Loose (All Saints)

LOOSE (All Saints), a parish, in the union and hundred of Maidstone, lathe of Aylesford, W. division of the county of Kent, 2½ miles (S.) from Maidstone; containing 1416 inhabitants. The parish comprises by admeasurement 960 acres, of which about 278 are arable, 149 meadow and pasture, 216 in hop-grounds, and 48 wood. A very considerable improvement has been made by the formation of a new road, at a great expense, in order to avoid two steep and dangerous hills over which the former road passed. Fruit, particularly filberts, is produced for the supply of the London markets. Three paper-manufactories employ about 190 persons, and here is a quarry of ragstone. The lower grounds are watered by a stream which, in the space of two miles and a half, turns twelve mills. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the appropriator; net income, £492. The church has been enlarged.