Kemsing, Kent

Description
Kemsing, a village and a parish in Kent. The village stands 2 1/2 miles NE of Sevenoaks, and has a station on the L.C. & D.R., 24 miles from London. It was once a market-town, and has a post and money order office under Seven-oaks; telegraph office, Seal. Acreage, 1908; population, 621. A castle was here before the time of Henry II., but has disappeared. A line of chalk hills extends E and W a little N of the village, and is traversed by the ancient track way called the Pilgrims' Road. A spring, designated St Edith's Well, is near the centre of the village, an effigies of St Edith was in the churchyard, and both the well and the effigies were long held in superstitious veneration. St Edith is said to have been a native. Hops are largely grown. Lord Sackville is lord of the manor. Beecby Lees is a chief residence. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Canterbury; net value, £60 with residence. Patron, Lord Sackville, The church, with shingle tower, was restored in 1870, in 1873, and again in 1891, when the aisle on the N side was added. The rood screen was beautifully restored in 1894. The perpetual curacy of Seal is a separate benefice. In 1887 an iron chapel of aase was erected at Noah's Ark, and a Wesleyan chapel was built in 1885.