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Northfleet (St. Botolph)

NORTHFLEET (St. Botolph), a parish, in the union of North Aylesford, hundred of Toltingtrough, lathe of Aylesford, W. division of Kent, 1½ mile (W.) from Gravesend, and 20 miles (E.) from London; containing 3621 inhabitants. This place is mentioned in Domesday book, and is supposed to have been more anciently a Roman and a Danish station. The parish comprises by measurement 3900 acres, of which 200 are common, and 116 wood. It is bounded on the north by the Thames, at a distance from which the face of the country is diversified with gently rising hills and small valleys. To the north-west the land lies so low as to be overflowed at high tides, and the flood would extend even beyond the London road if not prevented by a raised causeway and bridge, to which gates are affixed as a barrier against the tides, and an outlet for the fresh water. The original bridge was erected at an early period, and rebuilt of brick in 1634, but this being found inconvenient, another has been constructed in a line with the direction of the road. Large chalk and lime works extend from the north side of the village to the Thames. Lime is sent off in considerable quantities for the builders in London, and is also exported to Holland and Flanders, the refuse being used for manuring the land in Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk. The chalk-pits are very extensive, and strata of flint stones abound, which are frequently wrought into flints for guns: imbedded in the chalk are many curious fossils, chiefly echinites and glossopetræ or sharks' teeth; and some of the flints inclose cockleshells filled with chalk, forming singular natural curiosities. Here is a large yard for ship-building, near which is a spacious dock excavated in the solid chalk, and capable of containing six or seven ships; an establishment for the manufacture of Parker's Roman cement is likewise carried on. Fairs are held on Easter and Whit Tuesdays, and on the 24th of March.

The living is a vicarage, valued in the king's books at £21, and in the patronage of the Crown; impropriator, the Earl of Aylesford: the great tithes have been commuted for £683, and the vicarial for £600. The church, which is one of the largest in the diocese, displays various styles of English architecture, with several good decorated windows; the chancel contains the remains of some ancient oak stalls. In the south wall are three stone seats, and on a slab in the pavement is a fulllength brass figure of a priest standing beneath a richlyornamented canopy, with an imperfect Latin inscription around the verge of the slab; the grave below being opened about half a century since, the body of Peter de Lucy was found enveloped in leather. Among the monuments of more modern date is a fine alabaster tomb to the memory of Dr. Edward Browne, physician to Charles II., and author of Travels in Hungary. Nursted church being close to the village of Northfleet, and Northfleet church five miles distant, Mr. W. Edmeads some years ago, at his own expense, built a gallery in the former for the accommodation of the inhabitants of Northfleet. Huggens' College, at Northfleet, was incorporated by act of parliament in 1847. There is a place of worship for Wesleyans.


Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.

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