Lower Halstow, Kent

Description
Halstow, Lower, a parish in Kent, at the upper end of Stangate Creek, between the Medway and the Swale, 2 miles from Newington station on the L.C. & D.R., and 4 1/4 NW of Sittingboume. It has a post office under Sittingbourne; money order and telegraph office, Upchurch. Acreage, 1390; population, 653. Part of the land is marsh. An ancient village, inhabited by potters, seems to have been here, and an old embankment, to protect the land from the sea, and filled with broken tiles and pottery, is near the church. Brickmaking now employs many of the inhabitants, and there is a quay on one of the creeks of the Medway. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Canterbury; gross value, £320 with residence. Patrons, the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury. The church is ancient but good, is probably of Saxon origin, includes much Roman masonry in its walls, and has a small tower. There is a Bible Christian chapeL