Historic A walking tour

www.tour-maidstone.com A walking tour of Historic Maidstone Historic Maidstone At the top of Gabriel’s Hill is a plaque commemorating Samuel A walking tour Pepys, who visited Maidstone in March 1669: In Maidstone hundreds of years of English …“Thence to Maydstone, which I had a history are still visible around you. You just mighty mind to see, having never been there; and walked all up and down the need to know where to look. Follow this short town, and up to the top of the steeple, walking tour to discover more about the hidden and had a noble view, and then down , ’s County Town. You again: And so, having walked all round will see a number of black historic plaques on the town, and found it very pretty, as most towns I ever saw, though not very big, and your walk which provide more details. Their people of good fashion in it… ” locations are shown in this leaflet and on the The Diary of Samuel Pepys map at the back with an asterisk. Your walk Return to Bank Street. Note the black plaque against the wall starts from the Town Hall Visitor Information of the Town Hall. Centre in the High Street. 3*-Bank Street Bank Street retains a typical medieval street layout, with many 1-Town Hall shops dating from the 15th-17th centuries. Notice four white statues set into niches in the first floor above no.89-90. From A fine Georgian building dating from 1763, the Town Hall left to right are; Lord Avebury, Sir Lawrence Washington, served many purposes as market space, magistrate’s William Caxton and Archbishop Courtenay, all of whom have court, council chambers and gaol. The gaol was located played an important part in shaping the town’s history. In in the loft and can still be visited today, its walls 1395 Courtenay, Archbishop of was granted a covered in 18th Century graffiti. Outside the royal license by Richard II to build All Saints Church and the Town Hall is a map by local artist Graham College of Priests alongside the Archbishops Palace. William Clarke illustrating Maidstone’s historic town Caxton was ’s first printer, who published “The Dictes centre. The statue of a young Queen Victoria and Sayinges of the Philosophres” in 1476, the first book dates from 1862, and stands on the site of the printed in English. Lawrence Washington was a lawyer and ancient market cross. ancestor of George Washington, who was buried at All Saints Walk past the Queens Monument to the corner of Gabriel’s Hill. Church in 1619. MP for Maidstone Lord Avebury, introduced Bank Holidays in 1872. Don’t miss the colourful plaster 2-Gabriels Hill decoration above no.78. Gabriels Hill was the site of the climax of the Battle of Maidstone, fought on the 1st June 1648 during the English Continue to the corner of Mill Street. .A black plaque is Civil War. Described as being one of the most fiercely located near the cannon. contested battles in the whole Civil War, Parliamentary forces commanded by General Fairfax of Leeds clashed with 4*-Lower High Street On January 28th 1554 Sir , Protestant son of the Royalist troops. After hours of fierce hand-to-hand fighting famous poet of Allington Castle, rode into the High Street and Parliamentary forces were finally victorious. 300 Royalists called on the men of Kent to aid him in preventing Queen Mary’s were killed here on one night and 1300 taken prisoner. marriage to the catholic Philip of Spain. He found ten thousand The Golden Boot, with its distinctive Wellington boot trade men ready to protest against this unpopular foreign match. sign, has been run by the same family since 1790,and is Like previous Kentish uprisings, the revolt failed, Wyatt was believed to be the oldest shoe shop in the country. executed and Maidstone lost its Royal Charter. A walking tour of Historic Maidstone

