Maidstone
River and Archbishop's Palace, Maidstone.
Maidstone shown within Kent
Population	75,070 (2001)
OS grid reference	TQ765555
- London	32 miles (51 km) NW
District	Maidstone
Shire county	Kent
Region	South East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	MAIDSTONE
Postcode district	ME14-ME18
Dialling code	01622
Police	Kent
Fire	Kent
Ambulance	South East Coast
European Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Maidstone and the Weald/ Faversham and Mid Kent
List of places: UK • England • Kent

Coordinates: 51°16′18″N 0°31′46″E / 51.2717, 0.5295

Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, 32 miles (51 km) south-east of London. KENT (1400 AM) is a Radio station broadcasting a Adult Standards/MOR format In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using Latitude and Longitude London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The districts of England are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government Position The Borough covers an area generally to the east and south of the town of Maidstone: as far north as the M2 motorway; east down the M20 to Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties are one of the four levels of Subdivisions of England used for the purposes of Local government outside Greater London KENT (1400 AM) is a Radio station broadcasting a Adult Standards/MOR format The region, also known as the government office region, is currently the highest tier of local government sub-national entity of England, with only one South East England is one of the nine official Regions of England. Constituent country is a phrase used often by official institutions in contexts in which a country makes up a part of a larger entity or grouping England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland This list of sovereign states, alphabetically arranged gives an overview of States around the world with information on the extent of their Sovereignty. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located A post town is a required part of all postal addresses in the United Kingdom, and a basic unit of the postal delivery system UK Postal codes are known as postcodes. UK postcodes are Alphanumeric. The, also known as the Rochester postcode area, is a group of twenty postal districts around Medway in Kent, England. The UK Telephone numbering plan, also known as the National Telephone Numbering Plan, is the system used for assigning Telephone numbers in the United There are a number of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom. Kent Police, a Home Office police force polices Kent in England, including the unitary authority of Medway. The fire service in the United Kingdom operates under separate legislative and administrative arrangements in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Kent Fire and Rescue Service is the Statutory fire and rescue service for the County of Kent covering a geographical area south of London The South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb is the NHS Ambulance Services Trust for south-eastern England, covering Kent (including Medway South East England is a Constituency of the European Parliament. This is a list of the 646 constituencies currently represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, as at the 2005 general election Maidstone and The Weald is a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Faversham and Mid Kent is a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. A Gazetteer of place names in the United Kingdom showing each place's County, Unitary authority or council area and its geographical coordinates List of places --> List of cities in the United Kingdom List of towns in England Lists of places This is a list of places in Kent, England split by local government district and sorted alphabetically A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. A county town is the 'capital' of a County in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland. KENT (1400 AM) is a Radio station broadcasting a Adult Standards/MOR format England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. The River Medway, which is almost entirely in Kent, England, flows for from just inside the West Sussex border to the point where it enters The Thames Estuary is the area in which the River Thames meets the waters of the North Sea. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural county of Kent, known as the Garden of England. KENT (1400 AM) is a Radio station broadcasting a Adult Standards/MOR format There is evidence of a settlement in the area dating back to beyond the Stone Age.

The town is within the borough of Maidstone. Borough status in the United Kingdom is granted by Royal charter to Local government Districts in England, Wales and Northern Position The Borough covers an area generally to the east and south of the town of Maidstone: as far north as the M2 motorway; east down the M20 to In 2001, the town had a population of 75,000.

Maidstone's economy has changed over the years from being involved in much heavy industry: now light industry predominates; and to more service industries.

Contents 1 Toponymy 2 History 3 Modern history 4 Governance 5 Geography 6 Demography 7 Economy 8 Army barracks 9 Transport and communications 10 Education 11 Religion 12 Culture 12.1 Twinning 12.2 Radio and television 12.3 Theatre 13 Sport 14 Notable People 15 See also 16 External links 17 References

Toponymy

Saxon charters (c975) show the first recorded instances of the town's name: de maeides stana and maegdan stane with the possible meaning of either stone of the maidens, or possibly stone of the people. The latter meaning may refer to the nearby megalith around which gatherings would take place. Kit's Coty is a small village on the slopes of Blue Bell Hill between Maidstone and Rochester in the English county of Kent. The name evolved through medestan/meddestane as reported in the Domesday Book until, in 1610, the modern name appeared^[1]

