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Ashford in Kent County England History and GeographyASHFORD, a parish in the hundred of CHART and LONGBRIDGE, lathe of SCRAY, county of KENT, 20 miles (S.E. by E.) from Maidstone, and 54 (E.S.E.) from London, containing 2773 inhabitants. The town of Ashford, which is a liberty of itself, is situated on the bank of the small river Stour, over which there is a bridge of one arch; the houses are modern and well built, and the principal street, which is nearly half a mile long, is paved and lighted; a market-house has recently been erected, over which is the town hall, where assemblies occasionally take place. There are two subscription libraries, and races are held annually for one day. The principal branch of manufacture is that of linen, but the chief support of the inhabitants is derived from the markets and fairs. The market days are Tuesday and Saturday, the former being for corn, and there is a cattle market on the first and third Tuesday in every month. The fairs are, May 17th, September 9th, and October 24th, for horses and cattle, and in the first week in August for wool. The county magistrates, hold a petty session at the town-hall on the first Saturday in every month. A court of record is held once in three weeks, for determining all pleas of debts or damages not exceeding twenty marks. And a court leet annually, at which a constable, borough-holder, and other officers for the internal regulation of the town, are appointed. The custom of gavel-kind prevails in this manor. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Canterbury, rated in the king's books at £18. 4. 2., and in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, and formerly collegiate, is a spacious and handsome cruciform structure, in the later style of English architecture, with a lofty and elegant tower rising from the centre, and having at the southern entrance a fine Norman arch: it was re-edified by Sir John Fogge, Knight, in the reign of Edward IV., who built the beautiful tower, and founded the college for a master, two chaplains, and two secular clerks. In a small chapel adjoining the south-western transept are three sumptuous monuments of variously coloured marble, to the memory of the Smyths of Westenhanger, and one to that of the Duchess of Athol. There are places of worship for Baptists, the Socicty of Friends, and Methodists, and a chapel belonging to the Trustees of the late Countess of Huntingdon. The free grammar school was founded in 1636, by Sir Norton Knatchbull, who endowed it with £30 per annum, and vested the appointment of a master in his own family. A National school for ninety boys, and another for sixty girls, are supported by subscription. Robert Glover, an industrious antiquary of the sixtcenth century; his nephew, Thomas Miller, eminent as a herald and genealogist; and Dr. John Wallis, the celebrated mathematician, were natives of this place. Ashford confers the title of Baron on the family of Keppel, Earls of Albemarle. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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