle market (which is now a multiplex cinema and nightclub) west of the river to the shopping area to the east.

Roads

One of the first roads in Kent to be turnpiked was that from Rochester to Maidstone, in 1728, giving some indication of the town’s importance. Today the town is served by the M20 motorway, although it is the hub of the pre-motorway network in this part of Kent. Major roads link it to the Medway Towns, the Isle of Sheppey, Ashford and Folkestone, Hastings, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks and London.

Railways

Maidstone was not well served when railways were built in the 1840s. It was reported at the time that inhabitants were bitterly opposed to the railway: the mayor suggesting that “Maidstone will be ruined as a commercial town”. It was said that wharfingers and corn and coal merchants would be hard hit.

In the event, in 1842, the South Eastern Railway, in its haste to reach the Channel ports of Folkestone and Dover, put its main line through Tonbridge and Ashford, some six miles to the south. A station named Maidstone Road was built in an isolated spot called Paddock Wood, from where coaches were run to the county town.

Two years later a branch line was built to Maidstone. In 1846 another branch line (the Medway Valley Line) connected Strood with the town. It was not until 1874 that the line from London arrived; and another 10 years before Ashford was connected by rail. There are three stations: Maidstone West and Maidstone Barracks on the Medway Valley Line (whose platforms are visible one from the other); and Maidstone East on the Ashford line.

Footpaths

Two long-distance footpaths are easily accessible from Maidstone. The Medway Valley Walk between Tonbridge and Gillingham passes through the town, following the banks of the river.

The North Downs Way, which incorporates the Pilgrims' Way to Canterbury, runs for 153 miles between Farnham, Surrey and Dover, passing about five miles to the north and west.

Education

When Maidstone was incorporated in 1549 it was authorised to build a grammar school, which survives to this day as Maidstone Grammar School. Alumni include James Burke, television presenter, and Lord Beeching, responsible for cutting British railway routes. William Golding, author of Lord of the Flies was a teacher there.

William Lambe, a wealthy clothmaker, endowed another school in 1574. Early in the 19th century a government inquiry found there were no fewer than 13 schools (some of very poor quality) teaching the poor of the town.

Other secondary schools include Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, Invicta Grammar and Valley Park, whcih are now under the same headmaster and are a joint school Oakwood Park Grammar (Boys), Valley Park Community, Maplesden Noakes, The Astor of Hever Community School, and St. Simon Stock School.

Also in Maidstone is the University College for the Creative Arts at Maidstone at which the British artist Tracey Emin began her artistic education.

Radio

Maidstone has long held links to local radio. Invicta Sound (now Invicta fm) used to broadcast from studio's in Earl Street. Hospital Radio Maidstone is one of the longest serving hospital radio stations in the UK.

Today ctr 105.6 FM (abbreviated from County Town Radio) is the local radio station broadcasting to the Maidstone and Mid Kent area of the United Kingdom, from its studio's in Mill Street. It is now a part of the Kent Messenger Group who acquired the station in October 2006.

On October 18th 2003 CTR FMctr 105.6 fm launched as the independent radio station for Maidstone and Mid-Kent. It was the realisation and culmination of over 13 years of hard work and campaigning by a team of local radio professionals spearheaded by Jon Maxfield, and including Patrick Foster, Russell Card, Cheryl Rothery (Pendry) and Kevin Field.

A new version of former pirate radio station Radio Caroline, now broadcasts (via Sky and the internet) from The Maidstone Studios, in the Vinters Park area of the town.

Maidstone Prison

The prison lies to the north of the town centre. It was completed in 1819 to replace the bridewell and old jail in the centre of the town . Building work was carried out by French prisoners-of-war. The first prisoners moved in at the end of 1818.

On 28 April, 1868, the last woman to be publicly hanged in Britain was Frances Kidder, a 25-year-old woman who had murdered her stepdaughter; the execution took place outside Maidstone Prison.