History

Main article: History of Maidstone

Neolithic finds have revealed the earliest occupation of the area; and the Romans have left their mark also: the road through the town and evidence of villas. The Domesday Book (ˈduːmzdeɪ bʊk also known as Domesday, or Book of Winchester) was the record of the great survey The History of Maidstone and its immediate area is of very long duration beginning in Mesolithic times The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC The Normans set up a shiremoot, and religious organisations established an abbey at Boxley, as well as hospitals and a college for priests. The Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France. A shire is an Administrative division of Great Britain and Australia. The name of the Layout engine is properly spelled Boxely. The large village and Civil parish of Boxley in the Maidstone A hospital is an institution for Health care providing treatment by specialised staff and equipment and often but not always providing for Today’s suburb of Penenden Heath became a place of execution in medieval times. Penenden Heath is a suburb in the town of Maidstone in Kent, England.

Maidstone's charter as a town was first confirmed in 1549; although briefly revoked, a new charter in 1551 created the town as 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. James VI and I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625 was King of Scotland as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James 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. Invicta (meaning undefeated) is the motto of the county of Kent, England. Iguanodon (ɪˈgwɑːnədɒn or /ɪˈgwænədɒn/ meaning " Iguana Tooth " is a Genus of Ornithopod Dinosaur The iguanodon relates to the local discovery in the 19th century of the fossilised remains of such a dinosaur : The remains are now displayed in the Natural History Museum in London. The Natural History Museum is one of three large Museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London (the others are the Science Museum

During the Civil War one of its battles took place here in 1648, resulting in victory for the Royalist forces. A civil war is a War between a State and domestic political actors that are in control of some part of the territory claimed by the state The Battle of Maidstone was a Battle in the Second English Civil War ( 1648)

Maidstone has had the right to a town gaol since 1604; the present prison lies north of the town centre and was completed in 1819. Army barracks have been a feature of the town since 1797, when the first was built. The present Invicta Barracks is home to the Royal Engineers 36 Engineer Regiment, which includes two Gurkha field squadrons. The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers ( RE) and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps Prithvi Naraya Shahdev and Sri Teen Maharaja Jung Bahadur The Way of Sacrifice The Rajputs Pages 28-30 Graduate Thesis South Asian Studies Department Dr

From an economic point of view, Maidstone’s history has developed around the river, and also the surrounding countryside. Paper mills, stone quarrying, brewing and the cloth industry have all flourished here.

Modern history

The modern town of Maidstone incorporates a number of previously outlying villages and settlements (see Geography below). Maidstone is the County town of Kent, England, south-east of London.

The county council offices, to the north of the town centre were built of Portland stone between 1910 and 1913. Portland stone is a Limestone from the Jurassic period quarried on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. 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 are employed within the retail, administrative or service sectors within the town; there are many industrial estates around the town providing employment. Some of the workforce commute to other towns, including to London.

Governance

Previously covered by the single county constituency of Maidstone until 1997 when boundary changes led to its break-up, the town is now divided between the constituencies of Maidstone and the Weald and Faversham and Mid Kent. Maidstone and The Weald is a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Ann Widdecombe has been Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Maidstone (and later Maidstone and the Weald) since 1987. Ann Noreen Widdecombe (born 4 October 1947 is a British Conservative Party Politician and more recently television Presenter and Novelist The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. ^[2] Since 2001, the MP for Faversham and Mid Kent has been Hugh Robertson. Hugh Robertson (born 9 October 1962, Canterbury) is a politician in the United Kingdom.

The town is within, and is the main town of, the local government district of Maidstone, which includes the surrounding rural areas. The districts of England are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government Position The Borough covers an area generally to the east and south of the town of Maidstone: as far north as the M2 motorway; east down the M20 to The town is divided into the twelve local government wards of Allington, Bridge, Downswood and Otham, East, Fant, Heath, High Street, Park Wood, Shepway North, Shepway South, South, and North. In Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, a ward is an Electoral district ^[3] These wards have thirty of the fifty-five seats on the Maidstone Borough Council. As of November 2007, 19 of those seats were held by the Liberal Democrats, 6 by the Conservative Party, 4 by the Labour Party, and 1 by an independent. The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal Political party in the United Kingdom, formed in 1988 by merging the The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the ^[4] Maidstone Borough Council is responsible for running local services, such as recreation, refuse collection and council housing;^[5] while Kent County Council is responsible for education, social services and trading standards. The council house is a form of public or social housing in the United Kingdom. Responsibilities The council is responsible for public services such as education transport strategic planning emergency services social services public safety and waste Both councils are involved in town planning.

