Lamberhurst, Kent

Description
Lamberhurst, a village and a parish in the counties of Kent and Sussex. The village stands on an affluent of the river Medway, 4 1/2 miles E of Fraut station on the S.E.R., and 6 1/2 ESE of Tunbridge Wells. It has a post, money order, and telegraph office. There is a fair on 6 April. The parish includes Scotney Manor, and comprises 3525 acres in Kent and 1922 in Sussex, population in Sussex, 1158; in Kent, 728. Court Lodge stands on an eminence within a park, commands pleasant views of the surrounding country, and is the seat of the Morland family. Scotney Castle was the seat of Archbishop Chicheley in the early part of the 15th century; went to his collateral descendants, the Dan-ells; was rebuilt by Inigo Jones; and has given place to a modern mansion, the seat of the Hussey family. Bayham Abbey and Grant-ham Hall are also chief residences. Extensive iron-smelting furnaces were formerly in the parish, and they furnished the massive iron balustrades around St Paul's in London. Brewing and brick-making are now carried on. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Canterbury; gross value, £220 with residence. Patrons, the Dean and Chapter of Rochester. The church is old but good, and has a conspicuous steeple. There are Baptist and Wesleyan chapels.