Wateringbury (St. John the Baptist)

WATERINGBURY (St. John the Baptist), a parish, and formerly a market-town, in the union of West Malling, hundred of Twyford, lathe of Aylesford, W. division of Kent, 5 miles (W. by S.) from Maidstone; containing 1273 inhabitants. This parish is situated on the road between Tonbridge and Maidstone, and bounded on the south by the river Medway. It comprises 1420a. 27p., and is agreeably enlivened by several gentlemen's seats in the neighbourhood of the village. Fruit is extensively raised for the London market, and there are 266 acres of woodland. Here is a station of the Maidstone branch of the South-Eastern railway. The living is a discharged vicarage, valued in the king's books at £5, and in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester: the great tithes have been commuted for £96. 16., and the vicarial for £820; there is a glebe-house, with 2 acres of garden-ground. The church, an ancient edifice in the early English style, with a spire, formerly exhibited a profusion of stained glass, with portraits of Edward III. and his consort Philippa; a handsome vestry-room was added in 1838, at the expense of the late M. P. Lucas, Esq.