Theatres

Theatres in Maidstone include:

• The Hazlitt Theatre
• RiverStage
• The Exchange (also known as ‘‘The Corn exchange’’)
• Hermitage Millennium Amphitheatre

Sport

Football team Maidstone United, formed in 1897, has had mixed fortunes in recent years. The peak of the club's achievement was gaining promotion to the Football League in 1989 after many years of success in non-league football. Maidstone's league success was shortlived however, as in 1992 the club, saddled with debt, went into liquidation. The club sold their London Road ground in the 1980s which led to home games taking place in the grounds of a local church, and later at Sittingbourne F.C.’s stadium. In January 2007, work started on a new stadium at Whatman Way in Maidstone. The club is now playing in the Isthmian League.

Maidstone Hockey Club is one of the oldest hockey clubs in the country, founded in 1878. Currently, the Ladies 1st XI are in the National South Division, while the Mens 1st XI are in the South 1st XI league. In total, the club has 7 mens sides and 4 womens sides playing at all levels of National, regional and County leagues. The club plays on its own Astroturf at Armstrong Road, where the club has also recently built a new Club House. A new Astro is due to be laid during 2007.

Maidstone Rugby Football Club is one of the oldest rugby clubs in the country, founded in 1880. The club run 6 senior mens sides and a highly successful Junior section running sides from U18’s down to U7’s, making a playing structure and membership of over 500. The 1st XV play league rugby in London 2 South, having gained promotion in 2005 (our 125th Anniversary year), and in 2006 the 3rd XV won the Mid Kent A League Title for the 5th time in 9 years. The club is based at Mote Park.

Lashings World XI, the famous cricket equivalent of the Harlem Globetrotters is based in Maidstone. Maidstone Sailing Club are a small club that sail on Mote Park lake. Maidstone also has a Rowing Club, a Martial Arts School, a Tennis Club, an Athletics Club, Maidstone Pumas American Football Club and a Basketball Club Called Maidstone Warriors.

Maidstone is also home to the Lashings World XI, an exhibition cricket team based at the Lashings Bar and Restaurant, that has included Brian Lara, Richie Richardson and Muttiah Muralitharan in its line-up.

On 8 July 2007, Stage One of the 2007 Tour de France passed through Maidstone town centre.

Maidstone today

The original site of the town, where the main streets are, is on the rising ground to the east of the River Medway. High Street and King Street run up from the river crossing at Lockmeadow; Week Street and Gabriel’s Hill bisect this route. Much of the modern centre is traffic-free or has restrictions imposed.

The county council offices, to the north of the town centre and beside the prison, were built of Portland stone between 1910 and 1913.

Maidstone General Hospital opened on the outskirts of the town in 1983, replacing West Kent General Hospital, which opened 150 years earlier in Marsham Street.

Many of today’s residents use Maidstone as a base to commute to London, or are employed within the retail, administrative or service sectors within the town. In March 2005, the Fremlin Walk shopping arcade opened, on the site of a former brewery in the centre of the town. It has an area of 32,500 square metres. Other recent developments include the riverside Lockmeadow Centre, which includes a multiplex cinema, restaurants, nightclub, bowling alley, and market square.

The town is home to the Maidstone Studios, an independent television production base that was once home to the former ITV company TVS in Vinters Park.

Population

Maidstone has grown considerably since the start of the 19th century:

• 1801 8,000
• 1861 23,100
• 1921 37,300
• 1961 59,800
• 2001 138,948 - for the whole of Maidstone District of which 68,350 are male and 70,598 are female

Twinning

Maidstone is twinned with Beauvais in Picardy, France. This used to be announced on signs at the entry to the town centre, but these have now been removed.

External links

• maidstoneonline.com -Local information and resources for Kents County town
• Independent website VisitMaidstone
• Maidstone council website
• Maidstone council's arts development website
• Maidstone United Football Club
• Shepherd Neame history
• Radio station CTR 105.6fm
• Heart of Kent — Tourist Guide to Maidstone