Historical bites
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From a medieval market town Maidstone was dominated by archbishops. The architecture that today is still reflected around All Saints Church and Archbishops Palace.
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William Hazlitt the famous essayist was born in Maidstone in 1778, the theatre still bears his name The Hazlitt Theatre.
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The Maidstone Museum is the home to a wide range of historical artifacts about the area.
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Brewing
In Maidstone there were many little breweries at the end of the last century, the river was useful for transport and water for the beer production.
Pale Ale Brewery FREMLINS
Earl St
Est about 1790, 1967 Whitbread took over
ceased brewing in 1972
carried on as a bottling plant
til demolished to make way for a shopping mall
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- Different trades intertwined -
Printing
Remember that Johann Guttenberg in 1455, produce the first printed work using metal type in Germany. This quickly spread thoughout the Europe causing a bigger demand for paper.
Textiles
Locally grown flax was used for thread making, for clothing and then in the brewing industry for Hop twine and hop bags 
River Medway Fairmeadow 1900
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Medway Brewery COURAGE
St Peter's Street
Built 1806 traded as Style & Winch
In 1899 Mr. E. Winch of the Chatham Brewery, some 15 miles away, (which was formed in 1666) amalgamated with A.F. Style & Co of Maidstone. Resulting as Style & Winch Brewery housed in the Medway Brewery on the banks of River Medway in the centre of Maidstone.
In the mid 1950's it was Kent's second largest brewery with over 600 public houses. It was merged with Courage Barclay in 1956 and closed down in 1971. It was demolished in 1976.
Lower Brewery
Lower Stone Street
Isherwood, Foster & Stacey Ltd
est about 1650
1929 taken over by Fremlins. Liquidated 1970
In the 1960's the town used to have a distinct smell of brewing on most days.There was also a sweet making factory by the river making Trebor Toffees, so you can imagine the two different smells used to be rather strange on some occasions. Shepherd-Neame Brewery still a large brewery in Kent. Goachers Ales brewing in Maidstone |
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Waterside Brewery SHEPHERD NEAME
Edward Mason & Co Ltd
Waterside Brewery, Waterside
built about 1850
1956 taken over by Shepherd Neame
closed 1960.
Adjacent building a former wharf, built in 1850 as a flour mill where corn was transported up the River Medway to Port of London, used by various companies before coming a night club till demolished to make way for road.
Hops
In Kent they used to grow a lot of hops for brewing such varietie as Fuggles, Goldings and Bullion, but as lager beer became more popular, they started buying in more German hops, and now there are not many hop fields about, sadly. Medway Barges
As with most commerce, different businesses linked together, for example, the Medway barge trade prospered in the building and transporting of paper and rags from London. |
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Watch History!
Find out more about Maidstone's fascinating history in the video/DVD - 'Historical Maidstone' available from Meadowbank Productions Tel: 01732 862151. |
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2003 saw the end of the road - Havock Lane between Earl St. & Faith St.
to make way for progress - the Fremlin Walk shopping centre.
In 1885 the street was amongst a thriving neighbourhood, here is who lived there and what they did, which gives a good idea of the type of industy and way of life: 1 Kemsley Alfred Weller - Labourer
3 Town Tom - Foreman brewer
5 Tucker Jas. -Engine driver
7 Mansell Ed. - Miller
9 Clegg Thos. - Bargeman
11 Goodhew Arthur Jas. - Maltster
13 & 15 Piper Wm. - Engineer and Millwright
17 Gorham Thos. Robt. - Quarryman
Havock Place
19 Upson Gea. - Driver
21 Holland Hy. - Blacksmith
23 Hawks Hy. - Royal Albion
Faith Street
28 Comber E. Coal Merchant and General Shop
26 Barton Mrs Ann - General Shop
24 Earl John - Carter
22 Coatsworth Mrs. S
20 Prebble Wm. - Gardener
18 Lomas Chas. - Tailor
16 Miller Wm. - Tailor
14 Vacant
12 Wilding John
10 Orman Chas. - Waterman
8 Swain Joseph - Waterman
6 Corke Mrs S. - Baker
4 Martin Mrs. - Brewer
2 Crowhurst Chas. - Veterinary Forge and Stables. |
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| A museum of Kent Life in Sandling |
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| Tyrwhitt-Drake Museum of Carriages. Archbishops' Stables, Mill St Tel 01622 754497 Info |
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| The Culpeper monument and history at Aylesford. The Culpepper Family history site with connections throughout Kent & USA |
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| A good source of historical facts the public Library, St Faith's Street library has an excellent Kent archive section. Tel 01622 752344. Maidstone Museum history page |
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| The most beautiful castle in the world - Leeds Castle 01622 765400 |
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Centre for Kentish Studies, County Hall, Maidstone. Tel 01622 694363
E-mail archives@kent.gov.uk |
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A website to reminisce and add memories to - Maidstone-i-remember-it-well.com
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© Indepen