15 December 1915 men of the 2nd Battalion, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment were among 14,586 British and Indian troops besieged in the town of Kut-el-Almara, Mesopotamia.
The Garrison surrendered on 29 April 1916. 1,025 men had died in . . . — — Map (db m279889) HM WM
Earliest records show that this site was originally populated during the Anglo-Saxon Period by the Church of St Mary. In 1395, Archbishop Courtenay received the authority of Pope Boniface IX to make the parish church collegiate. The church was . . . — — Map (db m273407) HM
This Cedar Tree was planted over 200 years ago and once stood 23 metres tall. Examinations of the tree revealed it was suffering from severe decay and with its decline accelerating, it caused a risk to public safety. The decision was taken to . . . — — Map (db m128466) HM
The Medieval Palace has developed and changed since the Middle Ages, with parts being removed and rebuilt according to the needs of the time. The initial buildings were built prior to the Domesday Book, and in 1086, were likely to have been a Royal . . . — — Map (db m272216) HM
This stone marks the last stand of the royalist defenders of Maidstone on the storm lashed night of the 1st June 1648. It serves as a memorial to all those who lost their lives on that long and blood-soaked day.
The Battle of Maidstone
1st . . . — — Map (db m279890) HM WM
Louis Edward Nolan
Captain 15th King's Hussars
1818-1854
Louis Edward Nolan joined the Austrian Imperial Army in 1832 where he trained at the Pioneer Corps School.
It was due to highly professional training in Austria that he . . . — — Map (db m279887) HM
Earl Street forms part of the apparently planned layout of the 12th Century town and took its name from Earl Place, which was a massive town house. The main hall range has gone, but the street containing a fine 15th Century crown-post roof survives . . . — — Map (db m272213) HM
Leeds Castle
Leeds Castle gets its name from the ancient Saxon manor of Esledes recorded on this site in the Domesday Book of 1086. Following the Norman Conquest of 1066, many manors in Kent were fortified to remind the local people and any . . . — — Map (db m128467) HM
The castle was built on two islands in the middle of a man-made moat, which was created by Edward I in the 13th century by diverting the river Len.
The surrounding estates were farmed to supply food for the castle's tenants and the needs of . . . — — Map (db m128470) HM
New Castle
Built in 1822 by the Wykeham Martin family on the site of an earlier building.
Bridge Corridors
Replaced in the form you see today in the 19th century.
Clock Tower
15th century
Keep or ‘Gloriette’
13th century with . . . — — Map (db m128471) HM
The original bridge on this spot was built in the 14th Century and joined the countryside to the town. This superseded the crossing by the ford adjacent to All Saints Church. It formed one of a set of fine bridges over the Medway. Aylesford, East . . . — — Map (db m300977) HM
Main Castle Island
The central tower of the Gatehouse built in 1278 and through which you have just passed served as a look-out point for the garrison soldiers responsible for defending the castle.
The management of the castle was left in . . . — — Map (db m128469) HM
At the time of the Domesday Survey, Maidstone had six mills; at least one of these was probably on this site. Certainly the Medieval Archbishops' mills were sited here, and the stretch of water between Palace Avenue and Rootes Garage is the old . . . — — Map (db m274329) HM
This Grade II listed building was built, in 1827 as the new offices of the Kent Fire Insurance Company, on this site since 1802. The palatial property was built to the designs of noted local architect John Whichcord Senior. The company's horse-drawn . . . — — Map (db m272215) HM
The site of the Royal Star Hotel has been associated with many historical events.
A notorious neighbour in the seventeenth century was Andrew Broughton, Mayor of Maidstone and Clerk of Parliament, who lived in Earl Street at the back of the . . . — — Map (db m300970) HM
Sessions square is dominated by the neo-Baroque façade of County Hall, designed by F.W. Ruck and built 1910-1913 with further extensions in the 1930's. Behind it and glimpsed through the arch is the original Sessions House dating from 1826-7. It was . . . — — Map (db m273404) HM
The Peasants' Revolt of 1381 was the first great popular rebellion in English history. Rebels from Kent and Essex, under Wat Tyler and John Ball, marched on London to make a stand against the poll tax levied by Richard II.
The Rebels . . . — — Map (db m273905) HM
Brenchley Gardens was Maidstone's first public park; it was commissioned by Julius Brenchley. When he purchased the land in 1870 it was an orchard and his aim was to secure the setting of the museum to the south.
The gardens were designed and . . . — — Map (db m272211) HM
As part of our welcome, we have interpretive panels around the Church which explain our Christian heritage and the history of this magnificent building and its contents. Please take time to wander, reflect and enjoy your journey.
The History of . . . — — Map (db m300957) HM
A closed churchyard, a haven for wildlife with a range of trees and habitats for a variety of birds
History
Trinity Park is the former churchyard of Holy Trinity Church, built in 1826. The church was designed by local architect John . . . — — Map (db m273405) HM