Geography

The town is situated at a point where the River Medway has previously flowed in a generally west-east direction; now, having been joined by the Rivers Teise and Beult, its course changes to a northerly one. The River Medway, which is almost entirely in Kent, England, flows for from just inside the West Sussex border to the point where it enters The River Teise (tiːz "tease" or /tаɪs/ "tice" is a tributary of the River Medway in Kent, England. The River Beult (bɛlt "belt" is a tributary of the River Medway. As it does so, it cuts through the ridge formed by the Greensand, so that the town occupies a site on two opposite hills; the more easterly one containing the town centre. Greensand is an olive-green coloured Sandstone rock which is commonly found in narrow bands particularly associated with bands of Chalk and Beyond that, and still higher, is Penenden Heath.

The River Len joined the River Medway at Maidstone; though a short river it provided the water to drive numerous watermills. Watermills The River Len powered a number of Watermills from source to mouth they were- Polhill (Holme Mill Harrietsham This article is about a type of structure For other locational uses see Milldam. The Loose Stream, that rose at Langley and joined at Tovil powered over 30 mills. The Loose Stream sometimes called the River Loose or Langley Stream is a tributary of the River Medway notable for the number of Watermills that it powered Langley is a village and Civil parish in the Maidstone District of Kent, England. Tovil is now a suburb of the Town of Maidstone, the County town of Kent in the South East of England. The resultant mill ponds on these rivers, are a prominent feature of the landscape.

Because of that situation, Maidstone had an industrial base, and became a nodal point for communications, both along the ridge and beside the river, and on the river itself. Roads radiate from here, connecting with Sevenoaks and Ashford (the A20); the Medway towns and Hastings (A229); Tonbridge (A26) and Tenterden (A274). Sevenoaks is a Commuter town in the Sevenoaks district of Kent in South East England and forms part of the London commuter belt. The town of Ashford lies on the River Great Stour, M20 motorway, South Eastern Main Line and High Speed 1 railways in the borough of Ashford The A20 is a two-digit major road in south-east England, carrying traffic from London to Dover in Kent. Hastings is a town on the coast of East Sussex in England; it is also the administrative centre for the Borough of the same name The A229 is a major Road running north-south through Kent. The road begins in the Medway town of Rochester at the foot of Star Hill Tonbridge (historic spelling Tunbridge) is a Market town in the English county of Kent, with a population of 30340 in 2007 The A26 road is one of the three cross-country two-digit numbered roads in the southeast of England, the others being the A25 road and A27 road. Tenterden is a small Town in the Ashford District of Kent, England. The A274 is a major Road running through mid Kent. The northern end of the road is in Maidstone, at the Wheatsheaf public house where it leaves the All of these roads were served by the Turnpike trusts in the 18th/19th centuries. A toll road, (also known as a tollway, turnpike, pike, or toll highway, especially if it is constructed to Freeway standards

The two railway routes, in spite of the fact that Maidstone is the county town, are not principal ones, due to an accident of history. There are two principal stations: Maidstone East, the more northerly of the two, connects with London and Ashford; whilst Maidstone West is on the Medway Valley Line. Maidstone East railway station is one of three stations in Maidstone, Kent, the only one with a regular direct service to London. Maidstone West railway station is one of three railway stations which serve Maidstone in Kent. History The line was built in two stages by the South Eastern Railway (SER

Although the River Medway was historically responsible for the growth of the town, because of its capability to carry much of the area's goods, it is no longer a commercial stream. There is however a great deal of tourist traffic upon it.