The Russian Gun “the Cannon” was captured in battle during the people of Maidstone to mark Queen Victoria’s Golden the Crimean War and was presented to the town in 1858 by Jubilee and is now used as a Register Office. The Palace is Lord Pamure, the Secretary of War. open to the general public during Heritage Open Days in Walk down Mill Street to the crossing of the Len River. The September and to groups by special arrangement. plaque is on the railings of the bridge. 8-Herb Garden 5*-Mill Street In the grounds to the left of the Palace is an authentic medieval Until 1900 there were two mills here, which originally served herb garden maintained by the Kent Garden Trust which may the Archbishops’ Palace. You can still see the ancient millpond be visited by the public. Note the Dove of Peace statue. formed by a dam on the . One of the oldest structures in Maidstone is the 13th century stone bridge which still 9*-All Saints Church stands under the modern road junction. You can see the old Maidstone’s main parish church is built on the site of the bridge from the foot of the steps inside the Palace gardens to 7th century Saxon church called St Mary’s, but was rebuilt in the right of the ancient Gatehouse. the 14th Century by Archbishop Courtenay to become the “grandest Perpendicular church in England.” The church was Cross the busy A229 carefully. completed in 1398 and externally has remained largely 6-Carriage Museum unchanged, although it did formerly possess a wooden spire, Originally named the “Tithe Barn” this building was where the which was destroyed by lightning in 1730. Set into the south visitors to the Archbishops Palace lodged their servants and wall of the church is a 17th Century memorial to local man horses. The stone work and buttresses may well be of the Lawrence Washington, great-uncle of the famous George same date as All Saints Church (1397). Today the Archbishop’s Washington. The memorial bears the Stars and Stripes of the stables are home to the Maidstone Carriage Museum, which Washington family, which were subsequently adopted was opened in1946 by the eccentric Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake, in the flag of the United States of America. Don’t miss 12-times Mayor of Maidstone. It houses his unique collection the 15th century wall behind the choir-stalls, of horse-drawn vehicles, widely regarded as the finest in which still bears the scars of Europe. Open Summer only. the sword-slashes of Cromwell’s soldiers, who tried to destroy this 7*-Archbishops Palace religious image in 1648 This site was described in the Domesday Survey as land held during the Civil War. by the at “Maddestane.” As Lords of the Manor, the Archbishops were responsible for maintaining Cross Knightrider Street, walk under the arch. The College law and order and had their own gaol. Among its inmates was plaque is near the poster display. , the so- called “Mad Priest of Kent” whose preachings so infuriated the church hierarchy. Kent was one of the main 10*-College of All Saints centres of rebellion during the Peasants Revolt in 1381. This building formed part of a complex of medieval architecture Rebels led by local man Wat Tyler released John Ball, then which remains one of the most complete and impressive in stormed the Tower of London and beheaded the Chancellor. England. The College was built in 1395 by Archbishop Courtenay Confronting King Richard II, Wat Tyler to house the priests attached to All Saints Church. This was an was stabbed and killed by the Mayor of London. important spiritual and intellectual centre for the whole County The Archbishops Palace was originally built in 1348 as one of in medieval times and Erasmus’ friend Grocyn was Master of the a string of five Archbishops Palaces between Canterbury and College. King Henry VIII dissolved the college in 1546 and the Lambeth in London. King Henry VIII stayed here, appointed a property was much neglected until the late 17th Century when Maidstone man as Royal Physician to treat his painful gout, it came into farming use. It is now leased as private offices. and later took the property for the Crown. It was bought by Walk down Knightrider Street to the river’s edge. A walking tour of Historic Maidstone

