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Milton Next Sittingbourne in Kent County England History and GeographyMILTON next SITTINGBOURNE, a market town and parish in the hundred of MILTON, lathe of SCRAY, county of KENT, 12 miles (N.E. by E.) from Maidstone, and 40 (E. by S.) from London, containing 2012 inhabitants. This town was anciently called Middletun, a Saxon appellation, indicative of its central position in the county, and also 'the king's town of Milton,' having probably been, in early ages, the place of residence of the kings of Kent, as well as a part of the demesne of the crown. Its proximity to the Swale, which separates the Isle of Sheppy from the main land, rendered it easily accessible to the invading Danes, by whom it was frequently plundered in the ninth century. Here their veteran chief, Hastings, attempted to establish himself in the time of Alfred; and the remains of his encampment, or fortress, in the marshes of Kemsley, between Milton church and the north end of the creek, are still visible. The ancient town, together with the palace of the Kentish kings, was burnt by Earl Godwin, about the year 1052. Milton appears to have been rebuilt, and to have become a place of importance in the time of the Conqueror, who, according to Domesday-book, held the manor, which, for a long while afterwards, was vested in the crown, and frequently granted in dower to the queens of England. From Isabella, the consort of Edward II., the grant of a market and an annual fair for four days was obtained. In the reign of John the right of the fishery in the manor and hundred of Milton was granted to Faversham abbey, but at the dissolution, becoming again vested in the crown, the manor continued to be royal property till it was finally alienated by Charles I. The town is situated about half a mile from the high road from London to Dovor, on a hill sloping down to a small creek, or channel, which separates it from the Isle of Sheppy; the streets are narrow and badly paved. The commercial business consists chiefly in shipping, for the London market, the agricultural produce of the neighbourhood, and in bringing goods in return. The oyster fishery affords employment to a great number of the inhabitants; the right of this fishery is now held on lease by a company of free dredgers, about one hundred and forty in number, who are governed by laws made in the court baron of the manor: the oysters, under the name of native Milton oysters, are very fine and in great request. There are extensive yards for making bricks of a very superior quality, which, together with flints dug in the neighbourhood, and wild fowl, of which there is a decoy in the marshes, are sent to London. The market is on Saturday; and a fair for cattle is held on the 24th of July: the market-house and shambles are near the centre of the town. A portreeve for the hundreds of Milton and Marden, who is supervisor of weights and measures, is chosen, with a warden, on the 25th of July, at a court baron held before the steward of the manor, by such of the inhabitants as pay church and poor rates. The manor courts and public meetings are held at the market-house, under which is the town gaol. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Canterbury, rated in the king's books at £13. 2. 6., and in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury. The church, which is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, is large and handsome, with portions in the decorated style of English architecture: it consists of a nave, south aisle, and two chancels, with a heavy embattled tower at the west end, built of square flints; in the south chancel, or chapel, which belonged to the ancient family of Northwood, are a piscina and two stone seats: it also contains several ancient monuments. There are places of worship for Independents and Wesleyan Methodists. A free school is endowed with £10 per annum from benefactions by Elizabeth Morley, in 1714, and John Knotts, in 1718, for which ten children are educated; both the master and the children are appointed by the minister and church-wardens. National schools, for more than two hundred children of both sexes, are supported by voluntary contributions. In the western part of the parish is a coppice of several hundred acres, and one adjoining it extends five miles southward: these woods are noted for chesnut trees, many of which are very ancient, and serve as 'termini,' or boundaries, as well for private property as for parishes. The remains of the Danish fortress at Kemsley-down form a square, surrounded by a high vallum and a broad ditch; and being overgrown by trees and underwood, it has received the appellation of Castle-rough: a raised causeway, leading from it to the sea-shore, may be distinctly traced. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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