As with most towns, Maidstone has continued to grow. In doing so it has incorporated hitherto separate settlements, villages and hamlets within its boundaries. A settlement is a general term used in Archeology, Landscape history and other subjects for a permanent or temporary community in which people live which avoids being These include Allington, Barming, Bearsted, Penenden Heath, Sandling, Tovil and Weavering Street. Allington is an almost entirely modern village situated on either side of the A20 road west of Maidstone in Kent. Barming is a Civil parish in the Maidstone District of Kent, England. Bearsted (beər'stɛd "Bare-sted") is an ancient village and Civil parish in mid- Kent to the east of and some five Miles (7 Km Penenden Heath is a suburb in the town of Maidstone in Kent, England. Sandling is a suburb to the north of the town of Maidstone, Kent, England. Tovil is now a suburb of the Town of Maidstone, the County town of Kent in the South East of England. Housing estates include Grove Green, Harbourland, Lunsford, Oakwood Park, Ringlestone, Roseacre, Shepway and Vinters Park. Grove Green is a housing development part of Weavering village near the town of Maidstone in Kent, England. Ringlestone is a suburb and Housing estate in the town of Maidstone, Kent.

Maidstone was at one time a centre of industry: brewing and paper making being among the most important. Nowadays smaller industrial units encircle the town [1]. The site of one of the breweries is now Fremlin Walk shopping centre. Fremlin Walk is a shopping centre in the town of Maidstone in Kent. The pedestrianised areas of the High Street and King Street run up from the river crossing at Lockmeadow; Week Street and Gabriel’s Hill bisect this route.

Demography

Maidstone compared

	Maidstone	Maidstone district	England
Population	75,070	138,948	49,138,831
Foreign born	5. 9%	5. 2%	9. 2%
White	97%	97%	91%
Asian	1. 5%	1. 1%	4. 6%
Black	0. 4%	0. 2%	2. 3%
Christian	74%	76%	72%
Muslim	0. 8%	0. 5%	3. 1%
Hindu	0. 7%	0. 5%	1. 1%
Source: 2001 UK census

As of the 2001 UK census, Maidstone town wards had a total population of 75,070, and a population density of 28 residents per hectare. A nationwide Census, commonly known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday 29 April 2001 A nationwide Census, commonly known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday 29 April 2001 Explanation The hectare is commonly used in most countries around the world especially in domains concerned with land planning and management such as Agriculture, The town had 31,142 households; of which, 38% were married couples, 29% were individuals, 10% were cohabiting couples, and 9% were lone parent families. Cohabitation is when people live together in an emotionally- and/or physically- Intimate relationship. 14% of households had someone living alone at pensionable age. A pension is a steady income given to a person upon Retirement, typically in the form of a guaranteed annuity. ^[6]

The ethnicity of the town was given as 96. People from various ethnic groups reside in the United Kingdom. 6% white, 0. 9% mixed race, 0. The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from different races. 3% Chinese, 1. 5% other Asian, 0. 4% Black and 0. 3% other. The place of birth of the town's residents was 94. 1% United Kingdom (91. 4% England), 0. 6% Republic of Ireland, 0. 6% Germany, 1. 3% other European countries, 1. 7% Asia, 0. 9% Africa and 0. 8% elsewhere. ^[6]

Religion was recorded as 73. 9% Christian, 0. 8% Muslim, 0. 7% Hindu, 0. 3% Buddhist, 0. 14% Sikh and 0. 11% Jewish. 15. 8% were recorded as having no religion, 0. 6% had an alternative religion, and 7. 7% did not state their religion. ^[6]

Economy

Utilities

Today Aylesford (on the northwest side of Maidstone) has the largest paper recycling factory in Europe, manufacturing newsprint for the newspaper industry. Aylesford is a large village on the River Medway in Kent, 4 miles NW of Maidstone in England. Newsprint is low-cost non-archival Paper most commonly used to print Newspapers plus other publications and advertising material

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. Liquorice allsorts (also spelled licorice allsorts) consist of a variety of liquorice candies sold as a mixture

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

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.

Southern Water and Mid Kent Water operate the Maidstone water system.

