Westerham (St. Mary)

WESTERHAM (St. Mary), a market-town and parish, in the union of Seven-Oaks, hundred of Westerham, lathe of Sutton-at-Hone, W. division of Kent, 22 miles (W.) from Maidstone, and 21 (S. S. E.) from London; containing 2162 inhabitants. The name of this town implies its situation on the western border of the county. Two remarkable phenomena, called landslips, occurred here on the southern escarpment of the Sand hill in 1596 and 1756; in the former, nine acres of ground continued in motion for eleven days, and in the latter about two acres and a half, some parts sinking into pits, and others rising into hills. The town stands on the northern declivity of the same formation, and is of neat and clean appearance; near the centre is the market-house. The parish comprises 5676 acres, of which 1364 are in wood: the river Darent rises here, and, after watering the ancient park of Squerries, takes a north-eastern direction. The market, which was granted in the 25th of Edward III. to the abbot of Westminster, who possessed the manor, is on Wednesday; and there is a cattle-fair on May 3rd. The living is a vicarage, with that of Edenbridge annexed, valued in the king's books at £19. 19. 4½.; net income, £608; patron and incumbent, the Rev. Richard Board. The church is a large and venerable structure. At Crockhamhill is a church dedicated to the Holy Trinity, in the gift of C. Warde, Esq. There is a place of worship for dissenters. Bishop Hoadly and the celebrated General Wolfe were natives of the town; in the church is a simple tablet, with the well-known elegant tribute to the memory of the latter, and in the grounds of Squerries is a pillar, erected for the like purpose.