Maidstone
Sign in to saveMaidstone is the largest town in the county of Kent in South East England, of which it is also the county town. Maidstone is historically important and lies east-south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town, linking it with Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river carried much of the town's trade as the centre of the agricultural county of Kent, which is known as the Garden of England. There is evidence of settlement in the area dating back before the Stone Age. The town, part of the borough of Maidstone, had an approximate population of 100,000 i
AI overview
Maidstone is the largest town and county seat of Kent in South East England, historically significant as a major trading center on the River Medway that connected the agricultural region to London and beyond. The town has been continuously settled since before the Stone Age and remains important today as the administrative and economic hub of the county known as the Garden of England.
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Key facts
- UK place.dial_code
- 01622
- UK place.os_grid_reference
- TQ759556
- UK place.static_image_name
- Maidstone,_Kent_montage.jpg
- UK place.static_image_caption
- From top left: River Medway with Maidstone's historic All Saints Church, County Hall, Leeds Castle, Mote Park, The Mall Maidstone shopping centre.
- UK place.static_image_2_name
- Arms of Maidstone.svg
- UK place.static_image_2_caption
- Coat of arms
- UK place.country
- England
- UK place.official_name
- Maidstone
- UK place.type
- Town
- UK place.population
- 109,490
- UK place.population_ref
- (2021)
- UK place.shire_district
Article
39 sectionsContents
- Toponymy
- History
- Modern history
- Governance
- Members of Parliament
- Local government
- Geography
- Climate
- Demography
- Economy
- Industry
- Shopping
- Employment
- Education
- Transport
- Religion
- Culture
- Twinning
- Radio
- Television
- Newspapers
- Theatre
- Literature
- Museums
- Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery
- Kent Life
- Tyrwhitt-Drake Museum of Carriages
- Martian crater
- Sport
- Football
- Hockey
- Rugby union
- Cricket
- Other sport
- Notable people
- Sport
- See also
- References
- External links
Maidstone is the largest town in the county of Kent in South East England, of which it is also the county town. Maidstone is historically important and lies east-south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town, linking it with Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river carried much of the town's trade as the centre of the agricultural county of Kent, which is known as the Garden of England. There is evidence of settlement in the area dating back before the Stone Age. The town, part of the borough of Maidstone, had an approximate population of 100,000 in 2019. Since World War II, the town's economy has shifted from heavy industry towards light industry and services.
==Toponymy== Saxon charters dating back to show the first recorded instances of the town's name, de maeides stana and maegdan stane, possibly meaning stone of the maidens or stone of the people. The latter meaning may refer to the nearby megalith around which gatherings took place. The name evolved through medestan/meddestane in the Domesday Book of 1086, with possible variation Mayndenstan in 1396. The modern name appeared by 1610. It has been suggested that the name derives from stones set into the river to allow clothes to be rinsed in the cleaner water away from the banks.