Shopping/Retail

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. Fremlin Walk is a shopping centre in the town of Maidstone in Kent. That 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. ^[7] Other recent developments include the riverside Lockmeadow Centre, which includes a multiplex cinema, restaurants, nightclub, bowling alley, and market square

As of the 2001 UK census, 45. 2% of the town's residents aged 16–74 were employed full-time, 12. 7% employed part-time, 7. 6% self-employed and 2. 5% unemployed, while 2. 3% were students with jobs, 3. 0% students without jobs, 12. 9% retired, 6. 6% looking after home or family, 3. 8% permanently sick or disabled and 3. 2% economically inactive for other reasons. These figures were roughly inline with the national average. ^[6]

Employment by industry was 19% retail; 13% real estate; 11% manufacturing; 9% construction; 7% transport and communications; 10% health and social work; 8% public administration; 7% education; 5% finance; 4% hotels and restaurants; 1% agriculture; 1% energy and water supply; and 5% other. Communication is the process of conveying information from a sender to a receiver with the use of a medium in which the communicated information is understood the same way Social work is a discipline involving the application of Social theory and research methods to study and improve the lives of people groups and societies Public administration can be broadly described as the development implementation and study of branches of government Policy. Compared to national figures, Maidstone had a relatively high percentage of workers in construction and public administration, and a relatively low percentage in agriculture. ^[6]

According to Office for National Statistics estimates, the average gross income of households in Maidstone between April 2001 and March 2002 was £595 per week (£31,000 per year). The Office for National Statistics (ONS is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-ministerial department which reports directly ^[6]

Army barracks

Army barracks have been a feature of the town since 1797, when the first was built. The present Invicta Barracks is home to the Royal Engineers 36 Engineer Regiment, which includes two Gurkha field squadrons. The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers ( RE) and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps Prithvi Naraya Shahdev and Sri Teen Maharaja Jung Bahadur The Way of Sacrifice The Rajputs Pages 28-30 Graduate Thesis South Asian Studies Department Dr

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. Events 522 BC - Darius I of Persia kills the Magian usurper Gaumâta securing his hold as king of the Persian Empire. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Provisional Irish Republican Army (Óglaigh na hÉireann ( IRA; also referred to as the PIRA, the Provos, or by some of its supporters as the ^[8] Another pub - The White Rabbit - now occupies the listed building, the Officers’ Mess of the original barracks. A listed building in the United Kingdom is a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural historical or cultural significance

Transport and communications

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. A toll road, (also known as a tollway, turnpike, pike, or toll highway, especially if it is constructed to Freeway standards The A20 runs through the town and the M20 motorway runs to the north. The A20 is a two-digit major road in south-east England, carrying traffic from London to Dover in Kent. The M20 is a Motorway in Kent, England. It runs from the M25 motorway to Folkestone, providing a link to the Channel Originally opened in 1960 as the Maidstone Bypass, A20(M) this was the first motorway standard road to be constructed south of London. Maidstone is a hub for major roads such as the M20 motorway, The A229, A249), A20 and A26). The M20 is a Motorway in Kent, England. It runs from the M25 motorway to Folkestone, providing a link to the Channel The A229 is a major Road running north-south through Kent. The road begins in the Medway town of Rochester at the foot of Star Hill The A249 is a road in Kent, England running from Maidstone to Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey. The A20 is a two-digit major road in south-east England, carrying traffic from London to Dover in Kent. The A26 road is one of the three cross-country two-digit numbered roads in the southeast of England, the others being the A25 road and A27 road. The M2 motorway is also a short distance to the north and the A21 is not to far away. The M2 is a Motorway in Kent, England. It is 257 Miles (414 Km) long and acts as a bypass of the section of the A2 The A21 is a major Trunk road in Southern England connecting London with Hastings, East Sussex. The historic centre of the town is largely pedestrianised or of restricted access to private vehicles.

The River Medway had, until the coming of better roads and the railways, long been one of the principal means of transporting goods to and from Maidatone, 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. The River Medway, which is almost entirely in Kent, England, flows for from just inside the West Sussex border to the point where it enters East Farleigh is a village near the town of Maidstone in Kent, England. Yalding is a village and part of Yalding Civil parish in the Maidstone District of Kent, England. Tonbridge (historic spelling Tunbridge) is a Market town in the English county of Kent, with a population of 30340 in 2007 This meant that a good deal of trade, including corn, hops, 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. Sir Joseph William Bazalgette ( 28 March 1819 &ndash 15 March 1891) was one of the great English Civil engineers of A second bridge, St. Peter's 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.

