The Magic of Maidstone
Above: County Hall, Maidstone
Above: The Fremlin Walk elephant
Above: Down by the River Medway
The stars and stripes on the American flag originated in a Maidstone family’s coat of arms, Benjamin Disraeli represented Maidstone in Parliament, and the leader of the Peasants’ Revolt, Wat Tyler, made his last tragic stand in the town.
This historic riverside county town of Kent is a distinctively attractive place, with modern developments that have been so sensitively weaved into the ancient fabric that its old-world charm is actually enhanced by the juxtaposition of old and new.
Maidstone’s shopping facilities are the finest in the county, the museum offers dinosaurs, a 2,500-year-old Egyptian mummy and the largest collection of Japanese art in England; there are riverboat rides, and there’s ample car-parking space, all within easy walking distance of the town centre.
Fine couty town
“We were recently voted to be the second most attractive town in the country,” says Trevor Gasson, deputy chief executive of Maidstone Borough Council. “The beauty of Maidstone is that you’ve not only got a fine county town, but also countryside of the highest quality.
“We’ve got character and variety, history, the river and plenty of open spaces, yet we also have the largest shopping centre in the county, bigger than Bluewater. What’s more, half of our shops are independent retailers, including wonderfully individual, old-established traders such as the Golden Boot (reputed to be the oldest shoe shop in the country) and Cornells the jewellers.
Trevor adds: “As for the future, we’re a town that’s really going places. Eclipse Park is being transformed into a commercial centre, and we’re discussing with Network Rail the redevelopment of Maidstone East station, the next part of the town centre regeneration.
The whole aspect of the river is changing
“The whole aspect of the river is changing: we’ve got some 2000 houses and apartments going up and have established the Maidstone Millennium River Park, restoring a lot of the waterside areas to public access, including Whatham Park.
“And we’ve erected three new pedestrian bridges, and are looking at a variety of ways of increasing leisure use of the river. We’re also improving the roads in from the south of the town centre, notably the All Saints Link Road, which will take the traffic out of the historic All Saints Conservation Area.
“This is part of a regeneration strategy of the All Saints area, which includes restoring all the listed buildings in Lower Stone Street.”
What to see
Gabriel’s Hill
Site of the climax of the Civil War’s ‘Battle of Maidstone’ (1648), this is now a thriving thoroughfare of shops, including the Golden Boot, believed to be the oldest shoe shop in country.
Bank Street
Still retaining a medieval street layout, many shops date from the 15th to the 17th centuries. On the wall above the Post Office are four life-sized white statues of influential locals, set into niches.
Tyrwhitt-Drake Carriage museum
Unique collection of horse-drawn vehicles. Open summer only. Tel: 01622 602838.
Archbishops’ Palace
Built in 1348 and now used as a Registration Office, open to the public during Heritage Open Days in September, and to groups by special arrangement.
All Saints’ Church
Described as the ‘grandest perpendicular church in England’, this medieval church has a 17th- century memorial to local man, Lawrence Washington, great uncle of America’s first president George Washington. Tel 01622 843298.
Maidstone Millennium River Park, Mote Park and Whatman Park
The river park is a six-mile long riverside park, augmenting the older scenic open areas.
Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art Gallery
The most comprehensive range of collections in Kent, including dinosaurs, an Egyptian mummy and an outstanding collection of Japanese art, housed in a magnificent Elizabethan house. Tel: 01622 602838.
Hazlitt Theatre
This cosy, welcoming theatre was once the original Corn Exchange building. It offers a year-round programme of events. Tel: 01622 758611.
Leeds Castle
Set in 500 acres of parkland, this beautiful Norman building has paintings, tapestries and antiques with exotic birds in its aviary and Britain's only Dog Collar Museum. Tel: 0870 600 8880.
Museum of Kent Life.
A 28-acre living farm, where the agricultural practices of the Victorian era are re-enacted, including animal care, orchards and hop picking, plus displays in the outbuildings and Britain’s last working Oast House. Tel: 01622 763936.