11-Maidstone Millennium River Park 13*-Riverside One of the largest projects in the South East to mark the new The riverside was once a hive of industry. Local ragstone Millennium, Maidstone’s Millennium River Park opened up was shipped down the to build the Roman access to the River Medway along a 10-km path from Teston wall of the City of London, and later the Tower of London. to Allington. Opened in October 1999, the award-winning After 1739 upriver navigation was enhanced to enable Lockmeadow Millennium Bridge is one of the landmarks Maidstone to trade with the whole of the . River traffic of the new park. This modern structure occupies the site was still considerable in 1900, but as roads improved river of a 14th Century ford, once the main crossing point for the transport went into terminal decline. Today, the River Medway River Medway. On the opposite bank is Lockmeadow Market is used for recreation and visitors can enjoy the beautiful (held Tues and Sat mornings) and The Stag. This 21ft tall scenery on board the Kentish Lady II and the Allington Belle, aluminium was erected in London in 1963 and now which sail between Maidstone Bridge and Allington Lock. forms part of the River Art project which also includes the Continue past the second road bridge and Tthen turn right to Dove of Peace and the Totem positioned alongside cross through the subway.The black plaque is located up on Maidstone’s central bridge. the right after you exit the subway. Turn onto the riverside path, keeping the river on your left. 14*-Fairmeadow 12-Maidstone Bridge Fairmeadow became notorious during the persecution of The first bridge to occupy this site was probably built in the Protestants by Queen Mary, when seven Protestant martyrs 14th Century to provide a more direct route to the commercial were burned at the stake here in June 1557. These heart of the town than the ford located further upriver. One of executions may have accounted for the Puritan backlash in a number of similar crossings constructed of local ragstone the town in succeeding decades. A tree-lined embankment during medieval times at , and Teston, was laid along the Medway in 1699, making Fairmeadow a the original bridge was finally declared unsafe in the 1870’s. fashionable place to stroll and providing one of the first The current bridge was built in 1879 by Sir Joseph Bazelgette, public walks outside of London. the engineer responsible for the Thames Embankment and the Walk towards the new Fremlin Walk shopping complex. There London sewage system. is a black plaque on the left near the benches outside Corpus Christi Hall. This is the end of the short tour. To return to the Town Hall, walk up the ramp and cross at the traffic lights. Then walk 15*-Corpus Christi Hall straight up the High Street. This 14th century building was originally owned by the Corpus Christi Fraternity, a society of local tradesmen who If you prefer to follow the extended tour, continue along regulated business, observed certain religious services and the lower path at the river’s edge and cross under the provided for elderly and infirm members. The Fraternity bridge. The plaque is near the benches.. lasted until 1547 when it was seized by the crown during the suppression of religious guilds. The town then bought the hall and it served as Maidstone Grammar School from 1549-1871. The medieval hall is now leased to a private business. Turn right up Earl Street. 16-Earl Street The street takes its name from Earl’s Place, a major medieval town house with grounds that once occupied the whole area. It is now home to many good restaurants and Fremlin Walk. A walking tour of Historic Maidstone

17-Fremlin Walk 20*-Week Street Opened in March 2005, Fremlin Walk shopping centre is built Week Street lies along the line of a Roman road linking on the site of Fremlins brewery, owned by Ralph Fremlin, who Rochester with the ironworking areas of the Weald and the by 1861 was Kent’s largest brewer. Fremlin’s connections in port of Lympne. Foundations of a Roman building were found East India were symbolised by his trademark elephants and here in the 1960’s. The street also provides some notable weathervane, examples of which will be on permanent display examples of pargetted houses (no’s 55-57), which date back in the shopping centre. to 1680. Pargetting, a term describing the use of external lime Climb the steps under the arch and cross through the plaster in a decorative manner with incised or moulded shopping centre to St Faith’s Square. A black plaque is surfaces, became common when the wattle and daub of the located across the street, to the left of the main entrance half-timbered Tudor houses began to fall into decay. to the Museum. The Week Street plaque is on the left outside no. 34 (HMV). Then turn down into Earl Street, passing the plaque outside 18*-Maidstone Museum & the Hazlitt. Bentlif Art Gallery Formerly known as Chillington Manor, Maidstone Museum & 21*-Earl Street Bentlif Art Gallery is one of the most interesting of the many A concert hall was erected here in 1869 and is known today old buildings in the town and a fine example of the domestic as the Hazlitt Theatre, after William Hazlitt, who found fame as architecture of the late Tudor period. The core of the present an essayist, art critic and artist. No. 32 Earl Street features house was built between 1561 and 1577 for local M.P. Nicolas over its entrance a carved head of Benjamin Disraeli, elected Barham. In 1855 the Manor’s then owner bequeathed his MP for Maidstone in 1837 who later became Queen Victoria’s collection of antiquarian objects to the town, which purchased trusted Prime Minister. Andrew Broughton, Mayor of Maidstone, his house and opened a museum to the public in January lived at number 31/33. He was Clerk to the High Court and 1858. Chillington Manor was then extended to provide signed the death warrant of King Charles in 1648. When the purpose built galleries housing the collections of Maidstone’s monarchy was restored in 1660, Broughton was charged with many Victorian benefactors. Don’t miss the Kissing Chair used regicide. He fled and spent the rest of his life in exile in Geneva. by Henry VIII at Allington Castle. Turn into Market Buildings, alongside the Hazlitt Theatre. A Henry’s grandmother was plaque is located on the left just past the Corn Exchange. Queen of , wife of King 22*-Market Buildings and Edward IV. Entrance to the Corn Exchange Museum is free. From at least the year 1261 until the Walk up St Faith’s Street. A black plaque is located up on the 1820’s, the High Street was the original left as you enter the gardens. market-place of Maidstone. New market buildings were erected in 1825 and in 19*-Brenchley Gardens 1835 a new Corn Exchange was built. These quiet municipal gardens, once the grounds of This area is now the site of several Chillington Manor, were opened in 1871 as Maidstone’s first specialist shops and cafes. public park. The War Memorial at the top of the hill was designed by Sir Edward Lutyens. Sir John Banks who lived at Turn right to explore the Royal Star Arcade, or continue The Priory in Aylesford donated the row of Georgian straight ahead. A black plaque is located to the left of the almshouses in St Faith’s Street in 1700, which are still archway into the High Street. Cross the High Street and you occupied under special license today. will return to the Town Hall, the end of this walking tour. Themed guided walks are available from Footsteps UK on Continue up St Faith’s St and turn right into Week Street 01622 754451. A walking tour of Historic Maidstone