Bus transport in Maidstone is provided by: Arriva Southern Counties and Nu-Venture transport companies. Arriva Southern Counties is a Bus operator in London, Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent and Essex Nu-Venture is an Aylesford, Kent -based bus & coach company Established in 1960s as a coach company Nu-Venture operated coach tour holidays all over Europe Bus services are centred on High Street, King Street and Maidstone Bus station adjacent to the Mall shopping centre. New Enterprise Coaches, an Arriva subsidiary, operates the commuter services 781 and 784 from Maidstone and surrounding areas to London using express coaches. New Enterprise Coaches is the coaching arm of Arriva Southern Counties Ltd and is based in Tonbridge, Kent Arriva plc ( is a British -based international public transport operator headquartered in Sunderland. New Enterprise routes 781 and 784 are express coach services linking Maidstone to Central London. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. A larger network of services was previously provided by Green Line but withdrawn in August 2005. Green Line Coaches is a long-distance commuter coach-operating company part of the Arriva group operating services from London. Prior to this, commuter buses were provided by Invictaway. Invictaway was an express commuter coach service from Kent to London in the 1980s and 1990s and was also a holding company for the emerging Arriva group

In 2004 the centenary of Maidstone Corporation Transport was marked with several events, looking back at several historic operators of transport in Maidstone, and featuring a preserved trolleybus. Arriva Southern Counties is a Bus operator in London, Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent and Essex Maidstone Corporation Transport was the operator of Trams, Trolleybuses and motorbuses in Maidstone, Kent from 1904 to 1974 Maidstone Corporation Transport was the operator of Trams, Trolleybuses and motorbuses in Maidstone, Kent from 1904 to 1974

Former bus operators in Maidstone include: Maidstone & District Motor Services Ltd (M&D); Maidstone Borough Council Transport , later Boro'line Maidstone; and Bygone Buses. Boro'line Maidstone, previously Maidstone Borough Council Transport was the municipal bus operator in Maidstone and the surrounding villages Boro'line Maidstone, previously Maidstone Borough Council Transport was the municipal bus operator in Maidstone and the surrounding villages Bygone buses was a post-deregulation Bus operator based in Biddenden, Kent, England.

When the railways were built in the 1840s, Maidstone was not well served. 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 hardest 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 (10 km) to the south. For the railway in India see South Eastern Railway (India South Eastern Railway (SER was a railway company in the United Kingdom Dover is a town and major ferry port in the county of Kent, England. A station named Maidstone Road was built in an isolated spot called Paddock Wood, from where coaches were run to the county town. Paddock Wood is a small Town in Kent, England, about eight miles South West of Maidstone.

Two years later a branch line was built to Maidstone. In 1846 another branch line (the Medway Valley Line) connected Strood with the town. History The line was built in two stages by the South Eastern Railway (SER This article is about the town in Kent England For the creek in Essex, see The Strood Strood is a town in the Unitary 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. Maidstone West railway station is one of three railway stations which serve Maidstone in Kent. Maidstone Barracks railway station is one of three railway stations which serve Maidstone in Kent. Maidstone East railway station is one of three stations in Maidstone, Kent, the only one with a regular direct service to London.

In 1905, a railway was authorised under the 1896 Light Railways Act to link Maidstone with Sutton Valence and Headcorn, linking with the Kent & East Sussex Railway. The Light Railways Act 1896 (59 & 60 Vict c 48 of the Parliament of the United Kingdom defined a class of Railways with the intention of enabling development of such Sutton Valence is a village some five miles SE of Maidstone, Kent, England on the Greensand Ridge overlooking the Vale of Kent and Weald Headcorn is a village and Civil parish in the Maidstone District of Kent, England. Historical Company Opening And Growth The Kent & East Sussex Railway was one of the light railways operated by Colonel H The only part of the Headcorn & Maidstone Junction Light Railway ever built was a short branch serving the paper mills at Tovil.

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 Medway Valley Walk follows the River Medway from Rochester to Tonbridge. The North Downs Way, which incorporates the Pilgrims' Way to Canterbury, runs for 153 miles (246 km) between Farnham, Surrey and Dover, passing about five miles (8 km) to the north and west. The North Downs Way is a long-distance path in southern England. "Pilgrim's Way" is also the US title of Memory Hold-the-Door by John Buchan The Pilgrims' Way (also Pilgrim's Canterbury ( ˈkæntəbɹ̩i is a City in eastern Kent in the South East region of England. Farnham is a Town in Surrey, England, within the Borough of Waverley. Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties.

