Maidstone is the county town of Kent. With the River Medway running through the centre of town it is supposed to be part if the Garden of England but it has the largest office centre in the country and it’s the heart of the paper and packaging industry. Several high tech companies have premises on the local business parks.
Maidstone’s early history dates back to the Stone Age. Two Roman villas have been found during excavations and it is known that it was the Romans who built a road from Rochester to Hastings. In the middle ages two hospitals were built especially for travellers and people on pilgrimages.
Building stone has always been quarried from Maidstone and still is to the present day. Some of the local sandstone is used for glass making.
In the 17th century Fullers Earth, a claylike substance, was used to de-oil wool ready to be used in the cloth industry. It was around this time that the river became extremely important to the town because it allowed the products to be moved to the other towns and villages.
By the end of the 19th century several small breweries were in operation. The largest, Style and Winch was on the river bank and remained in production until 1956. Today only Goachers a small brewery is still open.
When the railways were built in the 1840’s the residents were against having a railway line in Maidstone, believing it would jeopardise the trade that the river brought to the town. In 1842 South Eastern Railways built a line through Tonbridge and Ashford that lie six miles south of town. A station was erected at an out of the way place called Paddock Wood where coaches ran to and from Maidstone. There are now three railway stations serving the town, Maidstone West, Maidstone Barracks and Maidstone East.
In the past the River Medway was used a great deal for trade. There were several wharfs in the town and barges would carry goods such as wool, wood, corn, fruit and stone. Nowadays the river is used mainly by pleasure craft although a large number of people live on houseboats along this stretch of river.
Paper and cardboard mills have been around Maidstone for many years and Aylesford’s has the largest paper recycling plant in Europe this is situated to the north west of town.
Maidstone was home to Sharps toffee factory and the makers of liquorice allsorts this was located in the centre of town and was a large employer until it closed in 1998.
Army Barracks have been in Maidstone since 1797 and became home to the West Kent Regiment. Today the Invicta Barracks house the Royal Engineers 36 Regiment and include two Gurkha Field Squadrons. The local public house, the Hare and Hounds, was damaged in an IRA campaign in the early l960’s. The White Rabbit pub has been built on the site of the original Officers’ Mess.
Maidstone Prison is located to the north of town. It was built in 1819 by French prisoners of war. A gallows was erected in front of the prison and on 28th April l868 the last person to be publicly hanged in Britain was executed outside the prison.
The M20 motorway serves Maidstone and major roads link it to the Medway towns, including Ashford, Folkestone and Tonbridge.
Rental properties are always available with average prices of £460pcm for a studio flat, £550pcm for a l bed flat, £700pcm for a 2 bed flat and £850pcm for a 3 bed house.
Maidstone is one of the top shopping centres in Britain. In March 2005 Fremlin Walk shopping arcade was opened and houses some fifty shops including House of Fraser, Oasis, Faith and HMV. The Mall Chequers has a wide range of shops that include Miss Selfridge, Gamleys and Bhs. From the car park here can be booked shopmobility wheelchairs.
Major banks and building societies are situated in the High Street whereas restaurants and wine bars are located in Bank Street.
The Broadway Centre in Tonbridge Road, is home to a wide variety of clothing outlets and a large discount supermarket. There are several other streets around town with smaller and more specialised shops.
Maidstone is home to many sports clubs and these include football, hockey, rugby, sailing, athletics, and martial arts.
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