OAD

PARK LER COU

KeySTREET MAIDSTONE STATION RD HistoricLUC Plaque EAST ERN E S Streets with limitedT access

STATION Gardens R

I WHE V VisitorJEFFREY information ST centre E BRENCHLEY WEEK STREET R GARDENS BREWER STREET MillenniumELER S River Park walk

TO WHATMAN M E Public toilets PARK 19 ROAD D TREET

W Parking STARNES A COURT IDSTONE Y 18 MA Subway EUM Y MUS LIBRAR EET TREET UNION STR ST FAITHʼS S ET TOWN SQUARE ONCHURCH STRE STRE UNI WYA

TT STREET TT TUFTO A229 FREMLIN WALK 20 SHOPPING CENTRE

WEE FA

ST ST 17

ET I

R CHUR

K STREET PETERʼS

MEAD HAZLITT THEATRE W CH MARSHAM STREET Y MARKET BU K

EARL STREET STREET 16 21 E ROS

M O

PUD A NO W W 15 E ST R ST YAR

ROY POST R

DING L OFFICE 22 R

D D AL STAR ARCADE CORPUS CHRISTI I

LDING EET HALL KING STREET CORN ANE EXCHANGE 2 S MEDWAY STREET GABRIELʼS HI 1

TOWN HALL 3 VISITOR INFORMATION 14 T CENTRE

F CHEQUERS BANK S LL A SHOPPING CENTRE I R M 4 MILL STR LAND RD E ETERʼS BRIDGE A D ST P O 13 W HIGH STREET CHEQUERS BUS MALL

E ET LOWER STONE STREET

BIS ENUE HO ROMNEY PLACE BROADWAY 12 PʼS W RIVER LEN SHOPPING CENTRE AY 5 RIVER MEDW PALACE AV KY MILL STREET HIL CARRIAGE L A AY RC 6 MUSEUM PADSOLE HBISHOP7 BROADW PALACE

S MAIDSTONE COUNTY AY WEST COURTS SAINTS 8 ALL RCH COLLEGE ROAD BA MILLENNIIUM CHU R BRIDGE K 11 9 E ER STREET R AMPHITHE KNIGHTRID MILLENNIUM UPPER STON MELVILLE RD CO R ALL P

O L RI LEGE OF 10 A SAINTS ORY

D LOCKMEADOW ATR ROAD ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE E & MARKET For short walking tour start at Town Hall (1) to Maidstone Bridge (12). For extended tour continue from Riverside (13) to Market Buildings (22) Maidstone Visitor Information Centre Town Hall, High Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1TF Tel: 01622 602169 email: [email protected] www.tour-maidstone.com

Illustrated with details from Graham Clarke’s etching “County Town” (first state) Graham Clarke © 1994