Education

see List of schools in Kent

The town of Maidstone has fifteen secondary schools; twenty-three primary schools; and two special schools. List of Primary schools Middle schools Secondary schools Special schools Further education colleges and Universities in the ceremonial Two of the secondary schools, Maplesden Noakes and Invicta Grammar School, have been awarded Business and Enterprise College status. Maplesden Noakes School is an 11-18 co-educational school in Maidstone, Kent, England Invicta Grammar School is a Grammar school in Maidstone, Kent Business and Enterprise Colleges (BECs were introduced in 1995 as part of the Specialist Schools Programme in the UK.

Alumni at Maidstone Grammar School include James Burke, television presenter, and Lord Beeching, responsible for cutting British railway routes. Maidstone Grammar School ( MGS) is a Grammar school located in Maidstone, United Kingdom. James Burke (born 22 December 1936) is a Northern Irish Science Historian, Richard Beeching Baron Beeching ( 21 April 1913 - 23 March 1985) commonly known as Doctor Beeching, was chairman of British William Golding, author of Lord of the Flies was a teacher there. Sir William Gerald Golding ( 19 September, 1911 – 19 June, 1993) was a British novelist poet and Nobel Prize for Literature Lord of the Flies is an allegorical Novel by Nobel Prize -winning author William Golding. Also in Maidstone is the University College for the Creative Arts at Maidstone at which the British artist Tracey Emin began her artistic education. Tracey Emin RA (born 3 July, 1963) is an English Artist of Turkish Cypriot origin one of the group known as Britartists

Maidstone has two independently/non-government funded Academies. Cornwallis Academy (formerly The Cornwallis Technology Collage) and New Line Learning Academy's (formerly Oldborough School and Senacre Technology Collage) which were all State Schools. New Line Learning are learning concept schools used in south Maidstone, Kent, England. The New Line Learning Academies will soon form one Academy, with the Senacre site being closed down, and all activities moving to the Oldborough site, which will then be re-built. Cornwallis Academy will also be re-built, at a cost estimated to be over £50M.

Sean Williamson ateended the local Catholic Seconday School, St Simon Stock Catholic School. Bryan Cherry Band is a Soul & Roots Rock Band hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin that was created in 2006 by Bryon Cherry Sean Williamson and The School St Simon Stock is a mixed Catholic school with a strong academic and pastoral tradition The school serves Catholic families throughout the whole of mid-Kent.

As of the 2001 census, 15. 7% of the town's residents aged 16–74 had a higher education qualification or the equivalent, below the national average of 19. Higher education is Education that is provided by universities, vocational universities, Community colleges Liberal arts colleges 9%. 27. 5% had no academic qualifications, compared to the national figure of 28. 9%.

Religion

The town’s religious base was recorded . ^[6] as 73. 9% Christian, 0. 8% Muslim, 0. 7% Hindu, 0. 3% Buddhist, 0. 14% Sikh and 0. 11% Jewish. 15. 8% were recorded as having no religion, 0. 6% had an alternative religion, and 7. 7% did not state their religion.

There are a number of churches and other religious congregational buildings within the town of varying denominations. ^[9]

Culture

Twinning

Maidstone is twinned with Beauvais in Picardy, France. Beauvais is a town and commune of northern France, Préfecture (capital of the Oise département. This used to be announced on signs at the entry to the town, but these were not included when the signs were replaced in 2005/6.

Radio and television

Maidstone has long held links to local radio. There are three radio stations: Invicta Sound (now Invicta FM) used to broadcast from studios in Earl Street; and Hospital Radio Maidstone is one of the longest serving hospital radio stations in the UK. Kmfm, formerly CTR, broadcasts from studios in Mill Street. KMFM is the name of seven Independent Local Radio stations and one digital station (on the Kent Digital Multiplex owned by KM Radio Ltd each broadcasting locally to a It is part of the Kent Messenger Group who acquired the station in October 2006. A new version of former pirate radio station Radio Caroline, broadcasts (via Sky and the internet) from The Maidstone Studios, in the Vinters Park area of the town. Radio Caroline is a European Radio station that started transmissions on Easter Sunday 1964 from a ship anchored in International waters off the coast of British Sky Broadcasting ( BSkyB — Sky Television and BSB) is a company that operates Sky Digital, a subscription television service in the The Maidstone Studios is a television studio complex with radio studio facilities based at Vinters Park in Maidstone, Kent UK.