Maidstone Leisure centre,
Four swimming pools, two water slides, indoor adventure play area and fitness suite. Tel: 0845 155 2277.
Visitor Information centre.
In the old Town Hall building. Tel: 01622 602169.
Main shopping areas
Royal Star Arcade, High Street (fashion outlets)
The Market Buildings and Corn Exchange, High Street (cafés and specialist shops)
Fremlin Walk
The Mall, Chequers
Did you know?
- The town’s coat of arms includes a shield supported by a lion and an Iguianodon, a prehistoric animal whose fossilised remains were found in Queens Road Quarry in 1834
- America’s first president, George Washington, was the nephew of Maidstone resident, Lawrence Washington. The stars and stripes were the Washington’s family emblem, subsequently adopted in the flag of the USA
- The rampant horse, Kent’s county emblem, is said to have been the standard of invading Jute leaders Horsa and Hengist
- William Shipley, founder of the Royal Society of Arts, is buried in All Saints Churchyard
- Witches and martyrs were once burned at Fairmeadow, which was also used for fairs and public spectacles
- A smugglers’ passage once led from a house in Faith Street to the river
- The Golden Boot shoe shop is reputed to be the oldest shoe shop in England
- Week Street, Gabriel’s Hill and Stone Road once formed part of the Roman road
- A model of Benjamin Disraeli’s face is mounted on a house in Earl Street. He was first elected for parliament by the people of Maidstone
- Sculptures of enlarged farthing and the halfpenny coins are mounted onto buildings in the High Street, a tribute to the designs of Humphrey Padgett
- Samuel Pepys stayed at the Old Bell Inn in Gabriel’s Hill.
MAIDSTONE PEOPLE
Beth James, Youth and Education Assistant, Maidstone council
Theatre Practitioner Beth, in her mid-twenties, was born in Maidstone, and after university spent two years abroad before returning to live and work in the town, where she’s based at the Hazlitt Theatre. Part of her time is spent running the youth theatre at the Hazlitt with director Martin Cleverly, and she also runs workshops in local schools, as well as The Square Pegs Drama Club, a theatre group for young people with learning difficulties.
There’s a thriving arts scene in Maidstone, and I find it a terrific place to live and work
“I love working with young people and developing their confidence and self esteem – either inspiring them to work in the theatre, or else simply helping to improve their social and communication skills and boost their self confidence,” she says. “A few of our members are currently at top drama schools, some are professionally involved in show business.
“There’s definitely a thriving arts scene in Maidstone, and I find it a terrific place to live and work. I’d say there could be more things for young people to do. My favourite places are the Hazlitt Theatre and the Druids Arms, the historic pub opposite.
“I set up the Square Pegs Drama Club with friends, many of whom are parents of the children we’re helping. The Square Peg really has made an incredible difference to our members’ lives, and it’s heartbreaking that we haven’t the funds to expand according to demand.
“Any businesses or individuals who help us would of course get full recognition, and believe me, you’d really be enriching the lives of these children” (contact Beth on 07880 794816)
Alyn Thomas, Marketing manager for the Kent Registration Service (KCC)
Alyn lives with his girlfriend in Tovil Green, south of the town centre, and works in the Archbishops’ Palace, which is used as one of Kent’s six Registration Offices. As well as advising people about the legal processes of registering a birth, death or marriage, Alyn represents and promotes all the 180 venues across Kent licensed for wedding, civil partnership, renewal of vow and welcoming ceremonies.
We’re lucky to be living locally, as we can walk to work every day
“We’re lucky to be living locally, as we can walk to work every day, and my office is actually right up in the eaves of this sensational old building,” he enthuses. “One of my favourite things to occasionally do in Maidstone at the weekend is to wander down the river, get on a riverboat – the Kentish Lady or the Allington Bell – and take a trip down to the Malta Inn, and relax with a few drinks. But it’s best to attempt this in the summer months!”
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