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. The Maidstone Studios is a television studio complex with radio studio facilities based at Vinters Park in Maidstone, Kent UK. Television South ( TVS) was the broadcasting name associated with the ITV franchise holder in the south and south east of England between

Theatre

Theatres in Maidstone include: The Hazlitt Theatre; RiverStage; The Exchange (also known as ‘‘The Corn Exchange’’); and the Hermitage Millennium Amphitheatre. The Hazlitt Theatre is one of the main theatres in Maidstone, Kent.

Sport

Maidstone United, football team was formed in 1897, and has had mixed fortunes in recent years. Maidstone United Football Club are an English football team from Maidstone, Kent. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered 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. The Football League, also known as the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons is a league competition featuring professional football clubs Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. However, the club could not bring their own London Road Ground up to Football League standards so they bought Dartford's Watling Street stadium and played their games there. The Football League, also known as the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons is a league competition featuring professional football clubs Dartford FC are an English football club based in Dartford, Kent. The club could not keep up with the financial presures of the Football League and folded in 1992. The Football League, also known as the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons is a league competition featuring professional football clubs A new club was formed and made its way from the Kent County League Division 4 to the Isthmian (Ryman) Premier Division. The Kent County League, currently known as the Vandanel Kent County League for sponsorship reasons is a football competition based in Kent, England. Member clubs 2008&ndash09 Champions Here is a complete list of Isthmian League top division champions throughout the leagues history The club currently plays at Sittingbourne F.C.'s Bourne Park stadium. Sittingbourne FC are a football club based in Sittingbourne, Kent, England. In January 2007, work started on a new home for Maidstone F. C. at James Whatman Way in the town. Little activity has happened since however the club are (as of mid 2008) finalising an application to the Football Foundation for the funding to allow the club to relocate back to the town. The National Football Foundation (NFF is a non-profit organization founded in 1947 by General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army Black Knights football

Maidstone Hockey Club is one of the oldest field hockey clubs in the country, founded in 1878. Field hockey is a Team sport in which players attempt to score goals by hitting the Ball across the pitch with a stick ^[10] Currently, the Ladies 1st XI are in the National South Division, while the Men's 1st XI are in the South 1st XI league. In total, the club has 7 men's sides and 4 women's sides playing at all levels of National, regional and County leagues.

Maidstone Rugby Football Club is one of the oldest rugby clubs in the country, founded in 1880. Rugby football (usually just " rugby " may refer to a number of sports through history descended from a common form of Football developed at Rugby School ^[11] The club run 6 senior men's sides and a Junior section.

Kent County Cricket Club played occasional matches on pitches at Mote Park for some 150 years until 2005. Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English domestic Cricket structure representing Mote Park is a 180 Hectare multi-use public Park in Maidstone, Kent. Mote Park itself is Maidstone's largest park and includes a number of recreational and sport facilities. The Lashings World XI exhibition cricket team is based in Maidstone and has included a number of high-profile professional cricketers. The Lashings World XI is a famous Cricket team founded by David Folb Cricket is a bat-and-ball team Sport that originated in England and is now played in more than 100 countries ^[12]

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; an American football team; and a basketball club. Martial arts are systems of codified practices and traditions of training for Combat. Tennis is a sport played between two players ( singles) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles) American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive Team sport known for mixing strategy with Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m

Notable People

• Tony Hart, artist and TV presenter
• William Golding, author
• Mackenzie Crook, actor

See also

• Allington Quarry Waste Management Facility

External links

• maidstonetowncentre.com - Maidstone Town Centre Management's website.
• Maidstone council website
• Maidstone council's arts development website
• Shepherd Neame history

References

Fremlin Walk is a shopping centre in the town of Maidstone in Kent. Events 911 - Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

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